The so-called strongest... Among all the teams in the entire Samsara World, those who have unlocked the third stage of the Gene Lock generally possess unique combat styles, and their fighting power has already surpassed the limits of ordinary people. To put it broadly, these elites who have unlocked the third-stage Gene Lock, upon returning to the real world, would certainly be capable of dealing with the equivalent of an entire division, even if they couldn't single-handedly wipe out an army. Of course, there are also a few extreme cases where someone is only formidable in solo combat but proves insufficient against large groups of enemies. Nevertheless, the third stage of the Gene Lock serves as the general benchmark for whether a Samsara member is considered competent. Naturally, this is not absolute; there are individuals below the third stage who possess a wealth of exchanged artifacts, attribute weapons, and so on, making them incredibly strong. Thus, the third stage merely signifies entry level, not absolute superiority.

As for the fourth stage of the Gene Lock, that is where a Samsara member truly enters the realm of the formidable. Any character reaching this level is, by any measure, a supreme powerhouse, absolutely essential to the main combat force within any team. There are no more than twenty such individuals in the entire Samsara World; these people can be considered the absolute apex predators of the Samsara World, looking down upon anyone weaker than them, not even sparing a glance for an entire team of such opponents.

And Clone Zheng Zha was precisely one of these rare individuals, the unrivaled strongest among the strongest. Such weight is astonishing, especially considering the Demon Team exists purely under the law of the jungle. To be hailed as the strongest in the Samsara World within such a team means possessing undeniable, genuine strength—it’s simply out of the question otherwise. One must remember, the Demon Team harbors the abnormal presence of Zhao Zhui Kong, who is always ready to pick a fight over nothing. With such a freak by one's side,

For him to still confidently claim the title of strongest shows that this moniker is entirely genuine, completely deserving of its weight. Zheng Zha himself had also endured countless battles.

He had faced countless life-and-death trials, growing stronger step by step. Every change, every effort, every moment of shared emotion, every bit of diligence—these forged his qualification to challenge Clone Zheng Zha. But it was only a qualification. Even when he unleashed his Primal Chaos: World Creation, there was no absolute guarantee he could eradicate Clone Zheng Zha. Those hundred Blackflame weapons were indeed devastatingly powerful; anyone slightly weaker surrounded by them would undoubtedly perish. But against the self-proclaimed strongest, Clone Zheng Zha... this level of power was still far, far too weak.

Indeed, when Zheng Zha unleashed the power of Primal Chaos: World Creation. A power no longer belonging to this tier proved unparalleled. It easily breached the hundred Blackflame weapons and struck Clone Zheng Zha’s body severely for the first time. Such an injury would instantly kill an ordinary person. But who would have thought that after being burned by the Blackflame, Clone Zheng Zha’s injury would instantly heal, leaving not a single trace of blood on his body? Of course, if it had ended there, Zheng Zha would have been confident in the might of Primal Chaos: World Creation. Everything has its limit; no matter how terrifying self-healing might be, if the attack is faster and fiercer than the recovery, Clone Zheng Zha will truly die. But... Clone Zheng Zha’s move, worthy of his 'strongest' title, also appeared: named Primal Darkness: Universe End! Using the black film that had blocked the Tiger Soul Blade as its core, the surrounding black flames rapidly merged into it, causing the black film to grow larger and larger.

But it was unknown what material this black film was composed of; the boundless black flames only managed to condense into a minuscule fraction of the black film. When nearly the entire sky of black flames had transformed into the black film, it resulted in only a black sphere about one meter long and wide.

This sphere was utterly black and lusterless. The light rays in the vicinity were warped and absorbed the moment they approached it. Rocks on the ground were ceaselessly dragged up, pulled directly into the dark sphere. The sphere itself continued to shrink, and when it reduced to the size of a ping-pong ball, it suddenly contracted inward with immense force, instantly creating a spatial tear—a black hole—in the arena.

This black hole was not the commonly understood astronomical black hole; it was merely a massive, dark void into which nothing could be seen. Standing about four to five meters high and three to four meters wide, it ripped through space, standing there, sending chills down the spines of all observers.

“This is my return gift to you, a power that makes even me tremble. By the way, you must be resolved within ten minutes, otherwise, if I lose control of this power, it will genuinely grow into a black hole, and no one besides me will survive. I assume you don't wish for that, do you?” Clone Zheng Zha murmured to Zheng Zha, his eyes unfocused. For some reason—perhaps it was an illusion—Zheng Zha suddenly thought he saw a flicker of desolation in his eyes. Desolation appearing in the eyes of this perfectly resolute strongest being? “Very well! My Primal Chaos: World Creation won't last much longer either. Since these are our ultimate trump cards, there’s no need for further talk... Come on! Clone Me, this is my final power to oppose you!” Zheng Zha took a deep breath, roared, and charged toward Clone Zheng Zha, brandishing the Tiger Soul Blade.

“Loneliness...” Faintly, Zheng Zha seemed to hear Clone Zheng Zha utter those words. But at this moment, he had no time to dwell on anything. Using Primal Chaos, he hurtled forward with incredible speed, evading the eerie black hole. He was instantly at the clone's side, simultaneously channeling immense power into the Tiger Soul Blade and slashing down ferociously.

At this moment, the battle across the entire Samsara World had reached its most fevered pitch, determining the strongest team, the strongest individual—this final confrontation was about to conclude. The top experts of the Central Continent and Demon Teams were already mutually wrecked. Excluding Hao Tian, who had vanished without a trace, the only figures capable of influencing the outcome of this final battle were the two Zheng Zhas and the two Chu Xuans—the terrifying culmination of a 'King versus King, Soldier versus Soldier' tactic... Mutual annihilation! “...It is balanced again, as expected...” Clone Chu Xuan’s expression suddenly shifted. After several seconds, he spoke to the Chu Xuan before him.

“No, it’s not balanced again; it must be balanced. A final battle conducted in this manner is the true final battle, and the only one that aligns with the objective.” Chu Xuan suddenly tilted his head to look at the sky, speaking as well.

At this moment, the two of them were still suspended in mid-air. Behind Clone Chu Xuan, there was the presence of a young girl. That was Zhang Xiaoxue, holding the Investiture of the Gods List. From the start of their fight until now, the two had battled for over half an hour. Never mind Chu Xuan’s already salt-and-pepper hair and the lines on his face; judging solely by Zhang Xiaoxue’s ashen complexion, both sides were already utterly exhausted.

Clone Chu Xuan gazed deeply at Chu Xuan before saying, “...The only final battle that meets the objective, is it? I know this because of the Investiture of the Gods List, and you possess cultivation technology. So, it’s not surprising you know these things... Speaking of which, how much life force do you have left to squander? What is your current physical age—forty? Fifty? Or sixty?” “What about you? How many Karma Points do you have left? How severe is the world's rejection? If ordinary natural disasters cannot eradicate this repulsion, will an asteroid fall? Or will you be driven out of this cosmic plane by an infinitely large repulsive force? I wonder what your choice will be?” Chu Xuan did not hesitate and immediately replied.

“...Either is possible. But what I find curious is that you keep letting the Eastern Emperor Bell constantly absorb the surrounding free energy. Aside from some energy you use to restore your life force, the majority is being stored. What are you planning? Let me guess... you intend to interfere with the outcome of that final battle?” Clone Chu Xuan spoke again.

“...That is also my curiosity. I cannot know how many Karma Points I have left, but the girl behind you has also begun storing energy. What are you planning?” Chu Xuan countered immediately.

“Oh, is that so?” Clone Chu Xuan seemed rather surprised. He glanced silently at Zhang Xiaoxue. Without changing his expression, he continued speaking to Chu Xuan: “At this point, there is no need for me to do anything further. Clone Zheng Zha’s strength is certain to surpass Zheng Zha’s. So, delaying further is fine. At worst, I will only suffer repulsion and need only to leave this cosmic plane. But what about you? If you fail, you will perish without a burial place. You are completely at a disadvantage.”

“...Regardless of what you think, I’ve said it before: treating team members as chess pieces is a precursor to your failure. Aren’t the powers of your Demon Team members many times stronger than mine? Yet, you are already mutually wounded. Didn’t you want to know what so-called emotion is? The approaching result of this final battle is the best answer for you... I am going to launch a full offensive!” Both Chu Xuans looked silently at each other; their expressions were always so cold and solemn.

Only Zhang Xiaoxue behind them showed a trace of nervousness. After all, she was not one of the principals, nor was she an emotionless Chu Xuan. As an observer of this peak battle, and the main 'weapon,' her current mood was undoubtedly both worried and tense, coupled with a faint, almost intangible premonition... (Could it be that the final accumulated Karma Points must be used? But if so, my fate and his will become uncertain...) The two Chu Xuans finally unleashed their full power. One shook the Eastern Emperor Bell, sending ripples that vibrated for a hundred miles; within these hundred miles, it seemed even time and space were completely frozen. The only ones unaffected were Zhang Xiaoxue and the Investiture of the Gods List she held. As Chu Xuan shot several streams of Willpower toward him, the Investiture of the Gods List trembled again, twisting karma and destiny so that none of the Willpower streams struck Clone Chu Xuan, all instead striking the distant ground. As the Investiture of the Gods List was used, Clone Chu Xuan broke free from the Eastern Emperor Bell's confinement, turning to shoot several streams of Willpower, which were then annihilated by the vibration of the Eastern Emperor Bell. The two resumed their fierce exchange as before... It was unclear if by chance or design, but the direction of their battle was gradually drawing closer to the main battlefield of the two Zheng Zhas.

(Such a tedious fighting style. Two people who know each other intimately, with comparable strengths, and in a state where even their entire beings are complete copies—it’s too difficult to decide a victor quickly... Zheng Zha, hold on. The final move to break this deadlock will be delivered shortly...) Chu Xuan glanced silently toward the far distance once, then averted his gaze from that direction completely, focusing all his attention on Clone Chu Xuan. Fighting and flying, the two soon traveled dozens of miles, drawing even closer to where the two Zheng Zhas clashed.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Zheng Zha had already clashed head-on with Clone Zheng Zha's Primal Darkness: Universe End.

It was strange; the black hole clearly tore through space, yet he could wield it as easily as the Blackflame. As Zheng Zha attacked the Clone with Primal Chaos speed and power, countless tiny black hole particles, the size of soybeans, floated around Clone Zheng Zha’s body. When the Tiger Soul Blade slashed at these black hole particles, it met no resistance; the force on the blade rapidly drained away and vanished, while the black hole particles remained completely unchanged—their shape and size identical to before. Seeing this, Zheng Zha dared not attack with his physical body as he had before.

He could only bring his blade down fiercely on the ground between them. (I refuse to believe these black hole particles can defend the very space beneath your feet. Even if my thoughts manifest instantly and your Raging Flames offer autonomous defense, you still need movement speed to defend, right? My Primal Chaos... huh?) As Zheng Zha brought his blade down, shattering the ground, before he could leap down, Clone Zheng Zha, whose reaction speed was usually slower than Zheng Zha's destructive speed, advanced with a force and speed comparable to his own, landing a fierce punch to his abdomen. Regardless of how tough his Submerged Dragon Transformation was, the force of this punch drove his belly inward, creating a shallow indentation. Simultaneously, Zheng Zha was blasted back over a thousand meters, carving a deep furrow into the distant earth.

“This is my power... How can you also possess the power of Primal Chaos: World Creation? Wait... Black holes, absorption... Can your black holes absorb power and convert it into your own strength?” Zheng Zha felt a sudden sweetness in his throat, forcing the mouthful of blood back down.

He then looked at Clone Zheng Zha and asked in shock. “Although it is a rudimentary black hole, it is not yet the most violent and ultimate power in the universe. Otherwise, the moment the black hole formed, we would all be sucked in, reduced to the most elemental particles or quarks... Do you wish to see that kind of power?” Clone Zheng Zha seemed surprised as he looked at his own hands. The power absorbed from Zheng Zha, even if only a trace, was still Primal Chaos level strength and speed, a degree that made Clone Zheng Zha inwardly startle.

As he finished speaking, Clone Zheng Zha stomped his foot forcefully, achieving a speed comparable to Zheng Zha’s movement speed. The ground beneath him ruptured entirely, and he instantly surged over a thousand meters to reach Zheng Zha. Zheng Zha flashed away; while his speed and reaction time were impressive, against Clone Zheng Zha’s current power and velocity, he could no longer move stealthily as before. Clone Zheng Zha merely beckoned slightly, and countless tiny black hole particles enveloped both of them. Zheng Zha found himself surrounded front, back, left, and right by these particles—this time, there was no escape.

“Look closely, this is the true form of Primal Darkness after absorbing power...” Clone Zheng Zha beckoned again. The black hole particles suspended around them violently coalesced toward the largest nearby particle. Not only that, but the more particles merged, the greater the suction force of the core particle became. In just one breath, Zheng Zha felt himself being slowly drawn upward. Above his head, a sphere of distorted space the size of a basketball was taking shape. This distorted space was slightly different from the previous black hole he had witnessed. Looking into it with the naked eye, it seemed as if countless spaces were forming and shattering simultaneously. If the previous black hole space was a static black hole, then the current distorted space was a dynamic one; the suction forces between the two were absolutely incomparable.

Zheng Zha vigorously flapped his dragon wings, forcibly anchoring himself. However, as the surrounding suction force gradually increased, even his Primal Chaos: World Creation power felt resistance. This was Primal Chaos level power, far beyond the Destruction tier! If this level of power felt resistance, one could imagine how immense the suction force of these distorted spaces was.

(But... this is also an opportunity...) A thought flashed through Zheng Zha’s mind. He suddenly noticed that the dense black hole particles surrounding him had become unusually sparse. After forming several distorted spaces, the passage between him and the clone had gradually opened. Although two twisted spaces still stood guard, to Zheng Zha, this was equivalent to a path through a desperate situation. Without further thought, Zheng Zha gathered all his strength. It had been over a minute since he activated Primal Chaos: World Creation; he was nearing the absolute limit his physical body could endure. Even with the techniques learned from the Magic Ring aiding him, he could not maintain this state indefinitely. This single opportunity was very likely his last chance... In just a fraction of a second,

Zheng Zha rocketed upward from his position. The immense force made him pass through the black hole particles and distorted spaces like a whirlwind. Only at the final two passage-guarding distorted spaces did he use his wings to physically block the distortion. For an instant, an unimaginably terrifying tearing force erupted from that distorted space, seemingly far more ferocious than the tearing force of Primal Chaos: World Creation. With a sharp shhh, his incredibly tough Submerged Dragon Transformation body ripped apart, and both dragon wings were torn clean off his back. Zheng Zha immediately utilized Moon Step to escape the gravitational pull of the distorted space.

During this process, even the Tiger Soul Blade dropped to the ground, but he finally managed to surge in front of Clone Zheng Zha.

“I’ve got you... I know what burden you carry, but I must tell you, your path is wrong! I cannot tell you what is right, but I will defeat you, surpass you! Because I carry a burden far more important than all your hatred and madness—all your negative emotions! I will certainly surpass you!” Zheng Zha fiercely grabbed Clone Zheng Zha, regardless of whether the clone could still use the power of Primal Chaos: World Creation. He mercilessly hammered a punch into the clone's face, not allowing him the chance to fly away. One hand gripped him, while the other furiously attacked, striking vital organs again and again. Clone Zheng Zha’s entire abdomen was pulverized first.

Then came the heart and chest, followed by both arms. Just as Zheng Zha was about to smash the clone’s head with a final blow, he distinctly saw Clone Zheng Zha’s face twist into a cold sneer.

“Surpass me? With what? Your power? Your magnanimity? Or perhaps your so-called conviction?” Clone Zheng Zha threw his head back and laughed heartily. Simultaneously, he kicked out with one foot, delivering a force completely comparable to Zheng Zha’s Primal Chaos level power directly into his abdomen. At the same time, countless powerful suction forces appeared behind Zheng Zha, pulling him inch by inch toward the several massive distorted spaces. The power of these distorted spaces was several times greater than before, so much so that even his Primal Chaos level power could no longer forcefully resist.

“...Look closely. The difference in our magnanimity.” Black flames erupted from Clone Zheng Zha’s body. Concurrently, his physical body began to gradually restore its original state. Only then did he silently extend one hand. And as his body moved,

Zheng Zha finally saw what covered his surface: an extremely thin, sheer black film was tightly adhering to his body. Every attack just now had only made his Primal Darkness: Universe End stronger, to the point where the distorted spaces had now become completely irreversible.

(Defeated? Am I truly to be defeated? Carrying the trust of my comrades, burdened by their sacrifices, fueled by the belief they invested in me—is this all I am, destined to lose?) Zheng Zha writhed violently, struggling against the pulling force of the warped space. But the gravity of a black hole, even an incomplete one such as this, was immense. His Honghuang, his Kaitian Pidi... especially now that he could barely wield power at that level, this Honghuang was ultimately no match for the black hole.

“Zheng Zha… my time is short. Especially since the fusion of my Light of the Soul into your body accelerates the drain. We must resolve this in one swift strike… Also, Captain, thank you for always looking out for me. Fighting alongside everyone—these have been the happiest days of my entire memory. Thank you all…”

Just as despair threatened to consume Zheng Zha’s heart, a clear, soft female voice drifted into his ear. It sounded like Zhao Yingkong’s voice. But why was she here? And with the suction force of this warped space, no living soul should exist within a ten-li radius. How could she have slipped close to him? Before Zheng Zha could formulate an answer, he suddenly felt something cool and refreshing flow into his body. The sensation was indescribable; it felt like a mere instant, yet also like an aion of cosmic reincarnation had passed. Both the fleeting moment and eternity seemed to overlap at that instant. Then, Zheng Zha shuddered, and a massive torrent of chaotic energy erupted from him. This chaotic surge completely overwhelmed the pulling force of the warped space, and with a slight stomp of his foot, Zheng Zha leaped several hundred meters away, standing there as if stunned.

“Is this the level you inhabit, my copy? This sensation, the myriad of micro-particles surrounding me, the various energies flowing within, the trajectory lines of everything in the cosmos… Is this the tier you occupy? Advanced Fourth Tier. Approaching the Fifth Tier?” Zheng Zha gazed silently at his hands, then turned his attention back to the copy of himself.

The copy of Zheng Zha, however, seemed entirely unfazed by Zheng Zha’s escape. With a wave of his hand, he drew the cluster of warped space back together, coalescing it into a single, unified void that hung stationary before him. He spoke quietly, “A breakthrough? At this moment of life or death, you broke through to a non-human level? No. You possess someone else’s Light of the Soul? And only an incomplete Light of the Soul can merge with another’s in such a short time… Ah, this was his arrangement. Otherwise, with your power, how could you have survived that last strike?”

“Him? Right. Advanced Fourth Tier. I can sense the mental fluctuations perceptible only to mental energy controllers. My comrades…” Zheng Zha looked silently at the ropes wound around his wrist. His wrist was covered in them, save for the ropes belonging to Chu Xuan, Liu Yu, and Lin Juntian, which had not flown back. The rest of his team members were dead. On Zhan Lan’s rope, a short message was left, but Zheng Zha had no mind to examine it now; all his focus was fixed upon the sole enemy before him.

“Copy of me, I finally possess the qualification to fight you… Having shouldered too much, I cannot bear to lose to you again! I will surpass you!” Zheng Zha bit down hard, summoning the Hupo Saber from the ground, which flew neatly into his hand. For a being who had begun to glimpse the domain of energy—an Advanced Fourth Tier Gene Lock—such minor tricks were practically instinct. Furthermore, with the refinement of control reaching the atomic and energy levels, the power of his skills was unimaginably amplified.

Zheng Zha shifted his feet lightly. Gone was the frantic posture of using Honghuang for movement; not even a speck of dust rose from the earth beneath him, yet his speed was on par with the Honghuang level. He was still maintaining the state of Honghuang, Kaitian Pidi. One of the greatest changes afforded by the Advanced Fourth Tier was the meticulous control over energy—all methods understood. By utilizing the collision of two energies, as long as the energy existed, this impact could be sustained indefinitely, provided it did not exceed the body’s inherent capacity. In other words, the current Zheng Zha could use Honghuang, Kaitian Pidi for almost limitless time.

But what of it? The copy of Zheng Zha’s Yuan An (Primal Darkness) was infinitely powerful, flawless in both defense and offense. Moreover, it could absorb the attacker’s power, making the warped space even more potent. This was a technique seemingly reserved for Saints, yet the copy of Zheng Zha, only an Advanced Fourth Tier, had already created it. No wonder he was hailed as the strongest; he truly earned the title.

Zheng Zha moved, charging towards his copy. Leading the assault was the alarmingly suction-heavy warped space. The copy of Zheng Zha once again divided the warped space into dozens of fragments. Apart from the sections orbiting him, the rest flew relentlessly toward Zheng Zha. Unwilling to let his flesh touch that intense gravitational pull, Zheng Zha met one fragment horizontally with the Hupo Saber. With a deafening crash, that piece of warped space was utterly annihilated by the saber, leaving no trace behind. Zheng Zha did not pause, instantly cleaving several more fragments into nothingness. At this rate, it seemed that if he could deplete the copy’s warped space, victory would surely be his.

“Right, Advanced Fourth Tier. Your attacks now penetrate atoms and energy; one strike reduces them to nothing. If that blade were to strike me, even Liyan could not heal the wound… What a pity, what a pity, to only reach the Advanced Fourth Tier now, and only with someone else’s help. Do you genuinely believe you still have the slightest hope? Did you truly think the power channeled during the dozens of punches you landed on me earlier was baseless?” The copy of Zheng Zha sneered, reforming the warped space into a single orb, about two meters wide, enveloping him. No other fragments remained near Zheng Zha.

“From Heiyan to the virtual black hole, then absorbing enough power to form the distortion. If more power is injected, that distortion will become a genuine, miniature black hole… If you had your current strength when I first unleashed the Heiyan and shifted to the virtual black hole, perhaps I would have lost to you. But as it stands, this battle is finally over…” The copy of Zheng Zha shook his head, a deepening shade of desolation in his eyes.

“Idiot. Believing in your so-called conviction, trusting the expectations of those weaklings, believing in a mindset that is clearly hypocritical softness. You haven’t grown to the level I desired… Never mind, what use are you alive?” Whether Zheng Zha heard his words or not, the man suddenly gritted his teeth and swung the Hupo Saber toward the warped space surrounding the copy. But this strike was not one of brute force overcoming finesse, as before. Everything the void touched seemed to vanish like a mud ox entering the sea; immense power dissipated continuously, while the warped space swelled ever larger. By the time the distortion was nearly touching his body, he pulled the saber back, but it was too late. The warped space violently contracted inward, shrinking to a spot two meters in front of the copy’s chest. A tiny, pitch-black point, like the tip of a needle, materialized there. Then, an utterly indescribable suction force erupted. The soil on the ground completely disintegrated and soared upward; even the clouds in the sky were pulled down toward the ground. Zheng Zha, caught at the forefront, could still resist tenuously, but his strength was gradually draining away. In a few seconds at most, he would be entirely swallowed by this miniature black hole—the power known as Yuan An, the termination of the universe…

(Comrades…)

Time rewinded one minute earlier. The battle zone between Chu Xuan and the copy of Chu Xuan was nearing the fighting ground of the two Zheng Zhas. From the sky, they could even glimpse the cylindrical battle arena in the distance, but that was the limit. Neither side seemed inclined to advance further; they engaged in frenzied combat right there. Forget how aged Chu Xuan looked; even the copy of Chu Xuan, despite possessing the Fengshen Bang (Investiture of the Gods List) to manipulate causality, was beginning to age. Both sides were clearly depleted to their last reserves.

Chu Xuan suddenly lowered his Gauss pistol. He made no move to attack, merely using the Donghuang Bell to deflect several strands of belief energy. He simply asked, “My copy, why do you live?”

“…I wish to surpass.” The copy of Chu Xuan also quietly lowered his Gauss pistol and nodded.

“Surpass what? And what of emotion?” Chu Xuan inquired further.

“What I wish to surpass, you and I both understand; stating it aloud would be unsightly… As for emotion, it is merely a symbol contaminated by mortal wisdom. Or perhaps the excuse the weak use to escape. Original self, can you not see even this? Or perhaps… have you been tainted by the people of the Central Continent Team?”

Chu Xuan fell silent upon hearing this, as if recalling something. After a long pause, he spoke: “Is it only about surpassing? Do you remember the stars Father showed us? Things like that…”

“…You truly have been polluted. Original self, based on what I know, the survival doctrine of the Demon Team is far superior to that of the Central Continent Team. Perhaps for normal human society, hypocrisy and cowardice are necessary to smooth over societal friction, but for the chess players who have the chance to transcend, your thinking has become nothing more than a burden.” The copy of Chu Xuan shook his head, raising his Gauss pistol again to aim at Chu Xuan.

“Human emotion contains infinite possibilities. We, existing in two entirely different environments—you have continuously followed the path and ideas I started with: everything maximized for benefit. But after everything I have experienced, I understand that the potential they possess is not just numbers. Take sacrifice, for instance… The members of the Demon Team probably never understood the meaning of that word?” Seeing the copy of Chu Xuan raise the Gauss pistol, Chu Xuan slowly closed his eyes. Guided by the properties of the Donghuang Bell, he located Zheng Zha instantly. At that moment, Zheng Zha had struck the warped space with his blade, and the real miniature black hole was forming. Simultaneously, he noticed the dense cluster of ropes on Zheng Zha’s wrist.

“Comrade… What a strange and familiar word. This feeling… so warm…”

“Chu Xuan, do you want to see the stars?”

“Stars?”

That moment, truly perceiving the world with his eyes—or rather, perceiving the true state of the world, not just numbers and text. At that instant, something within him seemed to unlock. The death of his white-haired father—that agonizing heart-clutching sorrow, yet impossible to express, to describe, to weep over. Such things were unbearable; he didn't want to experience them again… The people of the Central Continent Team were truly childish, always babbling about kindness and comrades. Did they not know that the ones who betray most swiftly are often their own comrades? But what was this warmth? The sights and sounds since his revival, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, bound by shared life and death, stronger than mere comrades—this was something he could never comprehend… Is this what a comrade is? Even Zheng Zha deliberately beating him, even Cheng Xiao always deliberately speaking ill of him ‘behind his back,’ even the subtle guardedness of those around him… Even that… It is so warm. This feeling is like seeing the stars for the first time, like seeing the truest aspect of this world… Therefore, for this rare warmth, for this glimpse of reality so hard-won, he would destroy anything standing in his way!

Chu Xuan used the special capabilities of the Donghuang Bell to sense the spiritual imprints deposited within those ropes—the most genuine spiritual imprint from the moment of death. The purest emotion of comradeship from each person. Within seconds, two transparent drops of liquid rolled down Chu Xuan’s eyes.

“I… am crying? Is this what crying feels like? And tears, what are these…” Chu Xuan started in alarm, touching the moisture at the corner of his eye, murmuring.

“This is a mark of your weakness, a symbol contaminated by mortal wisdom…” The copy of Chu Xuan was also startled, but his expression remained unchanged as he spoke.

“No, this is… the tears of wanting to live on with everyone…” Chu Xuan suddenly looked up. The resolve in his eyes had never been this firm, not even when wearing his hypnotic glasses. Simultaneously, the runic patterns in his eyes activated, scanning the Zheng Zha battlefield far in the distance. Then, he actually took down the Donghuang Bell that had been hovering above his head.

“My copy, you wanted to know what I intended to do with the massive power condensed within this Donghuang Bell? Now I will tell you. There is a relationship worth trusting called ‘comrade.’ There is an oath worth dying for called ‘shoulder-to-shoulder.’ There is the greatest gap between us… it is called ‘emotion.’ Zheng Zha, this is my final aid. Triumph!” With those words, Chu Xuan radiated a brilliant, magnificent wave of belief energy. Compared to the glorious light emanating from the copy of Chu Xuan’s gun barrel, this was like a firefly next to the moon. Next, Chu Xuan compressed all the belief energy from his entire body and forced it into the Donghuang Bell. Once everything was done, he gently tossed the Donghuang Bell toward the copy of Chu Xuan.

(…Comrades? Or perhaps… family… Having you by my side truly feels warm…)

After throwing the bell, Chu Xuan’s physical body began to disintegrate like ash. Apart from a tiny pile of residue, no trace of him remained in the space, as if he had never existed. The only evidence of his singular existence, the Donghuang Bell, followed the trajectory of the throw and hurtled towards the copy of Chu Xuan. As the copy of Chu Xuan fired two bursts of belief energy at the bell, the power vanished like water into sand. Not only that, but the closer the Donghuang Bell got to the copy of Chu Xuan, the larger it grew. Even the Fengshen Bang, with its power to manipulate causality, could not displace the bell. Time seemed to slow as Zhang Xiaoxue began frantically pouring causality points into the Fengshen Bang. However, perhaps due to a karmic backlash from the bell’s impact, the Fengshen Bang ripped into two pieces just as the Donghuang Bell gently struck the copy of Chu Xuan, which was then instantly pulverized into dust.

(Is that it? I lost… What is emotion?)

“No! Absolutely not! And I still have causality points saved, Chu Xuan! Even if I die, you must live!” Zhang Xiaoxue cried out madly. She did not evade the Donghuang Bell but instead flooded the two halves of the Fengshen Bang with a massive influx of causality points. Whether due to the backlash from the tearing of the Fengshen Bang or not, the entire space suddenly fractured as the bell struck her body, sucking in both halves of the Fengshen Bang, along with some of the pulverized remains of Zhang Xiaoxue and the copy of Chu Xuan. The fissure then vanished as quickly as it appeared, as if it had never been there.

After destroying both, the Donghuang Bell swiftly shrank back to the size of a hand-held bronze bell, flashing away. When it reappeared, it collided with the miniature black hole hovering two meters in front of the copy of Zheng Zha’s chest. Two forces, equally boundless, slammed together: one upholding the primal order of heaven and earth, the other the most violent, ultimate manifestation of power in the universe. In their collision, there was no explosion or shockwave, only a clear, crisp sound of bronze striking. The ancient bell developed a thin fissure, which fell to the ground like a needle point, and the needle-tip-sized miniature black hole vanished without a trace.

Both Zheng Zhas stood momentarily stunned until a swaying rope finally flew back onto Zheng Zha’s wrist. Only then did he turn his attention to the ropes, feeling with joy the most genuine and moving spiritual imprints of his comrades.

“Is that so? Chu Xuan cried. Did that guy finally develop emotion?” Zheng Zha muttered to himself. He didn't even look at the copy of Zheng Zha, but closed his eyes completely.

“Chu Xuan? Has he too been dragged down by you weak cowards? How pathetic. He was such a powerful person… He created such a perfect opportunity for you at his death, giving you a slight chance to defeat me. Such a person… is truly pathetic and lamentable. A hypocrite…” The copy of Zheng Zha let out a cold laugh and ceased speaking. An infinite amount of black flame manifested again around his body, condensing and taking shape, intending to reform into that peerless, ultimate, most ferocious power. Even if Zheng Zha could not slowly feed him power again, his own power could self-sustain, though it would take slightly longer.

Zheng Zha paid him no mind, even ceasing the flow of his Zhenyuan force and demonic power. He simply felt the spiritual imprints on every rope. After a long moment, tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes.

“Idiot. You’re crying too? Because those weaklings are holding you back? Because you fear facing death? You haven't grown enough to match me; you are still that inwardly weak coward!” The copy of Zheng Zha laughed coldly, continuously condensing countless black hole spaces. The central parts of these spaces had begun converting into warped space. Once fully converted, he would immediately gain the upper hand.

“No, these tears… are because of courage, because of strength, because of trust. Because of comrades… You will never understand. From the moment you chose the path opposite mine, you will never understand. I will defeat you! I must defeat you! Honghuang, Kaitian Pidi!” Zheng Zha suddenly raised his head. His internal Zhenyuan force and demonic power mixed madly once more. The titanic force of Honghuang, Kaitian Pidi surged from his body again.

He had never been wrong! His convictions, his pursuits, his companions, his courage... all of these were the source of his strength. Therefore, in this moment, he absolutely had to win, absolutely had to grasp the title of the strongest in his own hands! "You cannot defeat me!

As long as you haven't abandoned your hypocrisy, as long as that weakness remains in your heart, you will never be able to... Primordial Darkness, Universe End!" The Clone Zheng Zha seemed driven mad. He violently churned the black hole space and a bit of distorted space, carrying an unimaginable suction force, and thrust it fiercely toward Zheng Zha. This power was so immense that it was in no way inferior when compared to the power of the Primordial Era, the power that created heaven and earth. The forces of both sides collided violently...

In a flash of lightning and sparks, Zheng Zha's entire body began to spin fiercely, revolving with the power of the Primordial Era, the power that created heaven and earth. This spinning drill was capable of piercing even a diamond mountain. He charged straight through the strongest point, which was entirely composed of distorted space. Even though he lost a significant amount of flesh from his shoulders and legs, and even lost one of his arms during this process, he had, after all, pierced through the entire black hole region. Before the Clone Zheng Zha could maneuver those black holes and distorted space further, Zheng Zha, carrying the last trace of the Primordial Era's power, slashed at the Clone Zheng Zha's chest.

The destruction generated from the interactions between atoms and energy acted directly upon the Clone Zheng Zha’s body, and those black flames would possess no further right to burn... "My companion, Chu Xuan, once told me something: true strength isn't just about the power of the force itself; the user and the technique employed are the true fundamentals that determine how powerful one is..." Zheng Zha said quietly. "Is that so? I learned this principle long ago, but Clone Chu Xuan never told me..." The blood-red haze in the Clone Zheng Zha's eyes had vanished. He suddenly flapped his wings and flew to the edge of the cylinder, then simply looked down silently.

"Perhaps... Because he lost the most important things, he wanted to destroy them all the more when he saw others possess them... I truly wish I had the companions you speak of, and the woman I adore..." The Clone Zheng Zha silently looked up at Zheng Zha: "The title of the Strongest... is yours! But I won't help you.

Go pursue whatever future you desire yourself! For some unknown reason." Zheng Zha suddenly felt a pang of melancholy and said, "I don't need your help! I will forge the future with my own hands, and I fear no enemy..." The Clone Zheng Zha quietly turned his head. He muttered, "Luo Gandao is not yet completely dead, and your two younger team members are likely being attacked right now. Go, save your convictions, save your strength...

If you maintain such unwavering belief, perhaps your capacity can truly contend with him..." "Then... the future is yours." As his voice faded, the Clone Zheng Zha leaped downward. While still in mid-air, black flames slowly began to emanate from his chest, but they had no effect whatsoever. These black flames merely sputtered out continuously from the wound, rising dozens of meters high. The Clone Zheng Zha’s body slowly dissolved into ash and dissipated.

In the end, only a ball of black flame remained burning; this man had completely vanished... The man once known as the strongest... Zheng Zha watched the Clone Zheng Zha completely dissipate without saying a word. It wasn't until a long time later, when a monstrous roar echoed from below, that he quickly took out the Green Goblin Glider and sped toward the outside of the cylinder... Only then did he realize that the Light of the Soul gifted by Zhao Yingkong had been completely depleted, yet he still retained his Fourth Tier High-level abilities.

Had he surpassed it without realizing it? Or would this ability persist for a while longer? But none of that mattered now. He had the most direct experience; with just a little time, he could truly reach and consolidate this Fourth Tier High level. However, rescuing his two teammates was more important right now.

At the location of Liu Yu and the other, they were suspended a thousand meters high, far from the EVA Unit-01. Their spirits trembled constantly with the movements of the EVA Unit-01. This monster could still fully recover after being subjected to so many continuous attacks. Although its walking speed was slower than before, it was visibly healing. At this rate, it would eventually recover to the level it was before being blasted, perhaps even stronger.

At that point, those two rookies would be dead even if they hid in the sky. "...We. We should run quickly while this monster hasn't fully recovered. We can use the Green Goblin Glider to get as far away as possible. Then it won't even be able to find us.

Maybe we can even survive this final battle," Lin Juntian suddenly spoke up. "No!" Liu Yu suddenly looked seriously at Lin Juntian: "Brother Lin, do you remember what Brother Wang Xia said before he died? We are destined to become members of the strongest Reincarnation Squad, so we must bear the responsibility and burden of that title. I absolutely will not run away. If you want to leave, Brother, please go ahead.

I must become stronger, strong enough to be worthy of that title!" Seeing how serious Liu Yu was, Lin Juntian had no choice. He could only stare fixedly at the EVA Unit-01 below, which was walking faster and faster. The Unit-01's speed could even be described as a light jog now. If this continued, once its Light of the Soul recovered, they would be... "I'm scared to death...

but I can't abandon a child and flee alone. If I die, I die; running away only means living a few more days... Liu Yu, if we want to get stronger, we'll get stronger together!" Lin Juntian also gritted his teeth and said firmly to Liu Yu. However, before Liu Yu could reply, a voice spoke first: "You will have the chance; you will definitely have the chance to keep growing stronger until you are worthy of the title of the strongest Reincarnation Squad members—members of our Central Continent Team!" Startled, the two looked around and only then discovered a man standing before the EVA below. This man was covered in blood, and one arm had been torn off, leaving only one arm holding the Tiger Soul Blade.

He looked completely out of proportion compared to the giant, dozens-of-meters-tall EVA Unit-01. But before the two could regain their senses, the man simply waved his blade lightly, and the EVA Unit-01 was suddenly sliced in half from the middle, with one half completely turning to ash. Only then did the man pull out the Green Goblin Glider and fly toward Liu Yu and the other. "Brother Zheng Zha!" "Captain!" Upon seeing Zheng Zha, an indescribable sense of relief flooded their minds. For a moment, the two felt their limbs turn weak, wishing they could just lie on the ground.

But Zheng Zha just smiled at them: "Alright, let's go. We still need to reach Laboratory Number Seven, over in the valley... There's another fierce battle waiting there, maybe with many versions of me using explosion or annihilation techniques..." The two couldn't process what Zheng Zha said right away. Only Lin Juntian, looking at the EVA Unit-01 below beginning to regenerate, pointed downwards and shouted: "Captain, it’s not dead yet! You turned that section into ash just now; why not give it another strike?" "No...

my companions are still asleep; I need to save them all. The Chronicles of Narnia? Furthermore, the outcome of the final battle, and our future... I cannot conclude the final battle just yet with its existence. We still have a long way to go in the battles ahead.

Grow quickly. When your strength is sufficient to be worthy of the strongest squad members, I will tell you everything from the beginning..." Saying this, Zheng Zha glanced at the EVA Unit-01 beneath his feet, then pointed ahead: "Let's go, forge our future, a truly free future!"