The energy outside the altar was visibly decreasing, its color even fading slightly.
As long as this energy was completely drained, Wen Wen would not only satisfy the needs of the facility but also halt this summoning ritual.
Iyieta was no longer crying but glared at Wen Wen with hatred. If this summoning failed, she vowed to tear Wen Wen limb from limb, no matter how far she had to search.
However, Wen Wen remained unbothered. There were many who hated him; another dark-skinned woman wouldn't make much of a difference.
Perhaps they were truly pitiful, but what did their pity have to do with Wen Wen? The advent of a new Cataclysm-level entity in reality was bound to cause shifts, and were the casualties of these shifts not pitiful?
The energy Wen Wen was absorbing now was close to the amount he had absorbed at Furong River Amusement Park, but besides unlocking one new ability, this energy seemed to disappear like a clay ox entering the sea, without causing any ripples.
The facility's level was already quite high, and it was almost impossible to unlock new areas with the same amount of energy.
However, this was not a reason for Wen Wen to let the summoning ritual proceed. As long as he accumulated it little by little, he would eventually unlock new abilities for the facility.
But just then, the energy around the altar suddenly vanished.
Yes, it vanished without any warning.
The ritual had not yet been interrupted by Wen Wen, nor had the deity descended, yet it simply ceased.
There was only one explanation for this: the Cataclysm-level entity on the other side had refused the invitation halfway through the summoning!
The rift slowly closed, and a beautiful eye with gold and silver eyeshadow gazed deeply at Wen Wen until the rift completely sealed.
There was no anger or curiosity in that gaze, only profound confusion and inexplicable sorrow.
Wen Wen stood frozen in place, staring blankly at the disappearing spatial rift.
A silhouette of a woman flashed through his mind, but he was certain he didn't know her at all.
Moreover, the meaning conveyed by that gaze was rather peculiar.
Iyieta knelt on the ground in despair. The failure of the summoning ritual meant that years of their efforts had gone to waste.
"It's all this guy's fault. If it weren't for him... if it weren't for him!"
Iyieta's gaze seemed to want to devour Wen Wen, but she was hesitant to act, having witnessed the other party absorb the power of a Cataclysm-level entity.
This was something even an Ascended Celestial could not achieve.
Anyone who could absorb Cataclysm-level power, who knew what they truly were!
Before she understood this person's true nature, even with her teeth gnashed in hatred, Iyieta dared not act rashly against Wen Wen.
The barrier in the sky was beginning to dissipate. This place would no longer be a safe haven. Her priority now should be to ensure the Qiling Pearl remained in her possession.
That way, they could attempt the summoning again in a few years.
Wen Wen also realized the Qiling Pearl was the key. Black chains extended from his hand, lunging towards the illusory seven-colored pearl.
However, as Iyieta could directly teleport, she reached the Qiling Pearl before Wen Wen and blocked his chains.
But for some reason, Iyieta, as if guided by an unseen force, did not touch the Qiling Pearl. Instead, she took something else... a hairpin with gold and silver dual-colored ornamentation!
The Qiling Pearl, on the other hand, fell into Wen Wen's hands.
Holding the Qiling Pearl, Wen Wen felt no joy. The fact that the other party chose the hairpin over the Qiling Pearl meant the hairpin was more important, so Wen Wen still suffered a loss.
After securing the hairpin, Iyieta blinked as if dazed, then stared at Wen Wen with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Only then did she realize she had actually handed the Qiling Pearl over to Wen Wen.
"Give me back the pearl!"
"I snatched it with my own strength. Why should I give it back?" Wen Wen retorted with a cold snort.
A distorted radiance emanated from Iyieta as she gathered her strength, preparing to deal with Wen Wen.
Recalling the sensation when she blocked Wen Wen's chains earlier, she immediately realized that Wen Wen's true power might not be that formidable. This was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him.
But at that moment, the sky suddenly darkened, and an oppressive feeling spread throughout the entire Qiling Mountain Range.
Wen Wen and Iyieta looked up at the sky simultaneously, their hearts feeling as if they were being clutched, leaving them no room to focus on each other.
The blue sky, white clouds, and the bright sun instantly vanished, replaced by only long swords emitting a faint glow.
Strands of sword energy crisscrossed between the swords, connecting them all into a vast net.
After forming the net, the swords detached from it and began to sway irregularly, as if searching for targets.
Xun Ying had now transformed the entire Qiling Mountain Range into his Sword Domain, and he could control everything within this domain of swords!
However, such a massive Sword Domain, even with Xun Ying's Cataclysm-level strength, could not be sustained for long.
Therefore, after the sky changed color, the long swords, like bloodthirsty sharks, surged into the entire Qiling Mountain Range.
The hiding places of several rebel hunters, who had been hiding in the shadows and had not yet been discovered, were instantly destroyed. Then, one by one, long swords pierced their bodies, rendering them comatose before sending them to the giant sword at the center of Qiling Mountain.
Every monster that had attempted to break through the barrier, no matter how deeply hidden, was dug out by those long swords, executed in mid-air, their remains falling to the ground, their blood and flesh carpeting the mountains.
And Iyieta, the mastermind behind this incident, naturally did not escape the pursuit of those long swords. Countless swords swarmed towards her.
Before Iyieta could even react, she was surrounded by the swords, her prideful spatial energy proving utterly useless.
The swords pierced her fiercely. After flying away, only a pile of shredded flesh and torn leather armor remained.
Witnessing the remains of Iyieta, Wen Wen's pupils contracted, his eyes filled with profound apprehension.
"This is Xun Ying's true power... I can only use Cataclysm-level power within the facility, and I can't even unlock the full might of Cataclysm-level power!"
Following Xun Ying's display, Wen Wen glanced at the Qiling Pearl in his hand and abandoned the idea of hoarding it for himself.
The fact that Xun Ying hadn't dealt with him in the same manner suggested he recognized Wen Wen as a hunter, not a suspicious individual. He might even be watching the Qiling Pearl now.
In such circumstances, unless Wen Wen no longer wished to be part of the Association, he would definitely have to return the Qiling Pearl.
However, before returning it... he could perhaps absorb a little.
Yes, just a tiny bit.