Chapter 1136: Not Related by Blood

Wilbow told the members of Team Zenith, "In order to hide that beast, 'Gold Comet', Father established an isolated pocket dimension specifically for it. Even with Father's death, that beast wouldn't have perished."

Zhang Lie frowned. "But wouldn't the spatial dimensions have been messed up by the resulting explosions?"

Wilbow nodded. "Quite so. If the king of chaos were willing to work with us, things would be far simpler."

Space peeled apart like an onion, one with twenty-four layers in all.

Nightdemon walked out from within. "I'd be happy to help."

Zhang Lie told him, "It looks like you won't get your wish."

Nightdemon shrugged. "It was a foreseen outcome. The intention was for both sides to act as stimuli for the other, but it looks like the king of keys was too weak to do so. To think you would possess such incredible control over karma and spacetime—it looks like I'll have to reevaluate your strength."

Zhang Lie laughed. "Ha! Should I apologize for having killed the king of keys?"

Nightdemon continued blithely. "It's true that I did take advantage of you, and you gave me a good show, so I'll help you break open a portal, I suppose."

Wilbow brought everyone toward a particular world fragment. "It's around here."

Nightdemon's hands grasped the Shining Trapezohedron tightly. A ray of light shone at the world fragment, peeling apart layer after layer of space before a wormhole was finally revealed.

Everyone passed through to find Gold Comet in poor condition, tightly locked up and chained.

Upon sensing a familiar aura, Gold Comet's eyes opened. He shook as he saw Zhang Lie and the others, his body struggling to free itself, but there was to be no reprieve from the chains.

Zhang Lie reached out and caressed Gold Comet's carapace. "There's nothing to worry about anymore!" He unsheathed Guicang and cut apart the chains.

Sun Mengmeng cried out, "Zhou Ying!"

"Leave it to me. I'll heal Gold Comet to peak health in no time!"

Her long hair fluttered in the wind, the color of crystalline jade. It gave off motes of vitality. She was so beautiful no one could take their eyes away, and golden leaves whirled around her. Each leaf was like a miniature sun, burning like ash. To her back was a pair of golden wings formed from energy. Above her head was a glowing sun, giving off a radiant, holy light.

Zhou Ying didn't conserve any of her energy. An ocean of vitality and natural energy flooded Gold Comet's body, forcing the stakes out and regrowing abused and missing flesh.

Gold Comet recovered in no time. He excitedly pranced around Zhang Lie, and everyone smiled.

Wilbow also let out a long sigh of relief upon seeing that Gold Comet was unharmed. Gold Comet's life was tied to his own. If Zhang Lie and the others found Gold Comet doing too poorly, he would surely pay the price.

Now that Gold Comet had been unchained and healed, however, there was little to worry about.

Wilbow asked tentatively, "Since the beast is fine now, would it be possible—"

Upon catching sight of Wilbow, Gold Comet immediately rushed toward him, his scythes raised and crossed in the form of an X. On Zhang Lie's approval, it would immediately cut Wilbow apart.

Zhang Lie nodded. "You can go free for now. Stay in the Zongming world. We'll need to ensure that you don't have any ulterior motives in mind."

Wilbow sighed in relief. "How could I dare to hatch a plan in secret?"

It sounded ridiculous, but Wilbow was certain that the superior kings of antiquity had lost entirely in their gambit.

They had once been the peak force of the third realm, led by none other than the king of chaos, but by this point, the king of keys had been killed, as had the various superior kings of antiquity. The governance of the third realm was about to change irreversibly.

Wilbow predicted that there would soon be a heated war between the original peak force of the third realm, represented by the king of chaos and his followers, and the newly minted force consisting of Zhang Lie and the members of Team Zenith.

The king of chaos and his followers were so strong that even Zhang Lie was unlikely to be able to confront him, but if Zhang Lie were allowed to grow, there would ultimately come a time where he could do so. If Wilbow were loyal enough, he would be recognized by Zhang Lie and granted a reward commensurate with his contributions.

It would be a different sort of life than he was used to, but not an entirely unpleasant one.

Zhang Lie had no clue what Wilbow was thinking about. "Let's go back, then."

Before Nightdemon left, he reminded them, "Remember to come to my night banquet!"

"We'll consider it."

Zhang Lie and the others quickly found themselves back in the draconian world. The members of Team Zenith stretched. "We're back!"

"We've finally returned." Sun Mengmeng released a deep breath.

They had just gone through a rather frightening, exhausting adventure.

Upon seeing Gold Comet by Zhang Lie's side, the draconian sage easily figured out the outcome of the battle. "As expected of you, Zhang Lie. Even the most ancient king is no match for you."

His gaze landed on Wilbow. "But this guest..."

He hadn't seen Wilbow in their party when they were setting off. The draconian sage had known Zhang Lie for quite some time, but he had never met Wilbow before.

Wilbow waved a hand in greeting. "Hello, newly ascended superior king! I'm Zhang Lie's new subordinate."

Zhang Lie waved a hand. "Ignore this fellow. He was the king of keys' son, but he surrendered after the king of keys was slain."

The draconian sage's eyes widened. "The king of keys' son?!"

Zhang Lie continued, "You don't have to worry that he'll do anything against the draconian world. I'll bring him to the Zongming world soon enough, and have Li Zongming keep him under guard."

The draconian sage looked as though he were about to throw a fit. "That's the king of keys' son!"

"That's right."

"Is it really alright for you to kill the king of keys and kidnap his son?" the draconian sage cried out. "What if he seeks revenge?"

Zhang Lie turned around. "Well, that's true. What do you think, son of the king of keys?"

Yang Ze laughed and fingered his neck. "Should we just kill him, then?"

Wilbow, however, didn't treat this like a joke. He tensed up. "Don't worry, newly ascended superior king. I might be the king of keys' son, but we're not related by blood!"