As they spoke.
Ian Song began frantically refining the gray liquid. Who knew if, in the next moment, that unknown existence might drive him out? The gray liquid was an incredibly rare treasure.
It could strengthen the body, boost divine power and cultivation, and even make the soul stronger. Where else could you find something this good? Every extra drop refined was pure profit.
"Huff, huff!"
He sucked huge amounts of gray mist into his Chaos vortex, refining it into gray liquid.
Deep in the Primordial Forbidden Zone, a certain slumbering existence grew more and more disgusted, especially as Ian kept plundering the gray mist. A murderous intent began to appear on its face.
The moment that killing intent surfaced, Ian felt his body suddenly stiffen and instinctively stopped absorbing gray mist. At the same time, that voice rang in his ears again: "Scram! Get out of here!"
For a moment, a hint of hesitation flashed across Ian's face.
"What is it? Did you hear that voice again?" Selena Owens asked curiously.
Ian nodded. "That's right! This time, it told me to get out!"
"So, can you leave?"
"Maybe I can, maybe I can't!" Ian replied. He had drawn a Teleportation Divine Talisman in the Medium System Lottery before, but he wasn't sure if it could get him out of here.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. "Say, what if the reason it's only telling me to leave instead of actually kicking me out is because it doesn't have the power to do so?"
Selena Owens frowned, thinking it over. "That shadowy figure made of black mist that grabbed us before was really strong. If it didn't want you staying here, it could've sent that giant to catch or kill you. So why hasn't it? Either you haven't crossed its bottom line yet, or maybe that black-mist giant can't enter this pocket space!"
Ian nodded in agreement. "Makes sense! Let me try again."
As he spoke, Ian once more began absorbing the gray mist in the space. Sure enough, that voice rang out again, roaring for him to leave.
But this time, Ian ignored it and kept refining.
Selena, now knowing the gray liquid was made from the mist, tried to absorb some herself. After many attempts, she had to give up in frustration.
Ignoring the voice's furious roars, Ian acted as if he couldn't see or hear it, doing whatever he pleased and madly refining the gray mist. Finally, after a day, he completely infuriated the other party: "You brat, stop right now or I'll kill you!"
"Heh, go ahead and try!"
Ian sneered and shot Selena Owens a look, signaling her to come over to him.
After a brief hesitation, Selena Owens obediently moved to Ian’s side, and he unceremoniously wrapped his arm around her soft waist.
"You!"
Selena was about to explode with anger, but Ian leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I'm testing the other side. If it really tries anything, we’ll leave immediately. If it can’t do anything to us, we’ll just keep staying here!"
Immediately, Selena obediently leaned against Ian, and he kept absorbing the surrounding gray mist without pause.
His actions completely infuriated the unknown existence.
The next moment, the slumbering being suddenly opened its eyes.
The instant its eyes opened, both Ian and Selena felt an overwhelming threat, their bodies going rigid.
"I'm giving you one last chance—get out of here now!"
"But I can’t leave this place at all!"
For the first time, Ian responded out loud.
Boom!
A pitch-black tunnel suddenly appeared in the void ahead.
"Hurry, go!"
Selena shouted excitedly. She really didn’t want to stay in this freaky place any longer.
But Ian didn’t move. Instead, he looked thoughtful.
"What are you hesitating for?" Selena asked, confused.
Ian grinned playfully, "Do you think that black-mist giant who grabbed us is waiting outside the tunnel?"
Selena’s face froze, then she nodded gently, admitting it was very likely.
Ian continued, "This gray mist is definitely valuable, and I’ve taken a ton of it. Do you really think the owner will just let me walk away?"
Selena shook her head.
"Exactly! If it were me, I’d slap anyone who stole such a treasure to death. But why didn’t the unknown existence just crush me? It means it doesn’t have the power—so it can only threaten me with its aura!"
"So what are you going to do?" Selena asked.
Ian chuckled, "Of course I’m not leaving! There’s still so much gray mist here—I’d love to refine it all!"
"What if your guess is wrong?"
Selena asked worriedly.
"I trust my own judgment!" Ian replied confidently.
"Kid, you’re truly cunning!"
The voice rang out again, echoing like thunder through the entire space.
Ian laughed, "Heh! You dragged us to this freaky place for no reason, and now you want us gone? Not so easy!"
"So what do you want?"
Ian pressed, "Compensation, obviously. My demands aren’t high—just let me refine two-thirds of the gray mist here!"
"Dream on!"
The voice roared in anger.
Ian sneered, "Looks like you can’t actually stop me from refining the mist, can you? Otherwise, you’d have killed me already!"
The other side fell silent.
After a long while, the voice sounded again: "Fine, say what you want to leave this place!"
Selena watched Ian with newfound admiration. This guy was way too sly—no wonder she’d suffered at his hands. The owner of that voice must be some supreme being, probably restricted from acting directly.
Even a being like that was getting outplayed by Ian; what did she have to complain about?
"Got any Saint Emperor–grade cultivation methods? If you do, hand one over!"
Ian said bluntly.
Selena rolled her eyes hard—this guy was asking for the moon.
"I want a Saint Emperor–grade scripture myself, but I don’t have one!"
"Tch, and here I thought you were something special!"
Ian looked utterly disdainful, making the other side grind its teeth in frustration.
"If you don’t have a Saint Emperor–grade scripture, then give me two God Emperor–grade manuals and three to five God Emperor–grade artifacts!"
"Don’t push it, kid! You think God Emperor–grade manuals grow on trees? Two sets, just like that?" the other side snapped.
"So are you giving them or not? If not, I’ll refine every last wisp of gray mist here and leave you nothing!"
"You dare! If you really do that, I’ll wake up early just to kill you myself!"
"Threatening me? Hah, then I’ll refine some right now and show you!"
Ian sneered and started drawing more gray mist into his body.