As Lu Ren departed, the surrounding black torrent slowly dissipated.
Perhaps the barrier that had been set up had taken effect; Huo Yuhao felt light and shadow tumble before his eyes, then found himself dropped at random into some nameless ruins in the Divine Realm.
He stood alone.
The wind blew from the other side, carrying negative energy so dense it seemed impossible to disperse, making his robes flap loudly.
Cracked flagstones lay beneath his feet, collapsed columns surrounded him, and the distant shrieks of Cursed Spirits and sounds of deities fighting still reached his ears.
But none of those sounds could compare to the emptiness in his heart at that moment.
Lu Ren was gone.
The being who had lived inside his body for so long, then occupied it as though it were only natural-had truly left.
Although having his body become his own again made Huo Yuhao very happy, when the time actually came to part, he could not help feeling reluctant to let him go.
During this time, Lu Ren had been like an old mentor serving as his cheat, making his path so very smooth.
"Hm? My cultivation-why has it fallen back to First-Level God again?"
Still lost in his feelings, Huo Yuhao raised his hand and examined his palm, only then realizing what had happened.
It turned out that Lu Ren had taken away all the power he had helped him gain during this time, returning Huo Yuhao to his original First-Level God level.
"Forget it. That's only right."
"He can take that power away. He helped me gain it all anyway-without him, I couldn't possibly have reached the Half-Step God King realm so quickly."
Huo Yuhao sighed.
Without the help of Lu Ren's soul, he felt as though a heavy suit of armor he