Earth.
Asia.
Inside an unremarkable house.
Xu Yuan appeared silently with Ming He.
"Master, you're finally back! I've been so bored every day!"
Xi was almost in tears of joy.
"Thanks for the effort. This really was dangerous, but at least I finally gathered the Four Symbols. Right—put Ming He under Time Stop. I'll take a look at what's happening."
Xu Yuan closed his eyes at once and sensed the changes around him.
The instant the Four Symbols came together.
He had felt the Universe's immense power descend—
Brimming with boundless joy.
At that moment.
Xu Yuan suddenly realized something.
The Universe had nurtured countless civilizations before finally choosing Human Civilization.
Then, from Human Civilization, it had chosen the Three Realms and initiated the Dark Crown Ritual.
Though the Ancient God had utterly ruined it.
The Universe's original purpose had been to complete its own Ascension!
If Xu Yuan completed this final Dark Crown Ritual and obtained the Fourth Crown, it would mean one thing.
—The Universe had finished all its preparations. Its Ascension was about to begin!
It had a chance to escape the Tide of Truth!
Thoughts tangled in Xu Yuan's mind. He recalled that boundless Black Water and could not help blurting out:
"Where are you ascending to?"
"Can your Ascension end all this? Can it free you from the threat of the Tide of Truth forever?"
"What about the Ancient God? I'm guessing it's so shameless because destruction alone gives it power. After all, it's the 'Death' half of 'Life and Death.'"
"And you? Where does your path lead?"
As Xu Yuan fired off question after question, the joyful atmosphere in the Void, its surging delight, and its steadily ascending energy all froze.
"Sorry. I wasn't trying to crush your spirits," Xu Yuan said with a