Outside the Ruins.
Lu Feiming appeared without warning.
He raised his head and looked deep into Emptiness.
The powerful waves coming from the Outer Heavens had already revealed the outcome.
"His team... is advancing too?"
"How shameless. Offering his own Corpse as a sacrifice to himself? Does the Dark Staircase's Law allow that?"
Lu Feiming muttered, then shot into the sky, pierced the firmament, and reached Beyond the Three Realms.
The dark Void.
He hovered there, gazing across it.
A Giant slowly bulged from the boundless wall of flesh, then broke free.
It looked at Lu Feiming.
"I've never understood why you sided with the Universe."
The Giant spoke.
"Because you're boring—even a pastry is more interesting than you," Lu Feiming said.
"Don't you have ambitions of your own?" the Giant asked.
Lu Feiming laughed. "Don't try to drive a wedge between us. I'm quite happy with my choice."
The Giant had nothing more to say.
The waves gradually subsided.
The final verdict appeared!
Both of them sensed it at once and knew the result.
—Gold!
Both teams had reached Gold Rank!
Lu Feiming felt a faint pang of regret.
He could clearly sense that his team had been only a hair's breadth from advancing one rank higher.
Just one hair's breadth!
The Giant clenched its fists and roared:
"Good! The moment to end everything has finally come. You were born too late and have so much left to learn, while I already know how to wield the power of Truth."
"The outcome of this battle is obvious."
"I will be the final victor!"
"I will climb the Dark Staircase all the way up and claim the Authority to leave this place!"
"Empty boasts." Lu Feiming's lips curled, his eyes full of disdain.
The creature knew far too little.
Did