Qingming Hetong Heaven had not lacked the ability to protect itself without you. After all, the Eight-Winged Strange Dragon was no weakling. That was also why you had dared to leave Qingming Hetong Heaven and go aid Xuanming Gongqing Heaven instead. On one hand, you had harbored a lucky hope, believing it could not possibly be so coincidental—that in merely a few thousand years, the other side would happen to seize an opening. On the other, you trusted the Eight-Winged Strange Dragon.
Yet plans were one thing, while something actually going wrong was another. Once disaster truly struck, you inevitably lost your cool out of concern. In your understanding, the Funeral Spirit Demon Emperor had never acted openly and aboveboard. He preferred plotting in the shadows, accumulating strength as he steadily gnawed away at the living beings within worlds, and even at Heaven and Earth itself.
There was no telling whether he might do something that would make you regret it for the rest of your life. Nearly everyone you cared about was in Qingming Hetong Heaven. Thus, after realizing this, you sped up even more on your journey...
In the 18,880,517th year, only after returning to Qingming Hetong Heaven did you finally breathe a sigh of relief. Having regained the power of Heaven and Earth's blessing, you immediately used the "Eye of Heaven and Earth," yet detected not the slightest anomaly. The Black Dragon Origin Spirit had also told you long ago in the cosmic domain that, as you drew nearer to Qingming Hetong Heaven, that deathly aura had gradually receded. It had not truly been within Qingming Hetong Heaven...
That same year, after settling down, you were able to think more calmly. Combined with the Black Dragon Origin Spirit's conjecture, you eventually determined that the target indicated by