442: Transformation of the Mortal World

Shadow King's teleportation speed was extremely fast. After two consecutive failed teleports, he keenly realized that some protective measures or spatial interference means had clearly been set up around the Yuan Ling Universe.

Without hesitation, he urged his power again and teleported at full speed towards the direction of the Yuan Ling Universe.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Bai Huang did not dare to delay for even a moment.

His team included the Void Spirit Beast, a difficult-to-control entity. If this Void Spirit Beast suddenly threw a tantrum, Bai Huang's own strength would be completely unable to suppress it, and the situation would become completely out of control.

After all, the Void Spirit Beast's power far exceeded his range of response; a slight carelessness could lead to unpredictable consequences.

Shadow King saw the not-so-large base from afar and couldn't help but mutter to himself: "For such a small base, it actually has a member of the Starry Sky Giant Beast Clan, and even a Saint-Grade figure with extremely abnormal strength. The Yuan Ling Universe has really hit the jackpot this time; it's like smoke rising from their ancestral grave."

He clearly knew that this base was indeed the base of the Yuan Ling Universe.

After a full-speed journey, Shadow King finally arrived at the Yuan Ling Universe before Bai Huang and his party.

His goal was very clear: to do his best to protect the warriors in the Yuan Ling Universe base. If the situation was truly unfavorable, he would at least ensure that the living beings inside the Yuan Ling Universe were not harmed.

At the south fortress of the Yuan Ling Universe, on the cold and ancient walls of the fortress, Yuan Yi was sitting side by side with Mortal World, chatting idly for a rare moment.

This time felt particularly precious because, before this, Mortal World had always been a taciturn person, maintaining a distant and cold attitude towards everyone, like a snow-covered mountain peak, making it difficult for people to approach.

However, ever since Xun Xiuyuan successfully rescued Nine Nether from danger, Mortal World's temperament had quietly changed.

She no longer kept people at a distance as she did before, but gradually revealed a warm side, even willing to share smiles and relaxed moments with others.

Like now, drinking fine wine on the city wall and chatting happily, this would have been unimaginable for the past Mortal World. Although this change was subtle, it was enough to surprise those familiar with her.

"I don't know if the Boss and Nine Nether can successfully complete the Fusion of the cosmic core," Yuan Yi said softly, his tone carrying a hint of worry, "And that Xun Xiuyuan has gone into secluded cultivation again. Closing in twice within a year is truly rare."

He mimicked Mortal World's mannerisms, casually picked up a wine pot, took a sip of wine, and continued leisurely, "Indeed, for existences at our Realm, either a single secluded cultivation session starts at a hundred years, or even things like the Fusion of the cosmic core usually take decades of time. This kind of frequent secluded cultivation is truly unreasonable."

Mortal World turned her head, her gaze falling on Yuan Yi, her brows furrowed slightly, and a clear look of disgust appeared on her face.

She looked at Yuan Yi's posture holding the wine cup and felt increasingly disdainful in her heart—deliberately imitating a woman's manner of drinking was truly embarrassing, even somewhat shameful.

However, Mortal World's state of mind at this moment was different from the past, no longer as indifferent, distant, and unfeeling as before.

She pondered for a moment and finally spoke, her tone still flat, but no longer carrying sharp edges: "Nine Nether and the Sect Master have already set off for the Time Secret Realm in the Great Barren World. Even if they need to complete the Fusion of the cosmic core, it is estimated that it will not take too long. After all, that Secret Realm has a hundredfold time flow rate; for them, cultivating for one year is equivalent to a hundred years in the outside world."

The Time Secret Realm she mentioned was exactly that strange place discovered by Xie Nanqiao in her early years.

To make room for Nine Nether and True Person Yuan Ling to enter secluded cultivation, all the original Cultivators in the Secret Realm were forcibly cleared out, without exception.

Two Saint Kings—and they were very powerful Saint Kings at that—entering at the same time had already pushed the pressure borne by that Time Secret Realm to its limit.

If any extra people were to break in, the structure of the Secret Realm itself would very likely not be able to support it and would eventually collapse completely.

After hearing this, Yuan Yi nodded slowly and responded with a grave expression: "Although we have destroyed all the teleportation arrays in the nearby Universe and temporarily cut off their path, this is not a long-term solution after all. The Cosmic Alliance, or rather the Bai family, will come eventually. The Boss and Nine Nether's decision to go to the Secret Realm in the Great Barren World to Cultivate is correct. We really don't have much time to waste; we must race against time."

Mortal World also nodded slightly, a hint of undetectable worry in her tone as she said softly: "I just don't know if the Sect Master can successfully advance to eight-system this time. If he can really make a Breakthrough, even if we eventually die in battle, the billions of living beings in the Yuan Ling Universe might still have a glimmer of hope for survival."

From Mortal World's meaningful words, it could be clearly inferred that Mortal World and the others had already prepared for the worst.

The last time Bai Huang was already at the Guiyi Realm, and this time the Bai family was making a comeback, their strength would inevitably be further improved; at the very least, they were already strong experts in the Guiyi Realm, or perhaps even more powerful.

The reason True Person Yuan Ling longed to successfully advance to an Eight-System Saint King was not for personal glory or power, but merely to protect all the living beings in the Yuan Ling Universe, ensuring they could continue to live and work in peace and be spared from the invasion and destruction of external enemies.

After all, eight-system was already a top expert in the Cosmic Battlefield. True Person Yuan Ling might be able to use his useful body after advancing to eight-system to exchange for the peace of the billions of living beings in the Yuan Ling Universe.

If they knew that there was also a Void Spirit Beast that liked to eat Souls coming with Bai Huang, they probably wouldn't have such thoughts.

Upon hearing these words, Yuan Yi smiled bitterly and replied: "That is indeed the case. Even a powerful being like Senior Star Swallower who possessed supreme Divine Ability could not ultimately preserve our Yuan Ling Universe. This is truly helpless, as if everything is destined and cannot be changed."

Mortal World turned her head at this moment, casting her gaze towards the distant Void Realm, and asked with a flat but profound tone: "Yuan Yi, have you ever considered handing over Xun Xiuyuan? Perhaps doing so could resolve the current crisis."

The root of all events was actually very obvious, concentrated precisely on the Ling Tian Pagoda held by Xun Xiuyuan.

Although everyone did not openly discuss this point, everyone knew this fact very clearly in their hearts.

As long as Xun Xiuyuan was handed over, or rather, the Ling Tian Pagoda in his hands was handed over, then the Yuan Ling Universe would very likely easily overcome this seemingly insurmountable difficulty.

Yuan Yi heard this question, his brows raised slightly, a disdainful smile appeared on his face, and he retorted: "Why would you have such a thought? To ask such a question?"

Mortal World turned her head, glanced at Yuan Yi faintly, and explained in a calm tone: "Isn't this kind of thinking very normal? In the face of life and death, considering sacrificing certain individuals to preserve the whole, isn't that a common strategy?"

Yuan Yi chuckled again, shook his head, and said firmly: "If it weren't for Xun Xiuyuan's stepping forward at the beginning, we would have long since become slaves of the Phantom Poison Universe. At that time, the Big Brother had not yet returned, and I reckon the Yuan Ling Universe would have completely fallen and ceased to exist by then."

Mortal World nodded after hearing this and did not continue speaking.

However, in her mind, she couldn't help but recall the previous conversation with Nine Nether—the same question, Mortal World had also asked Nine Nether before.

At that time, Nine Nether was stunned for a moment, then smiled and replied: "Perhaps by doing so, the Yuan Ling Universe could indeed be preserved, and we might be able to live a little longer because of it. However, living at the cost of sacrificing others is not the life I want."