Chapter 229: Exit Strategy
The group moved to the side, and the Tian Family Ancestor asked, "Sisi, what's the plan now? They didn't even inform us about the Peace Enforcement Order. It's obvious they're wary of us."
Tian Sisi's expression was frosty, and she said nothing.
The Liu Family Ancestor, on the other hand, spoke coldly, "How about we just kill the Zhao and Lin families, along with everyone left in the Divine Martial Department! As for the Chen and Guo families, we'll spare those who obey our orders and kill those who don't!"
Chen Dong's brow twitched. 'What kind of grudge is this? To be so old yet still so full of killing intent.'
Tian Sisi said coolly, "First, seal the exit. Don't let anyone in or out!"
The Liu Family Ancestor nodded and immediately went to carry out her orders.
A chorus of wails instantly erupted at the exit.
"The Peace Enforcement Order has been issued! Why won't you let us out?!"
"Exactly! Do you want us all to be devoured along with the Qiankun Realm?"
The voices only annoyed Tian Sisi further. Not bothering to listen, she simply flew off.
Chen Dong, not knowing her reasons, shook his head and followed.
Tian Sisi flew to the front of Zhenwu Hall, drew her Miao Blade, and in a flash, unleashed thirteen slashes upon the building. The magnificent Zhenwu Hall collapsed with a thunderous crash.
After venting her frustration, Tian Sisi sheathed her Miao Blade and landed atop the ruins.
Astonished by her strength, Chen Dong landed beside her and asked softly, "Do you have a grudge against the Military Suppression Department?"
Tian Sisi shook her head. "Only with two officials from the Divine Department: Pu Huo and E Xuanfu."
"At your current Realm, those Divine Department officials shouldn't be a match for you, right?"
Tian Sisi said flatly, "Of course they aren't. Pu Huo is most likely already dead, leaving only E Xuanfu."
"Then just go out, find him, and take your revenge! Who does a Profound Pill Realm expert have to fear?"
"I haven't undergone the Thunder Tribulation yet, so I don't count as being in the Profound Pill Realm! Besides, E Xuanfu has escaped. Knowing him, he's definitely set a trap at the entrance. If I go out now, I'll immediately trigger the Thunder Tribulation. Between that and his trap, I'd probably lose and end up dead!"
Chen Dong was starting to grasp the situation. "Does the Qiankun Realm only have one entrance and exit?" he asked.
Tian Sisi didn't expect such a question from Chen Dong. "You don't know?"
Chen Dong shook his head. "I got in here through unconventional means, so I honestly have no idea."
Tian Sisi looked at Chen Dong in surprise. "What kind of unconventional means?"
Recalling Lord You's warning, Chen Dong said, "I just suddenly appeared in here, without going through the entrance."
Tian Sisi assumed Chen Dong had come through a spacetime rift. "You're incredibly lucky to be alive!" she exclaimed.
She then answered his question. "The Qiankun Realm was discovered by people from the outside world more than two hundred years ago through a stable spatial entrance. That entrance is the one we use today. It's the only way in or out that anyone knows of."
Chen Dong mused, "Don't you have that mirror? You could hide inside it and have someone carry you out!"
Tian Sisi said softly, "That's useless. The moment I appear in the outside world, the Thunder Tribulation will descend. And whoever is carrying the Ancient Mirror would be targeted by it as well!"
Hearing this, Chen Dong's mind immediately went to Lord You. 'He got me in here directly, so he should be able to get Tian Sisi out the same way.' And so, Chen Dong said, "If you help me complete my mission, I might be able to get you out of here without using that entrance."
Tian Sisi raised an eyebrow. "What mission?"
Chen Dong chuckled. "To touch every single person in the Qiankun Realm!"
"What kind of mission is that?" Within her frame of reference, Tian Sisi couldn't fathom the purpose or how that could possibly be a mission.
Chen Dong said seriously, "Don't ask questions. Just complete the mission, and I might be able to get you out!"
Tian Sisi couldn't think of a better solution. Besides, it was just a matter of touching people, so it was worth a shot. She nodded in agreement.
With the two Divine Department officials having fled, Tian Sisi was naturally the person with the highest status in the Qiankun Realm. Moreover, at the Fake Pill Realm, she was also the most powerful individual.
With Tian Sisi's help, everyone in the Central City was quickly gathered.
Chen Dong went through the crowd, touching each person one by one. Perhaps because Tian Sisi and the remaining members of the Military Suppression Department were present, the process went very smoothly this time. He didn't receive any little notes.
A day passed, with Chen Dong busy touching people the entire time.
Meanwhile, the entrance to the Qiankun Realm remained sealed.
Over the next few days, Chen Dong and Tian Sisi traveled to every city and, just as they'd hoped, smoothly managed to touch every last person.
There were fewer than twenty thousand people in the entire Qiankun Realm. Aside from the time spent traveling and gathering everyone, the actual touching didn't take long at all. This was largely thanks to Tian Sisi's presence. Otherwise, just gathering people would have kept Chen Dong swamped for all twenty days!
With the mission accomplished, all Chen Dong could do was wait out the remaining days. Lord Ming was not among the twenty thousand people he had checked. Since Chen Dong now needed a favor, it wasn't the right time to summon Lord You by cutting the inscription on his hand.
Chen Dong didn't remain idle for the rest of the time. His recent breakthrough to the Inner-Scenery Realm had unlocked another large piece of the memories in his sea of consciousness. He spent his free time deciphering them.
「In the blink of an eye, the twentieth day arrived.」
Chen Dong used a voice transmission to recall the Corpse Dove, and together they waited on the same mountaintop where they had first met.
Two moons hung in the sky. Right on time, not a second late, a figure appeared on the mountaintop.
Lord You spoke. "How did it go?"
Seeing Lord You again, Chen Dong didn't feel the same alarm he had before. This could have been due to his higher Realm, or perhaps the result of his newly unlocked memories.
"I've checked everyone currently in the Qiankun Realm. I didn't find Lord Ming!"
Hearing this, Lord You was silent for a long moment. "Forget it, then. She must be in the outside world. Let's go back." As he spoke, he prepared to take the man and the bird with him.
Chen Dong quickly shouted, "Wait!"