The comments said I was deeply affectionate, I just added points by using an alternate account.

The soft rain of light cast by the broad scythe gradually faded, and the countless tiny specks of light floating in the surrounding air disappeared completely into the dim atmosphere.

The mournful cries and vicious whispers that had been hovering at the top fell into complete silence.

The black river that has surged for countless years is rapidly shedding its turbid impurities and becoming crystal clear.

It eventually turned into a large swath of gray mist that drifted away in this vast underground cavity.

The solitary throne still hovered atop the dilapidated altar, but the thick resentment that had clung to it had mostly faded, and its outline appeared somewhat ethereal and flimsy in the dim light.

A sigh echoed softly deep within Chen Guan's consciousness.

The voice no longer carried the urgent, seductive quality of before; only a sense of loss, as if it had endured a long period of time, remained.

"You'll come back sooner or later."

The sound echoed softly in the empty space of consciousness.

"This is your destined fate."

Chen Guan stood quietly in place, holding the heavy scythe in his hand. He did not turn his head to look at the chair that symbolized supreme power, but simply lowered his eyes and spoke to the air in front of him.

"People have tried to persuade me with similar words before."

His calm voice carried across the empty altar.

"But I just don't believe in fate."

If he truly believed in those vague and illusory arrangements of fate, he would probably still be in some remote corner, an unknown student, envying the chosen ones.

This is the fate of "Chen Guan".

If he had truly surrendered to fate, he should now be exactly like his original self, whom he had carefully hidden in the coffin, closing his eyes and falling into eternal darkness and slumber.

This is the fate of the "self".

Unknown to anyone in this world, and leaving no trace of itself in the long river of history.

But he insisted on going against those established rules.

It was also thanks to this stubbornness that they wouldn't turn back until they hit a wall.

Only then could he wield weapons and fight his way to where he is today, only then could he personally experience those life-and-death battles as Chen Guan, and get to know those vibrant lives who are now standing anxiously waiting for him on the black riverbank.

He silently chewed over the word "throne" on the tip of his tongue.

The allure of a mighty force capable of crushing everything with a mere wave of the hand, and the exhilarating feeling of leaping across social classes in one step, are enough to make one lose their mind.

But he knew better than anyone what lay behind this gift: a profound suffering and an endless, dark prison that had lasted for countless millennia.

He raised his head again and turned his gaze forward, past the fading shadows around the altar, looking directly in the direction he had come from.

Having come incredibly close to godhood, that position didn't hold much appeal for him.

Even if he ever needs to take that position in the future, he will fight his way up with the scythe in his hand.

Stand shoulder to shoulder with the original body, at the pinnacle.

I don't need any gifts from dubious sources.

Chen Guan silently said to himself.

The ancient voice sensed the unwavering resolve in his mind and stopped trying to argue. It simply repeated itself one last time in that prophetic tone.

You will come back.

This time, her voice was so weak it seemed it could stop at any moment.

As the last syllable faded away, the dilapidated altar and the illusory, flimsy throne that had been suspended in mid-air finally dissipated into countless tiny fragments of light under Chen Guan's gaze, completely vanishing into this underground space.

With the complete disappearance of the divine throne, this underground space underwent a dramatic transformation.

The ground beneath his feet transformed back into that familiar, wide, ancient passageway paved with dark blue-green stone slabs.

The enormous scythe tightly gripped in Chen Guan's hand also transformed into dark golden specks of light that scattered in the air. He could imprison those souls, and naturally, he could also release them.

"Who are you?"

Chen Guan asked the air, but received no response.

The voice of unknown origin seemed to have vanished along with the throne.

Everything before them looked no different from the outside world, like an ordinary ruin.

However, for Chen Guan, many questions arose.

He strode forward, stepping on the hard stone slabs, toward the faint light that awaited him.

Since things have come to this, it's best to leave first. With Chen Guan's current strength, he really doesn't dare to venture into deeper places.

Because he has a true backer, how could he easily take risks?

The riverbank in the distance.

When the black river that had separated the two banks in front of everyone completely dried up and disappeared, the heavy sorrow that had weighed on everyone's hearts also vanished completely.

"it's over?"

Looking at the restored bluestone passage ahead, Hongyuan muttered something to herself with some uncertainty.

Her hand, gripping the handle of the giant axe tightly, was already completely soaked with warm sweat.

Su Yuehe stared intently at the dark exit of the passage, anxiously waiting for the familiar figure to reappear.

"He succeeded."

Yin Chen crossed his arms in front of his chest, his posture seemingly having regained its former composure, but his eyes were filled with undisguised amazement.

He had just witnessed a clash of wills that spanned countless years, and the one who ultimately stood victorious was none other than his comrade.

Long Ao pursed his lips and didn't reply, but silently lowered the weapon he was holding from a highly alert position by a few inches.

His back muscles, which had been taut to the limit, relaxed slightly, but his gaze remained firmly fixed on the dark depths ahead.

A clear sound of footsteps, the soles of shoes scraping against the stone slabs, came from the deepest part of the passage, the rhythm sounding unhurried.

That familiar, tall figure finally emerged from the darkness, reappearing unharmed in the center of everyone's view.

His clothes were exactly the same as when he walked in, and his expression remained calm and composed.

It was as if the enormous upheaval that had just occurred, enough to overturn the entire ancient site, was nothing more than an ordinary after-dinner stroll to him.

But everyone standing here knows very well that some unseen and intangible things have undergone earth-shattering changes.

An Changqing watched the coffin stride towards them, and the heart that had been hanging high in his throat finally settled back into his stomach at this moment.

He took two steps forward towards Chen Guan and stopped when he was only one step away from him.

He raised his arm and solemnly extended his right hand towards the coffin.

Welcome back.

An Changqing's voice was gentle yet powerful, each word resonating clearly in the spacious underground space, carrying a full sense of acceptance and unreserved sincerity.

Chen Guan's gaze first fell on An Changqing's outstretched, broad hand, then he raised his eyelids to look at the gentle smile on the other's face, and finally his gaze swept over the different concerned faces of his companions behind him.

He stood there in silence for a moment, then raised his right arm and reached out to firmly grasp An Changqing's hand.

"Um."

A simple syllable escaped his lips.