A tremendous roar echoed faintly in my mind, growing louder and louder. The thirteen massive pillars surrounding us emitted streams of black light, quickly weaving together into a bizarre shape.
"Please confirm, Ethan Zhang. State your opinion."
A deep, resonant voice sounded in my mind. I nodded.
Now, the black beams shot toward us. I immediately opened my eyes. Everything before me was so unsettling that I simply stood quietly in midair. Below, five figures sat—along with myself. Behind me, Sylvia Blue and Heavenly Soul stood silently, watching from the side.
This unprecedented sensation—it was like standing high above, looking down at everything below. And I could see it all with perfect clarity.
Suddenly, I returned to my own body. That out-of-body feeling just now—what was it, really?
"That's enough, Ethan Zhang. You will be tasked with contacting the Infernal Judges. The five of us will work together to send your message to the Underworld."
I stared in shock, eyes wide.
"Only you can do this, Ethan. You possess the primal instinct of possibility—coexistence."
I made a sound of agreement. At that moment, Sylvia Blue came bouncing over.
"Do you need my help?"
Old Cat glanced at Sylvia Blue, his smile tinged with bitterness.
"Indeed, if you helped, things might be easier. But none of us wish for you to disrupt everything in this era. Last time, your battle with Tan Tian nearly destroyed this darkness. Young lady, could you simply watch quietly?"
Sylvia Blue pouted in boredom and sat down a bit farther away.
"Remember, Ethan Zhang, no matter what you see, do not think. Let your intent pierce through this darkness; it is extremely difficult to reach the Underworld Court. You must keep your thoughts and consciousness stable. It is best if you think of nothing at all."
Loraine Locke spoke as I sat down among the five of them. Gradually, the darkness emanating from their bodies enveloped me, and my consciousness began to blur.
The moment I regained clarity, my eyes widened. All around me were dazzling stars, and beneath my feet, countless creatures of every kind converged. My consciousness felt completely saturated, on the verge of exploding—a relentless, agonizing sensation assaulted my mind.
Everything around me kept changing—life emerging, plants growing, the sun rising, the moon ascending. Every scene shifted ceaselessly at my periphery, a dizzying spectacle I could barely keep up with. I had no idea where I was headed, or even who I truly was.
Pain forced me to cry out, my eyes wide. Mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans, fertile earth, the chirping of insects and birds, the evolution of all living things—these processes flashed rapidly through my mind.
The universe, stars, the earth—I was nearly at my limit. Heaven and earth split open, mutations erupted, everything descended into utter chaos, and I found myself gazing down from the fissure where the world was first born.