"What about Frank's family? Aren't you going to eliminate them completely?" Luo Yingying asked after they came out.
"No need. One man's deeds, one man's responsibility. The culprit has been dealt with. Before his family makes a move, we'll let them off for now," Ning Beichen replied.
"You do have a compassionate heart," Luo Yingying remarked.
Ning Beichen felt a pang of shame. Compassionate? It seemed he had underestimated the ruthlessness of the cultivation world.
The journey back was naturally by sword flight. However, they were unaware that as they passed over a certain area, an alarm blared incessantly in a secret underground facility. Their ground radar had detected something moving at supersonic speed, causing great tension among the personnel at the base. They frantically used their radar to search.
In this world, only one thing could surpass the speed of sound: a fighter jet.
Clearly, a fighter jet had flown overhead. How could they not be on edge?
Yet, no matter how much they utilized their radar and satellites, they couldn't find any fighter jet. This led to wild speculation within the base, with suspicions of a new stealth fighter developed by an enemy nation.
Unable to locate the target, they had no choice but to report it up the chain of command. This caused widespread unease, and orders were issued for agents in various countries to investigate.
Meanwhile, Ning Beichen and Luo Yingying were completely oblivious to this incident. By this time, they had already returned to the Eastern Ancient Country.
"You're going to the Mortal Realm? I'm going too! Don't you dare leave me behind!" Liu Yilin immediately declared upon hearing Ning Beichen mention the Mortal Realm.
She didn't want to experience what had happened before again. Although she was a modern woman, in her heart, nothing was more important than Ning Beichen.
"Let her come. It's good to have someone to look out for each other, and Yilin's strength is no longer weak. You can't treat her like a delicate flower; she needs to experience some storms," Luo Yingying told Ning Beichen.
"Alright, but once we get to the Mortal Realm, you both have to listen to me," Ning Beichen said sternly to the two of them.
"You brat, I'm the Sect Master, and you dare speak to me like that!" Luo Yingying immediately objected.
"So what if you're the Sect Master? You only have me as a disciple. If you don't listen to me, I'll quit the sect and leave you all alone," Ning Beichen countered with a threat, genuinely worried about not being able to protect them properly.
"Ning Beichen, how dare you!"
Luo Yingying, fuming, looked ready to fight. Liu Yilin, amused and exasperated, dragged her away, fearing they would actually come to blows if they continued arguing.
However, Luo Yingying eventually relented. Only after she agreed to obey Ning Beichen did he agree to take them with him.
Haitang had originally established a magic array to connect to another world. But now, with Ning Beichen's intention to go to the Mortal Realm, she became worried.
She had intended to go along, but her strength was too low, and Ning Beichen adamantly refused.
Another reason Ning Beichen didn't want her to go was that he wanted to see if he could use Haitang to establish a teleportation portal to the Mortal Realm.
Therefore, Ning Beichen took the magic array materials and the setup method, planning to find a safe place in the Mortal Realm to establish the array.
If successful, Haitang could join them later, and they could return easily, achieving the best of both worlds.
If Luo Yingying and Liu Yilin hadn't insisted, Ning Beichen would have preferred they stayed behind and waited for the teleportation magic array to be successful before going to the Mortal Realm.
Just as Ning Beichen was about to set off, a special guest arrived.
And this guest was none other than Ye Lanxin.
"You're taking me to the ancient path?" Ning Beichen asked, looking at her with surprise.
"Yes. After much thought, I am familiar with the ancient path and can guide you to avoid some of its traps and dangers," Ye Lanxin told Ning Beichen.
"Miss Ye Lanxin, you really don't need to take such a risk. I'm already very grateful that you can provide me with the location of the ancient path," Ning Beichen said to her.
"I owe you a life-saving debt, and this is all I can do. I hope you don't find it troublesome," Ye Lanxin said to Ning Beichen very earnestly.
"How could that be? How about this, once you lead us to the ancient path, you turn back?" Ning Beichen suggested.
"Alright, we'll discuss it when we get to the ancient path," Ye Lanxin replied.
With everything prepared, Ning Beichen set off with the three of them.
"Go back, no need to see us off. I'll find a place to set up the array as soon as I get there, and then you'll be able to come," Ning Beichen reassured Haitang.
"Alright, you scoundrel. Promise me you'll stay alive," Haitang, reluctant to part, clasped his hand.
"Don't worry, I won't let you become a widow," Ning Beichen said affectionately, stroking her cheek.
"You have to keep your word, or I'll haunt you even as a ghost."
Haitang kissed Ning Beichen's cheek, looking forlorn.
Normally, Haitang would have kicked him away and called his words disgusting.
"Don't worry, I'll keep my word."
Ning Beichen released her and then left with Liu Yilin and the other two.
The ancient path to the Mortal Realm was in a very hidden location. Fortunately, Ye Lanxin accompanied them; otherwise, it would have taken Ning Beichen and his group a considerable amount of time just to find it.
Shortly after, Ye Lanxin led them to an ancient grand hall located underground. Within the belly of a statue in the hall, a light curtain formed.
When they passed through the light curtain, they appeared in a dim place.
"This place is occasionally attacked and ambushed by unknown monsters. Some of them are very powerful, so we need to be careful. If we can't defeat them, we should flee immediately," Ye Lanxin warned Ning Beichen and the others.
Ning Beichen, Luo Yingying, and Liu Yilin nodded, increasing their vigilance of their surroundings.
This ancient path was peculiar, stretching as if towards the starry sky. On both sides were bottomless, dark abysses, resembling the maw of some monstrous creature. Walking on this path made one's scalp tingle.
"Can we fly on our swords here?" Ning Beichen asked curiously. If they could fly, it would save them a lot of time.
"Let me try," Luo Yingying said. As she rose into the air, preparing to fly on her sword, a strange force yanked her down, causing her to fall awkwardly.
"No, sword flight is impossible on this ancient path. Forget about it; we can only walk properly," Ye Lanxin told them.
"Then let's walk," Ning Beichen replied verbally. However, for some reason, he had a strong premonition that he might be able to fly on his sword here, which he attributed to his cultivation technique.
Still, for safety's sake, Ning Beichen decided not to fly, as his premonition also warned of danger – a very terrifying danger.