The instant the lightning ball collided with the red light, a terrifying energy shockwave spread outwards. Trees within a five-kilometer radius were reduced to dust, the ground collapsed into a crater hundreds of meters deep, and violent elemental turbulence filled the air. The Earth-Splitting Rock Sovereign let out a muffled groan as its massive body was thrown back by the shockwave, crashing heavily into a distant mountain wall, its rock armor riddled with cracks.
" Late-stage Deity Level strength, not bad." Loran dusted off his sleeves, his tone remaining calm. "But with this much power, he's not qualified to seek revenge against me."
The Earth-Splitting Rock Sovereign struggled to its feet, its three eyes filled with disbelief. It could sense that although the divine power within the other party was also at the Deity Level, the depth of its understanding of the laws far surpassed its own—it was at a level close to the Origin of the Laws, a realm that only God King could reach.
"You... you've already reached the God King Realm?" The voice of the Earth-Splitting Rock Sovereign trembled.
Loran didn't answer, but turned to look into the depths of the thick fog. The spatial fluctuations there were growing stronger, and a black figure was slowly emerging. It was a slender magical beast, its entire body covered in black feathers, with wingspans of ten meters, and a bone mask on its head. It was none other than the Deity Level magical beast that controlled the Laws of Space — the Shadow Nether Sparrow.
" Earth-Splitting, retreat." The Shadow Nether Sparrow's voice was sharp and cold, like the scraping of metal. "This human deity's understanding of the laws far surpasses yours and mine; a direct confrontation will only lead to your demise."
The Earth-Splitting Rock Sovereign let out a low growl of reluctance, but still obeyed the Shadow Nether Sparrow's command and retreated to the side. It knew that the Shadow Nether Sparrow's Laws of Space were among the best of the Deity Level magical beasts, and even the lords of the core forest had to give it some face.
The Shadow Nether Sparrow flapped its wings, hovering three meters in front of Loran. Its red pupils, hidden beneath a bone mask, flashed with wariness. "Human deity, the central part of the Magical Beast Forest is not a place for you. Although the ancient pact has broken, if you venture further in, you will be relentlessly hunted down by the lords of the core region."
"I've come to seek the Origin of the Laws," Loran stated directly, the fragment of his Divine Spark emitting a faint golden light. "Three hundred years ago, during the war of the gods, the Fallen Sovereign of the Chaos Divine Faction corrupted a portion of the Origin of the Laws, preventing the gods of the Kalon Continent from ascending to the God King level. Only by purifying the corrupted Origin of the Laws can the balance of the continent be restored."
The Shadow Nether Sparrow's wings flapped violently, clearly shocked by Loran's words. "You actually know the secret of the Origin of the Laws? This is something only the lords of the core of the forest and the ancient gods know."
"I've consulted ancient texts in the Divine Realm," Loran said. " The Chaos Divine Faction's goal is to devour the Origin of the Laws of the Kalon Continent to strengthen itself and then invade other planes. If we don't stop them, not only humanity, but also the magical beast race will face annihilation."
The Shadow Nether Sparrow remained silent for a moment, its pupils flickering beneath its bone mask. It knew that what Loran said was true; in recent centuries, the Origin of the Laws of the forest's core had indeed experienced abnormal fluctuations, and many magical beasts had been corrupted by chaotic energy during their ascension, turning into mindless monsters.
" The Origin of the Laws is hidden in the World Tree Ruins at the heart of the forest," the Shadow Nether Sparrow finally spoke. "But it is guarded by three lords, all of whom have reached the Peak Deity Level, only one step away from becoming God King. More importantly, the minions of the Chaos Divine Faction have infiltrated the core area; they too are searching for the Origin of the Laws."
Loran nodded. He had long sensed the fluctuations of chaotic energy deep in the forest. In the war of the gods three hundred years ago, the Fallen Sovereign of the Chaos Divine Faction was defeated by the Order Divine Faction, but he did not completely perish. Instead, he left behind many minions lurking in various planes.
"Take me to the core area," Loran said, the Laws of Lightning beginning to circulate in his palm. "I can help you clear away the chaotic energy, on the condition that you assist me in purifying the Origin of the Laws."
Shadow Nether Sparrow hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "Alright. But I must warn you, the three lords in the core area are eccentric and irritable, especially the Treant Elder who controls the Laws of Life; it is extremely hostile to human gods. Moreover, among the minions of the Chaos Divine Faction, there is a fallen Late-stage Deity Level powerhouse whose strength is no less than yours."