Outside the Earth Universe,
A group of trial participants watched the surging, boiling void. Although the two figures were no longer visible, the residual energy still sent shivers down their spines.
"Two… two Tier 8 entities?!"
"Two Tier 7s."
A Voidborn Tier 7, still severely shaken, had witnessed nearly the entire confrontation. He speculated, "They must be utilizing Tier 8 equipment and items."
"Those are not beings we can possibly contend with."
A powerhouse from the Mechanical Race, calmly recalling the recent exchange, stated: "If my analysis is correct, both combatants were trial participants."
Two trial participants capable of wielding Tier 8 power!
Facing Tier 7 entities, they basically had only one projected outcome: annihilation.
"Hah, isn't this truly fascinating?!"
Some felt an urge to retreat.
Others became even more energized.
The Voidborn Tier 7 frowned. He simply could not fathom why that Primordial Daemon's power was so immense: "That entity's actual level is somewhat ambiguous…"
Since the inception of the void,
Veritas had only manifested a handful of times.
An existence of this magnitude was not entirely unknown, but because so few beings ever attained it, those who did were gradually relegated to obscurity.
It was understandable not to grasp the concept.
Those who had been deeply embroiled in the great war five billion years ago, including the Star Spirit King and the Gaia consciousness, were familiar with this echelon of existence.
"I just want to know who ultimately prevails."
"The outcome is likely to hold no real surprises."
The Demon-Quelling Primordial Daemon wielded absolute, overwhelming force. Gaia's three heads and six arms were rendered utterly powerless to resist. His defeat was merely a matter of time.
"Too bad we can't follow along and observe."
Suddenly,
Every observer was alarmed.
"Clear the path!"
Boom!
It happened in the blink of an eye.
A colossal head, bearing an expression of misplaced compassion, shot out from the depths of the void, smashing dozens of Universe Bridges along its trajectory. It narrowly grazed the Earth Universe before vanishing into the deeper void.
The unlucky entities caught directly within the Universe Bridges were instantly annihilated. Looking out, dozens of Universe Bridges collapsed under the lingering residual power.
The spectacle was incredibly magnificent.
"That was a narrow escape!"
It appeared,
That the three-headed, six-armed entity wouldn't last much longer.
...
Deep within the void,
Two supreme beings unleashed their colossal power, clashing ceaselessly. The Tier 8 level conflict completely transcended the narrow confines of a single timeline, reaching a multiversal scale.
Those wielding Tier 8 power could arbitrarily manifest and suppress any timeline, manipulate all possibilities, essentially becoming beings standing above infinite timelines and worlds.
They represented a confluence of infinite possibilities themselves. Conventional methods were fundamentally incapable of completely eradicating a Tier 8 entity. Only their foundational status truly mattered.
After brushing against the Tier 8 threshold, Mei understood this concept more profoundly, and similarly, she comprehended the true dominance of Veritas even more clearly.
Bodies hundreds of times larger than a universe collided in the void. Merely the resulting shockwaves could easily annihilate a universe. The movements of the two appeared sluggish.
Yet, each strike contained unimaginable force and speed. Mei severed all of Gaia's potential paths, completely locking down this current timeline.
Demon-Quelling swung her right fist, gathering various fundamental concepts. Under Veritas's augmentation, every single movement traversed light-years of distance instantaneously.
Boom!
Void energy churned violently.
The three-headed, six-armed form attempted resistance but was helpless. The interwoven three heads and six arms were shattered by a single punch, and half of its body was pulverized.
This singular strike blasted a vast energy vacuum in the void, extending deep into the cosmos. Severed limbs vanished in all directions.
Crack!
Severely wounded, the Divinity residing within the three-headed, six-armed form showed dense cracks. Gaia's aura was severely weakened; he could no longer struggle.
Mei was decisive.
She struck the Divinity directly on its forehead, shattering it.
Bang!
The fractured Divinity released violent, chaotic energy that ravaged the void. That immense power, capable of destroying a Tier 8, swept over the Primordial Daemon's body but failed to shake her even slightly.
Once the energy subsided,
The three-headed, six-armed form ceased to exist. Gaia reverted to his original appearance, like a mere ant held in the Primordial Daemon's hand. He gazed silently at Mei.
Without uttering a word,
"..."
Previously, Mei was just a fragile Star Spirit. Who could have foreseen she could develop to this magnitude in just a few months?
Perhaps,
This was destiny unfolding.
Bang.
Mei, her expression cold, crushed him decisively. She was never merciful or lenient toward her adversaries. Tracing back to the origin point using her Tier 8 power, this time, she completely erased Gaia's essence.
The long-standing grievances between the two thus concluded.
【Tokens Acquired: 100 billion】
【Remaining Tokens: 1.4285 trillion】
One hundred billion Tokens!
This was the highest possible value awarded for a Tier 7 faith marker. In terms of raw destructive strength, Gaia's Token value could arguably be higher, but he himself remained only a Tier 7.
At this moment,
Mei's Demon-Quelling Manifestation had not yet expired. Driven by intense curiosity, she utilized her Tier 8 power. In an instant, infinite timelines manifested before her eyes.
The vast river of time flowed forth from the very genesis of all origins. Each time a new possibility emerged, a new branch instantly formed.
Mei traversed every possibility and every timeline within the Earth Universe. At the terminus of time, not a single possibility could evade the outcome of utter destruction.
This was the inherent fate of every universe.
Inescapable.
Mei's expression hardened as she perceived a monumental issue. She expanded her observation across the entire void, only to discover that the origin of every universe's timeline was, in fact, merely a singular branch point stemming from the Void World's timeline.
Gazing toward the end of the Void World's timeline, she saw only:
The End.
The End.
The End.
Every universe would inevitably proceed toward destruction and its conclusion. Not only were individual universes being annihilated, but the entirety of the void itself was marching toward its termination. At the absolute final point of the Void World's timeline, even Eternity and Veritas ceased to exist.
Everything would cease.
Taking a single step,
Mei approached the furthest end of the Void World's timeline. That region was the true, absolute emptiness. Universes, worlds, void energy, the origins and concepts of all existence—none of it remained.
No entity or construct could survive in such a void, not even Tier 8s. Mei understood this fully. She turned to examine the genesis point of the Void World's timeline.
The birth of all things and the primordial timeline was the singular fount of vitality. The origin of the void gave birth to the primordial timeline. That was the true commencement of everything.
It contained the most potent, ultimate force within the void. If one could master it, they might be able to harness this ultimate force to ascend into an entirely new domain.
Thus, escaping this ultimate demise.
Within countless timelines, every being positioned above those timelines could comprehend this fundamental reality. These were all Tier 8 existences.
Returning to the upstream flow of the Void World's timeline,
Five billion years ago,
The Star Spirit King stood within the void, leading the entire Star Spirit race with an overwhelmingly dominant posture, their blades aimed directly at the origin of the void, initiating a chaotic conquest.
...
Prior to that,
The Star Spirit King rose like a brilliant comet. In his youth, he was brimming with vigor and audacious ambition, vowing to become the strongest entity in the universe, ascending to the void with an invincible demeanor.
Soon,
He reached Tier 7, achieving supreme being status within his universe, just as he had desired. But it was insufficient. His ultimate goal was to become the strongest presence in this entire void, and Tier 7 fell far short of that requirement.
At the time, no one believed this arrogant youth could truly ascend to Tier 8, becoming a mighty entity standing superior to the Void World's timeline.
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But one individual held that belief.
His name was Origin.
A Primordial Daemon born within the void itself. He was the Star Spirit King's only genuine friend in life and ultimately the one who would dismantle the Star Spirit King's ambition.
Origin ascended to Tier 8 a step ahead of the Star Spirit King, positioning himself above the Void World's timeline. He witnessed the inherent cruelty involved in attempting to defy the void's origin.
How incredibly powerful was the void's origin? If any Tier 8 being could defy the current flow, then the void's origin would have been controlled long ago by the very first Tier 8.
It absolutely required the power channeled through the Void World's timeline to be infused into the resistance. Only then could a certain being push against the current toward the void's origin. However, the Void World's timelines that branched off countless times were too fragile.
To empower one's own timeline with the strength to contend with the void's origin, one must integrate and merge all other branch timelines into their own singular stream.
Continuously eliminating other universes' Void World timelines was functionally equivalent to continuously destroying those other universes. This process was undeniably brutal and mercilessly cruel.
This meant not only engaging in conflict with powerhouses of the current era but also swimming upstream against the current in earlier reaches of the Void World's timeline. In the process of continuously integrating these upstream branches, one would inevitably encounter formidable beings from bygone epochs.
War was unavoidable.
This was a pathway originating from the downstream timelines, fighting relentlessly all the way to the void's source. Along this route, one would inevitably encounter other individuals defying the flow. The path of defiance could only become increasingly arduous.
Origin chose to yield.
The Star Spirit King, however, made a starkly different decision. He decisively raised his battle banner, resolutely initiating chaos and leveling his blade against powerhouses of his own era.
He required more faith marker Tokens. Only by growing stronger could he advance further on this path of defiance. Therefore, Origin had no choice but to confront him.
Both held firmly to their convictions, which would not easily bend. There was no inherent right or wrong; the void had always operated on the principle of the survival of the fittest. The existence of faith markers pushed this rule to its absolute extreme.
Ultimately,
Origin single-handedly shattered the Star Spirit King's ambition.
Mei understood.
"This is the true history behind the Star Spirit upheaval."
She gazed toward the very end of the Void World's timeline. The origin was beyond reach. Each Void World's timeline represented a universe. The further upstream one swam, the greater the number of branching points the Void World's timeline possessed.
There were many fellow travelers on the path of defiance.
That road would undoubtedly prove intensely brutal.
For.
That singular, ultimate glimmer of hope.
A critical clarification was necessary.
A universe's timeline and the Void World's timeline were not identical concepts. A universe's timeline only materialized at the genesis of that universe; it was a subsidiary branch of the Void World's timeline.
The Void World's timeline emerged at the very beginning of the void. Each subsequent branch signified the birth of a universe. A universe’s infinite timelines were also merely smaller offshoots of that single Void World's timeline.
The duration expired.
Mei returned to her own reality stream. Her Tier 8 power receded. She found herself back in the Earth Universe. The Star Spirit King materialized beside her. She knew Mei had certainly traversed the Void World's timeline.
"What are your conclusions?"
Then,
He asked Mei once more: "Do you intend to embark upon the path of defiance, pressing toward the void's origin to seize a sliver of hope, or are you content to be buried at the void's end?"
Mei countered,
"Are you suggesting I inherit your ambition?"
"Ambition?"
The Star Spirit King chuckled softly: "I am who I am, and you are who you are. Ambition holds little significance. I have already executed what I set out to do, success or failure notwithstanding. I am merely interested in your decision."
Mei offered no immediate response.
As of this moment, she had no desire to embark on the path of defiance. Everything needed to wait until she had genuinely achieved Tier 8. Otherwise, any action would remain mere conjecture.
Completely meaningless.
The Star Spirit King was certain Mei would embark on the path of defiance. This young girl wasn't one to be pushed around. Even if one didn't defy, powerhouses from later eras within the Void World timeline would flow upstream to oppose them.
Likewise,
Other powerhouses from the branch Void World timelines would converge to merge with the Earth Universe timeline. Refusing to fight others meant constantly being forced onto the defensive.
Origin could tolerate such aggression.
The Star Spirit King, however, could not.
And Mei.
The Star Spirit King believed this girl would eventually obliterate all those who dared to challenge her. Veritas was no trivial matter.
...
Void World timeline, downstream branch of the Earth Universe.
Ten billion years later,
A vast and magnificent blade light ascended in defiance, severing a downstream branch of the Earth Universe timeline. This action immediately erased a future possibility for the main Earth Universe.
That timeline was instantly merged.
Long white hair.
Crimson blade.
Star Silver stood upon the downstream branch of the Earth Universe's timeline, defying the current and stepping step-by-step towards the upstream. Undeniably, he had now reached Tier 8.
His battle intent was unyielding.
This defiance was not aimed at the void's origin, but for a conflict whose victor remained undecided.
...
Void World timeline, upstream branch of the Earth Universe.
Five billion years ago,
A majestic figure floated above the Void World's timeline. He gazed towards the downstream direction, his eyes seemingly containing the boundless essence of the void, then became perfectly still.
Further upstream, one could observe battle banners unfurled, countless beings with swords pointed directly towards the origin. Perhaps war chariots surged forward, perhaps golden arrays shimmered, or perhaps Primordial Daemons flickered in and out of existence.
Endless slaughter.
Even further upstream,
Those supreme, peerless figures were all entities who suppressed countless timelines. A vast and mighty pressure enveloped the timelines. The closer one approached the void's origin, the more terrifying the beings became.
These were the ultimate entities the defiers had to face.
...
【Tokens Acquired: 20 million】
【Tokens Acquired: 1 billion】
【Tokens Acquired: 1.1 billion】
【Tokens Acquired: 2.5 billion】
"...."
【Remaining Tokens: 7.6948 trillion】
In an instant,
Mei swept through the Earth Universe. Many high-tier powerhouses who had come to participate in the trial all fell by her hand, leaving the Star Spirit King speechless.
This girl shamelessly capitalized on the situation but refused to inherit the Star Spirit King's power. This somewhat frustrated the Star Spirit King; there weren't enough participants left for her to execute.
Mei also noticed this. When the number of trial participants grew scarcer, she wisely paused, planning to resume the slaughter when more people arrived.
The trial participants' faith marker Tokens held significant value. Mei no longer needed to waste time on the low-tier beings of the Earth Universe; the returns were simply too minimal and too slow.
She decided to take a respite. Now that she controlled the concepts of Time and Space, she could manipulate the flow of time even without the spacetime crystal.
The concept of wasting time no longer held any meaning for her.
The Star Spirit King also breathed a sigh of profound relief. If this girl continued her rampage, the trial could not proceed. She alone possessed the capability to eliminate every single trial participant.
...
Raginves Galaxy, Nivertar.
This was a planet whose technology and culture bore strong resemblance to Earth's past eras. Mei still gravitated toward such environments.
Simple.
Peaceful.
She seemed to actively dislike overly advanced scientific settings. The breakneck pace of highly scientific societies always made her lose interest, which is why Mei had chosen Nivertar for her respite.
This so-called vacation,
Was actually just a deliberate step away from conflict, a chance to be alone for a while. Not to ponder the cosmic timeline of the Void World, but to feel the tangible ground beneath her feet and immerse herself in human social culture, which gave her a strange sense of connection.
No true sanctuary existed in the cosmos.
Both body and mind felt as insignificant as ants in a vast ocean.
The solid land gave her a far more grounded feeling.
Kuou City.
Honk, honk—
The incessant blare of car horns saturated the bustling streets.
"My name is Biuiao."
A young man with an unremarkable yet clearly defined physique introduced himself. He sported a short, spiky haircut, giving him a sharp and decisive appearance.
"What?"
Mei blinked, momentarily stunned.
"My name is Biuiao."
The young man explained earnestly: "In human societal semantics, that is a term used to express intense shock or exclamation. I find it quite potent, so I chose the homonym of that word for my designation."
He had conducted intensive research into popular modern culture, genuinely believing his chosen name perfectly encapsulated the spirit of contemporary trends.
"..."
Mei was rendered speechless.
He must not have engaged in conversation for a significant period. Biuiao became rather verbose the moment he began speaking, reminiscent of a patient released prematurely from a psychiatric facility.
"I hail from the Aurora Civilization, located 37,000 light-years from Nivertar within the Raginves Galaxy. I am a field researcher specializing in the fundamental core of multiversal cultures."
"I also focus on music and machinery."
"Two years ago, just before reaching my designated target planet for cultural studies research, my vessel was affected by anomalous cosmic radiation and was forced to land here."
"I merely require 500 tons of gold to reactivate my ship. When I return to my homeworld, I pledge to repay you tenfold the amount of gold."
Five hundred tons of gold.
Biuiao likely hadn't researched the economic situation on Nivertar. The total gold reserves across all nations on Nivertar amounted to only 35,000 tons. He was requesting one-seventieth of that entire global reserve merely by asking.
Only ten nations on the whole of Nivertar could plausibly claim 500 tons of gold reserves. This wasn't easily printed paper currency; it was a non-renewable physical asset.
It would be challenging for any major power in any world to produce 500 tons of gold readily, let alone convert it into liquid assets.
Realizing his initial request might be slightly ambitious,
Biuiao built in some negotiating margin. He tentatively proposed, "If 500 tons isn't feasible immediately, even 5 grams would suffice. I can gather the rest slowly; I should manage to collect enough eventually."
His expression was utterly sincere.
He wasn't engaging in jest.
Mei suggested dryly, "I believe robbing a bank might prove faster."
"Sigh."
Biuiao sighed heavily. "No, the Aurora Civilization maintains extraordinarily high societal morals. We cannot contravene our moral compass. We are forbidden from committing crimes or uttering falsehoods."
Mei chose not to question the veracity of his claims. He, in turn, made no attempt to solicit her belief. They resembled two individuals exchanging profound nonsense.
Beep, beep—
Biuiao's electronic timepiece sounded. He immediately snatched his backpack and ran, sprinting like an unbridled steed.
【Nivertar Survival Rule One: The human body is exceptionally fragile, demanding high energy expenditure while offering low energy absorption efficiency. It is paramount to consume substantial amounts of sustenance daily to maintain normal functionality. However, I have made a novel discovery: they possess numerous new food spawn points. I always uncover surprises here.】
This was a rule Biuiao had meticulously recorded upon his arrival on Nivertar. Every planet presented unique social and cultural landscapes. Adhering to established rules greatly increased a researcher's survival probability.
Outside the bakery,
A shop assistant carelessly tossed a large bag of expired bread into the designated refuse receptacle. Biuiao arrived almost simultaneously. As the assistant turned away, he retrieved the bag of bread from the trash can.
"Excellent."
Biuiao carefully examined the exterior of the bread bag: "No tears, and they all appear quite fresh. You see, bread that has just passed its expiration date hasn't actually spoiled; it remains entirely edible."
"..."
What a pitiful existence.
Mei corrected Biuiao’s foundational rule: "That isn't termed a new 'food spawn point'; that is labeled a 'trash can.' You truly do not need to stoop to this level of desperation."
"I am aware."
Biuiao, clutching the bag of bread, moved to a nearby park and rinsed the grime off with available water. To Mei's surprise, he was actually somewhat of a germaphobe.
"When I first arrived here two years ago, I was completely ignorant of human society. This wasn't even my intended destination. My data banks were blank. I had to explore everything incrementally. Who knew this receptacle was called a trash can? I only knew that sustenance was replenished here daily."
"I once suffered a severe stomach ailment. Fortunately, an elderly man transported me to a medical facility. Only then did I learn that your food also undergoes spoilage."
That elderly gentleman was truly benevolent.
He taught Biuiao numerous survival techniques essential for wandering life. He advised Biuiao that expired bread and canned provisions were the safest sustenance and strictly warned him against picking up loose, unpackaged bread.
Consequently, Biuiao subsisted solely on bread.
As he spoke, Biuiao washed his hands meticulously and even retrieved a handkerchief from his backpack to thoroughly dry the exterior of the bread bag. Only then did he cautiously open it.
Roast pork buns.
Macarons.
Cupcakes.
Raisin bread.
Today's bounty was exceptionally rich. Following the hospitable custom of "a guest warrants the best," Biuiao was about to invite Mei to partake in the bread, but Mei preempted him.
"Consider this my treat. What would you like to consume?"
"Truly?"
Biuiao's eyes lit up.
Humans possessed one commendable trait: their appetite could deliver immense satisfaction. Being treated to a proper meal was an unexpected boon for him.
At the buffet line,
Biuiao, eyes blazing with enthusiasm, returned to his seat carrying a plate overflowing with provisions. There was a generous selection of seafood. He also secured a soft drink and an ice cream sundae.
He explained, "Soft drinks are acceptable, but I wouldn't dare consume the seafood or the ice cream retrieved from refuse containers. Far too unsanitary. This is a rare opportunity; I can finally eat something fresh."
Ice cream was a rare indulgence for him.
At times, he undertook menial odd jobs to earn meager currency, but that income was strictly reserved for basic survival, preventing any free spending. Often, he could only gaze longingly at the ice cream sundaes displayed in shop windows.
"This item tastes excellent, but it isn't very filling, and it's overpriced. Furthermore, I possess a sensitive digestive system, so I cannot consume excessive quantities of frozen goods."
