Seeing Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan emerge, Xuanyuan Xun, Shangguan Yulin, Shen Liuxing, and Rong Guang breathed a sigh of relief.
Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan felt a slight dizziness. The underworld passage was faster than the teleportation passage, but there was a constant sensation of the soul being pulled away.
"We need to recover for a bit!"
Zi Linling instructed, and then she and Ye Lingyuan sat down cross-legged, closing their eyes.
A flicker of heartache crossed Shen Liuxing's eyes.
If he could, he would gladly bear the burden of saving the world for Zi Linling.
Xuanyuan Xun, Shangguan Yulin, and Rong Guang had long been in awe of Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan, and at this moment, their admiration only grew deeper.
Spiritual energy surged within Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan, and the power of laws circulated, like the resonance of sun and moon, a perfect match for the ages.
After a moment, the two opened their eyes. Zi Linling said, "The situation in the Heavenly Origin Continent is more serious than I imagined. Without further ado, I will send Brother Rong and Liuxing back to the Heavenly Origin Continent first. Here is the method for using the Nine Tripod Demon Slaying Array, keep it safe."
As she spoke, she transferred the method for using the Nine Tripod Demon Slaying Array to Rong Guang and Shen Liuxing through soul sharing, and then continued, "Ye Lingyuan and I have each infused a wisp of divine sense into the Nine Tripods. Remember to awaken them when you activate the Nine Tripod Demon Slaying Array."
"We will not fail you, Guild Leader!"
"We will not fail you, Sister!"
"We will guard the Heavenly Origin Empire well and await reinforcements."
Rong Guang and Shen Liuxing vowed with solemnity.
Zi Linling nodded gravely and said, "I entrust this to you! Now, let's begin!"
"En!"
Rong Guang and Shen Liuxing nodded resolutely.
"The underworld passage is a passage of souls, so you must tightly guard your spiritual platform to prevent your souls from being sucked into the underworld. Remember this!"
After Zi Linling's reminder, she exchanged a glance with Ye Lingyuan and began to mobilize the Gate of Ghosts, the Six Paths of Reincarnation, and the Underworld King's Seal.
Shen Liuxing and Rong Guang smiled at each other, sat facing each other, placed their palms together, and closed their eyes.
Under the influence of the Gate of Ghosts, the Six Paths of Reincarnation, and the Underworld King's Seal, Shen Liuxing and Rong Guang began to spin rapidly. After forty-nine rotations, they suddenly disappeared, entering the underworld passage.
Although Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan had sent Yue Wumei back to the Blessed Continent using the same method before, they still dared not be careless and had to ensure Shen Liuxing and Rong Guang safely reached the Ghost Sacrifice Altar.
The further the teleportation distance, the greater the danger, and the more intense the soul-tearing Shen Liuxing and Rong Guang would endure, while the consumption for Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan would be greater.
Especially Zi Linling, who controlled two divine artifacts, the Gate of Ghosts and the Six Paths of Reincarnation, by herself. Even though she had broken through to the God Lord realm, it was still extremely perilous.
Fortunately, both the Gate of Ghosts and the Six Paths of Reincarnation had the same affinity for Ye Lingyuan, the Underworld King, making it slightly easier for Zi Linling.
Soon, dense beads of sweat appeared on the foreheads of Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan.
Such a crazy act as teleporting living people through the underworld passage was something only these two monstrous beings could accomplish.
Shen Liuxing and Rong Guang were not having an easy time either.
The pain of the underworld passage tearing at the soul was something only they, who were experiencing it firsthand, could understand.
Their heads felt as if they would split, their souls were as if being cut by sharp blades, a pain far exceeding a thousand cuts or a broken heart. In just a short while, Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan's soul power was depleted by ninety percent.
"Bad!"
Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan's eyes snapped open.
They had underestimated the consumption of soul power when the underworld passage transported living people.
When the underworld passage transported themselves, their soul power consumption was not significant because they were the masters of the three divine artifacts, and Ye Lingyuan was the Underworld King.
However, Shen Liuxing and Rong Guang had no connection to the three divine artifacts or the underworld passage, thus requiring more underworld power.
And the underworld power of the underworld passage was provided by the three divine artifacts, meaning it was provided by Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan, which was the reason for their massive soul power depletion.
"What should we do?"
Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan exchanged glances.
Ye Lingyuan raised an eyebrow and took out a whip.
This whip was none other than the weapon of Qingdi Bao Fengxi—the One Qi Whip.
The One Qi Whip was forged from the first strand of qi in the world, containing the primal power of the universe.
With a thought, Ye Lingyuan directed the One Qi Whip downwards, and it drilled into his brow.
"What are you doing?"
Zi Linling exclaimed in alarm.
Ye Lingyuan smiled gently and said, "My soul power has reached the peak of the Returning Origin realm. I will use the primal power to stimulate it and see if I can break through the bottleneck."
"No!"
Zi Linling urgently stopped him.
"The arrow is nocked and must be shot; we have no time."
Saying this, Ye Lingyuan prepared to mobilize the One Qi Whip and fiercely lash at the soul barrier.
He intended to force his way through the Returning Origin realm to continue maintaining the underworld passage.
"Don't!"
Zi Linling stopped him again, her eyes filled with distress.
Ye Lingyuan ignored her and mobilized the One Qi Whip, striking the soul barrier with all his might.
"Boom!"
A thunderous roar echoed in Ye Lingyuan's mind, almost scattering his soul.
"Pfft!"
His body trembled violently, his face turned ashen, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, a startling crimson that burned Zi Linling's eyes.
"How is it? Are you alright?"
Zi Linling asked with concern.
Ye Lingyuan smiled and said, "I'm fine, again!"
The previous lash had only left a shallow mark on the barrier, failing to shake it.
"No!"
Zi Linling's plea was so weak.
Ye Lingyuan, without hesitation, whipped the barrier again.
His body trembled violently, and with a "pfft," he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Tears instantly welled up in Zi Linling's eyes. She said angrily, "Ye Lingyuan! Are you crazy! Is self-harm fun! Didn't you hear me say no?"
Ye Lingyuan smiled dotingly without speaking.
Zi Linling raged, "If you dare to harm yourself again, I... I will..."
A playful smile curved Ye Lingyuan's lips. "You will what? Hmm?"
Zi Linling was furious. At such a time, Ye Lingyuan still had the mood to tease.
But she also knew that if she didn't find a way to stop him, Ye Lingyuan would continue.
Therefore, she hardened her heart and said, "If you dare to harm yourself again, I won't marry you!"
Ye Lingyuan had never expected Zi Linling to say such a thing under these circumstances.
He paused, then smiled and said, "If you don't marry me, who do you want to marry?"
Zi Linling was speechless.
Ye Lingyuan didn't press her and smiled, "Silly girl! If I want to marry you, I must first protect you well, and I must have the strength to protect you."