The disciples in the hall exchanged glances after hearing the cultivator surnamed Gao, then fell silent. Indeed, since they had already decided to stay, there were not many choices left to them.
Everyone sat cross-legged upon their cushions, solemn-faced, exerting their magic power as fully as possible.
As time passed, their magic power gradually ran dry, and the barrier of qi gathered above them grew weaker and weaker. Yet the tide of water closing in showed no sign of weakening.
Unable to hold back any longer, one cultivator said, "Fellow Daoist Gao, we did as you said and exhausted all our magic power. Why are we still unable to withstand the disturbance of this water lake?"
The others could not help looking over as well.
The cultivator surnamed Gao said unhurriedly, "Then you must ask yourselves. Perhaps someone has not yet exhausted his magic power? Or perhaps someone wishes to hold something back and reap the benefit at the very end?"
He looked over everyone present and said, "Is every last thread of your magic power truly gone?"
No one answered.
The cultivator surnamed Gao continued, "I reckon that so long as even one person has not exhausted his magic power, the lake water's assault will not stop, not until all of us have been drowned."
After pausing, he added, "But it is also possible that, in the end, only those who exhaust their magic power will survive, while those who secretly preserve theirs will find it difficult to remain alive. Of course, this is merely Gao's guess. You need not take it seriously. Live or die—it is for you to decide."
As he said this, several cultivators' eyes flickered uncertainly.
There truly were people in the hall whose magic power had not been exhausted, and more than one at