Chapter 359

Chapter 359: The Hidden Crisis

Perhaps due to their long separation, Shen Jing chatted with You You for two full hours that day, with ninety percent of the conversation revolving around Xiao Ying. She recounted every detail from Xiao Ying’s birth to her current age of four and a half, rambling for over a hundred minutes until Xiao Ying herself fell asleep on her lap. Only then did Shen Jing finally stop her sisterly bragging.

Before ending the call, she left a final warning: "Little You, awakening your power was just the beginning. What comes next is critical. Your world’s situation is too complex, and since it’s your responsibility, I can’t interfere. I’ll be focusing on Xiao Ying’s training from now on and won’t have time to spare. Whether you can hold on depends entirely on yourself."

With that, she abruptly terminated the communication and reclaimed the System.

You You had fully recovered. After awakening her power, she regained her memories and felt an inexplicable connection to everything in the Mortal Realm, as if she could now control the fundamental rules of existence.

Her first act was to inspect Heaven’s Sacred Mountain. Yuan Qi had retrieved the crystal containing ninety percent of his power to search for her in the Demon Realm, breaking the mountain’s seal. Yet the golden light from You You’s awakening remained, forming an impenetrable barrier over the Demon Realm’s exit. No being from the Six Realms—let alone the demon tribes—could approach without her permission, effectively creating a new seal.

Though she had been unconscious for days, the Three Realms remained stable. Shui Yan and the others were unharmed, and their Cultivation had even improved from being near her awakened power. While You You could instantly grant them ascension with a mere thought, she refrained. Cultivation required personal experience, not shortcuts.

Outwardly, the Six Realms seemed peaceful. Even Yuan Qi and Feng Rong, who normally clashed, avoided conflict after her awakening. But You You knew this tranquility was merely a facade.

"You You, what troubles you?" Yuan Qi finally asked. She had been restless since waking—or rather, since meeting that peculiar friend. She had rushed to inspect Heaven’s Sacred Mountain, then journeyed to the borders of the Monster Realm, Immortal Realm, and Divine Realm, scrutinizing every corner of the Six Realms.

Yuan Qi, ever perceptive, pressed further. "Is there an issue with the Six Realms?"

"Can’t you sense it?" You You turned, surprised. Behind her, Yuan Qi, Feng Rong, and the Nether King exchanged blank looks.

"It’s severed here." She pointed at the Divine Realm’s gate. Assuming they understood after days of following her, she clarified, "Right there. Don’t you feel it?"

The trio stared blankly.

Frowning, You You gestured to the Nether King. "Ning Rui, open your gate."

"My gate?" After a beat, he realized she meant the Nether Realm. "Ah, yes, Realm Master!" He summoned the Nether Gate.

"Follow me—I’ll show you." You You stepped through first, the others close behind.

The misty Divine Realm vanished, replaced by the Nether Realm’s gloom. Yet the usual bone-chilling dark energy felt oddly welcoming, swirling around You You like an affectionate pet.

Ahead stood the crumbling Nether King Palace. Its broken gates hung askew, walls crumbling and beams collapsed. Devoid of spellcasting traces, it resembled a haunted ruin more than a palace.

You You shot the flustered Nether King a look. "How long has it been since you last worked here?"

"Th-this… I’ll fix it immediately!" He raised a trembling hand.

"Never mind." She waved him off. "Which way to the Nether River?"

"Th-there!" He pointed east.

Soon, they reached a vast golden river glowing like liquid starlight. You You waded in without hesitation, the others following. Golden light flashed, plunging them into a starry void. Beneath their feet stretched a cosmic tree—its golden branches linking countless stars.

"This is…" Yuan Qi and the Demon God gaped.

"The source of the Forgetting River," the Nether King whispered. "The origin of all Living Beings."

You You nodded. "This sky represents our World. Do you see the problem now?"

They looked up. The starlit Six Realms shimmered below—Nether Realm at the bottom, Human Realm bustling at the center, flanked by Monster and Immortal Realms, with Demon and Divine Realms crowning the top. Thin, jagged cracks spiderwebbed where realms met, as if invisible claws were tearing them apart.