Krune and Feifei then returned to the Luvile Universe as planned. However, they didn't even need to contact the others when they arrived there. As soon as they appeared, they received a message from Tiane, telling them to go see her.

Krune and Feifei opened a Spatial Gate and went straight to the Wisp World in the Divine Path Sect.

​​

"Tiane, did Heavin really come?"

Tiane nodded as she looked at the semi-sleeping Ruik on the desk. As always, he used the same technique as before to keep doing his job.

"He did. He said that he found a reaction with that weird Dark Water of yours coming from outside Dalin. That's why he used your hole on the Dalin Protection Formation to come out. After that, he invited Liriu since he was the strongest one after you between us to go explore with him."

Krune nodded.

"Oh! That's a good decision. I tested Liriu's power back in the Wisp Main World when he wasn't holding back. He was really powerful. If he was at the Peak of the Divinity Realm, I don't know if I could win against him without Luvile's assistance."

Feifei and Tiane agreed with Krune.

"With Liriu's raw power and Heavin's expertise in Mental Energy, those two should be able to overcome most of the difficulties on their own. Well, not that it's guaranteed that they will find anything dangerous to start with."

Krune couldn't help but say.

"I know that. Still, because it's related to that weird Dark Water that can suck in Mental Energy, I would like to go take a look-see as well."

Feifei giggled.

"You're just curious as to what that water could be, right?"

Krune scratched the back of his head but didn't try to deny it. How could he not be curious?

"Ahem... By the way, do you know where they went?"

Tiane nodded.

"Heavin said he found the place the Dark Water was pointing to. That's why he came back to ask Liriu's help. It's located in the Palom Universe. The area is called the Soren Ruins."

Feifei and Krune's expressions froze when they heard that name.

"Cough, cough... What did you say?"

Tiane noticed their complexions and couldn't help but feel a little worried about Liriu. Still, she answered their question again.

"Palom Universe, Soren Ruins. Is there something wrong?"

Krune and Feifei looked at each other with weird faces. Krune then woke Ruik up from his trance before explaining what happened between them and Joty just before they left Luvile Universe.

"What?! Was there such a thing?"

"Joty... That guy disappeared after the Divine Path Sect Entrance Exam. To think he would appear again in such a way."

Tiane then immediately made a decision.

"I have to go there. What if Liriu's in danger?"

Ruik nodded.

"Certainly. Let's go there straight away."

However, Krune immediately cut them.

"Out of the question. Let alone help them, with your cultivations, you two would become nothing more than a burden. In the end, Liriu and Heavin would be the ones who need to save you two."

Both Tiane and Ruik were still in the Semi-Divinity Realm. In the and, they simply didn't have the same talent as Krune, Feifei, or Liriu, so they fell behind. Of course, their cultivation speed was already heaven-defying to anyone outside Krune's group. After all, they were able to keep using Godly Energy until now.

"But..."

Feifei then calmed the two, especially Tiane.

"Don't worry. What Joty said was that the Dark Thread was attached to Krune and me. It doesn't mean that Liriu and Heavin are in the same danger as we are. Just the fact that we are having this kind of conversation already altered the future anyway."

Krune nodded and added.

"Besides, Joty noted that once he told us that, it changed into a gray color instead. It means that it isn't an almost certain death situation anymore. We confirmed with Cinty back in the Wisp World, and Heavin's Soul Flame was pretty much fine."

Ruik wasn't satisfied.

"However, I can't just stay here and pretend that I know nothing. You two can't enter because of that gray karma thread you have. But what if Liriu and Heavin have a pure dark karma thread instead? We can't confirm that since Joty never looked at them."

Krune sighed before nodding.

"Fine... I'll go there take a look."

Feifei held his hand before saying.

"Obviously, I'm going as well. Don't underestimate a Destiny Heavenly Fragment owner."

Krune shrugged his shoulders. He did promise he wouldn't leave her behind, after all.

Krune then looked at Tiane and Ruik.

"Alright, you two. It's decided then. Don't tell Lakin, Fie, and the others. Otherwise, they might have some crazy ideas about following us."

Tiane couldn't help but feel even more worried. After all, Krune and Feifei's karma threads were still gray. She also cared about them a lot, especially Feifei.

"Then... How about I go inside a Dimensional Spatial Box. That way, I won't drag you two down."

Ruik liked the idea.

"That's good. I can do that too."

Feifei shook her head and hugged Tiane.

"Nope. If you two disappear all of a sudden, it will be a big problem. Don't worry, Krune and I will be fine. Now that we know about how dangerous the place is, we will be extra careful. Be a good Demon Crow and stay here."

Tiane's eyes became a little teary.

"You didn't call me this ever since I first gained sentience."

Feifei laughed after hearing that.

"In fact, I also treated you like that before you even got that."

Krune then turned serious as he said.

"Alright. I don't want to stay here for much longer. Ruik should keep doing his job as if nothing happened. That will not alarm Lakin and Cassy if the two come back. Tiane should be careful as well to not show too much."

Ruik and Tiane and decided to leave it in Krune and Feifei's hands. As much as they hated the idea, they knew that there was nothing they could do at their level.

Krune and Feifei then left the room and went to outer space. However, just as they were about to open a Spatial Gate, another appeared close to them. Following that, a male demon beast in human form came out.

"Oh! So the information was true. You really came back."

Krune and Feifei looked at each other, puzzled. None of them knew who this guy was.

"Who are you?"

The demon beast nodded his head as he opened his communicator. Right after, he sent Feifei and Krune his identification.

-Suiton Universe-

Tura, Representative of the Kapin Sect.

Designated as the one responsible for the Multi-Universal Trade Route issue between the Luvile and Suiton Universe.

"Ahem... then, let me go straight to the point."

"Krune, as the representative of the Luvile Universe in the Heavenly Competition, you are also the Luvile Universe's representative for all external issues. The Luvile and Suiton Universes have a dispute to be resolved in the trade route that passes between both of them. It has been decided that a fight between each Universe's Representative will be realized since a formal accord hasn't been reached."

"The winner of the fight shall hold the rights to control the Multi-Universal Trade route for the next Chaos Cycle. The fight will happen in the area sent to your communicator. Now that both sides are aware of the dispute, you two have one week to prepare. If one of the sides fail to appear, their Universe will automatically lose the rights for that trade route."

Krune and Feifei were taken aback by that. They knew very well about those disputes and how they could be resolved by each Universe's Heavenly Core Owner or similar representative. When Krune joined the Heavenly Competition, he knew that such conflicts would fall on his lap if they really happened.

Tura then smiled before saying.

"Phew... It was tough to locate you. It seems like it was a good idea to keep some people watching this place. My task as the Suiton Universe representative has been completed. Your Dalin Universe Representative has already contacted our Suiton Universe Representative as well. Anyway, that's all. See you during the fighting day."

The guy then opened a Spatial Gate and left as fast as he arrived.

"This... They really couldn't have chosen a worse moment to do such a thing."

"Do you think they did it on purpose to stop us?"

"No. Who other than you, me, Tiane, and Ruik, knows that we're going to Soren Ruins? From what I can see, this dispute had been decided while we were out buying Heavenly Fragments."

Feifei couldn't help but say.

"Let's ignore it. So what if the trade route is lost or not? We need to go check what is happening with Liriu and Heavin in the Soren Ruins."

Krune nodded. In any case, Luvile could select someone else if their main choice wasn't available at the moment.

However, it was then that a few other Spatial Gates began to appear where Krune and Feifei were staying. Lucio came out of the very first one of them.

"Oh! So you really did come back. Because I didn't know which Universe you were in, I couldn't contact you. Anyway, did you receive the challenge dispute already?"

Krune was taken aback by that. Even his Master knew about it.

"I... did?"

Lucio nodded.

"Great! Make sure you give the Suiton Universe guy a good beating. Our Divine Path Sect also uses that route a lot, so we can't lose it now."

Krune bitterly smiled. His Master obviously didn't know anything about Liriu and Heavin. That's why he asked that. It was also possible to see how much importance he put on that trade route.

Lucio wasn't the only one there. Representatives from the other Sacred Clans also came out from those Spatial Gates. They, too, requested the same thing from Krune.

'What do I do now?'