Within the rune world, Ye Ling remained unaware of the events unfolding outside. He was currently busy with the final stages of taking over the Upper Realm Shadow's body.
After the Upper Realm Shadow took a direct hit from his punch, both it and Ye Ling's second personality were severely wounded, their auras rapidly declining, leaving them with little combat power.
Now, with the Upper Realm Shadow's soul critically injured, Ye Ling's second personality attempting to seize control within its consciousness space, and Ye Ling's main body posing an external threat, this predicament of being attacked from both within and without had pushed the Upper Realm Shadow to its absolute limit.
It was a spent force, and being devoured by Ye Ling and his second personality was merely a matter of time.
The Upper Realm Shadow was no fool; it could see the writing on the wall and knew it had no hope of victory. However, it hadn't completely given up. While delaying the speed of the second personality's takeover, it addressed Ye Ling, saying, "Kid, I admit defeat this time. Name your price… How can I get you to spare me?"
Seeing the Upper Realm Shadow suddenly beg for mercy, Ye Ling chuckled, "Do you think I'm the type to let a tiger return to the mountains? Besides, you're about to lose your life. What could you possibly offer that would tempt me?"
The second personality chimed in with a laugh, "Upper Realm Shadow, stop struggling. Let me take over quickly. This boring tug-of-war is starting to make me yawn."
The Upper Realm Shadow: "..."
Listening to Ye Ling and his second personality, the Upper Realm Shadow fell silent for a moment before saying to Ye Ling, "Ye Ling, if you spare my life, I'll tell you the Upper Realm Lord's weakness!"
"The Upper Realm Lord is different from me. He has maintained peak cultivation for years and is immortal. Your world's two supreme powerhouses absolutely cannot defeat him. If you want to kill him, you must know his weakness!"
Ye Ling raised an eyebrow, "Since you know the Upper Realm Lord's weakness, why did you still lose to him in your struggle?"
"I don't believe a defeated subordinate of the Upper Realm Lord holds the key to killing him."
The Upper Realm Shadow quickly retorted, "As I said, the reason I lost was that the Upper Realm Lord ambushed me when I was caught off guard. In a head-on battle, he is no match for me!"
Ye Ling stated, "No matter how you explain it now, the fact remains that you were defeated by the Upper Realm Lord. In my eyes, your words hold no credibility."
The second personality also realized the Upper Realm Shadow was trying to sow discord and urged, "Main body, why are you wasting words with this dying entity? Hurry and extract his soul. I'll give him the final blow and end this battle!"
Sensing the second personality's eager killing intent, the Upper Realm Shadow continued to address Ye Ling, "Ye Ling, I know your second personality was derived from the Upper Realm Lord's power. He is not your friend. Once he successfully takes me over, you will be the next target!"
The second personality refuted, "Nonsense! I have already broken free from the Upper Realm Lord's control through the Soul Suppressing Ladder. I am an independent entity now. Your attempts to provoke me are useless!"
The Upper Realm Shadow chuckled, "Really useless? I have been fighting with your consciousness within my body for so long, our souls have already merged significantly. Do I truly not know your innermost thoughts?"
The second personality quickly explained to Ye Ling, "Main body, don't believe the Upper Realm Shadow's attempts to sow discord. We are the same person, and we have reached an agreement. You should trust me!"
"Trust you? A piece of trash derived from darkness?" the Upper Realm Shadow sneered, then addressed Ye Ling again, "Ye Ling, even if you don't believe me, you should understand the nature of your second personality. He is not another you, but the Upper Realm Lord's lackey!"
"Unlike your second personality, I can give you all my power. All I ask is to be spared, and I will also give you information about the Upper Realm Lord's weakness!"
"Think about it carefully. One is a dark personality that could betray you at any moment, and the other is a harmless remnant soul. Any fool would know which to choose!"
Upon hearing the Upper Realm Shadow's words, the second personality completely panicked and pleaded with Ye Ling again, "Main body, believe me, I am truly cooperating with you this time. Don't fall for the Upper Realm Shadow's trick!"
If it were before, the second personality wouldn't have cared about the Upper Realm Shadow's provocations, as it could have devoured the Upper Realm Shadow on its own.
But now, because the Upper Realm Shadow had forcibly swapped positions with it, it had also taken a direct hit from Ye Ling and was severely wounded. It no longer had the ability to devour the Upper Realm Shadow alone.
Without Ye Ling's help, it would surely perish!
The situation was now clear: the Upper Realm Shadow and the second personality were both weakened, while Ye Ling remained at peak cultivation. Whoever gained Ye Ling's trust would be able to survive.
The Upper Realm Shadow keenly perceived this and quickly abandoned any thought of resisting Ye Ling, attempting to win him over.
As long as it could survive, even with just a wisp of consciousness, it could make a comeback!
Ye Ling calmly looked at the Upper Realm Shadow before him, his eyes unfathomably deep. No one knew what he was thinking.
The atmosphere within the rune world suddenly became strange.
The second personality, which had been laughing maniacally, could no longer do so, its heart filled with trepidation.
It realized that its fate, and that of the Upper Realm Shadow, rested entirely on its main body's decision.
Furthermore, as a second personality derived from Ye Ling's consciousness space, it understood Ye Ling very well.
The conditions offered by the Upper Realm Shadow were now incredibly generous, to the point of being irresistible.
The second personality knew that if their situations were reversed, it would not hesitate to help the Upper Realm Shadow eliminate its main body!
After all, the main body helping it devour the Upper Realm Shadow would face the danger of being backstabbed, whereas helping the Upper Realm Shadow would not only eliminate this danger but also grant it knowledge of the Upper Realm Lord's weakness and the Upper Realm Shadow's entire power.
These two choices were in no way comparable!
The second personality, having figured this out and predicted Ye Ling's next move, gave up struggling and closed its eyes, awaiting Ye Ling's judgment.
Ye Ling calmly flew before the Upper Realm Shadow, grabbed its neck with one hand, and runes quickly condensed on the Upper Realm Shadow's skin. He said faintly, "It seems I have won."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the Upper Realm Shadow's soul and the second personality's consciousness were pulled out by Ye Ling!
Seeing Ye Ling pull out the second personality from its body, the Upper Realm Shadow rejoiced internally and said to Ye Ling, "You are a smart person. Come on… Erase your second personality, take my power, and obtain the Upper Realm Lord's weakness…"
"After this, you will be the strongest person in the world!"
Listening to the Upper Realm Shadow's impassioned words, Ye Ling's lips curved slightly. He looked into the Upper Realm Shadow's eyes, "What you say is quite exciting, but…"
*Swoosh!*
Golden flames ignited in Ye Ling's palm, beginning to burn the Upper Realm Shadow's soul.
Feeling the scorching of the golden flames, the Upper Realm Shadow's smile froze. It asked Ye Ling in shock, "What are you doing? You want to kill me? Aren't you afraid of your second personality backstabbing you?"
Ye Ling chuckled, "Afraid, yes… However, I think killing you is more important than worrying about my second personality backstabbing me, or learning the Upper Realm Lord's weakness."
"You are my greatest threat right now!"
"Ye Ling!!!" The Upper Realm Shadow's pupils contracted sharply!
*Sizzle!!!*
The golden flames burning the Upper Realm Lord's soul blazed even more intensely.
"Ahhhh!" The Upper Realm Shadow screamed out in agony. Its soul writhed in the flames, in unbearable pain!
"Ye Ling! I will remember you!"
"The next time we meet, I will make you pay a million times over!!!"
The Upper Realm Shadow roared amidst the golden flames. Its last wisp of soul turned to ashes in this world.