333: question

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd immediately erupted like a boiling pot.

The originally heavy and stagnant atmosphere, like ice thrown into a fire, instantly shattered. Voices of doubt, resentment, and regret surged like a tide, echoing repeatedly within the deep Karst Cave, causing the rock walls to hum.

"What? The Legacy was destroyed?"

A young Cultivator dressed in grey raised his voice sharply, his face filled with unbelievable panic as he tightly gripped the Storage Pouch at his waist:

"Then haven't we come all this way for nothing? To enter the Secret Realm, I gritted my teeth and borrowed a thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones from my fellow disciples to buy a Magical Artifact! If I return empty-handed, how will I pay them back?"

His words were like a fuse, instantly igniting the anxiety of even more people.

A commotion broke out in the crowd as another rough-faced middle-aged Cultivator squeezed forward a couple of steps. His gaze was sharp as a blade, scanning the direction of Mysterious Clarity Master, Withered Bone Ascetic, and the others, the suspicion in his tone almost overflowing:

"How could it suddenly collapse? The Immortal Cave has existed for thousands of years and was perfectly fine. Could someone have touched some taboo? Or rather... did someone deliberately destroy the Legacy to monopolize the benefits?"

At these words, the gazes of many Cultivators changed, turning one after another toward Mysterious Clarity Master and Withered Bone Ascetic.

After all, these two had the highest Cultivation and were the first to emerge from the depths of the Immortal Cave, so they naturally held the greatest suspicion.

"Is what State Preceptor Xuan Qingzi said truly the case? But why do Elder Withered Bone Ascetic and the others look... not just exhausted, but somewhat fearful?"

An old man said questioningly.

"Indeed, how domineering was Elder Withered Bone Ascetic before? Why does he not even dare to speak today? There's definitely something wrong here!"

...The discussions grew louder, and a few hot-tempered Cultivators had even quietly gripped the Magical Artifacts at their waists. The atmosphere became tense once again.

"Shut up!"

Withered Bone Ascetic's face suddenly darkened, as if covered by a layer of frost.

He took a step forward, his heavy boots crunching on the gravel with a crisp "crack." His raspy voice carried an unquestionable pressure as he swept his gaze over the questioning Cultivators and said:

"Every word Fellow Daoist Mysterious Clarity Master said is the truth! I was buried by collapsing rubble inside the Immortal Cave. If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Mo's timely assistance, I would have been buried there long ago! Whoever dares to question recklessly again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Before his voice had even faded, a cold aura suddenly emanated from around him, mixed with the faint, fishy scent of Gu insects.

This was the unique pressure of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect Cultivators, carrying a spine-chilling sense of eeriness.

Many Cultivators with lower Cultivation felt a chill run through their bodies, as if countless tiny insects were crawling on their skin. They subconsciously took a step back, and the doubts at the tips of their tongues were forced back down, not daring to make another sound.

Just then, Mo Chenggui spoke up at the right moment.

He was dressed in a brocade long robe. Although the corners were stained with some dust, his demeanor remained steady. His tone was calm yet carried the usual credibility of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce as his gaze slowly swept across the crowd:

"I can testify to this. When the Immortal Cave collapsed, we were near the core area and witnessed the Karst Cave of the Legacy being buried by rubble. If not for Daoist Withered Bone's profound Cultivation forcing open a path to life, we would have had no chance of survival."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the resentful faces of the crowd, and continued:

"Now that the Secret Realm is destroyed, there are no more Opportunities. Everyone should leave as soon as possible. The Restriction protecting the Immortal Cave has disappeared. If you linger any longer, you may face mortal danger when the mountain collapses."

The reputation of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce had always been excellent in The Ten Thousand Dragon States. Mo Chenggui's words undoubtedly poured a bucket of cold water on the restless crowd.

Although everyone was still resentful, looking at Mysterious Clarity Master's pale face, the deep-to-the-bone wound on Withered Bone Ascetic's arm, and thinking of the tragic slaughter in the Secret Realm just now—the bloodstains everywhere, the broken Magical Artifacts, and those Cultivators who would never walk out—the doubts in their hearts gradually faded.

They even if they still had questions, they didn't dare to truly interrogate powerhouses at the Nascent Soul Stage like Mysterious Clarity Master and Withered Bone Ascetic.

After all, in the world of Cultivation, strength is reason. If they truly annoyed these big figures, they might not even make it out of the Karst Cave before losing their lives here.

At the edge of the crowd, Situ Jun had been standing quietly the whole time.

He wore a black long robe, the dark patterns embroidered on the hem flickering in the dim light of the Karst Cave. His expression was as indifferent as if everything before him had nothing to do with him.

His gaze swept over the crowd. Those looks of resentment, suspicion, and anger were as insignificant as dust in his eyes.

To him, the opinions of these Cultivators were of no consequence. What he wanted was simply the result that "the Secret Realm is destroyed, and the Legacy is gone." As for the process, no one would look into it deeply, nor would anyone dare to.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Some Cultivators looked back reluctantly at the deep passages as they walked, stomping their feet in frustration while warily scanning the people around them.

After all, no one could guarantee that someone nearby wouldn't suddenly strike, playing out a scene of "killing for treasure." They could only quicken their pace and leave in a hurry.

Some Cultivators approached Mysterious Clarity Master and the others, their faces piled with flattering smiles, attempting to fish for more details about the collapse of the Secret Realm. However, they were all politely declined by Mysterious Clarity Master on the grounds that his "injuries are heavy and require immediate healing," leaving them to depart dejectedly.

Some quick-witted Cultivators let their gazes linger on Situ Jun for a moment, lost in thought, but they didn't step forward to converse either.

Because they all felt that Situ Jun had survived by sheer luck; asking him was not as good as asking State Preceptor Xuan Qingzi. At least in their eyes, as the State Preceptor of the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty, Xuan Qingzi wouldn't lie to them.

A moment later, only Situ Jun's group of seven remained in the originally crowded open space, along with the Tianqi Forbidden Army Guards who had been waiting nearby, Withered Bone Ascetic's disciples, and the Guard Cultivators of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce.

These people all stood with their heads bowed, their expressions respectful to the point of humility, not even daring to breathe loudly for fear of overstepping in the slightest.

Seeing this, Mysterious Clarity Master took out a palm-sized Magical Jade Plate from his Storage Pouch.

He condensed a trace of spiritual energy at his fingertip and gently injected it into the jade plate.

In an instant, the jade plate shone brightly, and a pale blue light screen unfolded out of thin air like a transparent dome, firmly enveloping Situ Jun, Mo Chenggui, Withered Bone Ascetic, and the others, isolating them from all outside prying.

After finishing this, Mysterious Clarity Master turned around and bowed to Situ Jun, his tone respectful to the extreme:

"Master, everyone has dispersed. I still need to oversee things at the Royal Capital to handle the aftermath of the Secret Realm incident—the major Sects will likely send people to inquire about the situation, and the Imperial Family also needs to be reassured. I must return immediately and cannot delay."

Mo Chenggui also nodded and said respectfully:

"This Subordinate should also set out for the Royal Capital immediately. The branches of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce in the various states are waiting for news of the Secret Realm to arrange the allocation of resources as early as possible and avoid causing panic."