I cultivate the Chaos Technique

At the exit of the Heavenly Realm, blue light flickered intermittently, as if symbolizing that this secret realm was about to enter its final silence.

As more and more cultivators were teleported out of the secret realm, Ling Yunfeng stood at the exit, his brows furrowed, his fists clenched, his eyes filled with anxiety and unease.

"Why haven't Junior Brother Zhang and Miss Qingzhu come out yet?"

Ling Yunfeng felt a growing unease.

He kept staring at the gradually dimming teleportation array, praying in his heart that Zhang Yifan and Lin Qingzhu would return safely.

Fang Xue, who was standing next to her, was equally anxious and asked in a low voice, "Do you think they might have encountered some kind of accident?"

Ling Yunfeng did not answer, but his gaze became even more solemn.

Just as everyone was discussing, the blue light of the teleportation array suddenly shone again, and with a ripple, a slender figure slowly emerged.

The figure staggered, looking dazed, as if it had exhausted all its strength.

"Junior Brother Zhang!" Ling Yunfeng called out excitedly and quickly went to greet him.

However, when he saw Zhang Yifan's face clearly, his heart sank. Zhang Yifan was pale, his eyes were empty, and his expression revealed deep pain and exhaustion, as if he had just gone through a life-or-death battle.

"Where's Qingzhu? Didn't she come out with you?" Ling Yunfeng asked anxiously.

Zhang Yifan shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with self-reproach and guilt. "She...exhausted her spiritual power to save me...I could only temporarily seal her soul with the Xuanbing Coffin. If we can't find the Seven Treasures Rejuvenating Pill, her soul might..."

His voice was low and sorrowful, filled with undisguised pain.

Upon hearing this, Ling Yunfeng's expression shifted, clearly finding the news difficult to accept. Although he had felt uneasy for some time, he hadn't expected Lin Qingzhu to be in such a predicament. Every word Zhang Yifan spoke pierced his heart like a knife, leaving him speechless for a moment.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xue covered her mouth, her eyes filled with shock and heartache.

She had always assumed that Lin Qingzhu and Zhang Yifan would return safely from the secret realm, but she never expected to hear such devastating news.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her shock, and then softly comforted her:

"Junior Brother Zhang, don't blame yourself too much. Qingzhu fought for you because of her feelings and trust in you. If you really want to save her, you must pull yourself together and keep going."

Zhang Yifan gave Ling Yunfeng and Fang Xue a deep look, nodded emphatically, and a faint light rekindled in his eyes.

He knew he had to pull himself together to truly protect Qingzhu's last chance of survival. However, at that moment, the blue light of the Heavenly Absolute Secret Realm gradually dimmed, and the entire teleportation array trembled slightly, clearly indicating that it was about to shut down.

Ling Yunfeng and Fang Xue exchanged a glance, their unease growing stronger.

However, just as they hesitated, a solemn voice rang out behind them: "Yifan."

They looked back and saw Xuan Kongzi standing quietly not far away, his white robe appearing solemn and dignified in the afterglow of the setting sun.

He watched Zhang Yifan silently, his eyes revealing a complex emotion. Xuan Kongzi did not step forward until he saw Zhang Yifan's distraught state and Ling Yunfeng's slightly anxious expression, at which point he sighed softly.

Xuan Kongzi slowly approached, glanced at Zhang Yifan briefly, and said calmly:

"Yifan, you must have had a hard time on this trip."

His voice was devoid of any emotional fluctuation, yet it exuded an undeniable authority.

Zhang Yifan paused for a moment, then slowly lowered his head, stood silently in place, clenched his fists, and looked slightly guilty.

He knew that Xuan Kongzi had high hopes for him, but now that Lin Qingzhu's life was hanging by a thread, he found it difficult to control himself in front of his elders.

Xuan Kongzi's gaze softened slightly, as if he could see Zhang Yifan's inner struggle, and his voice became more gentle.

“I already know about Lin Qingzhu’s situation. Saving her is not something that can be done overnight. Since you’ve already come this far, there’s no need to blame yourself. You can make up for it later when you have time.”

Xuan Kongzi nodded slightly and sighed softly. He knew Zhang Yifan felt guilty, so he did not blame him, but instead secretly affirmed his resilience.

Hearing Xuan Kongzi's words of comfort, Ling Yunfeng breathed a slight sigh of relief. He had long known of Zhang Yifan's self-blame, and his teacher's words of comfort undoubtedly gave Zhang Yifan a sense of support.

Xuan Kongzi scanned the crowd, his eyes revealing a hint of solemnity:

"Although this journey through the secret realm has ended, the changes at the Heavenly Tower are no ordinary event. They may trigger conflicts between various sects in the future. You must remember that no matter what situation you are in, you must guard your true self."

He turned to his disciples and whispered:

"Today's journey to the secret realm has been incredibly fortunate for all the disciples of each sect. You are all lucky to have returned unscathed." His eyes flickered slightly, as if implying to the disciples that they should cherish what they had gained and not be tempted by greed.

At this moment, the rosy glow on the horizon gradually dissipated, the aura of the secret realm returned to complete calm, the blue light disappeared completely, leaving only that empty wilderness.

Seeing that everyone had gathered, Xuan Kongzi gently waved his hand:

"Get ready, come back to the sect with me."

Following Xuan Kongzi's command, his disciples stepped forward and lined up in neat rows.

Zhang Yifan and the others followed silently, their hearts filled with contemplation about the future. Xuan Kongzi led the group away, their figures gradually merging into the twilight, the afterglow of the Heavenly Absolute Secret Realm fading behind them.

However, just before everyone left, a sudden surge of intense spiritual energy emanated from the entrance to the secret realm.

Several elders who were about to leave stopped and looked back. The dimming blue light suddenly brightened again, as if containing some unsolved power. Xuan Kongzi stood still, narrowing his eyes, a strange glint in them.

A disciple stepped forward and whispered, "Master, this light is..."

"Let's wait and see." Xuan Kongzi raised his hand in a gesture of approval, his gaze fixed intently on the shimmering blue light.

A moment later, a slender beam of light slowly rose from the entrance of the secret realm, surrounded by blue light, and actually condensed into a complex array rune in the void.

Xuan Kongzi narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly indicating that this formation was extraordinary.

"The power of the Heavenly Absolute Secret Realm... has not completely dissipated."

He murmured to himself, a thoughtful look flashing across his eyes.

At this moment, Fang Xue suddenly noticed some faint images emerging from the runes, vaguely depicting a scene of intertwined figures.

She couldn't help but take a step forward, squinting to take a closer look, and in the blurry scene, she recognized a familiar figure.

"That's... Qingzhu?" Fang Xue exclaimed in disbelief in a low voice.

Upon hearing the words "Green Bamboo," Zhang Yifan immediately raised his head and stared intently at the rune.

His heart pounded, and his eyes filled with urgency and anxiety. Sure enough, in that faint image, he vaguely saw Lin Qingzhu's figure, quietly floating in a blue light, her expression calm and serene.

"Qingzhu! Qingzhu!" Zhang Yifan cried out involuntarily, his voice filled with endless pain and hope.

However, the runes seemed unmoved by his calls, continuing to flicker on their own, gradually concealing the image in the blue light.

Upon seeing this, Xuan Kongzi's expression changed slightly, and he said softly, "The power of the Heavenly Annihilation Tower is protecting her. Do not act rashly."

His voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yifan felt a surge of complex emotions. He wanted to rush forward and wake Qingzhu, but he also understood the profound meaning behind Xuan Kongzi's words.

“Master, could it be… Qingzhu…” Ling Yunfeng could not hide his shock and looked at Xuan Kongzi, clearly wanting to get a definite answer from him.

“Her soul has not perished, and the Heavenly Annihilation Tower is still protecting her with its power,” Xuan Kongzi said in a deep voice, a strange light flashing in his eyes. “This is also why she can exist here.”

Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Zhang Yifan's expression grew increasingly complex, a mixture of undisguised joy and endless self-reproach and guilt.

He lowered his head and silently clenched his fists: "Qingzhu, she's still waiting for me... I must save her."

Seeing this, Xuan Kongzi nodded gently, his eyes showing a hint of comfort.

He knew that Zhang Yifan's obsession might not be a bad thing; on the contrary, it would become a driving force on his future cultivation path.

However, excessive obsession can also lead to endless trouble. He pondered for a moment, then spoke calmly:

"Yifan, you must remember that you bear not only her hopes, but also many more unknown challenges in the future. On the path of cultivation, if the heart wavers, all things will come to naught."

Zhang Yifan paused for a moment, then took a deep breath and nodded emphatically: "Disciple understands."

Xuan Kongzi slowly turned around and said to the disciples beside him, "Prepare to return to the sect. We will discuss this matter again after we return to the sect."

Following his instructions, Ling Yunfeng, Fang Xue, and the others followed behind Xuan Kongzi, forming neat rows as they gradually entered the twilight.

The light of the Heavenly Absolute Secret Realm gradually faded behind them, as if the end of an era had come.

Zhang Yifan lagged behind the group, taking one last look in the direction of the secret realm, a complex mix of emotions surfacing within him. This journey to the secret realm was not only a path of opportunity, but also a trial.

Although he has gained the recognition of the Heavenly Tower as its master, he will also bear the responsibility of protecting it. The safety of Lin Qingzhu's life has become an obsession he cannot avoid in this life.

The setting sun cast its last rays upon the earth, illuminating Zhang Yifan's calm yet resolute face. He silently recited in his heart:

"Qingzhu, I will not let you down... No matter what, I will find the Seven Treasures Rejuvenation Pill and save your life."