He paid little attention to the three people beside him.
Looking at the vortex, Kong Tai frowned slightly.
He could sense someone behind the vortex, but he couldn't get in.
This was rather awkward.
After all, this wasn't Kong Tai's spiritual world. While his spirit was powerful, in this world, he was bound by its rules.
Even in this space, which was connected to the Other Shore's domain and still part of the greater world, there were constraints.
The vortex before him was clearly set up by Elbaf. According to the Other Shore, Elbaf was comparable to the Other Shore at his peak, or even stronger.
Therefore, even after so much time, this area still operated according to the rules originally established.
"Other Shore."
With no other choice, Kong Tai had to call out to the Other Shore in his sea of consciousness.
After all, he had promised Fabuti that he wouldn't let Fabuti see Loki. That would be a lie.
He couldn't afford to lose face.
"What is it?"
In the spiritual world, the Other Shore flower, rooted in the void, swayed gently and its voice echoed.
"Indeed!"
At this moment, the Other Shore also noticed the situation outside. "You want to enter Elbaf's temple."
Without Kong Tai needing to ask, the Other Shore quickly reacted and said, "There is a barrier set up by Elbaf there. Ordinary power cannot penetrate it. Forcing entry might harm the little one inside."
"Then..."
Before Kong Tai could finish speaking, the Other Shore continued, "But that's no challenge for me."
"Can't you finish speaking all at once?"
In the spiritual space, Kong Tai gave the Other Shore a look, then his gaze fell on the vortex before him. "How?"
"It's very simple," at this moment, the Other Shore flower swayed, and it pulled out several tendrils from the void, suspending them before Kong Tai.
"Use your spatial abilities to open a path between that vortex, which is the barrier, and here, allowing my roots to pass through."
As the Other Shore finished speaking, the void in front of its tendrils suddenly rippled and began to spin.
At the same time, the void outside the temple also rippled and began to spin.
"Done."
In the spiritual world, Kong Tai clapped his hands and turned to look at the Other Shore.
The Other Shore gave Kong Tai a deep look, said nothing, and then inserted its roots into the vortex.
Outside.
"What is this??"
Even with Fabuti's knowledge, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise at the scene.
In the image before them, a massive root, resembling a blood vessel, silently emerged from the void and, under everyone's gaze, gently pointed towards the temple's entrance.
The vortex paused for a moment, then the darkness disappeared, revealing a deep, winding path.
No one answered Fabuti's exclamation.
Kuina and Robin knew whose red root it was. This was the first time they had seen the Other Shore again since they left its domain.
Although they knew the Other Shore was in Kong Tai's brow, it never spoke to them.
After opening the door, the root quickly vanished from the image.
"All right."
In the spiritual world, the Other Shore nodded to Kong Tai and then inserted the root back into the void.
"How is your recovery progressing?"
Looking at the Other Shore, Kong Tai asked curiously.
At this point, he could feel the Other Shore's joy.
"I've recovered about one percent. It won't be two years before I fully recover my peak."
The flower swayed, and the light clusters on the tendrils of the Other Shore flower flickered, like the stars in the sky.
"Mhm! It's good that you're recovering quickly. Then I won't disturb you. Goodbye."
As he finished speaking, Kong Tai disappeared from the spiritual world.
Outside.
Following Kong Tai's gaze, everyone walked down the path and at its end, they saw a lake. It was a lake whose water churned and boiled like magma but emitted no heat.
"Loki."
Seeing this, Fabuti clenched his scepter, his body stiffening.
Fortunately, fortunately, the scene he least wanted to see had not appeared.
In the center of the lake, a giant, similar in appearance to Fabuti but much younger and stronger, lay with his eyes closed in the lake.
Although the giant's face showed pain, everyone could see that he was not injured.
The moment he saw Loki, Fabuti's heart, which had been hanging, instantly relaxed, and the worry in his eyes dissipated like clouds parting.
"All right, mission accomplished."
After a deep look at Loki lying in the energy lake, Kong Tai withdrew his gaze and waved his right hand, making the image disappear.
"Thank you!"
Fabuti, having learned of Loki's condition as he wished, breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to Kong Tai again.
"No need. Consider it payment for letting us witness history!"
Kong Tai shook his head and said with a light laugh, "I should be thanking you, Fabuti, for letting us understand so many truths about the world!"
"Kratos, don't push it too far."
Just then, a loud shout came from outside.
Everyone looked towards the door in confusion, only to hear another voice with an imposing tone.
"Push it too far? I'm here to push it too far today. That old man Fabuti is becoming more and more outrageous, bringing outsiders into the temple of our great giant race. What does he want? What is he trying to do? Does he want outsiders to enter the inheritance grounds?"
"Who is this?"
Kong Tai and the other two looked at Fabuti.
The moment he heard the name Kratos, Fabuti knew that today's matter would likely not end peacefully.
That guy was the awakened one of this generation, an awakened one who was stronger than the one in his prime, and a fierce beast coveting his position.
If it weren't for the fact that he had awakened not long ago, he might have been forced down from his throne long before Loki grew up and entered the temple.
The matter of bringing outsiders into the temple was merely a pretext. He was here today with the intention of seizing his position.
Straightening his back, Fabuti tightly gripped his scepter with his right hand, his aged face displaying a majestic demeanor.
At this moment, he was the king of the giants, a warrior and general about to march to battle.
He took a step forward, leading the way out.
Looking at Fabuti, who exuded an aura of facing death with determination, Kong Tai and the other two exchanged glances, seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes.
"Is someone challenging Fabuti's authority?"
Robin said gravely, stroking his chin.
"It seems so."
Kong Tai nodded, then walked out. "Let's go, let's go and see who is so brave as to challenge Fabuti, the king who has sat on the throne for nearly 300 years."