Old Ancestor Xuanming knelt on the ground, clutching his head with both hands, his voice a piercing wail.
He had lived for tens of thousands of years, and death was still what he feared most.
His Dao Fruit was his lifeblood, something he had condensed by expending countless Heavenly Treasures and surviving countless life-and-death battles.
Now he had to use it to plug an earth vein and withstand a torrent of energy. That was worse than killing him outright.
"Token Master, these old bones of mine really can't take it!"
Old Ancestor Xuanming rolled around on the ground, tears and snot streaming down his face.
"The ancient texts spell out exactly how terrifying an earth vein's backflow is! Touch even a trace of it, and your body and soul are annihilated!"
"Can't you pick someone else? I'll dig up more scrap for you! I'll work like an ox or a horse for you! Just don't make me serve as this Formation Core!"
The Origin Return Alliance Leader stood nearby, his face deathly pale and his forehead covered in beads of sweat.
He swallowed and unconsciously took half a step back, already thinking of retreat.
"Token Master, that old ghost Xuanming may cling to life and fear death, but there is some truth to what he says."
The Origin Return Alliance Leader's voice trembled, and even his breathing grew rapid.
"All four of our Dao Fruits were condensed within the incomplete world of Central Province. Their foundations were thin to begin with."
"If we really try to withstand an earth vein surge on the Immortal Court's level, I'm afraid we won't last even a single breath before we explode."
"If the nodes collapse then, our deaths would be of no consequence, but ruining your grand plan would be a terrible sin."