The rift stretched from thirty meters to a hundred, then suddenly shrank to twenty. The surrounding spatial storm surged violently, swelling and collapsing in turn. When Zi Huan Zhēnzūn saw this, his face darkened. He quickly formed hand seals, trying to stabilize the rift.
But the tear in space only kept expanding and contracting faster. After several cycles, it stopped growing and began to shrink little by little.
Zi Huan Zhēnzūn immediately hurled his ruler-type artifact into the rift, hoping to hold it open. Yet the rift continued to close, the ruler trembling as if it could barely endure.
Left with no choice, he recalled his life-bound treasure. Helplessly, he watched as the rift sealed shut. The storm faded, the ground turned calm, and it looked as if the rift had never existed.
He turned and walked out. Outside, Xiao Zhi was still waiting. When he saw the grim look on the elder's face, he rushed forward.
"The spatial rift's already closed."
"What?"
Xiao Zhi thought he'd misheard and asked again.
"After the Heavenly Sword Sect's group entered, the rift closed."
Zi Huan Zhēnzūn repeated himself.
This time Xiao Zhi caught every word. He froze, stunned. None of the other sects had even arrived yet, and the rift had shut down? Wasn't it supposed to last another month?
"There was one loose cultivator with them," Zi Huan Zhēnzūn added.
"That must've been from the Loose Cultivator Alliance."
"Is anyone from the alliance still here?"
"Yes, Elder Qian Wanguan."
"Call him over."
"Yes."
The two left the restricted grounds together, talking as they made their way to the Zixiao Hall.
Moments later, Qian Wanguan arrived. He was puzzled when he learned Zi Huan Zhēnzūn wanted to see him. They'd never interacted much, so why summon him now? Still, he followed the attendant respectfully.
"Loose Cultivator Alliance's Qian Wanguan greets Zi Huan Zhēnzūn ."
Zi Huan Zhēnzūn gave a small nod, then asked directly,
"You're acquainted with the Heavenly Sword Sect. They took your disciple into the rift."
"I'm on good terms with Jian Lu Zūnshàng. Since I couldn't split myself in two, I entrusted my disciple Kuang Dao to her care."
"Did Jian Lu say anything to you?"
"Ah?"
Qian Wanguan looked up in surprise, his heart thumping. "Something had happened?"
"She didn't say much, only that she wanted to enter quickly. She seemed in a rush. So I let Kuang Dao follow her first, while waiting for the rest of my alliance's people to gather before we sent another team."
Zi Huan Zhēnzūn closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his voice was calm.
"After they entered, the rift closed. It's twenty days earlier than expected."
Qian Wanguan's eyes widened. He was just as shocked.
Zi Huan Zhēnzūn studied him. The man didn't look like he was lying. In fact, there was even a trace of relief in his eyes.
"You seem relieved your disciple went with them. Aren't you afraid he won't return?"
The elder's voice pressed down with invisible weight.
Qian Wanguan's face paled. He bowed deeply and said,
"Yesterday, I met Jian Lu Zūnshàng. She told me my path to the heavens lies in my disciple. That's why I entrusted Kuang Dao to her."
"That's all?"
"Yes. I wouldn't dare deceive you."
The hall fell silent. Qian Wanguan kept bowing, not daring to straighten his back.
"Your disciple's already inside. Do you have a way to tell if he's still alive?"
Zi Huan Zhēnzūn tapped the armrest of his seat.
"Yes. I left him a soul lamp."
Qian Wanguan pulled out a black soul lamp. At once, every gaze in the hall fixed on it.
The flame flickered red with a tinge of yellow. It leapt erratically, shrinking and swelling, never steady, but not extinguished.
"How long has it been like this?"
"About half an hour ago it started. I figured that's when Kuang Dao entered the rift."
Zi Huan Zhēnzūn nodded. That timing matched exactly.
"Elder Qian, the rift's closed now, and we don't know what's happened to them. Wait a few days. If the lamp stabilizes, it'll be easier to explain to the others when they arrive."
"Yes."
Qian Wanguan accepted the order and left. He understood Purple Sky Sect's worry. He also knew his disciple was the weakest in that group. If even Kuang Dao's fine, the Heavenly Sword Sect's people should be safe too.
Once he left, Xiao Zhi asked,
"Zhēnzūn, should we inform the Heavenly Sword Sect? And what about the other sects when they arrive?"
"Send a message to the Heavenly Sword Sect immediately. Tell the truth.
As for the others, we sent out invitations ten days ago. Only the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Loose Cultivator Alliance have responded so far. Since the rift's closed, it's not our sect's fault. Choose your words carefully, but send the message."
"Yes, Zhēnzūn."
After Xiao Zhi left, Zi Huan Zhēnzūn sent a message to his junior sister. She specialized in spatial laws. He needed her to check what caused the rift to close early.
Heavenly Sword Sect, Law Enforcement Hall
A streak of light landed as Wei Zhengrong rushed into the main hall, heading straight to Hall Master Jian Li.
Seeing his anxious look, Jian Li frowned.
"What's got you so rattled?"
"Hall Master, after our people entered the Purple Sky Sect's rift, it closed."
He handed over the message they'd received.
"Check their soul lamps."
"I already sent Jin Liuli to do that on my way here." He'd reacted instantly upon receiving the news, ordering Jin Liuli to confirm whether the elders' soul lamps were intact.
Jian Li had just finished reading when Jin Liuli walked into the hall. She bowed, then reported straight away,
"Jian Lu Zūnshàng didn't leave a soul lamp, but the other five all did. Right now, they're flickering, unstable, but none are extinguished."
Hearing that, Jian Li remembered. Back when she went to infiltrate the Heavenly Demon Palace, Jian Lu refused to leave a soul lamp, afraid it might leave a trail. Now there was no way to track her.
"Don't panic. Keep watch over the lamps. The moment they stabilize, report back."
"Yes, Zūnshàng. I'll monitor them closely."
"If anything happens, contact me with the Mò token."
"Yes."
Jin Liuli hurried out again, eyes fixed on the soul lamps.
Jian Li scowled, displeased. He turned to Wei Zhengrong.
"Weren't we told the rift would last a month? It's only been ten days. Why'd it close early? Purple Sky Sect's explanation is far too vague."
"From what I saw, they're hinting the fault lies with us, that our cultivators entered too soon. They didn't say it directly, but that's what they meant."
"Hmph! Let's wait. If the soul lamps hold, fine. If one goes out, I'll make Purple Sky Sect answer for it."
Jian Li's face hardened. He waved Wei Zhengrong off to keep monitoring the situation, then headed straight for the back mountain to meet Tian Yun Zhēnzūn.
Tian Yun and Tian Hong were both present. After hearing Jian Li's report, they questioned him closely. When they learned Jian Dan had pushed the group to depart early, Tian Yun said,
"I've been observing the heavens. There's no omen of disaster for our sect. Their lives shouldn't be in danger. And if Jian Lu urged them forward, it means she already knew the rift wouldn't hold much longer. She must've been prepared. Wait and see."
Only then did Jian Li's expression ease. Still, he knew the truth: once a spatial rift started closing, it was at its most dangerous. If the passage on the other side shut too, the group might be trapped drifting through chaotic space until they found another exit… or until the spatial currents crushed them to pieces.