Lian certainly couldn’t answer him, she had long been forgotten by the world at the end of time.

She was only forcefully left behind by the power of the Qilin.

"Back then, Qing and Chi conspired with me for this plan, to take revenge on this world for you, I never came here to tell you. If you knew, you might blame me, right?"

The man whispered: "Who could have imagined, in the end, it was that child who suffered. So much so that I couldn’t bear it in my heart, let alone them. Qing risked everything, perhaps to seek redemption?"

In the silence, Lian still slept, vaguely, blood tears fell onto her golden mask.

They were the man’s tears.

Also, the release of solitude and hatred over billions of years.

"Now I must pay for my actions too, to leave this world forever."

The man gave the young girl one last glance, gently kissing the forehead of the golden mask.

The power left by the former Black Supreme finally dissipated, His last trace of soul dimming like a candle about to go out, the feeling of death engulfed Him like a tide, yet He showed no fear, only peacefully accepting this punishment, as if returning to billions of years ago on the Qilin Mother Star.

Back then, when He thought He was going to die, He was this calm.

He never feared death.

Only feared separation.

However, in the end, they were still separated.

The Supreme who mastered life and death, yet could not break the boundary between life and death.

They were destined to endure pain and despair, and eventually part forever.

Looking back now, the reason Lian was determined to save Him back then was because she placed all her past happiness on Him, their bloodline blended, their souls united. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

She wanted Him to enjoy the freedom and beauty of this universe on her behalf.

To enjoy the beauty of being alive.

But unfortunately, He was blinded by anger and hatred, and saw nothing.

The man whispered softly, letting himself be swallowed by darkness, the memories of billions of years flashed back in His mind, finally collapsing into overwhelming dust, He was freed from the cage of despair and hatred, fatigue welled up like a tide, in a daze as if returning to the era of humanity, weak yet real.

This is the feeling of death.

The price to be paid for giving up the supreme position.

This is also the feeling Lian experienced back then.

How nice.

It’s like still being with her.

Just not sure if it’s an illusion.

At the last moment of sinking consciousness, He felt someone push him from behind, the roar of the Qilin echoed in the silence, piercing the boundary of life and death, resonating in the depths of the universe.

The man opened His eyes, the light pierced through the darkness.

The sound of the sea tide echoed again in His ears, the sea surface shimmered under the sunlight, warm and distant.

On the sea surface, it seemed like someone was waving at Him, her smile also like a tide.

"Lian..."

His call drowned in the tides.

The ancient palace burning with candlelight, finally fell into deathly silence.

In the gilded ancient coffin lay a pair of men and women wearing golden masks.

They slept side by side, holding hands tightly.

Until... the end of time.

·

·

In the deep of the night, it started to rain from the sky.

The solitary peak was drenched by the rain, in the empty graveyard, there was a silence, only the rain echoed.

Tianji stood bewildered in the rain, the ancient broadsword slanting into the soil, just a moment ago he was rushing in that dark grave, and upon turning, he heard the sound of the world collapsing, dimensions shattering before him.

"The consciousness of President Taiching has collapsed."

Ye Dao, holding a Tang Heng Dao in His arms, said in a deep voice: "The Qilin completely destroyed him."

Tianshu’s lips were pale, soaked by the rain, murmuring: "How can He be so strong?"

Now that President Taiching’s consciousness has perished, the existence of the Forbidden Zone has also collapsed.

They looked at each other, not even knowing what they should do.

Rumble.

Lightning streaked across the sky, as if the night had been torn open by a massive rift.

Someone stepped out from the gap, their appearance resembling a demon, with golden eyes as bright as the sun.

Tianji was startled, and the Heavenly Person Realm he was about to unleash suddenly collapsed, the broadsword in his grip shattered instantly, even slicing his palm, breaking the protective Qi Realm on the spot!

He instinctively dodged, a fierce gash torn across his chest, blood splattering out.

Clang!

Ye Dao, at the last moment, drew his blade and blocked the fleeting slash, yet the sturdy blade shattered with a sound, shards of the broken blade flew, scraping his aged face.

So fast!

Only Tianshu’s Eagle Eye caught sight of the ghostly black shadow. As he drew his waist gun, the muzzle had already been neatly sliced off, even his sniper rifle behind shattered with a sound.

His Rectangular Domain seemed to not exist at all!

In such a brief exchange, even the strongest three saints of the Judgement Court were at a disadvantage!

Tianji finally threw a punch, but what shattered was a remnant lingering in the void.

At that moment, Ye Dao flashed behind him, the broken blade carving a chilling arc in the air, managing to finally block an incoming strike from the sky, the clash of blades resounding like thunder, causing the void to quiver!

"Move aside!"

Tianshu raised his hands, summoning airflow to form an invisible giant bow, nocking an arrow!

Boom!

Void Dog Cannon!

The boy emerged from the void rift, raised his eyes, and his outstretched right hand caught this heavy cannon shell head-on!

The peak trembled violently, even the rain-soaked tombstones quivered.

The saints only then realized, the one they were engaged with was but an ethereal, mesmerizing phantom, the only real thing was the dark red Tang Blade named Jiuyin, the blood aura flowing on its blade fluttering like ink.

Gu Jianlin tightened his right hand, crushing the shell in his palm.

Rather than crushing it, it was more like engulfing it with overwhelming dark energy.

"Too weak."

Gu Jianlin, wearing a pitch-black Ink Jade Mask, with his golden eyes reflecting the sun’s radiance, also mirrored the grim death faces of the three saints before him: "Only after ascending to the Holy Land did I realize how weak you are."

Without a doubt, this was a tremendous insult.

Yet, the saints were utterly unable to refute, true, they endured the first round’s pressure, not wiped out immediately, but if the fight continued, death was the only outcome.

More so because their opponent was merely using a Qilin Forbidden Curse avatar against them.

What was even more puzzling, the Qilin Forbidden Curse seemed to possess Ghost Slayer Path capabilities.

Gu Jianlin, after killing Ghost Car, though still in a considerably weakened state, had returned to peak form overnight, the Supreme Laws of Zhu Zhao and You Ying manifesting within him.

Of course, there was also the power of Evolution Theory!

Tianji realized clearly, his body was deteriorating, his genetic chain disintegrating.

He endured intense pain, blood mist oozing from his pores, bones fracturing inch by inch, even his internal organs were aging and withering, almost like a reverse evolution, his soul writhed and screamed.

Ye Dao and Tianshu also felt the same pain, nearly unable to suppress their desperate screams.

"Can’t bear it already?"

Gu Jianlin raised his hand, a deep black hole appearing in his palm, now with every breath he seemed to be consuming the world, that supreme disdainful power was so intoxicating.

Even though the Qilin Wedge had been dispatched, he could still exert the Authority of Devour.

The rhythm of all things in the world resonated in his ears.

If he wished, he could consume all sound.

Boom!

In the dark sky, swirling clouds seemed to condense into the forms of a Qilin and a Candle Dragon, overlooking the earth.

The overwhelming pressure almost crushed the entire mountain.

Thump.

Finally, the saints could no longer withstand the despair-inducing pain and pressure, falling to their knees with a thud.

"Platinum sent you here to wait for me? I must say, you were brave to come see me."

Gu Jianlin reversed his left hand, revealing three golden Ancient God’s Blood in his palm.

"Now, make a choice."

The saints raised their heads with difficulty, the young man before them seemed as lofty as a god, the pressure stemming from vast antiquity.

This is... Qilin Venerable.