The cultivators suffered heavy losses, yet it was Ye Fan's efforts that enabled everyone to escape the illusions of betrayal.

When all the illusory images around them vanished, many were still injured and lying on the ground. Because of the previous betrayals by fellow sect members, lovers, and others in the illusions, these people no longer trusted those nearby, preferring to heal themselves rather than accept help from others.

"Ye Fan, are you okay?" Li Zhaojun and the other women approached, all looking at Ye Fan with concern.

Ye Fan, on the other hand, surveyed his surroundings. He felt something was amiss and on closer observation, realized it was related to Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman and the Sect Master Ling.

Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman had not appeared in the illusions before, which meant that the illusions were ineffective against her. Similarly, Sect Master Ling had not appeared in the illusions; it seemed she used her cultivation or a certain magical artifact to escape, and now no one knew her whereabouts.

Soon, Huang Ze, Sect Master of the Emperor Sect, also noticed this and exclaimed in surprise, "Where is Sect Master Ling?"

Sect Master Ling was recognized as the most dangerous figure in the Pan Gu Secret Realm besides Sang Yuan. After being captured by Ye Fan, even the Earth-Origin Sect suffered major losses, and many believed Sect Master Ling would be completely relegated to history. Yet she managed to escape during the occurrence of the illusions.

At this moment, Ye Fan very much wanted to question Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman. She was the only one who hadn't been caught in the previous illusions, and might know how Sect Master Ling was able to escape. Moreover, this matter might be related to Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman herself. Ye Fan pondered deeply, but decided it would be best to discuss everything after returning to Earth.

"I shall escort everyone out of here, please!"

Ye Fan had intended to have Sang Yuan tear through space, but the feedback indicated that the surrounding space-time was too unstable, making it easy for space to collapse. Thus, returning via the original route to the surface to act accordingly was the only option.

Everyone was injured, including Ye Fan himself. In desperation, Ye Fan could only have Sang Yuan lead the way, while he struggled to support himself with the aid of Li Zhaojun and Sang Yuan, as they returned to the way they came in the underground passage. He was also secretly adjusting his breath to prevent further danger from arising and to guard against Hua Wu and others from causing trouble.

However, on the way out, they encountered no trouble, all the way to beneath the sea. Outside, the cultivators quickly opened the whirlpool in the sea, allowing everyone to leave the Dead Sea through it.

Back on the shore, everyone felt as if they'd narrowly escaped death.

Hai Wuzi said, "Young Master Ye, it seems the array left by the ancients is too powerful. Future explorations should be undertaken with great caution, as we at the Xinghe Sect can no longer provide assistance."

"Sect Master Hai is right; henceforth, I will explore personally and won't trouble members of other sects." Ye Fan replied.

Hua Wu sneered, "Did you invite us here just to cause such heavy losses among the sects? Even the survivors have had their cultivation greatly impaired."

"Sect Master Hua's words are mistaken. In fact, Young Master Ye himself considered the larger sects." Huang Ze said, "Now that Sect Master Ling has fled, she might rally the remaining forces of Earth-Origin Sect for a counterattack. Everyone should quickly return to their mountain gates lest they be vulnerable to attack. Young Master Ye, until we meet again, I must take leave with my sect."

Ye Fan nodded slightly, and Huang Ze did not concern himself with the other sects, escorting the Emperor Sect people back to Emperor Mountain.

As for the other sects, they each returned to their places. Only some smaller sects were not in a hurry to leave; they wanted to pledge loyalty to Ye Fan. Their sects' power was already weak, now further diminished. Without Ye Fan's aid as Alliance Hierarch, they might be at risk of annihilation.

Ye Fan said, "I will send people to assist your sects. If external enemies invade, my men will help you... You should return now."

"Thank you very much, Young Master Ye." After saluting, the people of the small sects dispersed, leaving the Dead Sea.

After everyone had left, Ye Fan spat out a mouthful of blood. He had previously fought against the masters of multiple sects on his own. Even though his cultivation had reached the Mahayana Realm, it was exhausting. Although the cultivators did not directly harm his essential True Qi, they caused his Qi-Blood to surge, necessitating an immediate return to Earth to recuperate.

...

...

With Sang Yuan, the speed at which several of them returned to Earth was swift.

The group arrived at the secret villa in Ninghai City, and upon returning, Ye Fan saw Wu Ding standing at the door.

It was only after returning to Earth that Wu Ding realized Ye Fan and the others weren't there. Previously, she had promised, after settling matters with Tianxuan Sect, that she wouldn't concern herself with sect grievances anymore and was willing to stay by Ye Fan's side as a servant.

But she hadn't expected that Ye Fan had gone to the Dead Sea with his people, including her master Hua Wu and those from the seven major sects, resulting in a catastrophic outcome, wherein even Ye Fan was injured.

"Senior Wu Ding, the younger generation has no time to entertain at the moment; Ye Fan is seriously injured, and I, along with Min Shang, need to go inside to heal him." Li Zhaojun was very respectful to Wu Ding, always regarding her as a senior figure, although her cultivation was now on par with Wu Ding's.

Wu Ding's lips moved as though to say something, but Li Zhaojun and Min Shang were already supporting the meditative Ye Fan into the room, leaving others to guard outside. Wu Ding wasn't permitted to enter for diagnosis and treatment.

"What's going on?" Wu Ding looked at Lan Jing and Sang Yuan beside her, hoping for an explanation.

Sang Yuan, somewhat tense, said, "The young master was injured to protect people from the six sects. It was my failure to protect adequately!"

"Six sects? What is the connection with the six sects?" Wu Ding, having just left Tianxuan Sect, was unaware of subsequent events. She had been waiting on Earth while everything unfolded in the secret realm, taking three to four hours in total, yet on Earth, less than a single hour had passed.

No one could answer Wu Ding, so she was left anxious, resorting to using her Spiritual Sense to probe the situation inside the room, but was blocked. Ye Fan had created a barrier using a web of Spiritual Energy, preventing outsiders from probing inside.

Inside the room, Ye Fan was sitting cross-legged on the ground, while Li Zhaojun and Min Shang continuously channeled Pure Yin Spiritual Energy into his body to aid in healing.

However, due to Li Zhaojun and Min Shang's lower cultivation, their Spiritual Energy naturally succumbed to Ye Fan's Pure Yang Spiritual Energy, resulting in slow healing progress. The recovery still relied mostly on Ye Fan's self-adjustment.

While injured, Ye Fan could feel the Nascent Soul formed by his Copper Mirror within his body undergoing a change, as if it refused to obey his commands.

Ye Fan suddenly realized a problem: he had dual Nascent Souls, and throughout history, no one had heard of someone possessing dual Nascent Souls. The consequence of dual Nascent Souls might lead to a split personality, which could explain his previous unusual actions towards Tantai Wanrong.

"Strangely, my second Nascent Soul has a higher cultivation level, but it's beginning to show signs of causing personality disintegration. Could it eventually usurp my consciousness, making me its puppet?" Ye Fan felt a surge of crisis in his heart.

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