Plate 122: Spacetime Collapse Oscillation

Cain, accompanied by his close subordinates, expended a significant amount of faith energy to utilize the mainframe's instant teleportation, arriving at Red Leaf Interstellar City. A second later, Bishop Anthony could not help but rush over as well, for the space-time turbulence had been contained by a domain whose aura clearly belonged to Sang Hongye.

"The little brat is ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, thinking that because they have mastered the Laws of Space-Time, they are invincible. To dare to use a domain to wrap around a collapsing, vibrating space-time—they deserve a beating!"

In Red Leaf Interstellar City, at the castle on Heaven Dao Star, at the most critical moment, Sang Sang had opened her domain to envelop the upper half of the tower where the conflict was occurring, creating a space-time isolation zone and pinning the collapse within her domain.

Space-time collapsing within a domain is akin to a mortal swallowing a bomb; even Sang Sang’s stabilized God’s Domain was shaken, her sea of consciousness was in turmoil, and her space-time star core trembled.

Fortunately, the cross-sectional space-time formed by Sang Sang’s containment was relatively small, short-lived, and not yet stable. Furthermore, since this was the first time Sang Sang had used this technique, she lacked experience, and the space-time power generated by the collapse was far inferior to that of the cross-section used to seal Aslan’s original star core, with a much lower concentration of destructive aura.

Hardening her heart, Sang Sang frantically devoured the destructive space-time energy caused by the collapse. The mysterious space-time origin acted once more, helping her star core suppress the disobedient child.

"Leave some for me! It took so much effort to make it collapse and produce destructive power." The ragged-looking Heavenly Emperor burst out, but he only managed to salvage a small portion; the rest had already been eaten by Sang Sang. He hugged her leg, complaining mournfully and begging for mercy.

Sang Sang, furious and wishing she could dig out what he had already consumed, kicked at his bruised and swollen face. "You call that 'so much effort'? You just needed to reconnect the past and future and return on your own, yet you had to reinforce the seal and then forcibly destroy it? Couldn't you have made less of a commotion? You’ve alerted everyone nearby! If it weren't for Grandpa Anthony’s guards outside, Red Leaf Interstellar City would have been besieged!"

Sang Sang was not exaggerating. From the moment she sensed the space-time fluctuations and flew into action until the fluctuations subsided, only twenty or thirty seconds had passed, yet the area around Red Leaf Interstellar City was already filled with divine senses probing the situation.

By the tenth second, hundreds of people had gathered above the city, forming a defensive perimeter. Uncle Cain stood outside the castle with a dozen men, using his powerful Profound Energy to set up a barrier to isolate the castle. Beside him was the kindly Bishop Anthony, with Aslan and Boya conversing with him, while behind them stood Sena, his face devoid of its usual smile, looking grave and gloomy. If one looked closely, one could even see Sena grinding his teeth.

The Heavenly Emperor retreated his head in secret and rubbed his hands over his face, erasing the purple and blue marks. "It only destroyed half a tower, and it’s our private property. Was such a grand display really necessary?"

"Hurry up and change your clothes to go meet our guests," Sang Sang scolded, though, in her heart, she also felt it was a bit of an overreaction, especially since even Grandpa Anthony, whom she hadn't seen since returning to the Temple, had shown up.

"You really sound like a bar manager from one of those books," the Heavenly Emperor chuckled.

"You have time to read trashy novels? You’re truly too idle." Sang Sang doused him with a massive glob of ice water, giving him a cold shower before withdrawing her domain. "Take your time changing, then. Let’s see how Uncle Cain adjusts his teaching plan once he discovers how idle his student is."

"It was Xiao Jin who said I was too childish and recommended those adult books to me. Don't be so heartless, and don't go blabbing to Uncle!" The Heavenly Emperor hurriedly shook off the water, threw on some clothes, combed his hair, and chased after Sang Sang.

"Blabbing what to me?" Uncle Cain’s voice was deep and husky, filled with danger.

"Haha, haha, nothing at all," the Heavenly Emperor feigned ignorance. "Sang Sang was just complaining that I broke her castle and told me that when I go into seclusion next time, I shouldn't come to her interstellar city, but should ask you for a place instead."

Sang Sang rolled her eyes but didn't expose his lie. She bowed to Uncle Cain and then approached Bishop Anthony, lowering her head with a look of meek shame. "Grandpa Anthony, I’m sorry. The Heavenly Emperor and I were young and reckless, using the Laws of Space-Time for experiments and causing you trouble."

Bishop Anthony patted Sang Sang’s shoulder kindly. He led the group back to his residence, served Sang Sang a plate of candy and a cup of tea, and said gently, "Aslan has already told me. You and the Heavenly Emperor helped him recover his original star core by destroying a sealed minor space-time. The Heavenly Emperor stayed behind and came out late, becoming invaded by the destructive power of space-time, which led to this seclusion to purge it and the resulting space-time collapse."

Sang Sang glanced at her teacher, Aslan, and then at Boya, who knew the Heavenly Emperor’s seclusion was to digest the space-time energy. She thought to herself that while she could understand Teacher Boya, Teacher Aslan was spouting nonsense without even blinking.

"Don't blame them; they did it for your own good," Bishop Anthony said with a hint of reproach. "How could you two children do something so important without even a word? It was too reckless. If there had been an accident, it would have been too late for anyone to help."

Sang Sang bowed her head, listening obediently to the lecture.

"With your mastery of the Laws of Space-Time, you couldn't possibly be unaware of the danger of destructive space-time energy. You didn't even send word when you returned, and you went into seclusion in such a poorly defended place—how naughty. And as for the rest of you..." Bishop Anthony looked at Aslan, Boya, and Sena. "The children are ignorant, but are you three as well?"

The three adults lowered their heads, standing in a row with Sang Sang to be lectured.

"Boya, you need to change your stubborn ways. When you discovered something was wrong with Aslan’s injuries, you should have properly requested a physician specializing in space-time to examine him, not secretly hidden the person and gone to find a child to look at them. Those who understand you know you trust Little Red Leaf’s ability; those who don't would think you were forcing or framing her, making your own student take on a burden that even Universe-level experts wouldn't want to touch."

"Aslan, you are just as obstinate. Once the two children helped you, you should have reported the Heavenly Emperor’s condition instead of helping him hide it until something went wrong. Your original star core recovery will not be made public; you are to remain here in seclusion."

"And you, Sena, what did you promise me back then? After being together for so long, do you still not know the personalities of these two children? You didn't have any preparations before the incident? This time it was only because the children were capable that neither of them was hurt. If something had happened, regardless of who was injured, you would not have been able to escape responsibility."

"Grandpa Anthony..." Sang Sang tried to interject but was silenced by a glance from Bishop Anthony that made her scalp tingle. Sena poked her shoulder, signaling her to remain silent.

"Don't argue for him," Bishop Anthony naturally saw their little interaction. "He is your guardian, your caretaker, responsible for your life and your safety. Such dereliction of duty is enough to warrant a night in the Tribunal."

Sena hunched his shoulders, appearing even more meek than Sang Sang.

"Your Majesty." Uncle Cain strode over, dragging the Heavenly Emperor by the collar and setting him upright beside Sang Sang. "This accident is also my dereliction of duty. The Heavenly Emperor asked for leave, saying he wanted to condense his Dharma Image. Seeing how diligent he usually is and that his progress exceeded expectations, I gave him a long leave. I never expected that he would secretly use a space-time cross-section for experiments, intentionally creating space-time destructive energy through collapse and vibration to cultivate."