462: Chapter 397: A Life-or-Death Escape, A Lie Becomes Reality and Nearly Leads to Death

The cyan-gold light in the Void Rift burned quietly in the deepest part of the Return to Ruins.

Lin Zhou had been back at the core of the rift for three days. The Seal was completely stable, the outflow speed of the Return to Ruins energy had dropped to zero, and the remnants of the Return to Ruins in the Old Universe were slowly dissipating.

He sat cross-legged beside the Fire of Civilization, continuing to fuse the last twenty percent of The Transcendent's memory fragments.

Every day, new knowledge and experience flooded into his consciousness—the complete construction blueprints for the ark of civilization, the geological structure of the Void Rift, and the periodic fluctuation patterns of the Return to Ruins.

[Memory Fragment · Fusion Progress]

- Total Progress: 80%... 85%... 90%...

- Remaining Fragments: Abyss Will residue (approx. 10%)

- Estimated Completion: approx. seven days

But he did not wait until the seventh day.

On the fifth day, violent energy fluctuations came from the edge of the rift.

It was not the surging of the Return to Ruins, but Devilish Qi—thick, violent, and filled with the madness of revenge.

Lin Zhou opened his eyes, and his consciousness extended toward the edge of the rift.

There, a familiar figure stood: the King of Deception.

Behind him, there was not a single soldier left—five hundred elite devils had all perished under the erosion of the Return to Ruins, leaving only him.

But his aura was even stronger than it had been ten days ago.

It was not an increase in Divine Power Rank, but—burning.

He was burning his own Divine Power Origin in exchange for a short-term explosion of power.

[King of Deception · Status (Burning Origin)]

- Divine Power Rank: LV4800 → LV5500 (Temporary)

- Divine Power integrity: 30% → 50% (Burning recovery, but irreversible)

- Burning cost: Permanent damage to Divine Power, Rank will drop below LV3000 after the battle

- Rage: MAX

- Target: Kill Lin Zhou, take back the heart of the abyss

"You... caused me to lose my territory, my army, everything." The King's voice sounded as if it came from Hell, low and hoarse. "I was expelled from the Abyss Council, hunted by Marbas, and eroded by the Return to Ruins. All of this is because of you."

He raised his scepter, the tip pointing into the depths of the rift.

"You think you are safe hiding inside? I burned five hundred years of my lifespan to exchange for a shield that can briefly resist the erosion of the Return to Ruins. Today, either you die, or I do."

[King of Deception · Return to Ruins Shield]

- Source: Burning Divine Power Origin

- Effect: Resist the erosion of the Return to Ruins for one hour

- Cost: After the shield disappears, the King will fall into 'Existence Collapse' state, Divine Power integrity - 1% per second

Lin Zhou stood up.

He could not leave the core of the rift—although the Seal was stable, if an attack at the level of high-tier divine power erupted inside the rift, the Seal might loosen. He had to block the King outside the rift.

He summoned the projection of the ark of civilization and sailed toward the edge of the rift.

The ship's shadow traveled through the gray-white Void Realm, its deep blue light illuminating the darkness ahead.

A few minutes later, he arrived at the edge of the rift, stood at the bow, and confronted the King of Deception across the space.

"You have already lost," Lin Zhou said calmly. "Your army is gone, your territory is gone, and even your Divine Power is burning. If you keep fighting, you will die."

"Die?" The King laughed wildly. "I have lived for eight thousand years, what have I not seen? Death is just another form of existence. But before I die, I will take you down with me!"

He leaped up, smashing his scepter toward Lin Zhou.

[King of Deception · Attack — Abyss Fall]

- Attack power: LV5500 full-force strike × 2 (Burning bonus)

- Effect: Causes Divine Power integrity - 40% to the target, with 'Abyss Curse' ( - 1% Divine Power integrity per second, lasts for ten seconds)

Lin Zhou did not block it head-on. He dodged, simultaneously swinging his sword.

[zhan nian sword · Civilization Judgment]

- Attack power: LV6500 full-force strike

- Effect: Damage to the Abyss faction + 1000%

- Additional: 10% success rate for instant death judgment

The sword light slashed onto the King's shield, causing it to vibrate violently and crack, but it did not shatter.

The King's burning shield was far stronger than expected.

[King of Deception · Shield Status]

- Integrity: 100% → 80%

- Material: Burning Divine Power Origin + residual Abyss Will

- Weakness: Low resistance to the Fire of Civilization

Lin Zhou frowned. He put away the zhan nian sword, raised his hand, and condensed the Fire of Civilization in his palm.

"Then I will use fire."

The flames transformed into a cyan-gold fire dragon, pouncing toward the King.

[Fire of Civilization · Attack — Civilization Judgment]

- Attack power: LV6500 full-force strike × 3 (Restraint against the Abyss)

- Effect: Damage to shield + 500%

- Additional: If the shield shatters, trigger instant death judgment on the main body (20% success rate)

The fire dragon collided with the shield, and the shield's integrity plummeted from 80% to 30%.

Cracks covered it, and it was on the verge of shattering.

The King's expression changed drastically.

"Lies Become Reality!"

[King of Deception · Ultimate Skill — Lies Become Reality]

- Effect: Speak a lie, and it becomes reality for a short time

- Duration: approx. three minutes

- Cost: Divine Power integrity - 20%

- Current Divine Power integrity: 50% → 30%

"Your fire cannot burn through my shield!"

The moment the lie was spoken, the rules were distorted.

The temperature of the Fire of Civilization plummeted, turning from cyan-gold to dark red, and its attack power was greatly weakened.

The shield's integrity stabilized at 30% and stopped dropping.

[Lies Become Reality · Effect]

- Target: Fire of Civilization

- Lie content: "Your fire cannot burn through my shield"

- Reality distortion: The 'penetrating power' of the flames was temporarily denied

- Duration: three minutes

Lin Zhou retracted the flames.

'Lies Become Reality' was still in effect, and the power of the Fire of Civilization was suppressed; he needed to find another way.

But the King did not give him time to think.

"You will all die here!"

[Lies Become Reality · Second Layer]

- Effect: Speak a second lie, overlaying it with reality

- Cost: Divine Power integrity - 20%

- Current Divine Power integrity: 30% → 10%

- Side effect: After the skill ends, the King will fall into 'Truth Backlash', all attributes - 80%, lasts for one hour

The moment the second lie was spoken, Lin Zhou felt an invisible force wrapping around his body.

It was not an attack, but rather—a 'negation' at the level of rules.

His vitality was fading, and his Divine Power integrity began to slowly decline.

[Lin Zhou · Status (Lies Become Reality Influence)]

- Divine Power integrity: 100% → 98% → 96%... ( - 2% per second)

- Duration: three minutes

- Resistance method: Fire of Civilization 'defines' itself as existing

Lin Zhou gritted his teeth and fueled the Fire of Civilization to burn within his body.

The flames blocked the negation force of 'Lies Become Reality,' and the rate of decline in his Divine Power integrity dropped from 2% per second to 0.5% per second.

But he could only hold on for three minutes.

After three minutes, if 'Lies Become Reality' had not ended, his Divine Power integrity would drop below 80%, greatly reducing his combat effectiveness.

The King was not doing well either.

His Divine Power integrity had already dropped to 10%, and the shield's integrity was also continuously declining—although 'Lies Become Reality' suppressed the penetrating power of the Fire of Civilization, the heat of the flames was still scorching the shield, just much slower.

[Shield · Integrity]

- Current: 30% → 28% → 26%... ( - 2% per second)

- Estimated collapse: approx. fifteen seconds

"Fifteen seconds..." Lin Zhou calculated.

He raised his hand and condensed the Fire of Civilization again.

This time, it was not an attack, but—defense.

"Shield of Civilization."

The flames condensed into a cyan-gold shield in front of him, blocking the negation force of 'Lies Become Reality.'

The thickness of the shield consumed 1,000 Divine Power per second.

The shield collapsed.

[Shield · Integrity 0%]

The King's shield shattered after fourteen seconds, and the Return to Ruins energy directly eroded his body.

His Divine Power integrity plummeted from 10% to 5%, his skin began to crack, and dark red blood evaporated into mist.

"Ah—!"

He screamed, fell from the void, and tumbled into the depths of the rift.

Lin Zhou did not chase.

He stood on the bow, watching the falling figure of the King, and was silent for a moment.

"It is over."

But just then, the King abruptly stopped his fall.

He burned his last Divine Power Origin, forcibly stabilized his body, and flew upward.

"It is not over!"

He raised his scepter, aiming the tip at Lin Zhou.

"The last lie—you will die here!"

[Lies Become Reality · Third Layer]

- Effect: Speak a third lie, at the cost of burning all Divine Power

- Cost: Divine Power integrity 100% (Instant death)

- Duration: One-time

- Side effect: After the skill is activated, the King of Deception will completely fall

Lin Zhou's pupils contracted sharply.

He tried to dodge, but the rule force of 'Lies Become Reality' had already locked onto his existence—no matter where he fled, this lie would become reality.

His Divine Power integrity began to drop at an accelerated rate—5%, 10%, 15% per second...

[Lin Zhou · Status (Third Layer Lie)]

- Divine Power integrity: 95% → 90% → 85%... ( - 5% per second)

- Duration: approx. twenty seconds

- Resistance: Need to 'define' oneself as 'will not die' with the Fire of Civilization

Lin Zhou gritted his teeth and pushed the power of the Fire of Civilization to the limit.

"I—will not die!"

The flames burned within his body, blocking the negation force of 'Lies Become Reality.'

The rate of decline in his Divine Power integrity dropped from 5% per second to 2% per second.

But he could only hold for ten seconds.

After ten seconds, if 'Lies Become Reality' had not ended, his Divine Power integrity would drop below 70%, perhaps even lower.

The King was also accelerating toward his fall.

His body began to turn transparent, and his Divine Power integrity had dropped to 1%, ready to dissipate at any moment.

"Let's... die together..." The King's voice was weak, but his eyes were full of madness.

Just then, a silver-white light shot in from outside the rift.

Moonlight.

Su Yueyao stood at the edge of the rift, holding the Moonlight Jade Pendant—that was the 'Moonlight Retrospection' she had condensed with her own essence and blood, which could be activated remotely.

Every month, she would leave a few jade pendants at the edge of the rift, just in case Lin Zhou encountered danger and could not call for help.

[Moonlight Retrospection · Data]

- Source: Su Yueyao's Moon God Bloodline

- Effect: Briefly backtrack the target's time, recovering to the state from three seconds ago

- Cost: One Moonlight Jade Pendant (One-time)

- Range: One kilometer in diameter

- Side effect: User's Divine Power integrity - 10% (Remote activation, Su Yueyao is in the New Universe, unaffected)

The silver-white light enveloped Lin Zhou, and his Divine Power integrity instantly reverted from 78% to 95%—the state from three seconds ago.

At the same time, the negation force of 'Lies Become Reality' was briefly interrupted by Moonlight Retrospection, and its duration was reset.

[Moonlight Retrospection · Effect]

- Lin Zhou Divine Power integrity: 78% → 95%

- Lies Become Reality duration: Reset (three minutes remaining)

- King's status: Divine Power integrity 1%, about to fall

"Im... pos... sible..." The King widened his eyes in disbelief.

His final lie was interrupted by Moonlight Retrospection.

Although the rule "You will all die here" was still in effect, Lin Zhou's state had recovered, enough to last through the remaining time.

The King's body turned completely transparent, then transformed into countless dark red light spots, dissipating into the Void Realm.

[King of Deception · Fallen]

- Method: Burning all Divine Power

- Relics: Scepter (damaged), Abyss Will fragments (trace amount)

- Impact: The 666th layer of the abyss lord is vacant, Marbas will take the opportunity to annex its territory

Lin Zhou stood on the bow, looking at those dissipating light spots, and was silent for a moment.

"It is over."

He put away the Fire of Civilization and returned to the core of the rift.

Su Yueyao's Moonlight Jade Pendant flickered at the edge of the rift, then dimmed.

She must be on the Watchtower in the New Universe, watching the direction of the rift.

Lin Zhou raised his hand and waved in that direction.

He knew she could see.

Core of the rift.

Lin Zhou sat cross-legged beside the Fire of Civilization, continuing to fuse the memory fragments of The Transcendent.

The King's scepter fragments and the residue of the Abyss Will were thrown by him into the Fire of Civilization to be refined.

[Refining · King of Deception Relics]

- Scepter fragments: Can refine Abyssal Magic Gold × 10 units (used to strengthen Civilization Armor)

- Abyss Will fragments: Can be converted into Order Essence × 100 units

- river of civilization water level: 5000% → 5050%

The final memory fragments slowly melted in the flames.

The residue of the Abyss Will was burned away by the Fire of Civilization, revealing the memories of The Transcendent sealed within.

That was the final voyage of the ark of civilization.

Lin Zhou saw the entrance to the New Universe—a huge Light Gate, with the green grass and blue sky of the New Universe inside.

The ark of civilization sailed toward the Light Gate, but the giant hand of the Return to Ruins chased from behind and shattered the ship's hull.

At the moment the hull shattered, eighty warriors threw the core of the Fire of Civilization toward the Light Gate.

The core passed through the Light Gate and fell into the New Universe.

And Lin—the young female warrior, holding the backup of the core, fell into the abyss.

Her final memory was the dungeon of the King of Deception's castle.

She had been imprisoned there for hundreds of years, and eventually sealed the fire seed in a secret chamber, waiting for someone fated.

"Lin..." Lin Zhou called out softly.

The phantom in the memory fragment seemed to turn and look at him.

Then, it dissipated.

[The Transcendent Memory · Fusion Complete]

- Total Progress: 100%

- Obtained knowledge:

1. Complete construction blueprints for the ark of civilization

2. Full map of the Void Rift (including hidden space-time channels)

3. Periodic fluctuation patterns of the Return to Ruins (can be used to predict erosion acceleration periods)

4. Stabilization technology for the entrance to the New Universe

Lin Zhou opened his eyes.

In his eyes, the cyan-gold light of the Fire of Civilization was reflected.

"Senior, I have inherited your final wishes."

He stood up and looked toward the New Universe.

"It is time to go back."

He summoned the projection of the ark of civilization and sailed out of the rift.

New Universe, on the Watchtower.

Su Yueyao stood on the top of the tower, watching the cyan-gold light trail in the sky.

It had been a month, and the light trail was getting brighter.

"He is coming back soon," she said softly.

No sooner had she spoken than a deep blue light tore through the void in the sky.

The ship's shadow of civilization appeared, and Lin Zhou stood at the bow.

He leaped down and landed on the Watchtower.

Su Yueyao rushed over and hugged him.

"Are you hurt?"

"No," Lin Zhou shook his head, "but it was close. Your Moonlight Retrospection saved me."

"I leave a few jade pendants at the edge of the rift every month. Just in case you run into trouble."

Lin Zhou smiled.

"Thank you."

He walked down the Watchtower and went to the town square.

In the center of the square, the super civilization furnace was burning.

The Fire of Civilization on the top of the furnace illuminated the entire town.

Lin Zhou stood before the fire and was silent for a moment.

"Brothers, the King of Deception has fallen."

"The threat of the abyss has been lifted."

"The source of the Return to Ruins has been sealed."

"The remaining Return to Ruins of the Old Universe is dissipating."

"The New Universe is safe."

Everyone cheered.

Lin Zhou raised his hand, signaling for silence.

"But, the Return to Ruins is still there. It has not disappeared; it has only been sealed."

"We need to continue developing civilization, continue researching the Return to Ruins, and continue guarding the New Universe."

"This is our mission."

"It is also the dying wish of The Transcendent."

"And it is my dying wish."

He turned and looked toward the void.

"I must return now."

"Captain!" Wang Meng shouted, "So soon?"

"The hour is up."

Lin Zhou smiled.

"I will come back next month."

He transformed into a cyan-gold light and disappeared into the starry sky.

The deep blue ship's shadow carried him and sailed into the Void Rift.

Su Yueyao stood on the Watchtower, watching the light that was moving away.

"Next month, I will wait for you."

The Fire of Civilization was burning.

It illuminated the New Universe and also illuminated the person who was waiting.