Without needing his call, everyone felt the withdrawal sensation of the grand formation and sprang into action. Setting aside everything else for the moment, they surged into the area of the previous grand formation, rapidly expanding their mana to its utmost limits to search. For a time, the group seemed to descend into chaos.
Their high-speed, intersecting search failed to locate the whereabouts of Wu Jinliang and his party in time.
Only after the cloaked figure who had cultivated a demonic eye discovered their trail, and the noise from blasting through the sand layers drew the group together again to track for another stretch, were they once more blocked by an expanded grand formation barrier.
After a round of bombardment, the barrier still wouldn't open, effectively confirming it was the same grand formation as before. Yet none dared slacken; the group spread out to search around the formation once more. Li Hongjiu, observing from the sidelines, saw that each time a wave of people broke off, the consolidated space shrank with a whoosh.
Right before Yu Yifu's eyes, he unfurled a cloak and draped it over himself, drawing sidelong glances. Another cloaked figure signaled to Yu Yifu, requesting a word in private. The two burrowed into the sand layer.