Everyone is Shocked!

At the same time.

Yin Yang Tower, fourth floor.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the Burning Heaven Cauldron suspended in mid-air, none knowing the situation within the vessel.

Even those who had arrived at the fourth floor later were drawn to the gathering crowd, whispering and questioning what had transpired.

From the vibrations of the Burning Heaven Cauldron, the onlookers could sense that an intense struggle had been raging within. Yet, just a moment ago, the cauldron had suddenly fallen silent.

"What is happening?"

A questioning voice rang out, voicing the doubt in everyone's minds.

Could it be that the three direct disciples of the Zhao family, along with the twelve ranked and ordinary disciples, had joined forces to expel Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao?

Was the current silence because they were deciding how to exit the Burning Heaven Cauldron?

It seemed highly probable.

However, before the crowd could speculate further, the mouth of the Burning Heaven Cauldron shimmered with white light. Figures began to emerge, as if being spat out by the artifact.

"It's the Zhao family-they've come out!"

An observant cultivator recognized them and shouted.

Everyone became even more certain of their earlier assumption. After all, if the Zhao disciples were present but the battle had concluded, it could only mean that Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao had been driven out.

For a moment, the gazes directed at the suspended Burning Heaven Cauldron turned eager. With Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao expelled, the cauldron remained. Perhaps this was an opportunity to seize the artifact for themselves.

Yet, in the next moment, the crowd slowly realized that the Zhao disciples drifting through the air were not moving correctly.

The reason was simple.

When a person falls from mid-air, even without a point of leverage, they instinctively struggle to adjust their center of gravity to avoid a brutal impact.

But these Zhao disciples hung in the air like dead fish, not a single limb twitching. It was profoundly strange.

Then, a series of dull thuds echoed out. The dozen-plus Zhao disciples struck the ground like dumplings tossed into a pot. Only then did the onlookers grasp the gravity of the situation.

"Wait-these people have grievous wounds, especially..."

A cultivator standing closer to the cauldron exclaimed in alarm.

He did not need to remind them. Everyone was already scrutinizing the bodies. When the state of the disciples became clear, eyes widened and pupils contracted to the size of pinpricks. It was as if a large hand had gripped their throats, making even their breathing shallow and rapid.

"Dead? They are all dead?"

"Without exception, they have suffered fatal wounds. There are even two charred corpses and one that is headless."

"Hiss-"

Gasps of astonishment, shock, and disbelief erupted, the sound of cold air being sucked in filling the room.

"This is impossible."

"Those were three direct disciples, plus twelve ranked and ordinary disciples. Aside from the peak leaders and those few top-tier experts, who could possibly handle such a force?"

"What on earth happened inside that Burning Heaven Cauldron?"

"And how was Ning Fan able to kill them inside the Yin Yang Tower?"

There were too many questions; the crowd's minds momentarily ceased to function, unable to decide which revelation was the most shocking.

"That cauldron contains its own internal space, likely rejecting the Yin Yang Tower's interference. That is why the Tower could not provide its protective expulsion," Young Master Zheng's voice rang out.

Having traveled extensively, Young Master Zheng possessed a sharp eye. Upon seeing the cauldron accommodate nearly twenty people, he had immediately recognized the existence of a separate space.

"Tsk. This is truly a treasure. I wonder where Ning Fan came by it. Even in the outside world, this item would incite chaos," Young Master Zheng murmured to himself.

After hearing his explanation, the crowd understood why Ning Fan had been able to kill disciples within the tower, but the question of how he had overcome the Zhao family's lineup remained a mystery.

As the chatter continued, the mouth of the Burning Heaven Cauldron flashed with white light once more. Two more figures appeared.

"It's Ning Fan, and his Dao Companion... what was her name?"

"Yun Qingyao," someone prompted.

Compared to Ning Fan, Yun Qingyao was far less known to them.

Thud.

Ning Fan landed steadily on one knee. As for Yun Qingyao, she was held firmly in his arms, not even the hem of her robes brushing the ground.

Silence. Utter silence.

As the two appeared, all discussion on the fourth floor vanished. Every gaze fixed upon them.

Some were appraising, some shocked, others curious or probing. Yet, everyone noticed Ning Fan's current state. He was pale; even in his stable kneeling position, his body trembled, and his lips were devoid of color.

Everyone instinctively examined him, but could see no external wounds. Even the spot where a sword had pierced him showed no flowing blood.

That left only one explanation for his exhaustion-the depletion of his spiritual power.

It seemed evident that Ning Fan had unleashed a technique of immense cost to eliminate the three direct disciples and their twelve companions.

"That method must be related to that treasure," Zhao Tanye murmured to herself. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Ning Fan. Initially, when the Zhao family Dao Lord had tasked her with assisting this new disciple to drive out Zhao Qian's faction, she had been resentful. Why should she assist a newcomer?

Now, however, Ning Fan's strength seemed unfathomable.

Yet, his resolve was truly ruthless. Fifteen disciples, including three exceptionally talented direct disciples-he had killed them without hesitation.

Zhao Tanye had not been close with those disciples, so she felt no personal hatred toward Ning Fan. However, from the perspective of the Zhao family, his actions placed her in a difficult position.

In truth, not only did Zhao Tanye find it difficult; even the Zhao family Dao Lord had not anticipated that Ning Fan would go this far.

At the same time, outside the tower, the commotion far surpassed the activity within. After all, the Yin Yang Fire-Pattern Stele functioned as a more intuitive witness than the events inside the tower.

At this moment, the outside world erupted, as if a bowl of water had been splashed into a pot of boiling oil.

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