A short while later.
Withered Stone Sea, Starfall Lake Lakeside.
"Rumble!..."
Amid two deafening Qi Explosions, Xiang Nantian and Qi Haitang soared into the sky hand in hand, tearing through the air and disappearing into the blue heavens.
Only when their figures had vanished completely did Xu Taiping withdraw his gaze.
"Eldest Brother Taiping!"
"Brother Taiping."
Just then, Dongfang Yuejian and Master Xuanzhi came to Xu Taiping's side, one after the other.
Xu Taiping turned toward them and asked with some concern,
"Miss Dongfang, Master Xuanzhi, how are your injuries?"
Dongfang Yuejian immediately shook her head.
"My injuries are nothing serious, but Master Xuanzhi has exhausted his soul and Qi and Blood. He needs to return to Jiaye Temple to recuperate as soon as possible."
Hearing this, Xu Taiping immediately took out two Yaoguang Fruits. Holding one in each hand, he offered them to Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi.
"These are the Spirit Fruits Eldest Brother Xiang and Sister Haitang just gave me. They can help ease your injuries."
Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi glanced at the surrounding cultivators, who were watching them like tigers eyeing prey. Neither stood on ceremony, and both accepted the Spirit Fruits from Xu Taiping.
Everyone now knew that the Star Map was in Xu Taiping's hands. Unless they swiftly bolstered their cultivation, these people might rush forward to fight over it once the Barrier opened.
But just as Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi raised their Yaoguang Fruits to eat them, Xu Taiping glanced around and asked in some puzzlement,
"Where are Xiaoyu and those four young men from Mysterious Wasteland Heaven?"
When he entered the Dragon-Trapping Tower, he had left Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi to watch over the unconscious Duan Xiaoyu and the others. Now, however, there was no one inside the surrounding Barrier except the three