"Incense."
"Level 1 Barrier Divine Art (Special Descent Method)."
"Description: You can descend at any time to observe conditions in the lower realm, but doing so costs 1 Merit per hour."
"—Chaos Three Palaces Heavenly God Descends Edict."
"—This art was personally conferred by the Jade Emperor."
Xu Yuan sealed himself inside the Ice Wall. His eyes shifted as he read those lines, and he could only marvel at how thorough and flawless the Celestial Court's arrangements were.
Thirty thousand Merit.
A special version of the "Incense" Divine Art.
He had, in effect, succeeded in carrying out Heaven's will.
That was why the Jade Emperor had given him such a generous reward.
Everything was moving in a good direction. Both Earth and the Three Realms Universe were actively preparing for their second Ascension—or their first.
But...
A faint sadness rose in Xu Yuan's heart.
There had been countless Ancient Gods.
Only Pangu had succeeded in Ascension.
And Pangu had died too.
After that Ascension, the Universe had finally achieved Dimensional Ascension. Countless civilizations had blossomed in dazzling colors, and living beings had given rise to so many magnificent deeds worthy of song and tears.
But—
Could not even one Ancient God survive?
Xu Yuan thought for a while, then silently put the thought away and gradually entered a deep meditative state.
He kept adjusting his condition.
The moment the Universe began its Dimensional Ascension, the Ancient God Xu Yuan would unleash his strongest attack yet, creating a state of "mutual support between Creation and Annihilation" with the Universe.
It was the only way to ascend dimensions!
Time—
Slowly passed.
The exhaustion in Xu Yuan's body gradually faded, and his accumulated hidden injuries slowly healed.
As a human and an Immortal Species, he had inevitably suffered damage through all his battles.