After learning the origins of those Order Divine Artifact fragments, Po Qiong felt a deep kinship with them. Ling Tian, too, was filled with profound respect. He knew they had all fought for freedom, striving to break free of their shackles. Though they had failed, their spirit was still worthy of his respect.
With that respect came a reluctance to refine the fragments. In his heart, doing so felt like a grave disrespect to those predecessors.
Sensing Ling Tian's reverence, Po Qiong's mood improved considerably. He said, "Ling Tian, those sages have already sacrificed themselves. If they knew you were refining them to prepare for breaking through that final step, I'm sure they'd be glad."
Ling Tian didn't answer, and Po Qiong continued, "Breaking through that final step and escaping their shackles was the lifelong wish of those artifacts and their masters. They wouldn't have been willing to be reduced to dust without fulfilling that wish. Now that they're being refined, they have another chance to help someone break through that final step. I think they'd be glad."
Before Ling Tian could speak, Po Qiong went on, "Even if you look at it from the worst angle, it's still better for us to refine them than for the Stone People to do it—especially since the Lord of the Universe had embedded them in the Stone People."
Ling Tian knew that was true, and nodded. He murmured to himself, "That's true. Taking them off the Stone People has set them free. They wouldn't want to become the Lord of the Universe's playthings, either."
Thinking it over, Ling Tian finally let go of his reluctance and resumed his battle against the Heavenly Lord-level Stone People.
As he searched for and killed Stone People, Ling Tian also kept an eye out for all