When two worlds merge, the real world is protected by the rules of the inner world. As long as the real world contains nothing that celestial gods covet, there will be no problems.
However, Wen Wen was different; he was what the celestial gods coveted.
There was something within him that all celestial gods dreamed of possessing, which was why Wen Wen had to leave the real world before the two worlds merged, otherwise, he might be trapped in the real world.
Not only Wen Wen himself would face danger, but others would also be implicated by him.
Seeing Wen Wen trying to exit the fifth level of the containment facility, Zui's expression suddenly turned ferocious. An unprecedented powerful aura erupted, and Wen Wen's year-old unkempt hair was blown up by the sudden burst of airflow. He frowned and looked behind him.
Chains were seen falling to the ground from Zui's body, making a tinkling sound. Each chain, upon hitting the ground, turned into black smoke and merged with the surrounding environment.
As these chains fell, Zui's aura gradually climbed. All the power in the entire fifth level seemed to respond to his call, and his strength had increased severalfold compared to before.
"So that's how it is, it's indeed like this..."
Wen Wen turned around, the Blood River Sword reappearing in his hand.
He had realized that the power Zui spoke of being completely identical to his was actually Zui's disguise.
Even if their powers were truly identical, they could not have fought to a draw for a year unless Zui was using power far exceeding Wen Wen's to meticulously control it.
Those chains were Zui's self-imposed restraint on his power.
He might possess the same power as the master of the containment facility, but he and that master, whom his power was measured against, were clearly not the current Wen Wen.
"Since you are no longer intending to fight, you have no need to continue existing."
In Zui's hand, a giant black energy sword materialized. The energy intensity of this great sword had already surpassed Wen Wen's total capacity.
"However, I also don't intend to wait idly for death..."
A faint light flashed in Wen Wen's eyes. Invisible airflow rotated around him, transforming into a pair of enormous black wings. The black wings continuously channeled energy to the Blood River Sword in Wen Wen's hand, causing the sword to emit a shrill cry.
This was a move he had developed over five years of cultivation to deal with the current situation.
By sacrificing half of his own power, he could elevate his power level. Although it was only for a single strike, Wen Wen himself did not know how powerful this strike would be.
A hint of surprise flashed in Zui's eyes, and then he smiled.
"You still have such a move hidden... It seems you truly didn't intend to kill me in the end."
"But even so, I am still stronger!"
With that, Zui cleaved down at Wen Wen with his overwhelming aura, while Wen Wen met him head-on with his sword.
The immense power that passed through the gate caused the entire world gap to shake violently. The disaster-level powerhouses outside felt a primal fear.
This collision of power was undoubtedly at the level of celestial gods!
Not only the world gap but also the real world was affected. Everyone saw the sky completely change color, with occasional profound runes flashing across it.
This was the real world's inherent barrier reacting to the clash of their powers.
Kyōgoku Kūra looked at the sky in horror, "Is this the duel he spoke of? What kind of entity can possess such immense power?"
As a disaster-level powerhouse, he felt it more deeply than others. He knew that if this power were to land on the ground, it would be enough to destroy everything on the surface!
Bai Mo and the other three central administrators floated in the night sky. As Wen Wen took away the most dangerous fifth part of the containment facility, the pressure they bore suddenly decreased, and their strength continued to recover.
"The result of this power collision should be imminent."
"Let's hope it's Wen Wen who emerges from there."
...
Inside the fifth level of the containment facility, the scene had become bizarre and distorted. Space itself had collapsed, filled with strange, colorful patches that made it impossible to distinguish reality from illusion.
The two seemed evenly matched, but the move Wen Wen had unleashed by sacrificing half his power was nearing its energy limit, while Zui appeared to be still at ease.
Just then, Zui, who had always looked resentful, suddenly smiled at Wen Wen.
This was not a sneer or a mockery, but a smile of relief.
The black energy sword that had been confronting Wen Wen suddenly vanished without a trace. Wen Wen's Blood River Sword easily pierced into Zui's body, destroying his form bit by bit.
This was not because his power was superior, but because Zui had abandoned his defense.
Wen Wen stood frozen, staring at his hand, then at Zui's body, speechless.
They had fought for a year. If Zui had been fairly defeated by Wen Wen, Wen Wen would have felt proud.
But if he was defeated in such a manner...
What did this even count as!
Suicide?
Surrender?
Or perhaps charity?
Seeing Wen Wen's expression, Zui gently shook his head.
"Don't be surprised. This is what you deserve. When you realized my nature and gave up fighting, you had already won..."
"That person came here once when he left and said you did a very good job."
"I wouldn't say it was very good, but you passed."
Zui's appearance shifted from being between Wen Wen and the black-robed figure back to the black-robed figure's form. Then, he placed his hands on Wen Wen's shoulders, gradually turning him into black fragments.
A large amount of information surged into Wen Wen's body, and the black smoke eagerly poured into him as well.
"He and I gave everything to you, and then, bear the sins of the world..."
After uttering his final words, Zui's body completely vanished. Wen Wen, due to the influx of a large amount of black smoke, fainted onto the ground.
He remained unconscious for ten days.
When Wen Wen opened his eyes, a look of sorrow flashed within them.
Now, he understood everything.
The black-robed figure's name was special, so special that it could not be spoken in the common tongue.
Translating its meaning into the common tongue, it was 'The Last Flame,' or 'The Remnant Ash.'
He was the last spark left from a universe that had already perished, the last living being of that universe.
Since then, he had wandered through the infinite void, a place called the 'Outer Expanse.'
Meaning, a place outside the starry sky.
The Outer Expanse was vast but not a habitable place. There were also life forms there, but each one, like the black-robed figure, was merely a residual life form after the collapse of the universe.
They lived meaninglessly in the Outer Expanse and eventually disappeared meaninglessly.
It was through fate that the black-robed figure entered the universe where the real world was located.