Cracks appeared across the ancient office. Beneath the universal radiance of the Pitch-black Blazing Sun, it gradually peeled away and collapsed, like a sandcastle dissolving beneath the wash of seawater.
When Huai Shi raised his head and gazed at the Black Sun, the Black Sun was gazing back at him.
Beyond that, there was no need for anything meaningless to remain.
Within this world composed of countless records of nothingness, within Heaven that did not belong to the mortal world, a calamitous celestial body rose from the end of destruction and shrouded the heavens.
Yet the instant Huai Shi raised his head, a brilliant solar wheel surged forth from the void. The vast phenomena of the Present Realm once more formed Taiyi's information body, splitting the heavens evenly with the Pitch-black Blazing Sun.
One black, one white.
In that instant, beneath the illumination of the two suns, a Mirror Surface seemed to emerge before Huai Shi, reflecting him with every detail laid bare, so clear it was startling.
But there was no mirror here, nor was there any reflection.
There was only another self standing before him.
An identical face.
So solemn and cold, bearing an inerasable gloom.
Pale long hair flowed like water down over a pitch-black robe.
The contrast was so stark, yet the resemblance felt so real that Huai Shi could not deny that such a version of himself could exist...
"Hello, Huai Shi."
From the other side of nothingness, the Essence of Phenomena known as the Abyssal Sun raised its eyes.
And looked at him.
Offering a greeting to himself.
"..."
In silence, Huai Shi looked at him—at this figure who should not have existed here, who should not have existed at all—and fell into confusion.
"Then who are you?"
Something that had never existed had