"Firstly, as some of you might already know, the portal is about to be ready in a month. We did our best to stabilize it as soon as possible," Barcas's voice rang out clearly throughout the city.
"Secondly, regarding the destination of our portal. As everyone experienced when coming to this Mystic Realm back then, something happened that caused the void tunnel to become unstable and change pathways."
He paused for a moment, letting the memory sink in.
"The participants from the Protogaea Continent were supposed to arrive at a different Mystic Realm, but they ended up here instead, the same as us from the Cloud Continent."
Another pause.
"In this past year, my sister and I have investigated this portal thoroughly. At first, I expected the void tunnel to remain chaotic, making our passage through it very risky. But surprisingly, the void tunnel is no longer chaotic. It is as if someone had already fixed it. This is good news for us."
The people in the city began cheering when they heard this.
"Do not cheer too early."
His voice cut through the noise, and the crowd fell silent, anxiety creeping back in.
"We will arrive in our original world. However, the layout of the void tunnel has changed considerably. I can no longer determine the exact place where the portal will open on the other side."
The crowd grew restless. Murmurs spread like ripples.
"Yes. It will be as you imagine. We might end up arriving anywhere. Even the incredibly treacherous sea. If we appear there, we could potentially die. This is the reason I made this announcement today."
His tone grew heavier.
"I want everyone to prepare thoroughly. Any defensive measures, any life-saving treasures, anything you can think of to face any situation when you arrive on the other side. Never let your guard down until you have confirmed you are safe."
The crowd swallowed hard. Minds began turning, reviewing the methods available in their arsenals.
"Lastly, this portal can allow up to four thousand people to pass through before its energy depletes. That means everyone in this city can go home."
A brief silence.
"That is all. You have a month to prepare and settle everything."
The grand formation speaker disconnected.
The people of the city no longer felt the initial joy from the announcement. The possibility of appearing above the treacherous sea weighed heavily on their hearts. After all, even Soul Formation Realm cultivators and above feared flying across those endless waters.
The weight of the announcement settled over the city like a heavy fog.
Barcas returned the spherical remote control to Bellion.
"Are you sure we don't need to address the issue about the thousands of people gathering outside the city?" Barcas asked, his brow furrowed.
"Leave it to me. When the time comes, you just focus on sending people back home," Bellion replied, confident as always.
Barcas frowned but did not press further. He wondered how Bellion could remain so calm in the face of so many cultivators amassing outside the city.
The news about the portal being ready had already leaked. Very soon, more people would come. If over ten thousand cultivators attacked the grand formation all at once, he worried it would not hold. He understood that Bellion was a prodigy, and his formations rivaled those made by Nascent Soul Realm experts. But the numbers were simply too many. The combined attack power would be overwhelming.
By this point, Barcas had already learned about the solar system. About the twenty planets orbiting the sun. The portals appeared when the planets drew close together. That was why the void tunnel would disappear completely after a certain period. It meant the planets had moved far apart again.
After learning this, Barcas realized that his continent should begin studying outer space as well. He could see incredible potential in it. Many mysteries might be solved.
The only problem was the veil covering their world, preventing them from peering outside. It was something that had extinguished the curiosity of countless minds for the longest time.
The veil itself was not there specifically to prevent anyone from looking outside. It existed to protect the world and enable the right conditions for life to come into existence. It was the largest natural-born formation in the world.
The conditions outside the world were extremely harsh and dangerous. Even Soul Transformation Realm cultivators would die very quickly. The protective measures they could put up would be stripped away rapidly, and they would suffer continuous damage.
However, now that he had learned about this, Barcas knew he must study outer space no matter what. It might be the biggest clue in figuring out the ultimate truth behind portals and void tunnels.
Becoming a Dao Manifestation Realm powerhouse was nearly impossible for him, but perhaps there was another path. He could attempt to create something capable of bypassing the natural-born veil, something that could observe the vast distance beyond and allow him to study outer space directly.
With the path to achieve his ultimate dream becoming much clearer, and with his child growing in Livana's womb, the last thing he wanted was to die here.
He was worried that Bellion might be way too overconfident about his grand formation. If that confidence was misplaced, everyone might end up suffering because of it later.
"I know you have doubts. But at this point, you can only put your trust in me and focus on your task. This is the only way," Bellion said.
Barcas sighed.
It was true. There was no other way.
With the limited number of people who could use the portal, there was no negotiating with the people outside. Over twenty thousand cultivators were in the colossal tree's shade. Only four thousand could go home.
Moreover, Barcas had already exhausted all the materials needed to activate and stabilize the portal. These were rare resources prepared exclusively by his institution. Even if the portal remained intact after their departure, no one left behind would possess the materials required to hasten the energy accumulation process and stabilize it again.
This meant the portal could not be completed a second time.
Anyone left behind would be trapped here until the planets aligned once more, a cycle that might take tens of thousands of years.
By then, they would have long since turned to dust.
Bellion watched as Barcas, Livana, and Barbara departed from his residence, heading back to resume their monitoring of the portal.
A moment later, a lady with a long, thick braid walked up to his side.
"They might doubt your formation, but I don't. I have absolute confidence in anything you say when it comes to arrays and formations. If you say we're safe, then I'm certain we're safe." Kiyara said.
Bellion smiled faintly. "Are you saying that just to make me happy, Kiyara? If so, then I really am happy."
Their relationship had progressed far enough that they had stopped using honorifics some time ago.
Although she still had a long way to go before daring any truly intimate actions with the man she liked, she could clearly feel how much closer they had become emotionally. That connection alone made her heart feel lighter.
Bellion himself was now aware of her feelings toward him. Even though he had not directly expressed his own, the way he increasingly sought her company was already proof enough. Everything Anda had told her had been right. She was no longer standing outside his world.
She was already a part of it.
"Of course I want to make you happy, but that is also what I truly feel." Kiyara replied softly.
Bellion laughed. "That makes me even happier. Just having someone who believes in me like this gives me even more motivation. I should spend more time creating even better formations."
Kiyara froze.
Doesn't that mean I will have even less time to spend with you?
She sighed inwardly.
No wonder Madam Anda said it was difficult dealing with someone this dense.
---
Elsewhere, Anda was meeting with a particular high-profile individual.
"With this, our transaction is complete. In the future, if we have the chance, let us cooperate again," she said.
"Madam Anda, it has been a pleasure getting to know you." The individual paused, her expression turning somber. "Sigh. I feel bad about all the people in my faction whom I have to leave behind. This is not how I wished things would play out."
"Princess Waniwani, none of this is your fault at all. Furthermore, I heard that everyone in your plaza was affected by something mysterious. They don't even want to leave. So you don't have to feel guilty," Anda comforted.
Princess Waniwani sighed again. After so many things had gone wrong, she had lost quite a bit of her previous confidence.
"Also, Princess. Recently I found out that you have been seeking information about my husband..."
Anda paused, letting the words hang in the air.
Princess Waniwani was surprised. She had not expected Anda to notice this. How should she explain? She did not want to sour the newfound friendship between them.
"Princess, if you have fallen in love with my husband, just say so. I am not a narrow-minded person. I can introduce him to you."
A mischievous smile played on Anda's lips.
"Huh?"
Princess Waniwani was completely dumbfounded. This was not the reaction she expected.