Chapter 1599 - 822: Between Existence and Nothingness_2

Fragmentation once more, reassembly once more.

He exists in every segment simultaneously, disintegrating into ashes yet simultaneously reborn anew.

Like the perpetually changing Ship of Theseus, amidst the endless cycle of life and death, the vicissitudes of time, it remains the same as ever.

But is this ember or Zhi Fu?

Am I ultimately...

— Is it [Existence], or [Non-existence]?

When the words from the Carrion Eater echoed once more from the depths of the soul, countless scattered fragments in the cycle quivered slightly, stirring a new resonance.

In the blackness of chaos, it was as if a dreamlike Flame Light arose, illuminating Ji Jue's eyes.

Ah, so it is...

BOOM!!!

The cycle came to an abrupt halt.

When at the center of doomsday on the altar, a craftsman bound by the principle of Sad Worker once again finished the final Creation, nothing was left in the dissipating flame.

No new Ji Jue emerged from it!

Replacement, terminated!

Yet as doomsday operated and evolved in frenzied delight, gathering all mutants, pouring its essence upon the altar's craftsman, a sound of shattering arose.

From within the dark flame, the craftsman about to complete the proof of doomsday lifted his head, seemingly with a sneering smile.

And then, disintegrating inch by inch.

Turned to ashes!

In the cataclysmic roar as the world's end evolved once more, the evolution of Doomsday Theory came to an abrupt stop!

Lost its objective.

As though at a critical juncture of refining, the crucial ingredient suddenly vanished, rendering continuation impossible.

When the malignant violation named Ji Jue disappeared from the system, the proof of doomsday did not predictably continue completion, but instead revealed a glaring gap!

Sad Worker raged, doomsday trembled, Holy Fool's Artifact frantically searched for everything, yet could find no trace of Ji Jue!

Even the obsessions left by the craftsman vanished into nothingness along with the extinguished flames.

As if an Invisible Hand reached out, utterly denying everything the craftsman named Ji Jue created along with himself, erasing it from the core of Doomsday Theory!

Causing the ugly cycle and the imminent doomsday to completely freeze.

Between sea and sky, deathly silence.

On the Holy Fool's Artifact, numerous writhing fingers convulsed violently, the weaving motion seized in place, the doomsday scene utterly solidified, stalled.

In the silence at this moment, everyone involuntarily looked toward the center of the doomsday, at the gradually expanding crevice and void.

In pure darkness, pure nothingness, it seemed as if something was faintly stirring, changing, flowing, gradually revealing a hint of... a glimmer?

Like a flame.

A moment of flickering, jumping, sprouting from the void.

Like finally awakening from an endless long dream, opening eyes to look at everything in this moment.

First losing the power to sustain the body, then losing the shell to carry the soul, and then losing the soul to maintain consciousness. And then, losing the consciousness achieved by obsession, ultimately, even the obsession itself vanishing into nothingness.

But what is it that now exists here?

In the void, between existence and non-existence, the last wisp of Flame Light silently leaps.

Burning.

Even in utter nothingness, it still rises with unparalleled arrogance.

As if by instinct, wanting to once more, extend a hand.

Toward the world before his eyes...

This heart is indestructible!

Thus, Creation endures!

In that instant, the tiny flame trembled violently, caught by an unseen hand. The ensuing chain reaction was like a storm!

As if, time was reversing!

In a hint of seemingly existent Flame Light, the previously dissipated obsession manifested again, the fragmented consciousness subsequently reconnected. The soul that vanished reappeared from the agglomerated spirit, and the vast fragments once again achieved Aggregation, returning to completeness.

A clanging sound like Sword Sound erupted from the Flame Light, issuing a call to the dusty world.

The scattered ashes came from all directions, numerous iron beams converging, forming tiny metal parts, pieced together, integrated into a Mechanical Heart.

When the Invisible Hand gripped once more, the steel heart quivered suddenly, throbbing like thunder, Purple Lightning Black Flame surged forth, its brilliance and heat erupting uncontrollably.

In the fierce flame, the metal skeleton rapidly grew, countless spiritual conduits waved like nerves in the wind, gears, bearings, bolts, pistons, gaskets, chains... connecting, sealing, transmission, bearings, the intricate process emerged from the void, unfolding seamlessly.

In a snap of fingers, the great work was completed!

When the heartbeat sounded again within the hollow shell, Ji Jue opened his eyes.

He looked at the earth, the sky, the ruins, the doomsday, and even the flame in the palm of his hand, lingering between existence and non-existence.

Still tiny, still elusive, but so radiant.

Black and silver flowed, shifting endlessly.

This mere glimmer seemed to illuminate the entire world!

Here, proclaiming to the myriad phenomena of doomsday.

He said:

"I am here!"

BOOM!!!

All that was solid erupted in a deafening roar, the stalled doomsday resumed its wrathful operation, time accelerated, and amidst the weaving of Holy Fool's Artifact, the evolution of Doomsday Theory restarted.

The cycle restarted, the wheel of rebirth unstoppable.

The ubiquitous principles of Sad Worker had once again assembled, entangling around him, propelling him toward the inevitable Destruction.

But this time, Ji Jue also extended his hand.

Five fingers spread wide, daringly reaching toward the lofty heavens, toward those gradually clear, gradually sinister hollow pupils!

As if he wanted to challenge the whole world, to wrestle with the entire doomsday!

To grip the so-called Heavenly Destiny in his own hand!

But at this moment, under the gaze of the masses, after the five extended fingers closed, there remained only a void in his palm.

Of course.

There was nothing to hold onto...

Ji Jue paused, as if in thought.

Then, once again extended his hand.

Distant sneers and sighs arose, in the gazes of those witnessing between sea and sky, unknown amounts of pity surfaced, unknown amounts of undisguised contempt.

Heavenly will is noble, hard to fathom.

After all, the gap is too vast.

The loftiness of Heavenly Destiny and the creation of Sad Worker, how could your single hand... can... wait! Damn! Brother, wait a second! You damn...

Silence came abruptly, many a gaze filled with contempt and regret suddenly trembled, incomprehensible.

...What the hell did he grab?!

It was as though the sharp sound of shattering glass resounded, the piercing sound enduring endlessly.

Ji Jue's extended hand once more contracted and clenched, cracks spreading out between his fingers, like unfinished weaving showing creases under rough handling.

The ethereal principle of Sad Worker struggled to circulate, trapped in stasis, astonishingly caught by that outstretched hand's essence, even gripped within!

The weaving of the doomsday scene paused for an instant, as if encountering a Gordian knot, unsolvable!

He caught it!

Ji Jue closed his eyes, laughing silently.

He heard it, a crisp sound echoed from the void, like the loosening of shackles, an invisible door long sealed suddenly opening before him.

Once Ji Jue reappeared, the Transcend Rank naturally flowed without any resistance.

And then, inevitably...

—[Circle Realm], unfolded!