Dieter's departure was a considerable blow to the trio of Nine-Tails, signifying that Dieter had foreseen the impossibility of their situation. With him gone, the task of troubling Ji Changkong would become exponentially more difficult for the three of them.

Dieter left as abruptly as he arrived, without so much as a word of farewell. The three—Nine-Tails, Feather-Lotus, and their companion—froze, looking utterly lost and unsure of what to do next.

Zi Han offered the trio not a single scrap of kindness; her gaze, icy and sharp, swept over the Nine-Tails group. She snapped, "What? Are you truly craving death?"

Nine-Tails and Feather-Lotus exchanged glances, seemingly weighing the true strength of Ling Meng and Zi Han, hesitating over whether they should risk a suicidal confrontation.

"A little help, perhaps?" Ji Changkong grinned, pointing towards Wood God and Feather-Lotus while addressing Zi Han. "There are two types of flames residing within these two individuals—flames that would be immensely useful to me. Could I trouble you to extract them from their very beings?"

Wood God and Feather-Lotus’s complexions instantly turned ghastly.

"What concern is that of mine?" Zi Han scoffed, unconvinced. "If you want them, go take them yourself. I certainly won't stop you."

If I thought I could handle it, why would I waste breath talking to you?

Ji Changkong cursed inwardly, yet his face remained fixed in a smile as warm as a spring breeze. "My cultivation is shallow, and I'm temporarily no match for them. I must rely on your assistance."

"Ji Changkong!" Feather-Lotus was furious enough to explode. Unable to restrain herself, she cried out, "I haven't even made a move against you yet, and you dare set your sights on what I possess? Do you imagine you can hide here forever?"

Wood God’s face was equally grim, though he remained silent, his expression darkening. As he looked at Ji Changkong, his cheek twitched faintly, revealing a deep-seated hatred.

"Of course, I don't intend to hide here forever. I will surely return," Ji Changkong replied, completely undeterred. "However, by the time I dare to return, I suspect you won't be able to do anything to me then."

Ji Changkong shrugged carelessly, adding, "You chased me across a thousand leagues not just for the Plague Demon. You can use your superior cultivation to hunt me down, so why shouldn't I seize an opportunity to take some advantage of you when I can!"

Wood God and Feather-Lotus were so enraged they felt bile rising, yet they were helpless. At this point, they bitterly regretted not leaving with Dieter, allowing this brat the chance to ensnare them.

"It has nothing to do with me," Zi Han shook her head indifferently. "Solve your own problems. I don't have the free time to handle these issues for you."

Ji Changkong sighed in mock helplessness, a new idea sparking in his mind. He looked soberly at Ling Meng. "The flames on these two are the key to finding the source! On my person, there is a life form intimately familiar with this place, though it lacks a considerable portion of its memories. Once it obtains the flames from these two, it will undoubtedly provide you with a satisfactory answer!"

"Is this true?!" Ling Meng's interest was immediately piqued. The source was her utmost concern. Hearing that this was the key, she instantly showed her focus.

"Come out!" Ji Changkong commanded softly.

Ji Yuan, who had been restlessly stirring within Ji Changkong’s body, had not yet fully digested the power of the Yan Corpse Flame and dared not reveal himself. But at Ji Changkong's summons, he emerged immediately, transforming into a flickering flame of constantly shifting shapes, exuding confidence. "That’s right! As long as I can obtain the kindred energy from them! Once absorbed, I can certainly trace the source. In my memory, there is indeed an imprint of the source, though a few crucial details are temporarily missing."

Ji Yuan and Ji Changkong shared a spiritual connection. After fusing with several Origin Fires, his intellect had grown, and he now knew precisely what to say at the opportune moment.

Ling Meng had indeed taken the bait.

Staring deeply at Ji Yuan for a moment, Ling Meng smiled radiantly and stated decisively, "Very well. I will extract the flames from these two for you."

Wood God and Feather-Lotus were struck with absolute horror.

"Go!" Nine-Tails shouted sharply and bolted in a different direction, vanishing like a streak of lightning.

Wood God and Feather-Lotus paused, then reacted instantly, their speed not much slower than Nine-Tails, and they too dissolved into two beams of aurora, fleeing into the depths of the dense mist, ignoring the potential dangers posed by the nearby swirling black holes.

"Don't let them escape! Anyone possessing the flame—they must be kept for the flame!" Ji Changkong called out.

Ling Meng did not reply. A spiritual light flashed in her eyes, instantly illuminating the trails of Wood God and Feather-Lotus. Ling Meng’s soft lips parted, and a strange Taiji diagram shot forth, shimmering brilliantly in the void. Waves spread from it like ripples expanding across water, covering vast distances.

Within the marvelous oscillations, it seemed to contain the very essence of cosmic evolution. A vibrant aura of burgeoning life, capable of fostering all growth, was released from the Taiji diagram. Then, the aura shifted, and suddenly, a deathly power capable of annihilating all life erupted from within the diagram.

The evolution of life and death twisted together as two distinct currents upon the Taiji diagram, clearly manifesting the transition between existence and non-existence.

The ripples expanded outward, covering billions of miles in an instant, effectively locking down the surrounding space.

In Ling Meng's eyes, the rapidly fleeing figures of Wood God and Feather-Lotus suddenly froze in the void. Their faces were contorted in terror as they desperately channeled their internal power, attempting to break free from the influence of the Taiji diagram's waves. But no matter how hard they struggled, they remained utterly fixed, unable to move an inch.

"Return," Ling Meng commanded lightly. Her voice was crisp and pleasing, yet when projected, it stretched out, resonant and lingering.

This voice acted like silken thread, binding Wood God and Feather-Lotus across billions of miles. Their rigidly held bodies remained motionless, but the space surrounding them seemed to be cleaved into a small section, which, locked by the spatial restraint, began to move strangely, receding backward continuously...

In moments, Wood God and Feather-Lotus, still frozen in their forward-moving postures, reappeared within Ji Changkong’s sight. Their faces were panicked, their mouths wide open as if to scream, but no sound emerged.

Miraculous artistry!

Ji Changkong was stunned. He finally understood the meaning behind Zi Han’s previous words—no wonder she said that once Ling Meng acted, the four of them would only be facing annihilation.

The seemingly gentle Ling Meng was the truly ruthless character. No wonder Zi Han sought her counsel at every turn; it turned out Ling Meng was far more terrifying than Zi Han.

"Don't be afraid. I won't kill you; killing you would waste too much of my energy," Ling Meng's voice remained melodic, and a serene smile graced her face. Everything appeared harmonious. "I only want the flames on you. It's better for everyone if you cooperate quietly. Otherwise, if I’m not careful, I might leave permanent scars upon your bodies and souls—that’s not something I wish to see, and surely not something you desire, right?"

In that moment, these two—Wood God and Feather-Lotus, the peak powerhouses of the Wood and Feather Tribes, looking down upon the cosmos from their stellar domain—felt utterly humiliated. Both knew that yielding now would compromise their reputation as masters, yet they could only offer bitter nods, feeling little inclination to resist.

They finally realized that this seemingly young woman was a terrifying entity whose realm far surpassed their own.

"It will be quick, and there will be no pain. Relax... yes, just like that..." Ling Meng soothed softly, as if rocking a mischievous infant to sleep. Her heavenly voice carried an irresistible magic that compelled Wood God and Feather-Lotus to surrender willingly, allowing her to act.

The Taiji diagram turned slowly in the void, the manifestation of life and death continuing. The strange ripples emanating from it quietly enveloped Wood God and Feather-Lotus, subtly influencing their minds and bodies, entering their soul oceans without a trace, working in a miraculous way to separate the Origin Fires from their hosts.

This was a profound arcane method designed to completely sever every link between the owner and the spirit object.

"It's done, truly done. You may go now, return from whence you came..." Ling Meng smiled faintly.

Two clusters of flame drifted in the void; upon them, there was no longer any residual aura of Wood God or Feather-Lotus. Every thought they had imprinted upon the Origin Fires had been scrubbed clean, leaving not a trace of fluctuation, not a whisper of spiritual awareness.

Wood God and Feather-Lotus looked as if they had been subjected to a soul-snatching spell, yet their eyes were perfectly clear. They simply lowered their heads and obediently departed, transforming once more into divine rays, heading off into the vast unknown. In moments, their presence vanished entirely.

Only then did the trails of the two in Ling Meng's eyes truly disappear.

With a soft laugh, the suspended Taiji diagram flew back to Ling Meng, vanishing the instant it approached her. The two clusters of Origin Fire from Wood God and Feather-Lotus writhed in the void, seemingly desperate to escape their immediate predicament.

This was because Ji Yuan was already eagerly approaching them.

"No, no! Don't!"

"Spare us! We want to, we want to have our own consciousness!"

The two Origin Fires cried out telepathically. They had long since gained sentience, and realizing their masters were gone, they clearly panicked at the prospect of facing Ji Yuan.

"It is our destined fate to merge into one; you cannot avoid it, and even I cannot stop it," Ji Yuan stated after a moment of silence, suddenly surging forward to engulf the two flames instantly.

"Come back," Ji Changkong called out, summoning Ji Yuan to his side. He then shifted his thoughts, drawing Ji Yuan back into his body.

He knew that Ji Yuan needed a considerable amount of time to fully digest the Yan Corpse Flame and then absorb these two new Origin Fires. However, with all nine Origin Fires finally gathered, he had ample time and peace of mind to wait for Ji Yuan to assimilate them all.

The complete fusion of the nine Origin Fires would allow the master to break through to the Ultimate Chaos Realm in one go—a dream he had long anticipated. Now, that beautiful reality lay before him, filling him with immeasurable joy.

A: I ask for no Monthly Tickets, no recommendations, nothing at all—only that my readers remain safe and sound, that during this time of joyous reunion, you can momentarily forget the pressures of life and enjoy a happy, united New Year! I wish you all the best and every happiness! Thank you; thank you for your year of support and attention, thank you for every subscription, every bit of patronage, every Monthly Ticket, every recommendation, every click. I thank you! U