The path of light shuddered, and its entire length lit up.
The Supreme One Token abruptly descended, turning into a cloud of Dark Gold light that enveloped Zhou Xuan.
At that moment, the Token Master Mark stopped hurting.
The pain had not merely eased. The Command Token had fully acknowledged him, transforming all that pulling force into a welcoming guide.
"Zhou Xuan!"
Lin Qingzhu's voice came from the Immortal Boat. She tried to rush over, but Wuchen caught her and held her back.
"Miss Lin, don't move! That is the return path to the Immortal Court. Any mortal who approaches will be shredded!"
The path of light began contracting inward.
The cloud of Dark Gold light surrounding Zhou Xuan slid along the path, deeper into the rift.
The Alliance Leader reacted, his phantom form flashing as he tried to follow.
The instant he reached the edge of the path, an invisible force blocked him.
That force had neither sound nor form, yet it kept him firmly outside.
The Alliance Leader's phantom form rebounded, nearly dispersing.
"Are these... Immortal Court Restrictions?" Even his voice changed.
Emperor Jiang Wu forced the Court Guardian Pavilion Master back with a palm strike, then turned and charged toward the path of light.
He, too, was blocked.
His imperial might struck that invisible barrier without raising so much as a ripple.
Emperor Jiang Wu stopped in midair, looking astonished for the first time.
"I can't get in," he murmured.
The Court Guardian Pavilion Master saw it as well.
She shook off Old Ancestor Dark Nether, pointed her wooden staff at the path, and gathered her gray-white laws into an enormous hand that reached for the cloud of Dark Gold light.
The moment that hand touched the edge of the path, a surge of Dark Gold energy