Chapter 2529 - 2497: Ominous Omen

Chapter 2529: Chapter 2497: Ominous Omen

The banquet continued. After Lin Yi greeted everyone, he entered the Holy Palace’s conference room; beside him sat the several commanders of the Nether Army, which was currently the Holy Palace’s foremost Power.

Over the years of Lin Yi’s absence, the Nether Army had grown without cease. By now, it already possessed numerous Heavenly Kings and even beings of Ancient Ancestor Level beneath its banner, having become the principal Combat Power of this Era War.

Before Lin Yi stood the Hall Master of the newly founded sub-hall of the Nether Army, the Hidden Kill Palace—Ghost Eye.

As the core force of the Nether Army, the members of the Hidden Kill Palace were all of extraordinary Cultivation; more importantly, each was proficient in assassination and in all manner of covert missions.

"Dust Saint of the Mundane World, the Nether Army from top to bottom awaits your command!"

Summoned by Lin Yi this time, Ghost Eye was naturally both shocked and deeply honored. Though Lin Yi had been gone for tens of millions of years, within the Nether Army he would forever be that one and only boss!

Lin Yi frowned, pondered for a moment, then said, "Although this Era War has been fought with immense ferocity, with many Star Continents destroyed, and even Origin Realm Powerhouses joining the fray... nevertheless..."

Ghost Eye’s gaze flickered; he immediately lowered his voice. "What you fear, my lord... is it the Doomsday Beast Soul?"

"Mm." Lin Yi nodded. "They’ve been far too unnaturally quiet. Even those Puppets corrupted by the Shou Hun haven’t appeared this time. It’s far too bizarre..."

On the surface, the Starry Universe had already passed through the great war.

Yet Lin Yi was well aware that the Starry Universe’s true calamity still lay ahead.

It was clear he himself had no confidence that he could withstand this final tribulation. If he did manage to weather it, then the entire Starry Universe would step into a New Era and know peace forevermore.

"Then what do you intend?"

Lin Yi’s eyes grew solemn. "Dispatch your elite subordinates to guard stringently across the entire Starry Universe. If you encounter the Doomsday Beast Soul, report to me at once. If we can still do something before it fully awakens... perhaps this Starry Universe yet has a chance!"

What Lin Yi feared most now was the lifting of the Seal upon that World-Destroying Beast, its complete awakening.

The World-Destroying Beast was endless—it was one, and it was myriad. It was also the Universe itself. It could not be likened to any living creature, nor confined to any place, any number.

Only at the moment when the Starry Universe met annihilation would the World-Destroying Beast emerge from the boundless black holes. Before that, no one could seize even the slightest trace of it. Yet even so, Lin Yi refused to give up; even if there was only one ten-thousandth of a chance, he would still strive for it.

"Understood!" Ghost Eye nodded heavily, then turned and departed at speed, not daring to waste even a breath.

Only, Lin Yi sat there drenched in cold sweat, a surge of extreme unease flooding his heart.

At his side, Lin Yi gently clasped his hand. "What’s wrong?"

Lin Yi spoke slowly. "Ever since I returned this time, I’ve sensed it..."

"A breath of destruction—very faint, yet permeating the entire Universe."

"It’ll be fine... We’ve come through so many times already. How can you be losing faith now?" Lin Yi consoled him.

Lin Yi let out a sigh. "Let’s hope so..."

All he could do now was hope that the World-Destroying Beast would awaken a bit later, granting them enough Time to seek a means of response.

----

What Lin Yi did not know was that at this very moment, at the farthest end of the Cosmic Starry Sky, in some boundless, measureless region, Space had already begun to twist ever so slightly.

Black holes were appearing one after another at the edge of the Universe. Several black holes spun rapidly and fused together.

A mighty aura of destruction quietly diffused, silently turning several nearby Star Continents into Nihility.

True Nihility—without any explosion, without any remnant. As though a painting had been wiped from the canvas, it vanished utterly.

All of it was silent, without a sound.

"Destruction is ordained; it is Heaven’s decree, the road toward stepping into the New Era, not to be shifted by the will of the myriad beings." —Recorded in the forbidden book of the Starry Universe, Star Space History.

----

The closing battles of the Era War still raged on. The innumerable armies of the Starry Universe launched a fierce offensive against the surviving forces of the Era-Ancient Powers.

Led by the Nether Palace, countless armies swept across the various planets and Cosmic Cities, cleansing away the Era-Ancient Civilization. Final victory was now in sight.

"Lord Yilin, Lord Red Dust! The Era-Ancient forces on the Zhan Zhou Star Continent have been completely erased!"

"The Era-Ancient forces on the Fiery Flame Star Continent have likewise been completely erased!"

"The Sky Dome Star Continent..."

Several days later, Poem Shadow, Tian Que, and the others had helped the Starry Universe deal with the majority of the remaining Era-Ancient forces. The group from the Jianmu Universe was preparing to depart.

Poem Shadow Dao Saint and the others stood atop the Cosmic Passage located at the edge of the Starry Universe. Poem Shadow said, "Secular Taoist Friend, the Cosmic Passage opened by Jian Ancestor is about to disappear. We shall take our leave for now; the favor you’ve shown our Jianmu Universe, Poem Shadow will remember. I look forward to our next meeting!"

Tian Que also clasped his hands. "Secular Taoist Friend, we part ways here!"

As he spoke, Tian Que’s gaze lifted toward the Cosmic Starry Sky behind Lin Yi and nodded slightly. He knew that Tai Chu was watching them from somewhere.

Since Tai Chu had come this time in hopes of taking Lin Yi away, he would likely remain for a while longer.

Lin Yi nodded, speaking earnestly. "My thanks to you all for your aid! Until we meet again!"

Under the watchful gaze of the Starry Universe’s powerhouses, Tian Que swept out a strand of the Power of the Universe, wrapping Poem Shadow and the others, and in the next moment they transformed into a streak of flowing light and plunged into the Cosmic Passage.

The Cosmic Passage, gleaming with a single streak of radiance, then drilled into a fissure in Space-Time and vanished.

After the send-off, the group returned to the Holy Palace. Before Lin Yi could even sit down, a member of the Hidden Kill Palace, covered in wounds, rushed in; one of his arms had already disappeared.

At the sight of this member, Lin Yi’s expression changed at once.

The man collapsed onto the ground in agony, his body trembling, his voice hoarse. "Too terrifying... What was that... far too terrifying..."

Lin Yi hurried over, a strand of True Yuan emerging in his hand, intending to staunch the Hidden Kill Palace member’s injuries—only to discover it had no effect whatsoever!

Lin Yi said, "Calm down! What happened to you?"

The man’s mouth twitched as he spoke. "We followed Lord Ghost Eye... and encountered a black hole... A Power swept over us; everyone we had was gone... vanished into thin air... My arm merely brushed that Power for an instant and disappeared immediately!"

Lin Yi asked urgently, "What about Ghost Eye?"

"Lord Ghost Eye... and dozens of Hidden Kill Palace brothers... all gone... Just like a balloon being punctured... heh, heh..."

The man was clearly terrified out of his wits, traumatized beyond measure. Only under Lin Yi’s intense True Yuan suppression did he recover a shred of reason.

Spreading his hands, a small ball of light slowly rose between them. He said weakly, "Just before he vanished, Lord Ghost Eye desperately left behind this message."

Lin Yi did not hesitate in the slightest and tapped the light ball. It unfolded into an enormous screen.

Within that screen, a pair of scarlet eyes was fused into the vast Starry Sky.

Lin Yi’s face went deathly pale in an instant.

It’s over.