Several more hours passed, and the number of disciples in the square reached forty-nine.
"Patriarch—"
Qin Ruxue looked at the spatial rift, which had grown unstable, and stepped forward to seek instructions.
"Wait a little longer—"
Ruan Zhixuan was plainly in a poor mood. Beside her, Black Origin True Person's face was dark as water, but he raised no objection.
With both Core Formation cultivators taking that stance, Qin Ruxue could only wait.
After the time it took an incense stick to burn, a figure burst out of the spatial rift.
Almost the instant he emerged, the rift could no longer hold. It twisted with a crash and dissolved into countless silver motes of light.
A terrifying spatial fluctuation spread outward, only to be blocked by layer upon layer of formations.
The sight made everyone's heart quake. Had any of them been inside the spatial passage at that moment, facing the void storm head-on, they would surely have died!
"Greetings, Patriarch."
The last person to escape was Linghu Qiuye. He looked gaunt, plainly having suffered a great deal.
"Mm. What matters is that you made it out. Let's go back."
Ruan Zhixuan betrayed nothing and made to lead her people away.
"Hold on, fellow Daoist. We haven't seen what this boy brought out yet." Black Origin True Person could bear it no longer and called out.
Several demonic-path disciples on whom he had pinned high hopes had still not emerged. Clearly, they had all perished in the secret realm.
"Heh. Our agreement contains no clause requiring me to show you his gains."
Ruan Zhixuan refused to yield an inch. "Or do you intend to violate the Spirit Contract?"
Black Origin True Person's expression changed before he sneered. "How would I dare? You personally retrieved that Spirit Contract from your sect's