Qi Wu crouched down with both hands braced against the ground, gasping for breath. Sweat dripped from his forehead onto the blue stone paving with soft patters.
Though it had consumed a great deal of spiritual power.
His efforts had not been wasted. The newly constructed spatial gate was stable enough that transporting people a thousand miles away should be no problem.
He pressed his right hand against the ground and channeled the last trace of spiritual power needed to complete the spatial gate into its frame.
The spatial gate stabilized completely. The silvery-white curtain of light no longer rippled. Like a mirror set into the air, it quietly reflected the Southern Capital's skyline.
Qi Wu withdrew his hand, his spiritual power almost depleted. But he did not stand. He sat cross-legged on the cold blue stone paving, his right hand still pressed against the ground. As long as the gate remained open, the flow of spiritual power could not stop.
The Imperial Guard captain arrived with his men. The first group of civilians followed behind them, several hundred people, old and young, carrying bundles and holding children. They stood at the edge of the square, staring at the enormous silvery-white curtain of light. No one dared step forward.
The captain turned and roared at the crowd. "Line up! Go through one at a time! No pushing or running! The elderly and children first!"
The crowd began to move. A young woman holding a child stepped out first. She approached the curtain of light, stopped, and turned to look at Qi Wu.
Seated on the ground, Qi Wu managed a smile for the little girl, then looked at her mother and said:
"You'll be there as soon as you step through. Don't be afraid."
The woman bit her lip and