Chapter 965: Looking Up at the Starry Sky

Cang is dead!

This one, who wanted to leave, yet also wished to stay, and sought to grasp the river of time, had finally perished.

And at this moment, Su Yu’s aura had also reached its peak, as he rapidly devoured the power of the entire river—seven-tenths of its strength.

Three-tenths had always been under Black Scale’s control.

Su Yu’s power instantly surged, reaching the Dao!

He only stopped when he attained the power of forty-seven Daos.

Seven-tenths of heaven and earth were now under his command!

The Daos merged and interwove, forming a new unified Dao, yet it was only forty-seven Daos, failing to reach the so-called forty-nine or even fifty, because three-tenths of heaven and earth’s power lay with Black Scale!

If he had controlled it all, Su Yu might have reached forty-nine Daos.

And at this moment, Demon Flame, with the dual heavens united, had an aura that had also reached this level, this realm, matching Su Yu’s.

Now, Demon Flame stared coldly at Su Yu.

Su Yu also gazed at Demon Flame.

Between them stood Black Scale.

A hint of amusement flickered in Black Scale’s eyes, and he said softly, “Now this is interesting. If Su Yu had reached forty-seven Daos while Demon Flame hadn’t, how dull that would be! Demon Flame, it seems you have a worthy opponent!”

Demon Flame glared at Black Scale, his voice icy and venomous: “Black Scale, was it your idea for Su Yu to merge the myriad realms?”

Black Scale!

This one, who seemed to care about nothing, whose strength was merely at forty-five Daos, had been orchestrating the entire battle, never letting it deviate.

Even at this moment, he had kept the two sides evenly matched, with no major imbalance.

Black Scale, this seemingly carefree and heartless being, was in truth a master of deep schemes.

What did he truly want?

What could he, at forty-five Daos, even accomplish?

At this moment, Su Yu steadied his aura and also looked at Black Scale, who chuckled softly, “Su Yu, aren’t you anxious?”

Su Yu frowned slightly.

Anxious?

Yes, he was anxious!

But he said nothing.

Black Scale laughed, “Su Yu, you must understand: the myriad realms are dying, their origins fading. If you don’t revive the beings of the myriad realms soon… their origins will vanish completely!”

Su Yu furrowed his brow in silence.

He looked at Demon Flame—he would have to kill him first; otherwise, reviving the myriad realms now would drain Su Yu too much, leaving him powerless to fight Demon Flame!

And Black Scale chuckled again, “Why not give it a try? Su Yu, perhaps… you could draw away my three-tenths of power?”

Su Yu’s expression shifted, and he said flatly, “What are you trying to do?”

“What do you think?”

Black Scale smiled. The next moment, Demon Flame suddenly threw a punch, burning the void. Black Scale vanished instantly, only to be struck again by Demon Flame’s fist. With a thunderous boom, Black Scale spat blood—black blood, thick with the power of annihilation.

Black Scale continued to flee.

At this moment, Su Yu’s face changed, and he appeared in an instant, striking at Demon Flame with his sword!

Black Scale laughed, “Su Yu, kill Demon Flame, revive the myriad realms… but your current strength isn’t enough!”

Su Yu swung his sword!

At this moment, he vaguely guessed Black Scale’s intent.

Indeed, Black Scale chuckled, “Su Yu, you know, from beginning to end, I’ve had only one goal… I don’t want to be a prisoner! No one can set me free—except you… you can!”

Yes, Su Yu could!

At this moment, Su Yu fully understood his meaning and said coldly, “I think… I understand!”

“You should understand!”

Black Scale laughed softly, “You inherited the Path of Calamity. You are the only cultivator besides me to walk this path! And the River of Time has actually trapped those who cultivate the Path of Calamity! Of course, you are too weak, your Path of Calamity too feeble, far inferior to mine, so the river only imprisons the strongest…”

Black Scale drifted between the two, letting the shockwaves of their battle sweep across heaven and earth.

Now, Black Scale no longer hid anything, speaking with a smile: “Su Yu, once your Path of Calamity surpasses mine, I can leave!”

Su Yu remained silent.

Black Scale continued, “Absorb my power of heaven and earth, take in the power of calamity, strengthen yourself, slay Demon Flame, revive the myriad realms—that’s all your affair. All I want is to escape this cage!”

Demon Flame’s expression shifted, and he shouted quickly, “Su Yu, don’t be foolish! The Path of Calamity… its killing power is immense, and the entire river’s ultimate goal is likely to forge a supremely powerful, slaughter-adept spiritual weapon that also possesses the seven emotions and six desires, uniting the human Dao!”

“Once you accept the Path of Calamity, you become the trapped beast of the myriad realms! You will replace Black Scale’s position and become the spirit of these myriad realms! At that point, you will have no hope of escaping the myriad realms, of leaving them; you will be trapped here for your entire life!”

Demon Flame spoke rapidly, “Su Yu, devouring and becoming the trapped spirit are not the same! Right now, you can freely abandon the myriad realms, devour them, do whatever you wish. But once you accept Black Scale’s three-tenths of the river’s calamity power… Su Yu, you will be a prisoner!”

He was afraid, deeply afraid that Su Yu would accept.

As he erupted in a frenzy, he roared, “If you and I fight, even if one loses, the other can grow stronger, devour the river, devour each other—either way, we remain free! But if you devour Black Scale’s power, you become a prisoner, the spirit that tames the myriad realms!”

Boom!

A thunderous crash sent Su Yu staggering back several steps, his aura surging as he broke through the river.

Demon Flame also stumbled back, his arm marked with sword wounds.

And Black Scale, now floating in the distance, said softly, “All I want is freedom. Is that too much?”

“Su Yu, if you devour the remaining power of the river, you will surely win. Whether you can escape this river, or do something else, or simply resign yourself to being the River Spirit for the Lord of Time… that has nothing to do with me!”

Black Scale spoke calmly, “All I want is to leave this cage! Su Yu, why did I choose you, and not others—not Cang, not Demon Flame, not Qiong, not Yin… only you?”

Su Yu’s gaze turned sharp as he stared at him.

Black Scale was equally frank: “It’s not just because you alone inherited the Path of Calamity. Perhaps if I waited longer, another might come; maybe if you died, the next inheritor would appear. The reason I chose to help you is partly to save myself, to let me leave this damned place, and partly because, deep down, you, Su Yu, still care about the myriad realms, about your promises…”

“I have never harmed you!”

Black Scale was very calm: “You’ve seen it—I never harmed you! Even now, if you are unwilling to accept the power of the Path of Calamity, you can refuse. The choice is yours! Since I have not harmed you, but instead helped you… then the freedom I seek, I think, if you accept, you will grant me!”

He wanted Su Yu to inherit the Path of Calamity, to inherit the power of heaven and earth, so that he could seize the chance to escape this realm.

At this moment, the Human Sovereign, whose will permeated heaven and earth, suddenly shouted, “Black Scale, if he accepts your calamity power, what will be the consequences?”

“Consequences?”

Black Scale laughed, “I don’t know. Most likely, like me, he will be trapped in this river, becoming its spirit, day and night bathed by the origins of the myriad realms’ beings. Su Yu will grow stronger and stronger… but whether that Su Yu can still live as himself, I cannot say!”

Boom!

Su Yu said nothing, moving like lightning as he clashed with Demon Flame once more, shaking heaven and earth endlessly!

Black Scale spoke again, “Su Yu, if you keep fighting, the origins of the myriad realms will become unstable, and the beings of the myriad realms will eventually perish! You say you are a demon… but what strict distinction is there between demon and saint?”

"A single thought can turn one into a demon, a single thought can turn one into a sage!"

"Who can know if the other side of a demon is a sage?"

"You call others sages... Are you not one yourself, Su Yu?"

Black Scale's voice was deep and resonant: "The lives of all beings in the myriad realms hang on a single thought of yours! To become a sage or a demon—it all rests on that one thought!"

At that moment, Demon Flame's expression shifted unpredictably, and then he suddenly shouted: "Su Yu, I'll give you time to revive the beings of the myriad realms!"

"..."

Black Scale was taken aback, momentarily stunned.

Demon Flame instantly retreated, shouting: "Su Yu, I'll give you time to revive the beings of the myriad realms. Once you're done reviving them, with no distractions, then we'll fight!"

Demon Flame said coldly: "All of us—humans and beasts alike—strive to break the cage and pursue power! If we become prisoners... why bother fighting?"

"Black Scale..."

Demon Flame looked at Black Scale with a hint of mockery: "Black Scale, you are not a true living being after all! Humans and beasts—both are living beings! If you had been constantly scoured by the Dao of Humanity, perhaps you might understand... but you are not like that. You think too simply!"

What was he thinking?

That he must hunt down and kill Su Yu?

No!

What if I let Su Yu revive the beings of the myriad realms?

What then?

What could it change?

Under those circumstances, would Su Yu still be willing to be this prisoner?

At these words, Su Yu was also startled, looking at Demon Flame. He had to admit that Demon Flame's choices had surprised him several times.

Of course, with such a choice, Su Yu would most likely not accept Black Scale's power. That meant Demon Flame still had a chance. Otherwise, once Su Yu accepted the power of three-tenths of the River and became a 49-Dao powerhouse, Demon Flame would have no chance at all!

At this moment, Black Scale frowned slightly and murmured: "Humans and beasts—aren't they all pursuing power? Even if it means... losing freedom! You, Demon Flame, have been here for countless ages—wasn't it to strengthen yourself?"

Demon Flame said coldly: "I am here to strengthen myself, but that doesn't mean I cannot leave. I seek power for freedom, not to become a prisoner for power! What do you know?"

Su Yu looked at Demon Flame, who said coldly: "I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that after you revive the beings of the myriad realms, I might take advantage of your weakness..."

Before Su Yu could speak, Demon Flame added: "Yes, I will!"

"..."

At that moment, Su Yu suddenly laughed!

Demon Flame also laughed!

"Why wouldn't I take advantage of your weakness? Su Yu, at that time, your choices will be more than they are now!"

Demon Flame said calmly: "At that time, you can still fight! Now, your mind is in turmoil—you don't even have a chance to fight! Why should I let Black Scale have the benefit? Black Scale is no good either. If he were a good person, he wouldn't have cooperated with me to weaken the River, send out the Devouring Locusts, and destroy those rivers!"

Su Yu took a deep breath and suddenly let out a low roar. A powerful force swept across heaven and earth!

He would first revive the beings of the myriad realms!

Even if he ultimately lost and these people died, they would die because he lost in battle, not because he stood by and let them die!

A sage?

A demon?

Who knows!

At this moment, the voice of the Lord of the Dead echoed through heaven and earth, tinged with complexity: "You..."

Reviving the beings of the myriad realms at this moment would cost Su Yu dearly—an immense drain, causing his strength to plummet. Then how could Su Yu match Demon Flame?

If he couldn't match Demon Flame, he would either accept Black Scale's terms or be killed by Demon Flame, and the myriad realms would still be destroyed!

If... if Su Yu were more ruthless, he wouldn't need to care about the beings of the myriad realms now. He might win, defeat Demon Flame, continue sealing Black Scale, and devour the seven-tenths of the power—that would be enough!

But Su Yu's voice was extremely calm: "It's nothing! I said I would revive them, and since I said it, I will surely do it. If I live, they can be resurrected. As for if I die... after fulfilling my promise, whether they live or die, I won't care, nor can I care!"

"You, this man..."

The Human Emperor also sighed. Su Yu, this man, spoke harshly but time and again compromised for the myriad realms, for humanity.

Years ago, he said he would never return to the human realm, but soon he became the human sovereign, leading humanity to fight against the heavens.

After Bai Zhan returned, he thought Bai Zhan could lead humanity to rise and said he would no longer concern himself with humanity. But soon, sensing that Bai Zhan was not wholeheartedly dedicated to humanity's rise, he quickly returned to fight for humanity again!

Every time, he said, "If humanity is destroyed, so be it—it has nothing to do with me." Yet every time, he put on the shackles, time and again compromising for humanity, bowing to all sides!

At this moment, the strong whose wills had not been extinguished felt deeply conflicted.

Su Yu was a classic case of a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Every time, it was like this!

Time and again, for humanity, for people he didn't even know, he made concessions, took steps back.

Perhaps... this was why many were willing to follow him, to fight to the death with him—because everyone knew him, understood him.

And these shackles were gradually placed on him by others!

Wan Tiansheng, Liu Wenyan, the Great Zhou King, the Human Emperor...

These people, little by little, put the shackles on Su Yu.

But at this moment, Su Yu said nothing.

Shackles?

He didn't know!

He only knew that when he told them to die, back in the human realm, no matter how complicated or reluctant they felt, so many still went to their deaths willingly.

If you respect me a foot, I respect you a yard!

I told you to die, and you went, without hesitation, with complete trust. Then I, Su Yu, will not break my word.

A gentleman's word is as good as gold!

Su Yu didn't consider himself a gentleman, but he had his own principles of conduct, his own standards, his own faith.

Since childhood!

Whoever helps me, I help them; whoever loves me, I love them; whoever gives me something, I repay tenfold!

Today, he said he would revive those people, and he would not break his word.

As for the cost being great, or dying... so what?

At this moment, waves of power swept across heaven and earth, the myriad realms. One by one, origins manifested, countless origin powers emerged, and the origins that were about to collapse stabilized.

At this moment, Black Scale and Demon Flame both looked at Su Yu. Black Scale's eyes suddenly became extremely complex.

"Is this what it means to be human?"

He hadn't expected Su Yu to make such a choice at this moment.

Su Yu could have had many choices!

He could have ignored the myriad realms and fought Demon Flame, with a chance to win—fifty-fifty.

He could have directly devoured seventy percent of the River’s power and fled far away—in truth, even Demon Flame might not have dared to pursue him, leaving the shattered Myriad Realms behind, no longer needing to care!

He could also have directly accepted Black Scale’s power, become a 49-Dao powerhouse, and slain Demon Flame!

But he did neither.

At this moment, Su Yu still chose to cripple his own cultivation and revive the beings of the Myriad Realms. To say he crippled his cultivation might be an exaggeration, but now, as his power ebbed, his aura clearly began to decline.

In the blink of an eye, he fell from the 47th Dao just moments ago to the 46th!

And Demon Flame’s eyes faintly gleamed!

At this moment, Demon Flame revealed a smile and chuckled softly: “Ah, humans!”

Su Yu, this so-called demon, this utterly unforgivable wretch, had in the end made a decision that even Demon Flame could not comprehend. Though he had agreed to Su Yu that he could revive the beings of the Myriad Realms first,

Demon Flame had never said he wouldn’t kill him after the revival!

Now, he made no move, simply waiting.

The more Su Yu exhausted himself, the better!

When Su Yu was truly drained to the limit, even if he then fused with Black Scale’s power, Demon Flame might not fear much anymore.

And at this moment, some powerful beings had not yet perished; their wills still lingered.

The Human Emperor gazed at Su Yu, his will rippling with complex thoughts.

Did Su Yu know that if he lost this battle, these people would still die, with no chance of survival?

And Su Yu had now done the stupidest thing he himself had ever spoken of—while the enemy still lived, he laid down his blade. Though he hadn’t completely crippled his own cultivation, weakening his power at this moment was extremely unwise!

“Su Yu…”

The Human Emperor murmured. Su Yu was the most ruthless in everyone’s eyes, and the emperor most feared by humanity!

He had slaughtered countless beings, been fickle and unpredictable—not only did the myriad races fear him, but humanity itself also dreaded him.

He was utterly merciless, always speaking of annihilating humanity as if it were nothing, claiming he loathed the human race…

But in the end, in all the vastness of humanity, how many humans had Su Yu truly killed?

Aside from the Single Divine Text faction of old, aside from the Hundred Battles faction, how many had Su Yu slain?

The Great Zhou King had deceived him time and again, yet he never said he would kill the Great Zhou King.

Now, Su Yu was acting foolishly. Even the Human Emperor felt… perhaps this was not the time to save the beings of the myriad races. It wasn’t that he was heartless, but that Su Yu needed his power more at this moment!

Of course, if he didn’t save them and continued to fight, those sources—the Death Lord could no longer stabilize them—and the myriad races might all be destroyed.

The Human Emperor sighed, barely audible.

Good and evil?

Saint and demon?

Who could judge Su Yu’s right or wrong? No one!

Now, Su Yu said nothing.

One by one, he manifested the sources!

…

The Human Realm.

All things perished, heaven and earth extinguished.

The sky and land were dark and desolate.

Countless humans—some with bodies shattered, some still intact—lay in vast swaths, as if frozen, sealed upon this boundless earth.

At that very moment, a titanic force swept across heaven and earth.

Countless corpses suddenly began to stir with life, gradually.

After a moment, a plump figure materialized in the void.

Xia Huyou.

Alive!

Xia Huyou was dazed at first, then quickly came to his senses—alive!

Joy spread across his face!

Victory!

Su Yu had won!

He was resurrected!

And at this moment, swaths of humans began to revive, to come back to life!

Like a dream, the next instant, cheers erupted, filled with elation, voices crying out: “Humanity triumphs! Emperor Yu triumphs!”

Victory!

If not victorious, how could they be reborn?

Clearly, Su Yu had won!

All beings rejoiced!

And that power of revival continued to sweep across heaven and earth. After covering the Human Realm, it soon spread toward the territories of some allied races.

…

At this moment, the Death Lord’s voice echoed: “Su Yu!”

Enough!

Reviving humanity was sufficient—do not waste any more power!

But Su Yu, his face calm, continued to stir the River.

Enough?

What of the others?

What of the allied races? What of the Three Races?

The allied races aside, the Three Races were still enemies.

But… I had promised!

I promised Tiangu and the others that if they died, I would spare the Three Races. I just said that if they perished now, I would revive them later.

Since I, Su Yu, had promised… I would naturally keep my word!

As for what happens next… that is beyond my concern!

In the distance, Demon Flame laughed!

His smile was especially radiant!

Su Yu, truly amusing.

At this moment, Su Yu, having revived humanity, was not satisfied—he would also revive the allied races, and even those enemies among the myriad races.

"A gentleman's promise?"

Moyan chuckled softly, with an indescribable tone. Was Su Yu... a gentleman?

Of course not!

What kind of gentleman was he!

Su Yu had countless flaws—Moyan knew this all too well. Yet this man, so mixed in praise and blame, even secretly cursed by many among humanity, at this moment, was stubborn or perhaps foolishly terrifying!

Su Yu... foolish?

Even Moyan dared not pin that word on Su Yu, but now, he had no choice but to link it to him.

Not far away, Heilin’s eyes flickered.

A faint trace of confusion surfaced, barely perceptible, yet at this moment, Heilin too was curious, puzzled, and pondering—was this what humans called... a saint?

How incongruous!

Su Yu was only ever called a demon; no one had ever called him a saint.

Heilin, with a hint of bewilderment, murmured softly, "Su Yu, why?"

This was one of the rare moments in countless years when he felt doubt.

Su Yu opened his eyes and looked at him. At this moment, he was exceptionally calm, even as his aura continued to decline, still serene: "Why what? No particular reason. I, Su Yu, walk through this world owing no one anything! So-called saints and demons are nothing but jokes to me. My heart is only my own!"

In my heart, there is only my own code!

All shackles, all responsibilities, all burdens—only if I willingly let you put them on me can you do so. If I refuse, no one can force me!

Su Yu smiled: "I’ve lived twenty-four years, soon to be twenty-five. I owe nothing! Everyone I owed, I’ve repaid. Everyone who owes me, except Moyan, whom I haven’t killed yet, I’ve killed. As for you, you gave me a few pointers only to escape the myriad realms... So you and I merely used each other; we owe each other nothing!"

I came alone, and when I leave, I will go alone. I won’t owe anyone. After I die, let the world turn upside down—I, Su Yu, owe no one!

Heilin seemed to ponder, then chuckled softly: "Hearing that... suddenly, you seem very free and easy! Clearly, you’re just a prisoner too, yet why do I feel you live more carefree than I do?"

Su Yu’s short life had been spent in pain and battle, yet why did it suddenly feel that Su Yu lived with extraordinary detachment?

Outsiders thought him anguished; he himself cried out in pain... but at this moment, it struck that Su Yu’s way of living was supremely free—great freedom!

Su Yu smiled and said nothing.

At this moment, the power swept toward the three clans.

...

Among the three clans.

Modona was the first to revive, emerging from nothingness in an instant!

His strength remained, his life remained, his origin remained—nothing had changed. Behind him, cultivators of myriad races began to recover one after another.

Had they won?

He looked into the distance, toward the far-off lands.

He didn’t know!

But he sensed that... there were still strong ones alive. Was that... Moyan?

Towering flames, faintly erupting.

Not victorious?

At that moment, Modona’s expression shifted slightly, as if realizing something. He looked again toward that direction, then around him. Cultivators revived swiftly; one by one, strong beings showed joy!

Su Yu had won?

At this moment, even his enemies, even the three-clan powerhouses, felt a genuine inner delight at the thought of Su Yu’s victory.

Because even Su Yu’s enemies understood one truth: if Su Yu said he wouldn’t kill them, he wouldn’t.

To be his enemy to such an extent sometimes brought a sense of reassurance!

If he wanted to kill you, you could never escape!

If he promised to protect you, unless he died, he would surely do so!

"Su Yu won..."

"Peace at last!"

"Good that he won. If someone else had won, it would have been over!"

At this moment, behind Modona, those cultivators who hated Su Yu also felt relieved, their spirits suddenly brightening.

They hated Su Yu for slaying the myriad-race powerhouses.

They hated that the racial war had been lost to Su Yu’s hands!

In their eyes, Su Yu was the true demon, but a demon like Su Yu—everyone in the myriad realms knew—kept his promises!

If not for that, even with the influence of the Human Sovereign’s path, would a single command have silenced the myriad races?

Countless beings across the myriad realms; at Su Yu’s command, aside from a few who were unwilling or resistant, nearly all fell silent. Such was the reputation Su Yu had forged over these years in the myriad realms!

...

Everyone thought Su Yu had won, that peace had come!

But a few knew... that was not the case.

And at this moment, Su Yu waved his hand. A long river veiled the sky; the gate sealed shut. In the next instant, the myriad realms below vanished, like a thick layer of clouds shrouding heaven and earth. Now, Su Yu and the others hovered high above, suspended in the starry river!

Su Yu chuckled lightly: "Let those below enjoy a moment... so that when they revive, they won’t be terrified. Moyan, if you win... swallow them all at once, don’t take it bit by bit. No need to spread fear!"

Moyan laughed: "I will! Su Yu, just for reviving even the three clans, if I win, I’ll grant you that face!"

"Moyan, you’ve gained some dignity of a true powerhouse!"

Su Yu laughed again. "Mind if I revive a few more?"

Moyan smiled: "Not at all, not at all! Do as you please!"

"Thank you!"

Su Yu laughed. In an instant, figures like Lan Tian appeared one by one, their auras restored to their original state. Su Yu waved his hand, and before they could respond, he cast them all down below!

"Dear disciple..."

Bai Feng called out. Su Yu smiled: "So mushy, it’s disgusting!"

"..."

Bai Feng looked at him, then roared: "Fight him! You can win! Win, and I’ll give you all my years of savings..."

Su Yu smiled, waved his hand, and Bai Feng and the others vanished.

Soon after, his father, Chen Hao, and others appeared one by one.

Su Yu looked at his father. Su Long gazed back at his son, his expression complex. After a long silence, he said bitterly: "I’ll go back... make a bowl of braised pork... and wait for you to come eat it!"

"Mm!"

Su Yu nodded, waved his hand, and these people fell through the gate, tumbling out into the myriad realms!

One by one, the powerhouses emerged, and Su Yu sent them all away.

A moment later, the Human Emperor and the others emerged, but their strength had greatly declined; the strongest, the Lord of the Dead, could barely maintain thirty-two paths.

Su Yu smiled and said, "You're all too powerful, so I won't restore everyone completely. If I did... I'd fall below forty-two paths!"

The Human Emperor and his companions appeared, and the War King gritted his teeth: "Then let's fight to the death!"

"Fight or not, wait until I lose before you say that!"

Su Yu chuckled, waved his hand, and sent them all away. The voice of Xing Yue drifted faintly: "Su Yu... you said..."

"I said nothing!"

Su Yu laughed again. After a while, even Qiong was forcibly manifested before him. Su Yu looked at Qiong, then at Black Scale, and smiled: "Merge your power into me, and you can scram too! You want freedom, right? For the sake of you helping me merge the heavens earlier, I'll grant it!"

Black Scale's expression was complex: "You... are letting me go?"

Su Yu grinned: "Why not? Scram! If I win, I'll naturally rule all realms; if I lose... then all realms are gone! Brother Flame, you don't mind this fellow leaving, do you?"

Flame showed a brilliant smile and nodded: "I don't mind. Black Scale can leave anytime. Since you're willing to let him go, I have no objections!"

Su Yu then laughed: "If I merge with the path of calamity, and you devour me, will you also be trapped?"

"That won't happen!"

Flame chuckled: "You merge, I devour—different things! If you devoured Black Scale, it would also be different. Just kill him and eat him directly..."

"Forget it, I don't like eating such spirits!"

Su Yu reached out and summoned the broken River Book, which instantly appeared before him. He looked at Black Scale: "What, still not coming out?"

Black Scale gazed at him, and after a long silence, sighed: "I am not human; perhaps I truly don't understand you. But... what I seek is freedom. Maybe even I don't know why I pursue it... Su Yu, I will leave this place. If I can escape, I will remember you, remember this myriad realm!"

Power dissipated bit by bit, and the force of calamity was absorbed into Su Yu's Civilization Chronicle.

As Qiong was about to speak, Su Yu smiled: "You can go too, Qiong. As for forging you a new sword body... no chance now. If you live, I'll forge it; if you die, you'll soon be gone—no need to rush!"

With a wave, Qiong descended, unable to help shouting: "You don't even want your weapon?"

"At my level, you're still too weak!"

Su Yu, who had just fallen to forty-five paths, absorbed the calamity force and gradually recovered to forty-six paths. Flame wanted to strike but held back in the end!

If he attacked now, the River would surge, its power ununified, possibly causing the River's force to scatter—and all his schemes would come to nothing!

And this, clearly, was Su Yu's deliberate move!

Boom!

A thunderous roar—the Human Gate covered heaven and earth, and the opened rift slammed shut!

At this moment, only three remained within the entire River: Su Yu, Flame, and Black Scale.

Black Scale's aura gradually weakened until only thirty-six paths remained. The calamity force had been mostly drained by Su Yu. With a lift of his hand, a rift appeared in the air. Su Yu looked at Black Scale.

Black Scale glanced back at Su Yu, clasped his hands, sighed, and stepped into the void!

He could leave!

Escape this cage. Yet at this moment, he suddenly felt a pang of loss. He looked down at Su Yu—would he ever see him again in this life?

At this moment, even after absorbing Black Scale's power, Su Yu barely reached the peak of forty-six paths, still weaker than Flame.

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And Su Yu had sent everyone away, clearly intending to fight Flame alone.

Victory went without saying.

If he lost, all realms would be gone.

Yet even if he won, Su Yu... would become a prisoner, a captive of this River of All Realms.

Was it worth it?

Su Yu could have left, gone alone, but he did not.

Black Scale had already reached the rift and suddenly said: "Su Yu, if you hadn't let me go, I couldn't have left, even though your path of calamity is now immensely powerful... Do you know why the Lord of Time made me his new sword spirit?"

"I don't know, and I don't want to!"

Su Yu smiled, and with a boom, the rift began to close: "Scram! Those who don't want to stay, there's no need to keep them. Black Scale, while Flame hasn't won yet, you can still run far!"

Black Scale looked down from above, clasped his hands again: "I hate this place, but... I don't hate you. I hope... we meet again!"

Hum!

A soft tremor—Black Scale vanished into the rift, which sealed completely.

At this moment, in the dark chaos, Black Scale looked down. The myriad realms had become a single gate, sealed by Su Yu, barring entry and exit.

Free!

At this moment, Black Scale felt it—he was free.

Freedom came so easily that he was momentarily dazed.

He hadn't expected Su Yu to let him go so lightly. He had guessed Su Yu might release him—that was why, in the final moments, he had chosen to advise Su Yu and even helped him block powerful enemies several times.

But he never imagined Su Yu would agree so readily, make such a decisive choice!

"Su Yu..."

A murmur. Black Scale took a deep breath. At this moment, he felt he understood something, yet also nothing.

He looked into the distance, into the depths of chaos, and then vanished into the void!

Su Yu, I'm leaving!

I don't want to come back here, don't want to see this place again. I hope... to see you beyond the chaos, not Flame!

...

Above the River.

Su Yu and Flame stood opposite each other. Su Yu suddenly laughed: "Strange, little one, where were you hiding just now?"

"Inside the gate!"

A childish voice sounded above his head, and a small white ball of fluff appeared. Before Su Yu could speak, it said hurriedly: "I'm not leaving! Don't teleport me! He smells fragrant—I want to eat his fire... You always say how great Fat Ball is, but I'm no worse than Fat Ball!"

Su Yu chuckled.

The little ball bounced on his head, grabbing his hair: "Fight him! Kill him! I'll cheer for you. Fragrant one, back in the days of the Battlefield of All Realms, I helped you too... Just us, you and me..."

Across from him, Flame smiled, and Su Yu smiled too.

Flame chuckled softly: "Interesting. That we've come to this—I never expected it. Su Yu, I never imagined that at the final moment, here, my last opponent would be you. I thought of Cang, Black Scale, Xing Yu, Yin, Ji Tian, even the Lord of Time... but never you!"

Su Yu smiled: "I never imagined it would be you either!"

At this moment, Su Yu merged all paths, the River turned into a longsword, and then the sword became a longblade. "A sword... not quite right. A blade is the courage of all weapons!"

Blade in hand, Su Yu laughed: "Little ball, if you won't leave, then don't. Get inside—stop bouncing around out here!"

"Okay!"

The ball chirped happily and vanished instantly!

Two streams of vital energy instantly surged across the entire heavens and earth!

……

In that moment, the myriad realms.

One by one, mighty figures emerged, all gazing at the sky, seeing nothing—only that cloud-like portal, veiling everything!

All around, cheers and jubilation erupted.

Countless voices shouted, "Victory!" "Triumph!"

They thought the war was over.

They thought Su Yu had won.

Even Su Yu's enemies were cheering for him—how ironic.

In that moment, the Human Emperor looked in all directions, at those people, at the myriad races, at humanity, and suddenly smiled bitterly: "Truly… ironic!"

A peaceful myriad realms!

A cheering myriad realms!

Su Yu, regarded as a demon, now like a savior, was beyond the heavens, locked in fierce battle against the enemy of all realms!

"And so, he is the Emperor of the Myriad Realms, while you… are merely the Human Emperor!"

A whisper arose, and the Lord of the Dead clasped his hands behind his back, gazing up at the starry sky.

Above the starry sky, there were no brilliant clouds of stars—only Su Yu, who at the final moment chose to fight the Demon Flame alone.

Boom!

Like thunder, a sound rang out; above, stars blazed—not stars, but Su Yu and the Demon Flame clashing. The Human Gate blocked all aftershocks. The two fought where no one could see.

PS: Still two chapters, ending tomorrow. On the last day, I recommend a book as a sacrifice to help me blaze on the final day! Black Mountain Old Ghost's *From the Red Moon*. It's well-written. I've read it; this one likely won't be sacrificed to death—it has the spark of a hit. Well, I have good taste—go read it!