"Can we go to Moon Island too?" Ye Yun asked, startled. He had assumed that someone of his unknown origin would at least be met with suspicion or placed under observation for a period.
However, Xu Ning smiled and replied, "Of course you can. The Island Master specifically instructed it."
"Uh, instructed?"
"That's right!" Xu Ning nodded and explained, "At the end of every year, the Island Master tells everyone that if they encounter any outsiders, they are to be brought to her immediately."
Hearing this, Ye Yun finally understood. "So that's how it is. It seems she cares a lot about this matter..."
"Yes, that's right!" Xu Ning smiled faintly. "The Island Master has always seemed to be looking forward to the appearance of outsiders."
This made Ye Yun even more eager to meet the so-called Island Master. "Then let's not delay, let's head there quickly."
"Alright, let's go!" Xu Ning nodded.
Following her lead, the group set off in a grand procession, heading in a specific direction on the sea. According to her, Moon Island was still some distance away. As they journeyed, they resumed their previous conversation.
"By the way, what exactly do you mean by 'unable to leave'? Is it that you can't find the way out?"
"Something like that..." Xu Ning fell into thought at the mention of the subject. "I remember the Island Master telling me about this decades ago." She hadn't noticed that this statement had inadvertently revealed her age. Ye Yun marveled inwardly, *Good heavens, you really can't judge cultivators by their appearance; their true ages are truly unfathomable...*
"Uh, what's wrong?" Xu Ning asked, noticing his daze.
Ye Yun snapped back to attention and cleared his throat. "Nothing, please continue..."
Though puzzled, Xu Ning nodded and continued, "According to the Island Master, the sea area we are in is surrounded by a special spatial force. Anyone who tries to leave will unknowingly return to their starting point. If this cannot be resolved, even Emperor-level experts cannot leave."
This description made Ye Yun's head spin. It felt like they were trapped in a Mobius strip, endlessly looping. Fang Zhiwei, standing nearby, said with sudden understanding, "So that's why we felt like we were just going in circles on the sea. We must have been affected by this spatial energy."
Ye Yun nodded and sighed. "The question is, how do we break through this spatial force?"
Unfortunately, even Xu Ning couldn't provide an answer to this question. "I don't know. However, the Island Master seems to know, but she has never told us."
"She knows?!" Ye Yun's eyes lit up, feeling a surge of hope in the darkness. Lin Xueyan and the others also perked up, showing their concern about leaving. While spending eternity with their Master was wonderful, not seeing the outside world again would be a regret.
Xu Ning nodded and confirmed, "Yes, I asked her once, and she said it herself. But she also said that even if we knew, we wouldn't be able to do it, so she didn't elaborate."
After listening, Ye Yun mused for a moment before asking, "Speaking of which, what kind of person is this Island Master?"
"Uh... the Island Master..." Xu Ning hesitated, looking conflicted. One of her companions, without a second thought, blurted out, "The Island Master, well, she's kind-hearted, but very serious, very scary, and very imposing!"
This description seemed remarkably accurate, as it was met with nods of agreement from everyone else, including Xu Ning. "Yes, yes, exactly!" She seemed to recall an experience and said sheepishly, "I went to see her once, and I was so intimidated I didn't even dare to breathe..."
Based on her description, Ye Yun formed a general impression. In short, a stern but good person. She likely acted with great strictness and authority in her daily affairs, otherwise, she wouldn't have left such an impression.
"Thank you, I have a basic understanding now." With some newfound knowledge, Ye Yun felt somewhat reassured. Honestly, as long as she wasn't another terrifying woman like Feng Qingxian, he could handle most situations. The Island Master described by Xu Ning didn't seem to be that kind of person.
"Then let's pick up the pace and meet her as soon as possible!" Ye Yun instructed Xiao Xue to accelerate. Her wings vibrated, and they moved faster. On her back, Xu Ning began asking him various questions about the outside world, like a curious child. It reminded him of when he used to tell Tianli Xingwu about the Heavenly Domain. Thinking of her, Ye Yun couldn't help but sigh. *I wonder how Xingwu wife is doing out there, is she worried about me...*
As he was lost in thought, Xu Ning looked at him, then at Lin Xueyan and the others. Her thoughts then shifted, and she blurted out, "Say, I have a presumptuous question, may I ask it?"
"Hmm? What question?" Ye Yun raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the conflicted Xu Ning.
Xu Ning pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment longer, and then finally asked, "Senior, do you have any peculiar habits?"
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Her question completely stumped him.
Xu Ning glanced at Lin Xueyan and the others, then took a deep breath and said, "Otherwise, why are all the people around you female disciples, and all so beautiful and cute! Could it be that you have... intentions towards your disciples?"
At her words, Lin Xueyan and the others immediately perked up, all ready to 'explain properly' for her.
Finally, Ye Yun's mouth twitched. "This question is rather complicated. I think it's better to discuss it later..." He actually wanted to give a more decisive answer, but the disciples' ridiculous attitudes made him a bit embarrassed to speak. His response only piqued Xu Ning's curiosity further.
"You... you actually..."
However, before she could finish, Ye Yun quickly changed the subject, clearing his throat as he looked ahead. "Are we arriving soon? The distance is so far, yet I can already feel strong Xuan Qi fluctuations."
"Uh, Senior, are you changing the subject?"
"I think the priority right now is meeting the Island Master..." Ye Yun said earnestly, gazing at the island that was gradually appearing in the distance.
Xu Ning seemed to realize that pressing the issue further would be inappropriate and stopped. However, in her heart, she had already marked him down as someone with impure thoughts towards his disciples. "Alas, how wicked..."