"Bzz..."
Within Hundred-Rift Beast Mountain, amid countless skeletal remains that seemed to have been dead for millennia, their spiritual energy utterly depleted, lay the dried bones of several mountain-search teams.
The bones were clad in white robes, or red robes.
Broken Heaven Group communicators lay scattered to one side, yet still stubbornly connected to the heavenly secrets, sending out signal after signal.
"Bzz..."
"Bzz..."
Yet no message came through.
"Hundred-Rift... Mountain..."
"Cheng... received..."
"Please respon..."
From the sole communicator that remained relatively intact came a broken, intermittent call.
But before the voice could fully emerge, a foot stomped down on it.
Sizzle!
Gray mist poured forth.
The communication pearl instantly corroded. Heavenly Secrets Dao Runes emerged within it, just about to record the scene around whoever had destroyed the communicator.
Then they paused.
The trace amount of Saint Power contained within them vanished without a trace, as though it had been drained away entirely.
Stepping over the dry bones, he walked forward.
Beneath the orange mask, Five Declines of Heaven and Man showed not the slightest ripple of emotion as he drew out a trembling communication pearl.
After connecting it, Yama Huangquan's voice came from within. "Two matters."
"First, Lei Xier has passed the assessment. From now on, you will take her with you to carry out missions. Her mask will remain black. Be wary of that Daoist."
"Second, the newly appointed Half-Saint of Spatial Upanishad should be Ye Xiaotian. Find him and bring him here."
As though avoiding the plague.
The moment the business was finished, the communication pearl ended the call with a beep, not even waiting.
"Fine..."
Five Declines of Heaven and Man responded only after a long while, lifting his eyes toward the sky.
Holy power lingered at the horizon. One could faintly smell a trace