Three minutes earlier.
Outside the Imperial Palace of Fengdu.
Li Deyang stood on the fifth floating stone slab. He raised his head to look at the palace above him, and endless weariness surfaced on his face. Countless sealed memories surged from the depths of his soul, filling his eyes with pain and conflict.
"So it was you...
"You were the one who controlled the Six Paths of Reincarnation and had me born in Anta County, the closest place to this place;
"You were the one who called my name every night after I fell asleep, leading me back to Anta County;
"You were also the one who brought me to the Abandoned Logging Ground, let me witness that Worker Ant appear with my own eyes, and apply to the higher-ups for aid...
"In the primeval forest, you were the one hinting for me and them to keep moving forward. Even after entering Fengdu, you guided me all the way here, before this palace...
"My life has always been under your influence."
He slowly lifted his foot and stepped onto the sixth stone slab.
Bzzzz—!!
The buzzing echoed through the sky outside the palace.
The weariness in Li Deyang's eyes deepened slightly.
"Does it have to be this way..." he murmured.
"I only wanted to quietly guard the border, buy my old man a house for his retirement, find my daughter a reliable son-in-law, give them a happy and fulfilling life... then die like a warrior before millions upon millions of people."
"Your responsibility, your great path... they are far too heavy for me."
"If I become you... am I still Li Deyang?"
His voice was soft, as though he were asking himself, yet also someone else.
He lifted his foot and stepped onto the sixth stone slab.
The tremor sounded