Chapter 579: Escape to Freedom?

Inside the White Cave dimensional world, grey currents of destruction swept and surged, eventually being drawn into the spatial fragments by the black hole's suction.

The entire space was in complete disarray, and the small world of the White Cave seemed on the verge of collapse.

"Tap."

From within the spatial rift, Xin emerged, stepping out with one foot.

He looked around, having clearly lost his direction and bearings.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but widespread devastation and vast stretches of land in equally terrible condition. No landmarks remained to trigger any memories.

"Shouldn't we have returned to the Sword-Leaving Grassland...?" Xin's lips parted in disbelief, unable to close.

"Put me down."

Lan Ling finally recovered from the turbulence of the spatial fragments, shook her head sharply, and was then set down by Xin.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she immediately spread her hands and formed an incantation seal with her fingers.

"Thirty-six Heaven Sealing Array, activate!"

With that single command.

Within a radius of more than ten miles, faint lights appeared.

Dense runic patterns intertwined, forming a giant net that enveloped the area.

Xin understood immediately.

"This is the Sword-Leaving Grassland?"

He stared in astonishment at the area covered by the runic patterns.

Clearly, this area was the domain of the "Thirty-six Heaven Sealing Array," encompassing the Sword-Leaving Grassland and its surroundings.

But at this moment, where was the grassland?

Sword-Leaving Grassland, Sword-Leaving Grassland... the grassland was gone, and even the sword had vanished...

There was nothing left!

"Hold!"

A shout came from his side.

Xin turned his head to look, realizing that Lan Ling, who had also escaped from the ancient book's space, had no time to consider unrelated issues.

All her focus was on the "Thirty-six Heaven Sealing Array."

Her goal was to use the power of the great array to forcefully suppress the collapsing White Cave, preventing it from exploding completely under the influence of the ancient book space's blast.

Even Xin knew that if the White Cave world were to explode as it had before...

The outcome...

The explosion of a single ancient book space had already caused all the Red Clothes immense trouble.

If the White Cave truly exploded, it was unlikely many people would get out alive.

"Tap-tap-tap."

One after another, figures in red robes stepped out from the spatial rift.

A short while ago in the ancient book space, there had clearly been sixteen or seventeen red figures; now, only eleven or twelve remained above the Sword-Leaving Grassland.

"Lan Ling!"

The first thing Shouye saw upon landing was Lan Ling struggling to maintain the array.

He wanted to help, but was completely powerless.

"Don't worry about me," Lan Ling said, turning her head. "First, check the other parts of the White Cave to find the cultivators. I can't hold on much longer!"

Shouye's heart sank, and he immediately threw himself into action.

There was nothing that could be done for the cultivators who had entered the Sword-Leaving Grassland. In this certain death situation, if they could unleash one last burst of energy, it would be considered their best effort.

However, the Red Clothes couldn't allow the cultivators who hadn't entered the Sword-Leaving Grassland to perish in this situation.

Such a sacrifice would be meaningless.

Moreover, even if they escaped, they wouldn't be able to explain the situation to the forces surrounding the White Cave.

What would they say?

"Your young generation entered the White Cave and all died due to an accident?"

That was unspeakable!

Even worse, it was indefensible!

Without hesitation, Shouye immediately integrated his spiritual sense into the Heavenly Dao, utilizing dark elements and heavenly secrets to expand his exploratory vision as much as possible.

At this moment, a precise search wasn't even necessary.

Any hint of life force or human presence would undoubtedly indicate a survivor.

But...

"No one!"

After a quick scan, Shouye's face turned pale.

He couldn't detect any human presence, and there wasn't a trace of life within a radius of dozens of miles!

"Everyone's dead?"

Xin raised an eyebrow, his forehead creased with lines, and asked incredulously, "One explosion, and everyone's dead?"

Shouye remained silent, speechless.

Judging by the power of that massive explosion.

Even with spatial fragments as a barrier, the impact on the White Cave was likely still significant.

This was evident from Lan Ling, who was struggling to maintain the great array.

Even the Red Clothes found that explosion difficult to handle; could the cultivators in the White Cave possibly have survived?

"Not necessarily all dead."

Hei Ming stepped out from the spatial rift and said, "Don't forget, in the White Cave space, we can't contact the outside world, and people outside definitely can't contact us either."

"It's impossible for the entire Red Clothes force to die out instantly without even leaving a signal."

"Therefore, people outside must have noticed that something happened to us in the White Cave, causing a loss of contact."

"In such a situation..."

He didn't say it explicitly, but Xin suddenly understood.

"You mean, Senior Wuyue and the others have already taken all the cultivators out ahead of time?"

Hei Ming didn't respond.

He merely tilted his head back slightly and looked up.

"Look."

Everyone looked up simultaneously.

At this moment, the noise ceased, and the surroundings fell silent.

The subtle yet ever-present sounds then entered everyone's ears.

"Drip-drip-drip..."

"The White Cave... it's raining?" Xin's face was full of surprise.

Above, fine, dense raindrops fell continuously. However, because the space was fragmented and not yet fully repaired, these raindrops could only remain in mid-air for less than a breath before vanishing completely.

However, if one only observed the source of the rainfall from above:

Raindrops fell, then vanished.

This process repeated continuously.

Yet the space overhead was still continuously leaking water.

In this situation, the continuously falling raindrops from above formed a curtain of rain, like a ten-foot-wide barrier, separating the upper and lower layers of the White Cave's void.

"How can it be raining in the White Cave?"

Everyone was stunned.

The White Cave was known as a scorching hot place.

Here, even a single breath was filled with scorching fire elements.

How could it suddenly rain in a place where yin water couldn't naturally form?

"Something's strange."

Shouye immediately thought of the Storyteller.

After all, from earlier until now, he hadn't seen anyone else besides the Red Clothes.

And those two Saint Servants seemed to have vanished simultaneously, as if by prior arrangement.

"Careful!"

Xin instantly became vigilant as if facing a formidable enemy. His spiritual sense immediately spread throughout the surroundings, and he instantly flashed to Lan Ling's side, protecting her.

"Where are the communication troops?"

He shouted, "Immediately transmit the situation here to the outside. The Storyteller and Wu Xiu are not opponents we can handle with just our numbers."

No one responded.

The scene was terrifyingly silent.

Hei Ming sneered, "You brainless oaf, the communication troops also entered the ancient book space. But do you think they could withstand the explosion and break through those several layers of spatial fragments at the same time?"

Xin was momentarily stunned.

He turned his head back and saw the group of Red Clothes, all with large tears in their garments.

Each of them looked very familiar; these were the people who usually charged into the front lines with him.

Indeed!

These experienced fighters could emerge from the layers of spatial fragments they were blasted into.

But what about the communication troops, who weren't skilled in combat?

Xin's eyelids fluttered, and he fell silent.

Everyone's eyes similarly darkened, and they lowered their heads slightly.

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

No one spoke, only the pattering rain, continuously echoing from high above.

Everyone understood that this mission was incredibly arduous, especially with the unexpected appearance of the Storyteller and the Saint Servant Wu Xiu.

But...

They hadn't even truly engaged, yet the opponent simply locked them within an ancient book space and then detonated it.

Nearly half of their own people were dead?

"This should have been Gou... Sword Immortal Wuyue's mission!" Xin suddenly blurted out forcefully.

"Xin!"

Lan Ling suddenly turned her head, glaring fiercely.

Xin immediately lowered his head again.

Yes, so what if it was his mission?

They all belonged to the Holy Divine Palace; though they were from different factions, Red Clothes and White Clothes.

But they were all one family, and this wasn't done intentionally by others.

The people weren't let in by them.

Could they blame them?

No, they couldn't!

"Just wait."

"Wait until the outside world contacts you again. Do you still have your communication jades with you?"

Shouye raised his hand and gently patted Xin's shoulder.

He sniffled, turned his head to the side, his gaze vacant and seemingly unfocused.

"The Storyteller might not be here anymore."

"His ancient book space needed to be prepared in advance, otherwise, it would be impossible to replicate the 'Heaven Sealing Array' and the 'Thirty-six Heaven Sealing Array'."

"If he didn't replicate everything, rules would be missing. If he wanted to create a completely new ancient book space, he would have to complete the Heavenly Dao rules."

"Even he can't do something like that."

"So, it's impossible for him to use such methods against us again."

"And with Lan Ling here, controlling the great array, it would be useless for him to come out again..."

Shouye paused, and Xin immediately interjected, "What do you want to do?"

He was very familiar with this situation.

Last time near the Spirit Melt Marsh, Shouye had used a similar tone before setting off alone to find Xu Xiaoshou.

Shouye gently shook his head. "This place and the White Cave are left to you, but... Lu Ke cannot die!"

With that said, he turned and abruptly flew away.

"I'll go with you!"

Xin instantly became anxious.

Who didn't know that Lu Ke was in the hands of the Saint Servant's second-in-command?

If Shouye went alone on this path, wouldn't it be akin to watching him walk to his death?

"Protect Lan Ling."

Hei Ming pulled Xin down, and said solemnly, "I'll go."

Xin's expression immediately turned sour. "Can you do it?"

Hei Ming said nothing. He didn't even want to speak, simply sprang up.

But just then, a "hee-hee" laugh suddenly came from overhead.

"Hee-hee, isn't your opponent me?"

Hei Ming suddenly looked up.

But above him, a tattered red-dressed figure had appeared at some unknown point.

"Storyteller!"

Hei Ming gritted his teeth, suddenly understanding something. "You were waiting for Shouye to leave?"

"Hee-hee, you've gotten smarter."

The Storyteller pinched her fingers and said sweetly, "After all, that old fellow possesses the power of the Great Void. I wonder if that's something you all have, or if only he possesses it?"

Hei Ming's heart immediately sank to the bottom.

One for each person?

I wish!

But even the Red Clothes forces at the Holy Divine Palace headquarters couldn't achieve that.

Moreover, that was Shouye's own serendipitous encounter.

"What's the point of you staying?" Hei Ming said in a low voice. "You yourself said you don't want to kill people, and there's no one here for you to kill now!"

The Storyteller's smiling gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Lan Ling.

"Impressive, to be able to control the great array to this extent."

"I might not be able to kill a few of you, but it's also unlikely you can hurt me with this array."

The Storyteller's eyes darted about, and she said, "How about this: we all just stay here. If you don't move, I won't move either, how's that?"

"Huh?"

At this, even Lan Ling, who was controlling the array, was momentarily dazed.

What kind of proposition was this?

If the enemy doesn't move, I don't move?

"Why is that?" Hei Ming squeezed out from between his teeth. "What exactly do you want?!"

"Nothing..."

The Storyteller twirled her finger and sighed with a pout. "Someone just asked me to stop you, no other reason. I'm merely being used."

Someone?

All the Red Clothes were stunned, then immediately reacted.

The Saint Servant's second-in-command!

"One step to heaven!"

"Two steps to heaven!"

"Three steps to immortality!"

Xu Xiaoshou found the spatial node in the ancient book space and returned to the White Cave, not daring to waste even a second.

After activating "Vanishing Art," he continuously teleported until his spiritual energy was completely depleted, only then did he stop.

"Hoo."

He let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Xu Xiaoshou deactivated "Vanishing Art."

Both of these awakened abilities consumed too much spiritual energy.

And currently still in the White Cave, he simply didn't dare to let his spiritual energy be depleted.

Even with "Full of Vigor," he took out several cans of Cinderlight energy liquid from the White Skeleton and gulped them down, only then feeling a bit of security.

"Escaped from death!"

Clenching his fist tightly, a huge weight was finally lifted from Xu Xiaoshou's heart.

From the battle of wits and courage in the ancient book space, to almost being forced to attack, then the situation turning around with a single "run" command, to the final spatial explosion...

This series of experiences had completely drained his mental energy.

Now, Xu Xiaoshou was too exhausted to even think.

He just wanted to find a quiet place to lie down and sleep soundly for days, to thoroughly recover his spirit.

But he couldn't!

He was still in the White Cave now.

Even in safety, one should consider danger.

He hadn't fully escaped danger yet, so how could he possibly have a chance to sleep?

Comfort was for the dead!

"It's time to leave."

He quickly made calculations in his mind.

Xu Xiaoshou's homesickness was incredibly strong.

At this moment, he only wanted to return to the Heavenly Sang Spirit Palace.

To return to the Spirit Affairs Pavilion and listen to Elder Qiao's absurd and comical laughter.

To return to the Grand Assembly Hall and touch the Dean's soft, flowing white hair.

To return to...

Besides Old Sang, Xu Xiaoshou missed everyone else in the Heavenly Sang Spirit Palace terribly!

"But how to get out?"

He used a spiritual energy barrier and held the four swords in his hand. At this moment, Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts paused.

His plan was only to get out of the ancient book space, then vanish and teleport away, nothing more.

As for what to do next, he hadn't had time to think about it while still in the ancient book space.

"The Sword-Leaving Grassland?"

An absurd idea arose in his mind.

Xu Xiaoshou thought of the only way to leave the realm outside of the official channels from the White Cave: using the Tian Shu Compass to control the "Thirty-six Heaven Sealing Array" and thus teleport himself out.

But...

Was he crazy?

Go back?

Going back would be suicide!

Xu Xiaoshou instantly dismissed this crazy idea.

He started calculating in his mind again.

"Om..."

The fixed-time broadcast in his mind once again emitted a long-lost call from the dimensional rift, and Xu Xiaoshou's heart stirred.

But just then, a relaxed, joyful, and surprised voice appeared from behind him.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

"Who!"

Xu Xiaoshou instinctively turned back in surprise.

A figure in a red robe, its sleeves fluttering.

The voice from behind belonged to Shouye, who had only been testing. Seeing the supposed "Saint Servant's second-in-command" turn back so alertly, the smile on his face froze instantly.

Xu Xiaoshou's mouth also twitched.

Then twitched again.

And again...

Four eyes met.

"Drip-drip-drip..."

The rain kept falling, and the atmosphere was anything but amicable.

At this moment, Xu Xiaoshou finally allocated a fraction of his attention to quickly accessing his information panel.

"Being tracked, Passive Value: 1."

"Being spied upon, Passive Value: 1."

"Being suspected, Passive Value: 1."