Silver’s giant hand clenched, and the rocks that bound the demonic sword shattered into powder, scattering across the sky. A singular force gathered within his palm, and the Demonic Sword Ten-Thousand-Eyed God King let out a comfortable moan.

“But I still have many doubts, ” Yin said, his tone full of curiosity. “Why is the place called the Moon Realm, recorded in this book, so similar to where we are? All-Seeing Eye God-Emperor, is the human world described in the book what this world looked like before? “

{Of course it is, because I possess the knowledge to resurrect people! So this place has become the Moon Realm where everyone can be reborn. Isn’t that wonderful? }

Yin remained noncommittal toward the All-Seeing Eye God-Emperor-sword’s reply, but he was still satisfied with obtaining an answer to one question.

{Great and Honorable Sage, please help me deal with this human in front of you. He wants to rule this world and seize the statues and books you guard behind you. }

Yang Zicang squinted, watching the tangible, piercing gaze cast down from above.

Yin’s voice rumbled like thunder: “Answer my questions. If you get them all right, I will grant you the ending you desire. “

Before Yang Zicang could speak, the demon sword eagerly and obsequiously chimed in, {Please, go ahead, Messenger. }

“Question one: Did Lin Feng really exist? “

Yin’s invisible pressure locked onto both the demon sword and Yang Zicang.

{The story in the novel is fiction, but that world truly existed once, only to be destroyed. }

The broken shards of the demon sword clattered as they trembled and recounted, giving Yang Zicang no chance to interject:

{Well, a novel’s tale is, of course, made up! }

{But! The framework of that world is a real world, and our world is simply one of its human continents! }

Two trembling broken sword fragments spoke these words almost in unison.

Yang Zicang, who had originally intended to speak, stopped. So this is how it is, he thought. It turned out that the real alien world was just like the Track of Fate.

{As for Lin Feng himself… maybe there was some sort of prototype? As far as I know, there is a mysterious existence called the ‘Publisher’—they are formidable! They distribute stories about elites that influence the human world, but they all drastically rewrite the stories, only keeping the core plot similar. As for this book, it’s probably that kind of thing! Just look at the title, ‘Elite Special Agent,’ how cliché. I’m sure this novel is exactly that sort of thing. }

Having even learned something he had no knowledge of, Emissary Yin’s expression seemed to soften slightly, revealing a trace of satisfaction.

Even though Yang Zicang and the Temple Keeper, who was trembling on the ground, could only see its cliff-like jaw and its two cave-like nostrils.

“Very good. I pledge to repair your body and make you whole again. Now, question two: Why does our world contain humans without any remains, and remains without any humans? “

The demon sword’s broken blade buzzed with an excited hum.

{Because the skeletal world here was created by me! } it declared loudly: {How many people wish to live forever! I have fulfilled this vast and boundless desire. This is the very ladder I am ascending to the divine throne! }

“Becoming a god? ” Emissary Yin’s tone was filled with doubt.

“Is that your goal! ” Yang Zicang’s voice turned as cold as ice, his eyes instantly filling with hatred as he said, “But you’re wrong—utterly, ridiculously wrong. “

“First, ” Yang Zicang raised a finger, his voice piercing the clouds as he met the nearly tangible pressure of the gaze bearing down on him.

“Lin Feng isn’t fictional. “

Silver’s mountain-like body jolted violently, his massive hand holding the crystal book unconsciously tightening!

“Wh-What? “

“Elite Agentisn’t a novel, not a story. Otherwise, how could you have been born with such power just from reading it? “

The frozen air in the courtyard spread like a lake struck by a massive stone—invisible ripples twisting and expanding outwards!

Yang Zicang continued:

“It’s a transcription of a ‘memoir’ recorded by Hong Haocheng through some unimaginable means. That was a real realm—or one that once existed. It was the life that a man named Lin Feng experienced. And that being was a saint! “

Silver’s heaven-dominating body shook violently, as if struck by an invisible hammer.

“But our world’s current form evolved from humans, didn’t it? It’s not that moonlight realm with no sunlight, only a full moon, described in the book! “

The demonic sword’s broken blade hummed excitedly as it roared: {I told you, that’s just a novel—it’s fake! Don’t let him fool you! }

“Second! “

Yang Zicang’s figure stood rooted to the ground like a pillar of rock, not shifting a single step despite the swaying energy of heaven and earth. His voice rang out even louder, like a booming bell proclaiming the truth:

“Elite Agentsis not only not a novel, not a story! It is someone’s adaptation of the ‘Saint’s Memoir’! The stories and the world recorded in that memoir should all come from polishing and revisions, like an adaptation of true literature. The events recorded in it are essentially free of errors!“

Boom!

It was as if an invisible mental nuclear explosion had detonated in the center of the courtyard!

{Impossible! Lies!! }

The Demonic Sword shrieked frantically in Yin’s palm, trying to awaken its trembling will,

{Lord Envoy, how many tens of thousands of years has our world existed? Don’t you know? Don’t let this guy deceive you with just a few words just because he is the so-called ‘Undying King.’ You are truly wicked! }

Another fragment of the Demonic Sword howled at Young Master Cang below:

{A bug that merely survived from the last continent, yet dares to impersonate a Saint in our world! You deserve a thousand cuts! Quickly apologize to the Envoy Lord; otherwise, today will surely be your death day! And I won’t even give you the chance to resurrect as a Bone Spirit! }

“But why is it that I can instead feel the presence of the ‘Truth Word’ on the ‘Undying King’?“

The world fell silent for a single second amid these thunderous words.

“Indeed, this is the second question I wanted to ask. How can this be true?“

{Y-You, what did you say? } The magic sword was stunned, {What is this ｛Truth-word｝? }

Yang Zicang was taken aback, then immediately thought of the refined mental force field on theKarl.

He glanced again at the vast courtyard now expanded by the giant Silver Emissary, and realization struck: this place must be a refined mental force field akin to a｛reality manifestation｝—born from Silver Emissary’s might, condensing pure will into true presence!

So, could a refined mental field, constructed by someone of such power, actually detect the emotional fluctuations of an intruder?

This was simply a spiritual spotlight!

Yang Zicang reined in his thoughts without effort, suppressing any suspicion, fear, admiration, awkwardness… closing them off one by one.

“So the“Undying King “actually knows of the realm I now stand in? “

As Yang Zicang’s emotions wavered, billowing voice and flying dust roared down again from above the hall.

Awkward.

Just as he suspected…

Even if Emissary Silver hadn’t grasped the existence of the aether characteristic, he could no longer fail to sense those mood spikes through those openly branded emotions.

Yang Zicang allowed a hint of hesitation to slip into his tone:

“Yeah, it’s just a tidbit of intel. In our world, anyone with half-decent reconnaissance skills would’ve stumbled upon knowledge about it. But with the demon blade around, I can only say this much. “

{What do you mean by that! The Emissary—he’s trying to provoke a rift! Do not let him speak again! }

“Hmph. Provoking a rift? Actually I just don’t want to teach you too much sense, you damned mongrel who turned this world into a raging inferno. “

“The two of you, cease this bickering. It’s strange indeed—you have been speaking of ｛Truth-word｝ throughout. How can it be that you are never—never—lying! “

The Envoy’s body now began to shudder; his massive projection/will-framework, after a genuine descent into being, actually shrank in size—swelled then shrunk back noticeably/lost a narrow crown.

“If you are willing to return that sword to me, I will tell you the true answers to all your questions. You still have a third question, don’t you! “

“Yes… the third thing I want to know is, where is our world… “

Sensing the violent fluctuation of the Emissary’s aura, the Dark Sword shouted loudly:

{_ “Undying King, ” shut up! My Lord, do not ask any more! Please kill him quickly. What use are these words except to disturb your heart? Have the past several hundred thousand years not been fine just as they are! You started acting abnormal the moment you listened to him—how can that be good! So ignore him; from now on, we shall be the kings of this world, existing for eternity! _}

The Emissary, who had been feeling some hesitation and turmoil in his heart, upon hearing the Dark Sword’s words, immediately solidified his form a bit.

“Ah… you are right. “

Yin’s aura instantly stabilized again. He clenched his left hand, and the shattered sword let out a comfortable groan. The tiny book in his right hand was closed with a single motion, and the crystalline, radiant light on it turned into flowing sand that soared upward, leaving behind the appearance of an ordinary book like a cicada shedding its shell.

Through the perception of the “Musing Night, ” Yang Zicang confirmed that this was a psionic force field. The ordinary-looking book was the thing left behind in this world by Hong Haocheng, who had deceived Moli, while the cascading crystalline sand was the ethereal energy it had gathered from the Ether World through reading.

Yang Zicang suddenly realized—could those glistening things be “Virtual Ether Crystals “?

……

The crystals rapidly surged into the left hand of Emissary Yin, and the aura of the demonic sword instantly swelled, as they continuously merged into and repaired the blade.

Yang Zicang jolted and shouted, “Stop! Don’t repair it!“

The demonic sword trembled in shock, feeling its power surge in some way, as if vaguely brushing against an unknown world.

{Realize your mistake now? Hah, too late! } it boasted wildly.

The giant also ignored Yang Zicang’s shouts—its priority had already shifted from curiosity to resisting the influx of unwelcome new knowledge.

“Don’t use up the things in your hand!” Yang Zicang stretched out and cried loudly, “The crystals in your hand are immeasurably precious. Using them to mend that sword is a sheer waste of a treasure!“

The demonic sword erupted in fury.

{How dare you slander me like that! You bastard, once I raise my power, I’ll chop you into a thousand pieces! }

Yet Emissary Yin shuddered slightly. “You even know what it is?“

{That’s a kind of crystal induced by a singular will from another pure energy dimension! Don’t think it’s common just because you possess some. It’s an incredibly rare thing—even if you want to acquire more later, you won’t be able to. Not unless you read books for hundreds of thousands of years. }

The emissary’s body shook abruptly.

The magic sword roared in exasperation, {Ahh, “Undying King, ” you bastard! Master, are you going to become his slave? A mere liar, with just a few words has managed to spin the messenger in circles! Next, he will surely have you destroy me, so that no one can bring you back to your senses! }

The messenger sensed the abnormal shifts in the energy of his body and surrounding environment caused by these words, and he felt that the magic sword’s argument indeed made sense.

But the lingering thirst for knowledge still compelled him to ask despite it all.

“Then you both answer me—this world is neither the one from the memoirs, yet it resembles it. What exactly is the reason for this? “

{Because this is a new Track of Fate! } the magic sword cried out impatiently.

“Because this is a completely fake world! ” Yang Zicang also replied in a loud voice.

The messenger involuntarily stepped back, nearly tripping over the expanded courtyard wall.

“What, both of your words are true? Is this the same meaning? This world is fake? “

{It’s not fake! } the magic sword barked furiously, {He’s twisting the concept—the evolved world is also real! It’s a new world’s fate evolved by the masters of the Old World through immense hardship, channeling the power of the Five Elements and aligning with Old World history! It’s not false! }

If the magic sword had feet, it would have certainly jumped up.

“Who said I was talking about the Track of Fate? ” Yang Zicang said calmly. “I merely meant your world is fake. “

The magic sword was stunned for a moment.

“N-No… impossible… ” Yin’s voice suddenly trembled as he tried to refute, “If what you said is true… then this place… “

Suddenly, the Demon Sword exclaimed in excitement: {I understand now, Master! That guy must be hypnotizing himself, strongly suggesting to himself to believe his own nonsense is real, thus deceiving your observation! Quickly kill him; he’s trying to destroy your perception of the world, undermining the source of your willpower from the very foundation! }

“Hypnosis! “

Yin abruptly raised his head as the dissipating power within his body instantly restored. He felt as if he had found the answer to the problem and let out an enraged laugh: “Well done, ‘Undying King.’ Using nothing but a cheap trick, you nearly shattered my worldview. You’re far too wicked—even worse than a false god! “

Boom!

The energy within Yin erupted like a torrent of floodwaters, carrying the force to annihilate heaven and earth, and he struck down with a single fist.

“…DIE! “

On the ground beside Yang Zicang, the Temple Keeper felt a terror of utter despair from this punch. Yang Zicang sighed; he himself would not die no matter what, but if the one beside him perished, everything would indeed be reduced to zero.

The instant before the fist descended, the Temple Keeper’s bones trembled as he curled up and covered his head, no longer harboring the slightest shred of fortune in his heart.

And at that very same moment, suddenly, a slightly low-pitched thought-voice resonated within his mind.

｛You have received the “Void Zero Sequence ” investment of 100,000 N from the ‘Undying King’.｝

His eye sockets instantly widened.

｛This truly has been… an eternity… Ahhh!｝

Space suddenly converged, drawing out threads of minute radiance!

Boom… rumble…!

The earth churned, rocks flew, as if doomsday had descended upon the world.

Smoke and dust filled the sky, spreading far like the ash fall of an erupting volcano.

The rolling echoes expanded and returned several times before gradually settling down. Witnessing the might of that single punch, the Demonic Sword strained against itself, vibrating as it shifted its massive form.

{Lord! Truly worthy of a Lord! That imposter pretending to be the Saint, he won’t be strutting about this time. }

“Hmm. ” The thunderous, rumbling voice boomed across the land:

“Thank you. I suddenly understood the meaning of life just now. Yes, in the face of living, all this pursuit of knowledge, all this wisdom, is illusory and false. “

Within the darkened dust, a gale suddenly reversed direction. This happened as the Giant Emissary withdrew his arm, creating a void in air pressure.

“You’re called All-Seeing Eye Blade, right? From now on, you belong to me. “

{Yes my lord… }

Suddenly, the voice of the All-Seeing Eye Blade caught in its throat.

“Hmm? “

Sensing the change in the Demon Sword, Emissary Yin let out an odd grunt of inquiry.

“Third,” came a familiar voice, hazy yet stubbornly resolute, drifting up through the swirling dust below.

“This psychic field world has nothing to do with the ‘Lin Feng World’ you imagined! Everything here originates from my ‘Post-Herald,’ from my ‘Request’ to the real world, from a single evolution! “

{W-What, what! } The demonic sword screeched wildly.

Whoosh! A gale erupted from the giant’s mouth, the sky-filling dust instantly torn apart by the wind. On the patch of ground below where the dust had fled, the figure of the ‘Undying King’ stood tall, arms crossed, calmly looking up at the startled visage looming in the sky above.

“Unscathed… not a single scratch?! “

He saw with stark clarity that not only was the ‘Undying King’ unharmed, but even the skeleton beside him remained without any trace of injury, kneeling on one hand and propping itself up like a monument, looking up!