"No! Brother Ming!"
Ya Li's mournful cry rang out, her voice carrying heart-rending despair.
Yun Ming slowly lowered his head, his gaze falling gently upon Ya Li. In that glance was a thousand parting sorrows, ten thousand reluctances to leave.
"Ya Li, remember what you promised me."
The Atlas Spear in his hand trembled violently, and the thousands of golden light beams behind him shattered in response.
Countless brilliant golden rays suddenly erupted, spreading like the rising sun across the entire sky above Shrek City, completely enveloping the heavens.
At this moment, Yun Ming, who had released his incomplete godhood, briefly touched the divine realm at the cost of burning his life.
Godhood collapses, a god falls!
Purple and black were forcibly drawn into the sky under the neutralization of that golden light.
The three-colored lights collided fiercely, tangled with each other, continuously disintegrating and shattering.
Yun Ming's body gradually became ethereal and transparent. No matter how Ya Li channeled her soul power, she couldn't break through the divine power barrier to rise into the air.
"Brother Ming."
Ya Li's face streamed with tears, her entire being nearly collapsing, her sacred visage written with despair.
Yun Ming spoke softly, his voice gentle as water: "Ya Li, live well."
He suddenly spread his arms wide. The light in his right hand dimmed, and the Atlas Spear descended from the sky, falling into Ya Li's hands.
Under that final divine power blessing, this Atlas Spear finally broke free from the scope of a martial soul, truly condensing into physical form.
When the golden light on Yun Ming's body burned to its extreme, it was like a true sun, illuminating the entire night sky.
Without the slightest hesitation, he launched the final strike of his life toward the Ghost Emperor's trio in the distance.
Atlas Light, the final glory that illuminates the world!
"Yun Ming, you're a madman!" the Ghost Emperor roared hoarsely, his voice filled with fear.
The three's expressions changed drastically. They could no longer care about anything else, pushing their speed to the extreme as they fled madly into the distance.
At this moment, Yun Ming was no longer a Limit Douluo, but a falling god. That final strike burning his divine spark was absolutely not something they could withstand.
Yet how could mortal speed escape that of a god?
Brilliant golden light swept over like tidal waves, swallowing the Ghost Emperor's trio.
The entire sky instantly turned incandescent white, as if welcoming dawn.
The night seemed to be dispersed by that golden light. Even the destructive energy of those two Godslayer Fixed Soul Guidance Shells was completely absorbed by that final divine light.
...
Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, the 81st floor of the Heavenly Spirit Pagoda.
"Now, the show has ended." Liu Yang watched the gradually dissipating golden light in the distance, his voice calm.
"Indeed."
Fang Yang nodded slightly, his expression normal.
Liu Yang turned and instructed: "Qing, it's your turn to act."
"Understood, Zi."
Su Tao responded and moved, his figure instantly disappearing from the spot.
Fang Yang asked with interest: "This is... planar power?"
Liu Yang only smiled meaningfully upon hearing this, not answering.
Fang Yang wasn't anxious either, simply waiting quietly.
After a moment, space rippled. Su Tao returned, a familiar figure beside him.
"Teacher!"
Na'er cried out in pleasant surprise.
"Mmm."
The white-robed man nodded slightly. Or rather, the reborn Yun Ming.
His appearance remained the same, but his temperament was more profound, as if having experienced the baptism of life and death, he had obtained some kind of sublimation.
Yun Ming's gaze was complex as he looked at Fang Yang, suddenly remembering something. "Fang Yang, you're the one who took Na'er and disappeared for three whole years."
"Uh, well..."
Fang Yang was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to explain.
"Forget it."
Yun Ming shook his head lightly. "My current identity isn't convenient for meeting Ya Li yet. Take good care of her for me."
Hearing this, Fang Yang said with a straight face: "Your wife, I shall care for; you need not worry."
The moment the words left his mouth, Yun Ming unceremoniously knocked him on the head. Fang Yang exaggeratedly rubbed his head. "Ouch, what was that for!"
"Speak normally."
Yun Ming looked at him somewhat helplessly.
"Yes, Pavilion Master." Fang Yang immediately put on a serious expression.
"I'm no longer the Pavilion Master now."
Yun Ming gazed into the distance, his eyes profound. "Na'er is the new Pavilion Master, and you are the Vice Pavilion Master. Assist her well."
"You really went all-in on being a hands-off leader..." Fang Yang muttered softly, but involuntarily fell silent when he met Yun Ming's gaze.
Yun Ming turned to face the window, looking at that gradually calming night sky, and said softly: "Fang Yang, I'm leaving Shrek to you."
"Alright, I understand."
Fang Yang nodded, the playfulness on his face receding.
"Then, let me give it a perfect ending."
He raised his hand and waved gently. Space immediately rippled.
A spatial crack slowly opened, revealing a bizarre void scene on the other side.
"Let's go."
Fang Yang said softly, taking the first step.
Gu Yuena, Na'er, and Xu Xiaoyan nodded slightly and followed closely behind, stepping into the spatial crack.
In the next moment, the spatial crack slowly closed, and Fang Yang's group's figures completely disappeared from the top of the Heavenly Spirit Pagoda.
"Qing, how are you?" Liu Yang turned to Yun Ming and asked.
Yun Ming sensed his own condition and shook his head.
His tone was calm but carried a trace of weakness: "Life origin burned, godhood shattered, divine soul also heavily damaged."
"Now... I'm barely maintaining existence, kept alive entirely by planar power."
Hearing this, Liu Yang arranged: "In that case, go into closed-door cultivation first, stabilize your condition, and repair your foundation."
"Don't worry about matters outside."
"Alright."
Yun Ming nodded, not saying more.
In the next moment, his figure instantly disappeared.
Only Liu Yang and Su Tao remained in the room.
"Zi, what do we do next..." Su Tao began, his gaze carrying inquiry.
Liu Yang stood with hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. "Qing has awakened and returned. Although his condition isn't good, he has taken his position."
"Now, everything is ready, only waiting for the east wind."
"Mmm."
Su Tao nodded, then remembered something, his tone becoming somewhat heavy. "By the way, Zi, about that ring on Fang Yang's hand..."
"I know."
Liu Yang interrupted him, his tone calm. "The main body is still alive."
"Then... do we need to adjust our plan?" Su Tao asked, his tone carrying some concern.
"No need."
Liu Yang's answer was decisive. "Proceed as planned. Not only should we proceed as planned, but we must also seize this opportunity to push Huang to complete the great undertaking of unifying the Douluo Continent."
Su Tao pondered: "It's just... Tang Hao's side probably won't sit by and watch the Sun-Moon Federation truly unify."
"Ten thousand years ago, Sea God Tang San personally descended to intervene in the continent's situation. There's no guarantee this time..."
A cold smile curled at the corner of Liu Yang's mouth: "If he intervenes, then all the better."
"This was already within our calculations. This time, what we want is not merely continental unification, but also to use this... to wage war against heaven!"
"War against heaven..."
Su Tao repeated these four words in a low voice, a trace of resolution flashing in his eyes. "I understand. I will immediately go down and arrange to ensure everything proceeds according to plan."
"Mmm."
Liu Yang nodded slightly, his gaze profound.
"The Sun-Moon Federation shall unify the world—the Douluo Continent, the Star Luo Continent, the Tian Ling Continent, including the Spirit Pagoda, Shrek, the War God Temple, the Body Sect, and the Holy Spirit Cult."
He murmured softly, "Fang Yang, you shall inherit all of this..."
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)