At that moment, many people in Mist Hidden Sect and Dark Pavilion could see that the situation was very unfavorable for them. Under Ling Tian and the others' assassinations and intimidation, many cultivators had abandoned the encirclement of Sacred Ruins Abyss. As time passed, more and more cultivators were giving up. At this rate, before long, more than ninety-nine percent of them would abandon the encirclement—certainly before they could drive Ling Tian and the others to the center of Sacred Ruins Abyss. The remaining cultivators would have almost no chance of sealing off Sacred Ruins Abyss and preventing Ling Tian and the others from escaping.
Besides, anyone could see that Ling Tian and the others had a greater advantage in both their cultivation realms and their rate of improvement. Ling Tian, in particular, was on the verge of a breakthrough. If nothing unexpected happened, his strength would increase significantly once he broke through. Then, leading Chi Xue and the others in ambushing the cultivators surrounding Sacred Ruins Abyss would surely inflict even greater casualties. If the cultivators saw Ling Tian break through once more, the sight would likely intimidate a large number of them into abandoning the encirclement.
Everyone had thought of this as well, and their expressions grew grave.
"I thought the Thunder Strike Sect's cultivators would make a move, but more than ten thousand years have passed, and there's still no sign of them acting. Who knows when they'll move—or whether they'll ever act at all?" An Ye said irritably. Then, as another thought occurred to him, his tone shifted. "Also, we previously speculated that some twenty-ninth Heaven of Near-Saint cultivators in the starfield would take the opportunity to attack Ling Tian and the others. But so much time has passed, and now almost everyone can tell we're