There was hope!
The elders immediately perked up, excitement and tension flashing across their faces as they crowded near the massive gate.
As the spiritual energy kept pouring in, everyone saw the gate begin to tremble more violently.
Finally, under the gaze of the entire crowd, the tower opened!
"It's opening! It's opening!"
A group of Divine Transformation cultivators were too excited for words, as if they had never seen such a thing before.
After all, secret realms in the Secluded Land were extremely rare, and this kind of tower was a first for them—especially one connected to their chance at ascension.
Feng Jinchuan even showed a rare smile. He watched the gate gradually swing open, his frown smoothing out as a faint gleam flashed through his eyes.
He glanced back at everyone; excitement lit every face, eager to rush inside.
For safety's sake, he was about to suggest going in first himself when the elders grew impatient and darted inside without waiting.
Flying forward, one said, "Patriarch, let's hurry inside! If this really leads to the spiritual realm, our Feng family will prosper!"
"Let's go. I want to see what kind of treasure this is!"
One after another, they entered, not giving him a chance to speak.
Song Wanníng followed the crowd and soon disappeared from sight.
Feng Jinchuan's expression visibly darkened. Use it and toss it aside—these people moved so fast!
Oh well. He understood their mindset and forced himself to suppress his frustration. He flew swiftly into the Tongtian Tower.
...
"Sister, your plan worked! Haha, these people think they've found treasure but don't know the trouble headed their way!"
The golden little sword bounced joyfully. With the trial tower as backup, these people were in for a hard time.
Song Wanníng shook her head, smiling. "Although they've fallen into the trap, to kill so many Divine Transformation cultivators, the Nine-Cycle Soul Devouring Formation probably won't manage it. The rest will depend on me, but whether I win..."
Was unpredictable.
Now it was a matter of how many Divine Transformation cultivators the Nine-Cycle Soul Devouring Formation could eliminate. If only a few remained, she might just wipe them out in one sweep.
But if many survived, escaping alive would already be a blessing.
With that, she took out a communication talisman and summoned Bai Yang.
At her command, Bai Yang immediately ran out of the cave. Seeing the tower suddenly rise before him, his expression brightened sharply.
But the next moment, Song Wanníng flew out of the trial tower.
"If danger comes, don't wait for me. Run on your own and don't look back, understand?"
Song Wanníng's serious gaze looked back at him, which only made Bai Yang more determined not to abandon her.
Sure enough, Bai Yang frowned. "Master, what are you saying? We share both fortune and hardship. I would never leave you behind!"
He clenched his fist, feeling underestimated. How could he prove he had truly changed and earned his master's trust?
"Whatever you say. Anyway, I won't have time to look after you later."
Song Wanníng had no time for him now. As long as Bai Yang didn't run away, he might be the key to turning the tide.
Through the realm talisman, she observed the elders inside the tower, then began activating the formation step by step. Every move had to be perfect.
Bai Yang couldn't understand what was happening, so he just stood aside watching, his image of the mysterious and powerful master growing ever clearer.
Finally, after the ninth circle was completed, the formation's pattern rose from the ground, enveloping the entire trial tower.
The formation flickered with a faint sinister light—it was clearly wrong.
Bai Yang's heart sank. What was his master planning?
"Master, you mustn't go astray! This formation looks evil. If... if it harms people, then..."
His expression tightened as he stared at Song Wanníng. They were righteous cultivators, and could not walk the crooked path. If their Dao heart broke, their future would be lost.
Song Wanníng paused, then glanced at Bai Yang with a complicated look.
The gaze was so intense Bai Yang felt frozen and a chill spread through him.
Just when he thought he had made a mistake, Song Wanníng said enigmatically, "I understand."
She withdrew her gaze and secretly ordered the golden little sword to keep an eye on Bai Yang. If possible, it should take Bai Yang out with it—the safest plan.
The golden little sword agreed and readied itself.
The temperature around them seemed to drop.
Controlling the trial tower, Song Wanníng thought once and everyone inside was immediately teleported out.
Because she had taken control, she could decide their teleportation direction, location, and distance, never letting them leave the formation's bounds.
Whoosh—
The trial tower transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into Song Wanníng's spirit sea.
The cultivators inside suddenly plummeted from the sky. A strong sense of weightlessness came over them. In just one breath, they hit the ground.
Feng Jinchuan stabilized his body, landing from midair. The moment he landed, he noticed the surrounding formation and his expression changed drastically.
"This is bad! An evil formation!"
He shouted fiercely. His anxious voice rang out like thunder.
The elders tensed, instinctively flying outside the formation.
But the formation blocked them back. Several attacks followed, but the formation remained intact without any disturbance.
Their hearts shook violently. They hurried back to midair and spontaneously formed a circle, cautiously staring at the formation's sinister glow.
"How could this happen? Aren't we inside the Tongtian Tower?"
"What kind of formation is this?"
The elders were confused, but mostly panicked.
Amid their fear, they suddenly noticed Feng Youming standing outside the formation.
"Feng Youming, why are you outside?"
Elder Wulan blinked in surprise and quickly said, "Get us out of here!"
"This evil formation is obviously wrong!"
"Right, Youming, get us out first. Seriously, the Tongtian Tower disappeared. Are we being toyed with?"
"I knew something was off about that Tongtian Tower appearing so suddenly!"
"Come on, find a way out first!"
At this point, no one suspected Feng Youming was a traitor. They just thought he was lucky to be teleported out.
Song Wanníng stood still, silent, a faint smile on her face as she watched them carefully.
The crowd gradually sensed something was wrong.
"Feng Youming, what are you standing there for? Help us now!"
"Are you just going to watch us get into trouble?"
"Now is not the time to joke around!"
Their voices sharpened, pressing down on Feng Youming with growing hostility.
"Feng Youming, I'm talking to you. Did you hear me?"