Departing (5)

The mountain wind at dawn carried the lingering chill of night as it swept past the towering gates of the Profound Heaven Sect, making the disciples' robes flap loudly.

A group of disciples had already assembled and were ready to depart. Several inner disciples with profound cultivation wore only thin Daoist robes, standing steadily atop their sword lights with calm expressions.

Those with weaker cultivation had long since wrapped themselves in thick winter clothes, their collars pulled tight. The white vapor of their breaths stood out sharply beneath the rising morning sun.

At Elder Lingxu's sharp cry, more than twenty streaks of sword light suddenly flared to life, like a school of spirit carp awakening and leaping into the sky one after another.

The group did not travel quickly. Many disciples were attempting long-distance sword riding for the first time, and before long, they inevitably began to sway, their sword lights flickering unsteadily. The experienced senior brothers and sisters spread out on either side, offering pointers from time to time and remaining ready to lend a hand should anyone run short on spiritual power or lose control.

For a time, sword lights of every color shimmered and flowed, complementing the sea of pure white clouds. The group wound onward along the mountain range, carving a lively trail through the clouds.

Chu Shihan and Elder Lingxu flew at the very front of the group to clear the way, while no one noticed that Yu Xiao True Person, the seemingly ordinary "Beast Spirit Peak disciple," was following unhurriedly at the very rear.

His gaze swept lightly across the entire group. Like a patient shepherd, he silently sheltered these future hopes of the sect beneath his wings.

Shen Yuxi traveled in the middle. Though he appeared to be flying with the group without