"Since they still haven't come out, fellow Daoist, do you think there's any chance they will?"
The shadow asked back, then turned and walked into the deep darkness once more.
"Sword... Fellow Daoist, your ability is no ordinary thing. Aren't you planning to leave this place with us and escape its torment?"
Venerable Tianhong looked back at the shadow's retreating figure. After a moment's hesitation, he shouted.
"How could one whose body already dwells in darkness dare hope for light? My task is complete. I shall take my leave. I hope we never meet again in this life."
The shadow halted. A hoarse, indifferent voice rang out.
Then he started walking again and resolutely vanished into the darkness.
Staring at the disappearing figure, Venerable Tianhong wore a sorrowful expression. In the end, all he could do was let out a helpless sigh.
Seeing this, the others pondered. They vaguely guessed that the shadow's identity must be connected to Venerable Tianhong, but none asked further.
Zen Master Shanfa turned toward the darkness and began chanting Buddhist scripture for the dead.
After a moment, he said to Su Shi'er and Shen Miaoyin, "Amitabha. The formation ahead... will still require Elder Shen and Benefactor Su's help."
"Now that we've reached here, passing through this formation will be no difficult matter. Follow me, everyone!"
Shen Miaoyin's icy voice rang out. She walked at the front as formation incantations flew constantly from the fog.
Just as everyone entered the formation and continued toward the outside world,
deep within the Sinful Dao, where not even an outstretched hand could be seen, the shadow carrying the Illuminating World Lamp suddenly saw the flame of the oil lamp go out. The next second, countless clusters of green ghostfire blazed into existence, hanging in the darkness like stars in