"How could the entrance to the secret realm possibly glow?"
A dreadful thought surfaced in Jun Wuchen's mind.
The mere possibility of it sent shivers down his spine, making him feel as though his very soul was being torn apart.
He was, after all, human, and susceptible to emotional turmoil. However, he had always expertly concealed his inner fluctuations beneath a perfectly serene exterior.
Beside him stood his assistant, Yan Qiu Ren.
Yan Qiu Ren's face contorted with distress as she observed the scene. Having been by Jun Wuchen's side for so long, she could sense the gravity of the situation even without a word being spoken. This realization, in turn, filled her with an almost unbearable sense of disbelief.
Her voice trembled with panic. "What's happening? How could this be?"
"My lord."
"What should we do?"
To be perfectly honest, Jun Wuchen was at a complete loss. Yet, he quickly managed to regain his composure.
As expected of someone who orchestrated everything from the shadows.
A vicious, cold glint flickered in his eyes, like that of a venomous snake. His voice turned icy, as chilling as the frost of the deepest winter.
"No matter who emerges, ensure they are thoroughly scrutinized and dealt with right here."
Fortunately, the location of this secret realm's entrance was within the training grounds of the Spirit Hunting Guild in the capital. This area had been completely sealed off beforehand. Jun Wuchen harbored no fear of his actions being discovered. This very fact emboldened his audacious resolve.
He frowned slightly, looking at Yan Qiu Ren, who appeared somewhat bewildered.
"Yan Qiu Ren, stop dithering. Are the preparations you were tasked with complete?"
She managed to calm herself, suppressing the panic within. "My lord, rest assured. Everything you asked me to prepare is ready. I have also contacted the renowned puppeteer."
Respect radiated from her eyes.
Recalling all that she and Jun Wuchen had accomplished, Yan Qiu Ren found herself relaxing significantly. "Would my lord like to inspect the results?"
"There's no need for that." Jun Wuchen refused without a second thought.
His gaze remained fixed on the incessantly glowing gate, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions as he pondered who might be emerging from within. If it were members of his own family, it would be manageable. But if it were from an outside faction, he would show no mercy.
To Jun Wuchen's utter astonishment, he waited and waited, foolishly lingering there for a considerable time. From noon until three in the afternoon, the gate's glow gradually dimmed, yet no one emerged. Even the air grew noticeably colder.
A desolate wind swept a fallen leaf past him. The withered leaf slapped against his face, as if mocking his impotence.
Jun Wuchen stood in silence for a long moment before erupting in fury. The spiritual energy around him surged outwards, piercing the sky and attracting the attention of many onlookers. Realizing this, he suppressed his turbulent emotions and reined in his spiritual energy. However, his expression was as grim as if he had lost a parent.
He bellowed in disbelief. The façade of divine indifference he had so meticulously maintained shattered completely.
"Where are they? Where did they go?"
Yan Qiu Ren dared not utter a word. She stammered, attempting to find a plausible explanation.
"My lord, could it be that while crossing the gate, they were accidentally swept away by a temporal current and perished without a trace?"
Yan Qiu Ren chose her words with extreme caution, terrified of saying the wrong thing.
Upon hearing her words, Jun Wuchen's breath momentarily steadied, only to erupt in renewed rage. He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching with a palpable sound.
"Impossible. Those capable of breaching the gate would not simply vanish without a trace."
More importantly, the crystal ball in his hand showed no increase in energy. He had long since made a pact with the Lord of the Abyssal Void who controlled this secret realm. With the demise of every human prodigy within, his crystal ball would gain a surge of power. Each filled crystal ball could fulfill one of his desires. By consistently filling the crystal balls over the years, Jun Wuchen had already obtained numerous wishes, which had propelled him to his current esteemed position. Without the fulfillment of those wishes, his innate talent alone would never have allowed him to reach such a position of widespread admiration.
Now, it seemed, something had gone awry.
What caused him the most anxiety was the uncertainty of whether one person or a group had escaped, and if those who escaped possessed crucial evidence that they might disseminate. He clenched his jaw tightly.
"Search! Search at all costs!"
"Seal off all areas around the capital. I want every face that emerges from the secret realm identified!"
Absolutely.
He would absolutely not give those people any opportunity to maliciously slander him.
...
"Ugh..."
In a secluded, inconspicuous manor near the capital, a group of people was retching violently. Even Duan Chen felt his body struggling to cope.
Duan Chen wiped his mouth. Fortunately, he hadn't eaten much, so he was merely dry heaving. Even so, he felt utterly pathetic. He dabbed his lips, stood up, and couldn't help but twitch his mouth.
"This can't happen again. It's too life-threatening!"
The others, still shaken, echoed his sentiments and nodded in agreement. It was more than life-threatening.
In stark contrast, their group of five looked pale and green, while the people opposite them appeared completely unaffected, their complexions normal. Yuan Yuan couldn't help but feel envious. He looked down and squeezed his own scrawny, chicken-like arm. A thought began to form in Yuan Yuan's mind.
However, before Yuan Yuan's nascent idea could fully take root, a sharp rap landed on his head. Yuan Qing Qing, true to her nature as his twin sister, fixed her brother with a stern gaze.
"I warn you, don't get any absurd ideas!"