228: The God Behind the Scenes

Here, there is no up, down, left, or right, no passage of time.

All concepts have been stripped away, leaving only the most essential thing—Law.

Countless "conduits" made of pure energy and Law extend from an unimaginably distant end, resembling the blood vessels of some giant creature, finally converging in the center of this space.

There, something huge is suspended, slowly pulsating.

Rather than a "heart," it is more like a deformed, living tumor, forcibly kneaded together from billions of wailing Souls and miscellaneous Laws.

With every pulsation, it greedily extracts immeasurable energy from those conduits, digesting and absorbing it, then converting it into its own twisted power.

This is the core of the "Boss" itself.

"Finally found you." Li Dong floats in this conceptual space; his voice is not loud, yet it clearly ripples across the level of Law.

The massive tumor shudders violently, and countless painful, twisted faces on its surface turn toward Li Dong in unison, emitting a silent shriek capable of tearing apart a Divine Soul.

It senses an unprecedented threat.

Not just from Li Dong, but from behind that "Gate of Despair," from that higher-dimensional will that has made it tremble since its birth.

It knows that the final moment has arrived.

No probing, no nonsense.

The "Boss" chooses the most primitive method, the one it is best at—violence.

Boom!

The entire core space trembles.

Countless tentacles from the Void Realm, more solid and violent than any time before, sweep toward Li Dong from all directions like a black flood that has breached a dam.

Every tentacle is wrapped in the despair and curses of devoured worlds; every swing carries the final wail of a civilization.

However, just as these attacks are about to touch Li Dong.

Hum—

The [ancient stone slab] in his Sea of Consciousness actively radiates an unprecedented light, and a crystal-clear image is irresistibly projected into his cognition.

It is a scene that cannot be described in any language.

It is like an ancient tree rooted at the end of the Void Realm, with branches spreading to the infinite Universe.

It is also like a giant loom weaving the destinies of thousands of worlds.

Countless fine, almost invisible "threads" extend from its indescribable body, and the end of each thread is connected to a "world," either bright or dim.

And the final enemy "Boss" before Li Dong, whom he found only after paying a heavy price, is shockingly just a "suction cup" at the end of one of the thicker "threads," working hard to suck the Origin of the world.

Li Dong's movements pause for a moment.

Not because he is scared, but because of the blankness after his cognition is completely subverted.

He had always thought that the "Boss" was the ultimate culprit devouring everything, the source of all tragedies.

The century-long struggle of the Demon Suppression Division, the sacrifice of countless comrades, the fall of his close friend Cangqiong... all the blood and tears, all the hatred and resentment, pointed to this target.

But now, the [ancient stone slab] tells him he was wrong. Wrong in an outrageous way.

This thing is, at best, just a tool.

A more useful table knife, a more efficient straw.

The existence truly holding the knife and biting the straw is still hiding safely behind the scenes, perhaps... not even bothering to glance this way.

Rage?

No, that is no longer enough to describe Li Dong's mood at this moment.

It is a killing intent that is cold to the extreme, as if it could freeze even the Soul.

He feels that he, along with the entire world he protected, has been treated as a joke. A farce between food and tableware happening on a dinner plate.

All the sacrifices, all the determination, in the eyes of that true "True Master," are perhaps no different from cleaning up some annoying residue on a dinner plate.

From beginning to end, was he just a... "Cleaner"?

"Ha..." A soft laugh escapes Li Dong's lips.

This laugh is even colder than the shriek of the "Boss's" billions of Souls.

Seemingly sensing this Breakthrough in Li Dong's cognition, that cold and indifferent will, which had been hiding behind the scenes, finally has a slight fluctuation.

A power far exceeding the "Boss's" own limits rushes down along that thickest "conduit," pouring into its core.

In an instant, those tentacles from the Void Realm lunging at Li Dong become even more indestructible, and the trajectories of their attacks become increasingly tricky and vicious.

This is a warning. It is also an intrigued probe.

As if saying: You saw something you shouldn't have; now, let me see how you, this interesting "Cleaner," plan to end this.

"How to end this?"

Li Dong raises his eyes, his gaze piercing through the layers of the tentacle storm, no longer looking at the "Boss's" ugly core, but staring fixedly at the thickest energy conduit connecting it to the "True Master."

"Very simple."

He raises the [Law Scalpel] in his hand.

"Since I am a cleaner, I will first cut off... the connection between the trash and the trash can."

The next moment, he ignores all the attacks crashing toward him, letting those powers capable of annihilating stars hit him, stirring up ripples.

He pours all his power, all his will, and even the final gift from his close friend Cangqiong, which he had just absorbed, into the [Law Scalpel] in his hand.

That blade, which was originally just an illusory light and shadow, begins to undergo drastic changes.

It is no longer a "knife" for cutting, but has transformed into a more concise and deadly... pair of scissors. A pair of Law scissors specifically for trimming "branches and leaves."

The target is not the "Boss's" body. But that "umbilical cord" that transports nutrients!

"You dare!"

For the first time, such clear fear is revealed in the "Boss's" will.

It wants to withdraw all attacks, wants to defend that conduit, but it is already too late.

Li Dong's figure, like a phantom, weaves through the gaps in the storm-like attacks and appears directly in front of that conduit.

"Click!"

There is no earth-shattering roar, only a crisp snapping sound that seems to resound at the level of the Soul.

The energy conduit connecting the "Boss" and the "True Master" snaps in response!

"No—!"

A shriek of extreme shrillness echoes throughout the entire core space.

Losing its energy source, the "Boss's" massive body is like a punctured balloon, beginning to disintegrate and collapse at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Countless tentacles turn into the most primitive dust of the Void Realm, and that pulsating tumor also quickly withers and dissipates.

Just a moment before it is about to turn completely into nothingness, that cold, extreme "True Master" will descends once again into Li Dong's Sea of Consciousness.

This time, it is no longer the aloof indifference from above, but carries a hint of... amusement.

"Interesting."

"You cut off a finger, little bug."

"But the hand is still there."

"And the body... is vast and boundless."

"Come, since you like being a cleaner so much, come and witness what is... true devouring."

The moment the voice fades, the "hunting ground map" in Li Dong's Sea of Consciousness that represents his home world expands with a boom!

It is no longer limited to one world, but, with him as the center, extends toward the endless Void Realm.

Spots of light, some near and some far, light up on the map. Each spot of light represents a world that is being devoured.

Behind each spot of light, a "suction cup" similar to, or even more powerful than, the "Boss's" is connected.

They are dense, countless, and all extend from that "ancient tree" rooted at the end of the Universe.

Li Dong silently looks at this brand-new "star map."

He won. He slew the final enemy that invaded his home.

But he also knows that everything he has done is just the beginning of a war of the Universe that will engulf thousands of worlds.