Having concluded their discussion, the two immediately prepared to leave. To avoid detection by the Thirteen Protectors, they exited the room directly through the jikan (gap). In the mere blink of an eye, they were already miles away, while the Thirteen Protectors, whose duty included guarding the house, were still sound asleep.

Upon emerging from the jikan, Xiao Zi suddenly noticed You Xiang clutching her parasol to her chest, causing her to pause, and she asked with confusion, "Wait, why are you holding a parasol?"

You Xiang chuckled, brandishing the parasol in her hand a few times with a secretive expression. "What do you think this is?"

"What else could it be? It’s an umbrella," Xiao Zi replied matter-of-factly. Then, realizing You Xiang wouldn't ask such a trivial question, she pondered for a moment before adding, "Although umbrellas are for sheltering from wind and rain, for me, it feels more appropriate as an accessory. Is there an issue with that?"

"Exactly, it's an accessory." You Xiang nodded. "If most people see us girls carrying an umbrella on a sunny day, nine times out of ten they'll assume it’s for decoration or to block the sun. But watch this."

Saying this, You Xiang suddenly pointed the handle of the umbrella forward, directing the tip toward a large rock not far away. Instantly, a beam of magical energy shot from the tip, striking the boulder with a loud boom and blasting it into dust.

"Th-that’s incredible!" Xiao Zi was instantly stunned.

"Hehe." You Xiang relished Xiao Zi's expression a bit too proudly. "While my comprehension skills might not match yours, Master also said my burst power surpasses yours. Coupled with my abundant magical energy, I’m perfectly suited for charged attacks. So, I’ve decided to call this move the 'Magic Cannon.'"

You Xiang’s pride was understandable. She had always been a melee fighter, accustomed to engaging in close-quarters brawls. Facing enemies who relied on ranged bombardment was always agonizing. With this Magic Cannon, however, she too could engage from a distance. Even if it couldn't serve as her main attack, it could at least provide cover and distraction.

Of course, the real point wasn't the Magic Cannon itself, but firing the Magic Cannon through the umbrella.

"For yokai, they themselves are the most powerful weapons, so most yokai don't need weaponry. Even those that do use tools, they are clearly things like swords or spears, as expected. But what if I use a mere accessory like an umbrella as a weapon? What do you think will happen?"

"I see now." After hearing You Xiang’s explanation, Xiao Zi finally grasped the situation: both theoretically and practically, very few people would consider an umbrella a weapon. If two people were confronting each other, and one saw the other holding an umbrella, they would habitually dismiss it as ornamentation.

After all, to yokai, an umbrella posed less of a threat than a small pebble.

This meant the umbrella could play an extremely crucial role when the time came.

Naturally, this strategy also depended on the intelligence of the user. If the user kept the umbrella openly in hand during a fight, even the dullest enemy would eventually suspect a plot.

Xiao Zi’s mind raced, and she immediately said, "Then I'll fetch my umbrella too."

As she spoke, Xiao Zi reached into the jikan and pulled her hand out. When she withdrew it, she held a beautiful Western-style umbrella.

"..." You Xiang was speechless, unable to resist muttering, "Now that’s the essential skill for traveling, settling down, or committing arson."

Xiao Zi replied, "While I can't manage that kind of explosive power you have, it should still be useful at a critical moment." With the jikan at her disposal, she could be even more elusive.

Fully equipped, the pair set off toward their destination a short while later. Since they were quite far away, there were no yokai in their immediate vicinity, so they traveled on foot initially rather than using the jikan.

After about three hours, just as dawn was about to break, the two girls finally arrived at the gorge known as the Blessed Land.

"Let's observe from here first," You Xiang said to Xiao Zi, peering stealthily at the situation in the opposite canyon from their perch in a large, leafy tree.

Xiao Zi nodded and looked across the gorge as well.

Both possessed night vision, so even in the profound darkness, their observations were unimpeded. What they saw next stunned them, completely exceeding their expectations.

"Damn it. I knew many yokai would covet that Blessed Land, but I didn't expect there to be this many," You Xiang gasped, drawing a sharp breath. In her vision, though the yokai weren't densely packed, their numbers were countless. A rough count suggested at least a thousand yokai, their overlapping demonic auras creating a terrifying atmosphere.

"It seems that Blessed Land really is something special to attract so many yokai," Xiao Zi murmured, though there were no Lord-level yokai among them, most possessed strength superior to the Thirteen Protectors, and some, based on the sheer capacity of their yōki, seemed far stronger than even them.

Against such opponents, they stood no chance of direct confrontation.

And yet, despite this multitude of yokai, none had yet found a way into the Blessed Land. How powerful, then, must the yokai currently occupying it be?

Thinking this, Xiao Zi glanced at You Xiang, contemplating suggesting they retreat. This wasn't cowardice, but the most prudent judgment after considering all factors. For survival, she wouldn't shrink from any number of enemies, but this particular challenge seemed entirely unnecessary.

However, the moment she saw the eager look stirring on You Xiang’s face, Xiao Zi knew that anything she said would be useless. She resignedly suppressed the words she was about to offer.

After thoroughly assessing their surroundings, You Xiang finally decided to infiltrate. Xiao Zi then activated her ability, completely masking both of their presences, and used the jikan to move toward the depths of the gorge.

As the world's only jikan yokai, even though her power was still weak, her unique ability was completely uncrackable. Therefore, not a single yokai detected them, and they proceeded unimpeded to the innermost part of the gorge.

"Found it, it's right here," Xiao Zi said to You Xiang a short while later, standing on a grassy patch.

"That fast?" You Xiang exclaimed in surprise.

Xiao Zi nodded. "My jikan operates on space and dimension. Although I haven't reached the dimensional realm yet, this crystal of the Blessed Land only targets space, so passing through the jikan allows for quick location. However..."

Pausing there, Xiao Zi frowned. "Are you really decided? I have a faint feeling that there is something terrifying inside."

You Xiang’s heart skipped a beat, but she responded without hesitation, "Since we came all this way, there is no turning back now."

"...Very well, then let's go in."

Finally, Xiao Zi opened the jikan once more, and the two girls vanished from their spot as if they had never been there at all.