The Mother

The more Kurumi thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed. Although her Spirit Body was mighty, it couldn't negate that the Main God had tampered with it.

She could transfer her essence by undergoing a rebirth, thus solidifying her foundation. But what about the Red Queen?

Kurumi furrowed her brows and pulled the silver block from her pocket, activating the little AI and explaining the situation.

The Red Queen's eyes sparkled. If Kurumi could retrieve the items from her spatial backpack, she could run limitless calculations and find a solution. But options were limited with her current magic power below half and her inability to recharge near the world barrier.

Glancing around the desolate area near the hidden world, she could only make out a floating continent in the far distance.

With her hand on her chin and her magic network wrapped around her, the Red Queen performed routine calculations without consuming too much energy due to the magic constraints.

After a while, she spoke, "Master, I suggest placing me in a relatively safe spot. Fixing me onto the 'barrier' would be ideal."

"And opening this kind of barrier from the inside should be much easier than from the outside," she continued, looking at Kurumi. "After you undergo rebirth, I can help take care of your body."

Kurumi pondered for a moment. "How long can your current form last under normal conditions?"

"As long as I don't engage in combat or heavy calculations, I can last for a few hundred years."

Kurumi nodded and retrieved some of the black mud fixed in her divine radiance. After rebirth, she would transfer her essence, but she didn't want the divine characteristics to carry over. That would be problematic.

For now, it was best to neutralize her internal power. Once inside her, the refined black mud gravitated towards the vortex of spiritual energy.

The slightly smaller divine seed turned slowly in the vortex's depths, showing no resistance to the black mud, as the divine flame had purified its malevolent aura.

As the black mud permeated, the divine seed finally sensed something amiss.

The Red Queen watched her master intently. Kurumi's aura fluctuated, and her divine state, filled with holy significance, vanished. Without the divine radiance stabilizing it, the six-pointed star array containing "All the Evils of This World" threatened to drift away.

Time she was passed. Kurumi's white hair reverted to its nightshade, and her aura stabilized. She opened her crimson eyes, deeply tired.

Having nearly exhausted her mental state breaching the spatial storm, Kurumi's brief excitement upon finding the small world kept her going for a few days. Now, her mental ocean was gray and murky. Summoning her remaining energy, she stood up.

"Master?"

"Have you found a safe place?"

"Uh... There's nothing here. We just need to find a relatively concealed spot."

Following the Red Queen, Kurumi flew towards their destination. She attempted to project her consciousness into the small world along the way.

She needed a suitable mother. A strong mother would give birth to a child with high potential. During her post-rebirth growth period, she would transfer her essence. The transfer would destroy a body with low potential.

Kurumi's consciousness entered the small world, finding another space within.

'Could this be a subspace created by a powerful native faction?' she wondered, her curiosity piqued. Her consciousness pushed through, entering the inner space.

Her shadow-like form hovered, noticing yet another space within the subspace.

'These natives really love their layers,' she smirked.

Her consciousness flew over an ancient city, ignoring it. She needed a powerful mother for rebirth and a safe place to rest her exhausted spirit.

After a week of searching, she realized the space was enormous. Despite sensing many life signs, Kurumi couldn't pinpoint a suitable mother.

Her spirit waning, Kurumi grew frustrated. She couldn't afford to delay.

She targeted a grand building with dense life energy, sensing two strong presences and possibly a third—an unborn child. Sharing the mother was undesirable, but she had no time to be picky.

Both presences were strong, likely extraordinary beings. Rebirth here would ensure a new solid body.

She marked the pregnant being, and her consciousness dissipated.

Kurumi opened her eyes at the edge of the world barrier, looking at the Red Queen. "Try not to use the magic network. When my body's essence is nearly exhausted, you can use it to recharge yourself."

Before the Red Queen could respond, Kurumi closed her eyes. Her consciousness carried a trace of essence, penetrating the barrier and entering the pregnant female.

The Red Queen blinked, a hint of sadness crossing her face. But she quickly steeled herself, focusing on guarding her master's body.

Though it would gradually dissipate, she treasured this last memory with her master.

After all, breaking this world barrier wouldn't be easy.

A sudden burst of energy scattered the clouds! A middle-aged man with a dark expression scanned the surroundings, seeking clues.

One after another, figures in luxurious robes and ancient auras appeared beside him.

"Patriarch!"

Gu Yuan scanned the area, slowly calming his expression.

An elder hesitated before asking, "Patriarch, what happened?"

Gu Yuan's face darkened. "An intruder. Deploy the search parties!"

The elder flinched. "But Patriarch, we haven't opened..."

"Enough! Who's the Patriarch here?!"

The Nine-Star Dou Saint's pressure bore down, making the elder tremble.

The others remained silent. It had been long since they had seen their Patriarch this angry.