So, he deliberately created the appearance of severe spiritual energy depletion?

But such appearances are impossible for non-cultivators to perceive, could it be that...

Thinking of this, Fang Qiao's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked into Cheng Baidong's eyes.

Cheng Baidong blinked silently, confirming her guess.

He bent down and picked An'an up from the small bamboo cart, then whispered to Fang Qiao, "Let's go, let's talk in the space."

"Okay." Fang Qiao nodded.

The two of them flashed into the space one after the other.

As soon as they entered the space, Fang Qiao couldn't wait to ask him, "What's going on? Are there any other cultivators in this world besides us?"

Cheng Baidong, however, did not rush to answer: "Take your time."

He summoned the jade tablet, and after the small courtyard appeared out of thin air, he cast a cleansing spell, placed An'an on the ground, and let her crawl and play by herself.

Then, he helped Fang Qiao sit down on a recliner in the courtyard and said slowly, "There are always people more capable than you, and there is always something beyond your understanding. Our country has a long history and a rich traditional culture. Perhaps there have always been reclusive and powerful families, but they have just remained unknown to the public."

Fang Qiao's eyes widened: "So, besides us, there are other cultivators in this world now?"

"I suppose so," Cheng Bodong explained. "During my trip to the southwest, I met a Taoist from Qingcheng Mountain in Jincheng. There was an old man with white hair and a youthful face who had already reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining, but he was not from our system. He must have entered the Taoist path a long time ago."

Fang Qiao asked in confusion, "But I remember you said before that there is almost no spiritual energy in this world, so how did he cultivate?"

“It’s not clear at the moment.” Cheng Baidong shook his head: “However, Taoism has been developing and existing for thousands of years, and its historical foundation is very complex and vast. Perhaps this sect knows some unknown secret methods.”

At this point, Cheng Baidong sighed, "It was my carelessness and misjudgment. I thought this world was a Dharma-ending Age where spiritual energy was cut off and there were no cultivators. In addition, this matter was of great importance, and the organization classified it as top secret. Also, I didn't want you to be worried, so I didn't tell you before. Fortunately, it's not too late to tell you now."

Cheng Baidong's words undoubtedly revealed a big piece of news to her.

Fang Qiao held her breath and listened intently to what he was saying.

"Do you remember? I told you before that I was reborn in the place where I fell in my previous life."

Fang Qiao nodded: "I remember, you said you voluntarily dissolved your body in the cultivation world, thinking you had died and your cultivation had vanished, but when you opened your eyes again, you were back after the last time you fell off the cliff."

"This is what I told you. What I didn't tell you is that I came back from a world rift that connects to another world. Generally speaking, such world rifts can automatically recover, but for some reason, this rift that connects to another world not only did not recover, but instead, as time went by, the rift became larger and larger, and the spiritual energy of the other world also dissipated into this world through this rift."

The cracks are real, something I can't hide, so I leaked some information to my superiors. This is also why I, a 'roughneck whose major is completely unrelated,' was transferred to this pharmaceutical factory—because there's another secret department hidden beneath it.

Meanwhile, the valley in the southwest, affected by the spiritual energy escaping from the fissures, experienced a dramatic temperature rise, undergoing a complete transformation within a year, and its influence continues to spread in all directions.