Chapter 1197: Destruction of the Realm
The draconian sage cried out, "I don't believe it! What problem could there be that you hunters can't resolve?"
Zhang Lie recounted what they had discovered to the draconian sage.
The draconian sage was stupefied.
Zhang Lie shrugged. "I really didn't decide to unify the third realm because of my ambitions. It would be a lie to say that I didn't contemplate such an idea, of course, but the more immediate reason is to save the three thousand worlds of the third realm. To do so, we need a complete will of the realm, not a fragmented one. Do you understand?"
The draconian sage sighed. "I was upset with you initially, but after hearing your explanation, I'm feeling a lot better. I'm acceding not to satisfy your ambitions, but in order to save the third realm."
Zhang Lie smiled. "It looks like I'll be able to claim moral rectitude, then."
The draconian sage replied, "I'm a lot more agreeable because of what you've done for the draconian world. In large part, you were the one who made it the way it is today, but I don't imagine Li Zongming would be an easy target."
"I'll do my best to convince my father with Zhang Lie," Li Qianlin pledged.
Subsequently, Zhang Lie and the others rode the multicolored dragon to the Zongming world.
The moment they entered, Li Zongming shattered space and appeared before them. "You all are finally here!"
Zhang Lie asked, "Is there a reason you were looking for us?"
Li Zongming asked, "Why is the third realm quaking? What has happened?"
Zhang Lie was surprised. "You can sense it already?"
Li Qianlin exhaled. "Since you've sensed it already, Father, it'll be much easier for us."
Zhang Lie suggested, "At any rate, let's chat within the palace."
Li Zongming had noticed everyone's expressions. "It looks like this is no minor affair."
Zhang Lie replied seriously, "This is a catastrophe that could destroy the three thousand worlds."
"One that even you can't stop?"
"It'll need your cooperation."
The group walked toward Li Zongming's palace, where he ordered his servants to provide tea and snacks. Zhang Lie shook his head. "There's no need for the pleasantries. We can't waste even a single second. Once we convince you, I'll have to make a trip to the scaleman world, and then back to the Milky Way to submit a report—I might have to borrow its strength, too."
Li Zongming asked, "In that case, make your request directly. What do you need me to cooperate with?"
Zhang Lie hesitated. "You had better hear the whole story. It's not a trivial sacrifice you'll have to make."
Li Zongming frowned. "Think of our relationship! We've gone through thick and thin together, and I do trust you. As long as you're not seeking my life, my daughter, or my world, we can talk."
"I need the Zongming world."
Li Zongming hesitated.
"You're interested in the Zongming world?" Li Zongming asked. As though he had just thought of something, he followed up with, "You're interested in the three thousand worlds?"
As far as Li Zongming knew, Zhang Lie wasn't particularly interested in status and power.
Zhang Lie sighed. "That's why I think it's better if you hear the whole story."
Li Zongming nodded. "Very well."
Zhang Lie explained how he had been invited to the king of chaos' night banquet as a guest, and then the whole series of events that had ultimately led to the king of chaos' ascension to the fourth realm.
Li Zongming couldn't help but gasp in admiration. "When I first saw the king of chaos, I recognized that he wasn't considered the strongest superior king for nothing. I knew he was undefeated among the third realm, but not that he was so strong that he could ascend with the whole of the halls of chaos! How many years would it take me to achieve the same feat? It might take my entire life just to get close..."
Zhang Lie continued, "That's not all."
Upon hearing what trouble the king of chaos had left behind for them, Li Zongming grew so incensed that he broke the armrests of his chair. He stood up in a frenzy. "This damned king of chaos!"
Zhang Lie beckoned for Li Zongming to calm down. "Now's not the time to get mad. The king of chaos himself might be unaware of the trouble he caused. If you really are mad, wait until we ascend and find the king of chaos—you can punch him in the face then."
Li Zongming calmed down a little.
"Zhang Lie, I do trust you, but the Zongming world doesn't belong to me alone. It's my ancestors' dreams, and it's finally been realized during my generation. There are innumerable lifeforms in the Zongming world, and I have to take responsibility for them.
Zhang Lie asked, "What are your concerns? We all know each other, so you can be direct."
Li Zongming asked, "I'd like to confirm the problem with the high-dimensional spaces for myself."
"It's best to be prudent. Yang Ze," Zhang Lie called out, snapping his fingers. "Can you show the Zongming king the issue?"
Yang Ze marshaled spatial force to open a portal into the deepest layers of space, bringing Li Zongming along with him.
Li Qianlin served them tea and snacks as they awaited Yang Ze and Li Zongming's return.
After about half an hour, Yang Ze returned with Li Zongming in tow.
Both their faces were pale. Yang Ze was panting and sweating all over from the exertion, while Li Zongming was either uncomfortable in the deepest layers of space or shocked by the devastation that had been wrought.
Li Qianlin passed them each a cup of tea. Li Zongming, who preferred to enjoy tea in small sips as he sampled its flavor, now drained a whole pot in just a few gulps.
As a bit of his pallor retreated, he asked, "Will what happened in the deepest layers of space occur again among the three thousand worlds?"
Zhang Lie thought for a moment. "That's hard to say. I haven't experienced such a major spatial catastrophe before, and spatial collapse is only the ideal outcome."
Li Zongming's pallor crept back with a vengeance. "The collapse of high-dimensional space is the ideal outcome?!"
Even Li Qianlin was shocked by the admission.
"Spatial collapse? How many worlds would be annihilated, how many lives killed..."
The Zongming world was so large that it would likely be affected as a result.
Zhang Lie suggested, "Well, if the superficial layer collapses, a portion of the higher-dimensional spaces might survive, but even a 10% survival rate would be optimistic. In the worst-case scenario, a spatial rift would destroy the third realm entirely, leaving a 1% survival rate at best."
Li Zongming couldn't remain still upon hearing those words.
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