Bai Yutang truly had no other choice!
Daoist Cangshan might have been old, but he was no fool!
If he realized they had come to extort people, this "living map in human form" would be hard to enlist again!
They had to stall him first!
Chun Xiaobai barely had to exert himself. He casually extended two fingers, searched briefly for the Cloudpeak Sacred Land's spatial node, then activated the Heaven-Rending Hand and slashed!
Riiip-
Beside the enormous locust-pine trunk, space tore like a rag beneath his hand, opening into a pitch-black gap a full twenty feet high.
Blinding golden light, mixed with spiritual qi so dense it had nearly turned solid, instantly rushed into their faces!
Li Qingfeng acted decisively. Relying on his middle Spirit Transformation cultivation, he flashed inside, then poked his head back out a moment later, made an odd hand signal, and whispered:
"Great King, nobody inside. All clear!"
Chun Xiaobai then beckoned to the black-armored army behind him and spoke in a hushed voice.
"Everyone to your positions! Follow the plan! Get to work!"
Their strict discipline, their instant obedience, and their fluid, perfectly synchronized tactical movements left Mu Qinglan somewhat dumbfounded.
Once again, she sank into deep self-doubt and wondered to herself.
What exactly did this brat do in the outside world? With this level of professionalism... could he have been a grand general in some dynasty?
"No!" Mu Qinglan's gaze suddenly hardened with resolve.
On this trip, she had to properly demonstrate her authority as Sect Master and teach this brat what a Sect Master truly was.
And she had to make these elders recognize her abilities anew.
Mu Qinglan took a deep breath, then squeezed along with the Azure Cloud Sect elders poised for action and slipped straight into the Cloudpeak Sacred Land.