Chapter 932: An Unexpected Occurrence

"Ying Yue, Han Yi." Yan Lie turned sharply toward the duo, his expression cold and stern. "What are your thoughts on the changes within the Ruin Realm? You two are familiar with Pang Jian. Do you have any idea how we can stop him?"

"That's..." Ying Yue's brows knitted, her voice tinged with helplessness. "The upheaval when that skull first appeared in the starry skies was already overwhelming. As it is now? It's far beyond anything the two of us can deal with."

"I understand. Trying to enter the Ruin Realm through conventional means to disrupt Pang Jian's breakthrough from within is no simple task," Yan Lie said. Eyes narrowing, his gaze shifted to Han Yi. "Do you have a way to lure Pang Jian out of the Ruin Realm?"

Han Yi trembled slightly at the question. "I can't think of anything."

"In that case, I have a method." The corners of Yan Lie's mouth pulled into a faint smile. "I've served under my Lord for many years. It's my duty to clear any obstacles in her path."

Han Yi stared at him, confused. The other Outer Gods nearby were similarly perplexed.

"My Lord needs her six bodies to fully merge, but just now, I sensed a crack within her heart, a flaw that's preventing them from fusing."

Yan Lie's eyes blazed, and his divine domain, resembling a fiery inferno, unfurled to envelop both Han Yi and her divine platform.

Towering flames clashed with freezing mist. Crimson bolts of lightning tore through the cold tides, invading Han Yi's hastily formed divine domain and crushing it with overwhelming force.

The encroaching sea of flames devoured her divine domain in mere moments.

"Yan Lie!" Ying Yue shouted.

Several Outer Gods loyal to Luo Hongyan, sensing the shift, instinctively moved to encircle Ying Yue.

Luo Hongyan's faction was all well-acquainted with one another. Most were mid-ranking to high-ranking Gods with auras vast as oceans. The Divine Personas between their brows gleamed with piercing brilliance.

"What matters most is ensuring my Lord's six bodies become one!" Yan Lie said sharply, expression grim and flames burning fiercely in his eyes. "I knew something was wrong ever since my Lord took you two in and granted you the insights needed to ascend to high-ranking godhood. Even I was never awarded such a favor!

"Your very existence proves that my Lord's heart has faltered. You are the flaw preventing her six bodies from merging! If she were in her right mind, she would never have pitied you!"

Yan Lie was undoubtedly a devout follower of Luo Hongyan. Since he discovered her six bodies could not be unified, he had been racking his brains for the cause.

The very fact of Han Yi's and Ying Yue's existences, coupled with the Black Empyrean Phoenix's earlier words, brought him to a conclusion: Pang Jian was the root of the problem.

Now, Pang Jian was secluding himself within the Ruin Realm in pursuit of a breakthrough to Sovereignhood. If he succeeded, the bizarre mist would give rise to a Sovereign.

With the Black Empyrean Phoenix already on the battlefield, Pang Lin in the distant starry region, and Pang Jian possibly joining the ranks, the balance of power would collapse beyond repair.

Yan Lie did not hesitate. This was a critical time, and he was willing to risk being held accountable afterward. The most important thing was that he eliminated the hidden threat on Luo Hongyan's behalf, severing that lingering thread of emotion.

"Pang Jian!" Yan Lie shouted at the top of his lungs. "You're hiding in the Ruin Realm, but you can still see everything happening out here, right?! We can't enter the Ruin Realm, but you can come out. If you keep hiding, I'll kill Han Yi and Ying Yue!"

He did not know how deep the relationship between the two Outer Gods and Pang Jian truly ran, but his instincts told him this would pull Pang Jian out. He was prepared to sacrifice both women if it meant Luo Hongyan would win.

"Lord Yan Lie, you have our full support!"

"Our Lord's recent behavior has indeed been unusual. As her subordinates, it's our duty to remove all obstacles for her!"

The Outer Gods besieging Ying Yue all voiced their support.

Meanwhile, the Outer Gods loyal to Fu Ya, like Cang Feng and Mu Ya, were taken aback.

"These two have ties to Pang Jian?" Cang Feng rubbed his forehead, his expression odd. "So the crack in Sovereign Luo's state of mind is because of him?"

"Yan Lie truly deserves our respect," Mu Ya said solemnly.

The two of them would never disobey Fu Ya's orders or act without her explicit command. Yan Lie, on the other hand, dared to act first and face the consequences later.

He was willing to do anything to help Luo Hongyan's six bodies achieve full fusion.

***

In the Ruin Realm, torrential energy poured into Pang Jian, steadily driving his cultivation realm higher.

The God King's skull had since merged with Pang Jian, like a natural extension of his body.

New lifeforms rose all around him. He witnessed the wonder of creation itself through the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis, stirring within him a deep sense of fulfillment, as if he had truly become a creator.

He was also aware of the Outer Gods outside the Ruin Realm, but did not pay them any mind. Breaking through to Sovereignhood was his sole focus. He wanted to join the battle raging in the starry skies and lend his strength to his sister.

"Pang Jian!" Yan Lie's thunderous voice boomed like crashing thunder.

Pang Jian's focus was pulled away, expression darkening as he watched Yan Lie ruthlessly attack Han Yi.

The strands of insights in his Divine Persona, once as fine as hairs, were being refined and magnified. Many that had once appeared vague became crystal clear, and countless new insights sprouted like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

This was not the time to leave the God King's skull, not if he wanted to succeed. However, Han Yi would not last much longer under Yan Lie's searing flames. Her divine platform was on the verge of collapse, and her body would soon be reduced to ash.

I once promised to help her resolve her troubles. I never thought...

Pang Jian's clarity of mind faltered.

The inner turbulence disrupted his calm, and his focus broke. His advancement toward Sovereignhood came to an abrupt halt, immediately triggering a backlash.

A crimson life seed fell into a roaring volcano. Bones formed, a fragile body of flesh and blood shaping around them as it absorbed the surrounding vitality.

The flames within the Ruin Realm and the radiance of its suns converged on the body, with its crimson glow.

Before long, the outline of an infant emerged from the glowing mass.

The infant bore traits of both the Flame Race and the Radiant Race—a hybrid.

It seamlessly resonated with the Ruin Realm, as if becoming one with the will of the Ruin Realm itself.

"What is that!?" Mu Duo exclaimed.

He soared to the sky and stared down at the infant cradled in volcanic fire with wide eyes.

"Pang Jian!" he cried in alarm, voice rising in fear. "The true owner of this skull may be returning!"