Chapter 435: Illusory Bubble

The magnificent spear, like a pillar of heaven, pierced the firmament at this moment. As it plummeted toward the earth and the ocean, it stirred up layers of storms. Visible ripples spread out from the scorching red crystal peak, layer upon layer.

Its seemingly slow descent was merely an illusion born from comparing it to its exaggerated scale. The moment one perceived it, it was already close at hand!

"Wen Wen!.!!"

The three-headed giant serpent let out a roar of fury. Its six scarlet eyes lifted, staring fixedly at the spear falling from the sky. A piercing sound echoed incessantly between heaven and earth.

Revision after revision, rejection after rejection, the conversion between void and reality time and again...

Utterly useless!

No matter how one denied or resisted the other's existence, all techniques of Transmutation, Heart Pivot, and even Aether applied to it could not negate this pure matter.

Matter is existence; the convergence of all matter in the world is the Ruin.

Within the purest matter lies the purest eternity.

There is no need for illusory bubbles, nor any room for luck or expectation. There is no hope, nor is there despair; the existence and demise of matter is the manifestation of eternity.

It never shifts according to the likes or dislikes of an observer!

The collision between Transmutation and the Ruin had already been decided before it even began!

As early as the Raw Stone stage, Wen Wen was already a Ruin-chosen one who touched the true essence of the dragon. When she completely tore off the shackles and embraced this essence eroded by the vortex, Minerva's eternal power finally manifested from her hands.

At this moment, pure matter descended from the sky, cruelly piercing through all bubbles, crushing all illusions, and remaining unshaken even as the power of the Huangliang remains eroded it incessantly!

Boom!!!!

Amidst an earth-shattering roar, the scorching red crystal spear pierced the distance between heaven and earth. It penetrated the blood-eye—which existed between illusion and reality—right through its center, and even the ferocious three-headed giant serpent below, pinning them to the earth.

Immediately following, countless crystals grew from the barren island, like a magnificent scene of time settled for billions of years in a karst cave. The crisscrossing, massive crystals turned into a forest, shrouding the entire Punabantu within.

"Long time no see, trash."

Wen Wen, who had descended with the pillar-spear, stepped onto the giant serpent's head and lowered her eyes to greet it: "After so many years, it's time to settle this."

"You think you've won? Dream on!" the giant serpent hissed: "Delusional!"

The giant serpent writhed, disregarding the shackles of the pillar-spear, its three heads rising high. But immediately after, thunder roared in the distance; hunting light flew, whistling as it arrived!

A hammer, a giant axe.

Under the blessing of the extreme realm of projection techniques, a breathtaking beauty appeared amidst the fleeting light. Spring light passes easily; good times are bitter and short.

Bitter Day.

The giant serpent hissed in pain. One head exploded with a boom, while another was severed at the root. No matter how the flesh writhed, it could not regenerate.

And right above the central, high-raised head, the Dragon Fire Spear stabbed down once more. With an all-out, unreserved effort, it instantly pierced the skull. Dragon fire spread, rolling; absolute destruction flowed and erupted from the flames, covering everything.

Execution!

A cracking sound rang out. The whole world seemed to be rapidly collapsing and disintegrating. As death spread, the three-headed giant serpent hissed. From within its shattered, writhing flesh, a distorted face emerged, filled with resentment, staring fixedly at everyone present.

"You all shall sink into the bubbles of paradise and struggle in death to your heart's content!"

The incomplete snake head, shrouded in flames, lifted and opened its mouth, revealing the cracked precious orb, and suddenly, bit down!

Snap—

The Huangliang remains, completely shattered!

An unstoppable phantasmagoria shot out like a waterfall, spreading and rolling, instantly shrouding the entire sea area and swallowing everything.

But at that instant, a tall figure appeared in front of the spreading torrent.

Holding the Dragon Fire Spear in both hands, he suddenly stabbed down toward the earth.

In an instant, a wall of eternity that rejected all phantasms and illusions rose from the ground. Like a reef, it split the tide of phantasms from the center, opening a narrow gap.

Amidst the sound of crystal shattering, Wen Wen gritted her teeth and shouted for the last time:

"————Ji Jue!!!"

"Received."

Ji Jue hesitated no longer. He reached out his palm toward the tottering high tower ahead and gripped it tightly—lock complete, spiritual quality flow, Entropy-system beam formula unfolding—

Amidst the piercing sound of steel grinding, the Prosperity beneath his feet split from the center. Countless mechanical darknesses rose, and in the end, a massive cannon barrel extended from Ji Jue's workshop.

Exhausting all spiritual quality reserves in the workshop and consuming countless materials to complete the final intensification and triggering, the entire ship suddenly burned to a scorching red, as if the flames of hell were raging and spreading.

A fierce light, even greater than a fusion bomb, erupted from within!

Combining the fluid alchemy of Sage Mercury with the engineering alchemy inherited from the Ye family, the completed Heavenly Work—【Isis's Tear】!

Fire———!!!

For a moment, the entire world turned purely pale. All things dimmed and lost their color. Within that torrent of mighty fierce light, everything seemed to shatter like bubbles one after another.

Only the pure light surged forward, swallowing everything.

Thoroughly, it submerged that dull face.

Evaporated into ashes.

Above the firmament, a cold, indifferent snort seemed to ring out. Then, a rift suddenly appeared, and mighty power surged. But immediately after, that snort turned into a painful roar.

A light chuckle rang out, so familiar.

As if, it had been waiting for a long time.

Suddenly, behind the obstruction of thick clouds, some massive behemoth seemed to collide. Then, infinite blood spilled down like a rainstorm.

And at that very instant, the high tower, the giant serpent, the blood eye, the Huangliang remains, and even Wen Sheng, all dissolved into the fierce light, evaporated and vanished.

When the last wisp of fierce light dissipated, in the dead-silent heaven and earth, only the ravaged island and the scorched earth remained.

When the jostling sailors stepped onto the land, looking around and touching the sand and soil beneath their feet, they could not help but weep and shout in excitement.

"Hot land! Hot land!! Hot land!!!"

Those men from the Northern Territory were filled with tears, embracing each other, cheering and shouting joyfully, so boisterous.

But Ji Jue could no longer care.

He stepped over the shattered reefs, walking toward the burned-out high tower. Searching in a hurry, he finally saw that lonely figure. It was as if, like a bubble, she was about to disappear in the next instant.

Running away once again.

When she turned back and looked at Ji Jue chasing after her, she seemed caught in bewilderment, but soon, she seemed to understand something.

Once again, she revealed a smile.

So brilliant.

"Always feel like I owe you one again, Ji Jue."

Wen Wen tilted her head and asked: "Got any wine?"

"Of course."

Ji Jue nodded decisively and laughed: "As long as you don't leave again, the wine is on me!"

And so, they drank until they were drunk.

Cup after cup, the hearty banquet lasted until the next day. When Ji Jue opened his eyes again, he found that he was still holding her hand.

Wen Wen, waking from her dream, opened her eyes. Seeing his bewildered look, she laughed and took the initiative to hold his palm: "What, still afraid I'll run away again?"

"Yeah..."

Ji Jue sighed softly, dodging her gaze, "If you run away, where would I find you again?"

But her palm lifted once more, forcing him to turn his head and look at her. When she smiled, her pupils were overflowing with brilliant flashes.

"Then I won't leave."

She said, "Let's go back together."

"Okay."

Ji Jue looked into those eyes and couldn't help but fall into a trance.

Forgetting where he was.

"Wake up."

Someone shook his shoulder: "Wake up, Ji Jue."

"Huh?"

Ji Jue woke as if from a dream, coming back to his senses from his daze, only to see the familiar figure beside him.

"What's wrong?"

Wen Wen asked in confusion, "Didn't sleep well last night?"

"No, just a bit sleepy." Ji Jue answered with a smile, looking at his reflection in the floor-length mirror. The pure white gauze dress trailed on the ground, and the embellished crystals refracted brilliant, faint light, so dreamy.

Yet it couldn't compare to her eyes.

As if embarrassed by his gaze, Wen Wen became a bit awkward, her cheeks slightly red, dodging his line of sight: "Is this dress suitable? I've never worn one before..."

"Suitable, very suitable."

Ji Jue answered decisively, admiring her shy appearance, unable to believe it: "It's just like a dream."

"Is it a beautiful dream?"

"Yeah, just like a beautiful dream."

Ji Jue reached out, embracing her slender waist, admiring the intimate appearance of the two in the mirror: "Maybe, at this very moment, I am in a dream."

And so, Wen Wen laughed again, embracing him, leaning in close. Her soft lips, clearly without any adornment or makeup, glowed with a crystalline faint light, her breath gentle.

Feeling that fullness that had never existed in the dream, Ji Jue froze in place. After a long while, he gave a self-deprecating smile: "If only this weren't a dream."

So, had I once harbored such greedy desires in my heart?

He lifted Wen Wen's chin, leaned in without hesitation, and felt that dream-like sweetness.

Snap!

A shattering sound rang out.

With the eruption and impact of spiritual quality, Ji Jue's vision suddenly went black, but everything just now seemed like a bubble, dissipating in an instant.

He opened his eyes once again.

He saw the magic domain close at hand ahead. Punabantu was still shrouded in illusions and fog, having never changed at all.

Everything had yet to begin.

Had I actually... fallen into it from the very beginning?

Ji Jue sighed in realization.

But the moment he woke from the dream, from the deepest part of the barren island came the serpent's hiss and roar.

As if, in disbelief.

"The plot is okay, pity it's stuffed with too many clichés, and the characterization is too distorted." Ji Jue sighed with regret, "Still need more practice."

Boom!!!

Amidst the piercing screech, spiritual quality fluctuations erupted, rudely waking consciousnesses immersed in dreams. At the same time, a fusion bomb descended from the sky.

Rudely raining down fierce light and destruction.

Amidst the raging airwaves, the war restarted.

Soon, accompanied by the re-launch of Isis's Tear, the high tower was severed at the waist again, burning into ashes. And under the massive mercury halo now occupying the firmament, countless blades hung high, piercing down like a rainstorm, pinning the giant serpent to the earth.

Until the very last moment, the serpent's remaining single eye still looked at him, in disbelief.

"How is it possible... you..."

Snap!

The blade slashed down, cutting it in two. Blood flowed out like a waterfall, raging.

Right behind Ji Jue, cheers rang out once again. Smiling faces were overflowing with joy and happiness, dancing and celebrating the future about to be nurtured on this hot land.

But amidst the joy, Ji Jue fell into a trance once again.

How is it possible?

Yeah, how is it possible?

Everything went so smoothly; all developments were within his expectations, and even the mastermind behind the scenes had been severely wounded and fled by the old dog Lord Tianlu.

Clean and neat, as it should be. The Huangliang remains had also been successfully taken; from now on, it was his!

But...

When had his luck ever been this good!

Where is Sister Wen?

Where did Wen Wen go again?

He lifted his hand, the Non-Attack Matrix flowing and extending, pressing against his forehead, starting to scan his frontal lobes, memories, and soul inch by inch.

Carefully recalling every detail, verifying the reality before him.

Come to think of it... how was he able to lock onto the location here? Ah right, correct, remembered it, spiritual quality, he had left his spiritual quality beacon on the other party.

What did he use?

A bullet.

He subconsciously pulled out the pistol that had accompanied him for so many years at his waist. Every scratch on it was so familiar, the first Heavenly Work he had ever crafted.

Combined with engineering alchemy, it could consume his own soul to fire spiritual quality bullets capable of thought and adaptability.

And pure... pure what? Purification, right, the purification and soul-imbuing of fluid alchemy.

And engineering alchemy, which contributed significantly. After putting so much effort into the Entropy system, he finally created a fusion bomb that approached the original effect without limit.

But did he really have that much research in the Entropy system? Although the scenes in his memory were so profound, the impressions were beginning to blur.

Wait, engineering alchemy?

Engineering?

Why would this concept, which only appeared in modern times, be included in the thousand-year inheritance of the Ye family? Could it be that similar sprouts had already appeared in the Eternal Empire era?

No, there's also...

But what else is there?

Ji Jue pondered deeply, subconsciously rubbing his left wrist, his movements stiffening again.

Reaching into empty air.

When he lowered his head to look at his wrist, he always felt it was empty.

As if, he had lost something?

What exactly was it again?

Soon, those trivial confusions were answered in his memories and thoughts. Past and present, everything connected seamlessly.

Moreover, since entering here, his consciousness had never shown any wavering or loss of control.

Scaring himself.

Ji Jue gave a self-deprecating smile, shaking his head and sighing: No wonder the reputation of the Heart Pivot is so terrible; get stuck with it once, and you'll be disgusted for years... Don't let me catch you in the future!

Just like that, he walked toward the joyful crowd.

Busy for so long, a rare moment of victory, always need to relax. As for other things... tomorrow!

Just like that, he laughed and raised his wine glass, joining the banquet.

Enjoying the present.

But, why would he be so uneasy?

Unease.

"Wake up, Ji Jue."

It seemed someone was whispering in his ear, repeating his name, "Wake up!"

Ji Jue opened his eyes from the nightmare.

Outside the window, the sound of heavy rain was dense, rain constantly tapping against the window.

He was already drenched in sweat.

"Isis, what time is it?"

"Four o'clock, Master, you have rested for three hours." The workshop spirit replied: "You have not had a proper rest for two consecutive months. It is suggested that you at least make up for the sleep time."

"Sleep? Wait until I'm dead, then I can sleep as long as I want."

Ji Jue climbed up, rubbing his face, feeling the hard stubble. His hair was messy, the person in the mirror looked like a beggar, his eyes bloodshot.

But he didn't care at all and continued his research.

"Master, the Association sent a message—the Heavenly Work 'Mitler' you crafted half a year ago reached a new record at the Tianchu auction today.

Mr. Gustav notified you that you have been included in the latest Grandmaster assessment list..."

"Shut up."

Ji Jue waved his hand impatiently.

People actually buy that kind of trash, are they crazy? In the end, that kind of unremarkable thing can be rated as a Heavenly Work; the Association must be blind.

Grandmaster assessment?

Me?

Is Gustav's brain normal?!

Ji Jue lowered his head, looking at the messy manuscripts on the table, and even the records and ancient books on the bookshelves behind him, only feeling his lungs spasming involuntarily.

Hard to breathe.

The unease of the past sprouted in his chest, gradually turning into fear.

It was like, treading water in place.

The humiliation of being gradually left behind by everyone, the hesitation of falling behind, the anger of stagnation... how long had it been since he learned something new?!

It had been so long, why was there still no new theory appearing? Why didn't the teacher teach him new theories anymore? Why couldn't he grab new secret transmissions?

Why...

———Himself, unable to move forward!

At best, he was just repeating the theories of the past. The posture of treading water was a bit elegant, and he was actually treated as a master?

Is that it?

Not enough! It's fucking not enough!!!

Could it be that his talent had been exhausted?

It shouldn't be!

There is a path ahead, but where is the path...

Taken away by whom?

Boom!!!

"..."

Ji Jue covered his forehead, feeling a deafening auditory hallucination. Above the firmament, thunder roared incessantly.

In the long dead silence, he opened his eyes again.

Made up his mind.

He said: "Isis, prepare the work area."

"Understood."

Isis's voice rang out: "Preparing, preparation complete, Master, the furnace is preheated, you can refine at any time."

"No need for a furnace, and no need for refining."

Ji Jue walked to the dissection table. After taking over all controls, finally, he pulled out the Mercy Bone Knife, aimed it at his own skull, and stabbed down decisively!

Since I can't figure it out, then, let's take it apart and see!

Blood flowed, spraying from the wound, then stagnated in place. Under the control of the Non-Attack hand, the skull was easily opened.

Ji Jue stared at the frontal lobe in the mirror reflection, his fingers scanning inch by inch, analyzing carefully, finding no traces of any abnormality. Then, let's go deeper...

The bone knife slashed down decisively.

Started slicing.

Soon, brain tissue screening was complete. Reassembling, Ji Jue controlled the mechanical arm, slicing open his chest, exposing his bones, and even his beating heart.

Heart examination complete, function normal, started checking other internal organs.

Just like that, from head to toe.

Then, the soul manifested. A sharp mercury knife flickered with faint light, dissecting the matrix, peeling off the blessing, and then carefully checking every wisp of spiritual quality.

The long examination lasted for who knows how long.

Until the pain gradually became numb.

Finally, a conclusion was reached.

Thinking normal, consciousness normal, perception normal, no dislocation, no distortion, body, brain, blessing, matrix soul, all normal.

Everything seemed like truth, flawless.

Perhaps, was he just being paranoid?

Could it be that you are the only one who is normal? Didn't that old thing Lord Tianlu monitor the whole process? Surely he couldn't have misjudged it too?

Perhaps, he was just too tired, his nerves too tense, needing some rest time, needing to relax with friends. Drink some wine, sleep, accompany the lazy dog senior sister to watch variety shows for a few days.

Perhaps, he really had a problem.

Or perhaps...

There was only one possibility left.

"The one with the problem is not me at all."

Ji Jue lifted his head, looking at everything shrouded in the storm outside the window, and decisively reached a conclusion:

"————From the beginning, this world is fake!"

Snap!

A faint shattering sound seemed to ring out.

In the trance, in the deepest part of his soul, a faint emblem, like a bubble, silently emerged for an instant, then dissipated without a trace.

He was still sleeping, in this self-made cocoon...

Beyond the bubble, there are more bubbles; beyond the phantasm, it is still a phantasm.

At this moment, Punabantu.

In the alienated magic domain, there was no fleet, no dragon remains, no outsiders.

Only endless fog surged like a tide.

Rotting corpses floated and sank in the sea, rising and falling, singing as they drifted toward the barren island, endless. Countless souls and consciousnesses of those infected with Dream-Loss Syndrome followed the call, drifting over.

From those dead souls, magnificent butterflies spread their wings, rising, dancing, landing on the barren island and reefs.

On the barren island, in the center of the ruined city, that high tower could no longer be seen in its former appearance. Twisted branches, like skeletons, extended from within, as if turning into a withered, ferocious giant tree.

Countless roots extended from the barren island, entangling the corpses that gathered, greedily extracting souls and phantasms, never-ending.

The massive black serpent coiled on the giant tree, its flesh writhing silently, gradually merging with the giant tree.

The remains of Huangliang had long since awakened.

The former Paradise of Ten Thousand Transformations had already manifested on the present world once again, greedily and hungrily gathering all phantasms and delusions, reconstructing once more. And right under the tree roots, in one crystal-clear dream after another like bubbles, who knows how many oblivious souls were drowned, unable to extricate themselves.

In this endless long night, the phantasm without end had already begun!

Above the firmament, Wen Zheng quietly overlooked all this, still smiling.

What a fine view. ===== CHAPTER 436 =====