Krune's Shields Cage separated once more when Iem killed the Space Creature. Right after, Krune's 300% of Tribulation Lighting output returned to its normal 200%. In wisp form, that's how much Krune can use without causing damage to his wisp core.
The dark shade on Iem's Crystallization ability disappeared right after too. After all, the forceful infusion of Devil Flames in his body was also detrimental to Iem. He only kept the Devil Flame armor active in case something happened.
Although Krune and Iem came back from their strongest states, they didn't drop their guard. They didn't forget that a lot of Godly Energy waves were released during this last combat. There would be nothing wrong if they ended attracting more Space Creatures.
However, even after waiting for a few minutes, nothing happened. Space Creatures didn't have intelligence. That being said, they wouldn't keep hiding and waiting for an opportunity to attack. Instead, they would come at them straight away if they saw Krune and Iem.
"Seems like that was all."
Iem nodded.
"The thing I was most afraid was that a Space Creature at Jimage's level would come at us. But from the looks of it, those strongest creatures really went after Jimage, Foltan, and Pharan."
Krune returned to his Human Form before agreeing with Iem.
"There was no helping in that. Those creatures are attracted by those who have the more Godly Energy Powers. It is understandable that they went through other routes after Jimage and the others. Anyway, let's retrieve the God Crystal. If it didn't come out to attack us until now, then it definitely had its 'pseudo-sentience' destroyed."
Illia couldn't hear what they were saying since Krune and Iem wouldn't discuss things without Divine Sense. Still, she knew that it probably had something to do with the God Crystal. Sure enough, Krune and Iem began to make their way to where she was. After all, the God Crystal was just a few meters away from her body.
"Oh! I can see the God Crystal with my Mental Energy. It is really here."
Iem smiled before nodding. He wouldn't take the Space God Crystal, so that didn't matter much for him.
However, after Krune walked a few more meters ahead, he suddenly stopped. His eyes narrowed, and his Mental Energy Scan picked something nearby the Crystal. After that, he quickly alerted Iem, who was immediately put on guard.
"Go!"
Krune's shields were still hovering around him after the battle finished. It's just that the Purple Tribulation Lightning power stopped coming from them. However, as soon as Krune gave the order, all of them released the Purple Tribulation Lightning Blades and surrounded the place where he noticed that presence.
Iem's body released black flames as well as he pounced forward. Neither Krune nor Iem were in their strongest combat forms. However, they are still strong enough to contend against a Divinity Realm level enemy. Of course, they are far from their peak at the moment since they just finished a tough fight against that Space Creature.
Illia's eyes opened wide when she noticed their movements. She was extremely confident in her secret concealment technique. As long as she didn't move, no one under the Transformation Realm was supposed to be able to notice her. However, it was evident that they found out where she was.
Illia's face immediately paled when she saw Krune and Iem attacking the area where she was. She knew she wasn't their match even in a one vs. one, let alone two vs. one.
"Wait! I surrender!"
Krune and Iem's skills were just about to descend all at once when they suddenly stopped. They had indeed heard the voice coming from that place. Krune knew that there was something there, but he didn't know what. Even with his Mental Energy, he could only barely perceive that 'something' was present in that place. In fact, he thought that it was another hidden Space Creature instead of a cultivator. However, Space Creatures obviously can't talk, much less would they surrender.
Iem was even more surprised since his Divine Sense couldn't see anything at all. If not because of Krune's Mental Energy, they would approach the God Crystal and might have been ambushed right there and then.
It was then that the space warped, and a blue lotus manifested out of thin air. Right after, it morphed into the form of a young woman. Obviously, Iem and Krune immediately recognized her as Illia, the girl who fought Krune in the Chaotic Space when they were after Top Quality Godly Stones.
If Illia knew that they could find her presence, she would have escaped as soon as they finished the battle against the Space Creature. However, she was too confident in her hiding skills. It would definitely have been better if Krune and Iem didn't notice her presence so that she could leave later. Unfortunately, now that Krune's shields were surrounding her, she had no way to escape.
After Illia appeared, Krune couldn't help but comment.
"What a strong concealment technique. I almost didn't notice Illia's presence at all!"
Illia shook her head after hearing that.
"I'm a lot more impressed with your detection ability than you are with my technique. No one below the Transformation Realm was supposed to be able to see through it."
Iem cut them right there.
"Yea, yea, both sides are very impressed. Anyway, what should we do with you? As far as I remember, you tried to use your group to kill us in the chaotic space. That being said, what makes you think that we will let you leave? Besides, you saw my friend's true form, which shouldn't be known by anyone. After all, he is still in the Divine View Realm."
Krune nodded. He isn't the type that likes to kill. Krune only destroyed so many Space Creatures because they were not really alive to start with. Otherwise, he probably would leave them alive after just destroying their cultivations or something similar. However, Illia's group was obviously coming for the kill, and his wisp form was seen. For good or for worse, he also agreed that leaving her alive would only spell disaster.
One must remember that Demon Beasts shouldn't gain intelligence before Semi-Divinity Realm. However, he is only in the Divine View Realm. He wasn't supposed to be sentient yet.
Nevertheless, Illia's next words surprised both Iem and Krune.
"What do you mean with 'after all, he is in the Divine View Realm?' Is there something wrong with a True Spirit being at this cultivation level? Besides, do you really think that I believe that you are in the Divine View Realm? There is no way that you can fight so many levels above your own."
Krune and Iem were taken aback. Not because she doubted their cultivation level, but because of the name that appeared before.
"True Spirit?"
Neither Krune nor Iem had ever heard about this name before.
Illia noticed the puzzled faces of Iem and Krune, so she decided to ask Krune directly.
"Could it be that you don't know what a True Spirit is even though you are one of them? Although True Spirits are extremely rare, you should have heard about them once you entered the Sky Shifting Sect, no?"
Krune and Iem immediately shook their heads. Iem then stepped forward and created a story on the spot.
"We only joined the sect a few months ago. Before that, we had been traveling everywhere and had no background to speak off. The only thing we know is that Demon Beasts shouldn't be sentient before the Semi-Divinity Realm. That's why my friend had been hiding his true form until now. After all, he does have intelligence even though he isn't in the Semi-Divinity Realm."
Illia still didn't believe that they were only in the Divine View Realm. However, she had to admit that information about True Spirits isn't exactly that easy to find. In fact, this was the first time she saw a 'member' of the True Spirit race in her life. That shows just how rare they are.
"I see... If you really had just joined the Sky Shifting Sect and had been afraid of showing his true form, then it makes sense. What about this? I'll tell you everything I know about the True Spirits as long as you let me go."
Iem immediately shook his head.
"Let's pretend that you are telling the truth. From what I heard from you so far, it seems like True Spirits can gain intelligence way before the Semi-Divinity Realm. That being said, it doesn't seem like exposing his true form is something of concern. However..."
Iem sank his hand into the Silver Blood and pulled a silver-like object out of it.
"What about this Space God Crystal? Are you telling me that you won't inform anyone that we acquired it? You probably know how valuable this thing is, don't you?"
Illia was taken aback.
"I know that this item is rare, but I didn't know that it was called Space God Crystal."
Iem narrowed his eyes.
"Anyway, it doesn't matter whether you know or not. The problem is that you know we got it."
Krune agreed with Iem as he raised his hand.
Immediately, all the Myriad Lightning Shields began to approach Illia from all sides. Iem's body also erupted with Devil Flames, and he formed another two Devil Flame Blades on his arms.
Illia's mind worked as fast as never before. Finally, she gritted her teeth before saying.
"I know a way to return to the outside world. If you let me go, I can tell you about that."
Sure enough, those words were enough to stop Iem and Krune's attacks on their tracks.