Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

Black Emperor carried Yang Guo and the other three as they sped through the constantly collapsing secret realm.

Rocks fell from above, the ground beneath their feet cracked, and the entire secret realm seemed poised to turn into ruins at any moment.

"Black Emperor, I didn't expect you to be this powerful."

Zhang Wuji, holding the Black Emperor's fur in one hand, asked, "By the way, is that Blood Demon Ancestor dead?"

The Black Emperor still maintains the form of an ancient ferocious beast, its voice like muffled thunder.

"He's not dead, but he's seriously injured. Although my claw didn't kill him, it shattered many of his meridians, and he won't recover anytime soon."

As they were talking, the Black Emperor's massive body suddenly swayed, and the light emanating from it quickly dimmed.

"not good!"

Black King let out a low growl, and his enormous body shrank at a visible speed, instantly reverting to the appearance of a small black dog.

Caught off guard, Zhang Wuji, Yang Guo, and the others fell off its back. Fortunately, they reacted quickly and used their spiritual energy to stabilize themselves.

"Why have you shrunk again?" Qingguo asked, looking at the Black Emperor who had turned back into a puppy.

After landing, Black Emperor staggered and said awkwardly:

"Um... I've only recovered a little strength. That attack just now almost exhausted all my energy, and I can only barely maintain this state..."

"You're so slow," Qingcheng pouted.

The Black Emperor's face darkened, but he was powerless to refute and could only hang his head.

"There's no time for this," Yang Guo said in a deep voice, glancing at the crumbling landscape around him.

"The secret realm is collapsing faster than ever; we need to run towards the exit!"

Without further delay, everyone circulated their cultivation and sped towards the exit of the secret realm.

Outside the secret realm, in the misty valley, many figures gathered.

Experts at the Celestial Realm from major forces such as the Xuanming Sect, Xuanqing Taoism, Wanfo Temple, and Xingchen Pavilion.

They were all suspended in the clouds, their eyes fixed on the entrance to the secret realm, their expressions anxious.

Today is the last day the secret realm is closed, however, apart from the people from the Great Qian Dynasty and the Nine Nether Demon Sect who came out three days ago,

Only a few minor factions and independent cultivators emerged from the secret realm one after another; none of the core disciples and elders sent in by the major factions showed up.

"What exactly happened?" A Celestial Realm elder from the Xuanming Sect frowned deeply.

"Those rogue cultivators who came out said that most of them went to the Crimson Palace in the center of the secret realm, saying that it has an ancient inheritance."

"Even if there's a struggle for inheritance at the center of the secret realm, it's time to come out!"

Just as everyone was filled with worry, a flash of light appeared at the entrance to the secret realm, and four figures and a small black dog staggered out. It was Yang Guo and his three companions and the dog.

"Phew... finally out!"

Qingcheng took a deep breath of the fresh air outside, a relieved smile spreading across her face.

"It's so much better outside!"

The four had barely steadied themselves and hadn't even had a chance to catch their breath when they were met with several unfriendly gazes.

In the area where the Qingyun Sect was located, the Second Elder Zhong Xiang spotted Yang Guo and the others at a glance, and his face instantly turned ferocious.

He quickly leaned close to the ear of an elderly man beside him, whose aura was unfathomable, and whispered:

"Vice Sect Master, it's them! These are the very people who killed our Elder Ge and fifty disciples!"

This old man was none other than Yun He, the vice sect master of the Qingyun Sect, who possessed a cultivation level of the late-stage Celestial Realm.

After being injured by Yang Guo that day, Zhong Xiang knew he was no match for him and dared not enter the Blood Palace again.

Instead, he left the secret realm ahead of time and immediately reported his encounter there to Vice Sect Master Yunhe, who had come to meet him.

Of the disciples and elders of the Qingyun Sect who entered the secret realm this time, all but him survived; the losses were devastating.

Yunhe was already furious, and upon hearing Zhong Xiang's words, his gaze instantly locked onto Yang Guo and the other three, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.

"stop!"

Yunhe, accompanied by Zhong Xiang, instantly blocked Yang Guo and his companions, and said in a deep voice:

"You killed my Qingyun Sect's elders and disciples, and you think you can just walk away like this?"

Yang Guo and the other three looked up and saw Zhong Xiang's resentful face, and they knew what had happened.

"So it's you, you old codger," Yang Guo sneered. "I didn't expect you to be so quick to get out ahead of time."

Qingcheng stepped forward, meeting Yunhe's gaze without fear.

"Your people tried to steal our Spirit Fruit but were accidentally killed by us."

"The fault lies not with us, so why are you stopping us?"

Upon hearing this, Yun He's expression darkened further: "They were wrong to steal your things, but their crime doesn't warrant death!"

"You can give them the Spirit Essence Fruit first, and then come to my Qingyun Sect after you leave the secret realm, where we will uphold justice!"

"Our Qingyun Sect is a reputable and righteous sect; how could we possibly covet your meager treasures?"

Upon hearing this, not only were Yang Guo and his companions stunned, but even the experts from other forces in the surrounding clouds couldn't help but frown and reveal a hint of disdain.

What kind of logic is it to return something to the thief before seeking justice from their sect? This logic is utterly absurd!

"Heh," Zhang Wuji laughed in exasperation, "Are you stupid or are we stupid? Tell me, what do you want?"

"It's very simple," Yunhe said in a deep voice, "Hand over all the treasures you obtained from the secret realm."

"Then come with me back to the Qingyun Sect to face the law and await your fate. Perhaps then you'll be spared a complete corpse!"

Before he finished speaking, he unleashed the full power of his late-stage Celestial Realm cultivation, pressing down on Yang Guo and the other three, attempting to force them into submission with his absolute strength.

Yang Guo and his companions felt a terrifying pressure coming down on them, their blood and qi surged, and their bodies swayed slightly, but they still gritted their teeth and persevered.

Just then, a desolate yet domineering voice suddenly echoed from the sky, like the clash of metal, resounding through the heavens:

"A brisk wind blows, the road ahead is chilly."

"Who will drink with me? Who dares to stand guard?"

"The halberd was returned, but the man has not!"

As the voice faded, a figure fell from the sky like a shooting star, landing steadily in front of Yang Guo and his companions.

The newcomer was clad in dark armor, wielding an ancient halberd. His face was stern, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, and he exuded an aura of dominance over the world.

—It is the returning swallow!

His gaze swept over Yunhe, and he said coldly, "Qingyun Sect, how dare you bully the people of Yongyetian!"

Yun He's pupils contracted sharply as he sensed the aura emanating from the other party that was no less powerful than his own, and perhaps even more domineering. A sense of unease and uncertainty filled his heart.

"Who are you? My Qingyun Sect has no connection with you. Why are you interfering in my sect's affairs?"

Yan Guiren ignored him and turned to look at Yang Guo and the other three, his gaze sweeping over them. "Are you all alright?"

Yang Guo and the others, seeing Yan Guiren suddenly appear, had a thought and clasped their hands in greeting, saying, "My lord, we are unharmed!"

Yan Guiren nodded slightly, then turned to look at Yun He, his eyes even colder: "Either get out, or die!"

An aura several times stronger than Yunhe's erupted, shattering the clouds in the sky.

Yunhe's face turned pale, and he staggered back several steps. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he was so overwhelmed by the aura that he almost vomited blood.

Seeing this, the Celestial Realm experts from the surrounding major forces also felt Yan Guiren's strength, and at the same time, they were unfamiliar with this "Eternal Night Heaven"!