The chamber fell into a strange silence.

  Anger, suspicion, disdain, all collided in the stagnant air.

  And yet, not a single person spoke.

  They disliked Qin Yi.

  Some even wished they could tear him apart on the spot.

  But deep down, they were forced to admit a fact.

  They truly could not find any clues.

  No matter how thoroughly they searched, they were like headless flies circling within this sealed stone room. Aside from stirring up thicker clouds of dust, they had accomplished nothing.

  So what now?

  Continue this futile search until exhaustion claimed them all, until they ended up like the piles of bones in the corner, welcoming death in despair?

  Or simply destroy one orb and see what happens?

  But if they did that, would they not be playing directly into Qin Yi’s hands?

  A strong resistance rose in their hearts.

  Who were they?

  They were prodigies of the demonic sect, survivors who had carved their way out of seas of corpses and blood. Among their peers, they stood at the top.

  To obey an unknown newcomer with the lowest cultivation present was more unbearable than death.

  Thus, even as more and more of them wavered, even as some began to suspect Qin Yi might be right, not one was willing to be the first to speak.

  Whoever spoke first would be bowing their head.

  Then

  A hoarse, cold voice broke the stalemate.

  “Fine. I agree to try.”

  Every head turned.

  Even Qin Yi, who had appeared indifferent, shifted his gaze.

  The one who had spoken

  Was Feng Wuya.

  His face revealed nothing, as if he were commenting on something trivial.

  “Destroy one orb first and see what happens.”

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  “If nothing changes, you owe us an explanation.”

  “But if a new clue appears…”

  “Then from that point onward, I will follow your arrangements.”

  His features were half-hidden in shadow, unreadable.

  “Feng Wuya!” You Ying exclaimed in disbelief. “You… you would accept such a condition? With your temperament, you’re willing to stand beneath someone else?”

  The question echoed everyone’s thoughts.

  Feng Wuya’s arrogance was infamous in Luoshan City.

  He had never lowered his head to anyone.

  Yet now he was not only the first to support Qin Yi, he was openly agreeing to follow him?

  It was almost absurd.

  Even Qin Yi felt a trace of surprise.

  He knew Feng Wuya was no fool. If he chose to speak first, there must be intent behind it.

  But he had not expected such an open concession.

  And this was already the second time Feng Wuya had spoken in his favor.

  What had caused such a change?

  Surely not merely that incomplete contract between them.

  Impossible.

  Qin Yi sneered inwardly.

  Still, Feng Wuya’s stance was undeniably helpful.

  “I agree as well.”

  Another voice sounded.

  Gui Tong, the sectmate with the vertical third eye.

  “We’re already at a deadlock. We may as well follow Qin Yi’s suggestion and try.”

  He swept his gaze calmly across the room.

  “We have two chances. Even if one fails, we still have another. That is better than sitting here doing nothing.”

  With two formidable cultivators taking the lead, the balance in others’ hearts began to tilt.

  Yet after that, no third voice came immediately.

  No one objected.

  But no one fully agreed either.

  The stalemate lingered.

  Qin Yi was not anxious.

  On his side, progress lagged behind Wen Shan’s.

  But that did not matter.

  A borrowed stone can polish jade.

  If Wen Shan explored ahead and uncovered the secrets of this realm, Qin Yi would gain greater advantage here.

  Time passed.

  Then Gui Tong’s vertical eye flashed with a sharp glint, and he spoke again.

  “I must remind everyone. After entering this realm, it is not merely our spiritual energy that has been drained.”

  “The formation beneath our feet may have other effects. The longer we remain here, the weaker we may become.”

  “Do not assume you are still cultivators. Perhaps before long, we will starve or die of thirst.”

  The moment his words ended

  A low, untimely rumble echoed in the chamber.

  All eyes turned.

  A disciple from Sancai Workshop stood red-faced, clutching his stomach in embarrassment.

  He himself stared down in disbelief.

  Only now did he realize

  He was no longer free from hunger.

  In this cursed place, he could feel starvation creeping in.

  The discovery struck like a bucket of ice water poured over their hearts.

  A new wave of fear gripped them.

  If they wasted too much time, they might truly end up like those bones in the corner, starving to death in endless darkness.

  Such a humiliating death was unbearable even to imagine.

  “Hey!”

  A thunderous shout snapped them from their thoughts.

  Shi Meng strode forward and stopped before Qin Yi, planting himself firmly and crouching down.

  “Tell the truth. How confident are you in your guess?”

  Qin Yi met his fierce gaze and smiled faintly.

  “One hundred percent.”

  Shi Meng’s brows twisted into a tight knot.

  He stared into Qin Yi’s eyes, searching for even the slightest flicker of doubt.

  He found none.

  Those eyes were calm as an ancient well.

  The confidence there did not seem feigned.

  After a long moment, Shi Meng exhaled heavily.

  “Fine. I’ll trust you once.”

  “But if you’re wrong, I’ll make you pay.”

  Qin Yi was briefly taken aback.

  He had expected the hot-tempered brute to be the last to agree.

  Perhaps he had misjudged him.

  Not all strong men were simple-minded.

  With Shi Meng yielding, the remaining resistance crumbled.

  “I agree as well.”

  “If that’s the case, let’s try.”

  “If anything goes wrong, I’ll be the first to settle accounts with you.”

  Voices rose one after another.

  Before long, more than half the group had agreed to Qin Yi’s proposal.

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