One Who Broke a Taboo

"Imperial power, born noble...?"

As he pondered the other person's words, Lin Yu naturally thought of the leader of "Copper Furnace"—the guy codenamed "Emperor".

Could this be his doing?

After thinking for a moment, Lin Yu looked at Tuk again and asked the corpse his question.

"So do you think... is it possible that this assassination attempt was carried out by someone from the same world as me, or a similar being?"

Lin Yu asked cautiously.

Tuk shook his head. "I have no evidence to prove that the person who assassinated me... came from Other Worlds."

He then paused for a moment and added again.

"However, I also have no evidence to prove that the person who assassinated me did not come from Other Worlds."

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow upon hearing Tuk's words.

"What a long-winded fellow... But, what you're saying is that you don't actually know who assassinated you?"

Tuk nodded. "Yes, I cannot identify the murderer... Until now, I have no clue—my only clue, which I just told you, is that I believe the perpetrator's purpose... is to extract the 'Bloodline' from my body, condense it into some kind of concept, and then solidify Authority."

"Then this murderer's methods of concealing himself are quite ingenious," Lin Yu said, looking at the other party. "But... tell me, how did you know that the other party was trying to condense 'Authority'?"

Tuk said in a low voice, "Because I have served Deity... I know that the opponent used some kind of Deity but incomplete power at the moment of attack. So, after regaining consciousness, I realized that I had lost my 'Bloodline power,' which is equivalent to losing my 'identity certificate' as a king. Only then could I make this deduction."

Lin Yu agreed with Tuk's statement.

"Based on these conditions, I can deduce the corresponding conclusions... perhaps this really is the truth."

"But... you're telling me so much about the killer, is it because you want me to Revenge you?"

Lin Yu asked softly.

"Revenge? No, forget it... Although I do want to kill the person who killed me, it doesn't matter. After all, even if he didn't kill me, I would probably still die in the 'catastrophe'—that inevitable calamity that spares no one," Tuk said, revealing a hint of magnanimity. "Besides... perhaps I am not entirely the person I was back then, not entirely 'Tuke Aisalamata,' so my hatred isn't that intense."

Lin Yu said, "So you must have something to say to me, or something you want me to do... Since it's not Revenge, then it must be something I can do for you in the Nether Void Realm?"

"Help you find someone or something, help you restore your shattered kingdom? Or... help you Resurrection?"

"You went through all this trouble to approach me, even breaking some kind of 'taboo,' you must have some purpose... right?"

Tuk said, "Of course... Zhu Ming, I do have something to ask of you."

"But I don't want you to find people or things for me, nor do I want you to change the current state of the Nether Void Realm... I don't need 'Resurrection' or anything like that—frankly, you said it yourself, I don't even have a soul anymore, do I?"

"My reason for contacting you is important, but it's also quite simple," Tuk said, leaning forward as he spoke, "Help me... find release."

The aura of death emanated from him, carrying the smell of decay and decay. In his cloudy and unfocused eyes, a strong sense of "pleading" broke through the heavy "death" covering his pupils, revealing a hint of it.

"Let me... truly die, truly rest in peace, may I?"

Although he has only recently fully awakened, it is clear that the long, sleepwalking-like state had already been tormenting him before Tuk was fully awake.

Now, after waking up, he can clearly realize that if he doesn't seize this opportunity, he doesn't know how much longer he will have to maintain this strange state of being dead but still retaining self-awareness.

Because he lacks a soul, Tuk cannot "end his own life."

To retain self-awareness after death and be able to think in this state is clearly not a good thing for Tuk; it's more like a real curse.

Lin Yu could understand this as well.

The moment Lin Yu heard the other person's words, he realized that this was indeed the most urgent matter for Tuk.

In particular, he seems to be gradually regaining his "emotions," "perceptions," and "humanity," thus achieving a more complete "self."

For Tuk, that was an experience even more terrifying than those imprisoned in the deepest part of the "Eternal Prison".

"I understand, I will help you," Lin Yu agreed to Tuk's request, "But... what will be my reward?"

"[Azure Sea Sky Dome]," Tuk said without hesitation, "You may take the [Azure Sea Sky Dome] that shrouds this ruin, created by the first High Priest of Storm and High Priest of the Ocean —though not made by my Lord, it has been blessed by him."

"So... [Azure Sea Sky Dome] can be considered a Divine Artifact —of course, it has been divided into three, and I can only give you one of the three, which is the one I have in my hand."

"But... even at one-third, it's still very strong—I think you understand that all too well."

Tuk said earnestly.

Regarding this condition...

Lin Yu readily accepted!

The information he received from Li Nian, combined with Lin Yu's own experience, had made him realize that this [Azure Sea Sky Dome] was indeed a [Item] of extremely high status!

After all... Item that can utilize the Rule of the "Death game" itself can't possibly be ordinary.

Therefore, Lin Yu was naturally very happy to have the opportunity to obtain it.

Even if it's only a third, even if the specific functions of [Azure Sea Sky Dome] are still unknown, Lin Yu would certainly agree.

"Okay—I promise you, but I still have two questions."

Lin Yu spoke.

Tuk replied, "Go ahead and ask."

"What will happen to this ruin now that [Azure Sea Sky Dome] has been taken?"

Lin Yu asked.

Tuk didn't answer Lin Yu's question. Instead, he thought for a moment and asked in return, "What's your second question...? Ask your second one first."

"Because the answer to the second question might also answer this one."

"If you put it that way, I kind of guessed it... You're smarter than I thought," Lin Yu narrowed his eyes, sizing up Tuk, who was even more "lively" than before, and continued, "My second question is... what should I do?"

"I don't know how to kill or destroy a 'ghost' or 'afterimage' that's filled with the aura of 'death' and has no soul structure whatsoever," Lin Yu said earnestly, looking at Tuk. "The only way I can think of is to use the Life Force contained within this knife in my hand, this Divine Artifact from the 'Chosen of Life,' to counteract the death aura on your body and try to completely 'annihilate' your existence... But I'm not sure if that's feasible."

"Because if you're asking me to 'save you,' this is the only solution I can think of—in other words, I can't actually be sure whether your consciousness will completely disappear after I do this, or become an even more indestructible entity."

Lin Yu spoke, Tuk fell into deep thought.

"That does sound like a good idea... If I have no other choice, I think we could try what you suggested."

Lin Yu spoke up, "But you have a way, don't you?"

Tuk nodded.

"Yes... I have a way," he said softly. "The way is... you shut down [Azure Sea Sky Dome], letting this protected ruin face the current Pure Ruins —letting this 'city of the dead,' which should have disappeared a thousand years ago, return to its original Destiny and predetermined fate."

"I don't know exactly what my situation is right now, but I can feel that I'm trapped in this destroyed city... This city is my body, the 'corpse' you see isn't," Tuk said in a low voice, "So... let this city rest in peace with me."

Lin Yu looked at Tuk, not surprised by what the other said, "I understand... Then tell me, where is [Azure Sea Sky Dome], and how do I turn it off?"

"[Azure Sea Sky Dome] does not exist in this 'city'... Just as I said, this city is off its 'track,' not in its destined end," Tuk lamented, "Because [Azure Sea Sky Dome] has isolated 'time' and 'years,' all 'Destiny,' and even the established facts that have already occurred—that is, 'history'—from this city."

"So... if you want to find [Azure Sea Sky Dome], you must search within the original Destiny of this royal city."

Tuk said in a somewhat mysterious way.

Lin Yu also sighed.

"I initially thought it was just a matter of shutting down a device, but it turns out it's not that simple."

"After all, the 'reward' is quite substantial, isn't it?" Tuk said casually. "And although this matter is indeed difficult, it should only be a minor inconvenience for you, right?"

"You can see me, I can touch you, I chose you... all because you are different from other beings, and the two companions who came with you are different," Tuk looked at Lin Yu and said in a hoarse voice, "I was able to break the 'taboo' here and touch you because... you are someone who has broken the taboo."

"And finding [Azure Sea Sky Dome] is just another taboo being broken for you."