They had no choice; the Old Ancestors’ Spiritual Awareness was watching them.
If they didn't jump, they would surely die.
But if they did jump, there might still be a glimmer of hope.
"Senior Brother, someone's here!"
As soon as the Formation stirred, Fat Snake Xiao Guan knew instantly.
Even if he hadn't reminded him, Liu Boli had been constantly monitoring the area with his Spiritual Awareness.
"If we don't recognize them, kill them all."
Qian Duoduo had long anticipated that the Ba Ling Sect would send people down.
For his own safety, for his Master's safety, and for the safety of the Cold Flame Snake group, the best approach was to leave no one alive, prevent any news from spreading, and maintain the Ice Cave Grotto-heaven's status as a Forbidden Land in the Ice Gale World.
This was not the time for soft-heartedness.
"Alright."
Fat Snake Xiao Guan understood Qian Duoduo's meaning.
If they encountered the Cultivators Qian Duoduo had subdued last time, they would spare them.
Otherwise, there was no need to.
In less than a breath, Fat Snake Xiao Guan returned.
Without him needing to lift a finger, the Cold Flame Snakes made all the Protectors who entered the world disappear.
He didn't speak, curiously watching Qian Duoduo refine artifacts; implements flowed into the cauldron like water, and Magic Treasures emerged from the cauldron like a tide.
Those Dan artifacts were enough to injure him, and those Profound Weapons were enough to be fatal to him.
After the twenty-four Protectors jumped into the Ice Gale, the Eight Ancestors of the Ba Ling Sect waited for another three hours.
The dim and icy Ice Gale mercilessly blocked the Old Ancestors' Spiritual Awareness; it only penetrated a few feet before giving them a headache from the cold.
The twenty-four Protectors jumping into the Ice Gale didn't cause any commotion, neither below the Ice Gale nor above it.
"Could it be that the person Undergoing Tribulation failed?"
The Eight Ancestors of the Ba Ling Sect began to communicate with each other using their Spiritual Awareness.
If the Undergoing Tribulation failed, that meant a huge disaster had been eliminated, which was undoubtedly a blessing for the Ba Ling Sect.
At this time, the Ba Ling Sect couldn't possibly deploy more or greater power to explore beneath the Ice Gale.
Going again would be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—they would go and never return.
"Should we also close the Formation on Nose Peak?"
Zhao Family Old Ancestor began to feel distressed.
Nose Peak had kept its Formation open half a day longer than the other seven peaks, and half of the Spiritual Qi consumed had to be borne by Nose Peak itself.
"Are you sure that person failed Undergoing Tribulation?"
Old Ancestor Feng Fan sat on the Mystic Sky Crocodile, asking with strange eyes.
His question amused Zhao Family Old Ancestor.
Whether Zhao Family Old Ancestor answered yes or no, he would bear the responsibility for judging the matter.
Zhao Family Old Ancestor retorted, "Then are you sure that person succeeded in Undergoing Tribulation?"
His retort kicked the responsibility back to Old Ancestor Feng Fan.
The reason the Formation on Nose Peak continued to operate was because you, Old Ancestor Feng Fan, judged that person to have succeeded in Undergoing Tribulation.
If the judgment was wrong, then you, Old Ancestor Feng Fan, would have to bear a large part of the consumed Spiritual Qi.
As expected, Zhao Family Old Ancestor's retort made Old Ancestor Feng Fan shut his mouth.
"What do you all think of Zhao Family Old Ancestor's suggestion?"
Ancestor Zeng scanned the other Old Ancestors.
Four of the other six Old Ancestors nodded.
"Close the Formation."
Ancestor Zeng analyzed, "Regardless of whether that person succeeded or failed Undergoing Tribulation, if he wanted to come out, or if he held a grudge against the Ba Ling Sect, he would have come out long ago.
Since he hasn't come out, he might have failed, or he might have succeeded in Undergoing Tribulation and left."
The Old Ancestors nodded one after another.
Zhao Family Old Ancestor removed the Formation, and the Golden Core cultivators secretly gathered were also completely withdrawn.
After a while, the Eight Ancestors in the sky dispersed together.
At the center of the storm, Peak Head Cliff of Nose Peak seemed to have returned to tranquility.
After another three hours, the Eight Ancestors revealed themselves from their hidden spots, nodded to each other, and returned to their respective peaks.
Only Zhao Family Old Ancestor, who had returned to his peak's grand hall, still kept a close watch on the Ice Cave Grotto-heaven.
If there was any anomaly in the Ice Cave Grotto-heaven, he would immediately notify the other seven Old Ancestors.