Those beams of black light attacking the Seven Star Space Escape Formation's spatial nodes were sinister and swift. If they struck, the just-stabilized formation energy would inevitably go out of control and run rampant, causing spatial chaos. This would be enough to heavily injure or even annihilate this batch of already injured Qingxu Temple disciples on the hillside!
"You dare, you rats!"
Elder Xuan Lin, who had been on high alert, reacted extremely quickly. The moment the black light appeared, he had already noticed. His eyes flashed with cold light. Instead of using his dust whiskers, he formed sword fingers and pointed rapidly through the air!
"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"
Several condensed silk-like green sword qi darts chased and arrived first, precisely striking those beams of black light!
"Puff puff puff..."
Like needles pricking balloons, those black light beams containing sinister power were instantly pierced and annihilated by the sword qi, unable to create any waves.
"Hiding in shadows and skulking about, come out for this old man!" Elder Xuan Lin coldly hummed, waved his sleeve. A majestic spiritual power like an invisible giant palm slapped toward the dense forest below.
"Boom!"
Trees were destroyed, rocks and soil flew everywhere. Several desperate black shadows scrambled out, fleeing without looking back. They were precisely those lurking Shadow Snake Pavilion assassins.
Elder Xuan Lin did not pursue. At this moment, stabilizing the situation and treating disciples was the priority. His cold gaze swept across the surrounding forests. His powerful spiritual sense spread like mercury, deterring any possible lurkers in the dark.
After this scare, the cultivators of various sects on the hillside became even more vigilant and strengthened their guard.
Xiao Qi swallowed the words he was about to say. This really wasn't the time for detailed discussion. He gathered his focus, continued fully treating his injuries, while vigilantly observing his surroundings.
Time passed slowly in this tense and oppressive atmosphere.
Behind them, the huge secret realm entrance had reached its final stage of collapse. The huge light gate that originally stretched across the mountains had now shrunk to a chaotic light ball less than one zhang wide, violently distorted and fluctuating. Inside the ball, one could vaguely see shattered mountain and river scenes, rampant demonic energy, and the desperate figures of the last cultivators who hadn't escaped.
The terrifying suction gradually weakened, but what replaced it was a chilling, as if the entire world was collapsing and annihilating inward, deathly silence.
Finally, under the gaze of countless eyes (the survivors and sect elders), that chaotic light ball emitted its last, like a sigh, barely audible hum, and then sharply contracted inward—
Then, it completely annihilated into the void without leaving any trace.
As if a small world called "Cloud Mist Secret Realm" had never existed there at all.
Between heaven and earth, only the howling mountain wind remained, and the faint smell of blood and burnt char in the air.
The secret realm had completely closed.
After a brief deathly silence, suppressed sobs and wails rang out on the hillside. Those cultivators who hadn't waited for their fellow disciples or students, looking at that empty valley, had faces full of despair and sorrow.
The losses from this secret realm opening were truly tremendous! Not to mention those small and medium sects and rogue cultivators, even Qingxu Temple, Xuanji Holy Land, and Lieyang Sect such major sects suffered heavy casualties. When they entered, they were a grand army; when they came out, less than half remained, and everyone was injured, greatly depleted.
Elder Xuan Lin looked at the only seven remaining disciples of his sect, especially those young faces that would never appear again, his eyes filled with pain and heaviness. He slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, he had recovered his usual steadiness.
"The secret realm has closed. This place is not suitable for staying." His voice was not loud but clearly reached every Qingxu Temple disciple. "Although the demonic cultivators have retreated, they may not be far away. We must immediately return to the sect!"
Everyone silently nodded, enduring sorrow, supporting each other to stand up.
Xiao Qi also stood up. After this period of recuperation, his injuries had stabilized quite a bit, and his spiritual power had recovered two or three percent. He looked at the place where the secret realm had disappeared, feeling complicated.
This secret realm journey was even more earth-shaking for him. He lost his father's last remnant soul, learned harsh truths, inherited heavy responsibilities, but also gained power improvement and enlightenment about the Dao.
In a sense, the demonic entity Void Illusion's scheme, arranged through Shadow Snake Pavilion, aimed at seizing the Purification Source, had indeed been thwarted. The core inheritance was not obtained by the demonic entity, but chose a guardian in an unexpected way.
But this was by no means victory. The cost was too high. Moreover, Void Illusion had not been destroyed, only temporarily resealed (perhaps the seal was even more loosened), and Shadow Snake Pavilion still lurked in the dark. Future crises would only become more severe.
"Let's go." Mu Qingfeng came to Xiao Qi's side, patted his shoulder, voice somewhat hoarse.
Xiao Qi nodded. He took one last look at that empty valley and turned to follow the team, under Elder Xuan Lin's protection, stepping on the return journey toward Qingxu Temple.
When they came, they were full of longing and anticipation. When they returned, they carried blood, sacrifice, and heavy secrets.
The Cloud Mist Secret Realm had closed, but everything it triggered was like a boulder thrown into a lake, the ripples just beginning to spread. And the name Tang Xiao Qi, along with his various performances in the secret realm, would certainly, through the survivors' gossip, gradually stir new waves in the cultivation world.
Only time would tell whether these waves would bring him fortune or misfortune.