Outside the sealed zone, the manifested form of Sui Zimeng stood high above the horizon, gazing down upon the land veiled by someone's formidable barrier. Her eyes reflected a storm of emotions, entangled with a sense she could barely describe.
That young man… had actually succeeded in luring out the Heavenly Tao. And now, the chances of the Heavenly Tao surviving in this world… were virtually zero.
Suddenly, she noticed seven young women being struck by some strange power and flung away. Yet none of them sustained serious injuries. Each had their own guardian five figures in black emerged from the void, shielding the girls in the nick of time. All except the two whose cultivation had already reached the Great Emperor realm.
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Time passed in silence. No one knew what had happened within the sealed domain. Only Han Ming, still inside, held that knowledge.
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After a short while, the barrier that had cloaked everything quietly dissipated, revealing the scene within.
Han Ming stood alone in the midst of a desolate plain, completely devastated and torn apart. But there was no sign of the Heavenly Tao anymore.
His robes were clean and intact, as though untouched by battle. His face was calm, betraying no hint of emotion. No aura, no pressure it was as if he were just a passerby who had wandered through by chance.
Sui Zimeng narrowed her eyes and murmured softly to herself.
"Failed… is that it?"
But she wasn't content to guess the outcome. Her right hand lifted, slender fingers moving rapidly as the pattern of fate divination spread from her palm. Her spiritual sense surged outward, sweeping across the world.
Then she found it the Heavenly Tao still existed. It had not been destroyed. But it was gravely wounded, on the verge of collapse. And yet… some unknown force was slowly restoring it, bit by bit.
Just as Sui Zimeng prepared to probe deeper, a voice suddenly intruded upon her mind. Her eyes opened slowly. Then she gave a small nod in silent agreement, saying nothing more.
Below, Han Ming still stood where he was, his gaze calm, the corners of his lips lifting ever so slightly before he glanced to the side and spotted a figure quietly crawling away. It was Hua Jinru, former master of Ye Lin.
Though her body was battered and her limbs had long lost their strength, she still retained the will to crawl. And crawl she did, in silence, hoping to slip away unnoticed.
But nothing escaped Han Ming's eyes. He began to walk slowly, not in haste, but with unwavering steps.
The soft sound of his feet brushing the ground echoed through the stillness. Hua Jinru flinched. She struggled to turn her body around, and with a trembling voice, she pleaded,
"Please… don't…"
Her voice quivered so much it was barely coherent. Her eyes were filled with fear not knowing whether she feared death itself, or the man standing before her.
But Han Ming paid her no heed. He drew closer… then, without hesitation, stepped on her head.
Crack!
The sound of skull shattering rang out, loud and brutal. Bright red blood sprayed across the ground, brain matter scattering everywhere.
Hua Jinru's body went limp instantly. Han Ming stood in place for a moment, then raised his hand. In an instant, a mysterious force drew out all her fortune, condensing it into threads of golden light that surged into his body. Then he watched silently as her fractured soul drifted upward and away, giving her a small nod doing nothing more.
"I've helped you all as much as I can…"
With those words, his eyes slowly closed as he began calculating something deep within his mind. From the horizon, multiple dark shadows began to emerge gliding in silently. Amidst the ruins and devastation, Han Ming's figure slowly rose into the sky.
The five young women of Heavenly Bamboo Peak were being gently carried through the sky by figures clad in black, as if flowers borne aloft by the wind. None of them sustained any further injuries, nor did they feel any pain. They had all been rescued safely.
The first voice came from the shadow carrying Wang Fangxian, the eldest disciple of Pure Bamboo Peak.
"We are deeply grateful, Young Master, for saving the Lady of the Wang Clan. If you ever have time, the Immortal Emperor Clan of Wang will always welcome you with open gates."
From another direction, the shadow carrying Shen Yuehua, the second disciple of Pure Bamboo Peak, spoke up at once.
"My sincerest thanks, Young Master, for saving the Princess. The Ten Thousand Beasts Dynasty will prepare a reward most worthy of your grace."
Next, the woman clad in pure black who was holding Mei Jingya spoke with genuine sincerity.
"Thank you, Young Master, for enabling my mistress to break through her bottleneck and saving her from mortal danger. The Night Blossom Pavilion will grant you a lifetime of free dining privileges."
An old man with white hair who was carrying Shangguan Tingting gave a small bow, his tone respectful.
"Our deepest thanks to the Young Master. The Shangguan Clan will ensure you are repaid in full and to your utmost satisfaction."
Finally, an elderly woman holding Feng'er, the fifth disciple of Pure Bamboo Peak, spoke softly.
"The Radiant Phoenix Clan extends our heartfelt gratitude. We will honor the Young Master with all due reverence."
Each word spoken was filled with utmost courtesy, yet behind them lay an unmistakable pressure. None of them dared to show even a trace of negligence, nor did they attempt to guess what Han Ming might do next. The strength of the man before them was simply too terrifying. There was no room for negotiation, no margin to test his patience.
Only now did they begin to understand the power Han Ming had just displayed was not within the realm of Great Emperors. It belonged to a realm… beyond.
Standing high above, Sui Zhimeng furrowed her brows slightly.
"Each one of these forces... not a single one of them seems ordinary. Most are at least nine-star, if not ten-star."
At that moment, Han Ming was in deep meditation, searching for something. His eyes were closed, indifferent to everything around him. He stood motionless for a long while before finally opening his eyes once more.
"Found it."
But just as he spoke, he could feel countless eyes fixed upon him. He turned his gaze back and saw the disciples of Pure Bamboo Peak being carried by several figures in black robes. None of them dared to move. None dared even to speak, as if the entire world had frozen in time.
Han Ming's expression turned solemn as he raised his hand.
Suddenly, a strange and terrifying voice echoed within his mind.
"We made a contract… don't forget it."
No one else could hear that voice. Only Han Ming. The corner of his lips curled up ever so slightly as he let out a soft chuckle to himself, then slowly turned his back on the world.
No grand speech, no farewell of grandeur. Just a few words that sent a chill through everyone's bones.
"Er… stop staring. You're violating my personal space, you know."
"Oh, right. Almost forgot... the Leader is waiting for you under the usual tree."
"As for the rest of you... the Leader said there's no need for you to return. She understands."
With those final words, Han Ming's figure began to fade, little by little, like mist swept away by the wind. Just before he vanished completely, a teleportation talisman slowly floated over to Ji Yiren. The five young women from Pure Bamboo Peak glanced at one another with a flicker of guilt in their eyes.
Han Ming's figure fully dissolved before their eyes, leaving no trace behind. Yet everyone who remained could feel it a tremor deep within their souls, as if something had been etched into the core of their memories. Something that could never be erased.
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In a silent valley veiled in a constant light mist, the surroundings appeared ordinary, nothing particularly striking to the eye. Yet deep within this unassuming place, a cave was hidden beneath a steep cliff face. Its entrance was sealed with layers upon layers of camouflage formations, so refined that even a Great Emperor would struggle to detect it.
Inside the cave, silence reigned. Deep in its darkest recesses, only a faint glow from luminous crystals reflected softly off the rough stone walls, guiding the eye toward an ancient stone pedestal standing solemnly at the chamber's center.
Atop the pedestal rested a pitch-black wooden box. It bore no engravings, no seals, not even the faintest trace of spiritual energy yet it compelled any who laid eyes upon it to stare, as if drawn by some unknown force.
Suddenly… a hand reached in from the shadows.
Han Ming's slender fingers touched the lid of the box lightly. His long fingers slowly traced along its edges, as if unlocking hidden seals, then gently applied pressure to lift the lid.
A soft click echoed in the stillness as the seal upon the box was undone.
Han Ming looked at the item inside and chuckled softly, a low hum of interest laced within his voice.