136: Heartbroken by the rules, Yan Lao's long journey.

The aftershocks of the Source Power tide gradually subsided.

The entire topography of the Lost Water Realm seemed to have completely stabilized after this drastic change.

The massive volcano, once hidden deep beneath the sea, now stood tall, breaking through the former sea level to become a magnificent and perilous isolated peak.

At the summit, the volcanic crater platform remained, though it had shrunk by more than half.

The heart of rules floated in the air, emitting a blood-red light at least ten times stronger than before, like the sole sun of this realm.

But strangely, despite absorbing so much Source Power, there was not a single ripple of Source Power fluctuation.

Is it still undergoing rule-formation?

It doesn't look like it either... "Phew..."

Lu Yuan let out a long breath, feeling the surging Source Power within his body.

Third Rank Six Star Peak!

His Source Power value was already infinitely close to the three-thousand-point mark!

"This wave was a huge profit!" Lu Yuan thought, secretly delighted, "I'm just a few steps away from Fourth Rank!"

It wasn't just him.

"Hahahaha! Fifth Rank Three Star! I've finally broken through!"

Zhou Wanhe's wild laughter echoed across the mountaintop. The aura emanating from him was several times stronger than before, and he was like a fierce weapon drawn from its sheath, sharp and formidable.

His gaze towards the heart of rules was filled with naked possessiveness.

"Such a supreme object is destined to belong to me, Zhou Wanhe!"

On the other side, the auras of Zhang Yue and Duan Kong had also undergone earth-shattering changes.

Source Power surged around both of them, and they had both broken through the shackles of Fourth Rank Peak, entering early Fifth Rank!

"Fifth Rank..." Zhang Yue clenched his fist, feeling the unprecedented powerful strength within his body, also incredibly excited.

Duan Kong was even more ecstatic: "This is great! With Fifth Rank strength, I have a greater chance of seizing this heart of rules!"

De Xiner's delicate body trembled slightly, her enchanting eyes like silk. She had also successfully reached Third Rank Peak, and the poisonous mist swirling around her seemed even more condensed, its power surpassing the past.

The remaining Provincial Government Team Members and the disciples of the Zhou Family and Deyun Hall also saw varying degrees of improvement in their strength.

For a time, at the summit, the atmosphere once again became tense and confrontational.

Everyone's gaze was fixed intently on the radiant heart of rules.

A new struggle seemed imminent.

However, just at this moment—

"Crack!"

A crisp sound, like shattering glass, suddenly came from the heart of rules.

"Hmm?"

Everyone was stunned.

Lu Yuan's heart tightened even more as he focused his gaze.

On the surface of the dazzling heart of rules, on the originally flawless dark red crystal, a tiny crack had appeared!

"What's going on?" Duan Kong asked, puzzled.

"It... it's going to shatter?" Zhang Yue also looked astonished.

Zhou Wanhe's eyes widened even further: "Impossible! How could such a supreme object shatter!"

"Crack... crackle..."

More cracks, like a spider web, rapidly spread across the surface of the heart of rules!

The dazzling blood-red light also began to become unstable with the appearance of the cracks, flickering erratically.

An ominous premonition surged into everyone's hearts.

Immediately after, to everyone's horror, palm-sized dark red fragments, shimmering with profound runes, began to peel and fall from the main body of the heart of rules!

These fragments did not fall but floated quietly in mid-air, emitting an aura that was of the same origin as the heart of rules' main body, yet slightly different.

The fragments became more and more numerous, with dozens appearing in the blink of an eye.

Each fragment was irregularly shaped but of uniform thickness, its surface covered with strange patterns.

Lu Yuan stared intently at the floating fragments, his pupils suddenly contracting!

He cried out in surprise: "These are... stone slabs?!"

That's right! These fragments, peeling off from the heart of rules, rapidly solidified after detaching from the main body, turning into dark red stone slabs!

The aura of these stone slabs, how similar it was to the mysterious stone slab he obtained from the Jiangcheng secret vault!

However, the patterns on the surface of these newly appeared stone slabs were completely different from the one he possessed; it seemed each one only carried a part of the information and was incomplete.

A thought flashed through Lu Yuan's mind like lightning!

"So... so my stone slab also came from this!"

This discovery completely subverted his understanding of the stone slabs!

If the heart of rules was a supreme object, then what were these stone slab fragments?

Fragments of a supreme object?

Does that mean a supreme object can increase the compatibility of a beast companion?

"Jiji! Jijizhazha!"

Just as Lu Yuan's mind was in turmoil, the Flame Sprite in his arms suddenly cried out excitedly.

The Little Fellow poked its head out from Lu Yuan's arms, its small paws excitedly pointing at the newly detached dark red stone slabs, almost drooling.

It looked as if it had seen some peerless delicacy, a great tonic!

"Little Fellow, do you recognize these things?"

The Flame Sprite nodded repeatedly, its small eyes gleaming with desire, continuously urging Lu Yuan, wanting to go and get those stone slabs.

Just then, another anomaly occurred.

The Old Flame Spirit, who had been silent and only intermittently attacking the crowd, seemed to have heard the Flame Sprite's cries, or perhaps sensed something.

His ancient eyes pierced through layers of clouds and mist, for the first time so clearly, falling upon Lu Yuan and the Flame Sprite in his arms.

When his gaze met the Flame Sprite, a hint of surprise flashed in his calm eyes.

Then, that surprise transformed into a complex emotion.

Lu Yuan's heart tensed, his scalp tingling under that gaze.

What was this Old Elf trying to do?

Did he want to attack him?

He didn't think the other party would spare him because of the Flame Sprite.

Should he run?

Was it necessary?

"Jigu?" The Flame Sprite also seemed to sense the Old Elf's gaze, shrinking its neck uneasily and rubbing against Lu Yuan's arms.

Suddenly, the Old Flame Spirit spoke again.

He began to chant ancient and obscure syllables, with a strange rhythm, echoing throughout the entire volcanic crater.

As he chanted, the flames on the hammerhead of the giant flame hammer in his hand surged again!

This time, the flames were no longer a violent crimson but presented a strange, pale white color imbued with spatial power!

"What is he going to do?!" Duan Kong cried out, full of doubt and alarm.

"Is he going to destroy those stone slabs?" Zhou Wanhe's face changed drastically, and he soared into the air!

Zhang Yue also had a solemn expression, tightening his grip on the thunder roar spear, ready for battle.

However, the Old Flame Spirit's next action was beyond everyone's expectations.

The giant flame hammer in his hand slowly lifted, not pointing at the people on the platform, nor at the floating stone slabs.

Instead, it pointed distantly in Lu Yuan's direction!

Buzz—!

The pale white flames on the hammerhead erupted suddenly, but did not form aggressive fireballs or shockwaves.

Instead, it rapidly condensed in mid-air in front of Lu Yuan, forming a huge light screen burning with pale white flames!

This light screen was several meters high and several meters wide, floating quietly there, its surface rippling with spatial fluctuations.

The Old Flame Spirit's chanting also stopped abruptly the moment the light screen formed.

"This is... a teleportation gate?" Lu Yuan's heart pounded, an uneasy feeling surging within him.

It felt like the absurd experience of playing "My World."

What on earth was this Old Elf up to?

Just as Lu Yuan was full of doubts and about to have the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon immediately move away from this strange light screen—

From within the light screen, an irresistible and terrifying suction force suddenly emerged!

This suction was so powerful, so sudden, that Lu Yuan didn't even have time to react!

"Holy crap?!"

Lu Yuan only managed to let out a cry of surprise before he felt an overwhelming force envelop him.

He, along with the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon beneath his feet, and the Flame Sprite in his arms, who was also letting out frightened "jiji" cries, were like being grabbed by an invisible large hand, involuntarily flying towards that light screen!

"Ho—ly—crap—!"

Lu Yuan tried to struggle, urging all his Source Power, wanting to resist this suction.

However, in the face of this power, his proud Source Power was like an ant trying to shake a tree, having no effect whatsoever!

His body, along with the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon and the Flame Sprite, was instantly sucked into the light screen.

With a flash of light, the figures of one person and two pets completely disappeared from the volcanic crater.

After devouring Lu Yuan, the pale white flame light screen also rapidly dimmed, finally turning into specks of starlight and dissipating into the air.

As if it had never appeared.

The entire process was as fast as lightning!

From the Old Flame Spirit's chanting to the formation of the light screen, and then to Lu Yuan being sucked away, it only took a few short breaths!

Zhou Wanhe, Zhang Yue, Duan Kong, De Xiner, and others on the platform didn't even have time to react, watching helplessly as the light screen disappeared.

"What the heck?"

Zhou Wanhe looked utterly bewildered.

"What happened??"

"Couldn't see clearly!"

Duan Kong pondered for a moment:

"That light screen seemed to be some kind of spatial teleportation method... He wants to... call for reinforcements?"

...