Death... and me

All the experts around the Extinction Sphere began to pour their Spiritual Energy into the formations all around them. The slightly weaker ones, on the other hand, poured their energy into the protection formations. Everyone was tense, afraid that the plan might fail.

However, Soul Gem made sure to keep his calm as he controlled the formations to separate the energies in the Extinction Sphere. In the beginning, the process was very slow. However, as he gradually got more and more used to it, the speed at which the Yin-Yang Chaotic Energy became separated from each other increased.

"Good, good!" Gem, Fila, and everyone else couldn't help but get a bit excited as they noticed the Extinction Sphere was starting to lose its power. It wasn't anything significant yet. However, as long as they kept at it, they would eventually succeed.

Unfortunately, not everything was that easy. 

*Vup, vup, vup, vup, vup, vup, vup...*

Out of nowhere, tens, hundreds, thousands, perhaps even more Spatial Gates began to appear one after another. From inside, countless spaceships appeared without stop. Following them were cultivators from all races as well. 

Gem narrowed his eyes as he watched that, saying with a hint of anger, "So they came after all."

From afar, Soul Gem saw an old woman approaching the protection formations with a dark expression. Once there, she used her Spiritual Sense to talk with Soul Gem, saying to him, "Gem, that's the end. You can't stop the natural order of things. This Universe has been in existence for way too long. It's only normal that its destruction day has arrived. If you truly wish to survive, just leave it be."

Soul Gem snorted in response as he replied, "Hmph! I wish to survive, and I wish for all other races to survive as well, Tuana. How about those who can't leave? Are they simply doomed? Fuck that! I won't allow that to happen! Not on my watch!"

Tuana was obviously the old woman's name. Following that, she waved her hand and had her forces spread all around the Extinction Sphere, just outside the protection formations. "If you weren't doing anything, your forces would be able to contend against mine. However, most of your experts are focused on the Severing Formations Array. Do you think you can stop me?"

Everyone got nervous when they heard that. After all, it was true that the main experts couldn't stop their job at the moment. They were necessary for the plan to work.

However, Soul Gem simply smiled in response, saying as if he was taunting her, "Is that so? Then, why don't you try it out? Let's see if you can break through the protection formation I personally created."

Tuana narrowed her eyes for a moment before quickly recovering, muttering in a cold tone, "As you wish." 

Following that, she raised her hand and gave the order, "All forces, attack! We don't need to win. As long as we destroy the Severing Formations Array, it'll be impossible for them to rebuild it in time. The Extinction Sphere would become way too big to be contained anymore."

*WOAHHHH!!!*

All the forces on Tuana's side immediately took action, charging at the protection formation between them and the Severing Formations Array.

Soul Gem wasn't any slow either, commanding, "All the forces stationed at the Protection Formations, pour your energy inside them. The rest shall keep channeling their energy into the Severing Formations Array as planned."

Gem's experts were taken aback. They thought that Gem would pause the plan and focus on the defense. It would cost them a lot to restart the array later, but at least they could protect it. They didn't expect Soul Gem to order them to keep running the plan.

Seeing the conflicted expression on everyone's faces, Soul Gem just smiled and said, "Trust me. I know what I'm doing."

In the end, everyone gritted their teeth and followed Gem's orders. 

Tuana saw that as well. Nevertheless, she didn't stop her attack. However, just as the first wave of assault arrived at the protection formation...they stopped.

"What?!" 

"Impossible!"

"How can that be?"

Immediately, all the attackers' expressions changed. They were at the peak cultivation realm of the Universe. As good as that protection formation could be, they shouldn't have been able to stop their attacks. Especially considering that the ones channeling them weren't even the top experts of Soul Gem's group.

It was then that they noticed something off. It wasn't because their attacks had been stopped. They had simply slowed down! However, the rate at which they were slowed down was so ridiculous that it looked more like they had completely halted. Not only that, but the further they moved, the slower they got.

"A time formation? Even so, how can it stop so many of my experts?" Tuana was truly shocked at that sight.

"Hahaha!" Soul Gem only laughed as he saw that. "You aren't wrong, Tuana. This is a Time Formation. However, it's not just that. It's also a Space-Time Formation. Not only are those attacks slowed down, but the distance they have to cross to reach the protection formations are not that close either. The distance you see between you and I can't even be considered a millionth of what it really is."

Tuana didn't give up on her offense, though. "Space-Time, huh? So what? We're all versed in Space Laws as well. I just have to mess with it, and this effect will be gone."

As soon as she said that, Tuana and all the experts on her side used their own space laws to affect the formations' space control. However, they soon found out that it didn't work.

"How...?"

Soul Gem continued to smile as he controlled the Severing Formations Array. "Quite simple. Those Space-Time formations are being fuelled by none other than the Extinction Sphere. If you want to break it, you better generate a force even bigger than that. Hahaha!"

The nervousness among Soul Gem's forces suddenly began to subside. The crisis had been averted, just like that. They weren't free yet, but they at least had the necessary time to focus on their work.

Tuana's experts continued to attack nonstop, though. After all, it was better than doing nothing. And just like that, many hours passed as the Extinction Sphere began to reduce in size.

Nevertheless, Soul Gem felt that something wasn't right. He had his Spiritual Sense focused on Tuana all the time, but she didn't look like someone who was losing in this battle at all. 'I'm missing something...'

Out of nowhere, the Extinction Sphere began to tremble as it became even more unstable. Soul Gem wasn't surprised by that since it was already in his calculations that it would happen. After all, they were essentially destroying a giant ball of energy. Nevertheless, this was one of the most critical moments of the plan as the control of the Severing Formations Array would be much harder from now on.

"Hehe! Soul Gem, I have to admit that you've far exceeded my expectations. To think that you would create a barrier this sturdy, keeping all my forces out. I truly didn't want to reveal this, but it seems like I have no other choice," Tuana said with a smile. 

Tuana then raised her hand, which made Soul Gem focus all his senses on her. Whatever she was planning to do, he was ready to counterattack with his full strength. However...

*Swish!*

All of a sudden, a sword pierced through his heart as an immense power caused havoc in his body. Before he could do anything, that energy had left a big hole in his body. Soul Gem was shocked. Not because Tuana truly had a plan, but because of who attacked him.

"Fila..."