Rong Guang and Shangguan Yulin arrived to find this situation.
"What's going on?"
"What is this thing?"
Both asked simultaneously.
However, no one answered.
Ye Lingyuan, or rather Bao Fengxi, was busy fighting, while Xuanyuan Xun stared intently at the Demon Ant King.
Zi Linling was contemplating how to kill these extraterrestrial demonic creatures that even the Nine Great Guardians could not defeat.
The Demon Ant King grew stronger with each passing moment, its demonic energy rolling like waves.
Moreover, its movements, initially stiff from prolonged slumber, were rapidly becoming more fluid.
Bao Fengxi, after all, was controlling Ye Lingyuan's body, so his initial movements were extremely awkward, but they were also quickly becoming coordinated.
Although Rong Guang and Shangguan Yulin did not receive the answers they desired, seeing that "Ye Lingyuan" and Xuanyuan Xun were both engaged in battle, they repeatedly attempted to intervene.
However, this level of combat was not something they, at the Great God Realm, could interfere with.
Therefore, unable to find an opportunity, they could only fret.
Suddenly, "Ye Lingyuan's" voice echoed in their minds.
"Calm your minds, observe closely, awaken swiftly, and increase your cultivation!"
This was clearly telling them not to interfere with the current battle, but to use this opportunity to awaken and improve their cultivation as quickly as possible so they could be of assistance.
Rong Guang and Shangguan Yulin exchanged glances, seeing shock in each other's eyes.
They had already overestimated "Ye Lingyuan's" combat prowess, but it seemed they had underestimated him even more.
Facing such a formidable Demon Ant King, "Ye Lingyuan," while fighting, could still guide and instruct them. How could a mere half-step God King achieve this?
However, they were unaware that Ye Lingyuan's core had been replaced by Bao Fengxi.
Yet, the two also knew that this was not the time for shock.
Therefore, they calmed their minds and carefully observed the ongoing battle.
Soon, enlightenment dawned upon both of them simultaneously.
"Pop!"
Within Rong Guang's body, a shackle broke, and the aura of a half-step God King surged outwards.
"Pop!"
A faint sound also emanated from Shangguan Yulin's body, and the aura of a half-step God King appeared within him.
"Excellent! Continue!"
Bao Fengxi's praise reached their minds once more.
However, his actions in battle did not cease for a moment.
Unable to gain an advantage, the Demon Ant King grew agitated.
A glint flashed in Bao Fengxi's eyes, and he transmitted a message to Xuanyuan Xun: "Prepare to attack!"
Xuanyuan Xun had already been poised for an attack but had been unable to find an opening.
Now that "Ye Lingyuan" had reminded him, he naturally became even more alert.
Indeed, as soon as "Ye Lingyuan's" voice faded, a flaw appeared on the Demon Ant King's body, its eyes exposed within Xuanyuan Xun's attack range!
A prime opportunity!
Without a second thought, Xuanyuan Xun thrust his Overlord Spear forward, targeting the Demon Ant King's eyes.
The Demon Ant King had just dodged Bao Fengxi's strike and had no time to change its stance when Xuanyuan Xun's attack reached it.
It wanted to dodge, but it was too late.
However, if it didn't dodge, the Overlord Spear would pierce its eyes, causing severe injury.
I'll risk it!
The Demon Ant King hardened its resolve, spun rapidly, and then bent down, exposing its entire back to Xuanyuan Xun's spear.
Blood splattered.
The Overlord Spear pierced through the Demon Ant King's back, lodging between its ribs.
"Ah..."
The Demon Ant King, filled with ferocity, grabbed the tip of the Overlord Spear and spewed forth demonic energy, forming a wave that shook Xuanyuan Xun's hand off the spear and sent him flying.
Simultaneously, Bao Fengxi's One Qi Whip struck the demonic energy with great force, splitting it in two. The whip, undiminished in power, then lashed out at the Demon Ant King.
"Roar..."
The Demon Ant King cried out in pain, its crimson eyes igniting as if with flames, emitting an even more bewitching glow.
Then, its body transformed, becoming a giant ant the size of a small room.
Demonic energy rapidly spread across the ant's body, quickly forming a demonic energy domain three yards square.
And the demonic energy domain continued to expand.
Bao Fengxi's brow furrowed.
Xuanyuan Xun's attack had missed, a golden opportunity lost in vain.
Now, the Demon Ant King, driven by its demonic nature, had become even more difficult to deal with.
If Bao Fengxi were at his peak, he could still contain the enraged Demon Ant King.
But now, he was merely a wisp of remnant soul, and even his body was borrowed from Ye Lingyuan, greatly diminishing his strength.
Currently, there were only two ways to deal with the Demon Ant King.
One was for Zi Linling, the chosen one, to find a way to destroy the Demon Ant King, thus solving the problem once and for all.
Thinking of this, Bao Fengxi looked towards Zi Linling, only to find her still deep in thought, clearly having not yet found a solution.
It seemed, then, that only the second method remained.
That was to allow the true Ye Lingyuan to break through to the God King realm.
And with that, Bao Fengxi's remnant soul would completely dissipate into the heavens and earth.
He had protected the Azure Star his entire life, and the dissipation of his soul held no fear for him.
However, he worried if the newly breakthrough Ye Lingyuan would be a match for the Demon Ant King.
Forget it!
A desperate situation calls for desperate measures!
Bao Fengxi said to Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, and Shangguan Yulin, "Can the three of you hold back the Demon Ant King for five breaths of time?"
Five breaths!
It didn't sound long, but for three half-step God Kings, holding back a God King realm monster was still extremely difficult.
Xuanyuan Xun's mind stirred, and the Overlord Spear, still lodged in the Demon Ant King, returned to his hand.
He said solemnly, "This King will do his best!"
Rong Guang took out the small black tree and followed suit, "I will do my best!"
Shangguan Yulin clenched his feather fan and said, "I will do my best!"
Bao Fengxi shook his head, "Not 'do your best,' but 'you must'!"
This was the shortest possible time Ye Lingyuan needed for his breakthrough.
Fortunately, the Chaos Array could conceal the heavenly secrets, and Ye Lingyuan would not need to undergo tribulation while breaking through here; otherwise, five breaths would not be enough!
Xuanyuan Xun exchanged glances with Rong Guang and Shangguan Yulin, and with a resolve to face death, they said, "Alright! Within five breaths, unless the three of us fall in battle, we will not let the Demon Ant King step an inch beyond this line!"
"Good! As long as you can hold on for five breaths, I will handle the rest!"
Bao Fengxi declared loudly, then retreated a distance, closed his eyes, and prepared to hand over control of the body to Ye Lingyuan.
No sorrow, no farewell.
The paternal figure Bao Fengxi, who had guarded the Azure Star his entire life, was using his last wisp of remnant soul to exchange for a glimmer of hope for the Azure Star!