Once Kong Xiang got out of the subspace, it only took a few moments more for the subspace to finally collapse, vanishing from sight. Some of the spectating disciples looked on at the now empty environment with a complicated expression, Kong Xiang included.
Zou Feng swept his sense around the farmland, noting it had returned to being ordinary, save for the abundance of spirit qi in the air. A few meters away, the seeds the original owner of the farmland planted had sprouted, their stems extraordinarily thick. Their leaves were larger than normal too, an observant Cultivator would sense the faint traces of Qi around them. Apparently, thanks to the thick spiritual energy in the atmosphere, they had mutated from normal plants to spirit plants. Since the farmland was now owned exclusively by the four sects, it would be managed and tended to by their disciples, and the produce would be shared equally between them.
"Thank you for rescuing me from the subspace" Kong Xiang bowed respectfully and cupped his fists to Qin Yu, recognizing his savior from the rope dangling in his arms. The other end of the rope was still wrapped round his body. Qin Yu smiled rustically and shook the rope, disentangling it from his body.
"He he he, it was nothing" Kong Xiang sensed the atmosphere was somewhat off as the other Sect Leaders were gritting their teeth and looking at him like they had lost a treasure. The old man patted his shoulders and continued, "Can you recount all that happened while you were in there?"
Kong Xiang acquiesced and gave his account of the incident. He did not tell everything though, leaving out sensitive parts such as his ability to use Nature qi despite being in a sealing formation. Instead, he claimed he had an epiphany at the spur of the moment, successfully breaking into the Cyclic Core then, and that the tribulation clouds exuded a heavenly might that rendered the demonic formation useless. He also left out the part about his comprehension of the Seal Laws to the Manifestation level.
Zou Feng sighed, "It is thanks to your lucky breakthrough and the subsequent tribulation that we got to know something was wrong. If not, the demonic soul you spoke off would have been successful in his plan."
Qin Yu took the opportunity to ask about the white robed man and Li Luo. The Blue Whale Sect Leader, Li Tian said, "Since you saw a bloodline verification tool in his hand, it means she is most likely from a cultivation clan. Since someone from the clan was able to get in and out of the realm without our notice, it is safe to assume it is a fairly powerful one too, most likely among the six Great Clans."
"The Six Great Clans?"
"Knowing too much is not good for your current cultivation realm. Just know, only by reaching the peak of the Cyclic Core Realm do you have the qualifications to find out where your friend is."
Qin Yu looked at thinking Kong Xiang with a doting glance. From the corners of his eyes, he glimpsed the other Sect Leaders looking at him with gritted teeth. Qin Yu smirked triumphantly at them. He turned his attention back to the boy, "Time to go back to the Sect, boy!"
Kong Xiang looked confused, "Back to the Sect? What sect?"
**************************************************An hour later, Kong Xiang was sited on the back of the Zero Firmament Sect Flying Beast, a four tailed Green Falcon. The Sect Leader was at the front, and the Sect's disciples were at the back with him. Kong Xiang's head was still reeling from his sudden Sect membership, but this development was to his liking too. He had been promoted directly to Sect Saint, a successor post which was above the post of Core disciples. The position was reserved for Cyclic Core Cultivators of the sect under thirty years, and the Zero Firmament Sect had seven such successors right now, Kong Xiang making the eighth.
He swept a calm glance around, taking in the view, from the imposing back of the Sect Leader and the alert eyes of the elders that came along to the respectful yet faintly jealous gazes of the other disciples and the vast clouds all around them. Being filled with a multitude of emotions, he clenched his fists and thought in his heart.
"Cultivation world, here I come'