After resting for a day in the cave behind the waterfall, aided by pills and the dense spiritual energy of this place, everyone's injuries had mostly healed, and their depleted spiritual power had recovered to its peak. Some had even made slight progress in their cultivation due to the successive fierce battles. Mu Qingfeng's internal injuries were the most troublesome, but they had stabilized and no longer affected his movements.
However, that sense of relief from surviving calamity did not last long. On the morning of the second day, an invisible, vast, and ancient will, like a waking behemoth, slowly descended over the entire Cloud Mist Secret Realm. In the sky above, the spiritual mist that never dispersed throughout the year began to accelerate its flow, faintly forming a massive vortex. The originally dense and peaceful spiritual energy in the air also became restless and agitated.
"The secret realm is about to close!" Mu Qingfeng suddenly stood up, his expression grave as he gazed at the abnormal sky outside the cave. "The exit is condensing—at most one or two days before it fully manifests. We must set out immediately and head toward the exit area!"
The secret realm had a time limit for opening—this was common knowledge. Once the deadline passed without leaving, one would be trapped in this independent space until the next opening of the secret realm, which could be decades or even centuries later. During this period, the internal rules of the secret realm would be chaotic, the dangers multiplied, making escape almost impossible.
Without further discussion, the five immediately gathered their belongings, checked their harvest and conditions, and without hesitation stepped out of the cave.
According to the information provided by the Temple Master before entering the secret realm, as well as the weak guidance transmitted through the identity jade tokens, the exit was roughly located in a specific zone within the central region of the secret realm. They were currently at the edge of the core region—not too far, but the journey was by no means smooth.
The group dared not delay any further, pushing their speed to the limit as they rushed in the general direction. As they drew closer to the anticipated exit area, they gradually encountered more cultivators. There were rogue cultivators and disciples from small sects, all in a hurry with varied auras, as well as groups of three or five from other sects, their expressions alert.
Most maintained a guarded distance from one another, and whenever their gazes met, they were filled with scrutiny and alienation. Having experienced the dangers of the Vermilion Fruit争夺, everyone understood that in the final moments before leaving the secret realm, any carelessness could lead to failure after all their efforts, or even losing both their lives and their wealth.
They even caught a distant glimpse of several remaining members of the Blazing Sun Sect, including that Zhao Yan. The other party also discovered them, their eyes filled with venomous hatred—especially when looking at Xiaoqi, almost spewing fire. However, seemingly intimidated by the strength of the Qingxu Temple squad and the urgency of the approaching closure, they did not dare to provoke them, only snorting coldly before accelerating away.
Xiaoqi did not mind this. His mind was currently being tugged at by something else.
As they continued moving, the jade pendant on his chest, which had always been warm and peaceful, transmitted an extremely faint yet unusually clear sensation of heat! This feeling did not point toward the exit but rather vaguely toward their rear side—the direction of the cave where they had once explored and found the "Basic Purification Technique" jade slip and traces of demonic energy!
No, it might even be deeper than that cave!
The sensation was extremely faint, intermittent, like a candle in the wind, yet carried an indescribable attraction, as if calling to him, guiding him toward some hidden place. As if there, something closely connected to him, to this jade pendant, and even to the "Basic Purification Technique" was quietly revealing a trace at the final moment before the secret realm closed.
Was it a deeper inheritance? More family secrets? Or... the truth related to that thread of pure demonic energy?
Countless thoughts surged through Xiaoqi's mind, making his heart race and his breathing become rapid. He unconsciously slowed his pace, his gaze involuntarily turning toward the mountain range now far behind them, shrouded in misty fog.
"What's wrong, Xiaoqi?" Sensing his abnormality, Liu Yun beside him slowed down and asked with concern.
Mu Qingfeng also looked back at him, his gaze deep, seeming to detect that moment of hesitation and struggle.
Xiaoqi opened his mouth, the words "I want to go back and see" almost spilling out. He knew that if he proposed this now, given how his senior martial brother and sister cared for him, they might agree, even accompany him on the risky return journey.
But...
He looked up at the increasingly clear spiritual energy vortex in the sky, feeling the increasingly unstable fluctuations of the secret realm's space. Time was running out! Returning to explore that unknown sensation would certainly consume a great deal of time, with extremely high risk. It was very likely they would miss the exit, causing everyone to be trapped here!
Was it worth gambling with his own life and the lives of all his companions for an uncertain sensation?
Images flashed through his mind: his master Xuanlin Daoist's steady face, the peaceful daily life within Qingxu Temple, the Vermilion Fruit in his bosom that was enough to change his fate, and even more so, these senior martial brother and sister who had fought alongside him through life and death.
Responsibility, reason, and the promise to his companions ultimately suppressed the temptation and curiosity stemming from his bloodline and the jade pendant.
He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing that flutter in his heart. Withdrawing his gaze from the direction of the sensation, he shook his head to Liu Yun and Mu Qingfeng, striving to make his tone sound calm: "Nothing, Third Senior Sister, Eldest Senior Brother. I just... felt a bit emotional that this secret realm is about to close."
Liu Yun, suspecting nothing, patted his shoulder and laughed heartily: "Yes, although it was dangerous this time, the harvest wasn't small! Once we're out, digest it well, and your cultivation will definitely increase greatly!"
Mu Qingfeng gave Xiaoqi a deep look but did not press further, only saying in a grave voice: "Focus. The exit is near. In these final moments, we must be even more alert."
"Yes, Eldest Senior Brother." Xiaoqi responded, no longer looking back, quickening his pace to keep up with the group.
He tightly gripped the jade pendant on his chest. That faint heat still existed, like an unfinished riddle, a missed opportunity, leaving a trace of melancholy in his heart.
But he did not regret it. Some secrets might require stronger strength and a more suitable time to touch. Now, with abundant harvest and these trustworthy companions, safely leaving this place was what mattered most.
He buried that sensation deep in his heart, his gaze firm as he looked forward. There, the fluctuations of space grew increasingly violent, and the outline of a blurry gate of light had begun to slowly condense over an open valley in the distance.
On the eve of the secret realm's closure, the final journey home allowed no room for error.