The situation was dire. Watching Dan Chi still hesitating, Huang'er didn't press him any further.
"The southeastern region has the most favorable terrain for a breakout. I'll hold them off for a quarter of an hour. After that, I'm afraid I won't be of any more help."
With that, her figure swayed slightly, and the mysterious cloaked shadow vanished into the void.
At that moment, everyone's attention was fixed on Dan Chi. Seeing Huang'er, draped in her mysterious cloak, suddenly disappear, the crowd was somewhat taken aback.
Her vanishing speed was almost beyond the limits of their imagination.
"Palace Master Dan Chi, is this person from your Dan Qian Palace?" the patriarch of the Sacred Ape Clan from the Grand Sacred Hall asked curiously.
Palace Master Dan Chi gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "My Dan Qian Palace doesn't have such fortune."
He was feeling extremely anxious at this moment. His intuition told him that what the mysterious cloaked figure had said was likely true, but he simply couldn't bring himself to abandon the younger generation of geniuses.
However, the mysterious cloaked figure had also made it clear there was only a quarter of an hour. Her attitude couldn't have been more obvious—she would hold them off for a quarter of an hour at most.
If they missed that golden window, they would have to face the consequences on their own.
What should he do?
Palace Master Dan Chi was torn apart inside. The younger generation was Dan Qian Palace's future. If the younger generation couldn't be saved, then even if the older generation escaped, it wouldn't mean much.
But then again, if all of them fell here, then even if the sect wasn't completely destroyed, it would be more or less finished.
"Dan Chi, old brother, what did that person say to you just now? You reacted so strongly." Xiang Wentian was far more curious about that.
Hearing Xiang Wentian's question, Dan Chi's hesitation vanished. His expression grew solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Brother Xiang, the situation is urgent."
"What do you mean?" Xiang Wentian frowned.
"We've been surrounded." Palace Master Dan Chi said gravely. "That mysterious friend just informed me that a large number of forces have formed a cordon around us."
The moment these words left his mouth, the entire crowd erupted.
"What did you say?"
"Palace Master Dan Chi, don't make jokes like that."
"Exactly—who would dare surround us? How is that even possible!"
In an instant, the scene filled with voices of rebuke. While nothing too harsh was said, it was clear that no one believed Palace Master Dan Chi's claim.
However, there were some perceptive individuals who remained silent, their expressions grave as they watched Palace Master Dan Chi, evidently trying to discern whether this was true or false.
Seeing the serious expression on Palace Master Dan Chi's face—it was clearly no joke—those who had been clamoring gradually quieted down.
Because they saw that the various sect leaders all looked extremely serious.
Suddenly, everyone's hearts clenched. Could it really be true that they had been surrounded?
Xiang Wentian's expression turned icy cold. "Dan Chi, old brother, you can't say things like that carelessly."
"Brother Xiang, you know me—would I be the kind of person to spout nonsense? Besides, that mysterious person said he could hold them off for a quarter of an hour."
"What does that mean?" Xiang Wentian asked in a low voice.
"He said he'd hold them off for a quarter of an hour so we could seize the chance to break out. If we go beyond that quarter of an hour, we'll have to deal with the consequences ourselves." Dan Chi said solemnly.
The muscles on Xiang Wentian's face twitched slightly, his expression extremely conflicted. "A quarter of an hour? Is it really that serious?"
"Patriarch, if you want to know whether it's true, why not just send someone to scout?" Elder Xiang Qian said with a cold laugh. He clearly didn't trust Palace Master Dan Chi's words.
The last time at the Ancient Medicine Garden, Elder Xiang Qian had been played by Jiang Chen in the end, and he still harbored a grudge against Dan Qian Palace.
He believed this might just be another trick by Dan Qian Palace.
Palace Master Dan Chi's expression changed. "Absolutely not. Sending scouts right now would tip off the enemy. Alerting them would only make things worse for us."
Elder Xiang Qian sneered. "I'm actually quite curious—who is that mysterious person? What gives him the right to so kindly warn us? Palace Master Dan Chi, it's not that I, Xiang Qian, am suspicious, but I think your Dan Qian Palace is being somewhat alarmist."
He had expected Palace Master Dan Chi to argue with him.
But Dan Chi ignored him completely. Instead, he turned to Xiang Wentian and said, "Brother Xiang, I've told you what I know, and I've done my part. I choose to believe him. Whether you do or not—Dan Chi has no right to interfere."
With that, Dan Chi turned to the Dan Qian Palace members who had accompanied them. "Everyone, crisis strikes without warning. We must break out now."
Elder Lian Cheng was somewhat surprised. From what he knew of Palace Master Dan Chi, he didn't seem like the type to abandon the sect's geniuses.
Was he really going to leave those young people in the Myriad Phenomena Extreme Realm behind?
"Palace Master, what about Qing Hong and the others?" Elder Lian Cheng asked deliberately.
"They're in the Myriad Phenomena Extreme Realm—for now, they won't be in any immediate danger. Right now, this is also an opportunity to test them."