Several juniors followed suit, completing their transformations before they approached the Boundary Gate.
Up close, they realized that the tightly shut gate was devoid of any adornments; its white surface was as rough as weathered marble, pitted and worn by the elements. Compared to the aesthetic trend in the Magic Kingdom where Favo Runes were inscribed everywhere, so much that one might wish to put a couple on the soles of their shoes, this door seemed excessively plain.
It was precisely in the center of this door that a pair of neatly dressed, blonde twins stood with dignified smiles, welcoming the travelers before them.
Without a doubt, they were the "Guards" Emerald Sparrow had previously mentioned.
One of the twins had long hair, giving off a slightly more capable air; the other had short hair, appearing more approachable. Since their features were androgynous and their height and build were neither distinctive nor average, it was impossible to discern their gender from their appearance.
But these things weren't really what mattered most.
Most importantly, both had a pair of antennae-like whiskers on their heads and behind them, wings that resembled the transparent wings of a cicada, yet refracted multicolored light.
Were these decorations? Or perhaps some kind of spell?
Lin Xiaolu had such doubts in her mind, but she remembered Emerald Sparrow's instructions and kept her mouth tightly shut, not voicing any questions.
"Distinguished travelers, welcome to the Boundary Gate," said the twin standing on the left.
"Please maintain order, form a line, do not crowd, and pass through in an orderly sequence," the twin on the right continued.
After speaking, they closed their mouths, making no further movements or words.
Is there no need to open the gate?
Lin Xiaolu thought to herself, and before she could ponder further, the Magical Girl at the front of the line answered her question with action: she stepped forward, placed her palm on the door of the Boundary Gate, and in a swift motion, she passed through and vanished from before it.
The process was so simple that it required no explanation; after seeing it done once, anyone could replicate it. Thus, whether it was their first time or not, all the passengers followed the example of the Magical Girl and passed through the Boundary Gate.
The entire procedure was straightforward, and the twins, like statues, stood still at either side without any intent to interfere.
The line moved steadily forward until it was Emerald Sparrow's group's turn at the door.
Without a word, Emerald Sparrow took the last spot in line, signaling her juniors to pass through first.
Taking the lead, Lin Xiaolu didn't think too much about it and walked up to the door with steps stiff from nerves, placed her hand on it. Accompanied by a flash of light, she disappeared.
Xia Liang was next. By appearance, she seemed much more at ease than Lin Xiaolu, but she had also dropped her usually spirited demeanor and approached the door with obedient small steps. She placed her hand on the gate, and quickly, her figure too vanished.
The third person was Bai Jingxuan, who seemed less composed than the first two. She only took three steps forward before turning to look back at Emerald Sparrow twice. To this, Emerald Sparrow could only signal her with her eyes to remain calm, with no other recourse.
After all, both of them knew what Bai Jingxuan was worried about. Compared to the forthright Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang, Bai Jingxuan was indeed tainted with the Magic Power of the Remnant Beasts. If the Guards nearby sensed something amiss, things would be difficult to manage.
Because of this mental pressure, even though Bai Jingxuan tried her best to compose herself, her legs still felt weak. She could only muster courage for herself, following Emerald Sparrow's instructions, approaching the gate with the calmest demeanor she could display.
Then, she placed her hand toward the Boundary Gate.
At that moment, one of the twins suddenly spoke up:
"My apologies, traveler, for taking a moment of your time. Would you be willing to cooperate with us for a simple routine inspection?"
Bai Jingxuan's hand froze.
Those were the only words left in her mind; too anxious to think straight, she couldn't come up with any effective solution.
She only remembered what Emerald Sparrow had said earlier: if these Guards made a request, cooperate with them as much as possible and avoid any strong reactions. But if she really complied with their inspection, what if they discovered something?
All the travelers before had passed through smoothly, yet it was only when it was her turn that they proposed an inspection. No matter how she thought about it, this couldn't be a mere coincidence; the two Guards must have detected something unusual to stop her.
But Bai Jingxuan knew she couldn't hesitate for too long, as doing so would appear even more suspicious. Thus, she had to force down her panic, lift her head, and speak—
Emerald Sparrow's voice came from behind her, interrupting Bai Jingxuan's speech.
The attention of the two Guards immediately shifted to Emerald Sparrow, and one of them said, "My apologies, traveler, even if you are companions, please do not interfere with our duties. We ask that you wait here, and we will give you a response as soon as possible..."