As the battle between the Seven Star Pillars intensified, the barrier constructed by Ye Ling began to falter under the unleashed power. Ye Ling was forced to activate his Devouring Domain, absorbing the dark energy within the barrier to sustain it.
Although the Seven Star Pillars possessed varying strengths, they were all at the same cultivation realm. Now engaged in a life-or-death struggle with their trump cards revealed, a decisive victory was unlikely to be achieved quickly.
The World-Destroying Spiritual Fire, after its initial fervor, quickly calmed down. It glanced at the battle unfolding within the barrier and said to Ye Ling, "Kid, if the Seven Star Pillars keep fighting like this, it might take another year to determine a winner. If you don't add some fuel to the fire, and they calm down to realize you were the one instigating this, things could get tricky."
Ye Ling nodded. "I know. I was just about to add some more ingredients!"
With that, Ye Ling once again activated the runes he had hidden within the First and Seventh Star Pillars, driving them into a state of extreme rage. They began to attack with full force, disregarding their defense.
Seeing the First and Seventh Star Pillars fighting with bloodshot eyes, the other Star Pillars were also stirred. They increased their attack intensity, completely abandoning their defenses.
Ye Ling, seeing this, felt it wasn't enough. He secretly extended his Devouring Domain into the barrier, covertly absorbing the dark energy between the Seven Star Pillars, preventing them from replenishing their strength from external sources.
After completing these subtle maneuvers, Ye Ling addressed the Third Star Pillar. "Third Star Pillar, do you want your power back?"
The Third Star Pillar, who had been intently observing the battle, was initially stunned by Ye Ling's words. Then, with a look of excitement, he turned to Ye Ling. "Are you truly willing to return my power to me?"
Ye Ling smiled. "We're colleagues, aren't we? We'll be working together for the Lord of the Upper Realm in the future. I've thought about it carefully, and it's not right for me to have taken your power. I'll return it to you now."
As he spoke, Ye Ling opened his palm, and a ball of dark energy materialized.
The Third Star Pillar felt the immense dark energy surging from the energy ball floating in Ye Ling's palm. He licked his lips excitedly and said to Ye Ling, "Thank you! Eighth Star Pillar, we're brothers from now on. If you ever need anything, just call out to your brother, and I'll be there for you, ready to serve!"
Ye Ling chuckled lightly. "Then I'll be sure to remember your words!"
The Third Star Pillar replied, "No problem, just call me if you need anything!"
With that, the Third Star Pillar eagerly took the ball of dark energy from Ye Ling's palm and swallowed it in one gulp!
Boom!
As the Third Star Pillar consumed the dark energy given by Ye Ling, his aura began to soar. He closed his eyes, enjoying the power he had absorbed.
"Comfortable… long-lost power… I've missed you so much!"
The Third Star Pillar quietly savored the power flowing within him, a look of contentment on his face.
However, lost in his own world, the Third Star Pillar failed to notice the flicker of amusement in Ye Ling's eyes.
"Foolish."
Ye Ling chuckled softly, and in the next moment, he activated the runes hidden within the dark energy he had given to the Third Star Pillar, igniting the Third Star Pillar's emotions.
At that instant, the Third Star Pillar's hatred for the First Star Pillar reached its peak. His expression contorted, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "That damned First Star Pillar, always acting superior because he's the boss, always putting on that condescending face. I couldn't stand him anymore. Now that my power has returned, I'm going to kill him!"
Boom!
The Third Star Pillar transformed into a black streak of light and charged towards the First Star Pillar, joining the fray.
The Seven Star Pillars were completely mired in a bloody conflict!
With the Third Star Pillar's entry, the balance between the First and Seventh Star Pillars began to shift, with the scales of victory gradually tilting towards the Seventh Star Pillar.
Ye Ling, watching the battle between the Seven Star Pillars, chuckled. "Looks like it won't be long before a result is reached. The rest is just garbage time, lacking any substance."
With that, Ye Ling left a trace of his consciousness to monitor the situation while his true form emerged from the barrier and returned to Chu's side.
When the Seven Star Pillars descended upon the First Heaven, Ye Ling was in the final stages of refining Chu's body. The arrival of the Seven Star Pillars had interrupted Ye Ling's progress, forcing him to hide Chu's body and deal with them first.
Although Chu's consciousness had merged perfectly with her new body, and Ye Ling's work was only limited to the finishing touches, those details determined the ultimate strength Chu's body could achieve. If the completion was delayed, it would leave permanent and irreversible damage to Chu's body.
It was for this reason that Ye Ling had to risk leaving the Seven Star Pillars' battlefield, seizing the opportunity during their fight to complete Chu's body.
In Tianren City, time had been frozen by Ye Ling. Even the air was still, and the entire city was deathly silent.
Ye Ling returned to the sky above Tianren City and brought Chu out from behind the clouds. While examining Chu's body, he asked, "Chu, do you feel any discomfort anywhere?"
Chu replied, "There's no particular discomfort, just that my limbs don't feel coordinated or flexible enough. Perhaps it's because I haven't used a human body for so long; I'll get used to it with practice."
Ye Ling, however, said, "These issues cannot be ignored. Tell me all your experiences, and I'll help you complete your body, making it as close to your original body as possible."
"Alright, you can examine it yourself."
Chu was not polite and directly released her soul, allowing Ye Ling's soul power to enter.
Seeing Chu's unguarded demeanor, Ye Ling shook his head and smiled. He didn't say anything further and directly used his soul power to connect with Chu's consciousness, helping her with the final refinements.
Chu's body gradually approached perfection. On the Seven Star Pillars' side, they were already exhausted and heavily wounded. Another heavy blow would likely result in their souls scattering.
"Strange, why is my power getting weaker? I can't absorb the dark energy around me?" The First Star Pillar realized they had all become abnormally weak and felt something was amiss.
Even in their life-or-death struggle, they shouldn't have weakened so quickly!
Thinking back, they had come here because of Ye Ling, and they had started fighting because Ye Ling had proposed a rearrangement of their positions.
Yet now, the Seven Star Pillars were locked in a bloody battle, while Ye Ling, the instigator of everything, had miraculously escaped the eye of the storm, not participating in the fight at all!
The more the First Star Pillar thought about it, the more something felt wrong. He instinctively looked in Ye Ling's direction. Just as he was about to use his Upper Realm Eye to observe Ye Ling, the Seventh Star Pillar, seizing his distraction, attacked with full force!
"First Star Pillar, die!" the Seventh Star Pillar roared, punching into the First Star Pillar's heart and seizing his origin!
"Not good!"
The First Star Pillar's expression changed drastically as he saw his origin being held. Just as he was about to break free from the Seventh Star Pillar, the Third Star Pillar attacked from behind, using dark energy to bind his entire body, rendering him immobile!
"You're finished!"
Seeing the First Star Pillar controlled, the Seventh Star Pillar sneered, tightened his grip, and directly crushed the First Star Pillar's origin!