With Gu Qing Shans help, Lady Fusi leaned on the wall and slowly laid down.

Time is an eternal mystery, Gu Qing Shan

She said as she was gasping for breath.

Gu Qing Shan nodded and replied: Ive never been able to fully comprehend the truth about time

Because it is good at changing

Lady Fusi continued: I fully believe that the [Chaos] faction must have spent an untold amount of power in order to find our only moment of carelessness within the lengthy River of Time, or perhaps even

Perhaps even what? Gu Qing Shan pursued.

Lady Fusis expression turned a bit heavy as she slowly explained: In this secret room of [Order]s creation, we had arranged countless magical spells and powers to defend it, yet they managed to slip in so easily. I suspect that they might have used the power of the Law of Fate

Furthermore, the dark golden sand that the [Chaos] faction used to alter [Order], even I have never seen or heard of such a thing, so it must have been a precious treasure that they spend endless effort to create

Gu Qing Shan slowly recognized something off in her tone, after a bit of careful thinking, he even felt a slight chill down his back.

Lady Fusi, what are you worried about? he asked directly.

Lady Fusi replied: The war between [Order] and [Chaos] will enter its most crucial moment at the time of the Spires destruction. Im afraid that my old enemy will keep a constant close eye on that period, preparing to stop any unexpected occurrences- or perhaps even changing its results

Havent all of the Awaitings fallen into slumber? Gu Qing Shan asked.

Both he and I, because we wield the power of Time, we are able to slowly recover our strength through the 10 trillion years[1]- Im worried that he might have made other preparations Lady Fusi replied.

She struggled a bit to sit up, then said: You mustnt underestimate him and return to the time of the Spires destruction right away, ensuring that the ultimate outcome is set in stone

Gu Qing Shan paused for a second.

Could there still be other variables? he asked.

Its hard to say. Anything that hasnt happened has its own set of variables, especially a great event that will affect the fate of all living beings within the infinite worlds like this

Ive masked your travel through time with the illusion that youve disappeared, which should make sure that [Chaos] couldnt notice

Lady Fusi breathed out weakly and continued: But while we return to this distant past, time had continued to flow since the moment we left

I understand that, so we need to go back to the future right away! Gu Qing Shan urged.

Lady Fusi shook her head and said in a low voice: The majority of my power has been used to alter [Order], so I no longer have enough strength to send both you and me back at the same time

Since Im an Awaiting, I cannot carry [Order] and [Chaos], so you are our only remaining hope

She looked at Gu Qing Shan.

Gu Qing Shans heart slowly sank.

Lady Fusi went back 10 trillion years, then expended her strength to change [Order], so she had already used up nearly all of her power.

She had already done everything she could.

Now

Gu Qing Shan looked at the Card in his hand.

The unicorn depicted in the Card was watching him.

Lady Fusi, leave the rest to me

Gu Qing Shan said.

Lady Fusi nodded and forced out a smile.

Gu Qing Shan, you must return right away before [Chaos] absorbs all the Prayers and awaken the Awaitings on its side, you must change it!

She used the rest of her strength to push Gu Qing Shan from his shoulder.

The void of space broke open, revealing the grand River of Time within it and swallowed Gu Qing Shan whole.

10 trillion years later.

The [Chaos] bronze palace.

Zhang Ying Hao and Ye Ru Xi were both waiting for the results.

All of a sudden, lines of grey text appeared in front of their eyes:

[This Apotheotic Combat trial has been completed]

[The Apotheotic Combat had ended]

[The founding Deity of the Era of Chaos has been decided based on your performance so far]

[Challengers of the Apotheotic Combat are being transported]

The gloomy grey fog then spread through the entire palace as something was about to occur.

Zhang Ying Hao raised his shot glass and finished it all at once.

Are you nervous? Ye Ru Xi asked.

Theres nothing to be nervous about, Ye Fei Li can definitely win. Even if something goes wrong, theres still Gu Qing Shan, so there wont be any issues Zhang Ying Hao pushed his sunglasses up and replied in a seemingly casual tone.

The grey fog continuously surged upwards, from which a figure appeared.

Ye Fei Li.

He was still wearing the Clown mask, his body full of terrible injuries, but his spirit was as refreshed as the bloody bright aura around his body, his presence completely changed.

Yo, quite sure I won

The Clown waved his hand towards the other two.

The two of them relaxed a bit.

Very nice, youve grown a lot stronger Zhang Ying Hao praised.

Is this Ye Fei Li? Why do I feel like hes somebody else? Ye Ru Xi doubtfully asked.

After donning the mask, he would become a bit different, youll understand when you associate with him for long enough

The grey fog surged again.

The Soul Shrieker emerged from the fog.

Laughable fools, its time for your death it smirked.

The three of them looked at it in shock.

Ive passed the trial; the Deific Authority will remain mine! After this, I will lead the entire Era of [Chaos] and eradicate you worms! the Soul Shrieker roared.

Zhang Ying Hao and Ye Ru Xi exchanged glances.

How come both sides said that theyve won? Who exactly received the Deity seat of [Chaos]?

At this point, the Clown looked around a bit and doubtfully asked: Why dont I see Gu Qing Shan and that Raging Flame Traveler?

A second later, lines of grey text appeared in front of everyones eyes.

[The Raging Flame Traveler had failed his trial and no longer exist]

[Gu Qing Shan has disappeared]

Zhang Ying Hao crushed the glass in his hand and shouted threateningly: What do you mean by disappeared?

Another line of grey text appeared:

[Disappear means he could not be located. There is a possibility that he entered the dreamscape of an Awaiting, ran into an unknown issue, then went somewhere]

Zhang Ying Hao pursued the question: Then is he dead or alive?

The grey text continued to appear: [Quite possibly, an Awaiting within their dreamscape absorbed him as nutrient and energy due to his a uniqueness within his constitution]

Zhang Ying Hao froze.

Ye Fei Li froze.

Ye Ru Xi frowned and muttered: How is that possible?

The grey text answered: [Such occurrence isnt unheard of, so judging has been done for the two challengers who managed to return. The final results are as follow:]

[The winner of this Apotheotic Combat]

[Ye Fei Li, Soul Shrieker]

[Both of you have displayed your values within your trials, proving yourselves to be Deities that Chaos need]

[From this moment onwards, you shall split the Deity seat of Chaos among yourselves, becoming the two founding Deities of the Era!]

[Now, you shall be transported back to the location that the Apotheotic Combat was first declared]

Ye Fei Li turned to the Soul Shrieker.

It was to get rid of this monster that Gu Qing Shan is permanently no longer with us.

Damn it.

DAMN IT

I refuse, I want to kill it Ye Fei Li declared as his killing intent boiled.

The entire bronze palace trembled.

Endless grey fog wrapped around Ye Fei Li, Zhang Ying Hao, Ye Ru Xi, and Soul Shrieker, transporting them away.

One breaths worth of time later.

The world of the Spire.

Four clusters of grey fog descended from above, manifesting in front of everyone.

One of the clusters of grey fog was beating another one up.

Ye Fei Lis furious roar could be heard from one of them: Die! DIE! You damned monster, I dont care about the seat of Deity, Im going to kill you first!

The Soul Shrieker was caught off-guard and shouted: Ridiculous, you are merely my equal-

Fwoom!

The grey fog scattered.

Ye Fei Li and Soul Shrieker were locked in close combat, fighting without regard for anything else.

The ground beneath them crumbled, the sky broke to form numerous black cracks, the residual power from their battle created intense shockwaves that pushed everyone in their vicinity backwards.

Anna observed the changes in the field, then flew up to grab Zhang Ying Haos arm and asked: Wheres Qing Shan?

Facing Annas clear eyes, Zhang Ying Hao lowered his head and replied: Im not sure

Not sure?

Annas gaze became focused as she grabbed Zhang Ying Haos collar with both hands and lowered her voice: I want to know the truth; you cant lie do me

Zhang Ying Hao couldnt face her directly and sighed: He probably

Anna felt like her entire body was struck.

She let go, staggering backward.

No, I dont believe it

Two streaks of bloody tears streamed down her pale visage.

Zhang Ying Hao had nothing left to say.

Ye Ru Xi also sighed.

In the sky, Ye Fei Li had already gone berserk and fought the Soul Shrieker without any regards for his own life.

Anna saw it all very clearly.

Everything was pointing to the truth that she didnt want to admit.

Gu Qing Shan.

Truly wasnt here.

AAA

Anna uttered a long scream.

The boundless miasma of death manifested into intense scorching flames that wrapped her within.

She strongly stabbed her long-handled black scythe into the ground.

Anna hovered in the sky, chanting an incantation with a highly raised tone:

Power is that greater than life itself

The ultimate ending that no living being can restrain

The inevitable fate that can never be stopped

I am your wielder

I, Anna Medici, hereby offer my soul in exchange for the ultimate divine power

Law of Death

At the final moments of my existence, grant me my final wish

I want to avenge him!

[1] If youre wondering why Lady Fusi can recover her strength and the others cannot, just consider the Awaitings powers to be the same as Gu Qing Shans Soul Points, which cant be replenished through simply waiting like his spirit energy