The Heart of the World

Faced with an incredibly terrifying and sudden offensive, the mysterious figure waiting on the side could not help but retreat slightly.

The massive phantom, however, remained completely unconcerned. As if looking at an ordinary scene, it casually waved its sleeve, sending back an even more terrifying sea of Dao Rhymes in response!

Boom!!!

The two fearsome powers collided and intertwined, creating endless shockwaves of terrifying might that rippled toward the depths of the universe, shaking countless stars in their wake!

The massive phantom gave a cold, indifferent chuckle, speaking with arrogant authority.

"Hmph, nothing more than a petty trick."

"You alone are not qualified to compete with this deity. If you truly wish for another battle, at least those few must show their faces before I would consider it worth exerting my full strength!"

Hearing these words, a flash of pressure crossed Wu Tao’s eyes.

However, a cold sneer appeared on his face. He showed no intention of backing down; even though the enemy was exceptionally powerful, he continued to mock him.

"Heh."

"Keep bragging, why don't you? You sure know how to flatter yourself!"

"If those few actually showed up, would you even dare to spout such nonsense? I bet you’d be worried about being too slow to run away! You’re only running your mouth now because they’re too busy to come here!"

"It’s not like we met yesterday. We know exactly what kind of person the other is, so stop acting like such a big shot in front of me!"

These words echoed through the sea of stars. His tone was ruthless; even a deaf person could hear the contempt.

Finally.

The phantom seemed to be affected by the words. It did not immediately retort, seemingly struck where it hurt.

Right at that moment.

Wu Tao spotted a gap in the flashing light. Seizing the opportunity to strike while the enemy was vulnerable, he suddenly pointed a finger at the mysterious person beside the phantom, unleashing the full force of his cultivation!

Swoosh!

A single finger pierced the void, boring right through the dark figure!

That cultivation level, enough to destroy the void itself, was concentrated into a single burst from his finger. His combat power multiplied instantly, and in a heartbeat, the Curse Control Envoy’s soul was utterly annihilated!

It all happened too suddenly. Not only did the dark figure look down in stunned disbelief as it dissipated, but even the massive phantom only reacted a moment later.

The phantom let out a cold snort of fury and pointed an accusing finger!

"You dare to launch a sneak attack? You have no sense of martial honor!"

Wu Tao withdrew his finger and let out a cheeky laugh.

"Oh, look at that!"

"Someone's losing their cool! Someone's definitely triggered!"

"Never leaving any hidden threats behind—that has always been our style. Don't tell me this is your first day finding that out?"

"I only killed one little minion and you're this angry? Could it be that you guys are spread so thin that this was the only Curse Control Envoy you had left on Blue Star?"

"No way, surely not? You guys don't even have many lackeys left, do you?!"

The phantom stared with cold eyes for a few moments, then pulled back its arm and swept its sleeve dismissively!

"Hmph!"

"Do not revel in your petty tongue-wagging!"

"Even if you obtain the World Heart of Blue Star, so what? Without the World Origin of this realm, the World Heart is completely useless to you!"

"In the end, we are still the ones in control of the grand design!"

After those parting threats, the phantom dissipated into the universe.

Gazing at the empty sea of stars, Wu Tao’s smile faded, replaced by a starlight-like glint in his eyes.

As expected, there was only this one Curse Control Envoy on Blue Star. Now that there were no more obstacles, breaking the forbidden curse would be easy. The World Heart was finally within reach!

"Truly a stubborn fool."

"The World Heart is in my hands. You don't need to worry about what happens in the future. As for who wins and who loses, we shall see!"

With a cold smile, he turned and sped toward Blue Star!

After flying for only a few breaths, he stopped at the outer perimeter of Blue Star. Looking from a distance, the red mist appeared slightly thinner and was no longer as dense as before. This confirmed his suspicion: the forbidden curse no longer had a source of power to maintain it.

Even so, Wu Tao did not let down his guard. For the sake of safety, he inspected it closely once more. Only after confirming that the forbidden curse was indeed weakening did he begin to act.

As he circulated his full cultivation, his complex hand seals guided the red mist at the edge of Blue Star to disperse. Once the red mist vanished, the surface of Blue Star finally revealed its rightful blue source streams—beautiful, dazzling, and radiating a pure, terrifying power sufficient to nurture all living things.

After a full half-hour, a pale blue orb of light finally took shape and floated toward Wu Tao!

Holding the hard-won World Heart in both hands, Wu Tao finally broke into a triumphant smile of success. He carefully placed it into a special ancient bottle for the time being, then turned his gaze once more toward the revitalized Blue Star.

Even though he had temporarily taken the World Heart, it was only a portion of Blue Star’s power. As long as all living things remained and the laws of heaven and earth persisted, it would not take too long for a complete World Heart to be nurtured once again in the future.

Staring at the beautiful planet now that his task was complete, Wu Tao felt very relaxed. Compared to the sentimentality of returning here, he felt a sense of calm, and even a trace of reluctance to leave.

Everything was finished. It was time to say goodbye.

Taking one last look at Blue Star, he tore through the void to return to the northern ice valley.

The moment he stepped onto the ice, Sister Han was already standing quietly in the distance. She watched him with a gratified smile, her graceful approach still full of charm, though her eyes also held a hint of reluctance.

"Xiao Tao."

A thousand words were condensed into that one name, a name that carried more weight than ten thousand sighs.

Wu Tao returned the gesture with a smile, bidding her a serious farewell.

"Sister Han."

"I have the World Heart. I’m leaving immediately. Once I get back, I will definitely find a way to reshape your physical body as soon as possible. The next time we meet, everyone will be able to sit at the same table and laugh together!"

A light shimmered in Sister Han’s eyes as she nodded with a smile.

"I’m sure we will."

"Remember to... to give my regards to your master."

Wu Tao nodded heavily, etching all the promises of this moment into his memory.

"I will!"

With that, Wu Tao’s figure vanished into the sky. He flew over the ice plains, looking down at the various sights on the ground. His brief return was coming to an end, and he felt an increasingly complex mix of emotions—both reluctance and nostalgia.

It wasn't until he returned to the lakeside that his face settled into a calm smile. One look at him and the crowd was filled with awe and reverence; the casualness of the past was gone, and no one even had the courage to stand near him.

Only Xu Rong, who had spent the last few days with him, seemed to sense something.

After hesitating for a few moments, she stepped forward.

"The emergency mission should be complete. If..."

She started with official business, just as capable and decisive as she had always been.

Wu Tao interrupted her, saying goodbye simply as a friend.

"I'm leaving."

As the soft words fell, Xu Rong suddenly lapsed into silence. She stared blankly for a long time, and even the serious words she had prepared were momentarily forgotten.

After a few breaths of silence, the words she subconsciously blurted out were much softer in tone, lacking her usual thunderous efficiency.

"Will you... will you come back?"

Hearing this, Wu Tao thought seriously for a few moments before answering.

"Hard to say."

With that, Wu Tao began to walk away, as if everything was finished and it was time to depart.

As they passed each other, Xu Rong did not make a sound. Her expression returned to its former coldness, living up to her reputation as the Cold-Faced Asura.

Suddenly, Wu Tao stopped and turned back as if remembering something.

"Oh, right."

“When I come back next time, you have to remember to take me for some ice jelly. I’ve got to see for myself if it’s really that good—otherwise, I’ll never believe it could actually beat a steamed bun.”

As the words left his lips, Xu Rong’s eyes suddenly grew red with emotion, yet she turned back and let out a soft, sudden chuckle.

“Pfft...”

“Fine. I’ll definitely take you.”

Watching the beautiful captain wave her farewell with a smile, Wu Tao smiled back and gave a gentle wave of his hand. His silhouette gradually dissolved into the void, like a spring breeze sweeping across the verdant mountains and emerald waters.