The three black beads wrapped in Taiyi Divine Power disappeared completely into the depths of the dark crimson passage.
The secret chamber was so quiet that a falling pin could have been heard.
Emperor Jiang Wu, the Alliance Leader, Old Ancestor Cangwu, and Old Ancestor Xuanming—four Longevity Realm powerhouses who usually stood high above others—all held their breath.
Four pairs of eyes stared fixedly at the illusory Water Vein Map suspended in midair, formed from powdered stone.
There was no movement at the other end of the passage.
The silence was almost unnatural.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Old Ancestor Xuanming's forehead. He raised a hand and wiped the cold sweat from his face haphazardly, shifting his feet restlessly.
"Young Master Zhou, several breaths have passed already. Why hasn't there been any reaction?"
He edged half a step forward, staring hard at the Black Iron Case, his voice betraying his agitation.
"Could that old hag have noticed something wrong and intercepted them beforehand? She had a Peerless Grade Dao Fruit, after all. Even if her realm has fallen, her methods are beyond our understanding."
Old Ancestor Cangwu tightened his grip on his sword's hilt, his knuckles whitening from the force.
"The perception of someone with a Peerless Grade Dao Fruit is no trivial matter. Even with her realm diminished, her instinct for danger far surpasses an ordinary person's."
"The corruption in those three Scraps is so concentrated that, once she sees through the disguise of Taiyi Divine Power, she'll sever the passage immediately."
"If that backlash comes crashing back along the passage, we'll all have more trouble than we can swallow."
The Alliance Leader said nothing.
His brows were tightly furrowed as he stared at the twisted, dark crimson energy passage above the Black Iron Case.
The formation foundation