Perhaps it knew it was no match for Si Chen, for that strand of eerie will offered not the slightest resistance.
The "Ye Jing" it had become vanished utterly within the Sun True Flame, taking its mocking laughter with it.
Yet as the flames died out, Si Chen raised an eyebrow.
Something new had appeared in his palm.
It was a transparent sphere that gave off a faint glow.
The light flickered like a candle guttering in the wind, threatening to go out at any moment.
Before Si Chen could examine it closely, Little Lei jumped up in his Sea of Consciousness.
"Wait, boss! Don't crush it! Don't!"
With that, he whooshed into the form of a miniature Thunder Dragon, darted out of Si Chen's body, and circled above the transparent sphere.
Si Chen tilted his head to glance at him. "You recognize it?"
"Yes, yes! This... this is my former boss!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Si Chen's eyes. "You mean... this is this world's Heavenly Dao?"
He looked at the little transparent ball in his palm, riddled with cracks, his expression turning odd.
The Heavenly Dao revered by all, feared by countless cultivators... was this it?
"Uh... he definitely doesn't usually look like this."
"He used to make quite a grand entrance. But now... he's looking pretty miserable."
Little Lei drew closer to the transparent sphere and flew two circles around it, his voice carrying a hint of wistfulness, but far more glee at its misfortune.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. All this time apart, and how did you end up in such a sorry state? If my boss hadn't stepped in, there wouldn't even be a scrap of you left!"
"Weren't you awfully high and mighty when you were hurrying me back all those years ago?"
As though it