The figures stepping out from the secret realm were none other than disciples of the Hehuan Sect.
As soon as they appeared, their eyes swept coldly across the surroundings before finally fixing on Ye Lingyun.
In the next instant, furious curses erupted across the mountaintop.
"Ye Lingyun, you shameless wretch!"
"You told us to join hands with you to break the barrier, yet the moment it was broken, you were the first to betray us and flee the secret realm. You deserve death!"
"Elder Yan, Elder Yun Zhongque—this man has already chosen the path of death."
"This faithless, treacherous villain is unworthy to be a disciple of the Hehuan Sect!"
…
From their scolding voices, Yan Qingxuan and Yun Zhongque had already learned what they wished to know.
Ye Lingyun's behavior in the secret realm was even more vile than they had imagined.
And to think he had the gall to spout such noble-sounding words earlier—truly the saying held true:
When a man has no shame, he is invincible under heaven.
"Enough. This matter will be dealt with once we return to the sect."
Yan Qingxuan cast a frosty glance at Ye Lingyun, then raised her hand, silencing the clamor.
Her gaze swept over the group. "Someone step forward and tell me the current situation inside the secret realm."
At her words, the crowd grew quiet.
After a brief pause, Su Yutong emerged from the back, walking slowly to the front.
She first gave Ye Lingyun a cold glance, then turned to Yan Qingxuan and bowed.
"Reporting to Elder: before we left the secret realm, disciples of Xuánqīng Palace and Zhengyang Sect were still locked in fierce battle."
"Senior Sister Bai Xiruo originally intended to leave with us, but for some reason suddenly changed her mind—insisting on staying to seize an opportunity for revenge."
"Although Xuánqīng and Zhengyang suffered heavy losses, their condition was still far better than ours."
"We felt her choice was far too risky and tried to dissuade her, but Senior Sister Bai had already resolved herself. We had no choice but to leave without her."
Stay behind suddenly?
Yan Qingxuan fell into thought for a moment, then asked, "Before you left, did you see Wang Jianqiang?"
Su Yutong froze slightly.
That useless old thing? The thought alone stirred her disgust.
Why was Elder Yan suddenly asking about him?
That decrepit waste was one thing, but he had no self-awareness—recklessly charging into the Cold Pool Secret Realm. He had surely long since been devoured by its creatures.
She shook her head. "I didn't see him."
Yan Qingxuan nodded faintly, sweeping her gaze across Su Yutong and the other outer sect disciples. "All of you, find a place to meditate and recover."
"Yes, Elder."
They dispersed, each finding a spot to sit cross-legged.
With the return of the Hehuan Sect disciples, Song Qiuyue's smile had completely vanished.
She had clearly heard Su Yutong's words—"heavy losses."
At this point, all she could do was pray her disciples could defeat Zhengyang Sect.
If they won and claimed the spoils, the gamble would be secure.
If they lost, the outcome was far less certain.
The thought weighed on her heart, making even the passing of time feel agonizingly long.
Moment by moment, the exit to the secret realm edged closer to closing.
Yet still, not a single disciple of Zhengyang or Xuánqīng Palace had emerged.
Both Song Qiuyue and Jia Wenchang couldn't suppress the rising dread within them.
Then—
The space at the exit rippled once more.
Their gazes immediately shot toward it, hope flashing in their eyes.
The next instant, a figure burst forth.
Ye Qingxue!
Seeing her, Song Qiuyue's expression finally eased.
She was just about to picture her own disciples streaming out behind, but to her shock, Ye Qingxue's appearance was both the beginning—and the end.
For after her arrival, only three more figures emerged from the passage.
They were neither Xuánqīng Palace nor Zhengyang disciples.
They were Hehuan Sect disciples.
Mu Lingxi, Wang Yuyao, and Bai Xiruo.
The three seemed to be chasing Ye Qingxue; upon exiting, they each shot her a fierce glare before flying to Yan Qingxuan's side.
With their arrival, the exit gradually stilled.
Song Qiuyue's expression shifted from bad to worse, the dread in her heart swelling to its peak.
"Ye Qingxue, why are you alone? Where are the others?"
At the question, Ye Qingxue's face turned pale, her voice laden with grief. "Elder, aside from Senior Sister Lin Xian'er… everyone else has perished!"
Song Qiuyue nearly fainted on the spot.
It was a long while before she gathered herself, yet disbelief still lingered on her face. "How can this be? Even if you were no match for Zhengyang Sect, you shouldn't have been annihilated completely."
Ye Qingxue gave a bitter shake of her head. "Our strengths were nearly equal. After a long battle, neither side could gain the upper hand, and we were about to call a truce."
"But at that moment, a massive swarm of secret realm creatures appeared."
"They were cunning and immediately blocked the exit, forcing us into a desperate battle."
"In the end, though we slew them, our disciples were nearly wiped out. And in that moment of weakness, the Hehuan Sect disciples still remaining reaped the benefits."
Her words left Song Qiuyue's face utterly dark.
Since the Cold Pool Secret Realm's discovery centuries ago, Xuánqīng Palace had never suffered such a disastrous result.
Even as an elder, she would not escape punishment upon her return.
"You girl, what about my Zhengyang Sect disciples? How many still live?"
At Ye Qingxue's words, it wasn't only Song Qiuyue whose face had changed—Jia Wenchang's expression grew grim as well.
Ye Qingxue hesitated a moment before answering quietly, "None. Not one survived."
Jia Wenchang froze as if struck.
At least Xuánqīng Palace had two survivors. His Zhengyang Sect had been utterly annihilated!
Song Qiuyue, on the other hand, suddenly felt a flicker of consolation.
Yet the moment she recalled her wager with Yan Qingxuan, her face sank once more.
The Hehuan Sect now had twenty-three survivors. She had but one.
Even if Lin Xian'er returned safely, two people's harvests could never compare with so many.
The ancient pill formula and artifact blueprints were minor things—but the Violet Cloud Jade Palace was her most treasured artifact.
If she lost it, her strength would plummet.
And to acquire another artifact of such caliber? Who knew how many years it would take.
Unless…
A possibility struck her, like grasping at a lifeline. She fixed her gaze on Ye Qingxue.
"Besides Senior Sister Xian'er, who else remains inside?"
Ye Qingxue thought for a moment. "Originally, four Hehuan disciples remained. But through Senior Sister Xian'er's and my arrangement, at the cost of my leaving, we forced Bai Xiruo, Mu Lingxi, and Wang Yuyao out."
"Now, aside from Senior Sister Xian'er, only Wang Jianqiang remains."
"Wang Jianqiang?"
At the name, Song Qiuyue blinked—then realization dawned.
That decrepit waste of the Hehuan Sect?
Her heart instantly lightened, a smile returning to her lips.
The more brutal the battle in the secret realm, the more storage bags lay unclaimed.
If Lin Xian'er could collect them all, her harvest alone could surpass the combined gains of two entire sects.
Now that the creatures guarding the exit were slain, her only competitor left was Wang Jianqiang.
That old cripple—what could he possibly do against Xuánqīng Palace's foremost prodigy?
Unless he shared some scandalous bond with her, every last storage bag would fall into Lin Xian'er's hands.
At this thought, a glint flickered in Song Qiuyue's eyes. She turned toward Yan Qingxuan.
"Yan Qingxuan, do you dare to raise the stakes with me?"