Chapter 258: Return and End

The voices praising heaven and earth echoed in the minds of all living beings.

Immortal!

Ye Chen’s essence began to ascend. He glimpsed the cosmos, witnessed the laws, and saw countless rule threads binding the Players. These Players still carried out missions, oblivious that they were mere pawns in an alien civilization’s game. Among them, Ye Chen spotted familiar faces – Little Flying Fish and One Leaf Knows Autumn, whom he’d once mentored.

They were tackling Class Change missions in the deep sea ruins of Wan Lei’s universe. One Leaf Knows Autumn and Big Cousin were undergoing their transformation, guided by Little Flying Fish through the trials.

Shifting his vision beyond the cosmos, Ye Chen fixed his gaze upon the domain housing the three kingdoms of God. Simultaneously, the three immortals who’d been hunting him sensed his presence.

“The stench of an outer demon!”

“Impossible! No one achieves immortality this quickly!”

This shattered all logic. Thunder King and the Stargazer faltered, while even the steadfast Wan Fa gaped in disbelief. Having dwelled as immortals through endless eras, they knew such rapid ascension defied cosmic rules. Little did they understand the existence of “wall hangers” – cheats backed by the world’s true ruler, the Ultimate Creator.

“Move now.”

As immortals, they pinpointed Ye Chen’s location instantly.

Space tore open as the three stepped through together.

“Hmm?”

“What’s this place?”

“A new universe!”

Emerging from the spatial tunnel, the immortals froze. This realm lay beyond their perception. The Giant Snake had never mentioned isolating the real world from them, considering these three beneath its notice.

“Welcome to my universe.”

Ye Chen floated amidst starlight, addressing the newcomers.

“Outer demon!”

Before recovering from their shock, the trio detected Ye Chen’s overwhelming law fluctuations. They instantly fanned out, encircling him.

“Eliminate him first, then investigate this realm.”

Eons of immortal existence taught them ruthless efficiency.

No warnings. No negotiations.

“The outcome was decided long ago.”

Ye Chen raised his left palm, where a spinning chain disk materialized. The device whirled, pulling the surrounding rules to seal off the entire area around him.

Wan Fa, charging foremost, froze mid-air like a trapped insect.

“Impossible!”

The Immortal Stargazer and Immortal Thunder King, a step behind, went completely mad. They frantically unleashed their powers to attack Ye Chen. This state stemmed less from madness and more from terror – terror towards the power Ye Chen wielded. As fellow immortals, they couldn’t comprehend why Wan Fa had been subdued in a single move.

“It’s over.”

Ye Chen turned away without glancing back.

Countless chains materialized from the void, trapping all three attackers. Their assaults seemed to exist in another dimension, never touching even Ye Chen’s sleeve.

“What power is this?!”

Horror gripped the three as they felt their authorities being steadily stripped away during Ye Chen’s departure. The cosmic laws they controlled were being siphoned by a higher-dimensional force.

Immortal, fall!

The universe seethed as the rule power from three immortals flowed into the real universe. As its master, Ye Chen effortlessly inherited these three cosmic principles.

As the rules merged, Ye Chen’s power surged. His body grew increasingly translucent, glowing with rune-like patterns. When reaching critical intensity, the radiance suddenly froze.

“Time to go.”

Standing in the starry expanse, Ye Chen cast a final glance at this universe. With a crystalline crack, space shattered like glass as he vanished into the collapsing void.

Beyond realms, his fading form solidified. This marked Ye Chen’s second transcendence. The great world’s unique nature amplified his accumulated power. Drawing breath, he faced his teacher – still as unfathomable as an abyss.

Creator!

The title flashed through Ye Chen’s mind, embedding deep reverence.

“Teacher.”

Composed, Ye Chen bowed to Zuo Meng.

“Well done.”

Zuo Meng sat amidst chaos, Old Ancestor standing behind him. Emerging from meditation, he nodded approval at the respectful disciple.

Truly better than those fools from my own world!

“Come.”

Zuo Meng rose as chaos stilled. The shattered transcendence passage slowly mended. With his mark now on this world through Ye Chen’s ascension, further lingering proved unnecessary.

Leading both followers, Zuo Meng began his return. Walking through chaos, he clearly sensed bodily changes. His foundation now complete, the Dream Realm could ascend to greatness.

The absorbed power surpassed all previous gains. The Dream Realm gained misty hues, its pull from the Origin World neutralized. Freed from constraints, it settled permanently in chaos without breaking through the barrier.

Now truly independent.

Zuo Meng the Creator attained true freedom. Should he choose, he could dwell peacefully in chaos for 129,200 epochs before renewing cycles.

One step brought Zuo Meng’s group into the Dream Realm, now at epoch’s end – war-torn and disaster-ridden. Goddess Xi, realm saint, struggled to maintain stability.

“Go now. Return after this epoch ends.”

Having finished speaking, Zuo Meng dismissed them with a sleeve-flick. Goddess Xi would teach them Dream Realm’s rules for future sainthood duties.

Alone, Ye Chen returned to the Creator’s small room where his clone sat waiting. Zuo Meng stepped forward, merging with the duplicate. Memories coalesced instantly.