Chapter 1298: The Game Continues

The endlessly majestic, infinitely mysterious starry sky was experiencing an extremely disturbing collapse. As every second passed, it was like a painting full of the most extreme levels of destruction filling the field of view and attacking all things in existence.

If one could view the collapse in slow motion, it would be possible to see that, starting in the distant, never-ending horizon, there was something like a golden thread floating there. It was almost like someone had casually painted a mouth in the darkness of the painting. It wasn’t particularly eye-catching, but it did contain an unspeakably dangerous aura.

It was the old God Paragon’s conception. And that was attracting the gaze of Eminent Desolation.

In the blink of an eye, the golden thread became many golden threads. They madly spread out in all directions like a greedy web. Where they passed, the previously tranquil starry sky became like the surface of a lake that a boulder had smashed into. Rippling waves surged out everywhere. As the ripples spread, the distortions became reality, bending even the light cast by the heavenly bodies.

Next, the heavenly bodies, which were like jewels set into the dark canopy of the various universes, began to dance wildly. Huge suns that normally burned like universal furnaces, unleashing never-ending light and heat, reacted as if they had been hit with gigantic, invisible hammers. Their external surfaces exploded, sending out angry crimson fire like savage dragons.

The light was so brightly red it was blinding enough to illuminate entire universes. The heat waves were so intense that entire planets were vaporized, leaving behind not a trace of their existence, other than shimmering lights that flowed into chaos.

The interior of the suns couldn’t stand up to the violent force, and collapsed into countless bizarre bits of glowing rubble that blasted out in all directions. Each bit of rubble seemed to contain the final defiance of the suns, as they streaked through the darkness like sharp swords to slice apart the rest of the starry sky. It was as if profoundly deep wounds were being ripped open in the starry sky, as if an epic poem were being written about the destruction of everything.

At the same time, the planets that were like millions upon millions of jewels inset into black silk fabric, began to experience the devastating force. Planet after planet exploded. Dazzling light spread out, becoming a blinding waterfall of light that spread with mountain-toppling, sea-draining force. Wherever it spread, space became like pure primal-chaos.

Before, there were planets and galaxies that had been clearly visible, but they were soon overwhelmed by the chaotic convergence of darkness and light. They were ripped apart like a scene from hell itself. With every beam of light that shot out, the universes seemed to issue despairing cries to form a last-ditch defense.

Galaxies could not escape the destruction. Innumerable galaxies, and even star domains, which had once been like majestic and mysteriously orderly islands in the sea of darkness around them, were now like piddling sandbanks collapsing beneath a strong tide. They were shattered, and heavenly bodies collapsed in all directions as the galaxies’ structures were destroyed.

In a very short period of time, the boundless starry sky became a wasteland of primal-chaos! All the heavenly bodies were crushed. Their light went out, all while darkness and gloom spread. It was as if all traces of things from before had been devoured.

There were a few scraps of defiant light that shone, which were the final, lingering effects of the collapse. They were short-lived. Eventually, everything was overwhelmed, and the only thing left behind was deathly silence.

Nothing existed.

In only a few short breaths of time, the majestic starry sky had lived an entire lifetime.

Even the old God Paragon and the gaze of Eminent Desolation became nothing. All of the universes, all of the planets, all of the living beings and inanimate objects were like the Peerless City of the past. They became nothing.

A final stream of divine will from the God Paragon was a howl that echoed coldly through the destiny aura of the Fifth Star Ring.

“I can’t beat you, Immortal Paragon, but neither can you prevail!”

That divine will became imprinted in the destiny aura of the Fifth Star Ring, becoming an indelible natural law, something that shook all other magical laws. It would last for all the aeons.

The God Paragon perished!

All entities with paramount personhood in the higher star rings were shaken down to their god souls.

The biggest reaction came in the Ninth Star Ring. In the east of that star ring, a gigantic sleeping beast’s golden eyes opened. In the north of the star ring, trembling figures could be seen atop blooming lotuses that floated atop the golden mother river. In the south of the star ring, in an astonishing black tower, a fire was lit. In the west of the star ring was a terrifying paper person seated cross-legged. The paper person licked his lips as he looked in the direction of Revered Ancient.

In Revered Ancient, Eminent Desolation’s opened eyes finally closed.

Time passed.

***

A figure strode through the star ring of the Fifth Star Ring, a tall old man with hemp sandals, with a golden rat on his shoulder. He was none other than the Immortal Paragon of the Fifth Star Ring.

He walked forward silently until he reached the spot where the God Paragon had died. Ruin stretched out everywhere. As he surveyed the surroundings, he could sense the strong aura of Eminent Desolation.

The Immortal Paragon said nothing. He knew that, going forward, the Fifth Star Ring would forever be missing thirty percent of itself. The ring… would never be whole. And whenever the eyes of Eminent Desolation’s true form opened, light would pour out from this location. The Fifth Star Ring’s karma was forever tainted.

Grandmaster Bai appeared. “This is the cost of using Eminent Desolation. You could have chosen not to lead Xu Qing and that other fellow over to hīm.”

The Immortal Paragon had nothing to say in response. Some time passed, and then he spoke in an ancient voice. It seemed as if his words were directed less to Grandmaster Bai and more to the other God Paragons in the other higher star rings.

“Do you remember what Eminent Desolation said upon failing to become a Living God? Hīs words filled all of the higher star rings. Fate can be broken, but constants must be respected. Isn’t it possible that the word that spread was wrong? What if hē didn’t fail? What if… everything that’s happened is just part of the process of rising to a higher level?”

Having said that, the Immortal Paragon faded from view. The paramount entities in the rest of the higher star rings said nothing. Grandmaster Bai merely sighed and looked at the spot in the Fourth Star Ring where Xu Qing had disappeared.

***

Time passed. In the blink of an eye, five years went by.

There were now only three years left until the appointed time came for Xu Qing to return. Yet he had not returned.

The Fourth Star Ring had changed a lot in those five years. The gods had been confined to a very small area. Everywhere else… there were numerous supply depot planets pulsing with immortal energy. As the destiny aura of the Fifth Star Ring expanded, more and more cultivators were coming to occupy the Fourth Star Ring.

Immortal Lord Mi Ming had returned to the Fifth Star Ring to take charge. The other Immortal Lords had also returned.

Grandmaster Bai was the only exception. He sat waiting in the spot where Xu Qing had disappeared.

In the five years that passed, something else changed for the living beings. Whenever they practiced cultivation, they would hear the final, echoing words of that God Paragon.

“I can’t beat you, Immortal Paragon, but neither can you prevail!”