603: It's a promise, this is the last bite!

The Lord of the Nether Abyss's expression improved because of Lu Hao's words. He said calmly:

"Lu Hao, I have fulfilled your request, but I need you to promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"If, in the future, after your cultivation reaches success, you must return to this Void Realm to help me recover some of my cultivation!"

Lu Hao was slightly confused:

"Senior, I am merely a Mortal Realm Cultivator. Why do you place such great hope in me?"

"Nonsense! I have been invincible in the world for so many years, and I have never seen a Mortal Realm Cultivator as monstrous as you. Stop rambling to me!"

Lu Hao chuckled:

"Senior, I promise you. When my cultivation is sufficient, I will naturally return here to help you recover your cultivation, but... that Immortal Crystal..."

The Lord of the Nether Abyss snorted coldly, and then another small mountain of Immortal Crystals appeared before Lu Hao.

Lu Hao's eyes shone brightly, and he rubbed his hands together:

"Uh... Senior, do you have any more? Give me a bit more, please. I really need this stuff..."

The Lord of the Nether Abyss's face darkened again. He flicked his sleeve and angrily rebuked:

"Greedy fellow! I've already given you two million high-grade Immortal Crystals! How many do you think I have? There are none left! Hurry up and leave!"

Hearing the Lord of the Nether Abyss's definitive answer, Lu Hao did not press the matter further. This many Immortal Crystals had already far exceeded his expectations.

He put away the Immortal Crystals, feeling satisfied, and prepared to leave.

"Senior, can I leave now?"

The Lord of the Nether Abyss waved his hand, and a white vortex appeared before Lu Hao. It was clearly the same vortex that had sucked him in before:

"You may. Hurry up and go. Just seeing you makes me feel flustered. You absolutely must not make me wait too long..."

Lu Hao smiled:

"Don't worry, Senior. I won't make you wait too long."

Lu Hao stepped into the white vortex with one foot. Just as his other foot was about to enter, Lu Hao suddenly turned back and gave the Emperor a brilliant smile.

"Senior, thank you for your treasures! It was a pleasure cooperating!! Also, you two—one named White's Reflection and the other named Pitch Black—your names are very interesting. I like them very much."

The two attendants, White's Reflection and Pitch Black, were very happy to hear this!

"Hehehe, we think our names sound nice too, but many people who undergo the trial say the names are too tacky! I told them they have no taste! Lu Hao, your taste is good!"

The Lord of the Nether Abyss said indifferently:

"Mm. When we meet next time, I hope your cultivation can give me a surprise."

Watching the impatient Lord of the Nether Abyss, Lu Hao's mind stirred. He suddenly opened his mouth wide, fully activated his three great Physiques, and fiercely inhaled the remaining Emperor Qi with all his might!

Another large swath of Emperor Qi was sucked away by him. His cultivation advanced further, and this single gulp allowed him to comprehend ten more Daos!!

The Lord of the Nether Abyss instantly glared, his eyes wide with fury, and he roared:

"You scoundrel!!! You, you, you!!! This Emperor will kill you!!!"

Amidst the explosive roar of the enraged Lord of the Nether Abyss, Lu Hao's other foot stepped into the white vortex, and his figure instantly vanished without a trace.

Only the frantic, nearly collapsing Emperor phantom remained, his angry voice echoing in the empty Emperor Palace... The white vortex slowly dissipated, and Lu Hao's figure reappeared in a silent, dead Void Realm.

He looked around. Since he couldn't sense any trace of the Lord of the Nether Abyss's aura, he confirmed that he had completely left the range of the temporary palace.

Lu Hao's mind stirred, and the massive boundary-breaking spirit boat materialized out of thin air, hovering in the Void Realm.

Lu Hao stepped into the spirit boat and walked toward the Hunyuan Pagoda inside. With a casual wave of his hand, he removed the Seal on the Hunyuan Pagoda...

Inside the Pagoda, the flow of time was different from the outside world. During the days Lu Hao spent clearing the trial, over five hundred days and nights had passed inside the Hunyuan Pagoda.

The people inside the Hunyuan Pagoda had long learned the general truth of the matter from Lingxi's description.

They knew that Revered Master had actually walked alone into an Emperor's temporary palace, and might have faced a profound and unfathomable Emperor all by himself!

After learning this, everyone was extremely worried. During these five hundred-plus days, they had no mind to Cultivate at all.

Even Mu Siyuan, the most composed among them, frequently interrupted his meditation, looking anxiously toward the Seal outside the Hunyuan Pagoda.

Everyone was like an ant on a hot pan, unable to settle down.

"Revered Master... he won't be in trouble, right?"

Yin Xiaotong tightly clenched her fists, her voice filled with uncontrollable anxiety.

"It's all our fault. Our cultivation is too low, we can't help with anything!"

Dugu Litian smashed his fist onto the ground, his eyes filled with remorse and powerlessness.

"We should believe in Revered Master. Revered Master is very powerful, and he has countless protective Magic Treasures on him. He definitely won't be in trouble!"

Su Lin Yun gently comforted them, but her slightly trembling eyelashes still betrayed her inner turmoil.

Lingxi felt every day was like a year.

She curled up in the corner, hugging her knees, burying her head in her arms, her shoulders unmoving.

"Five hundred days... a full five hundred days..."

"There's no movement outside at all."

"Lu Hao, you must be careful... If something happens to you, I..."

She didn't dare think further. Her chest ached severely.

But no matter how anxious everyone was, the Seal Formation outside the Hunyuan Pagoda was unbreakable to them.

It was laid down personally by Lu Hao, and it had become a barrier isolating them from the outside world.

Just as everyone's mood reached its lowest point.

"Look quickly!"

Lingxi suddenly raised her head, her voice trembling with disbelief.

"The Formation! The Formation is gone!"

Hearing this, everyone simultaneously looked toward the outside of the Hunyuan Pagoda.

Sure enough, the layer of Seal that enveloped the Hunyuan Pagoda and emitted a powerful aura had vanished without a trace.

The next second, no verbal communication was needed.

Several figures turned into streaks of light, rushing out of the Hunyuan Pagoda in a frenzy.

What greeted their eyes was Lu Hao's familiar and kind face.

He stood there, his aura steady, completely unharmed, a faint smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.

"Master!"

"Master, you're safe!"

Everyone was ecstatic, crowding around Lu Hao excitedly, calling out to him repeatedly.

As for Lingxi, she said nothing.

Like a returning young swallow, she fiercely rushed into Lu Hao's embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, as if trying to merge herself into his body.

Warm tears instantly soaked Lu Hao's collar.

"Five hundred days passed inside the Formation!"

"You only just appeared. I was so worried, I was going crazy! I was so scared for you..."

Her voice was thick with sniffles and a crying tone, filled with endless longing and lingering fear.