0086 -The First Man of the Darkness.

The battle had taken its toll. Exhaustion, both physical and mental, hung heavy in the air. Shangguan Bai remained rested on Caiyi Yanzhi's lap, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. The others maintained a respectful distance, allowing the young master of Eternal Mistfall a chance to recover.

Finally, Gu Lei broke the weighty silence. "Looks like the little monk's almost done with that rift," he rumbled, his voice gruff.

All eyes turned towards Wei Tian. Surrounded by swirling light, he continued his rhythmic chanting, his voice a constant drone. The shimmering tear in space, the source of their troubles, was visibly shrinking. It pulsed and warped, drawn back towards the obsidian obelisk at its center – the Void Anchor.

"Thank the heavens," Ji Tian muttered, leaning heavily on his staff for support. "This nightmare is finally ending."