Zhou Ming slammed a fist into the fire-element expert's chest, sending him flying backward.
"Daoist Friend Cangxuan, I understand your difficulties," Zhou Ming transmitted, his voice steady.
"I'm already very grateful that everyone from the Eternal Dao Realm came to help."
"You have your own paths of Dao pursuit. I won't demand that you risk your lives for the Ninth Chaos."
Cangxuan controlled the Wooden Man to block Blood Butcher and transmitted back.
"It's best that you can understand."
"But." Zhou Ming lifted his head, his gaze turning toward the distant fetal membrane of the Ninth Chaos.
"Di Jiang is my brother. I can't just watch him die at the hands of those systems."
"You have your considerations, and I have my bottom line."
Cangxuan's movements paused, and Blood Butcher's saber-light nearly swept into him. He steadied himself.
"What are you planning to do?"
Zhou Ming glanced at Houtu in the distance. Houtu was still being tightly entangled by the experts of the Abyssal Sea Divine Pivot.
"Houtu and I must go save him."
"That's too dangerous," Cangxuan transmitted in warning.
"If you force your way through the formation, they'll fight with their lives to stop you."
"You and Houtu may very well have your origins scattered, or even fall in realm."
"If I fall in realm, at worst I'll cultivate again."
"If my origin is damaged, at worst I'll go into seclusion." Zhou Ming's tone was resolute.
"Daoist Friend Cangxuan, I'm not asking you to self-detonate your laws. I only ask one thing."
Cangxuan swung his vines. "Say it."
Though Zhou Ming's tone was tactful, his attitude was extremely clear.
"If we reach the critical moment later, Houtu and I will act regardless of the cost."
"Even if we have to take grievous damage to our origins, even if