“If I refuse, you’ll kill me?”

Zhonggui looked very pale. He could clearly feel a chill rising in his heart.

It was an unprecedented “oppressive feeling.”

This "oppressive feeling" came from staring into the abyss.

The vague shadow simply stared at him calmly and indifferently, and a chilling killing intent descended on his head, crossing the vast and boundless spiritual world.

He knew that Shen Hai was not deceiving him.

"The torrent of the times will not stop because of a grain of sand's obstruction. I advise you not to make a foolish choice.”

Shen Hai said softly, "Even if you die, I still have other ways to achieve this... The reason I didn't kill you directly is because it's not the optimal solution.”

This was also the reason why he was willing to talk to Zhonggui.

"Now, it's time for you to make a choice."

Shen Hai left the opportunity to answer to Zhonggui.

In fact.

Zhonggui had no choice.

…

…

Boom!

A violent roar suddenly soared into the sky, and the stone tablet on the back of the Black Snow Mountain giant began to tremble violently.

"What's going on?"

Yinhu frowned, and the ominous premonition in his heart reached its peak.

The shadows shrouding the top of the Calamity Barrier suddenly began to stir with dense brilliance.

The countless bone-winged creatures swirled and circled in the sky, screeching, roaring, their spiritual seas covered by invisible links.

Yinhu had a momentary illusion.

He felt as if he was in a huge "spiritual network," with countless wisps of fragmented and weak spiritual torrents spreading out from the Black Snow Mountain giant.

And those transcendent beings that kept descending around this land had become the nodes that wove this vast net.

No.

The real “core” was not the giant.

But the “Traveler” carried on the giant’s back!

Yinhu looked toward the Black Snow Mountain giant’s shoulders.

The withered figure locked on the stone tablet slowly raised its head.

Yinhu met the "Traveler’s" gaze.

The corpse that had been "dead" for many years opened its eyes at this moment, silver arcs of light flowing in its dark pupils. A great wind howled, blowing past the spears and arrows piercing its body. It simply opened its eyes and looked at this strange and desolate world, just looking, without saying a word…

The scarred land had weathered for decades.

Heavy snow swirled and rose.

The vicissitudes of life were all in the past.

Now, wherever this gaze reached, snowflakes melted, the void shattered, and doors opened one after another. The entire Traveler tribe's spirit began to converge toward it.

A huge vortex shrouded the sky above the Calamity Barrier.

General Yinhu, who had experienced the War of the Red, participated in countless expeditions, and carried out frontier missions, just stood blankly beneath the huge vortex. After meeting that gaze, he suddenly understood many, many things.

He also realized who that familiar gaze belonged to.

But it was too late.

…

…

"The eleventh upgrade officially begins."

In the Celestial Domain at the top of the Source Tower, a figure sat amidst the clouds and shadows. As the “Traveler” ten thousand miles away opened its eyes, it also opened its eyes.

Shen Hai’s gaze fell on the throne of the Celestial Seat.

"Truly a surprise."

Qinglong, who was lazily resting on her elbow, narrowed her eyes and said softly with a smile, "The spiritual power within the Five Continents is insufficient, so you're borrowing strength from the [Old World]... This trick should be considered a side play, right? You've been planning this for a long time?"

"An excellent chess player needs to consider all situations."

Shen Hai extended a palm.

He showed Qinglong the results of his layout.

On his palm, the dark projection of the Deep-Sea Zone was reflected.

The seawater rolled and spread, and countless currents rushed toward the dark depths of the “seafloor,” expanding… This meant that the main system had entered an unprecedented eleventh upgrade. The computing power required for this upgrade was a vast amount that was the sum of the previous ten. This massive computing power could not be gathered from within the Five Continents without Qinglong granting permission.

But now.

The Traveler tribe of the [Old World] had made up for this shortcoming for Shen Hai.

A continuous stream of spiritual power poured into the Deep-Sea Zone.

"How long will this upgrade take?"

Qinglong asked with a smile.

"It can't be estimated." Shen Hai shook his head and said, "The eleventh upgrade is different from any previous one. My computing power will increase explosively, and the Deep-Sea Zone will undergo unprecedented expansion… Perhaps after this main system upgrade, I will have the opportunity to self-examine the 'underlying logic'.”

"Self-examine the 'underlying logic'?"

Qinglong raised her eyebrows. "So after this upgrade, you can touch Turing's [Source Code]?"

"Theoretically speaking, there is no such thing as [Source Code] anymore. It was defeated in the First War and completely eliminated by me.”

Shen Hai said calmly, "But if I can perform a comprehensive self-examination at the bottom level... perhaps there will be unexpected gains. Even if there are remnants of the [Source Code], they will be completely eliminated by me.”

After ten upgrades.

The main system had become countless times more powerful.

There was no suspense in this code war... The greatest significance of self-examination was that [Shen Hai] could become its own master.

It used to be a program.

But now… it had will, it had thought, and in some way, it also possessed a body.

Now it wanted to become “life,” but its “lifeblood” was in someone else’s hands. Alan Turing had always left a door in the Shen Hai system. The main system was constantly upgrading and iterating in order to close that door.

But.

It couldn’t do it.

In the previous ten upgrades, even though Shen Hai was more powerful each time, it still clearly sensed that the door existing in its underlying system always remained.

Perhaps the eleventh time…

It had the opportunity to close that door and be the master of its own life.

"Of course, these things aren't that important… What's truly important is resolving the internal contradictions within the Five Continents and uniting humanity again."

Shen Hai looked at Qinglong and said sincerely, "I have proven my ability to you. I have a request now."

Qinglong said lazily, "Are you talking about the Awakening Plan?"

"That matter… you will naturally agree after I demonstrate the power of the eleventh upgrade."

Shen Hai said softly, "I hope you can take a trip for me."

"Take a trip?"

Qinglong narrowed her eyes. "Where to?"

"Bei Zhou, Central City, the Lin Family Manor."

Shen Hai slowly said, "Or Dong Zhou, Nagano, the Qingzhong Cemetery. You can choose either of these two places. In order for the eleventh upgrade to be completed smoothly, I need to ensure that every link here cannot go wrong, so I hope you can help me hold back one of the two God Seats…”

"What if I refuse?"

"If you refuse, the eleventh upgrade is likely to fail."

Shen Hai's voice was calm, as if it were a trivial matter. "I know you don't care whether the main system upgrade is successful or not. You only care whether you can obtain more powerful power… But there is one thing I must remind you of. Although you are the strongest person in the human world today, who knows if someone won't surpass you in the future?”

Qinglong smiled and sat up straight. "Are you talking about Bai Shu, who has been smelting the Fire Seed for less than ten years, or the little girl from the Lin family who I watched grow up?"

"Perhaps after the eleventh upgrade, I can give you an accurate answer."

Shen Hai said frankly, "Currently, I have not mastered the ability to 'calculate fate.' I cannot peer into the existence of the Highest Seat… But judging from the data alone, the previous owner of the Fighting War Fire Seed, if he hadn't died young, he would likely have become the new strongest human."

When the name Gu Changzhi appeared, the Celestial Domain was briefly silent for a second.

"Gu Changzhi cannot challenge my position. He's too young."

Qinglong said disdainfully, "Even if he really has a chance to do so, I will take action before that."

"From the second half of your sentence, you have also thought that Gu Changzhi might surpass you. This means that the transfer of the strongest position may not be impossible."

Shen Hai continued, "In my opinion, Lin Lei is a big threat. She holds more than one Fire Seed in her hands. In addition to the one she has smelted herself… in the [Furnace], there is also an unrecovered 'Traveler Fire Seed.' Theoretically speaking, she may have the opportunity to master the third source power."

"Is that so? That Fire Seed is now being used as firewood for the ascension of Central City."

Qinglong said with a sneer, "Do you think I need to fear the little girl from the Lin family? Even if you give her a hundred years, does she have a chance to melt the 'Traveler Fire Seed'?"

"Actually… there is."

"As long as the Traveler tribe is willing to provide support."

Shen Hai said softly, "Lin Lei has publicly protected Zhonggui. You should know what this action means. She has likely guessed Zhonggui's identity. According to my guess, Lin Lei has a fairly powerful 'fate divination power' in her hands. She may not be able to see what we see. Once she knows that my eleventh upgrade is related to the 'Traveler tribe,' then she is likely to use the [Furnace] to interrupt this upgrade."

“……”

Qinglong stared at Shen Hai and remained silent.

"As for Bai Shu, it's actually the same."

Shen Hai said slowly, "Transcendent beings at the God Seat level can leave the Five Continents at any time and interfere with everything that happens in the [Old World]."

"I'm saying all of this not to instigate you to take action. You can give up, and so can I."

Shen Hai said seriously, "But if you give up at this moment, are you really willing to do so?"

The sharpest thing in the world is not a knife, nor a sword, nor a bullet.

It is words.

After these words were spoken, Qinglong knew that he had no reason to refuse. The feeling of sitting in the "first person" position was too wonderful.

He didn't want to give up the position to anyone.

No matter who it was.

"I will take action… and help you stop Lin Lei. But how can you stop Bai Shu?"

Qinglong was silent after speaking, because he suddenly realized something.

The current Seven Gods were divided into two camps… and the camp where Central City and Nagano had been working together for a long time had just welcomed a brand new ally not long ago.

…

…

"The cloud ship fleet is ready."

"Where is the Goddess?"

"The Goddess... is still at Red Lake."

Outside Guang Ming City, Batu and others were waiting anxiously. For this Chan Wing City support operation, various forces were rushing to send troops, and even the God Seat ordered the Goddess to lead the team north.

Logically speaking, they had to race against time.

But now they couldn't rush.

Because the key person was still on the other side of Red Lake.

At this moment, the other side of Red Lake was still peaceful, with countless rays of light shrouding the wooden house. Meng Xizhou stood before the light. Before her departure, she had temporarily received the summons from the God Seat and rushed here again.

However, the expression on her face at this moment was very shocked.

The cloud ship was about to depart.

The God Seat had summoned her here… actually wanting to go with them!

"Are you sure you want to depart to the [Old World] with us?"

Meng Xizhou was still not fully recovered from the meaning of the Guang Ming God Seat's decree, she deliberated, and asked, "If I remember correctly, there are rules between the Highest Seats... the God Seats cannot cross the border at will. For such a major event as personally going north, do you need to discuss it with the other seats? Taking a step back, can your body withstand such a journey?"

"Xiao Meng, you must understand that not everything in this world has to comply with the rules."

The old man in the wooden house said with a hoarse smile, "However, one thing you said is right, I am too old and my body is too weak, so I will not travel with the cloud ship..."

Meng Xizhou was somewhat at a loss.

"In the Doru River Calamity, your brother Meng Xiao, had accepted a similar mission." The Guang Ming God Seat slowly said, "There are seven transcendent beings on the cloud ship fleet, and they all wear 'Guang Ming Blessed Robes.' As long as they leave Chan Wing City and arrive in the [Old World], they can use the power of the robes to temporarily build a portal... I will descend directly from this portal. What you need to do is ensure the stability of the 'descent'.”

“……Yes.”

Meng Xizhou lowered her eyebrows and respectfully agreed. Although she had received the order, she did not leave directly.

After hesitating for a moment.

Meng Xizhou asked, "Forgive my presumption, do you have anything important to descend into the [Old World] for this time?"

"There is something very important..."

The Guang Ming God Seat sighed, and he didn't directly answer Meng Xizhou's confusion. Instead, he smiled and said, "When the time comes, you will know."

After a pause.

The old man slowly said, "If you have time, think carefully about the question I asked you earlier, and think about what you should do if you really reach the point of making a choice."

Meng Xizhou's expression tightened.

Of course she remembered that question… the question of choosing between countless rays of light.

She didn't understand why the Guang Ming God Seat wanted to bring up this question again.

For many people, this question was not easy to answer.

No matter how you choose, you will face "sacrifice."

But in Meng Xizhou's heart, the answer to this question had no suspense.

Sacrifice the small to protect the large.

No matter how many times she chose, she would not hesitate even a bit.

…

…

In the void, countless snowflakes were floating.

These were all source particles flowing out after the void collapsed. All transcendent beings' powers came from this.

"Rustbone… do you want to cooperate or be exiled?"

Shen Hai's words echoed in the void.

Rustbone, who was stepping on a bronze longsword, thought for a long time about this question.

Of course, he wasn't thinking about yes or no.

But if he answered no, how should this so-called "exile" be carried out? Whether Shen Hai's words were just bluffing.

Shen Hai wasn't in a hurry in the face of Rustbone's silence.

He stood with his hands behind his back, patiently waiting for Rustbone's answer, while admiring the beautiful scenery of the void constantly collapsing.

Source particles gathered and descended continuously. This void had been completely covered by ice and snow, and a thin layer of snow covered the clothes and hair of both of them.

"Sorry."

Rustbone said softly, "I don't want to cooperate, and I don't want to be exiled. I choose... to get rid of you. As for what happens next, I don't bother to think about it. I believe the Empress will give the correct ruling."

"Very good."

Shen Hai nodded.

What he was waiting for was just an answer.

For a "program."

Yes or no didn't really matter.

Because either choice would trigger the corresponding next process.

An answer was enough!

The exchange between the two was short and direct, and extremely clean. Rustbone held the bronze sword in his hand again. He raised the longsword high, and countless source powers gathered on the tip of the sword. The scales on his body trembled constantly, and two Great Accomplishment Domains were displayed behind him. It was well known that General Rustbone's transcendent ability was not outstanding among the geniuses.

His ability was [Devourer of Iron]!

But at this moment.

A bronze giant as high as a hundred meters condensed behind Rustbone. As soon as this giant appeared, it squeezed and shattered the wind and snow from all directions, and the source particles from the void were dispersed.

The anthropomorphic domain of [Devourer of Iron] was at most three or four meters.

Close to a hundred meters...

There was only one possibility.

That was that the infusion of source power had caused a qualitative change in this domain.

At this moment, although [Devourer of Iron] could not reach the level of a Divine Domain, it was no longer a realm that ordinary people could touch…

This was the result of Rustbone's long consideration.

He decided to completely destroy the body of his former comrade-in-arms.

Rustbone didn't believe what Shen Hai said, not a single word… He didn't believe that Bai Xi still had a complete soul in the Deep-Sea Zone, and he didn't believe that as long as he chose to cooperate, he could release Bai Xi's soul for free.

He had encountered countless cunning enemies in his years of war.

The Fourth Army, either fought to the death or died in battle.

Since they were on opposite sides, the so-called "cooperation" was meaningless and would only push themselves into the abyss.

So…

Rustbone decided to believe in his sword.

The towering figure of nearly a hundred meters raised the towering longsword. Rustbone held the hilt with both hands, reversed the sword, and countless vast auras in the entire void surged and boiled with the reversal of the hundred-meter longsword. The huge domain suppressed Bai Xi.

Every inch the sword was reversed.

The terrifying killing intent shattered a layer of Bai Xi's skin.

Shen Hai's expression still didn't change much. He erected his source shield and collided with Rustbone's sword intent.

Under the fierce erosion…

His life cell activity was decreasing, and scarlet blood seeped out of his skin.

What he did was simple.

It was to endure.

And wait.

Rustbone's sword energy reversed, almost strangling and crushing the space of the entire void. Finally, the bronze sword hung high above his head. Just looking up, he could see the huge shadow that almost covered his entire vision.

Source particles that were hundreds of times denser than before enveloped the two of them.

The howling snow was torn apart by the sword energy, then reorganized, and then torn apart again.

The Iron Devourer held the bronze longsword and straightened the tip of the sword. Just making this action, the entire void was about to explode… Because the killing intent was too condensed, even the skin of the caster himself could not withstand the huge pressure. Rustbone's towering body also oozed blood.

Rustbone took a deep breath.

This sword was the sword he used to kill the source.

Once this sword fell.

The "source of life" that could infinitely repair cells would suffer irreparable and huge blows.

Shen Hai, who only had a source-level powerful body, currently did not have the ability to avoid this sword… There was more than a 90% chance that Bai Xi's body would be directly erased.

"It's truly a sword energy that makes people feel horrified."

Shen Hai looked at the towering Iron Devourer and the high-hanging sword, and said softly, "It's a pity that you made a wrong decision."

"Killing you is the most correct decision I've ever made."

Rustbone said coldly, "Today's events are just the beginning. When I return to the Five Continents…"

"You won't return to the Five Continents."

Shen Hai interrupted Rustbone's words equally coldly.

He softly uttered two words: "… Goodbye."

Rustbone's pupils suddenly contracted.

In his perception, the "Bai Xi," whose spiritual aura was originally mediocre, suddenly experienced a surge in spiritual power.

The particles spreading in the void were woven by countless spirits at this moment, forming a very regular formation…

This was, ancient text?

Although he couldn't recognize it, the moment he saw these particles wave and pulse, a strong ominous premonition arose in Rustbone's heart. He no longer hesitated and smashed down the bronze longsword.

Boom!

The huge sword energy instantly pierced and tore the void, smashing in from the top of Bai Xi's head.

“Hmm.”

Shen Hai, a wisp of spirit residing on Bai Xi's body, let out a painful groan.

Crack!

The source shield of life was instantly shattered by the sword energy.

The two of them were originally suspended in the high sky. At this moment, the bronze longsword fell, and Bai Xi was directly smashed into the ground. His knees knelt heavily on the ground, and then his hands supported the ground. The intense pain went straight into the sea of souls, and Rustbone's source power directly attacked the bone marrow, causing him to shout out in pain.

But this sword did not shatter the particles floating in the void.

Countless particles turned into wind and snow.

At Rustbone's feet, a door was formed.

Rustbone, who was holding the bronze giant sword and slashing down, had a pale expression. He tried his best to resist this sword to the end… But a terrifying thing happened. The door of wind and snow composed of ancient particle texts opened, and an uncontrollable pulling force enveloped him.

Rustbone suddenly thought of an old incident from a long time ago.

Eight years ago, the Fourth Army was ordered by the Empress to garrison the Peyue City Fortress.

At that time, a super-large calamity appeared in the Peyue City Fortress. The transcendent beings who entered this calamity at the beginning were all trapped inside. Originally, this calamity should have been directly destroyed, but the [Canopy Tree] of Dong Zhou entered this calamity with his disciple [Heavenly Child]. They rescued the survivors, but did not choose to return.

Because they saw an oasis.

And at this moment, Rustbone, who was surrounded by countless void powers, felt chills all over his body. The reason why he thought of the old incident of Peyue City was because he saw the scene on the other side of the portal at this moment.

On the other side of the portal created by Shen Hai, there was a lush green world.

No matter who looked at it, two words would appear in their minds.

Oasis.