Zhang Chen stared at Guizhong's disembodied consciousness and asked, "I'd always wondered how someone as selfish as you could be willing to sacrifice yourself to become the core of my divine weapon."
"So, did you find an answer?"
Zhang Chen replied calmly, "As I see it, there are only two possibilities. First, you wanted to use this chance to destroy my divine weapon. You might even have endured until I fought Azathoth, revealing your true nature at that moment and leaving me without my weapon, drastically weakening me and causing my defeat. Second, your selfishness and pride drove you to seek complete revenge against Azathoth by becoming the core of my blade. Are my guesses correct?"
"Haha, neither is quite right. If I said that a despicable, selfish villain like me saw through worldly affairs after losing to you, would you believe it?"
"Haha, do you think I would believe that...? But with the great battle imminent, Guizhong, your power is indispensable."
As Zhang Chen finished speaking, he released all of Guizhong's undigested body parts from within himself, including fragments of the Nightmare Black Crystal.
The moment his mutilated limbs appeared, Guizhong's consciousness immediately formed a connection with them, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
"You split the Spirit Hunting Longbow held by Tian Jing of Huaxia Country in two. Part of that divine weapon can be put to use. I suggest using it to bind my body within it. That would make the core more stable."
"You mean this?"
The longbow that had fallen into the earth's core during the final battle had been transferred out by Zhang Chen. The bow, now severed into two pieces, floated in the air.
"The 'Spirit Locking Bone' embedded at the top of the bow is made from some unknown material.