76: Chapter 76 Entering the Secret Realm

Just as Lin Tian and Lord Su Wan were chatting happily about the possible forms of the secret realm, details of reward distribution, and the coordination of their respective troops, Lin Yin, who was standing half a step to Lin Tian's side, saw her expression darken bit by bit, like a bright moon gradually being obscured by clouds.

Her posture remained as straight as bamboo, and her moon-white holy robe was spotless, but those eyes that always reflected a clear radiance were now slightly lowered, with long eyelashes concealing the surging emotions within.

Her lips were unconsciously pressed into a straight line, and her fingers, which had originally hung naturally at her sides, were now unconsciously twisting the soft fabric of her holy robe, gripping it tighter and tighter.

The content of the conversation between Lin Tian and Lord Su Wan was actually very serious, consisting of nothing more than battle plans, resource complementarity, and occasionally a few polite compliments about the unique features of each other's territories.

Lord Su Wan's speech was gentle and polite, her demeanor was appropriate, and she was every bit the reliable ally.

But to Lin Yin's ears, that gentle, smiling voice, the gaze that occasionally fell on Lin Tian, filled with admiration and curiosity, and Lin Tian's rare, unguarded, hearty laughter and eloquent conversation with an "outsider"... all felt like tiny thorns gently pricking her heart, bringing waves of indescribable sourness and annoyance.

"Brother Tian and her... seem to get along very well?" This thought popped up uncontrollably, making her heart tighten.

Seeing Lin Tian listen attentively and nod from time to time when Lord Su Wan spoke;

seeing the perfectly measured amazement and admiration in Lord Su Wan's eyes when Lin Tian recounted his experience hunting bears last night... these normal scenes of interaction were, through her current biased perspective, cast in a light that made her uneasy.

"Hmph, she just knows how to plant some flowers and grass, and has a bit of good luck..." Lin Yin muttered in her heart, sounding somewhat unreasonable.

Her gaze quietly swept between Lord Su Wan's exquisite and gentle face and her own cold, clear reflection in the armor, and a vague sense of comparison, which she herself had not fully realized, quietly took root.

Thus, for the next ten minutes or so, Lin Yin began to "dutifully" play the roles of "interrupter" and "reminder".

Whenever the conversation between Lin Tian and Lord Su Wan paused slightly, or the atmosphere seemed too "harmonious," Lin Yin's cold, clear voice would interject at the right moment.

"Lord Su Wan, what is the maximum healing range of your Elves? We need precise data to plan the formation rotation."

"Brother Tian, are you thirsty? I have water here." As she said this, she actually took a water skin from her small pouch and handed it to Lin Tian, her movements natural yet carrying an air that brooked no refusal.

The timing and reasons for her interruptions were impeccable, and her tone maintained the respect and calmness of a subordinate, but the subtle intention to interrupt and separate the two could not be hidden from the sharp-minded Lord Su Wan.

Lord Su Wan would smile and patiently answer Lin Yin's questions each time, or smoothly steer the topic back to business, though the look of knowing and good-natured teasing in her eyes became increasingly obvious.

Lin Tian initially just thought Lin Yin was unusually attentive and proactive today, and was even gratified to feel that she had grown and learned to participate in strategic discussions.

But as the frequency of Lin Yin's interruptions increased and her reasons became increasingly "trivial," he finally realized belatedly that something was amiss. This girl... why does she seem a bit... cranky?

Finally, when Lin Tian was chatting happily with Lord Su Wan again about the cultivation experience of a certain spiritual fruit, and they even agreed to trade seeds in the future, Lin Yin took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

She stepped forward half a step, blocking the space between Lin Tian and Lord Su Wan, tilted her face up towards Lin Tian, and spoke in a voice slightly clearer and louder than usual, carrying a hint of imperceptible tension:

"Brother Tian, it's getting late, shouldn't the idle chatter be about over? The soldiers have finished resting and are in prime condition.

Isn't it... time to prepare to enter the secret realm?" After finishing, she quickly glanced at Lord Su Wan, then immediately withdrew her gaze and stared intently at Lin Tian, waiting for his response. In those eyes, there was persistence, urgency, and a trace of... almost imperceptible grievance?

"Uh? Oh, right!" Lin Tian was taken aback by her sudden "reminder." He looked up at the sky, then at the two thousand armored soldiers and five hundred Elves not far away, who had long since finished regrouping and were standing by solemnly, and only then did he realize that they had indeed been chatting for a while.

He patted his forehead with some embarrassment and smiled at Lord Su Wan: "Look at me, I forgot about business as soon as I started chatting. Lord Su Wan, shall we begin now?"

Lord Su Wan heard Lin Yin's series of small actions and that final remark characterizing their conversation as "idle chatter" clearly. She was amused in her heart, but did not show it on her face, and still nodded gently: "Good, Lord Lin Tian is right, business comes first."

The two said no more, turned around, and walked towards their respective armies.

Lin Tian gestured to Lin Feng, who immediately gave a low shout to reorganize the ranks. The two thousand Heavy Armored Spearmen quickly tightened their formation, lining up alongside the five hundred Elven phalanx on Lord Su Wan's side, facing the center of the clearing. Although the Elves were a bit nervous, under the gaze of Lord Su Wan's gentle yet firm eyes, they managed to steady their footing.

Lord Su Wan stepped forward, flipped her palm, and the secret realm challenge token, swirling with the luster of the secret realm vortex, appeared in her fair hand. She wore a solemn expression, held the token high, and communicated with it mentally.

"In the name of Moonlight Grove Lord Su Wan, and ally Lin Tian City Lord Lin Tian, activate the secret realm challenge!"

The token suddenly erupted with a brilliant, dazzling silver-white radiance that shot into the sky! The light gathered, stretched, and took shape in front of everyone, finally transforming into a giant light gate eight meters high and about five meters wide!

The door was composed of pure and solid silver-white light halos, its surface flowing slowly like water ripples, emitting powerful and stable spatial fluctuations. Inside the door was a deep, rotating silver vortex, and nothing could be seen within.

"According to the plan, enter in batches!" Lin Tian ordered in a deep voice.

"First squad, advance!"

"Second squad, follow up!"

...

The Heavy Armored Spearmen and Elves followed the previously rehearsed order, entering the light gate quickly in units of one hundred, their figures instantly swallowed by the silver vortex, silently and without a trace.

The entire process was orderly, and in just a few minutes, all two thousand five hundred people had entered.

Finally, only five people remained: Lin Tian, Lin Yin, Lin Feng, Lord Su Wan, and her guard, Aelia.

Lin Tian looked at Lord Su Wan, who nodded at him.

Lin Tian looked at Lin Yin beside him, only to find that she had already tightly gripped her moonlight longbow at some point, her eyes staring sharply at the light gate. The previous small emotions seemed to have been replaced by the focus of impending battle, though she still followed closely by his side.

"Let's go." Lin Tian said to the four of them, taking the first step and entering the swirling silver light gate.

Lin Yin stepped forward almost at the same time as him, never leaving his side. Lin Feng, Lord Su Wan, and Aelia followed closely behind.

A brief but stronger sense of spatial displacement than the previous teleportation washed over them, as if they had instantly traversed an endless distance.

When the feeling of standing on solid ground returned, the scene before their eyes had completely changed.

They appeared on an extremely vast, boundless emerald plain.

Beneath their feet was soft, lush green grass that stretched to the horizon, meeting the clear blue sky. The air was filled with an extremely fresh scent of vegetation, yet it strangely carried a faint, elusive sense of oppression.