Yu Lian and Mu Shen fled in disarray, and only after an indeterminate time did they finally come to their senses.

“What did we just do?” Yu Lian froze abruptly, recalling the events, and then cried out, “The Source Fire on our bodies has been taken by those two women—and we didn't even resist!”

Mu Shen’s face was filled with horror. “What just happened to us? Why did we willingly listen to that woman? Did we fall for some Soul-Capturing spell?”

“We can recall everything clearly, yet at that moment, we were completely willing. This is a Soul-Capturing spell, but not an ordinary one!” Recalling the experience, Yu Lian was also aghast.

“What do we do now? We tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice! Not only did we fail to get that brat’s Source Fire, but we lost our own,” Mu Shen lamented bitterly.

“What can we do?” Yu Lian’s expression was impossibly grim. “Even if we chase after them, do you think we stand a chance? Those two young women, we don't know where they’re from, but they possess such terrifying power. We are simply no match for them!”

“Just let it go?” Mu Shen was unwilling to accept it.

“Do you have any better ideas?” Yu Lian gave a wry smile. “Among us, Nine-Tail was the strongest, yet she was the fastest to flee. I suspect unless we reach the Ultimate Chaos Realm, we will never have a chance to confront those two women head-on!”

Mu Shen was stunned. After a long silence, he finally drooped his head dejectedly. “I never expected this journey into the Chaotic Sea of Realms to end in such a complete rout. The Plague Demon is still out there; I don’t dare to imagine what that brat will encounter in the Chaotic Sea of Realms.”

“We stay in the Chaotic Sea of Realms!” Yu Lian’s gaze gradually turned icy. “Although the Chaotic Sea of Realms is full of crises, it also holds many opportunities. Perhaps we can have a fortuitous encounter and break through our current shackles. Otherwise, even if we return to the Dead Star Domain, we’ll live in constant fear.”

“Yes, I think so too!” Mu Shen said in a deep voice.

As the two were speaking, three beams of silvery-grey light suddenly flashed ahead of them. The light approached incredibly fast, reaching them in an instant.

They were three metallic figures, resembling the strange metal golems found in the Dead Star Domain. Their bodies shone with crystalline metallic luster, etched with intricate metal patterns. The three metallic figures were identical, their faces cold and devoid of any human emotion, appearing as if they were carved from stone.

As the three metallic figures approached, strange lights flickered within their icy pupils, strange signals flashing across them as they surveyed Mu Shen and Yu Lian with eyes devoid of divine light.

“Two humans, bearing the energy signatures of Zihan and Ling Meng,” a cold, stiff voice issued from one of the metallic figures.

Mu Shen and Yu Lian started, looking strangely at the trio. They released their divine senses but could detect no trace of a soul aura from the metallic figures, as if only three cold blocks of metal stood there, devoid of any sign of life.

“What in the blazes are you?” Yu Lian, boiling with anger, couldn't help but shout.

“Mechanical Empire, Seventy-Ninth Generation Liquid Metal Man. I am Number Nine,” one of the metal figures replied coldly, then immediately demanded, “Where did you see Zihan and Ling Meng? How far from this coordinate? What is the coordinate there?”

The Mechanical Empire? Liquid Metal Men?

Yu Lian and Mu Shen exchanged glances, completely bewildered.

“You have ten seconds to answer. If no reply is given after ten seconds, the Destruction Protocol will be initiated!” the metal man calling himself Number Nine stated stiffly, then began counting down:

Destruction Protocol?

Yu Lian was momentarily stunned and immediately realized the figures’ attitude was hostile. Yu Lian, already furious, didn't hesitate. A thought formed in his mind, and his internal power suddenly erupted—a torrent of violent hurricane force, capable of annihilating a life-bearing star, surged toward the three strange metallic entities calling themselves Liquid Metal Men.

The rampaging hurricane instantly engulfed the three Liquid Metal Men. Wind blades capable of shredding all life raged within the vortex, accompanied by piercing howls.

“Five… six…”

From within the hurricane, the cold voice continued.

The body of one metallic figure suddenly transformed into a dazzling light blade, which swept through the hurricane. The hurricane condensed by Yu Lian was instantly torn apart and pulverized, all its energy severed, preventing it from reforming.

“Seven… eight… nine…”

Number Nine’s voice remained utterly devoid of emotion as he mechanically continued the count.

“In that direction!” Mu Shen suddenly snapped back to reality, pointing toward the direction they had just fled. He cried out in alarm, “Right there! I don’t know coordinates, but I estimate we flew for roughly thirty million miles at our speed!”

Strange numbers flickered in Number Nine’s eyes. He seemed to be calculating silently. In just one second, he appeared to have derived the exact location, then stated coldly, “Target confirmed. Seventeen, Twenty-Six, move out!”

“What about these two? They attacked us. According to the laws of the Mechanical Empire, we have the right to destroy them.” one of the metal figures inquired.

“On a mission. Target is primary! Life forms that pose no threat can have their destruction postponed,” Number Nine replied sharply, light waves dancing in his eyes.

“Understood,” the metallic figure responded.

Then, these three beings, claiming to be the Seventy-Ninth Generation Liquid Metal Men of the Mechanical Empire, departed swiftly toward the target indicated by Mu Shen, without sparing Mu Shen or Yu Lian another glance.

Mu Shen and Yu Lian stood frozen, speechless for a long moment.

“Yu Lian, are you still planning to stay here?” After a long while, Mu Shen asked with a crestfallen look and a pale face.

“We… we…” Yu Lian hesitated painfully, and after a pause, finally made up his mind. “Let’s go. Let’s leave this damned place! If we stay here any longer, I’m afraid we’ll never be able to return.”

“I think the same,” Mu Shen sighed, deeply disheartened.

“Those beings are tracking us,” Ling Meng’s expression shifted slightly. “They came much more suddenly this time, and we are burdened with two liabilities. We must leave quickly!”

Zihan also looked alarmed. “Mm!”

Ling Meng and Zihan exchanged a look, then each grabbed one person, snatching Ji Changkong and Orsos respectively, and hurtled into the distance. Their speed was so immense that it made Ji Changkong’s breathing labored.

Ji Du transformed into a cluster of dark cloud and clung to Ji Changkong’s shoulder, inwardly startled. He secretly sent a telepathic message to Ji Changkong: Kongkong, these two women also have enemies. What kind of enemies are they that even they have to flee?

I don’t know. These two women are much stronger than Nine-Tail. Even without the Ultimate Chaos Realm of our world, they are probably close. Beings that even they fear must be far superior to Nine-Tail. We better behave ourselves…

Kongkong, do you think they might drag us down? If their enemies can wipe them out, wouldn’t we be facing an even deadlier end?

Do you have a better way to leave?

Let me think…

“Don’t try any tricks!” Zihan suddenly sneered. “The moment you think about leaving, I will unhesitatingly obliterate you two. I might have to cripple my limbs to kill the previous few, but eliminating you two would be effortless!”

“You—you can hear our telepathic communication?!” Ji Du was horrified.

“Trivial parlor tricks,” Zihan replied dismissively. “Forget your telepathic messages; if I spend a little effort, I can even discern the thoughts forming in your minds! So, behave yourselves, or I won’t mind finishing you off sooner rather than later!”

Hearing Zihan’s declaration, Ji Du fell silent.

Ji Changkong, held by Ling Meng, activated the power of the Purgatory Ghost bloodline within him to adapt to such high speeds and the sparks of light constantly streaking past him. Those sparks contained the explosive force of volcanoes—this was merely the friction caused by Ling Meng’s high-speed flight with the void. He could barely withstand the backlash of such rapid travel by relying on the power of the Purgatory Ghost blood, and he slowly realized how terrifying Ling Meng was.

Held by the nape of his neck by Ling Meng’s small hand, Ji Changkong felt helpless but had no recourse. Ling Meng’s small hand was incredibly soft, giving no indication of immense strength, yet he knew that if Ling Meng wished, that small, soft, and plump hand could easily extinguish him.

“Ling Meng, who are those people chasing us?” Ji Changkong finally couldn’t help but ask after some hesitation.

“Liquid Metal Men from the Mechanical Empire,” Ling Meng replied calmly.

Ji Changkong’s expression was one of confusion, identical to Mu Shen and Yu Lian’s earlier reaction. He looked strange. “What? Metal can become human?”

“There are too many strange things in the vast universe. Metal life forms are not that rare,” Ling Meng frowned slightly and casually explained, “The Mechanical Empire is the most powerful empire in another universe. The life forms there are all metallic. Through generations of evolution, those metal life forms have gained extremely powerful strength. That universe is in an era of technological civilization; those metal life forms possess latent storage and application methods for peculiar powers like laser blades and nucleomagnetic energy fields. The toughness of metal life exceeds your imagination. To this day, I haven't found a way to completely destroy the seventy-ninth generation Metal Men. Compared to them, the strength of those previous pursuers is far too inferior.”

“Why are they chasing you?” Ji Changkong was surprised.

“It’s nothing,” Ling Meng clearly didn't wish to answer, merely offering a perfunctory reply. “We need to find a Pure Land, one where these Liquid Metal Men cannot track us using energy magnetic fields.”

“Ling Meng, there is a Pure Land ahead!” Zihan suddenly called out, adding:

“But, but…”