Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

Ezekiel felt a sense of helplessness witnessing Yan Zaizen's reaction. However, there was no guilt. Instead, his soul flickered with a silver light that felt overbearing to the extreme, displaying dominance. His eyes, despite being in his soul form, turned cold.

"The ritual earlier restrained my soul as I attempted to flee. The compass, using a secret art, can send someone to anywhere in the heavenly cluster, but also to a location at the Heavenly Origin Grounds, the ZERO heaven. Otherwise known as the Fortune Cemetery." Ezekiel explained, not out of guilt, but to detail the situation to Yan Zaizen.

"Because of the chains, my body and everything else was sent there as per my desire, likely, but my soul was not. For now, that's all I know."

As for Yan Zaizen, he calmed down after hearing his explanation. His eyes flashed with a gleaming light of amber-gold, standing on equal grounds to Ezekiel's aura. Truthfully, Yan Zaizen's feelings towards Ezekiel was solely gratitude, but they were wholly incompatible.

After all, they were two sovereigns!

However, it didn't change the fact that he felt somewhat frustrated by the course of events. This was the first time he had heard of this so-called Heavenly Origin Grounds or Fortune Cemetery, so he didn't know the significance of the situation yet.

"Hmph," Ezekiel coldly snorted after seeing Yan Zaizen's emotions return to a state of calm. He knew it wasn't because of weakness but ignorance. Despite this, Yan Zaizen's ability to regain his composure was astonishing.

"I'll explain the rest to you later, but I still have things to do. Things such as fulfill our true agreement: Killing someone!" Ezekiel's eyes turned icy-cold and effused rays of vibrant killing intent. These rays came out crimson. It was a unique display from his soul form due to his current state, being without a physical body.

Yan Zaizen eyebrow lifted in curiosity, "is this how the soul seems without a physical body?" The fact intent was visible and its aura denser than normal felt surreal. It was only now that Yan Zaizen discovered that intent originated from the soul and the body shielded the outside world from it.

"Dai'Ya! Bai'Ya!" Ezekiel yelled aloud, as if summoning something from the void. As he did, his soul fluctuated a ray of orange light. This light carried with it the essence of creation. The light shrouded his soul form and started to wiggle like squirming flesh.

Yan Zaizen inspected this and realized that Ezekiel was utilizing the World Law of Creation. It was this law that he constructed his herculean physique off of. The law was profound and even on par with the World Law of Life. During their battle, it was this law that kept constructing missing limbs.

As for Yan Zaizen, he needed to heal from a point of his body, but Ezekiel can instantly create a new limb with the full ability of the former. Of course, both sides have their advantages and disadvantages. For one, the creation of a limb vs. healing consumed far too much energy of the body. Also, the law of life could temper the body and extend one's lifespan to an extraordinary degree. Yet, an aged limb when created is still an aged limb.

The orange light surged for a brief period before a flash occurred. In the next instant, Ezekiel had a body of flesh, blood, bone, and function. It was truly astonishing, but it didn't contain zero an ounce vital energy or herculean laws. After all, this body was created from the law of creation alone, not with the herculean law.

"This will do." Ezekiel clenched his hands a few times into a fist and pounded his chest. This body may not be as strong as his other one, but any True Essence expert would die to a single fist from it. He turned to Yan Zaizen, his eyes still cold, "I need to kill Ariel, your cultivation seemed to have suffered as well from helping me, so I won't ask you to continue."

Yan Zaizen's brows furrowed, but he didn't deny his observation. Just like Ezekiel, his heavenly cultivation base was thoroughly gone, and his soul had dropped further in cultivation, being at the Advanced Nascent Soul Realm. Although his body was still as strong, he felt profoundly weak.

Two comets of light shot towards them from the two external realms. These two comets had astonishing auras, radiating fluctuations that could be considered the peak of the Heavenly Genesis Realm. Yan Zaizen felt the ripple of their travel and turned.

The two comets stopped before them expertly. They turned into two figures which looked like old men, both with steel-colored hair. They looked like twins, but their eyes were different colors.

The one named Dai'Ya had silver eyes, he was also wearing a neutral expression. He emanated faint spatial fluctuations. Yan Zaizen recognized this aura from the spatial barrier he met outside the realm. It's likely this was the expert who set up the barrier.

The one named Bai'Ya had aquamarine eyes that carried rippling waves of water. Staring at them made one feel as if they were in the vast ocean, without a boat, without a paddle. It felt lonely and filled with desolation. A hint of depression and suicidal thoughts might emerge with a glance.

This Bai'Ya caused Yan Zaizen to frown. At the moment, his soul was particularly weak and he felt a sudden desire to let himself go and drown in his eyes. Initially, he thought this person was just a heavenly cultivator, but his soul cultivation must be astonishing, rivaling Yan Zaizen's peak - Perfect Astral Soul Realm!

Ezekiel didn't seem affected, "Dracula is gone, find the hidden secret realm. We capture her alive, but all else, SLAUGHTER!" Ezekiel's words were domineering and laced with murderous intent and icy-coldness. The two, who looked quite similar to Ze'Ya, nodded without hesitation. It seems Ezekiel's weakness didn't affect their undying loyalty to him.

Yan Zaizen couldn't help but wonder how Ezekiel reached his current heights, but as the son of a fallen Heavenly God, it truly felt appropriate.

Dai'Ya and Bai'Ya flew away with resplendent eyes. Yan Zaizen furrowed, from their appearances, he felt they were related to Ze'Ya, the old man with emerald eyes. They didn't seem to be brothers, but the relation was there. It's likely they were father and sons.

Ezekiel pressed his palm forward suddenly. An orb of emerald light was sent out from his palm. It emanated dense soul energy ripples directly similar to spiritual sense.

"An Astral Remnant?" Yan Zaizen was a little surprised. It seems the old man left an Astral Remnant in Ezekiel's soul. That was quite protective.

"Old man, you alive?" Ezekiel indifferently said. The orb thrummed slightly and a distant voice was sent through.

"Yes! Thank all that you're okay!" The voice was from Ze'Ya, but it was odd. Normally, an Astral Remnant was a clone or avatar of the user, and it can be used to communicate, but the sound came out as if it was far, far away from the phone. It was very distance and soft.

"Where are you?" Ezekiel asked.

"Damn Celestial Relocation Order! I've been sent to the Vast Expanse. I'm near the 3rd Heaven. I'll be able to arrive in a few years, be safe till then." Ze'Ya responded.

3rd Heaven?! Yan Zaizen was startled. Was he sent to an entirely different Heavenly Cluster? A Celestial Relocation Order? Was that the ancient, brittle bronze coin from earlier?

"...Mhm, I see. Enjoy the trip." Ezekiel casually said, unaffected by Ze'Ya's current location.

"Be safe." Ze'Ya briefly paused before saying, he seemed genuinely concerned about Ezekiel. Then, the emerald-colored orb returned to Ezekiel's palm and merged together like water on water.

"You can stay until I'm finished." Declaring this casual, he urged the laws of the world and a sword domain formed. This domain was produced from the heavens solely, and he turned into a streak of sword light into the destroyed Crimson Devil Realm.

Yan Zaizen didn't say anything in response, only thinking to himself, "I need to inspect my current state thoroughly."