Lady Jade Mother did not answer. Instead, she tried sensing their surroundings with her divine sense, murmuring:
"If this place is beyond the domain, I fear we cannot linger here too long."
Just as the others were wondering why Lady Jade Mother would say this, she suddenly opened her eyes, having been probing with her eyes closed in concentration.
Then she raised a hand, pointing toward a huge broken stone pillar in the distance, and said sternly:
"Xu Taiping, take the Dragon-Slaying Stele and go investigate that stone pillar with Buyu!"
Taking the Dragon-Slaying Stele would naturally allow them to flee at once if anything unexpected happened.
"All right!"
Xu Taiping immediately put away the Dragon-Slaying Stele, then took hold of Lin Buyu and said:
"Buyu, I'll take you over with a jump!"
He had just tried drawing on his dao essence power to use a movement technique, but had failed.
Lin Buyu nodded.
"All right."
Xu Taiping immediately drew a deep breath, then stirred his qi and blood power. Holding Buyu's hand, he thrust both feet hard against the ground.
Boom...!
With a tremendous crash, Xu Taiping sprang into the air and flew straight down onto the huge stone pillar.
The ruined palace halls abruptly sank beneath the force of his leap.
Once he had steadied himself atop the pillar, Xu Taiping released Buyu's hand and said with some relief:
"Fortunately, physical strength isn't restricted beyond the domain."
Lady Jade Mother spoke then:
"Actually, a sword cultivator's power isn't restricted beyond the domain either."
Xu Taiping glanced at Jade Mother and said rather helplessly:
"Lady Jade Mother, why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Jade Mother said solemnly:
"Though you can use a sword beyond the domain, a sword cultivator's aura is very likely to attract the evil demons roaming