Five Years!

"Hmph, good that you're being cooperative."

Luo Liuli let out a cold snort. With a slight twist of her fingertips, she condensed that wisp of silver-gray Soul Power into a translucent Soul Bead.

She flicked her finger, and the bead transformed into a stream of light, landing in Wei Qing's palm.

"Within five years, raise your strength to its peak," her form began to fade, becoming transparent. "This seal can hold for at most five more years."

Before her words even finished, a red blur flashed, and Luo Liuli vanished into Wei Qing's forehead.

Everyone present merely saw his body pause slightly, unaware of what had transpired.

"Five years?" Wei Qing rubbed the silver bead in his hand, his brow furrowed.

He knew all too well—after five years, there were only two paths: either break through to Martial King within the five years, or enlist the help of a Human Race powerhouse. There was no third option.

"Qingzi? What's wrong?" Jun Wushang patted his shoulder.

"Nothing."

Wei Qing collected his thoughts and pretended to approach the sealing array to form seals. In reality, he used the cover of his sleeve to retrieve the Soul Bead.

Clutching the silver bead, he turned back to face the crowd. "Alright, the soul power of the demons and monsters is secured."

"That's great! We can finally leave this cursed place!" Dongfang Rongrong leaped up excitedly, her hair flying as she did.

Joy also appeared on everyone else's faces.

Tantai Yue glanced thoughtfully at Wei Qing's forehead, the Ice Soul Sword in its sheath vibrating softly.

She seemed to sense something, but ultimately didn't press the issue.

Wei Qing stepped forward and pressed the silver bead onto the core of the array.

Instantly, the entire grand array lit up with silver light, and the array patterns on the ground began to flow as if infused with life.

The silver bead spun slowly at the array's eye, releasing a halo with each rotation.

As the ninth halo spread out, the space above the array suddenly warped, and a portal with rippling water-like patterns gradually took shape.

Starlight flowed within the portal, and familiar scenery from the outside world could be vaguely seen.

Just as Wei Qing was about to step into the teleportation gate, a strange call suddenly came from the depths of the Black Mist Wasteland.

The feeling was as if someone had grabbed him, causing his footsteps to halt involuntarily.

"What's wrong?"

Tantai Yue, walking beside him, turned back sharply.

"Nothing."

Wei Qing shook his head, paying no further attention to the source of that calling sensation.

The origin of the Black Mist Wasteland was too mysterious; to this day, no one had discovered what lay in its deepest reaches.

With his current strength, venturing there would be far too dangerous.

"Let's go!"

Wei Qing commanded in a deep voice, his figure already disappearing into the resplendent teleportation gate.

The others dared not hesitate, stepping into the distorted light screen one after another.

The moment the last figure vanished.

The previously dying Silver Moon Demon King suddenly raised its head, its wounds healing at a visible rate.

Fierce light surged in its purple eyes, and a chilling whisper emerged from between its fangs: "When this king breaks free... I will make you wish you were never born!"

Outside the Wasteland

The air before Feng Wuyai and the others suddenly rippled like water.

A teleportation gate, swirling with starlight, appeared out of thin air, echoing the array deep within the black mist.

"Alert!"

Zhang Zhidong formed seals with his sword finger, and Liu Xinghe drew his long saber three inches from its sheath.

The weapons of the elders from various sects glinted, forming a stern defensive line.

Although they had confirmed their disciples were temporarily safe after the Blood Robe Gate members perished earlier, they didn't know if the ones emerging from this sudden teleportation gate were their disciples or enemies.

If they were enemies, they had to be eliminated immediately.

Under the tense gazes of everyone, the starlight fluctuated, and Wei Qing's blood-stained dark official robe appeared first.

Tantai Yue, Jun Wushang, and the others behind him appeared one by one, each with the exhaustion of having survived a great ordeal on their faces.

"Mother."

Zhang Xue, like a fledgling swallow that had weathered a storm, rushed into Shen Yan's arms.

Shen Yan opened her arms and held her daughter tightly, her fingers trembling as she stroked her messy hair.

"It's good that you're alright... It's good that you're alright."

Zhang Zhidong's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally relaxed upon seeing his daughter return safely.

"Master."

"Father."

"Master, Elder."

Amidst his joy, Zhao Santong was the first to notice the cultivation levels of his two disciples, and his smile suddenly froze on his face.

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, his voice changing pitch, "Rongrong, Yuanming, what happened to your cultivation?"

The Seventh-Rank High-Tier aura circulating around Dongfang Rongrong made the Sect Master of Qingshan Sect's fingers tremble—before entering the wasteland, she was clearly only Eighth-Rank High-Tier!

And Song Yuanming had even broken through to Sixth-Rank Primary, only two minor realms below him, his master.

This was at least three minor realms higher than before they entered the Black Mist Wasteland!

"Sixth-Rank Intermediate?" Xuan Yue Li grabbed Nangong Ruyan's wrist, and after probing her True Essence, her pupils contracted, "This... how is this possible..."

Zhang Zhidong and Shen Yan exchanged a look, and simultaneously probed Zhang Xue's meridians, then gasped, "Seventh-Rank Mid-Tier..."

The elders of the various sects present finally noticed the abnormality and began to check their own disciples' cultivation levels.

The results shocked everyone—

The disciples who emerged from the Black Mist Wasteland had either not broken through, or if they had, it was at least a two-minor-realm increase.

At the same time, they also discovered that some disciples were missing.

Thus, they began to inquire.

While they were happy about the mysterious inheritance that benefited their disciples, they also learned of the Blood Robe Gate's collusion with demons and monsters.

"What?!" Zhao Santong roared, his beard and hair bristling, "Damn it! I knew that bastard Zhou Xing ran faster than a rabbit!"

Liu Xinghe's expression was as dark as water, "After returning to the sect, immediately convene all the sects. Such traitors as the Blood Robe Gate cannot be allowed to live until tomorrow!"

Xuan Yue Li: "Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

The Sect Masters and elders of all the sects were furious, especially those whose disciples had perished, wishing they could march on the Blood Robe Gate right now.

Feng Wuyai walked slowly to Wei Qing, rare solemnity flashing in his eyes, "Wei Qing, if you hadn't turned the tide this time, my lineage might have been severed."

"Consider this a favor I owe you. If you need anything in the future, I will do my utmost to assist you."

"My Blazing Sun Sect also owes you a favor. If you need anything, the entire sect will help you."

"My Mystic Maiden Palace as well."

"And our Qingshan Sect."

All the sects present made their promises one by one.

Not only had Wei Qing protected their sect's inheritance, but they had also learned from their disciples that Wei Qing was a peerless genius, Seventh-Rank Advanced at the age of 16.

With such terrifying talent, under the protection of the Heavenly Realm Division, as long as Wei Qing did not perish, he would undoubtedly become a terrifying existence capable of suppressing the Great Zhou or even the Eastern Domain in the future.

As they made their promises, they were undoubtedly also seeking to forge connections.

Seeing this, Zhang Zhidong's expression shifted slightly.

Wei Qing had instantly become the protected target of the major powers in Jizhou. It could be said that even setting aside his identity within the Heavenly Realm Division, no force in Jizhou would dare to offend Wei Qing easily in the future.

"Esteemed seniors, eliminating demons is part of the Heavenly Realm Division's duty. You don't need to..."