Chapter 506

"What nonsense are you talking about? Let's finish this quickly."

"Go for it, Kiana, just like always."

"Yes, you're all fine now, Shen Gonglin. Bronya believes in you."

Everyone offered their blessings, and Prometheus began his work, repairing the Tree of Void Divine Remnant. Although he had only learned theoretical knowledge before, he was certain that his theoretical knowledge was correct.

"Yes, the distance is just right now. Now, imagine that you are facing the legendary, invincible false god Otto. You are going to end his infinity and confine all his life force to the finite... Yes, that's it."

Guided by Prometheus, the core of the shattered Tree of Void Divine Remnant re-emerged with brilliance, and the scattered limbs and parts reassembled. After the complete Tree of Void Divine Remnant appeared, everyone prepared for battle.

Forget about chivalry with this Tree of Void Divine Remnant; let's just fight side by side!

The Herrscher of Consciousness drew her long whip and charged forward, followed closely by Mei drawn. Bronya had already deployed artillery support. Although none of the three Herrscher Authority had fully recovered, their fighting spirit was fiercer than the last. After Shen Gonglin and Kiana made their move, they discovered that the three of them were ganging up on the newly restored Tree of Void Divine Remnant. Looking at it this way, it seemed like they were the villains.

"Wait, Mei, wait for me, count me in!"

Kiana hurriedly opened a spatial tunnel and joined the battle. These girls were no ordinary people. Unbeknownst to them, they had all grown into outstanding women. Even the seemingly ferocious Tree of Void Divine Remnant should not be a match for them.

It's been a long time since I've seen Kiana, Mei, and Bronya fight side by side. Although the addition of the loud and boisterous Little Herrscher of Consciousness is a little strange, this is still the scene that Shen Gonglin wants to see. Sitting on the side watching the girls fight hard, Shen Gonglin's eyes are full of reminiscence. This time, he doesn't plan to steal kills.

The battle unfolded exactly as Shen Gonglin had predicted. Even without her help, the girls, who had grown up, could easily annihilate the enemy. Soon, the Tree of Void Divine Remnant was completely destroyed by their combined efforts. The moment the battle ended, Bronya floated "weakly" to Shen Gonglin's side.

"The battle is over, Shen Gonglin. Bronya needs treatment; a gentle pat will do."

The obedient, emotionless loli made this request, and the Herrscher of Consciousness was a step behind, quickly came over, the girl with her hands behind her back looking very proud.

"Me too! I put in a lot of effort during the fight, so if you touch her, you have to touch me too."

Hearing the commotion, Kiana instinctively wanted to run over and join in the fun. Why were the two of them so eager? Usually, these kinds of things were reserved for her alone. No way, it would be a loss if she didn't get a piece of the action.

With this in mind, Kiana wanted to go over and take credit for herself, but Mei grabbed Kiana's arm in time. The girl looked helpless. Had this girl forgotten what she was supposed to be doing? The important thing was to get down to business.

"Kiana, don't forget what you're supposed to be doing right now. Hurry up, everyone's waiting."

Reminded by Mei, Kiana realized that now was not the time to do such a thing. Suppressing her resentment, Kiana knew what she should do next. She held her breath and focused on the veins left in the space by the Tree of Void Divine Remnant. As the girl moved, the surroundings changed. A deep blue ball of light appeared in front of everyone. Even Prometheus was surprised by the smooth progress.

"Heh. You're already quite skilled... Very good. Reaching this level is more than enough. So, what's next..."

Prometheus praised Kiana so highly, saying that although the girl seemed unreliable, what she did was quite unexpected. Before he could finish speaking, Prometheus discovered that Kiana had disappeared. After doing this, Kiana ran to Shen Gonglin and asked to be treated the same as the other two. Prometheus really didn't know what to say.

Is that feeling really comfortable?

"Could this door be...?"

As the most reliable one, only Mei maintained her girlish reserve. There had to be at least one normal person in the group. Looking at the ball of light in front of her, Mei hesitated and looked at Prometheus. This should mean success, right?

"Yes, just as you sensed, this is your passage back to your Intrinsic World, and our last chance to struggle and survive. You have done everything you could. As for everything that follows... we can only gamble on our own abilities."

Prometheus's words confirmed Mei's guess. Was she going to have to gamble with her own abilities next? Mei took a deep breath. Before doing something like this, she really needed to put on a shield and some buffs.

So, the girl resolutely turned around and walked towards Shen Gonglin; she couldn't just touch them and not touch herself.

Chapter 352 No More Pretending, Let's Lay the Tables

"Are you ready? We're going back."

The girls all buffed themselves. Kiana took a deep breath, and everyone gathered in front of the portal. If all went well, they would return to their Intrinsic World, reunite with Durandal, and then... face Kevin and the Stigmata Plan.

"Certainly."

"Hmph, I'll just hitch a ride with you guys this once."

Bronya and Mei spoke in unison, and the Herrscher of Consciousness also snorted and stood next to Shen Gonglin. She also wanted to hurry back, not knowing what the old man was doing. What a useless guy, unlike herself, who could perfectly solve any problem. She was indeed a bit incompetent.

Everyone was ready, and they moved forward in unison. A brilliant star returned to the main trunk from the lush branches. It was time to return to the Intrinsic World.

Meanwhile, on the other side, separated by 50,000 years, Li Sushang, Seele, and Durandal were also waiting. According to Durandal, Junior Uncle would bring Kiana and the others back, but now that some time had passed, Li Sushang still hadn't seen Junior Uncle. The girl closed her eyes and remained silent. Seele, sensing that the atmosphere was a bit strange, hesitated and spoke up. "Li Sushang seems a little flustered right now."

"Li... Sushang, are you alright? If you're tired, why don't you go back to New Atlanta and get some sleep?"

Seeing the sword fairy girl beside her with her eyes closed and silent, Seele thought she was tired. After all, she had been in that position since earlier, looking like she wanted to sleep. She was fine with leaving the matter of waiting for Shen Gonglin and the others to return, and she could go and take a nap.

"It's nothing, I was just meditating. I need to be the first person my junior uncle sees when he gets back."

Li Sushang opened her eyes and shook her head slightly, declining Seele's offer. Meditation was a daily ritual for her, but it seemed that Seele didn't quite understand this method of cultivation.

Junior Uncle isn't good at it either. Durandal once said, when you think Junior Uncle is meditating, he's basically taking a nap.

"Meditation? Is that the training method Kiana used?"

She didn't know the specific effects of this method, but Seele remembered the meditation training Kiana had done. Now Sushang was doing it too. Was it a very powerful training method? Seele was also tempted to try it out.

"Yes, this is a very common cultivation method in Shenzhou... no, it should be said that it is very common throughout the East. Although it is not as miraculous as the legendary Great Enlightenment and ascension to immortality, it is still a very good form of mental training in terms of broadening one's mind and sensing the inner lake."

Li Sushang explained her training method to Seele: reviewing battles and clarifying one's thoughts during meditation is a normal thing and can be considered a low-cost form of cultivation. Durandal nodded in agreement, as she often used this training method as well.

"Indeed. In order to enhance my ability to use the Sumeru Mustard Seed, I sometimes make similar attempts."

After listening to the teachings of the two "seniors," Seele nodded as if she understood, but not quite. They were really amazing. She herself could not remain so calm. After learning that Sister Bronya was now with Shen Gonglin, Seele couldn't wait to see her and was not as calm as the two of them. She realized that she still had a lot to learn.

"I see. No wonder you all seem so calm and composed."

Seeing the girl looking at her with such envy, Durandal didn't say anything at first, but Li Sushang showed a somewhat embarrassed expression. She didn't quite dare to accept such "envy".

"Um... Seele, have you misunderstood something? The reason I need to meditate is precisely because I'm feeling quite agitated right now. Seriously, Durandal, how long are we going to have to wait here?"

With a wry smile on her face, she realized that the reason she was meditating was because she was so upset. Durandal had said that her junior uncle would bring them back, but no one knew what state her junior uncle would be in. She was very annoyed by the fact that she could only wait and not help. Li Sushang wanted to help Shen Gonglin properly, but now... it was really annoying.

The sword fairy girl took a deep breath, then slumped her shoulders dejectedly. It was truly frustrating; she couldn't maintain her composure and calmness, and now she looked like she wanted to destroy something.

"... Sushang, we arrived here about two hours ago."

Durandal was slightly speechless. If she hadn't been with Li Sushang the whole time, she would have really thought that this girl had been waiting here for a long time. It turned out that it had only been two hours. Couldn't she even sit still for two hours? In Durandal's eyes, someone like Li Sushang, who came from a branch of the Taixu Sword School Sect, should be more calm and composed... although this girl had never given people a calm and composed feeling.

"Sigh... You really are a patient fellow. Just thinking about how Junior Uncle and the others are working so hard to find a way back, while we're just sitting here waiting, I can't stand it for even a minute longer. If I'd known we'd have to wait like this for two hours, I should have... eh?"

Before the girl could finish her grumbling, the earth suddenly trembled. At the same time, the scenery she was referring to, like soap bubbles being stirred up, shimmered and vibrated in the silvery air. This situation was...

The connections between worlds have changed.

On the other side of the space, the beacon of truth slowly spread like ink dripping into water, blurring the boundaries of space. With the Herrscher of the Void's unique perception of space, several familiar figures slowly emerged within this dazzling white light.

Upon seeing the figure clearly, the usually composed Durandal suddenly lost her composure. Under the astonished gazes of Li Sushang and Seele, this girl, who had remained calm and composed, took the lead and rushed out.

How could she possibly sit still, because the person over there... was her sister?

"Kiana! Kiana, finally... finally I see you again. I'm so glad you're alright."

No more pretense, I'm laying it all out. What's wrong with worrying about my sister? Durandal gripped the hand that was swiping the card tightly. Thank goodness she's back. Thank goodness she's alright.

Chapter 353 Is This Her Personality?

Was Durandal this kind of person before?

Just as Kiana regained consciousness from the weightlessness of traversing space, she found Durandal holding her hand. The worry on the girl's face seemed genuine, but Kiana felt somewhat uncomfortable being treated like this. This Durandal wasn't like this before.

"Yes. Yes, Durandal, we meet again."

The girl responded with a dry laugh. She looked around, hoping to get help from Shen Gonglin, but Shen Gonglin was busy with Li Sushang and had no time to pay attention to her. Besides, there was nothing to worry about. It was normal for an older sister to care for her younger sister.

"That's great... um. That's great."

Durandal kept muttering to herself, trying to calm herself down, but upon seeing Kiana, her composure seemed to vanish instantly. A joy of finding something she had lost spread through Durandal's heart. Thank goodness Kiana was alright.

On the other side, Mei crossed her arms and looked over. It seemed that Kiana had gained quite a bit during her time in World Serpent. She had dealt with Durandal before, and she wasn't like this back then.

"... Durandal? What happened?"

Kiana looked at her hands, which were being held tightly by Durandal, somewhat bewildered. Only now did Durandal realize how abrupt her actions were compared to Kiana's usual behavior. In Kiana's mind, she shouldn't have acted so emotionally.

"Ahem... Sorry, I got a little too excited without realizing it. Anyway, it's good that you're all back. Long time no see, Raiden Mei, Bronya Zaychek, and... Shen Gonglin."

After regaining her composure, Durandal transformed back into her former self as the strongest Valkyrie. At the same time, her eyes swept over Li Sushang, who was still chattering away while holding onto Shen Gonglin's hand. Durandal, who had been immersed in the joy of reuniting with her sister, hadn't noticed that Li Sushang had taken her place next to Shen Gonglin. However, considering that Li Sushang would be calling her "Little Martial Aunt" from now on, she decided not to hold it against her.

"Long time no see, Durandal, Miss Li Sushang."

Bronya and Mei greeted them as well, but despite Bronya's words, the girl's gaze was clearly fixed on Seele, as was the somewhat timid girl. Unlike Li Sushang and Durandal, this quiet girl did not rush over. However, seeing that everyone was alright, Seele was finally relieved.

"Phew... Thank goodness, everyone's alright..."

With her long-tense emotions finally able to relax, Seele's face showed signs of fatigue. She had been worried about their safety until now, and now she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"That's true. Please take a short break here. After resting for a while, we'll head to the new area together. Now that the World Bubble from 50,000 years ago has been merged, I think we should be able to continue exploring downwards from here."

Composing herself, as if her earlier outburst was just an illusion, Durandal quickly made arrangements that no one objected to. They agreed that they should indeed rest first, giving them time to exchange more detailed information. What they would encounter in the next area was still unknown, so they needed to be fully prepared.

"I think only Kevin knows what we'll encounter next. That being said, it would be best to avoid confronting him. The Ottoman said that once that man recovers his power, even the entire Taixu Sect at its peak wouldn't be a match for him."

Li Sushang raised her little hand and told everyone what she had heard from Otto before. However, this discovery easily displeased a certain great lady who had not spoken from the beginning. The entire Taixu Sect at its peak was no match for them? This was simply a joke.

"What's wrong? Weren't you always so impressive? You used to beat up the old fogies, and now Kevin's just scared you like this?"

The Herrscher had been concealing her presence since the beginning, suddenly appeared in front of Li Sushang. The girl spoke irritably, "Don't judge others just because you're not good enough." She hadn't originally wanted to join this impromptu yet enthusiastic team building activity, after all, she had previously beaten up Durandal and made her roll around on the Schicksal Island of Destiny several times. However, after hearing Li Sushang's words, she ultimately changed her mind on a whim.

"Eh? Master... no, that's not right. Although you look very similar, you're not her. So... ah, so you're the Herrscher of Consciousness?"

Upon seeing Little Herrscher of Consciousness's face, Li Sushang instinctively wanted to bow, but the completely different style from what she remembered made the girl hesitate. This person didn't seem to be a single person at all. Combined with the information she knew, the girl in front of her who looked exactly like her grandmaster must be the "renowned" Herrscher of Consciousness.

"You have a problem? Want to make a scene here?"

Little Herrscher of Consciousness glared at Li Sushang with annoyance, then raised her fist in front of Li Sushang. Her eyes were full of displeasure. Back in Kolosten, it was this treacherous little brat who knocked out the old antique. It wasn't that she wanted to avenge the old antique, but she felt it was too shameful for him to lose. Besides, if anyone wanted to deal with her, it would have to be Xiao Shi herself.

Faced with the somewhat aggressive attitude of the Herrscher of Consciousness, even the usually lively Li Sushang was at a loss for words. The girl looked to Shen Gonglin for help, wondering what was wrong with this person.

I have a feeling that Little Herrscher of Consciousness seems to be targeting Sushang Chang... Ah, could it be because of what happened in Kolosten...?

Kiana muttered to herself, resting her chin on her hand. Just as she was about to blurt out the truth unconsciously, a hand covered her mouth. Shen Gonglin stopped Kiana from speaking. Mei and Bronya also came to her side. The girl with long black and purple hair quickly put her finger to her lips to make Kiana be quiet. Bronya rolled her eyes at her in annoyance.

Kiana is still the same Kiana. This guy is such an idiot. He shouldn't bring up things that are hard to talk about at a time like this.

Fortunately, the Herrscher of Consciousness didn't press the matter further. The Herrscher girl shrugged, trying to appear magnanimous. She hadn't intended to speak, but seeing their cowardly expressions, she couldn't let it go.

Chapter 354 He's Killed

"You guys too, huh? There's no need to look so unconfident just because we might be facing Kevin. We were planning to beat him to a pulp, so why are you all scared now... I can go toe-to-toe with Kevin by myself, let alone with so many of us together, what are we afraid of?"

Ignoring Li Sushang, the unfilial disciple, the Herrscher of Consciousness turned around, arms crossed, and reprimanded Kiana and the others with an air of authority. What was wrong with them? Wasn't it already a done deal that they would face Kevin? Why were they suddenly afraid? Don't think Kevin was some invincible enemy. She could fight him to a standstill, not to mention with Shen Gonglin.

If you're really scared, then during the final battle, you can all hide in the back. I'll go up alongside Shen Gonglin and show them what perfect teamwork looks like. What do you mean the entire Taixu Sect is no match for him? If you're going to be cowards, don't drag me down with you!

"Huh? Fifty-fifty?"

Mei was the first to raise a question: The Herrscher of Consciousness actually said that she and Kevin were evenly matched? If that were true, how come she was trapped in the World Bubble by Kevin with just a simple trick and had to exert all her strength to get out? The Herrscher of Consciousness was clearly bragging.

Hmph, if you're going to brag, you can do it too.

However, to be fair, the Herrscher of Consciousness did indeed clash with Kevin. When her will was first born from Fu Hua's body, she caused a huge commotion. First, she destroyed several of Otto's bodies, beat up Durandal, then wreaked havoc on Schicksal, and finally went to World Serpent to beat up the Jackal. She even fought with Kevin, acting like a husky.

"... Although he didn't use his full strength, I also held back at that time. Cough cough, in short, if there is a real enemy at hand, then you should be even less likely to boost the morale of others and diminish your own. What kind of behavior is that?"

At this point, she felt a little guilty, because her 50,000 years of memories told Little Herrscher of Consciousness just how terrifying the enemy they were about to face was. However, she was also confident in herself. Even if she couldn't beat Kevin, she could definitely make things difficult for him. They had so many people on their side, and more importantly, there was Shen Gonglin. Kevin was just a nobody, why was she so afraid?

Like other girls, the Herrscher of Consciousness is also a fan of Rin deep down.

"... Those Herrscher of Consciousness. It is precisely because we are not afraid of Kevin that we can discuss the differences between us in a realistic manner."

Durandal corrected Little Herrscher of Consciousness's statement, explaining that they were not afraid of fighting Kevin; rather, it was precisely because they knew his strength that they needed to make a calm assessment and fully anticipate the difficulties.

"Hmph, so serious... Think about it carefully, isn't it all the same timidity? What's the difference? But, if you put it that way, I do have a solution... It's very simple, just three steps to get rid of Kevin."

Little Herrscher of Consciousness suddenly grinned mischievously. The sudden expression on that face, which looked exactly like Grandmaster's, made Li Sushang shudder. Although it was quite cute, it was completely different from the Grandmaster in Li Sushang's memory. They were indeed two completely different people.

"Wouldn't it be a one-and-done solution if we just removed the source of the fear? Don't worry, it's very easy. I just need to sneak up behind him silently... and then whack him hard with a stick, and the problem will be perfectly solved!"

The Herrscher of Consciousness proposed a rather perfect solution. For some reason, after she presented this plan, everyone's minds conjured up an image of a monkey holding a wooden stick, preparing to ambush a lion. And the result was, unsurprisingly, the monkey died. Durandal and the others had incredibly complicated expressions. Was she serious?

Did Kevin use the silent knife?

If we're being serious, it seems that the mind of the Herrscher of Consciousness is really not enough.

"... Herrscher of Consciousness, precisely because you have actually fought that man, you should understand even more clearly that this kind of presumptuous battle will never succeed."

Durandal explained earnestly to Little Herrscher of Consciousness, genuinely worried that the Herrscher of Consciousness might actually carry out her plan. Every bit of combat power was precious, and she absolutely couldn't let her go and sacrifice herself like that.

"... Tsk. I was just joking. You guys really have no sense of humor. Why are you taking it so seriously? Look, Shen Gonglin didn't take it seriously. You guys really don't understand me."

Little Herrscher of Consciousness shook her head speechlessly. Anyone could tell she was joking, right? But after hearing what she said, Shen Gonglin suddenly realized that she was joking. He quietly threw the brick he had picked up on the ground. If it was a joke, he should have said so earlier.

"I'm just vividly teaching you that as soldiers, you must be fearless, overcome basic fears, and..."

Little Herrscher of Consciousness put her hands behind her back, striking a teacher's pose. These people still weren't up to par; they lacked any self-awareness. However, halfway through her sentence, the Herrscher of Consciousness seemed to have been choked. How could she have used the word "fear"? Wouldn't that make her seem afraid too? So the Herrscher of Consciousness began to think of a suitable replacement, and just then...