Chapter 388 Entering the courtyard, this is my master's dojo!

The atmosphere became somewhat stiff for a moment.

The Big Yellow Dog sat there quietly, wagging its tail.

Its deep eyes watched everyone calmly; it didn't seem to mind them entering the small courtyard it guarded, and even carried a faint hint of invitation.

However, to Lin Xiyue and the others, this was by no means a sign of hospitality!

Because the shabby little courtyard that had previously made them itch with curiosity, to the point where they wanted to break in directly,

had now become as eerie and terrifying as a Dragon's pool or a tiger's den, following the awakening of this mysterious Big Yellow Dog and its casual reveal of their origins!

Even Lin Xiyue, who was usually bold and had just been clamoring to go inside and investigate, swallowed hard and started having second thoughts.

Was this a joke?

A "local dog" that even Old Grandfather couldn't see through and found terrifying was guarding the gate.

Who the hell would dare to enter this gate just like that!

“Woof...”

“Why are you just standing there?”

Seeing them standing there like wooden stakes with no movement for a long time, the Big Yellow Dog seemed to grow impatient and couldn't help but urge them:

“Are you really not planning to go in and take a look?”

“You came all this way and dismantled the Formation outside. Could it be just to have a staring contest with me, the Dog Master?”

Hearing this invitation that sounded like a death warrant, Lin Xiyue's delicate body trembled, and she was completely unable to make up her mind.

She could only subconsciously turn her pleading gaze toward Elder Jian.

“Old Grandfather, what... should we do?” she asked cautiously via sound transmission.

“...”

Elder Jian's face was as solemn as water, and he didn't answer immediately.

His mind was racing, weighing the pros and cons.

Enter, or retreat?

After thinking it over, Elder Jian reached a conclusion that filled him with despair—they had no choice at all!

The current situation was that this unfathomable Big Yellow Dog was vaguely demanding they enter.

If they flatly refused or turned to run under these circumstances, who could guarantee that this yellow dog wouldn't attack instantly?

Once the other party turned hostile, with his wisp of a remnant soul plus three little children, it would definitely be a certain-death situation!

Moreover, if it were truly enraged and charged out of the East Sea, the entire Great Xia would likely suffer!

Therefore, if possible, he felt it was best to follow its wishes as much as possible and absolutely avoid offending this yellow dog of unknown origin!

Thinking of this, Elder Jian took a deep breath.

He plucked up his courage, drifted forward two more steps, solemnly cupped his hands toward the Big Yellow Dog, and spoke with a bitter smile:

“Very well, we are indeed very curious about this small courtyard.”

“Since Fellow Daoist Dog has so graciously invited us, then we... shall accept with gratitude!”

As soon as he said this, the hearts of Lin Xiyue, Gu Zhiyun, and Li Fan behind him tightened.

But they also understood that in such a truly high-level situation,

little newbies with shallow experience like them didn't even have the right to speak and could only unconditionally trust Elder Jian's judgment.

“Then come in.”

Hearing Elder Jian agree, the Big Yellow Dog still maintained that nonchalant and lazy expression.

It stretched, stood up, and without saying more,

it started walking on its four legs, slowly approaching the half-closed, dilapidated courtyard gate.

Then, it raised a furry paw and gave it a gentle push.

“Squeak—”

The wooden door made a tooth-gritting grinding sound as it was pushed wide open.

The Big Yellow Dog wagged its tail, stepped over the threshold first, and walked inside.

“Elder Jian... do we have to go in too?”

Watching the Big Yellow Dog's plump back disappear behind the door, Li Fan's forehead was covered in cold sweat as he looked at Elder Jian with worry.

“Things have come to this; there's no turning back now.”

Elder Jian gave a long sigh, his tone carrying a sense of desperate determination:

“Let's go, everyone stay close to me!”

“Remember, once inside, you must be extremely alert!”

“Do not touch anything inside recklessly!”

With that, Elder Jian steeled his heart, his illusory figure drifted, and he was the first to step into this mysterious and unpredictable courtyard.

Seeing this, Lin Xiyue, Gu Zhiyun, and Li Fan looked at each other and each took a deep breath.

“Whatever happens, happens! Let's do this!”

The three of them gritted their teeth, made up their minds, and followed closely behind Elder Jian, entering the courtyard together!

However!

With just a single step forward,

it was like a completely different world!

The moment Elder Jian took the lead and crossed the threshold, he felt his Divine Soul suddenly daze.

When he regained clarity, he suddenly realized that he had arrived in a completely different world!

The dilapidated wooden door, the simple bamboo fences, and the barren vegetable patch had long since disappeared!

In their place was a mysterious space enveloped by a vast starry sky!

The ground beneath his feet seemed to reflect the stars in the sky, and ancient, profound Dao rhymes flowed all around.

And that Big Yellow Dog was currently sitting right in the center of this mysterious space.

Beside it, an ancient willow tree brimming with divine intent was growing!

The willow's branches hung down like divine chains of order, emitting a shimmering green light,

and every willow leaf seemed to carry a miniature world.

Beneath that miraculous willow tree, a simple stone table and two stone stools were placed quietly.

“Holy crap!!”

“Didn't I just enter that courtyard?”

“Where on earth did I end up?!”

Just then, Lin Xiyue and the other two also successfully crossed the threshold and entered this space.

Upon seeing the shocking scene before her, which could be described as world-changing, Lin Xiyue let out an incredulous cry.

Li Fan and Gu Zhiyun were also completely stunned by the sight, standing there dumbstruck.

“Obviously, this is the true appearance of that courtyard!”

“The dilapidated scenery outside was just a facade to deceive the eyes.”

Although Elder Jian was also surprised, he was experienced after all and quickly regained his composure.

This kind of spatial folding technique, "a world in a grain of sand, a bodhi in a leaf,"

although he couldn't have achieved it so flawlessly in his prime, it wasn't beyond his comprehension.

“It really is a world within a world!”

Hearing Elder Jian's explanation, Gu Zhiyun's beautiful eyes stared intently at the surrounding spatial barriers, her professional habit as a Formation Master instantly kicking in.

She tried to capture the Formation nodes within this space,

only to discover in horror that everything here seemed perfectly natural, with no trace of man-made Formation lines whatsoever!

“How ridiculous! This kind of world-changing, 'Sumeru in a mustard seed' method is as natural as the Great Dao...”

“I wonder exactly what kind of place this is?”

Gu Zhiyun gasped and couldn't help but mutter to herself.

“What kind of place?”

Just then, the Big Yellow Dog sitting by the stone table in the distance seemed to hear Gu Zhiyun's murmur.

It turned its head, grinned its doggy mouth, and answered casually:

“Hehe, this is my master's dojo.”

“Master?!”

Upon hearing this, Elder Jian's heart shuddered again!

This dog really does have a master!

But...

for such an unfathomable and terrifying yellow dog, which even he, a Saint Realm remnant soul, couldn't see through at all,

just what kind of existence would be qualified to be its master?!

“Come over here.”

Before everyone could recover from their shock, the Big Yellow Dog, acting like a host, raised its front paw and casually beckoned them.

Hearing the Big Yellow Dog's summons, Elder Jian suppressed the horror in his heart.

He knew that in a place like this, everything was at the mercy of others; whether it was a blessing or a curse, there was no escaping it.

So he took the lead, guiding the equally dazed Lin Xiyue and the other two, cautiously walking toward the Divine Willow and the stone table.

When everyone tremblingly reached the spot,

Elder Jian's gaze inadvertently fell upon that simple stone table.

In the next second,

his pupils suddenly constricted, and he felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

He discovered that

on that seemingly ordinary stone table, there was actually... a chessboard placed quietly!