The moment they heard that Di Xian had finally relented and agreed to a public inspection, abandoning his attempt to forcibly take away the Secret Realm trial participants.
Not far away, Ling Yunxiao, Fu Dao, Gu Chengan, and Ming Yao maintained calm expressions on the surface, yet their fingers unconsciously loosened slightly.
The four of them almost simultaneously let out long breaths. As the stale air they had held in their chests for so long escaped, it even carried a faint, imperceptible tremble.
When Di Xian had released the pressure of a late Emperor Realm cultivator and forcefully pressed them just moments ago, they had felt as though a massive boulder weighed upon their hearts, making even breathing feel labored.
If they had truly been taken back to the Myriad Emperor Alliance's Camp, soul-searching, interrogation, and even suppression out of covetousness for their Secret Realm gains might have followed one after another.
Not to mention that they had sheltered the Heavenly Palace remnant, the Fire Phoenix Woman, within the Secret Realm—even the exposure of their joint killing of Taiyi Academy disciples would have left them utterly doomed.
Fortunately, Lin Yi had protected them.
Of course, what shocked the four of them greatly was that Lin Yi had only just entered the Emperor Realm, yet he could confront Di Xian, a late Emperor Realm cultivator, head-on without yielding an inch in his words.
His composure in danger, along with his strength to stand against a late Emperor Realm cultivator, filled their hearts with astonishment and complicated emotions.
A year ago, they had still been trial disciples of the same generation at Starfall Academy. Their realms had been roughly equal, and they had fought together during their trials in the Demon Dragon Realm.
Yet now, Lin Yi had already reached a height