For Tonggu Daoist, this trip to the Boundary Ruins had truly come full circle.

  Now that the Wood Origin Beast Ancestor statue was in human hands, he had no intention of letting it go. Wasn't their purpose in entering the ruins precisely to seize this statue?

  Originally, Tonggu's goal was merely to disrupt the divine-demons from obtaining it. He never expected to actually claim it through sheer luck.

  With matters settled, it was time to leave.

  Stay and face the Gold Elemental God's wrath? No thanks.

  With a flick of his sleeve.

  Tonggu enveloped all the human powerhouses in his sleeve's hidden realm—a divine ability allowing him to carry the human geniuses away together.

  Azure Dragon, clutching the Wood Origin statue, breathed a sigh of relief as he was drawn into the sleeve realm.

  Finally safe.

  The silent Lu Jiulian was enveloped too. He remained dazed amid the humans' celebrations—very quiet.

  Because he knew: the god-slaying... wasn't him.

  If unclear before, this time he felt it.

  Someone had borrowed his hands to eliminate many divine-demons—even taking down an Elemental God.

  Who?

  Lu Jiulian pondered, soon locking onto a target.

  Before his eyes emerged a figure seated in the Thousand-Bladed Chair—white robes pristine, ethereal as an immortal.

  It had to be him.

  Overlord and Tang Yimo felt some disappointment. They'd joined this enlightenment trip hoping for a breakthrough in Wood Origin truths.

  But neither comprehended any.

  Especially Overlord—his talent shockingly poor.

  Others resonated in tens of thousands of miles; Overlord in mere meters...

  The gap... embarrassing.

  With everyone enveloped, Tonggu felt satisfied.

  His gaze shifted to the Fire Elemental God's body—a peak heavenly god-tier divine-demon shell.

  If possible, he'd love to snatch it from the Gold Elemental God.

  But he knew: impossible.

  Forcing it might cost him his life.

  Beyond the Gold God present, many heavenly god-tier divine-demons remained—a lineup deadly for Tonggu.

  Know when to quit—Tonggu understood.

  The body was tempting, but not worth it.

  If the Black-White Empress intervened again, deterring divine-demons, he'd try. But she'd vanished.

  Now: safely escape with the statue.

  "Think you can leave?!"

  The Gold Elemental God saw Tonggu's retreat, eyes flashing icy killing intent.

  This round: divine-demons suffered massively. Over a dozen Great Dao tiers dead—plus the Fire Elemental God.

  If they'd secured the statue, acceptable.

  But without it? Pure loss of elites.

  How could he not rage?!

  "Chase!"

  Cold and ruthless.

  He waved—heavenly god-tier divine-demons unleashed auras, as if sealing the void.

  They couldn't let Tonggu escape easily.

  If he did with the statue, humans gained a massive boost—building counterattack strength soon.

  Boom boom boom!

  Heavenly god-tiers soared.

  Eyes sharp.

  Tonggu was strong, but heavenly god-tiers—quasi-saint equivalents—weren't weak, just below his level.

  One? Manageable. Four or five ganging up? Troublesome.

  Plus the Gold God lurking.

  Bang bang bang!

  Void shattered instantly. The dead world collapsed—earth sank, trees exploded.

  With the statue removed, the Wood Origin grounds lost vitality. Towering trees withered; green faded to desolation.

  Only barren land and a silent, crumbling world floating in the ruins.

  The truth of the Wood Origin grounds.

  Divine-demons shuddered.

  But Tonggu and heavenly god-tiers remained calm—they'd seen through the illusion long ago.

  Boundary Ruins: graveyard of shattered worlds. What vitality?

  All facade from the statue—now gone, illusion torn.

  "Stop him!"

  The Gold Elemental God said coldly.

  His gaze fell on the Fire Elemental God's body.

  He'd already summoned a divine-demonic emperor. No choice—in these ruins, the Black-White Empress dominated.

  And the Fire Elemental God's spirit suppressed: major issue. He couldn't rescue it.

  Only an emperor could.

  This trip, he'd communicated with emperors.

  They'd asserted: the Black-White Empress wouldn't act against them.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Yet she did—foiling even emperor predictions.

  So now: seek the emperor.

  Heavenly god-tiers struck together—void crumbling.

  Tonggu feared no mere heavenly god-tiers.

  But head-on: he'd suffer.

  Humans weaker than divine-demons largely due to fewer quasi-saints—far harder to birth than heavenly god-tiers.

  "Ah! Black-White Empress! Please act!"

  Tonggu hovered, robes fluttering, sleeves shaking.

  Suddenly shocked, pointing afar.

  Attacking heavenly god-tiers startled, pausing.

  Soon: furious embarrassment.

  Tonggu bluffing—no Empress behind.

  Tricked!

  That dog Tonggu—deceiving again!

  Heavenly god-tiers raged, helpless as Tonggu tore void and fled—instantly gone.

  No spacetime spirit boat this time—pure spatial truths.

  The Gold God guarding the body fumed.

  So many heavenly god-tiers—couldn't stop one Tonggu carrying human geniuses.

  Boom!

  Gold Origin erupted. He tore space, summoning a golden halberd from beyond—slashing in.

  Countless spaces exploded.

  Clash in the void.

  Blood sprayed. Gold God ejected, aura unstable—but eyes colder.

  "Chase! I wounded him protecting those geniuses—go capture!"

  His words sparked heavenly god-tiers' eyes. Streams of light shattered space in pursuit.

  In the silent world.

  Gold God eyed the spiritless Fire Elemental God body, face twitching.

  Turning to the palace hovering above.

  "As a chaos being... you shouldn't interfere in divine-demon and human affairs."

  "Your actions today—our emperors will settle with you!"

  Words echoed in silence.

  From the palace: faint disdainful snort—no reply, just mockery.

  "Chaos beings should remain neutral, like those neutral races... Your interference enraged divine-demons. Because of you, a promising emperor-candidate Elemental God fell!"

  "You owe divine-demons an explanation!"

  Gold God said.

  Unimaginable—he dared speak thus to her.

  Earlier, he'd trembled under her pressure.

  In the palace.

  The Black-White Empress teased her shoulder beast, legs crossed casually.

  This Gold God: emboldened by emperor backing.

  Without: wouldn't dare bark.

  But she wouldn't tolerate it.

  Next: finger flick.

  Pale hand slowly patted out.

  Gold God tensed—power threatening to tear his soul, but little fear.

  He wanted to force her hand!

  Boom!

  Space solidified.

  Next: starry sky thundered. Vast aura like chaos descending.

  A chaos-condensed palm clashed with her slender one.

  Massive black annihilation silhouette swept.

  Silently obliterating all.

  Clash of ancient starry sky apex beings.

  "Black-White, this time it's overlooked. Next... no mercy."

  Grand, stern voice echoed.

  Then the heaven-shaking palm swept—carrying Gold God and Fire Elemental God's body—vanishing.

  In Boundary Ruins: shattered worlds drifted lonely.

  Human and divine-demon departure restored quiet clamor to cold emptiness.

  Tap tap tap...

  Crisp heels on floor echoed in vast palace.

  Before emerald stairs.

  Black-White Empress's graceful figure emerged.

  Cradling beast, stroking fluff. Long lashes fluttered, gazing calmly at fading chaotic void.

  "Divine-demonic emperor..."

  "Not tough at all—didn't even fight. Seems pressure there is heavy."

  She smiled.

  "Perhaps I should go soon too. Slim chance of success, but... try anyway."

  "But first: find that girl."

  Her eyes deepened—softer.

  ...

  Outside Boundary Ruins.

  Rippling void like pond waves.

  Gold Elemental God stood respectfully, aura restrained—no arrogance before Empress.

  Terrifying black hole hovered nearby.

  Fire Elemental God's body floated—still kneeling.

  "Emperor, his body's spirit aura gone clean. Spirit fell in battlefield—refined into pill by human..."

  Gold God said.

  Void rippled. From black hole: claw extended, closing to sharp finger.

  Pressed on Fire Elemental God's brow.

  Boom!

  Ripple energy spread from head.

  Hmm?

  "Not dead—just link severed, suppressed and sealed."

  "As for the pill: minor consumed spirit—nothing major."

  Faint voice drifted.

  Gold God stunned.

  Exhaled.

  So: sealed.

  Divine-demons prized bodies over spirits. Loss in spirit battle: not unexpected.

  "Hmm?"

  "Interesting—this power... peculiar."

  "Who among humans wields it?"

  Suddenly.

  Black hole existence: surprise, thoughtful.

  Long after: sharp finger flicked.

  Invisible order thread picked—scattering into starry map.

  "Here: sealed location... Go personally now—bring Fire Origin back."

  Faint voice from black hole.

  Gold God memorized map position in ancient starry sky. Nodded solemnly.

  Done: mysterious existence prepared to leave.

  But Gold God hesitated.

  "Emperor!"

  "Why not suppress Black-White Empress..."

  "Why not eradicate humans?"

  Puzzled. Divine-demons dominated ancient starry sky, but rising humans threatened balance.

  Human saints far fewer than emperors.

  To aggressive Gold God: simple extermination.

  Black hole figure paused. Faint voice:

  "Don't ask."

  "You wouldn't understand."

  ...

  Five Phoenixes continent.

  Lu leaned on Thousand-Bladed Chair, calm—eyes lightly closed.

  Spirit surged. Though sealed Fire Elemental God's spirit in preaching platform, he diverted focus to suppress.

  An Elemental God—no carelessness.

  Many capsized in ditches.

  He'd capsized plenty himself.

  But the god struggled fiercely—unwilling. More struggle: more consumed, yielding Fire Essence Pills.

  "Good stuff—pity only for Fire Origin talents... Hmm, Qingniao excels in Fire Origin. Her Nine Phoenix Transformation fire-based too—pills could help greatly. Enough: quasi-saint possible?"

  Lu narrowed eyes, pondering.

  Five Phoenixes: Immortal Martial now—but unsatisfying.

  Recent human ancestral quasi-saint "rampage"—staged, but discomforting. Five Phoenixes needed strength—must.

  If staged once: next time?

  Deep breath. Five Phoenixes needed own quasi-saints...

  Even true Five Phoenixes saints.

  "Perhaps... no more indulging in killing. Settle down, cultivate Five Phoenixes powerhouses—secure place in ancient starry sky. At least: voice."

  Lu thought.

  Most pressing: severed link.

  But Elemental God-level could deduce traces.

  Saint-level: easily calculate survival—even locate Five Phoenixes.

  Peaceful time: limited.

  Lu's eyes flickered—crisis sense rising.

  Tonggu thought saint backed him.

  But Lu knew: no saint—just his own machinations.

  True saint-level divine-demon attack...

  Unprecedented crisis possible.

  "But... Five Phoenixes rose too fast. Before explosion: sedimentation needed."

  Lu pondered, leaning—palm tapping armrest lightly.

  ...

  Ancient starry sky.

  Void flashing.

  Heavy bloody scent spread.

  Tonggu emerged through space gates.

  Blood trickled mouth, chest stained red—violent Gold Origin lingering on wound.

  "Ptoo!"

  "Too straining—spatial travel with group, nearly flipped."

  Looked back—no Gold God pursuit: relief.

  If chased: bloody battle.

  Why no pursuit? Guesses: statue with Black-White Empress—divine-demons need emperor or treasure.

  With humans: less threat.

  Ongoing war anyway.

  Statue human-held: rally attack to seize.

  Easier than Empress.

  Tonggu shook head. Hot potato—sure to anger divine-demons.

  No choice.

  Divine-demon hands: true human crisis.

  Exhaled.

  Sudden space explosion behind.

  Heavenly god-tiers emerged coldly—aura pressuring ancient stars to groan.

  Tonggu sneered coldly.

  No Gold God: fearless.

  Though burdened with geniuses—heavy pressure if Elemental God.

  Mere ordinary heavenly god-tiers: manageable.

  Space compressed underfoot—one step: millions miles.

  But wounded by Gold God—blood trail in starry sky, traceable.

  No help—sleeve realm burdened strength with many.

  Abandon geniuses? Heavenly god-tiers slaughter easily.

  Unacceptable.

  Human geniuses: rise foundation.

  Whoosh whoosh!

  Void compressing.

  Tonggu paled slightly—Gold God's attack eroding like maggot.

  Spatial master though—worsening wound, pursuers closing—encircling.

  Race against time.

  Tonggu grave—no frivolity, serious.

  Statue, geniuses, Brother Lu's people...

  Must deliver.

  Ancestral lands: reinforcements.

  Time passed.

  Distance shrank.

  Boom boom!

  Heavenly god-tiers: cold eyes.

  Statue in hand—no quit.

  Knew his goal.

  But ancestral direction: guarded heavenly god-tiers—detect anomaly: block.

  Tonggu gritted teeth.

  Sleeve geniuses sensed gravity.

  Aura restrained—solemn.

  Life-death race. If caught: doom.

  No excess fear—Boundary Ruins trip: death accepted.

  Prepared to fight dying.

  Pity: enemies too strong—heavenly god-tiers quasi-saints. Though not top: suicide to fight.

  Tonggu fast—skimming void, brow twitching.

  Nearer: Five Phoenixes, not ancestral.

  But no entry—only Brother Lu fight-worthy, half-baked. Others weak.

  No quasi-saint: entry dooms Five Phoenixes.

  Ancestral run.

  Soon: expression shifted.

  Sighed.

  Ancestral surrounded—monitored.

  Gamble component—lost...

  Void thundered.

  Heavenly god-tier blocked front.

  Pursuers joyous.

  "Block! Statue with him!"

  Heavenly god-tiers shouted.

  Tonggu ruthless.

  Speed surged—fusing space, 90% mastery extreme.

  Shattered explosions.

  Space mirror-like broken—blocking god shattered—one-strike kill.

  Emerging: Tonggu swayed, coughing hot blood—pale.

  Brief delay.

  Pursuers encircled—sealing escapes.

  Tonggu cold-eyed. No escape.

  But not just flee.

  Trapped: fight—bloody path!

  Boom!

  No hiding aura—silver-gray galaxy oscillating ancient starry sky.

  ...

  Ancient starry sky.

  Xuancang elder circling Five Phoenixes: expression changed.

  "Tonggu's aura?"

  Desperate fight-to-death: grave. Big trouble!

  Then: shadows—plunged away.

  ...

  Five Phoenixes.

  Lu planning reform—no more killing: sensed aura, froze.

  "No peace... I just want steady growth, no fighting—why so hard."

  Exhaled.

  But save Tonggu.

  Exposure? Whatever.

  Sooner or later...

  If expose: spectacularly.

  Mind stirred.

  Rose from chair—white to black robes, flying.

  Five Phoenixes Bow in hand.

  Full draw—aiming starry heavenly god-tiers encircling Tonggu.

  On lake island.

  Draw bow—shoot divine-demons!