When Ye Fan was desperately trying to understand what was happening with Shen Yan, Wu Ding insisted he escort Elder Wu back to the Pan Gu Secret Realm, making him feel quite troubled.

"Senior sister, is it really necessary for me to go? Can't you do it yourself?" Ye Fan glanced at Wu Ding.

"Junior brother seems to have forgotten that I too have been infected by the Evil Spirit Banner. If you're not afraid that Senior Brother Qing Wu and I will both succumb to demonic urges on the way, you can surely send me." Wu Ding retorted impatiently.

Ye Fan realized the severity of the issue; a demonized Elder Wu was already dangerous, and if he added Wu Ding, the two of them had enough power to cause upheaval on Earth.

"Where is Senior Brother Qing Wu?" Ye Fan asked.

Wu Ding eyed the woman behind Ye Fan, indicating that Ye Fan should take Li Zhaojun, Min Shang, and Lan Jing along. With Wu Ding and Elder Wu both demonized, only Lan Jing had the absolute power to suppress the two. With Li Zhaojun and Min Shang's help, Ye Fan could barely suppress one.

Ye Fan spoke to Li Zhaojun for a moment, not having her accompany him, but instead, instructed her to search for clues about Shen Yan. Previously, Ye Fan had placed a Pure Yang Spiritual Energy mark on Shen Yan. Both Li Zhaojun and Min Shang had affinity for this energy, and could track it.

Ye Fan only took Lan Jing to escort Elder Wu back to the Pan Gu Secret Realm, while Qing Xu, with low cultivation, had to remain on Earth.

...

This time Wu Ding didn't travel by sword, but instead drove with Ye Fan and Lan Jing out of the city. In the countryside, they saw an abandoned cottage where Elder Wu lay motionless on a wooden plank, watched over by Li Bei.

"What's going on?" Ye Fan approached to examine Elder Wu's injuries, which were severe, as if inflicted by a master's strike.

"I'm not sure either," Wu Ding said. "He was like this when I found Senior Brother Qing Wu, even Li Bei isn't clear on what happened."

Li Bei explained, "Master Qing Wu took me to the Arctic twice, and what he was searching for, he didn't say. We found nothing the first time, but on the second trip, a red lightning bolt appeared from the sky. I was unharmed, but Master Qing Wu suddenly succumbed to demonic urges. His power is terrifying, shattering mountains in the Arctic, and it's likely that soon, the sea level will rise."

Ye Fan nodded, saying, "Thankfully it wasn't at the Antarctic."

Wu Ding asked, "Does it make a difference?"

Ye Fan didn't explain further. The water locked in the Antarctic ice sheet is vast; if shattered, Earth's sea level could rise by tens of meters or more. Li Bei continued, "Afterward, Master Qing Wu triggered several more red lightning strikes, eventually falling unconscious. I couldn't clearly see the specifics. Then High Master Wu Ding arrived..."

"So, the problem lies with the red lightning. Did Senior Sister discover anything after she arrived?" Ye Fan asked.

Wu Ding shook her head, saying, "I didn't even know why Senior Brother went to the Arctic, only sensed his spiritual energy after he was demonized. When I arrived, everything was calm, with no abnormalities. Once we escort Senior Brother back to the Secret Realm, we'll investigate further."

Ye Fan nodded, and alongside Wu Ding, lifted Elder Wu, heading towards Kunlun Mountain.

...

Upon reaching the cave linking Kunlun Mountain to the Pan Gu Secret Realm, Wu Ding went to open the passage, but after a while, there was no movement.

"Junior brother, something's wrong. It seems the entrance to the Secret Realm from Earth is sealed!" Wu Ding said nervously.

Ye Fan personally tried and realized Wu Ding's words were true. Even the entrance to the Pan Gu Secret Realm was sealed. He asked, "Is there any other entrance to return to the Secret Realm?"

Wu Ding sighed, "If only we knew, but this is the only known entry."

"If it doesn't work, we'll have to heal Senior Brother right here," Ye Fan said, "Though... our cultivation might not suffice."

Ye Fan and Wu Ding simultaneously looked at Lan Jing, who shook her head saying, "I can't... but, I can try to open a spatial rift here. I can sense there is a gap here that's been sealed!"

Neither Ye Fan nor Wu Ding could discern Lan Jing's cultivation level, only that it was around the Transcendance Tribulation Stage. Lan Jing herself had no concept of her cultivation level, so she was just a carefree girl, accompanying Ye Fan to have fun.

"We'll be relying on Miss Lan," Wu Ding showed increased respect towards Lan Jing.

Lan Jing nodded, her hand suddenly emitting blue light, which soon grew abundant. Then small Lan Jing and small Red Crystal emerged from Ye Fan's clothes, jumping about before Lan Jing's glowing hand, as if performing some kind of ritual.

Soon, the light from Lan Jing's hand spread in all directions, the surrounding space seeming to come alive. The blue glow continued to spread, appearing to envelop the entire Earth—but in reality, only those with cultivation above the Nascent Soul Stage could perceive it.

"Buzz!" As if a cracking in the heavens and earth, a spatial rift appeared, perceptible by Ye Fan and Wu Ding, though Li Bei knew nothing of it.

"Okay, Li Brother doesn't need to go in," Ye Fan said, "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, and Miss Lan and I can go in, you can head back to Hua Hai City first."

After instructing, Ye Fan enveloped Elder Wu in spiritual energy, and the four of them passed through the rift.

This time, Ye Fan didn't close his eyes; the connection between the two spaces was very tight. Upon arrival, the four of them didn't disperse, remaining together.

"So incredible," Wu Ding smiled at Lan Jing, "Turns out Miss Lan's cultivation nearly reaches ascension."

Lan Jing curiously asked, "What is ascension?"

Ye Fan chuckled and replied, "It's transforming into an Immortal, though it's a legendary expression. The true essence of becoming an Immortal can only be known by asking an Immortal; in front of mortals, we are considered attained, but before Immortals, we are very humble."

Ye Fan didn't say much further and didn't plan to take Lan Jing to the Tianxuan Sect gate on Shuangfeng Mountain.

Wu Ding used a Jade Talisman to send word about the situation to the sect, which responded saying Master Hui Ning would personally come for reception, instructing Ye Fan and Wu Ding to wait there.

After more than three hours, over six hours later, Master Hui Ning finally arrived. Judging by her state, it seemed she had just fought fiercely, with signs of spiritual energy disorder and even burn marks on her arms.

"Master, what happened…" Although Master Hui Ning was nominally Ye Fan's teacher, he went to pay his respects.

Even Wu Ding eyed her master uncle with concern.

"No worries," Master Hui Ning waved it away, "The Emperor Extreme Sect and four other sects escaped from Shuangfeng Mountain. Although Shuangfeng Mountain has sect gate prohibitions preventing an attack, any descent by Tianxuan Sect people would face ambush."

Ye Fan and Wu Ding exchanged glances, Ye Fan asked, "Should I escort Master back?"

"With your cultivation, what help could you provide? I'll return alone; those small fry cannot harm me," Master Hui Ning appeared arrogant, but in reality, was heavily injured.

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