As Ye Ling slew the Heavenly Void Emperor from beyond the domain and completely repaired the cosmic barrier, a profound silence descended upon the prison.
Chi Gui slumped to the ground, his mind a blank slate. Beside him lay two Dragon-Headed beings, their forms so mangled by torture that they were unrecognizable. These two were on the brink of death, their demise merely a matter of time.
Everything that had transpired here was utterly staggering. At this moment, Chi Gui dared not even breathe too deeply, nor could he bring himself to look directly at Ye Ling! Although Chi Gui's peak cultivation was Half-step Dao God, far surpassing Ye Ling's, facing Ye Ling now, he felt an immeasurable pressure. Anyone who witnessed a mere Dao Sovereign kill a Heavenly Void Emperor would surely be struck with terror and their legs turn to jelly. Even though Ye Ling had exploited the properties of the cosmic barrier, the very thought of a Dao Sovereign ambushing a Heavenly Void Emperor was something beyond the reach of ordinary minds.
Ye Ling silently gripped the broken hilt of his saber and walked towards the corpses of the two Dragon-Headed beings. With a casual gesture, he drew out the half-essence of Spirit Devouring Qi hidden within their bodies, sealed it with runes, and stored it in his spatial ring. As Ye Ling approached, Chi Gui finally saw the look in his eyes and perceived the sorrow within. Mustering his courage, he pursed his lips and said, "That..." Chi Gui was no fool; he recognized the broken saber hilt Ye Ling held was the remains of Xue Sha. After Xue Sha's self-destruction, his aura had vanished completely.
Ye Ling did not speak of Xue Sha. He produced a healing sacred pill for Chi Gui and said softly, "What happened here is over. I have helped you regain your freedom, and you helped me tie down the enemy. We are even." Hearing Ye Ling's words, Chi Gui opened his mouth, unsure of what to say. He knew all too well the devastating blow Xue Sha's death must have dealt to Ye Ling. After all, his own elder brother had died before his eyes not long ago, and he could empathize. However, with his great revenge avenged, he felt a sense of release. Though it sounded heartless, facing the invasion of extraterrestrial forces, resolving the crisis with the loss of only two lives, and even killing a Heavenly Void Emperor of the enemy, was already a legendary battle. One could not ask for more.
After consuming Ye Ling's healing pill and managing to mend his injuries, Chi Gui rose from the ground and said to Ye Ling with deep respect, "Young man, I am hardly in a position to offer you guidance, but you have saved my life. What I have done is far from enough to repay your kindness. If you ever need my help in the future, do not hesitate to ask."
Ye Ling replied, "Thank you."
Seeing that Ye Ling was unwilling to speak further, Chi Gui sighed softly and, without lingering, turned to leave the area. However, before he could take more than a few steps, he felt an unimaginably powerful pressure emanating from behind him!
"More enemies?" Sensing the terrifying pressure, Chi Gui's face instantly turned pale. He spun around, only to see a black seed emerging from the cosmic barrier. The seed was wreathed in chaotic energy, its immense power making it impossible to approach. Chi Gui stared, bewildered, "What is that?"
Ye Ling gazed at the black seed floating in mid-air, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. He surmised it must be something that dropped after he ambushed the extraterrestrial Heavenly Void Emperor. However, the chaotic energy surrounding the black seed was too potent. Whether Ye Ling used his soul power or spiritual energy, it would be devoured by the chaotic energy, making it impossible for him to get close. Chi Gui, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief, his body going limp, upon realizing the terrifying aura did not originate from an extraterrestrial force but from a seed-like core. It was a relief that no extraterrestrial powerhouse had broken through. Having just endured a fierce battle, Chi Gui did not wish for another life-or-death struggle immediately.
Ye Ling stood at a distance, carefully examining the seed suspended in the air, and murmured, "I recall Zhen Hun mentioning that a Heavenly Void Emperor is a supreme expert who conquers the Seed of Chaos after reaching the Supreme Realm. Since the person I just killed was a Heavenly Void Emperor, could this seed be the legendary Seed of Chaos?" Recalling Zhen Hun's words, Ye Ling gradually confirmed the identity of the black seed before him. Both the surrounding chaotic energy and its appearance matched the characteristics of the Seed of Chaos.
Ye Ling stated, "It seems that after the Heavenly Void Emperor was annihilated by the cosmic barrier, only this Seed of Chaos remained." "This thing should be the best treasure in the current universe... Unfortunately, with my current cultivation, I can't even get close to the Seed of Chaos, let alone take it with me." With that, Ye Ling sighed again. Despite having a treasure before him, he could not benefit from it. Furthermore, the Seed of Chaos was continuously emitting chaotic energy to erode its surroundings. If it were not sealed, this chaotic energy would eventually consume the entire universe. And then... it would become a new disaster.
Just as Ye Ling made up his mind to seal the area, including the Seed of Chaos, a crisp applause echoed from the shattered stairwell, drawing the attention of both Ye Ling and Chi Gui. Ye Ling looked in the direction of the sound and saw Zhang Xiao Ling, with a hearty smile, emerge. Ye Ling's eyes shifted slightly. Chi Gui, upon seeing Zhang Xiao Ling appear, trembled violently and stammered, "Is, is it him?" However, Chi Gui quickly shook his head fiercely, "No... he just looks a bit alike... it must be a coincidence..."
Zhang Xiao Ling glanced at Chi Gui before turning his gaze to Ye Ling, clapping his hands in praise, "Impressive, impressive... truly a genius chosen by the Creation God. To have slain an extraterrestrial Heavenly Void Emperor with the cultivation of a mere Dao Sovereign." Ye Ling's eyes narrowed as Zhang Xiao Ling appeared, and he asked, "Have you been here all along?" Zhang Xiao Ling shook his head and chuckled, "Not exactly... I merely sensed the cosmic barrier being broken and came to investigate." "But judging by the situation, the crisis should be resolved. You've helped me solve a major problem."
Hearing Zhang Xiao Ling's words, Ye Ling's brow furrowed slightly, "Who exactly are you? Have you been fighting against extraterrestrial forces?" Zhang Xiao Ling smiled, "The time is not yet right. Knowing too much will not be good for you." With that, Zhang Xiao Ling teleported in front of the Seed of Chaos and effortlessly grasped it in his hand. The chaotic energy emanating from the Seed of Chaos was completely suppressed by Zhang Xiao Ling! Seeing Zhang Xiao Ling's move, Ye Ling's pupils contracted sharply! With this single move, Ye Ling confirmed that Zhang Xiao Ling's strength surpassed his own!
Zhang Xiao Ling shamelessly pocketed the Seed of Chaos that Ye Ling had painstakingly acquired and said with a smile, "You can't use this Seed of Chaos now, so let me keep it for the time being." He then glanced at the broken saber hilt in Ye Ling's hand and continued, "It seems you've lost an important companion. Hmm... although it's a bit troublesome, since I've received a Seed of Chaos from you, I suppose I have to return this favor..."
Ye Ling frowned, "What exactly do you want to do?" Zhang Xiao Ling narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Help you revive Xue Sha..."