"I'm not leaving. I can protect myself. I won't be a burden—I can even help, Sect Leader..."
Ji Qingming waved a hand. "I know."
He knew what Qiao Ranran was worried about, because he feared the same thing: if the Spatial Barrier broke and the person who appeared was Pei Ling, how would he explain it to everyone?
They had searched for so long, only to find that the hidden mastermind was Pei Ling himself? That everything Pei Ling had done until now was a performance of his own making, with everyone dancing in the palm of his hand? It seemed the most reasonable conclusion. Ji Qingming thought he might have reached it himself if Qiao Ranran had not told him at once why Pei Ling had rushed into the Demon Realm alone.
Ji Qingming glanced at Qi Zhuoyu. "Zhuoyu, take good care of your junior sister."
Qi Zhuoyu cupped his hands. "As you command, Master."
Then Ji Qingming looked at Cen Xian, who had hurried over, and said gravely, "Junior Brother Cen, take every disciple below the Void Refinement Stage and leave the Profound Heart Sect at once."
Cen Xian: ???
"Junior Brother Duan, once Junior Brother Cen has led them out, activate the Mountain-Guarding Formation."
Duan Qiankun's eyes flashed. "Understood."
The Mountain-Guarding Formation Ji Qingming meant was not the earlier formation that could let those at the Body Integration Stage escape. This one had to be activated by Duan Qiankun himself. It would turn the Profound Heart Sect into an isolated space: no one outside could enter, and no one inside could leave.
Ji Qingming's intent was clear. If their enemy came, he would make sure they never left. Even if they failed, the formation would keep their enemy trapped for a while, giving the outside world time