Chu Mingwei and Xiao Lingyu kept a careful distance behind the others. They watched as the group wound left and right, only to arrive at a dead end—a wall of massive black rocks blocking their path. Exchanging a glance, the two extended their divine senses cautiously toward the front. They saw Yun Shouweng step forward and, with some incantation, the black rocks gradually dissolved, revealing a small palace constructed from dark stone.
Instinctively, Xiao Lingyu looked up. The palace atop the mountain vaguely resembled the one now appearing before them, only the scale of this one was noticeably smaller.
As the palace manifested, the faces of Yun Shouweng and the others lit up with delight, their gazes converging on Xu Xuan.
Liu Haoxue smiled faintly, casually dropping Xu Xuan to the ground. With a gentle flick, she removed the restraints from him. Ignoring the resentment on Xu Xuan’s face, she beckoned him toward the palace.
Xu Xuan scrambled to his feet in embarrassment, fear clear in his contorted expression, but hesitated, unwilling to move forward.
Liu Haoxue raised an eyebrow. “Little brother, do you need a hand getting started?”
Xu Xuan’s face paled, and he glared at her with silent resentment. She remained unperturbed, smiling sweetly at him. Yun Shouweng glanced at Xu Xuan’s hesitation and, with a sudden motion, grabbed him and flung him toward the palace with all his strength.
The unexpected action left everyone—Liu Haoxue, the others, even Xiao Lingyu—momentarily speechless.
Yun Shouweng’s brow did not move. “If he won’t go himself, I have to help him.”
Chu Mingwei watched coldly, unaffected. He had not forgotten the murderous intent Xu Xuan had once shown toward his junior brother. If Xu Xuan were to die at the hands of these scattered cultivators, it would be fine; if he escaped, however, Chu Mingwei would ensure the threat was removed.
Xiao Lingyu, unaware of Chu Mingwei’s growing resolve toward Xu Xuan, felt conflicted about whether he should appear to help him as a fellow disciple. But glancing at Chu Mingwei, he gave up the thought. Having decided to be with Chu Mingwei, he no longer wished to pretend; feigning camaraderie toward Xu Xuan had become too difficult.
Xu Xuan was hurled repeatedly toward the dark palace, only to be stopped each time just short of reaching it. A transparent, ripple-like barrier shimmered faintly in front of him.
The scattered cultivators’ expressions shifted from joy to anxiety. Xu Xuan could not penetrate the barrier; every attempt rebounded him, sometimes injuring him, yet he kept a pitiful, resigned posture, silent and curled up.
Liu Haoxue’s sharp gaze scrutinized Xu Xuan’s behavior. Compared to his earlier arrogant, resentment-filled face, this pitiful compliance made her wary. Still, after multiple failed attempts at breaching the barrier, her composed expression returned.
Yun Shouweng finally spoke, his tone cold. “One last try. If it still doesn’t open, we destroy the barrier.” He grabbed Xu Xuan and moved toward the palace. Everyone watched in astonishment as he passed straight through the barrier without resistance, reaching the palace side.
Delighted, the others rushed forward to follow, except Liu Haoxue, who remained still, her expression unreadable. She took a few steps back and addressed Chu Mingwei and Xiao Lingyu. “Which of you is here? Please, come forth and speak.”
Seeing that they had been discovered, Chu Mingwei calmly led Xiao Lingyu forward.
Liu Haoxue’s expression changed briefly at the sight of Chu Mingwei, then she smiled. “So it’s Daoist Chu. No wonder—your techniques are formidable, even Yun Shouweng fell into the illusion you set.”
Chu Mingwei looked at Xiao Lingyu with a tender glance before lifting his head and smiling faintly. “Merely some minor tricks. Liu Daoist, your keen eyes did not miss it.”
Liu Haoxue chuckled softly. “What do you plan to do with Yun Shouweng and the others, Daoist Chu?”
Chu Mingwei’s expression remained unchanged. “They’ve taken our disciples; there must be accountability.”
Liu Haoxue’s eyes flicked. “We bear no harm toward your sect’s disciples. We only wish to have them breach the barrier your elders set. Daoist Chu, having observed from behind, surely understand. Now that you are here, we dare not oppose you. I hope, in consideration of our hardships as scattered cultivators, you can let us go.”
Before Chu Mingwei could respond, the barrier that had resisted countless tests suddenly opened. A gust swept through, drawing in three people before they could react. The barrier quietly closed again, flickering briefly before returning to its original dead-end form of black stone. Those previously trapped by Xiao Lingyu’s Thousand-Illusion Stones vanished at the same time.