Forced to Be a Villain: Starting With My Brain Extraction System Chapter 155: End of Secret Realm Exploration (3)

As Lu Sheng had foreseen, the three elders held off from pursuing him right away, abandoning the portal in their wake.

To them, the safety of their disciples mattered far more, particularly while they clung to hopes of retrieving some elite talents.

Thus, the three elders clenched their jaws in rage and channeled extra spiritual energy to steady the portal, permitting the disciples to exit.

"All disciples, the portal is about to close. Leave the secret realm immediately."

With their divine sense, Jianhong, Hua Yuelian, and Tie Shan broadcasted the command, pressing any survivors inside to evacuate. They could no longer maintain control over the portal.

"Swish!"

Thankfully, following their alert, streams of light started emerging one after another. Regrettably, none belonged to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, causing them all to grind their teeth in frustration.

Their fury burned so hot that any Blood Lotus Sect member who emerged met instant death without mercy.

In that instant, a heavy, bloodthirsty tension gripped the outside area, terrifying the Qi Condensation cultivators from other sects out of their wits.

Elders from those minor sects didn't dare show up to gripe about their casualties.

Anxiety had Mei Xuan drenched in sweat, as Zhiran remained nowhere in sight.

The portal flickered unstably, on the verge of shutting. No one had come out for quite a while.

The elders were ready to seal it themselves.

Mei Xuan couldn't fathom why he was delaying so much. Her heart pounded wildly with overwhelming worry.

"Wait..."

Right as the portal teetered on closure, Mei Xuan gathered her nerve to beg the elders for extra time, but a dazzling gleam burst forth before them, accompanied by a swear.

"Shit... I almost missed the portal. Damn, you pipesqueak."

Mo Zhiran emerged, appearing utterly unharmed, exactly like when he'd parted from her earlier.

Actually, he looked even more vibrant and dashing, his aura now radiating the early Foundation Establishment stage.

Mei Xuan ignored those minor changes. The instant his form appeared, her heart surged with wild joy, propelling her straight into his embrace where she wailed openly.

"Ahh... Zhiran, I thought you were dead. Thank god, you are alive."

Her sobs rang out sharply amid the hushed, strained air, drawing every gaze to the tightly clinging pair.

Mei Xuan stayed unaware, simply overjoyed that Mo Zhiran lived. No relief in her life had ever matched this.

At that moment, she grasped that she'd genuinely fallen for this rogue and couldn't bear parting from him.

One only truly values what might be lost.

She learned that lesson today.

"Hey, hey, idiot. You are attracting too much attention."

Zhiran felt mortified by Mei Xuan's tight hug and loud tears, but his pleas fell on deaf ears no matter what.

She only clung tighter, weeping against his shoulder like he might vanish if she let go.

Suddenly, the scene grew unbearably cringe-worthy, leaving even the three elders unsure how to respond.

"Cough... okay, I am alive and well, alright? Look, Elder Jianhong is already impatient. Let’s leave now, okay? We will talk later."

Zhiran hid his flushed face and gave Mei Xuan's waist a light pinch, snapping her back to reality. Only then did she register her actions.

Shame overwhelmed Mei Xuan, leaving her clueless on how to proceed.

Thus, she feigned ignorance and murmured into his ear amid soft sobs,

"O-okay, but...you take me in there. I don’t want to leave your arms."

Already red-faced, a bit more embarrassment hardly fazed her.

She boldly demanded Zhiran carry her, prompting an eye-roll. Without the onlookers, he'd have spanked her rear firmly.

"Cough... Elder, she is a little traumatized by the incident in the secret realm. I will take care of her. Can we leave now?"

Her persistence left him no choice, so Zhiran glanced at Elder Jianhong with apologetic eyes.

"Hmm, I understand."

Luckily, Jianhong had no interest in their antics.

Instead, he expanded his sword swiftly as before and commanded his disciples,

"Okay, climb the sword. We are returning to the sect."

Once done, he nodded slightly to the other two elders.

"Tie Shan, Miss Hua Yuelian, let’s meet another time. I am slightly in a hurry."

With all disciples aboard, he shot off without a backward glance, his sword vanishing rapidly toward the Divine Cauldron Sect.

Yet, the returnees numbered less than half the original group. The massive sword had seemed sparse already, but now...

...it felt utterly desolate.

This feeling wasn't unique to Jianhong; other sects shared it deeply.

Their casualties exceeded even the Divine Cauldron Sect's by far. Clearly, this event had enraged all parties involved.

Zhiran sensed war drums resounding across the Verdant Peaks.

Peace here would end soon. He needed to gear up as well.

Speechless, Zhiran eyed Mei Xuan koala-clinging to him even on the sword.

Unable to restrain himself longer, he cracked her butt with a resounding smack that echoed in the confined area, startling all.

"Okay, you can climb down now. Do you intend to hug me all the way?"

His words flushed Mei Xuan's cheeks peach-pink.

This fellow outdid her in shamelessness. Couldn't he sense the mood?