370: My children are already capable of standing on their own.

Inside the computer room, there was a deathly silence.

That massive spherical host computer remained lifeless, like a silent tomb.

Only that small red dot of light—the final Watchdog AI—continued to blink its desperate warnings tirelessly.

"Give up, intruder."

"The gates to the Fourth Layer require 'Singularity-level' energy to open."

"In this universe that has already reached heat death, you can't even produce a single spark."

"Is that so?"

Lu Chen ignored its mockery.

He released the thick cable and instead pulled out that completely cooled 'thermos' from his coat.

He unscrewed the lid.

It was empty inside.

No water, no goji berries, only a void.

"Brother Chen..."

Wang Peng (Fatty) huddled in the corner, his voice trembling as he watched Lu Chen's back.

"Have we... really messed up this time?"

"Even I, the Fat Master, feel like the sun... might never rise again."

Su Qingying did not speak.

She simply walked silently to Lu Chen's side, reached out, and held his cold hand.

In this world of absolute zero, her body temperature was the only warmth.

"Don't be afraid."

Lu Chen squeezed her hand back, but his gaze pierced through the heavy metal gates, as if looking into the infinite distance.

"Fatty, Qingying."

"Do you remember what I told Xinghe before I left?"

"What did you say?" Wang Peng was taken aback.

"I said..."

The corners of Lu Chen's mouth slowly curled into a proud arc.

"The road ahead, even if you have to crawl, you must finish it yourself."

"Now."

Lu Chen pointed at his own chest.

There should have been a cluster of golden flames (pangu Authority) there, but it was currently empty.

"I've cleared the path."

"I want to see if that brat..."

"Can pave this road all the way here for me!"

...Meanwhile.

The First Layer world, Pangu Continent.

Smoke filled the air.

The once brilliant galaxy was now dyed blood-red by the fires of war.

Tens of thousands of Void Whales' corpses, like floating continents, filled the void around the black hole.

It was a brutal war of self-defense.

"Report!"

"Divine Mechanism Guards' casualty rate is 40%!"

"Two-Dimensional Foil inventory is critical!"

"Eastern defense line energy shield shattered! Requesting reinforcements!"

Inside Lingxiao Hall, alarms blared incessantly.

But the small figure sitting on the throne remained motionless.

Lu Xinghe.

He was only three years old.

Yet his expression at this moment was as cold and stern as a God-King who had lived for ten thousand years.

He tightly gripped that cluster of golden 'pangu' flames.

The flames flickered in his palm, trembling violently as if sensing something.

"Daddy..."

Lu Xinghe closed his eyes, sensing that faint, ethereal feeling of weakness coming from a distant dimension.

"He is waiting for me."

"He is in that cold place... waiting for me to send charcoal."

"Xinghe!"

The phantom of heavenly craft, who had become the Heavenly Dao, emerged with an anxious voice.

"You can't be distracted anymore! The ruler of the Void Whales—the [World Swallower]—is about to break through! If we don't concentrate all our computing power, the defense line will collapse!"

"Then let it collapse!"

Lu Xinghe snapped his eyes open.

In those pupils, flames even more crazed than Lu Chen's were burning.

He jumped down from the throne and walked step by step toward the star map with his short legs.

"If the defense line collapses, we can rebuild it."

"If the ships explode, we can remake them."

"But if the light on Daddy's side goes out..."

Lu Xinghe reached out his small hand and slammed it hard onto the red button representing 'Cross-Dimensional Transmission'.

"Then we'll truly be orphans!"

"Hear my command!"

The immature, childish voice instantly exploded across the entire battlefield through the rules network.

"All Void Whales' corpses! Drag them all over!"

"All backup energy from the warships! Extract it all!"

"And..."

Lu Xinghe looked up at the vast starry sky above.

"Ignite all the stars!"

"Whether they are living or dead! Ignite every single one for me!"

"Young Master! You mustn't!"

Ye Qingcang rushed into the hall covered in blood. "Ignite all the stars? That's destroying our own foundation! We'll be thrown back to the Stone Age!"

"What is there to fear!"

Lu Xinghe turned his head and looked at the Old General who had watched him grow up.

On his face, a lawless smile identical to Lu Chen's appeared.

"Uncle Old Ye."

"Daddy taught me."

"In business, one must have a grand vision."

"Trading ten thousand years of regression for a future that leads to 'Reality'."

"This deal..."

"Is a massive profit!"

"For me... BURN!!!"

BOOM—!!!

At that moment.

The Pangu Continent, and the billions of surrounding star systems.

All the stars simultaneously erupted with the final and most brilliant light of their lives.

That was not light.

That was a sacrifice.

It was the entire heritage paid by a civilization to support their leader!

Endless energy converged into a golden pillar of light that pierced through the heavens.

It broke through dimensions, through the void, and through layers upon layers of obstacles.

Like a sharp sword.

It stabbed straight into that cold Third Layer world!

...Inside the deathly silent computer room.

*Beep—*

A faint but exceptionally clear notification sound rang in Lu Chen's mind.

Immediately after.

The originally pitch-black 'thermos' suddenly lit up.

It wasn't a glimmer.

It was... a **blinding flash**!

A surge of scalding, burning energy, carrying a thick 'scent of home', gushed out from the cup!

"This..."

The Watchdog AI's red dot flickered manically. "How is this possible?! External energy injection?! And it's... cross-dimensional ultra-high purity energy?!"

"Nothing is impossible."

Lu Chen held the scalding cup, feeling that familiar power.

He smiled.

The corners of his eyes were slightly moist.

"Watchdog, you've lost."

"My children..."

Lu Chen looked up at the closed metal gates.

Behind him, Su Qingying and Wang Peng also wore shocked and gratified smiles.

"They have already..."

"Grown up."

"They are enough to stand on their own."

Lu Chen slammed the energy in his hand fiercely toward the lifeless host computer!

"WAKE UP... FOR ME!"

RUMBLE—!!!

With the injection of this massive energy from the First Layer world.

The server that had slept for billions of years let out a deafening roar.

Blue light streams instantly illuminated the entire computer room.

Countless pipes refilled, as if a giant's blood vessels had begun to pulse.

And at the end of the room.

The heavy gates leading to the Fourth Layer.

Amidst a teeth-gritting sound of friction... slowly opened!

Beyond the door.

Was a blinding white light.

And a **back**... of someone leisurely drinking coffee.

Lu Chen straightened his collar and took Su Qingying's hand.

"Let's go."

"Let's meet this 'neighbor' of ours."

"And while we're at it, ask him..."

"About the electricity bill for next door..."

"How does he plan to settle it?"