Chapter 1545 : Born Here, Die Here

After the departure of the Western Qi Divine Son and the others, only Celestial Sorrow Human Emperor, Eldrin (Person Name), Myriad Spirits Ancestor, and Jiang Daoxu remained within the miniature cosmos. Before parting, Myriad Spirits Ancestor and Jiang Daoxu cast a glance at Eldrin (Person Name).

Eldrin glanced back at the Netherworld Microcosm, only to find the entire realm had completely collapsed, and the spatial passage leading to the Celestial Realm had vanished into nothingness.

He understood their implication—if Eldrin were to speak up, they would pay a certain price to ensure his safe return. However, this would require surrendering at least 1 Innate Treasure to appease the mighty Celestial Immortals pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Even so, Eldrin shook his head. He understood all too well the rarity of innate treasures, and even more clearly recognized the troubles that would arise from exposing his identity.

He shook his head and replied, "You may go ahead. I have my own means of returning." Moreover, for the Abyssal Pearl to advance further, it required him to remain until the final moment of the universe’s destruction, drawing upon the Dao marks of cosmic oblivion.

"In that case, take care of yourself."

In the final moments, Ancestor Wanling and Jiang Daoxu shook their heads.

They exchanged no further words, immediately transforming into streaks of light as they raced against the collapsing spatial passage. Finally, just before the dimensional channel shattered completely, they escaped that miniature universe. Watching the 2 figures depart, Eldrin (Person Name) offered no commentary.

He strode forward and arrived before the Heaven-Mourning Human Emperor, only to find that his physical form had nearly disintegrated, with fissures now covering even his primordial spirit.

"Alas."

Eldrin understood that the Heaven-Mourning Human Emperor, without having opened a single layer of the heavens and relying solely on a single Great Unity foundation, had slain the True Dragon Crown Prince who possessed a dual Great Unity foundation. The outcome of this battle, if revealed to the outside world, would be enough to shock the entire realm and be recorded in the annals of Empyrean Cang Immortal Domain's history.

And as the victor, the Heaven-Mourning Human Sovereign had also paid an unimaginable price.

At this thought, Eldrin let out a faint sigh and couldn't help but say, "Do you have any last words?" "Most of the humans in this universe will follow your departure. The embers have already been preserved."

"Today, I have once again defied the heavens by challenging a supreme True Dragon wielding a Taiyi immortal weapon with nothing but my foundational Taiyi cultivation. In this lifetime, I hold no regrets." The Heaven-Mourning Human Emperor spoke slowly. Noticing the expression on Eldrin’s face, he shook his head gently and smiled. "There is no need to grieve for me."

"My bestowed heavenly title is Tian Ai, and this life of mine is destined to walk upon this path."

"As the last Human Sovereign of this universe, to have earned Heaven's lament, my life can be considered without shame before humanity."

With a calm demeanor, Tian'ai Renhuang waved his sleeve and retrieved a dazzling dragon pearl along with a resplendent ancient artifact—the Taiyi Immortal Weapon, "Taiyi Heaven-Sundering Hammer".

He handed over the Dragon Pearl and the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss to Eldrin, then remarked, "After the True Dragon Crown Prince fell, he left behind quite a few treasures." "Unfortunately, the vast majority of them were swept away by the chaotic torrents. I only managed to retrieve these 2 artifacts in time."

"Now that my end is near, I shall entrust all these to you."

Eldrin accepted the 2 treasures and spoke calmly, "Should you entrust me with a wisp of your soul, once I ascend to the Celestial Immortal realm, I may be able to sever all your karmic ties and guide you through nirvanic rebirth within the immortal domain."

"There is no need."

Heaven’s Lament, the Human Sovereign, smiled faintly and then spoke: "The fall of a dynasty never lacks those who would willingly be buried with it. And when a great universe perishes, is it not the same?"

"As the Human Emperor of this cosmos, 1 of the 3 Sovereigns of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, what harm is there in becoming the funeral sacrifice for this universe?" Tian'ai Renhuang (Human Emperor) spoke slowly, his flesh gradually disintegrating while his primordial spirit transformed into drifting motes of luminous rain.

This was an Emperor of Mankind offering himself as the final sacrifice for this dying cosmos. There was no trace of sorrow upon his face, only serene tranquility. "In this life, I was born of this world and shall perish with it. I have no shame before heaven and earth, nor any debt to my people."

"If there is an afterlife, I would become a blade of grass, or grow into a tree—enduring the lashing of wind and rain, bearing the scorch of sun and storm, so long as I may stand upright and unashamed between heaven and earth."

"If I am fortunate enough to be reborn as a human again, I shall devote myself solely to cultivation, detached from worldly affairs, keeping company only with the Great Dao... The greatest music is heard in silence, the greatest form is shapeless."

The voice of the Heaven-Mourning Human Sovereign gradually faded, until at last it dwindled into nothingness.

Eldrin snapped back to his senses from the weight of those words, only to realize the Heaven-Mourning Mortal Emperor had completely dissolved into the Dao.

He rose to his feet, a faint sigh escaping his heart. Though his acquaintance with Human Emperor Tian’ai had been brief, he had developed a profound respect for the man’s character. A figure of such extraordinary caliber, had he set foot in the immortal realms, might truly have journeyed much farther.

"Perhaps 1 day, we shall meet again."

Eldrin murmured softly, finally withdrawing his thoughts.

He lifted his head and saw that 90-9 percent of this universe had already been destroyed. Countless spatial storms and chaotic currents flooded heaven and earth, turning all in their path to ruins.

Peering through the void rift, Eldrin discovered that beyond the cosmos, apart from the chaotic turbulence, there stood 1 majestic figure after another whose radiance illuminated all heavens.

And Eldrin (Person Name) stood amidst the boundless heavens and earth, watching this scene with a tranquil expression.

He concealed his aura with the Art of Deceiving Heaven, then continuously absorbed the Dao marks generated by the destruction of the cosmos.

Thus time flowed on, and before long, the miniature cosmos was on the verge of complete annihilation, collapsing into a minuscule point of primordial chaos.

Eldrin (Person Name) enveloped himself in the mist of chaos, straining to stabilize his form. Yet he soon discovered that even this primordial haze was rapidly dissipating under the corrosive onslaught of the chaotic currents.

"My Chaos Mist is still somewhat insufficient."

Noticing the rapid depletion of the chaotic mist, Eldrin furrowed his brow slightly.

Fortunately, it was enough to hold for a short while. As the cosmos rapidly collapsed, endless torrents of chaos and spatial fragments swept Eldrin, seeking to drag him into the collapsing void singularity.

The chaotic turbulence was far too powerful, forcing Eldrin to drift along with its currents. Just as he was about to be dragged into the depths of the chaotic vortex, the Celestial Immortal experts outside the turbulence finally intervened.

"Hmm..."

In an instant, several Celestial Immortals unleashed their powers, expending immense magical energy to forcibly stabilize the chaotic torrent and seize Eldrin (Person Name) from its depths.

But at that very moment, Eldrin’s eyes snapped open, and he spoke immediately. “Let’s go.”

In an instant, an invisible ripple of void energy bloomed, and Eldrin vanished into the chaotic turbulence.

Meanwhile, the boundless torrent of chaos submerged everything. Several Celestial Immortals, mighty figures suppressed within the chaotic currents, had their faces tinged with a trace of grim chill.

Watching Eldrin flee, a celestial deity spoke, "Did you see who it was?" "The chaotic torrent obscured our sight—we couldn’t discern his true visage."

An elder of the Phoenix Clan spoke, a sharp glint flashing between his brows.

A mighty figure from the White Tiger Clan shook his head, his expression grave as he stated, "To escape from the chaotic turbulence, it must at the very least be an innate treasure of spatial attributes—and moreover, a top-grade innate treasure at that."