The Exit Opens

As he spoke, he casually slapped the other man on the shoulder.

Taishu Feihua's shoulder shook, shrugging off his hand. He did not seem particularly offended, merely snorting. "Who could say for sure about something like that?"

Though his words were humble, the tone in his voice and the expression in his eyes did not suggest self-deprecation. Hidden within them was the air of who but me could do it?

The others glanced over. Whether they caught that undertone or not, none of them could refute him. It could not be helped—Artifact Cloud Sect had always been the one taking first place, and this time, their chances of coming first were still great.

Yet to Yu Cang, those words were rather gut-wrenching. If Artifact Cloud Sect took first place, would that not mean Niu Youdao was doomed to die?

In truth, he had long since stopped hoping for Niu Youdao to take first place. Never mind first place—so many people in the secret realm wanted Niu Youdao dead. It would already be fortunate if Niu Youdao could emerge from the secret realm alive, even if Misty Pavilion killed him afterward.

But for Yu Cang to simply give up like this, he truly could not do it. He was unwilling! How could he resign himself before seeing all hope utterly severed? He had come here in the hope that even an iron tree might bloom and a miracle might occur. Knowing the answer yet clinging to it in anguish was pure torment. He had spent the past year unable to eat or sleep in peace, and the closer the result drew, the worse it felt...

The nearer the opening drew, the more tightly wound the people within Tiandu Secret Realm became.

Everyone knew that the closer it came to the end,