Indeed, the one who arrived was none other than Yun Fan. On the Xianzhou, he was likely the only one capable of entering this alternate dimension.
The alternate dimension created by Qingque was woven with the twisted threads of Causality. For an outsider without the authority of Causality, entering it was nearly impossible.
Even other Emanators of Aeons couldn't do it. Their power might be enough to shake or destroy the dimension, but entering it was beyond their reach—at best, they could only shatter it.
Noticing the pensive look on the girl in his arms, Yun Fan gently smoothed her disheveled hair and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Is something on your mind?"
"On my mind?" Qingque shook her head, her tone complex. "It's less about being on my mind and more like a sense of wonder or confusion. Everything before me feels… somewhat unreal."
"A few months ago, I was just a minor diviner managing the library at the Divination Commission. Yet, in these few months, I've leaped to become an Emanator of an Aeon, wielding the power to burn the heavens and boil the seas."
"Today, I even defeated Zephyro, a Lord of Extinction who plagued the cosmos for a millennium. I—" Ouch!
Before the girl could finish, Yun Fan flicked her forehead with a sharp snap.
Clutching her reddened forehead, tears welling in her eyes, Qingque protested, "Fan, what was that for?!"
In response to her indignant complaint, Yun Fan chuckled and shook his head, gently scraping her cute little nose with his finger. Then, he pulled her tightly into his embrace.
"You silly girl, what's there to be confused about? Don't forget, all your power came from me."
"If you're still feeling lost… how about I take back all your powers, and you can obediently be my bed-warming maid from now on?" Yun Fan whispered teasingly into her ear.
Qingque shivered at his words and quickly wriggled out of his embrace, waving her hands frantically. "N-no, I suddenly don't feel lost anymore! Fan, I remember there's still one Lord of Extinction left to deal with, right?"
Her body stiffened as she hurriedly changed the subject.
"Letting March and the others face Phantylia alone is too dangerous. We—" Oof!
As she spoke, intending to dissolve the alternate dimension, Qingque suddenly felt her legs give out, a wave of exhaustion washing over her.
"Huh? What's…"
"It's the aftereffect of overusing the power of Causality," Yun Fan said, catching her by the waist and gently lifting her in a princess carry.
"Altering Causality goes against the natural concepts of the world. Those who defy Causality are inherently at odds with the world itself."
"In the battle just now, you used the power of Causality multiple times. Experiencing exhaustion as a minor side effect is perfectly normal."
Before Yun Fan could finish, Qingque's consciousness began to blur, and she soon fell into a deep sleep in his arms.
Yun Fan gave a gentle smile, and with a flicker of his will, he appeared in Qingque's home the next moment.
Carefully removing her shoes and outer garments and tucking her into bed, Yun Fan's gaze softened.
Hum—!
A gentle force radiated from Yun Fan, enveloping the entire household before stopping its spread.
Looking at Qingque's adorable and sweet sleeping face, Yun Fan murmured softly, "Sleep well, little Qingque. You've worked hard. Leave the rest to me…"
— — — —
Two quarters of an hour later, in the depths of the Scalegorge Waterscape…
The sea curtain stretched to the heavens, and the waters of the ancient sea parted under the influence of dragon power. A massive dragon-shaped Ambrosial Arbor stood at the center of the ancient sea.
Thousands of years ago, the Scalegorge Waterscape was a sacred ground for the Vidyadhara. Not only outsiders but even members of the Vidyadhara clan were rarely permitted to set foot here.
Years later, a Vidyadhara Dragon Sovereign defied all opposition, using the immortal power within the Scalegorge Waterscape to suppress the Ambrosial Arbor. From then on, the Xianzhou no longer had to fear the threat posed by the Arbor.
But now, with the Stellaron disaster erupting, crises piled one after another: the Nameless, the Vidyadhara Dragon Sovereign, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, the forces of Causality, and the Lords of Extinction.
The Xianzhou was once again sailing toward a moment of life and death.
Gazing at the dragon-shaped Ambrosial Arbor, towering hundreds of zhang high, Jing Yuan's brows furrowed deeply. After a moment, he spoke in a low, commanding tone, "Phantylia, come out and face us in a final battle! I know you're here—there's no need to hide!"
As Jing Yuan's words fell, Stelle, March 7th, Welt, and Fu Xuan all turned their gazes to the Ambrosial Arbor at the center of the ancient sea.
One second passed, two seconds, five seconds…
Just as the group began to think Phantylia wouldn't respond, a melodious yet low chuckle suddenly emanated from the brow of the dragon-shaped Arbor.
"Hehehe… General of the Seat of Divine Foresight, Dragon Sovereign, and the Nameless—our first meeting."
As the voice drifted through the air, the dragon-shaped Arbor's eyes suddenly glowed. In the next moment, a majestic dragon aura, infused with the powers of Destruction and Abundance, radiated from the Arbor.
The overwhelming dragon aura swept over like a thundering chariot, causing everyone present to feel a weight press upon them.
"So… so strong…" March 7th's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.
Compared to the distant pressure they had felt from Zephyro's Emanator aura, the might emanating from Phantylia was on an entirely different level.
In terms of raw strength, Zephyro was indeed stronger than Phantylia. However, by the time the Nameless arrived at the battlefield, Zephyro had already been pulled into Qingque's alternate dimension by the power of Causality, leaving only a faint trace of his Emanator aura.
But Phantylia, standing before them now, was a fully realized Lord of Extinction.
Though she had yet to reveal the physical body forged from the power of Abundance, the sheer majesty radiating from her soul was not something an ordinary person could withstand.
"My esteemed guests, I've kept you waiting. This lady has finished her preparations. Now, allow me to show you the miracle of the Abundance's power."
As Phantylia's words fell, a massive lotus bloomed at the brow of the dragon-shaped Arbor, slowly floating into the air.
In the next moment, a dim glow flickered, and with the lotus as its center, the power of Abundance surged outward. Within a few breaths, a female figure, dozens of meters tall, coalesced into being.