From the moment Wu Guang got into the sealed carriage, he understood that this time the measures were really serious.
Albeit it looked to be the same, and even the runes that prevented one's aura to sense outside were pretty common... The number of formations was simply staggering. No one expected Wu Guang to be able to sense and identify them, but even so, they were disguised to look like a simple, single, durability formation!
Which it wasn't at all. But what it did was to fully separate the insides and the outside, almost making it appear two different worlds. Aura, consciousness, mind-power, senses, and any other means would be cut off from both sides. Not only that, the formation responsible for the defense was double-sided, and so no one except the strongest of the Warrior Lord cultivators of the Plane could even hope to scratch it, be it from inside or outside. The separation was so well made that even Chun Hua could not leave the carriage if she wanted, meaning that even the void was sealed!
After the door was closed, "How many experts, orbs, and resources were needed to create this? I can only wonder..." Wu Guang's thoughts were comprised only of this materialistic question.
"We are setting off, we will reach our destination exactly at midday" Xian Zhenya informed.
"Got it"
Seemingly the timing was planned beforehand, as indeed when the door opened and Wu Guang exited, the sun had just reached its peak.
He could not say much about the location, as it looked like a common garden with a few roads crisscrossing it. Granted, it was very rich in different plants, including Spirit ones, but except that it looked normal.
"We need to wait here for a few minutes" Xian Zhenya explained. They had been silent and pretty gloomy while inside, something that could be explained by the forced loss of all connection with the outside. Even though Wu Guang felt confident in his means, he still could not be sure of escaping the carriage if he wanted to do so.
"Mmm, all right" After answering, Wu Guang quickly remembered Chun Hua to avoid moving, as there may be methods to track even a void creature like herself. Afterward, to keep up his persona, he asked a question that had aroused his curiosity
"Senior, could you explain to me how the carriage is moved? I noticed the first time that there was no one holding the reins, but supposed that it was because the person doing so arrived and left while the doors were closed. But now, with how strict the measures are, I am wondering if that is true?"
"Haha, there is not much secret about that. Look at the horses, do they appear as common animals?"
"Yes" Wu Guang indeed had already glanced at them, but could not sense anything except the animals being normal horses. Maybe a bit taller and with a very nice black fur, but without any spirituality.
"That's is both right and mistaken. The horses are indeed a non-spiritual breed, but their intelligence is far better than even some people. After the door is closed, they move according to a route they have learned. That's all"
"...so the horses are different for each route?"
"More-or-less"
"I see, thank you for the explanation"
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A few minutes later as indicated by Xian Zhenya, a pair of people approached from the eastern part of the garden. Both of them looked like soldiers, but with their armor being a perfectly smithed black plate made of at least Spiritual grade metal, their status was far higher. They also carried an entire arsenal of weapons on themselves, each being armed with a spear, shield, sword, and a bow with its quiver. These weapons also emanated qi, making them definitively Spirit grade as well.
With closed helms that only left a slight opening as a visage, and with their cultivations being concealed by their armor or a treasure it was impossible to glean anything about them. And even when one of them spoke up, the voice sounded distorted, masking the gender.
"Place any weapons or items on yourself inside your storage ring and place this seal on it. Then follow us"
"Host rules are meant to be respected" Wu Guang nodded while complying. He also was not surprised to hear that they knew about his storage ring, after all, it was something granted to him by the Sect. As for the seal, it was a talisman created with mind-power, making it impossible to access the ring without first destroying the talisman, something that would alert its creator or raise a general alarm.
When the armored guard confirmed the seal placement, both of them turned around and motioned for Wu Guang to follow.
With Xian Zhenya staying behind, seemingly complying with her orders, he was led by the two guards through the enormous garden.
After walking at a mortal but brisk pace for about an hour, which meant five miles or so, they arrived in front of a small, common-looking, thatched-roof, wooden hut.
"Go inside"
"Mmm"
Wu Guang sensed that the hut was just an illusion created by some kind of formation, but even so, he could not fully understand its function or sense what was hidden underneath. Given enough time he would have no trouble, but... In any case, if they wanted to harm or kill him, there had been far better, and easier, opportunities.
"Chun Hua, stay outside for now. If you sense that I begin to move, then try and remain on the edge of our bind" And after transmitting this quick instruction, Wu Guang disappeared behind the door, which was right away closed and flanked by the two armored cultivators.
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Days quickly, and boringly passed for Chun Hua. Being unable to communicate with anyone except Wu Guang, whose consciousness seemed to have entered some kind of trance, and so he was unreachable... She simply spent the days floating in the void without making many movements.
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The surroundings, or at least what she could see, did not change at all except the sun and moon cruising the sky. Even the guards remained standing still in the same position as before, to the sides of the door inside which... her liberator? her master? or simply Wu Guang? had entered.
It was only on the seventh day that the door opened again, and Wu Guang exited. He looked the same as when he entered, which was a good sign, at least in her understanding.
"Wu Guang! What happened?! I could only barely sense you these days" Albeit it sounded strangely emotional even to her, she did not care and instantly began to throw questions at him.
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"Wait... Not here, not now. Let us first leave and I will answer everything" Wu Guang responded mentally before turning towards the guards and indicating he was ready to leave.
Equally silent and moving in a brisk, but mortal pace, the guards guided him towards the place where the carriage and Xian Zhenya were already, or since the beginning, waiting for him.
Seemingly even she had received some kind of orders, as there was none of the usual joking or even greetings.
She silently opened the door and closed it right after him, without getting on herself.
A few hours later, the carriage stopped. And a soldier clad in the armor of the common soldiers, like the ones in 'Crow Nest', opened the door. Wu Guang exited, took a look around, and then inquisitively glanced at the soldier.
"The ship meant for you, Lord, is that one" Understanding what the young man in front of him intended to ask, the soldier quickly pointed towards an enormous, at least ten times bigger vessel than the one that had brought Wu Guang to this land.
With a silent nod in thanks, Wu Guang began walking towards the extended boarding stairs.
His current location was none other than the Imperial biggest military port and shipyard complex, located a dozen or so miles from the capital in the biggest northern bay of the inner gulf. As for the ship he was currently boarding, it was one that he had already been told about. It was the flagship of the fleet that would sail off to invade, conquer, and destroy any opposition on... Eagle Island.
Called the 'Emperor's Fist', it was a formation-powered ship manned by a hundred sailors and loaded with three hundred elite soldiers. Another four such ships as well some extra, smaller ones comprised the fleet that would assembly a day later and set sail towards their destination.
After boarding the ship, Wu Guang was received by a sailor that quickly led him towards a small cabin, inside which Wu Guang locked the door and practically dropped on the bed.
Even though he looked fine, his inner condition was a bit off. So... what could have affected someone like Wu Guang, or better said Bai Qi, to such an extent? Such was the main question that Chun Hua asked herself after observing and sensing him. Wu Guang guessed that it may be so and after a few moments took the initiative to speak up
"Do not worry, I am just a bit worn out by everything that happened lately. The key is bound to me and is draining me of a fair bit of Soul-power right now, which adds even more to my situation. I should get accustomed to it in a few hours, and then I will be able to tell you more"
"There is not much need for that, simply... where are we going?"
"The ship will set off towards the Eagle Kingdom, but we will change ships midway to reach Half-Island"
"Understood, can I explore the ship?"
"Wait for a second" Wu Guang suddenly stood up and made a series of seals. Chun Hua felt that she was touched by some kind of energy, but what was its effect? She could not tell. But the following words solved the question before she could ask
"It's a spell to conceal you from all the formations that can sense anything in the void"
"All?"
"Well, all local ones"
"...I will be leaving for now then"
"Go ahead, I will... seclude myself for a few hours"
With Chun Hua leaving to go snoop around, maybe because she was simply too bored, Wu Guang took a few long breaths and sat down cross-legged on the floor. Before submerging into a deep meditation, he quickly set up a pair of alarm spells, extended his aura and senses... Making it impossible for anyone or anything below the Earth Realm to approach him covertly.
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And there was indeed a need for him to calmly analyze and get used to everything he had learned during this week.
Most of the things were good or at least would not affect him directly in any way, but having another sudden change in his and the plane's situation was a bit difficult to get used to.
Especially when he was almost sure that he had guessed, found, asked, or explained about most things.
Wu Guang remained in such a state for a day and a half, missing the moment when the ship departed, or the other ships joining with it.
He did not care for either, but... If he was able to, he would have sated his usual curiosity about what, how, and how much was being sent on such a mission.
Chun Hua had returned a few hours ago but did not make any attempt to communicate with him, seemingly judging that he was busy.
"I am pretty much done. Are you still uninterested in learning what I have?"
"...you could tell me if you want" If she had a face, it would surely be making a scowl or something, or at least her tone was sour enough to think that.
"I will do better, let me give you a glance to the memories I can share and then resume my current situation" Saying this, Wu Guang selected a few fragments of what had happened to him inside that formation disguised as a hut... Basically, everything he could share without activating the three - inner demons, heavens, and honor oaths he had given.