Duality of Shadows-Chapter 977: The World Will Collapse

The whale and Meru returned to exactly the same place in the underworld where they had been before being taken by the heavenly laws for the mission. Meru went back to the inner world and ran excitedly toward Ruri. Although the mission had only lasted a few months, she was growing rapidly. Meanwhile, the whale opened its eyes and accepted the rewards.

An indescribable annihilation sealed an area the size of a galaxy, filled with furious black clouds and all sorts of celestial power.

The whale was definitely the number one enemy of the heavens, and even an immortal in its place would be doomed in the face of this annihilation. Immortals were above the laws, but the amount of energy there was immense. Immortals could defend themselves, but they would be attacked continuously until all their strength was gone; the amount of energy from the laws trying to kill them was absurd at this point.

But, for Alm and Bruno, it was just a festive occasion.

"The heavens are really very kind, thank you for the gift."

**BOOM!!**

Inside the inner universe, everyone on the planets turned to look at the immense Tree of Chaos, watching in awe as the entire tree pulsed with rays of annihilation, wrapping it like serpents.

However, everything was immediately absorbed by the tree in an instant. Soon after, everyone in the universe felt the Qi, the Laws, and absolutely everything around them growing denser.

In just one hour, it seemed like everything had become a third more powerful... but it didn’t stop there. The phenomenon continued for three full days without interruption.

By the end, everyone was wide-eyed, realizing that now, just breathing was as effective as deeply meditating and focusing on Qi collection before.

When everything was over, Alm and Bruno had to move and search for another dead planet in the underworld. Everything within an immense radius had been turned into dust. Fortunately, they had expected this and were very far from any place with life.

After a few hours, they finally found the underground of a dead planet. Now, they had reached the Divine Emperor Realm, the eleventh divine realm, just one realm away from the divine peak.

At that moment, they realized that, even without activating their physical cultivation to the maximum, they would already be able to easily defeat a low-level immortal. However, they knew the heroes were on a different level, even if they were newly ascended immortals.

"Our power is officially greater than before... and we’re not even in the immortal realms yet," Bruno murmured with a sigh. Despite being superior in almost everything, this body still had a much greater affinity with Yin and death; maybe that was something they would never overcome.

[Total:]

[Upgrade Points: 200]

[Celestial Points: 300]

[02 New Celestial Miracles available!]

Alm and Bruno nodded. At least that side quest, which had them face the queen, had given them an acceptable reward.

[Available Miracles: 07]

[NOTE: Each use of a miracle multiplies the required points for that miracle by 3.]

[Natural Life Miracle] [270 Celestial Points]

[Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Rebirth Miracle] [270 Celestial Points]

[Space-Time Miracle] [2430 Celestial Points]

[Creation Miracle] [810 Celestial Points]

[New] [Celestial Baptism Miracle] [10 Celestial Points]

[New] [Spiritual Connection Miracle] [10 Celestial Points]

[Avatar of Heaven’s Will, union of miracles] [Sum of points from up to 03 miracles]

"Celestial Baptism and Spiritual Connection... interesting," Alm murmured, thoughtful. "Miracles are things the heavens can do. We only have the names, but I guess we can summon a tribulation on something... and connection... the heavens reincarnate souls in bodies, maybe it’s related to that."

Bruno agreed. There was no way to be sure without using the miracles, but, for now, their points were quite limited. Using a miracle once or twice would only give a basic idea of what it did. They couldn’t waste them, and it would be better to keep 270 points for emergencies.

"If an opportunity arises, we’ll try to use them for the first time," said Bruno. For the first time, they decided not to acquire anything from the system after advancing.

The two souls slowly entered the inner universe. There, they saw everyone still ecstatic with the changes.

The Nine Stars Tree approached them. "Sirs, the 50,000 cultivators have already stabilized and are in seclusion."

"Great. Now, they can face their tribulations. The Tree of Chaos won’t interfere unless I want it to," said Bruno calmly.

Even inside the inner universe, the celestial laws could cross everything and attack them with tribulations without difficulty. They had been contained because it would be dangerous to do so in the middle of the main mission. Alm and Bruno wouldn’t be directly affected, but some fluctuations from the laws could be felt by the queen or the heroes, which could cause problems depending on the situation.

The elder nodded and went to summon everyone. Shortly after, Ruri appeared with Meru, and beside them were Kaiyka and Venjio. During this time, he had managed to remove the queen’s domain over her, and Kaiyka had already rebuilt his body using a miracle.

Kaiya knew everything now, she could remember absolutely everything she did while controlled. But, fortunately, she had been sealed in a space the whole time, only coming out for the moment when she attacked the whale.

She tried to say something, but the look from the two of them already said everything, and she stopped. They were allies; she didn’t need to keep bowing or acting like a servant. They hated that, and she knew them well enough now.

"Focus on advancing with everyone," were Bruno’s only words to the two.

Alm called Almin and Lyra. Then, he nodded and brought the two immortal bodies floating in space to the planet.

When the couple arrived, Alm asked: "You can use the Cauldron and remove the poison easily, right?"

Almin looked at the immortal bodies with a surprised expression. He had doubts, but Lyra, with confidence, replied: "With the side of Order I control, I can perfectly separate the poison from the bodies."

Almin became excited; the part he controlled couldn’t do that. He quickly looked at the two, reflecting: "Do you have plans for the poison?"

"Know any interesting pills?" Bruno asked eagerly.

"Yes, it’s called the Sky Poison Pill. I can create two dozen of them." Almin nodded, his eyes sparkling. "The pill can be used by anyone to attack, so its power will multiply... this poison on them is at an immortal level... it would easily kill an immortal with just one."

"Great. Break through the realm with everyone, then focus on making the pills. If you manage to make 17, one for each general, that will be enough," Alm said calmly.

When everyone came out of seclusion, Alm and Bruno spotted three figures approaching, a bit trembling. They were hybrids of humans and different beasts.

In front was a tall woman with a large sword on her back and a serious expression. Behind her was another woman, less muscular but taller, with penetrating green eyes. Lastly, a man of medium height, so thin he looked scholarly, with a fire aura clearly emanating from him.

Right behind the three were Lansha and Quirio, both with light looks toward Alm and Bruno.

The two sighed, understanding exactly who the three were. When they recovered the memories of all the cultivators, everything became clear; now that everyone was stabilized, these three had digested everything and knew the truth.

"You without the green skin looks pretty strange," Alm commented sarcastically to the woman with the sword on her back.

Bruno observed the three and waved: "You seem much more relaxed and stable. Did you enjoy the vacation, living carefree lives?"

The three stared at the two souls, their eyes trembling. Then, an explosive emotion overtook them.

"Mom always told me never to cry... hehehe..." Lansha murmured from the back, amused.

The first woman took a deep breath and replied: "I’m not the same as before... sorry for that. But now, I think letting emotions flow is better. It makes you feel clearer."

Langrum, Loeus, and Quitera were back. They no longer had the same bodies Alm and Bruno had seen when they brought the Nine Stars Tree into the universe. In that life, they had died and returned, living again and finally being trained by the elder.

During all that time, more than three hundred thousand years had passed inside the universe. Without the Nine Stars Tree, few divine cultivators at their peak had emerged.

So they lived many lives, some happy and peaceful, most dying of old age. Then, they were reborn, faced new challenges, and now, they were finally ready to join Alm and Bruno in this fight.

It was a bit... actually quite shocking for them to remember that they had known so intimately the divinities they worshipped and prayed to day and night in all those lives. They had fought side by side, as equals, and gone through countless trials together. But with time, these figures had grown to an unimaginable level.

But, hearing Alm’s teasing and Bruno’s calm words, they realized that, deep down, nothing had really changed. The two still trusted them as before. It was as if those lives were just an extended vacation.

Something curious happened with Langrum and Loeus. When they joined the Nine Stars Tree in this life and cultivated together, they got to know each other and quickly formed a bond. However, they rejected the idea of having children or anything of the sort. They just wanted to stay together, no matter what happened.

With the memories restored, they understood why: they had already done that enough in the past. Since they were born again, they felt the need to strive, cultivating relentlessly, as if something was warning them not to waste time.

Now, they had reunited with their only child from that time still alive: Lansha. Although they no longer had a blood relationship, it didn’t matter. They considered themselves a family and were united again.

Quitera also had a special reunion. She ran straight to Quirio, who had been her son, and the two quickly reconnected. Now, Quitera also met her daughter-in-law, Mistie, and her grandchildren, Purimu and the young boy named Nebel. The family was complete.

It wasn’t just Langrum, Loeus, and Quietra who regained their memories. Purimu remembered that he was once Sayqi and had taught the movement technique to Ruri. Meanwhile, the dwarf Diama, Zaimo’s daughter, recalled that she had been Oria and had lived through all those torturous years alongside Sesel in the past.

Among the people in the army, many recalled having interacted with the whale and his group before. Ruri was happy to speak again with Fey Fyclea, the Orc Lokar, and even that human named Thalor. They had all been good people, and she had formed a friendship with them back when she lived in the Three Extremes Sect. But in the end, they were brutally killed in the war that broke out later. (Chapter 338)

"Well, for us, only a few decades have passed. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later," Bruno said calmly, and everyone nodded.

Ruri joined the group. So, all 50,000 cultivators went through the tribulation together, reaching the Divine Emperor Realm.

Luckily, in that inner universe, they could meditate at the roots of the Chaos Tree; which represented the pillar of the Primordial Chaos. They also had a teacher who could answer any question and teach everything. Their understanding of the heavenly laws and everything they needed to advance was fully available.

A few days later, a small gathering was organized on Pristine Planet. Everyone who had lived with the whale gathered there to celebrate Meru’s birthday. She loved hearing the conversations and the stories of her parents’ past.

After many hours, Sohum rushed in with a tense expression. Meru stared at him with a cold look: "You idiot, you even forgot my birthday? If you hadn’t remembered, I’d never talk to you again."

He heard her, made a desperate expression, and blushed as he apologized. Sohum was a thin and somewhat short boy. He had Almin’s physical traits, but his mother’s eyes.

As soon as Alm and Bruno gave him the Dao of the Forging God and all the knowledge about the artifacts he’d been studying in the past, he turned into a maniac and spent the entire day in a forge.

Lyra often had to drag him out of there by force to interact with the world, but if Meru was around, just her presence would make him easily follow her and do whatever she wanted.

Meru always felt very comfortable by his side; they were true childhood friends. Ruri and Lyra smiled as they watched the two interact. However, Sohum, looking at Meru, noticed something different.

"Whatever... I think I understand you a bit now," Meru said after throwing a little tantrum. She finally felt the same drive he did: an intense desire to dedicate herself completely to something.

Ruri approached Alm and Bruno, glowing. Her daughter had grown a lot during the months she spent traveling with her father.

Later, a long night of conversations took place between Langrum, Loeus, and Quitera. After recovering all their memories, their old names became official again. They discussed everything they had lived in the divine world until that moment.

***

After the party, Sohum received detailed information about the artifact, and, as usual, locked himself away again to study without rest.

Time passed, and, months later, a new tribulation occurred in the inner universe.

Alm and Bruno moved excitedly until they saw Almin and Lyra around a ten-meter cauldron with the lid open. A poisonous and exhausting smell spread all around.

They quickly realized that this wasn’t just a simple tribulation, but a furious celestial annihilation. The heavenly laws wouldn’t allow it to appear in the world.

They couldn’t use the tree to interrupt the process, or it would become something completely out of control. Almin and Lyra faced the annihilation together, without external support.

Lyra was covered in primordial flames from the fire phoenix. She might not be powerful in combat, but her control over the flames was unmatched.

Almin, on the other hand, had given up on completing his Dao to become a deity. He combined immortal fire laws with his techniques, creating a devastating offensive power that he channeled through his pills.

After several hours of fighting, Almin passed out, his body completely blackened and burned by the annihilation. Lyra was panting and kneeling, unable to move, with no bloodline or power left.

Langrum appeared from afar, grunting, as if the heavens had sent a call to her. Approaching, she placed both bodies on her shoulders and took them away. Some things, indeed, never changed.

Meanwhile, Alm and Bruno observed the 17 newly created Pills of Heavenly Poison.

"All... all with twelve rings... Unmatched Pills of twelve rings. This should be impossible, right? Only one pill of this absolute max level should exist at a time," Bruno murmured.

Alm nodded. "It’s no wonder a celestial annihilation occurred. This cauldron can create these pills at will, without restrictions. But the alchemist must survive the karma generated."

Those were the absolute peak that a pill could reach. Now, Almin and Lyra, using the cauldron and the Dao of the Alchemist God at their max level, had officially surpassed that God. And they weren’t even using five percent of the cauldron’s total capacity.

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With these pills, their generals would have a formidable strategic weapon. Ruri approached while Yinou analyzed one of those pills.

"She said that if she were at her peak and caught by surprise by this, she’d probably have to abandon her body in despair. Even a divine soul would be destroyed in two seconds."

Ruri confirmed with Yinou and grabbed one of the pills, excited. Meru ran over and also took one. After all, she had also become a general and was forming her soldiers with the new generation of the universe.

After everyone received their pills, Alm and Bruno turned their attention to the two immortal bodies. In the underworld, the whale’s eyes opened.

They activated the tattoos to the max and removed all Qi from the immortal bodies. Now, with no poison, everything in them was intact and ready to be used. In immortal bodies of this level, besides the core and meridians, every cell contained a portion of Qi. In total, an astonishing amount of Qi existed in the two.

The whale absorbed everything like a bottomless pit...

Two hours later...

Bruno murmured, tense: "Our world is going to collapse soon..."

"STOP CURSING, YOU BASTARD!" Alm roared.

But they were both too excited. They used 100% of the Qi from the two bodies and directly broke through to the ninth level of the Divine Emperor Realm!