Little Crane flew cautiously over the Giant Turtle, passing less than ten zhang above its Tortoise Shell.
For an Immortal King, that distance was practically close enough to brush its face.
But the Giant Turtle did not react. It remained fast asleep.
Little Crane pressed on.
Next came a silver Long Snake coiled against the tunnel wall.
Its body was as thick as a mountain, and its length stretched beyond the limits of sight.
Its eyes were closed, but its tongue flicked out from time to time, sensing the spatial fluctuations around it.
The aura of a Fifth Turn Immortal King!
Little Crane grew even more careful. She not only suppressed her aura but also adjusted the frequency of her spatial fluctuations until they perfectly matched those of the tunnel itself.
That way, she was like part of the tunnel rather than an intruder.
One Guardian after another fell behind her.
There was a Flame Giant Bird with wings growing from its back, a three-headed, six-armed Stone Giant, and a Kirin wreathed in lightning. Each was powerful enough to make one's heart tremble, and each gave off a terrifying aura even in its sleep.
The most dangerous was a Nine-Tailed White Fox lying in the middle of the tunnel.
Though it was only a hundred zhang long, its aura was the strongest of all the Guardians.
At the peak of the Sixth Turn Immortal King realm.
And where it lay, it blocked most of the tunnel. To get past, Little Crane would have to squeeze by within three zhang of it.
Three zhang was practically no distance at all to an Immortal King.
The slightest disturbance could wake it.
"Master, I'm going to take a risk."
A trace of tension entered Little Crane's voice. "This fox has keen senses. Even