Soon they reached the sect again, and the moment the ship crossed into its territory, a quiet shift passed through everyone without needing to be pointed out. The dense spiritual qi flowed around them like a steady current, easing their breathing and slowly loosening the tension that had stayed in their bodies since the battle ended.
They left the ship resting at the peak, its surface still faintly glowing from recent use, as no one had the strength to bother storing it away properly. With a thought, Lin Xiaotian moved them all at once, space folding briefly before they reappeared inside the main hall without any visible transition.
The hall was still, yet full of quiet energy, as if it had been waiting for their return.
Lin Xiaotian looked over them once before speaking, his tone calm but carrying a natural authority that did not need to be forced. "All of you performed well this time, and more importantly, you did not break under pressure, so the rewards will descend."
