Fifth Advancement!

The World Annihilation War is now over.

However, having one more World Annihilation is actually a great thing for the Machine-Slaying Federation itself.

The Crimson Covenant, the Spirit Remains Star Abyss, and even the Eternal Night Royal Court are ultimately just opportunists who have switched sides.

If they had no other choice, they would never have sided with the Machine-Slaying Federation.

However, Lister didn't care.

He left behind these forces, especially these World Annihilation powerhouses, primarily for his own benefit.

As long as he can ensure that his strength continues to increase, these World Annihilation powerhouses will only be at his command.

Within the Church of the End, Xavier received the news before he even entered a new period of spiritual slumber.

"Another World Annihilation?"

Xavier's expression remained calm, but his mind was already racing with thoughts.

No matter how good relations the Church of the End and the Machine-Slaying Federation Church of the End, now that the war is over, both sides have tacitly returned to their original positions.

The current development of the Machine-Slaying Federation is quite similar to that of the Church of the End.

It was also a matter of perfect timing, favorable location, and smooth sailing.

Not only is she exceptionally talented herself, but the next generation she mentored, Zoya Lang, is also unparalleled in her era.

Now... it seems that this fortune has fallen on Lister's shoulders.

"Sir, is there anything we should do?"

"Secretly courting the Crimson Covenant? Or destroying the Spirit Remains Star Abyss?"

Emily then offered suggestions and advice.

Her thinking has always been straightforward: just do it!

The fact that they could secretly win over the Crimson Covenant is a rare sign of growth in recent years, or perhaps it's a growth forced upon them by the pressure from the Machine-Slaying Federation.

"Lord Xavier, I know Lister."

"If we launch a surprise attack on Spirit Remains Star Abyss now, he probably won't offer any assistance."

Ocas chimed in, his thoughts were far-fetched, yet his actions remained bold.

Furthermore, he had extensive contact with Lister's past and was familiar with Lister's personality.

If it were just the rapid annihilation of the Spirit Remains Star Abyss family, it would most likely be ignored.

Aside from the Crimson Covenant, these so-called allies are likely only offering nominal protection.

"No need."

After thinking for a moment, Xavier waved his hand.

"There's no need to rush. Let's wait a few decades."

"Decades...?"

"Yes, I have already sensed that space again."

"The merging of the different universes is happening faster than expected; it should be successful within a few decades."

"We'll observe the power dynamics in the other universe before making any further plans."

Xavier is also interested in the merging of different universes.

It's not just about the resources of another universe, but more importantly, about a new force to break the current one-sided situation.

Given the current situation, it is believed that the new, powerful beings in the universe will inevitably turn to them for refuge.

Or perhaps they will join forces again with Lister to fight against a powerful entity that may exist in the new universe.

The only thing I didn't consider was that... the individual beings in this universe might be incredibly weak, and some life forms might have already been sent to their universe beforehand.

Thirty years later.

This region of cosmic fusion has expanded to the size of a galaxy.

Meanwhile, the laws, collisions, and interweaving of various forces within it have become more stable, all indicating that the fusion is about to be completed.

At the same time, several powerful auras of World Annihilation descended upon the vicinity.

The first to arrive were Xavier and the Central Church's digital World Annihilation.

The three members of the Crimson Covenant, the Eternal Night Royal Court, and even the World Annihilation of the Spirit Remains Star Abyss all arrived and appeared in the next instant.

The Machine-Slaying Federation was the slowest to arrive, and only Kavin and Hoffman were present.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on Hoffman, the newly crowned World Annihilation.

Xavier glanced at the two of them, then finally asked Kavin.

"Where is Lister? Isn't he coming today?"

I don't know either.

Kavin had naturally consulted Lister before he arrived.

To his surprise, Lister seemed unconcerned about the impending merging of the universes.

He simply sent Hoffman on the trip, while he himself remained in meditation within the Divine Rise Galaxy.

Not understanding Lister's plans, Kavin didn't reveal anything at the moment.

The numerous World Annihilation nearby seemed lost in thought, but their senses were soon drawn to the strange phenomenon of fusion.

Within these colliding and merging galaxies, everything suddenly came to a standstill.

All the power systems within the shattered galaxy merged at the same moment.

In the next instant, the entire shattered and merged galaxy rapidly repaired itself at a speed visible to the naked eye, shrinking back to its original singularity.

"Buzz--!"

The singularity exploded in an instant, without any earth-shattering light or any great commotion visible to the naked eye.

A ripple exploded from there, followed by a grand and deep hum.

Like a giant beast that has been sleeping for a long time finally turning over, the entire universe was rippled with boundless waves.

Xavier quickly frowned.

He felt his own strength beginning to weaken.

In some mysterious way, certain shackles of the universe were partially broken after the two universes merged.

However, he did not dwell on this; the loosening of power was merely the raising of the ceiling after the universe became more powerful.

He had anticipated this, but now he was more concerned about the powerful life forms that might appear in this universe.

However, what puzzled him was...

There were indeed many life forms in the perception, but there was no aura of a powerful being, not even the aura of a life form above the Third Advancement.

For a moment, even the most World Annihilation were filled with doubt.

They kept releasing their senses, assuming that the powerful beings from the other-dimensional universe had strong concealment abilities, or that the location where they were born after the universe merged was not nearby.

At the same time, all the surviving players, no matter where they were or what they were doing, felt a violent throbbing originating from the core of their being.

It was as if life forms had been gently tugged at the genetic level, giving rise to an aura that was both familiar and strange.

The remnants of laws that originally belonged to the "player universe" were completely washed away and smoothed out, and more closely integrated with the life origin of the current universe.

An invisible shackle that had been almost imperceptible for a long time suddenly broke.

It wasn't a limitation of experience points, but rather the last bit of alienation from the origin of this universe as an "outsider."

From this moment on, they were no longer just guests, but one of the native hosts, their lives now firmly rooted here.

The daydreams about the "original universe" have faded as quickly as old photographs.

Advanced Class Holder, especially those Class Holder have reached the Hegemon, have become more acute and clear in their perception of the current cosmic energy and rules.

The free-floating energy particles in the air seemed to become more "obedient," and the operation of skills and the extraction of energy had an indescribable smoothness.

The data simulation function of the Merrick Chip was under significantly less pressure because the body itself was more naturally in sync with the physical laws of the world.

However, this feeling is quite different for the players.

A brief silence fell over the public chat, as an indescribable mix of emotions welled up in the hearts of many players.

Silently experiencing the physical transformation and spiritual cleansing.

For ordinary players, this is more like a final certification of ownership.

For Hegemon like Chen Shanqiang, the legacy of the original universe system will fade further.

A new era has officially begun, one where players rely solely on their own strength and are no longer bound by the labels of "players" of the past.

Meanwhile, Lister was already seated cross-legged within the Plane Barrier of the Atas Star Domain.

Lister also clearly perceived the shockwaves resulting from the fusion.

He sat calmly cross-legged by the pond of golden Power of the Plane, and the wording of the second quest requirement on the job change quest panel within his body had finally changed.

Second stage:... (Completed)

..."

All three ring quests for the Fifth Advancement have been completed.

The moment the task was submitted, a confirmation notification arrived.

"Notification: Contracted Lifeform, do you wish to initiate the Fifth Advancement!?"

Without hesitation, Lister's mind decisively chose "yes".

Notification: Special backup procedure initiated: Transcendental Life Form Jump Procedure... Activated!

In an instant, the Power of the Plane that the player's universe had been storing within him was unsealed and released.

The immense Power of the Plane is several times greater than that in the pond within the Plane Barrier.

Seeing this, Lister quickly took advantage of the moment when his consciousness was still under control to mobilize the Power of the Plane within the pond and merge it into the previously sealed Power of the Plane of the Fifth Advancement breakthrough.

The Power of the Plane did not affect him, but instead shot straight into the sky, instantly shattering the barrier.

The next moment, Lister's consciousness went through a daze.

It's as if the entire universe seems to have "frozen" in that instant!

That was not a standstill of time, but rather the energy flow that constitutes the fundamental rules of the universe—such as gravity, spacetime curvature, and the oscillation of elementary particles—generated an extremely strong "resonance" in the core region surrounding Lister.

The universe itself is emitting an ancient, weathered, and seemingly never-awakened low chant.

The star field where the Atas Star Domain is located, and even the entire deep space outside the Divine Rise Galaxy, began to emit a soft "halo" that seemed to come from the breath of the universe, echoing the Lister at the center of the vortex.

The Power of the Planes seemed to be simulating a universe and teaching him alone.

Lister's thinking slowed down in an instant, and was then completely overwhelmed by an endless, incomprehensible stream of "data" and "root information"!

It's like the "source code" of the universe's rules, the inner logic of the planes' operation, and the most fundamental manifestation of all energy!

What lay before him was no longer the starry sky, but a complex, three-dimensional network composed of pure "lines of rules"—a network so intricate it defied imagination!

The past, the structure, and even the "rhythm" of dormant consciousness of this universe were all opened to him.

Lister's own soul power, killing intent rule power, and the vast Power of the Plane accumulated within the barrier began to undergo a fundamental collapse and reconstruction under the impact of this cosmic resonance and information torrent!

It was as if an invisible singularity was forming within him, frantically devouring all the energy around him.

In fact, the Power of the Planes has already broken through the spaces of dozens of other planes for him.

The power of countless current universes, as well as other universes, was rapidly gathered together.

This indescribable and exceptionally powerful force was now being drawn into, devoured, and transformed by the invisible singularity, becoming the fuel that ignited the leap in the essence of his life.

At the same time, the World Annihilation also clearly sensed this anomaly.

Upon arriving in the Divine Rise Galaxy and the Atas Star Domain, everyone's expression changed.

Even the most obtuse person could make a judgment based on the spectacular sights of dozens or even hundreds of cosmic planes connected in this star field.

This Lister... he's breaking through!

This represents a level of life that no one in this universe has ever reached before, a level that transcends the current universe.

Even Xavier's expression was grave at this moment, with various thoughts swirling in his mind.

There was amazement, curiosity, envy, and a desire to physically interrupt.

But reason ultimately made him stop, and he silently stood on the perimeter.

Now, he couldn't be sure if he could kill or interrupt Lister.

The immense energy of countless universes converged and poured into Lister, yet it caused him no harm whatsoever.

Not to mention the Power of the End from him, which would likely not cause him the slightest harm.

If we wait for Lister to break through, there will be no way to salvage the situation.

As energy continued to pour in, Lister's life form began to change.

A powerful Saber Soul emerged from the soul space and completely merged with its body.

Until the energy siphon reached its peak, Lister's consciousness went from being scattered at the beginning, to being in a daze receiving various information, to now the return and reorganization of his original memories.

A powerful will broke through the encirclement and began to transcend.

This will gradually detached from the body, and along with the other paths opened by the Power of the Plane, it floated and rose continuously.

In an instant, dozens of cosmic planes opened up to his consciousness and connected with it.

It was as if he could enter this alien universe at any moment.

The evolution of life forms has been completed, and the energy storm has begun to subside.

The will returned quickly after making contact with the link to the other universe.

In the end, a completely new Lister "stood" in the same spot, or rather, he no longer needed a fixed place to "stand."

Its body disintegrated instantly, its aura vanished without a trace, and it reassembled outside the Plane Barrier in the next instant.

An immense and irresistible will swept over the world -World Annihilation powerhouses, and everyone involuntarily lowered their heads at that moment.

Lister paid no heed to the other World Annihilation attitudes.

At this moment, he is constantly feeling the changes within himself.

His physical body seemed to have vanished, or rather, it had become a "formation of aggregated rule power" existing between reality and illusion, capable of condensing at any moment under the watchful gaze of will.

Essentially, it exists by acting on will, and its form is constructed by the combined forces of the current cosmic plane.

It exists exactly like the original Phantom of the Tree of Eternity, purely a being of will.

This will is almost omnipotent in its observation and perception of the current universe.

He can clearly "see" and subtly "touch" every thread of the rules that make up the current universe—gravity, spacetime, and fundamental forces.

In his eyes, it was no longer a mysterious force, but rather like a gear train operating inside a precision instrument.

He can manipulate these forces as much as possible through willpower.

However, in the current universe, the strongest fighting force is still the original pinnacle of Lister.

Life forms and the imagination of the Tree of Eternity.

The will transcends this universe, but the physical body that acts within this universe is still limited.

That is, all of their original accumulation, soul power, passive skills, etc., are preserved in this universe.

Even with the current fusion of the universe, it can be further enhanced, until it reaches an extreme point.