After Xiong Zhuangzhuang shouted out the words, he suddenly collapsed, slumping back into his chair and panting heavily.
The others were all stunned by his last statement, left speechless for a long time.
If Xiong Zhuangzhuang's "Earth Bear" was considered royalty among bear-type demonic beasts, then the Samsara Rat was undoubtedly the emperor of rat-type demonic beasts.
Samsara Rats were born with a pair of "Samsara Eyes" capable of seeing through illusions and foreseeing the future.
After Wan Yanxue bonded with a Samsara Rat, her eyes gained the same ability.
In the sect competition two hundred years ago, Wan Yanxue, with her Samsara Eyes, had crushed cultivators of the same level, becoming the undisputed champion.
As the young sect master of the Beast Taming Sect, Xiong Zhuangzhuang naturally knew of Wan Yanxue's deeds, which was why he was so panicked.
Because he knew that the scene he saw in Wan Yanxue's eyes was not fabricated, but a truth that was highly likely to happen in the future.
"Foreseeing the future..."
Lu Zaiye's eyes narrowed slightly, and the faint sense of unease in his heart finally found its reason.
However...
"Are you sure that in Wan Yanxue's eyes, you saw all ten of us dead? Not a single survivor?"
Lu Zaiye found it somewhat absurd.
Setting aside his concealed strength, there were still Xu Yi and Bei Xinghan among them, both of whom possessed considerable hidden trump cards.
Would they all perish in the secret realm?
He didn't believe it.
Lu Zaiye's question caused everyone to turn their gaze back to Xiong Zhuangzhuang.
If Lu Zaiye didn't believe it, they naturally wouldn't want to believe it either.
They were the top ten cultivators of this grand competition, the most prominent elite disciples on the Nine Provinces Continent.
The grand competition was merely the first platform for them to display their strength, and they were unwilling to believe that their journey would end here.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang closed his eyes, desperately trying to find evidence to convince everyone from the scenes that had flashed before his eyes.
A desolate, grey earth.
Blood everywhere.
And severed limbs, already a grayish-blue hue.
Faces covered in blood, distorted and ferocious, one after another.
Feng Qingyang, Yu Xiaoyu, Wu Gewei, Xiao Qi...
Xiong Zhuangzhuang endured his fear and continued to look. Then he saw himself, dead with eyes wide open in disbelief, and not far away, only half his body remaining, his face filled with terror... Xu Yi!
*Bang!*
Xiong Zhuangzhuang slammed his fist onto the table, his eyes wide, and his voice hoarse, "No survivors, we all died, not a single one left."
"No way..."
Feng Qingyang murmured dazedly.
How could he possibly die?
It was just an expedition into a secret realm, how could it cost all their lives?
Bei Xinghan's handsome face was covered in a layer of frost.
The faces of the others turned grim.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's words undoubtedly cast a shadow over everyone's hearts.
Their initial ambition was replaced by hesitant disbelief.
Lu Zaiye frowned, everyone dead?
Including him?
"Xiong Zhuangzhuang, I'll ask you one more time..."
"Lu Zaiye! If you don't believe what I say, then don't keep asking me! I won't lie! And I, Xiong Zhuangzhuang, wouldn't stoop to lying!"
Lu Zaiye's continuous questioning caused all the pent-up negative emotions in Xiong Zhuangzhuang to erupt. He glared fiercely at Lu Zaiye, his face no longer showing the usual cheerfulness and straightforwardness.
Xu Yi's lips tightened, and she looked at Xiong Zhuangzhuang with concern. Xiong Zhuangzhuang's current state was far from normal.
She suspected that even if they didn't enter the secret realm in the end, Xiong Zhuangzhuang would find it difficult to recover from this state.
"Xiong Zhuangzhuang, I just want to confirm, are you sure the people you saw were really us?"
"Of course they were, there's no way..."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's voice suddenly stopped.
He fell silent, his brows furrowed.
Lu Zaiye's words made him suddenly unsure if the people he saw in that hellish scene were them.
He wasn't foolish, it was just that the horrific scene had severely impacted his mind, causing his emotions to fluctuate wildly.
But now, Lu Zaiye's words brought him back to his senses with a jolt.
Were the people he saw earlier really them?
Xiong Zhuangzhuang fell into deep thought.
Feng Qingyang's spirits lifted, "You mean, fellow Daoist Lu, that the dead people Xiong Zhuangzhuang saw were actually not us!"
"I am merely offering a speculation."
Lu Zaiye said unhurriedly.
Xu Yi nodded silently; Lu Zaiye's words were not unreasonable.
"I think your speculation is very plausible!" Feng Qingyang clapped his hands forcefully, his actions exaggerated, as if trying to convince himself, indicating that Xiong Zhuangzhuang's words had indeed scared him considerably.
The somber atmosphere lightened considerably due to Lu Zaiye and Feng Qingyang's words.
Everyone quietly awaited Xiong Zhuangzhuang's answer.
"I'm... not sure."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang finally spoke, his face pale, a bitter expression on it.
Although the people he saw looked exactly like those present, he dared not definitively say they were them.
Because deep down, he also didn't believe he would die there.
"Alright, then I'll state my position. I agree to proceed with the secret realm expedition," Xu Yi said loudly, looking at everyone.
"Xu Yi..."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang looked up in astonishment.
Xu Yi nodded at him gently, her voice low, yet carrying a hint of seduction.
"Don't you want to know what exactly happened in the scene you saw?"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's pupils trembled; Xu Yi's words struck him hard.
If he didn't investigate it personally, what happened today might become an insurmountable inner demon for him in the future.
"Fine, I agree as well."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang bit his tongue fiercely and said hatefully.
Xu Yi turned her head, raising an eyebrow, "Lu Zaiye?"
"I have no objections," Lu Zaiye said indifferently.
"Xiaoyu, what about you?"
Xu Yi's tone became considerably gentler when speaking to Yu Xiaoyu.
"I, I, if you all are going, then I'll go too." Yu Xiaoyu smiled shyly.
More than death, she feared being abandoned by the team.
"Since everyone agrees, Hongjing, you're the only one who knows where the secret realm is. When do you think is the best time for us to depart?"
Hongjing said, "Now."
"Now?" Feng Qingyang's voice rose, "Isn't that a bit too sudden?"
If Hongjing had said this earlier, he might have responded immediately without a second thought, but after hearing Xiong Zhuangzhuang's words, his heart was a little unsettled.
"Now is the best time. Everyone, don't forget that those two have likely already departed, and might even be at the secret realm by now."
They didn't know the purpose of those two, nor what they would do in the secret realm, so the sooner, the better.
"Hongjing is right, let's just set off now."
Xu Yi stood up directly.
Lu Zaiye glanced at Xu Yi with some confusion.
Xu Yi's attitude was too enthusiastic; could there be a secret in the Myriad Buddha Sect's secret realm that he didn't know about?
"I support Sister Xu!"
Bai Shan immediately stood up to support Xu Yi, her eyes constantly darting towards Xu Yi, a look of seeking praise on her face.
Bei Xinghan also stood up. Although he didn't speak, he exuded an aura of readiness.
"Let's go then!"
Feng Qingyang gulped down the remaining wine in his cup, slammed the cup onto the table, and then stood up as well.
The group quickly settled their bill and left the restaurant, speeding towards the city gates.
Ever since they entered the city, a large number of cultivators had been secretly observing them. Seeing them rushing out of the city, many also quietly followed.