"The Heart of Chaos will be absorbed by the cosmic barrier?"
Yue Qingning's face was filled with disbelief as she looked up at the gradually disappearing cosmic barrier, instinctively clenching her fist.
The current turn of events had completely exceeded her expectations.
The cosmic barrier's interference had caused her plans to fall apart.
Ye Ling, having accepted reality, smiled at Yue Qingning and said, "Since there's no Heart of Chaos anymore, there's no point in us being enemies. Whether you want to fight or cooperate, I'm game."
To Ye Ling, Yue Qingning was indeed a rare and valuable helper, who could make his hunt for other Chaos Sovereigns and Great Dao Immortal Lords much easier.
If possible, Ye Ling wanted to keep Yue Qingning for last.
However, for Yue Qingning, the benefits of cooperating with Ye Ling were far less than before.
Her initial plan was for her and Ye Ling to hunt down other Chaos Sovereigns and Great Dao Immortal Lords, and then she would seize the Heart of Chaos and Great Dao Origin to enhance her own strength.
But now, with the cosmic barrier interfering, she would gain nothing after the battles. Instead, Ye Ling could use his Devouring Domain to absorb others' cultivation, growing stronger with each fight.
If they continued to cooperate like this, Yue Qingning's chances of winning would become increasingly slim!
But...
Given the strength Ye Ling had displayed just now, Yue Qingning didn't believe she could defeat him if she attacked him now.
"Give me a moment to think..."
Yue Qingning became hesitant and took a few steps back, maintaining a distance from Ye Ling.
It was time for her to make a choice.
Ye Ling wasn't in a hurry to pressure Yue Qingning. He had just absorbed Feng Shi'yi's Chaos Sword Domain and Chaos Sword using his Devouring Domain and needed time to digest Feng Shi'yi's power.
Yue Qingning's hesitation provided him with the buffer time he needed.
If they were to turn on each other later, he would have a greater advantage.
However, the World-Extinguishing Spirit Fire couldn't wait any longer and urged Ye Ling, "Kid, that Yue Qingning clearly has ulterior motives. You should just kill her now and eliminate a future threat."
"You have the Devouring Domain, you get stronger with every fight. Killing those other Chaos Sovereigns and Great Dao Immortal Lords will be a piece of cake for you!"
Ye Ling, however, disagreed with the World-Extinguishing Spirit Fire's words, saying, "A living Chaos Sovereign is much more useful than a dead one. Among the upcoming opponents, there's one who is both a Chaos Sovereign and a Great Dao Immortal Lord, a terrifying figure. I need reinforcements, and with Yue Qingning's help, it will be much easier for me."
The World-Extinguishing Spirit Fire said, "Don't be so unconfident in your own strength. Trust me, kill Yue Qingning and eliminate any future trouble!"
Ye Ling chuckled wryly and said to the World-Extinguishing Spirit Fire, "That's enough. In the end, I'm the one fighting. When to deal with Yue Qingning is my decision to make."
Ye Ling wasn't foolish. He could clearly sense that Yue Qingning's attitude towards him had completely changed after the appearance of the Soul Suppressor.
The current Yue Qingning was an ally he could very well win over, and Yue Qingning clearly possessed information about many other powerful individuals. He didn't need to create trouble for himself at this moment.
The World-Extinguishing Spirit Fire knew it couldn't persuade Ye Ling and could only sigh heavily, saying, "Fine, fine. I can't convince you. Don't come crying to me when Yue Qingning backstabs you."
Ye Ling smiled and said, "Don't worry, that time will never come."
Yue Qingning, not far away, was unaware that the World-Extinguishing Spirit Fire on Ye Ling was clamoring to kill her. She was genuinely considering a deeper cooperation with Ye Ling.
Her Heavenly Purity Dao Palace was a neutral faction in the Outer Realm and was not under the command of the Remnant Evil Clan, nor did it have any interest in breaking through the cosmic barrier.
She had merely passed by the vicinity of the cosmic barrier, saw it shatter, and decided to join the fun, hoping to get lucky and find a Creation God's inheritance within the Inner Universe.
Then, she heard the bounty order from the Lord of Remnant Evil, and the temptation of the Great Dao Heart was too much to resist, so she impulsively flew into the Inner Universe.
Her initial attitude towards Ye Ling was to use him and then kill him, before going to the Lord of Remnant Evil to claim the Great Dao Heart and consolidate the Heavenly Purity Dao Palace's position in the Outer Realm.
But now, she had witnessed Ye Ling's strength in killing Feng Shi'yi alone, and the legendary Soul Suppressor Sword was still in Ye Ling's possession, which meant Ye Ling had the backing of a Creation God. If she made a move against Ye Ling, she would be offending the most powerful Creation God, the Demon Emperor.
Although the Demon Emperor was nowhere to be found, such a powerful being might reappear at any time. If the Demon Emperor were to settle this matter, her small Heavenly Purity Dao Palace would not be able to withstand the pressure of a Creation God.
Therefore, Yue Qingning didn't want to fight Ye Ling now. But if she chose to cooperate with Ye Ling, all the Hearts of Chaos and Great Dao Origins would be absorbed by the cosmic barrier, meaning she would be working for nothing, and even risking offending the Remnant Evil Clan.
The risk and reward were simply disproportionate.
Yue Qingning pondered for a long time. Ye Ling had also fully digested the Chaos Sword Domain and Chaos Sword. He asked Yue Qingning, "Yue Qingning, have you considered it?"
Yue Qingning snapped back to attention and said to Ye Ling, "You must understand that our previous cooperative relationship was extremely fragile, at best mutually exploitative. If we are to continue cooperating, we must avoid such a situation of turning against each other."
Ye Ling said, "I understand that. The basis of cooperation is trust, and we have no trust between us yet; we are even enemies."
Yue Qingning nodded and said, "That's right. The basis of maintaining cooperation is mutual benefit. Without benefit, there is no trust."
"But now, the Hearts of Chaos and Great Dao Origins obtained from hunting Chaos Sovereigns and Great Dao Immortal Lords will all be absorbed by the cosmic barrier. I gain no benefit from cooperating with you. Furthermore, after hunting down the other Chaos Sovereigns and Great Dao Immortal Lords, your strength will be enhanced to a new level, and the cosmic barrier will be reinforced. By then, I will surely not be your match."
"Such cooperation offers me no benefit, and there is no basis of trust between us."
Ye Ling asked, "Then how do you suggest we cooperate?"
Yue Qingning looked at Ye Ling deeply and said, "I need to receive corresponding benefits. From the current perspective, the only way to make me trust you is for us to become Dao companions."
Ye Ling was stunned: "What?"
Yue Qingning said seriously, "Your potential is good, and your future is boundless. If we become husband and wife, and I bear your offspring, my Heavenly Purity Dao Palace will have an heir. Moreover, with your child, you will not be able to make a move against me after this matter is settled."
Hearing Yue Qingning's words, Ye Ling's mouth twitched. He never expected her to be so direct!
However, the World-Extinguishing Spirit Fire became interested and immediately said, "This is a good idea. If you become Dao companions with Yue Qingning, you'll at least have a Chaos Sovereign as your backing. When you go out to the Outer Realm later, you'll be able to walk around with your chest puffed out."
Ye Ling's forehead was covered in black lines, and he said, "Good idea my ass!"