"Elder Changjiang?" Ming Zhitian remembered Elder Changjiang, who had ignited his hope of survival, given him a chance at rebirth, and offered him the only path to salvation.
Ming Zhitian's eyes suddenly welled up. Seeing his prolonged silence, Yun Yan called out to him a few times, "Zhitian... Zhitian, hey!"
Ming Zhitian snapped back to attention, "What is it?"
Yun Yan said, "What are you thinking about so intently? Look, it's done!"
The ancient crystal's outer formation, driven by the hundreds of gears within the mechanical box, began to churn. Streams of azure spiritual energy flowed out, seeping into the advanced formation, then gradually corroding and consuming it.
Once the formation was shattered, the mechanical box also disintegrated.
Yun Yan chuckled, "It's worth it. Trading a semi-finished divine artifact for two people's cultivation resources for a month. It's a good deal."
Ming Zhitian's pupils dilated, "What did you say? This ancient crystal is enough for both of us to cultivate for a month?"
Yun Yan nodded with a smile and then stored the ancient crystal into his independent void, "That's right, more than enough."
As soon as the ancient crystal was removed, it triggered a hidden formation at the bottom! Instantly, radiant light surged, and alarms blared!
Yun Yan exclaimed, "Not good...! Zhitian, we split up, east and west. Divert their attention. Once we reach the entrance to Cloud's End, we'll meet there!"
"Okay!"
The two immediately fled!
"Whoosh!" Just as they left, two teams of guards appeared!
Upon seeing that the ancient crystal was gone, they were aghast!
"They haven't gone far! Chase!"
...
Cloud's End...
Ming Zhitian and Yun Yan rendezvoused. Yun Yan said, "Follow me quickly."
They entered a teleportation portal. Moments later, the two teams of guards arrived, followed by another group who appeared in a flash!
Seeing this, the guards quickly saluted, "Greetings, Holy Son Yan Luo, Holy Son Qiu He."
They were the personal disciples of the Stone Ink Celestial Domain's Holy Lord, the eldest disciple Yan Luo, at the fifth heaven of the Supreme Emperor Realm. The second disciple Qiu He, at the fourth heaven of the Supreme Emperor Realm.
With the arrival of the two revered personal disciples, Yan Luo said, "Where are they? Have the two God Catchers entered?"
The captain of the guards replied, "Yes, we all saw them with our own eyes. They entered Cloud's End."
Qiu He said, "Cloud's End... is the Heavenly Emperor's territory. Senior Brother, perhaps we should wait for the Holy Lord before proceeding?"
Everyone waited for his command. Yan Luo shook his head, "No! This matter is of utmost importance. We cannot let them escape. Enter the mighty city of Cloud's End and find them!"
"Yes!"
Dozens of people entered the mighty city of Cloud's End...
...
Yun Yan and Ming Zhitian were hiding in a cellar far deeper than anyone expected. It was little-known, likely unvisited by anyone except his master, Emperor Hong Suan, for this was the heart of Cloud's End, beneath Emperor Hong Suan's lair.
Yun Yan summoned the pink ancient crystal, the size of two people, and laughed, "We've struck gold, we've struck gold! In a month, I'll step into the Great Wheel King Realm. Just you wait and see. Zhitian, let's get to work!"
The two sat cross-legged and began to absorb and refine the massive ancient crystal before them for cultivation.
Ming Zhitian's Immortal Emperor technique, the Bai Zi Art, circulated, making cultivation twice as effective!
Yun Yan's Dragon Tribulation-level technique, the Hun Tian Art, also began to circulate, his cultivation progress surging.
...
Yan Luo and his men, with dozens of subordinates, searched everywhere for traces of Ming Zhitian and the two. They only knew they wore the cloaks of God Catchers and hadn't seen their faces clearly.
Soon, they drew the attention of Cloud's End's divine guards. They hailed from the Hong Suan Divine Palace and had a duty to protect and maintain order.
They were instantly surrounded, "Who are you? Why are you causing trouble everywhere?"