Nether Cave Mountain:
The group of elders was still trying to figure out what had just happened.
Shangguan Wan glanced at the arguing Duan Wuya and Zhou Zeming. Although she knew the whole story, she couldn't be bothered to explain it all right now. Even if she did, probably no one would believe it.
A mere Origin Sea Realm sword cultivator… how terrifying would he have to be to accomplish such a feat?
"Duan Wuya, don't think you can pull the wool over our eyes!" Zhou Zeming roared in anger. "I'm telling you, your Beast Taming Sect is definitely finished this time! I guarantee it!"
But just then, a disciple from the Flowing Cloud Sect came stumbling in.
Shangguan Wan frowned. "Can't you see the elders are in discussion? What is it? Who allowed you to barge in here?" she reprimanded him angrily.
The disciple knelt on the ground. "Elder Shangguan, it is this disciple's fault. But, I truly have an urgent matter to report!"
After speaking, he glanced at the other elders present. His meaning was clear: it was best not to let them hear this. But at this point, all the surrounding elders were looking at Shangguan Wan with curiosity. They were all wondering what interesting event could have happened to the Flowing Cloud Sect in such a short time.
Seeing their expressions, Shangguan Wan knew she couldn't evade this today.
Just then, someone beside Zhou Zeming whispered, "Don't tell me something has happened to Xiao Pingtian?"
Zhou Zeming merely sneered. Xiao Pingtian? What a joke. That young man was Gu Xiande's trump card. Not to mention, his level of cultivation was a rare sight among the current younger generation. With him in the Spirit Realm, there was nothing to worry about.
Still, Zhou Zeming's gaze remained fixed on Shangguan Wan. His intuition told him that even if this wasn't directly about Xiao Pingtian, it definitely had something to do with Lin Yun. They were all desperate to know what Lin Yun's situation was inside the Spirit Realm.
Looking at their expectant faces, Shangguan Wan snorted. "These are all elders from the various sects. There is no need for concern. Speak!"
Only then did the disciple say, "It's… it's Senior Brother Xiao's Life Lamp! It's about to be extinguished!"
Shangguan Wan felt a rush of hot blood shoot straight to her head. She swayed on her feet, on the verge of collapsing. What is happening? That was Xiao Pingtian, the prized disciple personally trained by Gu Xiande. He had always been incredibly capable on his previous missions. How could he have failed so spectacularly in the Grand Tournament?
She staggered, and it was Duan Wuya beside her who caught and steadied her.
Aside from Shangguan Wan, everyone else present had an ugly expression on their face. But they still clung to a sliver of hope, the same thought occurring to all of them.
"Elder Duan, what about Lin Yun's Life Lamp?" Shangguan Wan asked, turning to him. Although she already had a strong suspicion, she needed to be certain. She needed to be absolutely sure.
Seeing the look in her eyes, Duan Wuya was silent for a moment. "Some time has passed and I haven't received any news from our disciples. That means Lin Yun's Life Lamp is still lit."
The moment this news came out, everyone's face turned grim. They all knew that Xiao Pingtian's goal this time was specifically to find and eliminate Lin Yun. He had even called upon the other sects to join forces and completely annihilate the Beast Taming Sect.
But if what happened today could be confirmed, it meant all their previous assumptions were wrong. With just those few people, it was impossible to have killed Lin Yun.
"I think it's impossible! He's just an Origin Sea cultivator! How could he possibly be qualified to defeat Xiao Pingtian?"
"That's right! Something must have gone wrong in the Spirit Realm! Elder Shangguan, we suggest we investigate immediately!"
"So many disciples are in trouble at the same time! We can't just ignore it!"
Shangguan Wan was silent. Xiao Pingtian wasn't dead yet. But since he was already so gravely injured, his death was only a matter of time. She knew she had failed in her duty. Gu Xiande would definitely hold them accountable.
"Everyone, this incident will inevitably involve many people. To avoid too great an impact, I suggest we first return to our sects and report the news! We will decide what to do after that!"
The suggestion Shangguan Wan made was a good one, though it was partially driven by her own selfish motives. She had to let Hong Xiu know just how foolish her original decision had been. If they had kept Lin Yun in the Flowing Cloud Sect, they might have been able to challenge even the most difficult secret realms in the entire Spirit Realm by now!
Lin Yun, of course, knew nothing of the events at Nether Cave Mountain.
After using the God-Slaying Bow, he just felt as if his body had been completely hollowed out. He leaned one hand against a tree trunk, his whole body trembling.
"So this… is the power of the God-Slaying Bow?"
He looked at the pillar of light shooting to the sky in the distance. Though he was satisfied, he was more shocked than anything. He was not only shocked by the power of the attack, but also by the fact that firing a single arrow at full strength had completely drained all the Yuan Qi from his body.
There was really not a single drop left!
"Hmph. You should be content, you brat! The treasures you have on you are enough to make others die of envy!" the Chongqing Bird snorted. "This God-Slaying Bow is incredibly powerful. Although the cost to you is great, as your strength increases, the bow's power will only become more terrifying! If not for all these treasures of yours this time, Xiao Pingtian would not have lost so quickly!"
The Chongqing Bird was right. Lin Yun had too many treasures, and it was for this reason that Xiao Pingtian had been no match for him. It was no joke; the effects of these treasures alone had effectively nullified half of Xiao Pingtian's strength. On top of that, Lin Yun had undergone life-and-death training in the Ancient Forbidden Land. With all these advantages stacked up, his fight against Xiao Pingtian had actually not taken much time at all.
However, using the God-Slaying Bow this time had truly left him with the feeling of being squeezed dry. Still, seeing the explosion in the distance, he was quite satisfied.
"Xiao Pingtian won't die. But that guy… he will uncover new secrets for me."
Lin Yun rubbed his nose. He had known from the start that Xiao Pingtian wouldn't die, only be severely injured. But this event would, in turn, help them lift the veil on some other mysteries.
"We won't be able to leave the Spirit Realm for a while. I need to find a place to recover, and then I'll follow Xiao Pingtian!"
The Chongqing Bird found this strange but didn't say much. After all, there were many strange things about this kid.