I work as a security guard at a cemetery, and I overhear the dead chatting about getting rich quick.

The hall was silent for less than two seconds.

The next moment, communications at the Linjiang branch went completely down.

"Seal off the entrance!"

"Everyone, retreat twenty meters!"

"Don't go any further, look at the footprints first!"

"Pull up the surveillance footage!"

Cheng Fang had already switched the live feed from Linjiang to the main screen.

The crack in the center of the playground was even bigger than before.

The bluestone steps lead all the way down.

The spirit lamps on both sides were still lit.

No one dared to get too close.

As the camera zoomed in, the footprints finally became clear.

barefoot.

Adult size.

They weren't even wearing shoes.

Going upwards from the deepest part of darkness.

Finally, it stopped at the thirteenth step.

It didn't continue.

Tang Zhi stared at it for a long time.

Where are they?

Someone from Linjiang answered:

"I didn't see it."

"When the footprints first appeared, someone was watching the entrance."

"No one came out."

"Why do those footprints disappear at level thirteen?"

"Investigating."

Qin Zhao suddenly asked:

"What about thermal imaging?"

"No goal."

"Spiritual energy monitoring?"

"The entrance is very messy, I can't tell what's inside."

Lin Ye looked at the row of bare footprints.

I felt even more uncomfortable.

There are footprints.

no one.

This means that the following content either hasn't actually come out yet.

Or...

The way it emerges is different from that of a normal person.

He hadn't even spoken yet.

Wanling suddenly said:

"Don't let them block the entrance."

Cheng Fang immediately looked at the scripture scroll at Lin Ye's waist.

Why?

"I said don't block it off, not let them in."

Wanling sounded a bit annoyed.

"The entrance to this newly reconnected cave is inherently unstable."

"If you use a large amount of spiritual energy, formations, or explosives to forcibly seal the gap, you'll truly cut off both sides..."

"What will happen?"

"At best, a section will collapse."

"It's heavier, I don't know."

Tang Zhi frowned.

"Aren't you supposed to live a long life?"

"Living a long time doesn't mean being omniscient or omnipotent."

Wanling was in a bad mood.

"I've never seen anything like this when I was young."

Lin Ye grasped the key point.

"You've never seen the Returning Boundary?"

"Did I say this is called returning to the boundary?"

"What's it called?"

"No one used to call me that."

Wanling paused for a moment.

"Because no one has ever seen them come back before."

As soon as those words were spoken...

Lin Ye's eyes flickered.

"So, the term 'returning to the boundary' is something you just came up with?"

"To make it easier for you to understand."

"They're quite good at naming things."

"Shut up."

Many people in the hall had already heard it.

Cheng Fang didn't dwell on the name.

"Tell me what exactly happened first."

"Why are all these grotto-heavens returning at once now?"

Wanling remained silent for a while.

This time, I didn't answer immediately.

It's like flipping back through things from thousands of years ago, bit by bit.

"You need to understand one thing first."

"The so-called grotto heavens, secret realms, and blessed lands are not some small worlds created out of thin air."

"At least most of them are not."

"They have always depended on this land and sky."

Tang Zhi said:

"Like a room?"

"almost."

"So the door is open again now?"

"It's not that simple."

The Way of All Spirits:

"When the spiritual energy is abundant, the Great World can support these places."

"Once the spiritual energy is severed, the connection becomes weaker and weaker."

"Some of these hidden worlds have collapsed back to reality."

"Some were completely destroyed."

"There are some more..."

It paused for a moment.

"Take it off and get out."

Cheng Fang asked:

"Take off what?"

"If I had known, I would have told you already."

Wanling was very impatient.

"Just think of it this way: they're still hanging in this world, but you can't touch them."

"The spiritual energy is now returning."

"The connection is back."

Lin Ye looked up at the world map on the wall.

The number of red dots is still increasing.

Fifty.

Fifty-three.

Fifty-seven.

Each refresh signifies an inexplicable change in a certain place.

He suddenly spoke:

"So these things didn't suddenly appear."

"They have always existed."

"right."

"Then why did you come back together?"

This time, Wanling didn't immediately scold him.

Instead, it became quiet.

A few seconds later.

"Because there is enough spiritual energy."

Many people in the hall looked up.

Wanling continued:

"I always thought that second spiritual tide you guys had was just a resurgence of spiritual energy."

"Now it seems..."

"It's not just a simple increase."

"It also brought back what was originally severed between heaven and earth."

Lin Ye's heart sank.

How many will you take?

"have no idea."

"How long will it last?"

"have no idea."

"Will you disappear again after you come back?"

"have no idea."

Tang Zhi felt a headache coming on.

"Hearing that you three don't know makes me feel especially at ease."

Wanling sneered.

"Then ask someone you know."

"OK."

Tang Zhi pointed to the large screen.

Is there anyone living under that thing in Linjiang?

Wanling: "..."

"Are you asking for a beating?"

The tense atmosphere in the hall eased for a moment.

It was at this moment that...

Suddenly someone shouted from the riverside:

"The footprints moved!"

Everyone immediately looked at the big screen.

In the picture.

Next to the barefoot print that had stopped on the thirteenth step.

Snapped.

There's one more.

The twelfth level.

Snapped.

again.

Level 11.

No one came up.

The footprints appeared out of thin air, one step at a time.

It's like there's someone you can't see.

They were walking out, stepping up the stairs.

The on-site staff began to retreat.

Someone's voice sounded strained.

"eleven."

"ten."

"Nine……"

Lin Ye stared at the screen.

"Don't hit me randomly."

Cheng Fang had already picked up the communicator.

"Listen up over there in Linjiang."

"Keep your distance."

"Do not initiate attacks."

"First, confirm whether communication is possible."

Level 8.

Level 7.

Level 6.

The footprints are getting closer.

Sudden.

Stopped.

No one dared to move at the scene in Linjiang.

A full five seconds passed.

A voice came from the entrance.

It wasn't the sound of bells.

It's a human voice.

It's very light.

His voice was noticeably hoarse.

"Outside……"

Which dynasty?

The entire command center fell silent.

Tang Zhi slowly looked at Lin Ye.

"It can talk."

Lin Ye didn't answer.

Because of the next second.

The voice rang out again.

"Is Tianheng still around?"

"Jade Capital City..."

"Are you still there?"

The Scripture of All Souls suddenly trembled.

Lin Ye lowered his head.

"Do you know him?"

Wanling did not answer.

But its silence was all too obvious.

Lin Ye frowned.

"You really know him?"

"Not human."

Wanling finally spoke.

"What?"

"What I'm saying below isn't necessarily a person."

Its voice was very low for the first time.

"But the Jade Capital City he mentioned..."

"I've heard of it."

Cheng Fang stared at the scripture.

"Where?"

Wanling slowly said:

"One of the great cities where ancient cultivators truly gathered."

If I remember correctly.

"It's long gone."

Tang Zhi said:

"Then why did he ask?"

No one answered.

Inside the riverside entrance.

The voice sounded for the third time.

This time it's even closer.

"Now……"

"When was it?"

The person in charge at the scene took a deep breath.

He replied through a megaphone from dozens of meters away:

The year 2026 AD.

The underground was quiet.

long time.

It went on for so long that everyone thought there was no more reaction inside.

then.

A burst of laughter came from the darkness.

It was very light at first.

It gradually grew bigger.

I'm not happy.

It's more like someone has heard something completely unacceptable.

I laughed for a long time.

The sound then stopped.

"2026..."

"turn out to be……"

"So much time has passed."

Lin Ye felt a slight chill on his back.

Followed by.

On the sixth step.

Level 5.

Level 4.

It is still moving outwards.

And this time...

The lights inside the entrance.

Start from the bottom.

One lamp after another.

It's all lit up.