Yes, Gu Jianlin finally realized.

The Qilin Mask can be gifted a second time, so theoretically it can be gifted a third time.

The story recorded in the Divine Ruins is indeed true, but what it describes is not actually the awakening of the last Supreme being, but rather a ceremony where the You Ying God attempts to complete its achievements as the Primordial. The so-called sacrifice is definitely not the prince of that ancient civilization; what truly needs to be sacrificed is the black Supreme being!

The woman who nearly faced execution by fire!

"Initially, I also believed that I was the one chosen by the Gods."

The man walked leisurely on the steps of the pyramid, clearly an illusory body, yet emitting the sound of real footsteps: "In the era I lived in, golden blood already flowed on the earth, and some people’s spirits were polluted, becoming what you call the Fallen. Sometimes terrifying omens would appear, golden Divine Sacrificial Fire gushing in the sky, occasionally accompanied by terrible earthquakes, bringing volcanic eruptions and devastating tsunamis."

"Our civilization wasn’t as advanced as today’s Earth, and our thought wasn’t considered progressive either. Theocratic beliefs dominated. Divine right of kings; our nation was founded on religion, translated into modern Chinese would be... Ancient Xia. I was the youngest and most learned scholar of Ancient Xia, studying history and mysticism since childhood, uncovering the secrets of alchemy astrologically, dedicated to exploring the mysteries of the Universe."

"I was the smartest person in all of Ancient Xia. The deeper my research went, the more I felt a sense of exquisite design. Qing or Chi should have told you, this world is meticulously designed. Our parents were gravely ill, and my siblings left one after another seeking a way out. The throne fell on my brother, who disliked my research, thinking I was wasting my time and even that I had lost my mind."

"However, my brother wasn’t a visionary king; he was more devout to religion and theology. Even when the country was riddled with problems, he insisted on grand live sacrifices, continuing to exploit the labor force, because he firmly believed the great Gods would eventually be moved by us and grant us supreme grace."

In his world, this former Supreme strolled leisurely, yet easily traversed distances of nearly a hundred kilometers.

Gu Jianlin is now at the Holy Land Level too, and even without deploying the Divine Speed Force of the Ghost Slayer Path, he could barely keep up.

"That’s the reflection of the Qiongqi Venerable; he doesn’t care if your world lives or dies; what he wants is the arrival of the You Ying God, right? I remember you called Him the lackey of the Primordial, that’s the reason, isn’t it?"

He said softly, "Everything is pre-designed."

"But at the time, I had no knowledge of this, yet I felt this planet’s gestation movements. Hallucinations appeared frequently in my dreams, and I could hear helpless cries. If the Qilin’s Mother Star was also a large experiment field, then I happened to be the uncontrolled experimental subject. Just as many uncontrolled experimental subjects appear on Earth, such as the earliest Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns, Emperor Qin, Han Wu... then Taihua, Qing Chi, and you."

Feeling the desolate world breeze, the man spoke indifferently, "For my country, for my people, I followed the voice in my dreams to travel. It was a thrilling journey, the most exciting and unforgettable segment of my life. We crossed mountains and rivers, traversed deserts, climbed mountains, and crossed oceans."

Gu Jianlin nodded slightly, "It indeed sounds magnificent."

The man crossed the broad Divine Path, finally stopping in front of a palace floating like the Sun, whispering, "Our team numbered thirteen when we departed, and in the end, only I reached the Axis. The so-called Axis is the source of the voice, the core of that planet."

Here, relative to the tomb-like pyramid, is already close to the center of this world.

He ascended the ethereal staircase, pushing open the palace doors.

"The so-called world axis turned out to be an isolated island at sea, seemingly deserted, yet it had traces of glorious civilization. Everything present in Ancient Xia could be found there."

As the door opened, countless rays of sunlight poured in, illuminating the darkness.

"Including this palace."

With a hint of nostalgia in his eyes, the man said, "It was here I met her."

Against the light, Gu Jianlin saw at the end of the palace the woman sleeping akin to a lotus.

Time ceased to flow in the tranquil sunlight, the black-skirted girl quietly lay in a golden coffin. Though wearing a golden Qilin Mask, one could feel that enigmatic and ethereal beauty. Her exposed skin was as delicate as petals, with a scent of pure, rich spice diffusing in the air, standing alone in the world.

Wind chimes hanging in the palace swayed, playing a melody touching one’s heart deeply.

The man passed through the white curtains and arrived before the coffin, without any words or actions.

Sorrow opened like a tide, engulfing every corner of the palace.

Gu Jianlin, also the Qilin Venerable, naturally sensed the girl’s Life Rhythm, a peculiar state between life and death, where life and death circulation attained a perfect balance.

She won’t die, nor will she awaken; she exists like an ancient mural.

Abandoned at the end of the world.