Chapter 1 The Beginning

Back then, in order to synthesize ultra-high-risk abilities, he disregarded the consequences and wantonly captured ability users, merging countless powers, and finally synthesized the [Energy Manipulation] ability gene chain. Because his original body could not turn back and his lifespan was nearing its end, at that time, he had the idea of ​​leaving a way out to start a new life.

So he hid this ability, never showed it, secretly chose "Gao De" as the container for reincarnation, implanted this ability gene chain into Gao De's body, wanting to inherit this achievement after reincarnation, and wiped out all his subordinates who knew about it, to ensure this identity's clean background.

The core of the plan was [Ability - Rebirth], which was a one-time ability that could only be used once in a lifetime, giving the owner a second life. It was not a simple soul-domain ability, but involved higher-dimensional information states, making it more advanced.

The effect was naturally not as simple as splitting the soul, but a complete fusion of consciousness and container, forming a complete new soul, with no connection to the original body. Although it retained memories, thoughts and personality would undergo certain changes, meaning that Gao De was Gao De, no longer the former Heretic God, completely abandoning the past, and truly completing rebirth.

When he was captured by Han Xiao and his group, in the short time before the spacetime amber formed, only the effect of [Ability - Rebirth] could save his life in desperation. So he hardened his heart, tore his soul, and cut off his tail to escape. Through this ability, he sublimated his main consciousness, transformed it into a high-dimensional information state, and used it to break through the soul blockade of Swordswoman Fu and others, locating and transmitting it to "Gao De."

No one knew all of this, and nothing had happened for so many years. Gao De had long been relieved, believing that no one had seen through his methods, but he never expected that at this moment, the deepest secret in his heart would be exposed by Han Xiao in one go.

Gao De's heart was churning with turbulent waves. He simply didn't understand where he had revealed his flaws.

Even because of his loss of focus, flaws appeared in his defense, and he was blown away by the mechanical army, suffering several injuries.

At this moment, Gao De's thoughts raced, suppressing the shock in his heart, and pretending to be surprised, he said:

"Heretic God? What are you talking about?"

"You still won't admit it now? It seems you still have unrealistic hopes. Now that you've run into my hands, do you think there's still a chance to escape?"

Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and immediately understood the other party's thoughts.

Even if he was in a desperate situation, Gao De could never admit that he was the Heretic God. He believed that if he disappeared, the empire would definitely search vigorously and eventually find out about Black Star, so he still had hope of escaping.

But if he admitted his identity, Black Star's actions would be justified. Only by not leaving any handle could he wait for imperial rescue.

So no matter how shocked he was in his heart, no matter how Black Star probed, Gao De could only stubbornly refuse to admit it, feigning ignorance, and even making a counter-attack!

"Black Star! Your words are simply absurd! If you want to attack, find a better excuse. Do I have even half a relationship with the Heretic God? You're probably worried that my growth will threaten your position, so you want to kill me off in advance. Since there's no one here, why bother fabricating a non-existent crime?!"

Gao De gritted his teeth, speaking righteously, as if he had suffered a great injustice. His words implied that he was being accused without any real evidence.

"I never knew before that your acting skills were on par with Keke Zi's?" Han Xiao curled his lip.

Gao De turned a deaf ear, as if immersed in anger, and shouted: "I understand! You're the one who leaked the news of my ability in the black market, right? You must have learned information from within the empire, wanting to stir up trouble, remove your own suspicion, and blame others! Don't think you can hide it from everyone, the empire won't let you go!"

"Since you don't dare to admit it, there's no point in saying more."

Han Xiao shook his head.

He originally wanted to have an open and honest talk with Gao De. After all, they had been acquaintances for decades, and he wanted to at least let him leave a few last words, but since he wouldn't admit it even if he died, there was nothing to talk about.

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Xiao unhesitatingly released his mechanical force, released the troops from his main body's barracks, and then merged a part of the combat soldiers, transforming into a mechanical deity.

No one disturbed this closed deep-level sub-dimension, and Han Xiao could finally let go and act without restraint.

Whoosh!

The Star Slaying Blade slashed down violently, cutting through layer upon layer of barriers, and like swatting a fly, it slapped Gao De, who couldn't avoid it, from the sky to the ground, like a falling meteor, smashing out a large crater like a ring-shaped mountain.

The shock wave burst open, with Gao De as the center, and pale cracks opened on the ground, extending to the end of the line of sight.

Pfft!

Gao De's pores all over his body oozed blood, instantly staining his clothes red.

Intense pain swept through every nerve. Before he could catch his breath, his vision was occupied by dense black shadows. The muzzles of the mechanical army in the air all shone with light.

Gao De hurriedly bounced up, retreating swiftly. The next moment, he saw countless rays of psionic energy fused into a thick beam of light, slamming into the pale earth.

The ground instantly cracked and bulged, as if a mountain range had risen from the ground, and then exploded!

Boom!!

The surging aftermath spread rapidly. Even though Gao De had created layers of shields, the shock wave still blew him away.

He had only flown into the air when he was smashed back to the ground by the mechanical deity that had caught up, breaking countless bones.

Although Gao De's ability was extraordinary in potential, potential was, after all, not strength. His current level was still too low. In front of Han Xiao, who was firing at full power, he was as weak as a child, without any power to fight back. The situation was a complete crushing. Gao De could only survive by struggling in the midst of being beaten!

While Han Xiao was holding Gao De down and unleashing a barrage of attacks, he took the time to glance at the combat information on the panel.

Because his own level far exceeded Gao De's, all of Gao De's abilities were clear at a glance. Unlike the Heretic God, whose depth was unknown, Han Xiao could confirm that Gao De had no means to escape from this desperate situation.

Although he had seen Gao De's panel before, Han Xiao confirmed it again at this time for safety's sake.

Without looking, he wouldn't have known, but with this look, Han Xiao discovered that Gao De had a new skill.

[【Energy Manipulation - Evolved Energy (Unactivated)】: You are analyzing the energy principles of the Evolution Cube. After completion, you can master this type of energy. Current analysis progress: 50.2%]

"This bastard is still eyeing the Evolution Cube?"

Han Xiao frowned.

This guy was really unwilling to give up. He hadn't given up on the Evolution Cube yet!

Gao De's ability was too hidden. He only started analyzing it after leaving the palace, and he hadn't noticed it at the time.

Fortunately, he was intercepted in time for other reasons, indirectly interrupting the other party's calculations, otherwise Gao De would have stolen it.

Han Xiao suddenly realized a sensitive issue.

"I don't know if Gao De is doing this on his own, or if the empire is instructing him behind the scenes..."

Han Xiao's eyes flashed, and his expression was not good.

Although the empire hadn't mentioned the Evolution Cube issue recently, Han Xiao knew that some people within the empire always wanted to control this thing. Gao De was now a direct descendant of the empire, and the empire's high-level officials knew of his ability, sending him over to secretly analyze the Evolution Cube, and then claiming that they had researched the results, making it impossible for him to act. This was very likely.

Han Xiao had nothing to say about the empire's behavior. Everyone took what they needed, and there was nothing right or wrong about it. What he cared more about at the moment was what impact this information would have on his actions.

If it was instructed by the empire, the risk would increase. In the empire's eyes, he had a motive for action, and he was no longer a completely unsuspected person. He would also become one of the suspects.

However, this also gave him a new excuse. They were in the wrong first. As long as he didn't kill Gao De, even if things were exposed and the empire came to his door, he would have a reason to speak and it wouldn't become the worst outcome.

"It seems there are advantages and disadvantages... Once the bow is drawn, there is no turning back. Take him down first!"

Han Xiao shook his head, suppressed the thought, and concentrated on controlling the mechanical army to beat up... no, to fight Gao De one-on-one.

The black tide-like mechanical legion churned endlessly. As time passed, Gao De's condition became worse and worse. Although his ability had the effect of infinite mana, it didn't have a high-speed health recovery function. The injuries accumulated more and more, and the conventional recovery speed couldn't keep up.

Gao De dragged his injured and exhausted body, struggling to break through time and time again, trying to escape, but he was dragged back by the mechanical army every time. Like a pitiful person suffering cruel torture, he wanted to climb out of the room time and time again, but he could never reach the door, and he was constantly grabbed by the heel and dragged back.

The difference in strength was too great, and Han Xiao was well-prepared. Gao De couldn't make any waves.

As several beams pierced through his chest, Gao De could no longer hold on. Like a falling bird, he fell onto the scarred pale earth. Fresh blood gurgled out and quickly gathered into a pool of blood.

Han Xiao deactivated the mechanical deity, and his main body slowly landed next to Gao De. He saw that Gao De hadn't given up his desire to survive, and he was crawling and wriggling with his riddled body, leaving a trail of glaring blood.

"...Don't bother."

Han Xiao glanced at the panel, confirmed that Gao De was in a state of serious injury and near death, shook his head and sighed, bent down and grabbed Gao De's neck, lifting him up.

Gao De's feet were in the air, and he was already unable to struggle. He stared at Han Xiao, his eyes revealing a strong unwillingness.

He had finally returned to the Super-A Grade domain, and his future was limitless. He was full of expectations for the future.

But he didn't expect that after developing in a low-key manner for so long, he would run into Black Star, who saw through his identity, as soon as he left the mountain, and was about to kill him in the cradle.

He was not willing!

He still had a bright future!

He still had ambitious goals!

Years of planning, a lifetime of ambition...

All of this seemed to be turning into nothing, turning into nothingness...

He couldn't accept it!

He couldn't fall here!

Han Xiao looked at Gao De's twisted expression and shook his head:

"Whether you admit that you are the Heretic God or not, it can't change the fact. I'm targeting you not because of personal grudges. If it weren't for that incident, you would have joined the empire after whitewashing, and I wouldn't want to interfere at all. After all, I'm not a good person either, and I'm not qualified to judge your crimes.

"However, I know how persistent you are about the existence on the other side of the wormhole. I can't let you infiltrate the empire and move freely, which will threaten not only me, but the entire explored universe.

"Although that day will come sooner or later, your existence will not only bring that day forward, but also bring unpredictable effects... because you are too pure. As long as there is an opportunity to improve, you simply don't care for whom you fight, and I... don't like waiting until the hidden dangers break out before taking action."

Gao De's pupils shrank.

He subconsciously wanted to ask Han Xiao what he knew, but he opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't speak. He didn't want to leave any handle that would arouse suspicion.

"Black Star... the empire won't let you go!"

Gao De still repeated this sentence.

Seeing that the other party still didn't reveal anything, Han Xiao also knew that he couldn't pry open his mouth. With a movement of mechanical force, nano-particles spread along his arm to Gao De's body, quickly covering Gao De's entire body, transforming into a spherical mechanical confinement device, like a coffin, wrapping Gao De inside.

Then, Han Xiao activated the spacetime amber, slowly enveloping the entire confinement device. After thinking about it, he said:

"Including this time, this is the third time you've fallen into my hands."

Without waiting for Gao De to respond, Han Xiao completed the manufacturing.

Buzz!

The next moment, the space shook, and the amber took shape!

The entire device was sealed inside. From the outside, you could only see a spherical mechanical prison inside the amber, and you couldn't see what was inside the prison at all.

It was not until now that Han Xiao finally breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed his tense nerves.

"It's finally solved, nothing went wrong..."

He didn't kill Gao De on the spot, first, to leave himself room for maneuver, second, not to give Gao De a chance to be resurrected in the Sanctuary in a short time, and third, not to waste the ultra-high-risk ability [Energy Manipulation] that the Heretic God had spent countless years synthesizing!

When the spacetime amber wiped out Gao De's soul, he could let Fording use the soul-shifting device to let his confidant occupy Gao De's body - the linkage of these two universe treasures had always been a plan that Han Xiao wanted to test.

Or, waiting for the "Little Heretic God" Evans to grow up and absorb Gao De's ability, was also an option.

He could even wait until he had completely researched the criminal technology and secretly made Gao De a criminal, but this was Old Man Mai's path, with greater side effects, and Han Xiao didn't want to imitate it too much.

As for whether Gao De could be resurrected after these operations, Han Xiao didn't know either. He hadn't tried it, so how would he know now.

If Gao De could be resurrected, there was a possibility of leaking secrets. In the future, when the empire researches and discovers the Sanctuary, it would definitely try to resurrect this "direct descendant."

However, who knew what the situation would be at that time, and he could completely postpone this day indefinitely. The method was very simple: before he was confident in dealing with the empire's accountability, he would not attack Gao De, but only detain him. Every once in a while, he would pull Gao De out of the amber and beat him up, and let him out to breathe, ensuring that his soul could not be wiped out!

In this way, Gao De would be unable to live or die, and he would never be able to be reincarnated... uh, resurrected!

"Dark heart, cruel and fierce, my style is becoming more and more villainous..."

Han Xiao helplessly touched his cheeks.

After silently complaining about himself, Han Xiao put away his joking mood, and his expression became slightly serious.

Capturing Gao De was just the beginning. What was more important was to deal with the storm that the empire's fury would soon set off, which would sweep through the advanced forces one by one!

"I've done what I should do, and now it's time to wait for the incident... Alas, I didn't expect that the fuse this time was actually lit by me."

Thinking of the various possibilities he had analyzed not long ago, Han Xiao gently exhaled, turned his head and opened the panel, and glanced at the task.

The hidden mission [Gao De's Secret] was completed. The mission requirement was to crack Gao De's secret. Han Xiao didn't know how this was judged. There was no physical evidence, and Gao De didn't admit it. Could it be that as long as you call out the other party's identity in person, and guess correctly? It wouldn't be that simple, would it?

Well, the main reason might be that he beat him down...

The judgment mechanism of the hidden mission was mysterious, and Han Xiao didn't dwell on it, and turned to clean up the mess.

He controlled the mechanical legion to blast this sub-dimension into a mess, collapsing and disappearing, clearing away all traces, and not even leaving a battlefield.

After completing this step, Han Xiao didn't delay any longer, put the mechanical troops back into the barracks, then put on the Emperor, teleported directly back to the Black Star Palace, and without saying a word, went to the library to find Fording.

Fording just glanced at Han Xiao, and then concentrated on reading, letting Han Xiao touch him, showing a calm and composed attitude of "you touch yours, I read mine."

Han Xiao rubbed his hands full of luck, then returned to his exclusive cultivation room, excitedly rubbed his hands, and chose to settle the task.

[【Gao De's Secret】 Completed!]

[You have obtained 【Character Descent Card - Gao De】!]

[Character Descent Card - Gao De: 【Energy Analysis】 - You can efficiently analyze the principles and composition of an energy form, thereby mastering this energy. Usage limit: 0/4]

[You have obtained a reward: randomly draw one of Gao De's abilities (skill/specialty)]

[Hint: Gao De is an ability user, and some of the extractable abilities have been automatically adjusted according to your profession]

[Randomly drawing... drawing completed!]

[Please select one of the following five abilities as a reward]

[1. 【Plasma Shock】 - Skill: Release a plasma arc ray to deal damage to the enemy. The power depends on intelligence, mystery attributes, and energy output efficiency. Minimum consumption of 5 points of energy, cooldown 4s]

[2. 【Kinetic Energy Enhancement】 - Skill: Use energy to strengthen cells and continuously enhance melee power. The effect depends on strength, agility, endurance, mystery attributes, and energy output efficiency. Minimum consumption of 10 points of energy per minute, cooldown 12s after closing the effect]

[3. 【Spiritual Convergence】 - Specialty: Increase 15% mystery attribute, 10% charm attribute]

[4. 【Energy Gathering Ring】 - Skill: Absorb free energy and quickly restore energy. Consumes 2 points of stamina per second, no cooldown, can be turned on continuously]

[5. 【Perfect Energy Affinity Physique】 - Specialty: You have an amazing affinity for various energies. Your basic energy perception +120%, your basic energy resistance +90%, your basic energy absorption efficiency +60%, your basic energy attack power +30%, your energy limit +20%]