NOVEL NEXT Chapter 367: Cosmic Tree Branch!_2
"So... I set the terms?" Lin Qing looked at Marquis Shadow.
"... As long as you don't go too far."
Marquis Shadow took a deep breath, "In the Myriad Seas Divine Country, I'm just a minor figure, only with a better background. But I don't want to make an enemy of a prodigy destined to become a great figure in the King Realm like you... Just name your terms. If I can afford them, consider it my apology."
"Oh?" Lin Qing scrutinized Marquis Shadow, pondering as if seriously considering what terms to propose.
Marquis Shadow felt a bit anxious but remained calm, looking at him slowly and said, "If you really disdain to accept my apology, then forget it. It's just an avatar."
Lin Qing looked at him, stayed silent for a while, then suddenly smiled.
"Marquis Shadow, why do you want to preserve this avatar?" Lin Qing looked mockingly at Marquis Shadow.
Marquis Shadow's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained his composure, slightly frowned, and said, "What do you mean? Didn't I say I just want to apologize to you..."
"You're not that kind of person."
Lin Qing directly interrupted him, "Your grandfather is the master of King Wanhai, your status in the Myriad Seas Divine Country is special. You also have an undying Main God Avatar. Even for Yu Gong, you probably don't have much reverence. Yet you claim you don't want to be my enemy?"
"Moreover, there's constant warfare between the Heavenly Light Divine Country and Myriad Seas Divine Country. The higher-ups often kill each other. Although you apprenticed under Blood Sea Marquis of the Ice Seal Empire, you are ultimately of the Myriad Seas Divine Country."
Lin Qing stared at Marquis Shadow: "We are surely in opposing factions, still afraid of becoming enemies?"
Marquis Shadow replied coldly, "I rarely partake in wars, and I don't look at factions when making friends in private. I admire your comprehension, so I am giving you some face, is that not enough?"
"You're lying."
Lin Qing shook his head and said, "Someone as reckless as you, saying so much to me is just to preserve this avatar, isn't it?"
Marquis Shadow maintained his calm, just frowned and looked at him, "It's just an avatar, redeveloping a Lifebound Treasure, and retraining a Supreme Secret Technique is merely troublesome. You can't kill me, so why must you contend with me like this?"
"Heh..." Lin Qing chuckled, "But why do I feel... you just don't want to lose this avatar?"
He scrutinized Marquis Shadow again, an invisible force once more penetrating through to probe, "Could it be that this avatar is hiding something precious you don't want to give up?"
"Haven't you already checked my storage space?" Marquis Shadow replied coldly.
"I did."
Lin Qing slightly narrowed his eyes and said, "But then there's your Inner World, isn't there?"
Normally, the Inner World is a pure source of power and cannot be used for storing items, but there are exceptions.
For instance, Chaos Source Crystals transformed into a high-density pure energy body can continuously release energy in the Inner World, supplementing at any time.
In Endless Chaos, anything is possible.
"Lin Qing, you..."
Marquis Shadow just opened his mouth, intending to say something more, when he noticed Lin Qing already directing a drop of Eternal Divine Blood shooting towards him.
His heart went cold, understanding Lin Qing was forcing him to annihilate this avatar.
"Damn it, the benefit Yu Gong gave me, I haven't even used it yet..."
Marquis Shadow bit his teeth hard, his heart filled with unwillingness and regret, but with the Eternal Divine Blood about to enter his body, he couldn't resist.
If turned into an Eternal Envoy God, he'd be completely ruined.
With his talent and background, he believed he was destined to become an Eternal being, reaching the Eternal Peak, and perhaps the position of State Duke might not be just a dream.
Thus, he only had one choice left.
"Forget it... Once I reach Eternal, I will surely repay this debt..."
Marquis Shadow sighed, ultimately annihilating himself, filled with unwillingness into nothingness.
As his World Divine Body vanished, his mustard-seed-like Inner World also began to collapse and scatter, the membrane of the world breaking, the world structure disintegrating, gradually revealing the chaotic scene within.
In the end, the entire Inner World completely dissipated, yet a blackened branch emerged from the shattered world, left in place.
"What is this?"
Lin Qing immediately picked up the blackened branch, then slightly froze.
He somewhat guessed the origin of this branch.
"A branch of the Cosmic Tree of the Void Divine Race?"
Lin Qing murmured.
As a Main God, he had seen the Cosmic Tree of the Void Divine Race standing in the Main Cosmic like roots in the soil, with countless roots piercing deep into it, even penetrating the Cosmic Origin Space. This Cosmic Tree, as large as the universe, stood amidst the Main Cosmic.
And the aura of this blackened branch before him was identical to that of the Cosmic Tree!
"Could this Cosmic Tree branch somehow benefit the Inner World?" Lin Qing couldn't help but speculate, "Marquis Shadow deliberately placed such a Cosmic Tree branch in his Inner World?"
He immediately put away the Cosmic Tree branch, planning to find an opportunity to investigate.
Then, Lin Qing continued to explore in the Inner World of the Swallowing Flame Python. Although he gained quite a lot this time, he was still a distance from his goal of five hundred Chaos Source Crystals.
Anyway, no one in this selection trial could threaten him anymore, so he was disinclined to take any further action.
Focusing only on treasure hunting.
...
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
When the time was up, everyone in the Inner World of the Swallowing Flame Python was teleported out.
"Congratulations to all of you for passing the selection trial."
Marquis Star Refining had his arm wrapped around the Swallowing Flame Python, his gaze sweeping over the final ten people, and said, "You ten will henceforth be Commanders of my Star Refining Army, each responsible for the First to the Tenth Armies."