"...Why are we actually running?" Gena asked, slightly confused.

They were all divine beings, and even the lowest ranks among them, the new Universal Gods from the Xi family were all too able to teleport or displace themselves with ease, not to mention flight. Yet, their entire group was running using their legs, while their pursuers followed as well, still on foot.

She saw Pef smirk a little at her question, then a blinding light signaled another Power Word discharge. Gena felt her entire body accelerate tremendously, so it was a type of Haste spell, and the group began leaving behind the pursuing beasts.

Screams of fury or hunger sounded behind them, and yet a single shadow continued the pursuit, hanging on with resilience.

A minute later, Pef stopped abruptly and the hunting team followed. "Again! And eat some of these eyes." he demanded while spreading Desolate Beast eyes around like candy.

Gena hesitated for a second, then followed the herd instinct, as everyone else was munching on the disgusting raw eyes without any problem. Even the esteemed Alchemist obeyed the order, for some reason. It wasn't so bad, in hindsight, as a rush of energy and insights filled Gena's mind and soul, rapidly raising her Void Dao. Perhaps Pef actually knew what he was doing?

"No more vines, Aria. Use the rest to delay the beasts for a minute." Pef commanded in a level voice, as his ruler slashed the empty void.

A dozen Voidcutters struck the incoming beast in the forelegs, somehow slicing them open and forcing the beast to crash nearly at their feet.

Another fast and furious butchering followed, as the entire group, with the exception of Rejin attacked as fast as they could the crippled beast, and harvested hundreds of regrowing eyes and dozens of limbs before the second beast also died.

Only this time, Pef abstained from causing the final bow, letting Wixtal Xi score the kill. Perhaps surprisingly, Wixtal's cultivation exploded right after, entering the Elder God realm and catching up with Gena Feng. She sobbed inward at the dismaying ease with which the Veritas Soldiers advanced their cultivation.

"Nice kill, Father! Now we run again..." Pef commented somewhat ironically, while Rejin collected the second beast's corpse into the Universe Cauldron and gathered the falling tribulations as well.

Again and again, the hunting team repeated the trick, ambushing the fastest of the beasts and Ascended one of their Tier 5 rankers, until the final beast found itself alone against a much stronger lineup.

Its 13 eyes darted around looking for a path to escape. An almost sad wail emerged from its jaws, as all its eyes focused on the leader of the hunters.

Pef held a hand up, and advanced alone, coming face to face with the last Desolate Beast.

"You say, I should let you live?" he asked in a curious tone.

Without words, the beast dropped its head onto the freezing ice, as the whole Desolate dimension was actually a giant bubble covered in eternal impenetrable ice.

"And you'll be a good boy?" Pef continued the impossible interview.

Gena wanted to interject and urge the silly boy to stop playing games and finish the dangerous beast, until she felt a firm hand touch her shoulder.

'Do you feel in danger, right now?' the Alchemist asked with a soft qi whisper.

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Tearing her gaze from the beast, Gena looked around to find a rather pleasant mood, people either lazing around or drinking wine, as if this was a peaceful picnic, at the edge of the world.

She also realized the pressure she felt initially had gone, only the thrill of the hunt remained. And a single pitiful beast was left as well.

Inside her inner world, a new and empty universe had opened as well, a clear sign she had completed the Void Dao during the hunt, a billion years too early.

"Good, it is a pact then. My messenger will come around to collect from time to time. I do have an entire Legion to upgrade..." she heard Pef explain calmly as a violet tunnel opened beside him.

With a cheerful wave, Pef stepped through the gateway and the rest of the group followed. Gena had to be pushed gently again. "We should also go, the Taotie won't wait too long for us" the Alchemist explained softly as he cautiously stepped through the violet horizon.

Gena ran into the portal as well, suddenly aware she was left behind with the surviving Desolate Beast.

As the portal winked out, the beast mewled tragically and curled around, already despairing about its future fate. Sadly, it was alone among a cosmic sea of ice, barely lit by dying stars and powdered planets.

"Hubby, you're safe!" Yue exclaimed as she rushed to hug her husband, and then be introduced to her new family.

"Of course. Here, a few Desolate Beast eyes should help you finish the Dao of Void as well." Pef said in a gentle voice, offering up a dozen precious eyes filled with Heaven's Laws and insights.

Without glancing at her Master, Yue gulped the eyes one after another, although saving the last eye. "It is enough, hubby. I did get some training as well." she admitted with a shy glance towards the glowing spirit beast.

Pef turned to measure the beast with clear eyes, as if measuring it for a prime stake. "Damn stingy badger. My wife is still weak, what the hell are you teaching her? She better reach Tier 7 before me."

The two monsters starred at each other for a minute, seemingly about to clash in deadly battle, until the Taotie burst out in laughter. "You have guts, kid. But you're no Jade Emperor to tell me what I should do. Don't worry, little Yue will Ascend as well under my paws."

Then the beast turned to stare, not at the Alchemist but at the small cauldron in his palm. "One day, old fishbowl. We will meet one day back home." it spoke with a grave voice, ignoring the confused people around.

Pef then turned towards Gena, and raised an eyebrow. "What will you do, Mirror Goddess? I mean, after we finish baking the pills."

Gena hesitated for a moment, feeling her fate was once more changing with a mere word.

There was a clear offer here, disregarding the somehow pacified monster floating around in spirit form, and the obvious promise of a Dian Ascension Pill that would almost guarantee her Ascension into true immortality. What will she do next?

Her eyes flashed about, noting the encouraging smiles of her future sisters...

Gena's hand clenched on the red feather, as her Skill engulfed her consciousness. It was the reason the Mirror of Samsara allowed her to mind-meld with it, Fateweaving.

'Mirror, mirror. What should I do?' she called inward.

A soft breeze blew into her soul, revealing the fate of those around, with and without her. In a moment, Gena knew what to do. It was all too obvious.