Time swiftly passed from noon to sunset.
By then, it was no longer suitable to continue fighting the Mine Wraiths.
So the Zhou Family disciples began withdrawing in an orderly fashion. The formations around the spiritual ground rose up, sealing all the Mine Wraiths that wanted to pursue them inside.
After battling all afternoon, the Zhou Family disciples sprawled crookedly across the ground, gulping down breaths without a trace of a cultivator's usual elegance.
They were clearly exhausted.
That was only natural.
In truth, they had never experienced this kind of genuine life-and-death magical battle. Some of them had even suffered fairly serious injuries.
The fact that not a single cultivator had died was already enough to prove their strength.
When the cocoon beside Li Ye split open and he stepped out, what he saw was a scene like the aftermath of war—
The cultivators were slumped on the ground without regard for appearances, blood seeping from their arms and bodies to varying degrees, while healers busily treated the Zhou Family disciples.
In the distance, an enormous curtain of light rose up, keeping all the Mine Wraiths trapped within. The ground was covered in lotus buds; only a few dozen had bloomed, while the rest remained tightly closed.
Those few dozen flowers were what he had managed to create over half a day.
The price was that even standing here, Li Ye could still feel tearing pain throughout his body. His vision darkened in waves, as though the black resentment had never truly dispersed.
"Are you all right?" Qian Fang hurried over at once, reaching out to support Li Ye.
"I'm fine." Li Ye shook his head and refused his help. Looking up at the sky, he said softly, "Now I understand why one needs a healthy, cheerful state of