Chapter 825: The Exit Opens

As he spoke, the Demon King of the Western Sea casually slapped Taishu Feihua on the shoulder.

Taishu Feihua's shoulder twitched, shaking off the hand. He did not seem particularly offended. He merely grunted. "Who can say for certain with something like this?"

His words were modest, but neither his tone nor the expression between his brows suggested self-deprecation. Beneath it lay a faint sense that if anyone was to take first place, who else could it be but Qiyun Sect?

The others glanced over. Whether or not they caught the implication, none of them had much grounds to argue. Qiyun Sect did take first place often, and its chances of doing so again this time were still very high.

To Mr. Yucang, however, hearing such words made his heart tighten. If Qiyun Sect took first place, wouldn't Niu Youdao be doomed?

In truth, he no longer held much hope that Niu Youdao could take first place. Forget first place—so many people inside the Secret Realm wanted Niu Youdao dead that merely making it out alive would already be an achievement, even if Misty Pavilion killed him afterward.

Yet Mr. Yucang could not bring himself to give up. He was unwilling. How could he resign himself before hope had been completely severed? He had come here still hoping, however faintly, for the iron tree to blossom and a miracle to appear.

Knowing what the likely answer was while still clutching at hope was torment. For the past year he had endured restless days and sleepless nights, and the closer the final result drew, the worse it became...

The nearer the opening came, the tighter everyone's nerves grew inside the Tiandu Secret Realm as well.

Everyone knew that the closer things came to the very end, the more likely some unexpected change would occur.

Closest to the Secret Realm exit, Myriad Beasts Sect, Ling Sect, and Tianxing Sect maintained an extremely high state of alert. Their disciples took uninterrupted turns standing watch day and night, afraid someone might become desperate enough to lash out at them. Such things had happened in previous gatherings.

Farther out, the forces of Yan, Wei, and Qi likewise kept their eyes wide and ears sharp at all times. As far as they were concerned, Jin's remnants, the people of Han and Song, and the demons and monsters of the Four Seas were all still out there. Who could guarantee that none of those forces would join together and launch a counterattack?

On the surface, Zijin Cave Elder Yan Li appeared just as grave as the others.

In reality, he was the most relaxed person among them.

Most of Zijin Cave's other disciples might not understand the full situation, but he did.

What Jin remnants were there left? Niu Youdao had already wiped them out.

The Four Seas posed no threat either. Those demons and monsters had long since thrown in their lot with Niu Youdao.

As for the remaining forces of Han and Song, they were too busy hiding from this side to even think of counterattacking.

The dangers everyone else feared did not exist at all. Naturally, Yan Li still put on the same tense appearance as the rest.

At that very moment, the forces of Han and Song were hiding tightly together in a mountain hollow.

Waiting.

Niu Youdao and the others were waiting too.

People outside the Secret Realm were waiting. People inside it had quieted down and were waiting as well.

No accident occurred.

The appointed time arrived exactly as expected.

At the exit, several wisps of nearly imperceptible ghostly mist appeared from empty space.

One after another, the dozens of Misty Pavilion personnel stationed throughout the Tiandu Secret Realm flashed over and gathered there, waiting while staring at the drifting fog.

The people from the three neutral sects watched without blinking as well.

The presiding Elders of Yan, Wei, and Qi also came over after receiving word.

Thread after thread of mist seeped continuously from the void, no one knew from where.

Then one point suddenly burst open.

A vast quantity of mist billowed out, surging until it covered an area roughly a hundred zhang across.

Once the churning mist settled into a stable state, Misty Pavilion's people hauled up the iron chain connected to the void and rattled it several times.

A moment later, the other end beyond the void tugged back several times in response.

Several Misty Pavilion men gathered for a brief discussion.

Then one stepped forward and loudly announced to all those watching eagerly, "The exit is open! You have three days. Anyone who has not left after three days will be deemed in violation of the rules and may no longer leave. Anyone who defies the order will be executed!"

Everyone present knew what that meant.

The entrance to the Tiandu Secret Realm would remain open for only one year, whereas once the exit opened, it would remain open for fifty years.

Within those fifty years, someone inside the Secret Realm could theoretically leave at any time. To prevent people from simply hiding inside to avoid danger and delaying their departure indefinitely, every gathering imposed the same rule: they were given only three days to leave.

Anyone who exited within those three days would be fine.

Anyone who tried to leave after the three-day grace period would be killed by Misty Pavilion.

So failing to leave during these three days was no different from seeking death.

Nor could anyone remain inside the Tiandu Secret Realm forever. Even if they had enough Spirit Seeds, mature Spirit Seeds could exist in this world for only five years. After five years, they would disperse into nothingness. Anyone who stayed behind could survive for at most five years!

After announcing the rules, the Misty Pavilion man smiled. "Everyone, you may return now. Those who wish to leave may leave immediately. Those who do not wish to leave will not be forced."

What kind of joke was that?

Who would not want to leave?

"Quickly! Gather everyone. Withdraw!" The presiding Elders of the three neutral sects were the first to issue orders.

Their people assembled rapidly.

Without the slightest reluctance, the three sects departed cleanly beneath everyone else's eyes.

Wei Duo kept looking back every few steps.

Finally, he stopped altogether.

"Go!" Ximen Qingkong reminded him.

Wei Duo said, "I'll wait for him!"

Ximen Qingkong did not waste words. He grabbed Wei Duo by the arm and used spiritual power to forcibly carry him out.

Yan Li and the others swallowed dryly.

They wanted to leave too, but their time had not yet come.

Unlike the three neutral sects, their three states could not simply go through the motions and leave.

Jin's remnants had not appeared.

Neither had Han and Song.

Nor had the Four Seas cultivators.

Any two of those three forces joining together might still seize first place. Since Yan, Wei, and Qi currently occupied the initiative and could withdraw at any time, they still wanted to make one final effort. Giving up too easily would be difficult to explain after returning.

Yan Li knew there was no possibility of the other factions joining together to seize a ranking. The result had already been decided.

But he could not say so.

The performance had to be carried through to the end.

As Niu Youdao had put it, enough had already been paid and enough preparations had already been made beforehand. At the very end, there was only a thin sheet of window paper left. One poke and it would tear.

As long as the groundwork was done properly, the final stage was actually the easiest.

Yet Niu Youdao had deliberately made things harder for himself.

He had no choice.

To keep the outside political situation stable, he could not care for the head while ignoring the backside. Whenever there was an opportunity, he could not focus only on the immediate problem and leave himself a string of future troubles.

"Send the message." After returning to his own side, Yan Li murmured quietly to one disciple.

The disciple understood, nodded slightly, and quickly left.

...

"Word is here! The exit has opened!"

A Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion disciple who had noticed the signal flew over and reported to Niu Youdao and the others.

Everyone's spirits lifted.

Excitement and tension surged together.

Niu Youdao's gaze snapped toward the ancient forest.

According to their arrangement, Zijin Cave would send the message only after the three neutral sects had left.

"How do we do this?" Fuhua asked despite the fact that the plan had already been settled.

A cold gleam flashed in Niu Youdao's eyes.

He turned abruptly and stared straight at her. "The plan has already been made. Naturally, we proceed according to plan. Does Big Sister have some other idea?"

Fuhua covered her awkwardness with a smile. "I was only thinking that now that things have reached this point, you might as well leave with us. As long as Zijin Cave holds back, there shouldn't be any problem. Why make things so complicated?"

"No!" Niu Youdao rejected the idea at once. "I've said it already. We must give Zijin Cave an excuse for not doing everything in its power to stop us! Does Big Sister intend to ruin my arrangements?"

"I think I should remind you again. If anything goes wrong with my control over Nanzhou, and the various states come looking for trouble with you afterward, then even if I want to help, I may be powerless and able only to stand aside. The Spirit Seeds are in your hands. What exactly is Big Sister still worried about?"

Fuhua laughed. "Little brother, you're thinking too much. I'm only concerned for you. I'm worried you won't be safe alone."

"Don't worry. I've made covert arrangements over there. Nothing will happen."

"Since that's the case, then we'll proceed according to the original plan." Fuhua smiled and said no more.

Niu Youdao turned toward Wu Zhaoxing, Yun Ji and her son, Situ Yao, and the others. "I'll leave first. Hold back until tomorrow, then go with them."

Everyone nodded one after another.

Niu Youdao turned again and cupped his hands toward the entire group. His voice was firm and resonant.

"I'm counting on all of you!"

Everyone cupped their hands in return to see him off.

There was no reason to delay any longer.

Niu Youdao did not linger. He twisted around, rose into the air, and quickly flew away until he gradually disappeared from everyone's sight.

...

After entering the ancient forest, Niu Youdao found a concealed place and slipped into hiding.

He quietly observed the surroundings for a time.

Then he planted his sword in the ground, pulled the false face from his sleeve, spread it open, and fitted it over his features. After that he swiftly changed clothes, turning the garment he had worn underneath to the outside.

When he emerged again, he was once more dressed as a Misty Pavilion man.

He made a wide half-circle and headed toward the sector defended by Lingjian Mountain.

He did not choose Zijin Cave's side because he did not want to leave too many holes in Zijin Cave's story.

He did not choose Xiaoyao Palace's side because Xiaoyao Palace disciples had seen him in his previous Misty Pavilion disguise.

Even if Yan Li had never warned him about that earlier, Niu Youdao would still have been careful to avoid them.

He pushed straight through without concern that Lingjian Mountain's disciples might discover him.

His vigilance was instead focused on avoiding Misty Pavilion's people.

One thing he could be certain of was that Misty Pavilion's people would not skulk around furtively or hide themselves.

As long as he paid attention, spotting and avoiding them would be easy.

Lingjian Mountain disciples in the forest were alerted by his movement.

When they looked up and saw a Misty Pavilion man passing overhead, they ignored him immediately.

There were already many Misty Pavilion people around here.

Someone coming and going was perfectly normal. No one gave it another thought.

When Niu Youdao was still roughly two li from the exit, he could already faintly see the area of mist lingering among the trees.

He estimated that three more leaps would carry him there.

At that point, he no longer dared move closer.

That was precisely where Misty Pavilion personnel had gathered. Approaching any farther would make it easy for them to notice him.

He immediately dropped into the forest and flashed behind cover that blocked the line of sight.

The instant he landed, he ripped off the false face.

Holding it in his hand, he rubbed it directly into powder.

Then he stripped off the Misty Pavilion outer robe.

Wrapping it around both hands, he twisted and ground until it too crumbled into powder, thoroughly destroying the evidence.

Now that he had reached this point, there was no possibility of hiding such a thing on his body and carrying it outside for later disposal.

Once finished, he sprang back into the treetops.

Then he launched himself above the canopy and flew directly toward his target.

He had barely completed his first leap when someone discovered him.

A fierce shout rang out from below.

"Who goes there? Stop!"

One figure after another emerged from the forest.

Then someone shouted, "Niu Youdao! It's Niu Youdao!"

[End of Chapter 825]