The moment Qianchong Zhenjun's voice fell, in just an instant, the dense black mass on the square had vanished without a trace.
Only Meng Zhiyuan and his five fellow disciples were left. The five of them looked at each other, but no one entered the spirit-storing pouches again. Instead, they began to argue in low voices.
After listening for a few sentences, Li Yan already understood what they were arguing about.
Because Qianchong Zhenjun, to make the teleportation easier, had requested that one person stay outside, holding these spirit-storing pouches.
But now the problem came.
Meng Zhiyuan and the others all knew that once they were teleported away from this place, their lives would no longer be in their own control in the next moment.
So, as for who stayed outside, all five of them wanted it to be themselves.
And let the other four senior brothers and sisters stay together. Even if the law of time descended in an instant and they all died together, they would die together.
The remaining person outside would disappear without a sound.
The five of them had been together for more than ten thousand years, and their feelings for each other were incomparably deep. Thus, they began to argue, all wanting to be the one who stayed outside holding the spirit-storing pouches, who might die alone.
Hearing their argument, Qianchong Zhenjun waved his hand impatiently.
"Either all five of you enter the spirit-storing pouches, or you all stay outside. With a few more people outside, the protective power during the teleportation will be fine."
Thus, Meng Zhiyuan and the other five immediately bowed again in gratitude. This seemingly simple choice was extremely important to them.
An instant might be eternity, it might be farewell. At the moment of death, they were not alone.
The five of them naturally all chose to stay outside, to stay with their fellow disciples.
"After we arrive on the Verdant Continent, if the five of us perish, please, Fellow Daoist Zhang, see how many of my clansmen are still alive in the spirit-storing pouches.
At that time, please give this jade slip map to the one with the highest cultivation among them, and let him lead the remaining clansmen back to our clan. As for whether they can return to the clan alive, that is their own fortune.
After all, I have already brought them to the Verdant Continent. I have fulfilled my promise and have no strength to continue to protect them."
When Meng Zhiyuan stood up, he had already used his magical power to lift a pure white jade slip to Li Yan's face.
He did not ask Li Yan to escort his clansmen back to the Verdant Continent again. That would be pushing his luck too much.
Li Yan also nodded and reached out to take it.
Then, Meng Zhiyuan took out another jade slip.
"My image is recorded here, and this is some content I recorded with a spell just now.
Here is the evidence of you sending us away from the Forsaken Continent, and also my various questions about the clan abandoning us. At the same time, the map route from the jade slip just now is also recorded.
Even if not a single clansman returns to the clan at that time, Fellow Daoist Zhang can still use this jade slip to go to my clan and ask for help.
It's just that whether they are really willing to help, if I am already dead, this junior is also powerless to help further!"
After Meng Zhiyuan finished speaking, he once again lifted a jade slip to Li Yan's face. This was the last thing he had done before he walked out of the forbidden land.
It was also the content recorded on one of the few remaining blank jade slips, which could be considered a promise to Li Yan.
These blank jade slips were important treasures for them to pass down their cultivation methods and record the long years.
Due to the large number of clansmen, even if they had obtained some blank jade slips from outside cultivators, it was only a drop in the bucket. How could they bear to use them casually on a normal day?
Li Yan once again grabbed the jade slip. This time, after a brief probe with his Divine Sense, he nodded to Meng Zhiyuan and the other four, very much approving of Meng Zhiyuan's style of doing things.
'This person is thorough and considerate in his planning. It would be a pity if he died!'
Li Yan did not give Meng Zhiyuan and the others any more promises.
He himself didn't know what the situation was on the Verdant Continent. Even for the sake of Meng Zhiyuan's character, Li Yan would not give any promises.
When Qianchong Zhenjun brought Li Yan and the others back into the "Celestial Spirit Grotto," the first thing Meng Zhiyuan saw were the semi-circular arched gates on the walls.
Realizing he had truly participated in the war between the two realms, he immediately let out a choked cry.
"This is... the Chencang Passage. No wonder... no wonder it was so cautious, to have Spirit Transformation cultivators guard it... So, we have been guarding the army's supplies all along..."
The expression on his face changed several times in an instant, from astonishment to understanding, and then to a face full of sorrow.
At this time, how could he not understand that his clan, from the day "Venerable Duanmu" left, had already been guarding a fortress that was about to be abandoned.
Meng Zhiyuan's junior brothers and sisters were all newly promoted four-wings, so they didn't know the origin of the "Chencang Passage." At this moment, they all looked at Meng Zhiyuan anxiously, hoping he could explain.
Meng Zhiyuan did not explain to them. Instead, he looked at the huge platform in the center. The series of complex and incomprehensible expressions in his eyes just now instantly turned into a bright light.
"Since this is the 'Chencang Passage,' and it is a place that my clan has always guarded, then of course this teleportation formation leads to the Verdant Continent.
Hehehe, Fellow Daoist Zhang, so you wanted to use the teleportation grand formation here. I should have thought of it earlier. Otherwise, why would you come here again for your cross-realm training?
Since senior is here, you didn't need to be so..."
Li Yan waved his hand.
"No need to talk about the past. I didn't know what was inside this 'Celestial Spirit Grotto' when I came last time. Ancestor, can we teleport now?"
Unwilling to waste time on Meng Zhiyuan's wistful reflections, Li Yan turned and respectfully posed his question to Qianchong Zhenjun.
The moment the seven of them stepped onto the huge teleportation formation, Qianchong Zhenjun quickly drew an earthy-yellow rune in the air with one hand.
What he cultivated was the earth-attribute spell with the strongest defense among the five elements. Even a rune he casually drew was beyond the reach of a Nascent Soul cultivator's protective power.
No one noticed that the moment this yellow rune was formed, Qianchong Zhenjun's figure blurred slightly. He muttered to himself in his heart, "After all, it's just a wisp of divine will. In order to continuously resist the squeezing force of the ultra-long-distance teleportation, this wisp of divine will has consumed nearly twenty percent of its magical power.
After sending them off and sealing this place, another ten percent of the power will be consumed. After that, I can't continue to sleep. I must go back to the Immortal Spirit Realm..."
The next moment, Li Yan and the others standing on the formation saw a constantly rotating golden-yellow "Solid" character rune hovering above their heads.
As the rune spun around, it scattered a large amount of light that fell on the few people.
Then, with a wave of his large sleeve, Qianchong Zhenjun once again had that blood-red spirit stone in his palm. At this time, a voice sounded in Li Yan's mind.
"Li Yan, the immortal path is unpredictable. I hope you ascend to the immortal world soon. Only then will we have a chance to meet again. I will seal this place. You should know."
Li Yan raised his head and saw the Daoist smiling slightly at him as he waved his sleeve, indescribably free and otherworldly.
The figures of Li Yan and the others began to fly up in the rapidly rotating white light, their figures blurring and fading at a visible speed.
The next moment, a loud bang came from the huge platform below, and then their entire sea of consciousness was filled with a dazzling white light from below.
'A cross-realm grand formation is destroyed just like that!'
Except for Li Yan, the other few people all realized what had happened. It was the Daoist who had destroyed everything after teleporting them.
"Immortal Spirit Realm! Martial Uncle, I will go. You take care too!"
Although what was before him was just a wisp of divine will, in this short period of time, Li Yan had felt the deep protective love from a sect elder.
He had already regarded this wisp of Qianchong Zhenjun's divine will as his main body...
...
Just as Li Yan and the others stepped onto the teleportation formation, on the distant Desolate Moon Continent, the green mountains of the Malevolent Spirit Sect were as they were, and the sea of bamboo on Little Bamboo Peak was vast, the green waves of the sea rising and falling with the wind...
With short hair and a proud figure, Gong Chenying, carrying a long green halberd, stood outside the main hall in the bamboo forest.
"Junior Brother Wei, Gong takes his leave. I have troubled you these past few days. When you have time in the future, you and the Wei family's ancestor can go to the Wind God Continent, and we can drink and talk again!"
The one who spoke was a tall and sturdy man, about forty years old. His tiger-like eyes flashed with a sharp light as they moved.
He stood beside Gong Chenying, and his appearance was somewhat similar to hers. He was now cupping his hands in salute to a young fatty in the group opposite him.
The young fatty was none other than Wei Zhongran. At this time, his divine light was already restrained, as if he had washed away all his worldly dust, making it difficult for people to see his cultivation.
Beside him stood a tall young woman in a palace gown, none other than Zhao Zhi. Behind them were Li Wuyi, Wei Chituo, Yun Chunqu, Miao Wangqing, Wen Xinliang, and Lin Daqiao.
Except for Li Yan, all the disciples were gathered in front of the main hall of Little Bamboo Peak.
Wei Zhongran smiled, his voice as warm as ever.
"Senior Brother, the family's ancestor has been in seclusion this time and couldn't come out to see you. I have been neglectful of you. I hope you will forgive me.
Although Senior Brother's magical power is unparalleled, when you pass through the two-realm barrier of the Sea of the Northern Abyss, you still have to take good care of Chenying. She is after all just a Golden Core cultivator!"
As he said this, Wei Zhongran looked at Gong Chenying, his tone even gentler.
"Chenying, you must not neglect your cultivation after you go back. Immortal cultivation is not limited to where you are. Constantly improving and ascending early is the right path!"
Gong Chenying nodded silently.
"Junior Brother Wei, of course I will take care of my daughter a hundred times over. You make it sound like she's your own flesh and blood!"
The big man, however, waved his hand and said with a nonchalant expression.
At this time, Zhao Zhi suddenly walked forward. Her eyes were already red, and tears shimmered in them.
"Min'er has been away from the sect for so many years. A Ying, you grew up with her since you were young. Now you are also leaving your martial mother. I don't know when we will see each other again..."
Seeing Gong Chenying, who had grown up with Zhao Min, about to leave, Zhao Zhi was overcome with sorrow.
Over the years, whenever she thought of Zhao Min, she would only feel some comfort when she saw these disciples, especially Gong Chenying.
"Martial Mother, take care! I... I will come back to see you..."
Gong Chenying, who had always been as cold as ice, leaned forward and hugged Zhao Zhi, whispering in her ear.
It was just that when she said this, she had no confidence in her heart at all.
"Martial Mother, Junior Sister is just going home for a trip. Although it's between two realms, with Master and Senior Gong's divine abilities, it's not too difficult if you want to see each other!"
Seeing this, Li Wuyi immediately comforted her softly.
"When I can tear open the void, I will definitely go to the Wind God Continent to travel. At that time, I will go and find Junior Sister Chenying!"
Yun Chunqu's face showed a resolute expression. After so many years, although he had confessed to Gong Chenying again, she had rejected him without exception, but he would not retreat because of this.
"Third Junior Brother, I will accompany you then. I heard that Sixth Junior Sister's clan has many experts. At that time, we can have a good competition!"
Wei Chituo waved his hand indifferently.
In his view, he would definitely become a Nascent Soul cultivator in the future. Then he could travel to other continents and see all the experts in the world.
Yun Chunqu glanced at him but did not reply.
'This guy never knows his place in others' hearts!'
At this time, Miao Wangqing also took a light step forward and gently hugged Gong Chenying.
Before she could speak, Gong Chenying used a voice that seemed extremely low but could be heard by everyone present.
"Fourth Senior Sister, when you become Dao Companions with Eldest Senior Brother, you must let Master inform me. I want to see you defeat Li Changting!"