Chapter 346

Chapter 346: The Fish is Behind You

As Xu Ming led Wu Yanhan and the others in a desperate attempt to break free from this place, a voice suddenly echoed by their ears.

Xu Ming and the others froze, their hearts constricting. A sweet metallic taste filled their throats as they spat out mouthfuls of blood.

They had merely heard the sound of the other’s voice, yet their spiritual energy began to wildly fluctuate.

Xu Ming could not even begin to imagine what level of cultivation this person possessed.

In the next moment, an enormous hand reached toward Xu Ming and his companions.

At the sight of this massive hand, Xu Ming felt an overwhelming sense of despair.

The terrifying aura emanating from it locked onto him, making him feel like an insignificant ant that could be crushed at any moment.

This enormous hand seemed intent on dragging them all down to accompany it in death, just as its owner had declared.

Furrowing his brows, Xu Ming refused to accept his fate. He raised his sword high, preparing to unleash a final strike.

“Dead for so long already, and you still want company in your demise? Bullying the young, how utterly shameless! If the other elders knew about this, wouldn’t you be embarrassed?”

Before Xu Ming could swing his sword, the voice of a little monk interrupted.

Golden light surged forth, enveloping the colossal hand, tightening around it until it collapsed and was crushed into nothingness.

The golden light dissipated along with the hand.

Xu Ming and the others gasped for air, feeling as though they had been pulled out of the depths of the ocean.

Only then did they realize how cold their backs were; their clothes were soaked with sweat.

“Maitreya, why must you ruin my plans at such a critical moment!” The voice brimmed with anger.

“Hahaha, when have I ever not ruined your schemes?” The laughter of the little monk reverberated throughout the chaos.

“Do you think these people can stop us? Hahahaha, impossible! What we failed to accomplish before, we will surely achieve now. Even if they grow stronger, they will remain mere ants.”

“Then let’s see if they can!”

Streams of golden light once again emerged from the chaos, wrapping around each cultivator present and sending them back to where they came from.

As Xu Ming’s consciousness flickered, he found himself back in the imperial palace of Wudu.

However, only Wu Yanhan stood beside him. Qin Qingwan and Shi Xin were nowhere to be seen.

Xu Ming guessed that while they exited through the same portal, the spaces they re-emerged into were different—where one entered, there one exited.

Of course, the three other cultivators who had accompanied Xu Ming were left behind, perishing alongside the Rootless Mystic Realm.

After Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan emerged, the magic arrays within the palace trembled repeatedly.

Soon enough, the Emperor of Wu and the palace’s honored masters arrived at their side.

“We pay our respects, Your Majesty,” Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan bowed.

“It’s good to see you both return safely.” Seeing them unharmed, the Emperor breathed a sigh of relief.

Though the Emperor knew they needed trials to grow, he couldn’t help but worry about them deep down. Either of them suffering harm would be an irreparable loss for the Wu Kingdom.

“You’re exhausted. Rest first, then come find me in the Imperial Study. Someone!”

The Emperor addressed the nearby maidservant.

“Escort Her Highness the Princess and Minister Wenwu to bathe and change attire.” “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan were led away by the maidservant.

Meanwhile, at the foot of the new Heavenly Profound Gate, Qin Qingwan and several disciples of the sect returned safely.

Looking left and right, Qin Qingwan noticed the absence of Xu Ming and the others, understanding that Xu Ming must have returned to his original location.

On a small plain, Shi Xin blinked her eyes and glanced around before continuing her journey toward Wudu. Compared to before, she unconsciously quickened her pace, eager to see Xu Ming again.

All surviving cultivators who had entered the Rootless Mystic Realm returned to their respective points of origin. As for those who perished within, they would vanish forever with the destruction of the realm. Whether their divine souls could escape and reincarnate remained uncertain, dependent solely on their fates.

While the survivors reported back to their sects, the little monk Maitreya sat high above the clouds.

“Hmm, time to take a look.” Rising to his feet, Maitreya patted his bottom. “Let’s go inspect this world.”

In the southernmost part of the Southern Demon Realm, near the desolate wastelands, stood a mountain.

This was the tallest peak in the Southern Demon Realm, known as Mount Zhongyan.

Mount Zhongyan wasn’t teeming with demons; instead, it housed only an old man and a few disciples.

Though not officially a sect, Mount Zhongyan was akin to an elder living in seclusion with his apprentices, avoiding worldly affairs.

But was Mount Zhongyan truly detached from the world?

Despite never stepping off the mountain, the old man was well-versed in current events.

Styled after Confucian scholars, he gave himself the elegant title of “Recluse of Finality.”

Regardless, no one in the Southern Demon Realm dared underestimate this venerable elder.

Currently, this elder sat by a lake atop the mountain fishing.

Draped in a straw raincoat and hat, he looked every bit the wise sage.

In reality, he’d been sitting there for two hours without catching a single fish.

It seemed he might leave empty-handed again.

“Grandfather, you haven’t caught any fish again,” said a young boy squatting beside him.

Propping his chin with his hand, the boy yawned.

He had gone to sleep without seeing a single fish and woke up to find none. Yesterday was like this, today was like this, and tomorrow would likely be the same.

The boy couldn’t understand what joy his grandfather derived from fishing here.

“Who says there are no fish? Here they come,” the elder smiled.

“Fish? Where?” The boy stood up, his round eyes scanning the tranquil lake surface.

There was no movement whatsoever.

“The fish is behind you,” the elder slowly replied.

“How dare you call me a fish, Elder!”

The little monk rubbed his belly, laughing as he stepped forward.