Of course, the so-called 'everyone' refers only to those harboring particular thoughts; there's still a large group of people who show little interest toward Shi Chun and his group.

It's not entirely disinterest, but rather these people have self-awareness, knowing that such fortunate opportunities won't come to them. At this point, they just want to leave safely.

Their main concern is why the exit hasn't been activated yet when the opening time should be about now. Could something unexpected have happened?

Historically, there were indeed a few incidents where people inside couldn't get out, so everyone who entered knew they were taking a gamble.

Someone couldn't help but shout, "Elders, when will the exit open?"

Upon hearing this, many turned to look at the ten elders atop the mountain peak.

An elder pointed to the three-zhang-tall metallic pillar on the summit and said loudly, "When the magic artifact activates, it will react on its own; you need only wait patiently, and soon you'll know."

His statement was as good as saying nothing. Many wanted to speak but held back, and in the end, no one dared press further.

At that moment, a buzzing roar suddenly echoed across the sky above Qi Yun Valley, as a massive shadow flew over from Li Huo Sect's direction, hovering midair in rotation. It was a giant metallic ring—the Divine Fire Spirit Gate meant to open the Divine Fire Domain.

On the altar of the mountain summit's viewing platform, seven men and one woman exchanged nods before simultaneously casting spells. Various ethereal flames burst forth from their bodies and shot upward like columns of light, striking the towering structure in midair.

Ancient runes on the metallic ring began to move gradually, twisting like millstone blocks, soon forming a continuous motion akin to countless serpents spiraling and darting on the ring's surface. The atmosphere grew enigmatic and oppressive, expanding across heaven and earth. The metallic ring's rotation accelerated, generating a whirlwind that pressed against the ground and reversed waves slamming the coastline.

"Rise!"

With a resonant shout, the gigantic ring shot higher into the sky, manipulated by the ethereal flames from the summit, fluttering unpredictably above, resembling a heavenly eye scanning the void endlessly.

The leaders of various sects at the summit watched intently.

The sect members scattered across the valley gazed upward.

Countless individuals on the beach below looked up too.

In the palace-style boat tower, someone ran inside and called out, "It's starting."

The plain-clothed man seated at the head of the card table immediately dropped his cards and stood. The others promptly followed his lead.

A group of people gathered on the deck and gazed up at the spectacle in the sky. The large ship beneath their feet rocked noticeably harder. Despite the excellent mid-afternoon visibility, they couldn't help but wonder whether the Divine Fire Domain's exit could be safely opened before nightfall.

The previous activation scene was witnessed by all; it had taken forever just to pinpoint the opening location back then, and this time, the location would certainly differ.

Young Master Nan had already lost his usual calm and lazy demeanor, revealing traces of anxiety and unease in his habitual action of stroking his beard on one side of his face.

When Brother Qian stepped aboard and uttered, "Since you've decided to shoulder this yourself," it directly nailed his responsibility down without leaving room for negotiation. This time, there truly was no retreat for him—as Gong Shaoci had pointed out earlier, if anything went wrong, Namo Yu would be entirely unable to fix it, and no one would come to his rescue.

More accurately, the matter was so significant that no one would want to protect him.

The pressure he bore now was immense...

As the winds on the ground subsided significantly, Xiang Laner and Feng Chi suddenly turned around simultaneously, noticing that the skinny, green-clothed man had somehow appeared beside them. He stood by Feng Chi.

This individual always showing up openly near them made them uneasy, unconsciously prompting them to survey their surroundings.

As if speaking to himself, the green-clothed man muttered softly, "Words spoken must be honored. Be prepared to leave with me. The rest will be handled by others; it's no longer our concern."

Feng Chi lowered her head in desolation, understanding his intention. The matter she had sworn her life for was not something anyone would treat lightly; if she erred, she would pay the price for it. After nibbling on her lip, she whispered in return, "Let me end it myself."

It was a plea.

She understood all too well that returning alive would lead to a fate far worse than death; the methods her own group employed to punish insiders were harsher than anything they inflicted on outsiders.

Green-clothed man: "I'm only responsible for bringing you back. The rest is out of my hands; you'll have to account for things yourself once you return."

With that, a surge of dark force passed through their sleeve contact, striking Feng Chi and instantly binding her cultivation.

Feng Chi's face turned pale as she realized his arrival had simply been to prevent her from seeking death.

Her lips trembled briefly before her expression shifted to one of bitter mirth, her gaze revealing a shred of despair—not despair toward herself, but despair toward the Demon Path, which forever acted cautiously toward outsiders while showing ruthless precision toward their own.

The despair in her eyes transformed into resolve as she looked skyward at the floating Divine Fire Spirit Gate. Murmuring to herself, she said, "I still have hope. I must; I believe in him!"

The green-clothed man remained expressionless.

Xiang Laner pressed her lips tightly together. Standing nearby, she felt it and heard everything, understanding what was about to transpire.

In truth, it was evident to anyone with even a hint of rationality: Shi Chun's group claiming victory was all but impossible, which was why Mr. Qing had immediately restrained Feng Chi upon arriving.

She, too, understood that even pleading with her master to spare Feng Chi would be futile. Feng Chi had not only said irreversible things but also acted in irreversible ways, leaving no retreat for herself.

The consequence of failure was that her own value for leverage diminished, and consequently, her words carried little weight.

She could comprehend Feng Chi's hysteria, having heard her explanation, but she couldn't truly empathize. What would drive one to such madness and insist on lunging headlong into inevitable defeat...

From the guest room's terrace, which offered a prime viewing spot, Lan Qiaoyan turned to glance at Gong Shaoci, who had temporarily stepped into another room to hear a report. She quietly teased her daughter beside her, "What gift do you think Shi Chun will bring you this time upon his return?"

Miao Yilan couldn't help but smile at the remark, instantly understanding her mother's meaning. There was no reason to doubt it—if anything, Shi Chun's return would certainly mean another gift for her, as it had become an unshakable tradition.

She hesitated a bit, saying, "Mother, I don't really need him to bring me anything."

While truthful, she had undoubtedly grown accustomed to receiving gifts from Shi Chun—it had almost become second nature. His gifts were always unique and thoughtfully chosen, sparking her curiosity about what surprise might await her this time.

She instinctively glanced toward the direction Gong Shaoci had left, a clear trace of concern that he might overhear the conversation.

Being at an age of blooming affection, Miao Yilan likely already saw Gong Shaoci as her future husband. The only remaining barrier was her father's approval. As her mother had predicted, her father seemed reluctant to let her marry so easily, likely fearing that doing so would make the Miao family appear desperate to the Gong family—thus lowering their position and esteem.

Personally, she had no complaints about Gong Shaoci. While he wasn't the flawless ideal she'd once envisioned, he was a solid match. With her mother's backing, she had already subconsciously accepted him as her future companion.

This was why she didn't want Gong Shaoci to misunderstand anything.

Lan Qiaoyan, perceiving her daughter's thoughts with a single glance, whispered, "Don't worry; Shaoci has standards, and he wouldn't even spare a thought for someone like Shi Chun."

Miao Yilan didn't respond to such remarks out of embarrassment.

But both mother and daughter seemed quite relaxed and carefree, with someone attending to their needs, working to soothe their hearts with the best of everything. They could watch a rare spectacle and yet feel no pressure. As far as they were concerned, Shi Chun's survival was almost guaranteed.

As for Shi Chun's odds of claiming victory, neither had even entertained the thought.

They could hardly imagine that the matter of Shi Chun's success or failure had already driven someone of Gong Shaoci's stature into a fit of rage...

Dawn broke, the horizon glowing not with pale white but with a vivid shade of orange.

Jingle, jingle...

The crisp sound of bells unexpectedly rang from the metallic pillar atop the mountain. Amid the tranquil scene of countless people meditating, it stood out starkly. Disciples across the mountainside and summit turned to look.

The pillar, three-zhang tall, had rings on its multiple ears trembling, floating upward while spinning in rotation as though stirred by an unseen force.

This sight caused everyone meditating—ten elders included—to rise to their feet.

As all the ringed earrings floated and rotated, brilliant colors suddenly blossomed from the pillar, initially blindingly intense until a beam of light shot skyward, extending far into the void, as though piercing through endless space.

Instantly, the pillar erupted with an overwhelming yet harmless shockwave that swept across the summit, stirring everyone's clothing.

Like a sharp blade, the light beam seemed to shatter the void, retracting swiftly from afar as though pulling down a hazy object from the depths of the void above. Once suspended in the sky, this hazy object began spinning.

Stimulated by the pillar's pulsing beam, the object gradually radiated vibrancy, resembling fiery orange clouds. As it churned, the clouds formed a vast vortex in the skies, the aperture at its center shimmering with ethereal colors.

When the vortex stabilized at a certain size, the rings on the pillar's earrings suddenly lost control, clattering back onto their ears. Still, the pillar's radiant energy continued surging upward to sustain the vortex overhead.

In the distance, hidden among the mountains, Shi Chun and his group emerged from their cover onto the mountaintops, watching the spectacle at the exit.

They didn't dare approach too closely, fearing that various sects might resume searches around the exit area. They instead kept a safe, distant watch.

An Wuzhi nervously called out, "Master, the exit has opened—what now?"

Anxious and worried, he was not the only one. The group repeatedly glanced at the exit's phenomenon before turning their eyes back to Shi Chun, uncertain about how they could leave.

On the contrary, disciples from the Fengluo Sect accompanying them, like Feng Zuoyi, seemed far calmer, their minds already somewhat assured.

Feng Zuoyi wasn't worried about whether he could leave; unlike Shi Chun's group, he faced no pressure to escape. Instead, he was more concerned about whether Xie Wanti and Chi Anlan could complete their mission quickly. If they secured enough time, he might absorb two Divine Fires; otherwise, he'd have to painfully relinquish one to his fellows.

He wasn't troubled about Shi Chun betraying their promise; once his people left, the Fengluo Sect held insider knowledge, ensuring they retained the upper hand for further preparations.

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