A void of nothingness.
Ye Ling, clad in tattered clothes, floated amidst a pile of rubble, his breath extremely weak.
An unknown amount of time had passed since he blocked the fatal attacks from the masters of the Great Dao and the Chaos Overlord.
During this period, Ye Ling had been struggling on the brink of life and death, his consciousness in utter chaos. He could faintly hear voices calling out to him.
Those voices sounded somewhat like Ye You, somewhat like Ye Qingyan, and even like Xuan Yu. Yet, it felt as if all of them were present, and Ye Ling couldn't distinguish any of them.
His consciousness was extremely blurred.
He was unable to wake up.
"Kid! Wake up quickly!"
Ye Ling didn't know how long he had struggled in the depths of his consciousness when the voice of the World-Destroying Spirit Fire pierced through his chaotic mind, causing his finger to twitch.
Seeing Ye Ling finally stir, the World-Destroying Spirit Fire was overjoyed. It continued to call out to Ye Ling, "Kid, wake up quickly! Stop sleeping! Do you know how much time has passed?"
As the World-Destroying Spirit Fire chattered incessantly, Ye Ling slowly opened his eyes, his consciousness gradually returning. "Where am I..."
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire exclaimed excitedly, "Damn it! You finally woke up, kid. Otherwise, I would have been bored to death!"
Ye Ling got up, supporting his aching head, and asked the World-Destroying Spirit Fire, "How long was I unconscious?"
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire replied, "Probably millions of years?"
"Millions of years?" Ye Ling exclaimed, his sudden loud outburst startling the World-Destroying Spirit Fire!
"Why are you shouting so loudly? Surviving the combined attack of nine Great Dao Immortal Lords and the Chaos Overlord is already a miracle. What's millions of years of unconsciousness?"
Ye Ling immediately took the World-Destroying Spirit Fire from his wrist, grabbed it, and asked anxiously, "How is Earth? How are Xiao You and the others?"
Millions of years might have been but a blink of an eye for him, but for those around him, it was far too long!
Ye Ling feared that by the time he returned, the world he knew would have long since turned to dust!
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire felt a bit of pain from Ye Ling's grip and quickly cried out, "It hurts, it hurts! Why are you squeezing so hard? I haven't finished speaking!"
Ye Ling, acting like a panicked child, quickly let go of the World-Destroying Spirit Fire and asked with a trembling voice, "You're lying to me... right?"
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire twisted its body and said, "I don't have a habit of lying. You were indeed asleep for millions of... Wait! Let me finish speaking first!"
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire hastily stopped Ye Ling, who was about to lose control, saying, "I know you definitely can't accept this. So, to prevent you from taking your anger out on me after waking up, I used the Unnamed Void Realm for you while you were unconscious. Now, only about three days have passed on Earth."
"Three days..."
Upon hearing the World-Destroying Spirit Fire's words, Ye Ling's tense muscles instantly relaxed. He felt an unprecedented sense of relief, and the inexpressible sorrow in his heart vanished.
This time, Ye Ling no longer wanted to tease the World-Destroying Spirit Fire. He bowed respectfully to it and said earnestly, "Thank you..."
Caught off guard by Ye Ling's gratitude, the World-Destroying Spirit Fire was taken aback and felt a bit unaccustomed to it.
It fidgeted and said, "Did you eat the wrong medicine, kid? You can thank people too?"
Ye Ling said seriously, "If not for your help, I would have lost everything this time. I owe you a life. Such immense kindness... I will repay you a thousandfold."
Hearing Ye Ling's words, the usually shameless World-Destroying Spirit Fire actually felt a little embarrassed and chuckled foolishly, "Heh heh... Although I am indeed handsome and unparalleled in my divine might, this was just a casual act. The Unnamed Void Realm is yours, the spiritual energy consumed was also yours. I even secretly absorbed a portion of yours..."
At this point, the World-Destroying Spirit Fire realized it had let slip its words. It quickly covered its mouth and then changed the subject, "Haha... I didn't do anything! You don't need to thank me!"
Ye Ling looked at the visibly nervous World-Destroying Spirit Fire and shook his head with a smile, saying, "No matter what you were plotting, you saved me this time. I don't intend to pursue it. You may leave."
With that, Ye Ling removed the seal on the World-Destroying Spirit Fire and let it go.
Seeing the runic seals around it disappear, the World-Destroying Spirit Fire asked Ye Ling in surprise, "You're just letting me go?"
Ye Ling smiled, "I can't possibly repay kindness with enmity, can I? If I were to imprison my benefactor, then I would be less than human."
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire continued, "Aren't you afraid I'll harm this universe after I leave? I am the World-Destroying Spirit Fire!"
Ye Ling continued to smile, "At least you haven't done those things yet. When you truly threaten this universe, it won't be too late for me to act."
"You..."
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire opened its mouth, truly at a loss for words.
Ye Ling's change in attitude made it feel entirely uncomfortable.
"Then I'm really leaving?" the World-Destroying Spirit Fire tested again.
Ye Ling stood in place, squinting and smiling, "Have a safe journey."
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire twisted its body and burrowed into the void, "I'm really leaving!"
"Mm!" Ye Ling smiled and bid farewell again, showing no intention of stopping the World-Destroying Spirit Fire.
At this moment, Ye Ling could already feel the difference in the flow of time between this place and the outside world, confirming that the World-Destroying Spirit Fire had not lied.
In other words, the World-Destroying Spirit Fire had stayed with him, unconscious, for tens of millions of years in this desolate place.
Such immense kindness was something Ye Ling didn't know how to repay. All he could do now was grant the World-Destroying Spirit Fire freedom.
After the World-Destroying Spirit Fire burrowed into the void and disappeared, Ye Ling finally took a deep breath and bowed deeply again in the direction the World-Destroying Spirit Fire had left, saying, "For this kindness, after I resolve the crisis within the domain, I will surely repay you..."
"I've decided!"
Just then, the World-Destroying Spirit Fire shot out from the void again, startling Ye Ling!
Ye Ling looked at the suddenly appearing World-Destroying Spirit Fire in surprise, "Why are you back?"
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire declared, "I am the World-Destroying Spirit Fire, destined to destroy the world. You, as the guardian, letting me go is looking down on me. I absolutely will not accept it!"
Saying that, the World-Destroying Spirit Fire actively burrowed onto Ye Ling's wrist and yelled, "Give me a deluxe sealing package! Make sure it has some flair! If I can easily break your seal, I will definitely kill you!"
Looking at the World-Destroying Spirit Fire clamoring on his wrist, Ye Ling's mouth twitched. He truly didn't know how to describe his feelings...
He had never heard such a request before.
Who would willingly seek to be sealed?
Hearing the World-Destroying Spirit Fire's words, Ye Ling couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Hahaha..."
"You damned brat, what are you laughing at? Are you looking down on me? Hurry up and give me a runic seal! Otherwise, I'll definitely kill you!!!"
"Alright, alright... I'll immediately give you a runic sealing package! Lord World-Destroying Spirit Fire!"
"That's more like it! Give me the respect I deserve!"
"Yes!"
Ye Ling's laughter and the World-Destroying Spirit Fire's shouts echoed in the empty depths of space. The universe was filled with a cheerful atmosphere...
Meanwhile, on Earth, the world had undergone tremendous changes due to the arrival of extraterrestrial powerhouses.