Facing the old woman's hesitation, Jiang Yuechu raised an eyebrow.
A hint of inquiry flickered within her pitch-black eyes.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
Hearing this.
The old woman sighed, a helpless, bitter smile tugging at her withered face. "Actually, this might not necessarily be a bad thing... If the Star Palace is truly taken by Old Dog Xuanyang, and you want the qualifications to stand on equal footing with the Dao Lineages in the future, relying solely on staying in this world to fight it out... is undoubtedly a dead end."
"Nowadays, most objects of dao integration already have masters."
"If you snatch one or two, with your skills, you might be able to handle it."
"But if you snatch too many, those old monsters who control the objects of dao integration aren't fools. Sooner or later, they will set aside their prejudices and join forces to kill you, the anomaly, first."
The old woman stared intently at the Girl in Black Robes before her.
"Furthermore, the talent you've displayed now is truly unheard of. Entering the Chess Player Realm in just over ten days—this speed of cultivation has already struck fear into the hearts of those Main Seats who consider themselves high and mighty."
"Old Dog Xuanyang is deep and calculating; he will never sit idly by and watch someone completely beyond his control grow recklessly in this world."
The old woman's tone gradually softened, revealing a bit of earnest advice.
"This old woman knows you are incredibly powerful, girl, far beyond what ordinary people in the same realm can compare to. But even if you are stronger, do you really intend to fight all the Dao Lineages of the Eastern Region's Twenty-Five Lineages single-handedly?"
"Go to Yunmeng Township; only there will your natural talent not be buried... There lies the true supreme Great Dao. Why not choose a more secure path to longevity?"
The old woman, her body hunched, continued her nagging.
"Taking a step back, even if you could truly stay here, slaughter through all the Dao Lineages, and dominate the era, this fragmented Painting Realm is ultimately a death cell, locking your upper limit tight."
"In the end, you will still have to head to Yunmeng Township."
Jiang Yuechu stood with her hands behind her back, quietly listening to the old woman's long-winded speech.
Deep in her eyes, a flash of helplessness flickered.
This Old Thing had lived for so many years; his silver tongue was certainly sharp.
Saying so much nonsense.
It was nothing more than wanting to lay some groundwork in advance.
That so-called 'other method' must be extremely difficult, which was why this Old Fox was so wary that he had to first analyze the pros and cons at such length.
Jiang Yuechu couldn't be bothered to listen to these roundabout words anymore.
Just as she was about to interrupt.
Suddenly.
At the edge of the horizon, a streak of the purest gold suddenly rippled out.
Vast stretches of golden clouds surged out from the void without warning, instantly filling half the sky.
Vaguely.
The sound of vast and distant celestial music descended from the Nine Heavens.
Deep within the clouds, countless phantom cranes flapped their wings and circled, their clear cries piercing through the firmament.
Jiang Yuechu looked up, watching this sudden phenomenon. "What's the situation?"
The old woman also looked toward the sound.
Her already withered face suddenly froze in that moment, and then her expression changed drastically.
The sky full of golden light was reflected in her cloudy vertical pupils.
"This is... the appearance of the Star Palace?"
"Appearance of the Star Palace?" Jiang Yuechu frowned.
But the old woman no longer had the heart to explain anything. Instead, she suddenly looked back at Jiang Yuechu and said quickly, "There's no need to think of any other way now... The Star Palace has been opened early by someone. This old woman speculates it shouldn't be Old Dog Xuanyang's doing... Most likely something happened at Yujing Tower... But none of that matters anymore. Once the passage opens, every Chess Player Realm in this world will sense it, and all can use it to temporarily leave this cage."
"But even so... this old woman still cannot reach the mountain gate of Yunmeng Palace."
At this point, she suddenly looked at the girl with some nervousness.
Now that such a change had occurred... she didn't know if this girl would still honor their original deal.
The Chess Condensation Method had been handed over.
The object of dao integration had also been given.
The original chips had already been paid out in full in advance.
If this girl turned around and broke her word, what could she, a half-dead remnant, possibly do?
Before, she still had some confidence.
With the pressure of Old Dog Xuanyang... if only for the sake of the mortal Dynasty behind her, she wouldn't just run away halfway.
But now the Star Palace had appeared early.
Yujing Tower was clearly in chaos.
Old Dog Xuanyang was too busy looking after himself to care about this place.
This girl could completely follow that passage and leave this broken world openly, just like those Main Seats of the Eastern Region who were ready to escape at any moment.
Jiang Yuechu stood where she was.
She tilted her head slightly, looking at the golden clouds rolling across the sky.
She fell into thought.
It was indeed quite unexpected...
Just a moment ago, she was calculating in her head how difficult other methods would be.
Who would have thought.
The passage just opened by itself like this.
It certainly saved her a lot of trouble.
If it was truly as the old woman said, now that the passage was open, all the Chess Players who originally pinned their hopes on her should use this to leave this place.
Wouldn't that mean... she no longer had any concerns in this world?
The Main Seats were all running away, so who would still mess with Great Tang...
Under the old woman's slightly nervous gaze, the girl suddenly moved.
Jiang Yuechu unhurriedly straightened her cuffs and suddenly asked, "Tell me about the general situation of Yunmeng Township."
Hearing this.
A flash of bewilderment crossed the old woman's cloudy eyes.
Then.
That wrinkled old face gradually smoothed out.
Even her hunched back straightened slightly.
"In Yunmeng Township, myriad races stand tall. The Human Race has nine great Dao Sects, each occupying a portion of Luck... but when it comes to heritage, the Yao Race ultimately holds the upper hand. Yunmeng Palace is the supreme Holy Land of the Yao Race."
The old woman looked up at Jiang Yuechu.
"When you go to Yunmeng Township, remember not to be as reckless as you are in this world. If you really can't manage, find a Dao Sect to settle down first. With your talent, entering any Dao Sect won't be a problem... Once you have sufficient certainty, it won't be too late to seek out Yunmeng Palace."
Jiang Yuechu was noncommittal.
She had always been uninterested in such admonitions.
Whether she could afford to provoke someone was something she'd only know after fighting.
She only cared about practical matters.
"Where is Yunmeng Palace? How do I find it once I arrive in Yunmeng Township?"
The old woman was silent for a moment.
"Yunmeng Township is simply too large. When this old woman accidentally entered this place years ago, I was in the central region. If this passage still connects to the central region, you only need to head north all the way to find the mountain gate of Yunmeng Palace."
"If it's not in the central region."
The old woman gave a bitter smile.
"Then you can only rely on yourself to ask around. The name of Yunmeng Palace is known to everyone in Yunmeng Township; it shouldn't be hard to find out."
Jiang Yuechu nodded, indicating she understood.
She looked up again.
She looked at the golden clouds that were becoming increasingly dense in the sky.
The passage had completely stabilized.
A vast aura poured down from it.
She turned around.
Her black hem fluttered slightly in the wind.
Just as the old woman thought she was about to leap away directly.
Jiang Yuechu's footsteps suddenly stopped.
The moment she turned, her flat voice suddenly rang out: "Since you cannot leave, look after Great Tang for me while I am away."
"In return, I will do my best to deliver the message for you."
As the words fell.
A trace of genuine joy finally surfaced in the old woman's cloudy vertical pupils.
Since she was willing to personally make this promise, it meant it was definitely not a light perfunctory remark.
The old woman slowly bowed her hunched body. "Within the borders of Great Tang, as long as this old woman has one breath left, I will never let any demons or evil spirits... take half a step inside."
---
(End of Volume)