Following the golden sphere all the way, Feng Yuan found that although they mostly walked on the central straight paths, in reality, they were heading underground.

The others are underground? Why? Do those guys now prefer dark underground environments?

There were too many questions, and Feng Yuan couldn’t figure out the situation for a moment, but he still chose to silently heighten his vigilance, even though they hadn’t encountered any real danger along the way.

At this point, the golden sphere led the group up and down, constantly changing paths. Feng Yuan was sure that if they relied on themselves to find the way, they wouldn’t reach their destination in a short time.

Because although this place seemed more like driving roads, every segment featured three lanes that split into upper and lower lanes and forward lanes, with each lane corresponding to a different plane.

Unless they deviated from the designated path and forcibly used an ultimate move to clear the way, the labyrinthine underground passages were a headache even for him.

Of course, he wasn’t worried that the thing would trick them into a trap and trap them here. Not that Feng Yuan and his team couldn’t break the spatial or even world barriers forcibly, he just remembered the way they came, unless it changed after they passed.

"Quickly heading downward?"

Feng Yuan rubbed his chin and noticed that the golden sphere was leading them downward much faster now. Previously, it chose not to change planes and continued down routes that inclined downward. Now, the sphere mostly chose paths that led clearly downward.

Moreover, Feng Yuan constructed a map in his mind based on their route and found it somewhat subtle.

"The path seems problematic. On a two-dimensional plane, it looks like we’re following a coil-like path, spiraling inward. But in three dimensions, it feels as if we’re spiraling downward along the edge of a funnel-shaped structure. Regardless of whether we’re in the city’s center or not, we’re near the center."

Qiu Hanmo also realized something was off and reminded everyone. As for whether the person behind it would take any adverse actions based on his words?

Qiu Hanmo thought it wasn’t likely. It wasn’t self-confidence, but the logic of the others’ actions hadn’t cared about their opinions.

Even if he guessed wrong, it wasn’t a big deal. It was a probing test of the intentions of the one behind it. At least, in Qiu Hanmo’s view, it was better than always following the other party’s lead.

Handing over all initiative wasn’t an option in Qiu Hanmo’s view, even if such actions might bring some danger. He believed it was worth it.

They didn’t stop Qiu Hanmo’s probing actions. Agunas and the others didn’t do it just because they trusted Feng Yuan, while Feng Yuan himself was pondering for other reasons.

After all, no matter what, they had some connection with him, leaving Feng Yuan a bit conflicted about how to face them.

When the group thought they’d have to turn for a long time to reach the center, the road suddenly made a sharp turn ahead, merging all lanes into a broad straight avenue.

The surrounding background also changed. The previously thick tunnel walls became more and more broken along the path until they completely disappeared, exposing a void as splendid as a Star River.

This strange scene also made Feng Yuan understand why the Guide had led them to this place.

The further they went, the stranger it became. Floating in the void were parts of various city facilities. In Qi Chen’s mind, the presence behind all this intentionally created such a bizarre space, perhaps to intimidate them?

Feng Yuan didn’t think so. He understood why this place was this way, and he also speculated why the city was so strange. The only thing he didn’t understand was where they got the ability to construct such a vast simulated world using the Parallel World.

The straight avenue seemed endless, and everyone traveled in silence. Feng Yuan had a premonition that the one behind this was just ahead, yet he still had many unanswered questions.

Would the other party explain out of kindness...

As Feng Yuan thought about this, he suddenly sensed something amiss and looked questioningly at Qi Chen and the others, asking,

"Why aren’t you moving?"

The human-form Gitalien concentrated invisible spatial force in their hand and smashed it forward, causing a ripple as if hitting an invisible wall.

Seeing this, Feng Yuan frowned. The golden sphere halted since he stopped, and Qi Chen pushed with his hand, helplessly saying,

"There’s an obstruction here, preventing us from moving forward."

Seeing that only Feng Yuan and Xiao Ji could pass, Qi Chen became concerned that it might be a trap set by the one behind, intending to isolate Feng Yuan to target him.

Unfortunately, with his current power, he couldn’t do anything about the barrier set by that entity.

As Agunas and the rest looked at him, Feng Yuan considered for a moment and said,

"Wait here for a bit. I’ll go ahead and see what’s happening."

Feng Yuan was uncertain what this was about. If the other party simply wanted to see him, why let Xiao Ji come too? Given their Taming Beast Contract, the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound should also be able to come, yet it was blocked behind.

Unable to figure it out, Feng Yuan didn’t dwell on it. As for whether Qi Chen and the others would be in danger if left there?

Feng Yuan didn’t think so. With Agunas and the others present, exploring might have gaps, but staying put was unlikely to cause any issues.

Seeing Feng Yuan proceed alone with Xiao Ji, Qi Chen realized that Feng Yuan might have ties with those people, or perhaps his origins were related to them.

However, even Qi Chen couldn’t understand how Feng Yuan was linked to them.

Qiu Hanmo considered more, given his lack of familiarity with Feng Yuan and being someone not easily affected by emotions. He wondered if Feng Yuan was an infiltrator left by some people.

But after reconsidering, he deemed it unlikely, since Feng Yuan’s prowess was evident. If Agunas and the others obeyed him, his strength couldn’t be underestimated, nor could he be an enemy infiltrator.

Besides, the Divine Beasts weren’t fools. Though they preferred straightforwardness due to their immense power, it didn’t mean they didn’t understand strategic means—long lives had imparted such knowledge, though they often deemed it beneath them.

To plot against them would not be an easy task.

The starlit sky gradually dimmed, and moving forward, the surrounding light decreased while the path was adorned with golden patterns. These golden patterns faintly illuminated the ground.

At the end of the straight passage, a massive, multi-tiered circular altar emerged, with a colossal golden Rune Sphere hanging above it, illuminating the altar like a moon.

Atop the altar, a figure in a black robe stood. As Feng Yuan approached, she slowly turned around.

Despite the passage of time, she still remembered His appearance. Even now, His hairstyle changed, and His attire was different, yet He remained unchanged.

The black-robed figure was stunned, at a loss with how to respond, whether to rush down and kneel or...

Unlike the black-robed figure, Feng Yuan slowly approached the altar, immediately noticing the giant Rune Sphere floating above.

That object was the Core of Rules, or rather, the world heart of this Parallel World.

On his way, Feng Yuan discerned that the outer city was merely a replication, and the lack of people made sense.

The rules of the Parallel World couldn’t create a perfect copy of real beings. If those people were here, rather than creating artificial humans like in the first Parallel World, they might leave it empty.

Just as he chose before...

The only surprise for Feng Yuan was that there was only one person here, and the weighty aura of sin and the Mythical Era scent verified the person’s identity to him.