With everyone's strength greatly improved, the atmosphere inside the cave abode grew considerably lighter.
Hongchu clapped Dijiang on the shoulder and boasted of his exploits in the battle at the World-Severing Abyss. Dijiang kept clicking his tongue in amazement, regretting that he had missed such a triumphant battle.
Taishi, Taiji, and Taisu sat together, exchanging insights on washing away their shackles. Having just recovered most of their strength, they were once again filled with confidence in the road ahead.
Zhou Ming did not join their celebration. He walked alone to the edge of the cave abode and gazed out at the boundless golden ocean of fortune.
This fortune was enough for the remaining members of their group to recover seventy or eighty percent of their strength.
But it was still not enough.
Their goal was not merely to recover their strength. More importantly, they had to find Pangu, Taiyi, Taichu, and all their other missing companions.
The Hongmeng Universe was too vast. With only fifteen of them, they were still too few and too weak.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou Ming, what are you thinking about?" Houtu came to his side and asked softly.
"I'm wondering where Fellow Daoist Pangu and the others might be." Zhou Ming did not turn around.
"We've caused such a commotion. If they've heard the news, they should have come looking for us."
Houtu fell silent for a moment.
"Perhaps they're somewhere too remote for the news to reach them."
"Perhaps they've run into trouble and can't get away."
Zhou Ming nodded.
"We're still not strong enough," Zhou Ming said.
"Not strong enough to stride wherever we please in this Hongmeng Universe."
"We'll find a way."
"Mm."
Zhou Ming withdrew his gaze and looked at the cheerful gathering inside the cave abode.
"Let them refine all