The Extinguishing World Spirit Fire suddenly realized it had let slip a word and quickly said, "You brat, don't ask what you shouldn't, don't think what you shouldn't, focus on your own affairs first."
"Now that Qing Bukong has vanished without a trace, and the entire domain universe is still in crisis, I advise you to focus more attention on Qing Bukong, lest you don't even know when this territory, the domain universe, is lost."
Seeing that the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire was changing the subject, Ye Ling also realized that the matter of the white rune might involve some secret. However, Ye Ling didn't intend to press the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire for details and went along with its words.
In Ye Ling's opinion, since the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire didn't want to talk about it, it meant that the time wasn't right to discuss it.
Ye Ling had been interacting with the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire for some time, and he had a relatively clear understanding of its personality. Regardless of the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire's ultimate goal, at least its current actions were more beneficial than detrimental to him.
Seeing that Ye Ling was no longer pressing, the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire hummed happily a couple more times and said to Ye Ling, "Kid, since you're so sensible, I'll give you a piece of information for free."
"Information?"
"That's right... information that might save your life."
Hearing the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire say this, Ye Ling's interest was instantly piqued. He said, "Then I must hear it. What kind of information can save my life?"
The Extinguishing World Spirit Fire didn't dawdle. It said, "It's about Qing Bukong. I know that guy. Both his strength and talent are top-tier. Moreover, his talent, without exaggeration, is not much inferior to yours. If he hadn't defected to the Remnant Evil Clan, perhaps the Outer Universe wouldn't be like this today."
Ye Ling was astonished. "This Qing Bukong is that strong?"
Someone who could change the entire Outer Universe landscape with his own power... Ye Ling even felt that the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire was flattering him by comparing him to Qing Bukong.
Ye Ling had a very deep understanding of himself. He might hold a significant position in the Domain Universe, but if he were to go to the Outer Universe, a world teeming with powerful beings, he was currently an invisible nobody, utterly insignificant.
The Extinguishing World Spirit Fire continued, "That's right, his potential is just that high. With Qing Bukong's methods, he has definitely recovered to his peak cultivation by now. He might have even gained new opportunities in this Domain Universe and made further breakthroughs!"
"Then how can we fight this?" Ye Ling suddenly felt that things had become tricky and asked the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire.
Soul Ancestor Qing Bukong was originally the strongest among the nine Great Dao Immortal Lords and the Chaos Sovereign. Now that Soul Ancestor Qing Bukong had even broken through, Ye Ling was starting to worry if he, Yue Qingning, and Tai Yuan could win the battle together.
The Extinguishing World Spirit Fire laughed. "That's why I said my information could save your life. I once left a huge psychological shadow on Qing Bukong. On the upper left side of his chest, there should still be a wound I left. When you fight him, aim for that wound. It should cause his wound to rupture and affect his combat effectiveness."
Ye Ling couldn't help but retort, "Even if you left a wound on Qing Bukong, it's been who knows how many years. That scar might have healed by now."
"Are you looking down on me, kid?" The Extinguishing World Spirit Fire was displeased. "I held back back then, otherwise Qing Bukong would have kicked the bucket long ago. How could he be so arrogant now? Kid, just listen to me. As long as you tear open his wound, his strength will be suppressed by at least fifty percent. Then, the three of you working together will be able to kill him like killing a dog."
Ye Ling hesitated. "Alright... I'll remember his weakness and try it then."
Seeing how serious the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire was, Ye Ling felt it would be rude to dampen its spirits and decided to try it when he fought Qing Bukong.
If Qing Bukong truly had a wound on his chest, he would then share this information with Yue Qingning and Tai Yuan.
This wasn't Ye Ling intentionally withholding information. After all, sometimes false information was more deadly than no information, and Ye Ling didn't want to mislead his teammates.
While Ye Ling and the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire were conversing, Yue Qingning and Tai Yuan's extensive search also yielded results. They both withdrew their divine souls and said to Ye Ling, "Found him!"
Hearing Yue Qingning and Tai Yuan, Ye Ling stopped talking to the Extinguishing World Spirit Fire and immediately asked them, "Where is he now?"
Yue Qingning said, "We've currently detected Qing Bukong's aura at the edge of a cosmic barrier. There are many traces of battle there, and the spiritual energy is also very chaotic. It looks like a battle has just concluded. If we go there now, we should be able to get more information."
Tai Yuan also said, "That's right. It's estimated that Qing Bukong has just gone through a great battle, so his strength must have been depleted no matter what. If we go there now, we should have an advantage."
Ye Ling nodded slightly. "In that case, let's head over there now. However, everyone should still be careful. Qing Bukong's cultivation might have recovered to its peak, just like yours, or even advanced further. Please be prepared for a tough fight."
Upon hearing Ye Ling's warning, Yue Qingning and Tai Yuan's expressions changed, but they didn't say anything. They simply took Ye Ling's reminder to heart, then jointly opened a spatial teleportation channel and traveled with Ye Ling to the other side of the universe.
...
On the edge of a certain Domain Universe, beneath the cosmic barrier.
Here, there was only a broken star larger than the sun, covered in endless loess and riddled with potholes. It was clear that it had recently undergone some kind of destruction.
The moment Ye Ling and the other two arrived at this broken star, they felt the agitated spiritual energy permeating the space.
Tai Yuan scanned the surroundings and said with a smile, "Looking at the traces of destruction here and the quality of the agitated spiritual energy around us, Qing Bukong's strength is at most supreme. It seems our worries were unnecessary."
However, Ye Ling's brow furrowed slightly, and he said solemnly, "Things might not be that simple..."
Tai Yuan was taken aback and looked at Ye Ling, asking, "Did Emperor Ancestor see something?"
Ye Ling gazed at the surrounding dark space. "There are signs of artificial repair in this space. Someone is covering up the real traces of battle. The spiritual energy and aura remaining here, I always feel like they were deliberately left behind."
At this moment, Yue Qingning also nodded in agreement. "I agree with Ye Ling's statement. Although Qing Bukong is trying his best to conceal it, the agitated spiritual energy in this space still shows signs of artificial creation."
"Moreover, Xuan Yu's strength is not ordinary. When Qing Bukong fought Xuan Yu, he would definitely use the Breath of Chaos. But there is only agitated spiritual energy here, with no trace of Chaos. This in itself is very suspicious."
Hearing Ye Ling and Yue Qingning's words, Tai Yuan also reacted and immediately released his divine soul to guard. "In other words... this place might be a trap deliberately set by Qing Bukong to lure us in?"
"That's right! This is a crudely made trap, but unfortunately, you've still fallen for it."
Suddenly, a low voice sounded above the three of them. A barrier condensed from Chaos Qi Source appeared around the periphery of the broken star, trapping Ye Ling and the other two within!
A long-haired man in blue, enveloped by Chaos Qi Source, stepped out of the void.
His azure eyes swept over the three of them, then settled on Ye Ling. He smiled and said, "Ye Ling... I have been waiting for you here for a long time."