Lan stood beneath the Divine Grace Puppet as stone demons, each thirty to forty meters tall, emerged from the ground across the entire Island of Mist.

Ritual arrays spread out from the central castle, forming a domain barrier that enveloped the Island of Mist.

But this thin layer of barrier brought no sense of security at this moment.

Everyone from the Temple of Truth gazed at the shadow that seemed to stretch endlessly into the clouds. Even the bravest and most fearless among them could only feel their own insignificance and powerlessness in this moment.

The temple tutors could barely muster the words to mobilize for battle, for it felt like insects swinging their fists at a giant – meaningless and laughable.

All eyes turned to Sage Lan, hoping he could once again create a miracle.

Lan looked at this mythical monster.

He thought of his teacher Sandean, of Haru, of Anhofus.

The appearance of this monster was intricately tied to the lineage of their inheritance.

One could even say directly:

It was their knowledge and legacy that brought this monster into this world.

He recalled the words his teacher had spoken many years ago, when this temple was first established.

“Hesitation and doubt won’t bring the future.”

“Each generation must do what is meant for their time. What our generation should do is pass on the knowledge bestowed by God and the ideals of the saints to everyone.”

“If one day my actions truly bring disaster, I believe that era will also have more people who have benefited from the knowledge and ideals I’ve imparted, who will stand up to save us from that calamity.”

His teacher Sandean had ignited the torch of knowledge and power, bringing the power of rituals from the realm of God to the mortal world.

He had elevated the power of priests from the second level to third-level Seal Priests and fourth-level God’s Grace Priests, finally ushering in the eve of mythical power’s descent.

He had never before doubted that this was a good thing.

But now, he felt somewhat lost.

“Teacher,” he whispered, “can our generation truly save us from this disaster?”

A million thoughts flashed through his mind, but in the end, he said: “Should I call you the Little Person in the Bottle, or… Anhofus?”

The mythical shadow spread its arms, as if embracing the sea of clouds and the entire world: “You should address me as the God of Knowledge, Lan,” it proclaimed.

The second-generation Sage of Truth couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this, as if mocking a child.

“You are not a god.”

“What kind of god are you, just a pitiful bug trapped in a bottle.”

“You originate from the Art of God’s Grace left by my teacher, from Haru’s demons, from Anhofus’s mad fantasies.”

“But in the end, you’re just an artificially created monster.”

Lan tore away the veil of truth without hesitation, exposing the lie that the Little Person in the Bottle was created by Yinsai.

Hearing Lan mock him so, the Little Person in the Bottle lowered its head in fury.

A terrifying storm swept over the Island of Mist, eroding inward.

In an instant, the barrier enveloping the Island of Mist collapsed.

The third-level stone demons maintaining the barrier and other stone demons crumbled and died one after another.

“But they’re all dead now.”

“Those who cannot exist eternally are just insignificant weaklings.”

“Lowly mortals.”

“While I can continue to exist.”

“I will exist forever.”

Lan rose to face it, confronting the power of the Little Person in the Bottle.

The hundred-meter-tall Divine Grace Puppet stood with him amidst the storm, clashing with the power of that mythical shadow.

“No!”

“My teacher Sandean lives on forever, living in the body of every Trilobite Man, living in every person who has walked out of the Temple of Truth.”

The Little Person in the Bottle let out a contemptuous laugh: “What is this? Self-deception?”

Lan looked at the evil eyes of the Little Person in the Bottle high above within the black hurricane: “We are human. Mythical monsters like you will never understand our thoughts.”

The Little Person in the Bottle spoke disdainfully: “I am a lofty god, I need not understand the petty and weak emotions of mortals.”

Having said this, the Little Person in the Bottle changed its tone.

“If you’re trying to buy time, it’s useless.”

“Blood Plague can’t make it in time. He’s still entangled with my servant in Stan City.”

“As for your student Vivien.”

“I’m curious, will she choose to save the lives of so many people in Stan City and her sister first, or will she recklessly come to rescue her teacher?”

As the Little Person in the Bottle said this, its voice was full of amusement and pleasure.

Showcasing its evil taste for toying with human hearts.

Hearing the Little Person in the Bottle mention Vivien, the slight hesitation in Lan’s heart suddenly settled.

A smile appeared on his face. This student of his had always done very well, never disappointing him.

“I believe she will make the right choice.”

The Little Person in the Bottle was equally curious: “Oh?”

“Really?”

“Then let’s wait and see. Perhaps before long, I’ll be able to see that look of despair in her eyes.”

As the Little Person in the Bottle said this, it suddenly recalled that figure from Cross City years ago.

That look of despair and ignorance.

“I also look forward to seeing what kind of choice she can make.”

“Hahahahaha!”

“That’s right.”

“Just that feeling, it’s truly wonderful.”

At this moment, the Divine Grace Puppet behind Lan moved, erupting with the radiance of three divine technique imprints, converging into a long rainbow that surged towards the Little Person in the Bottle.

Lan knew with grim certainty that his death was inevitable.

He no longer tried to buy time, knowing that doing so would only play into the Little Person in the Bottle’s schemes.

Based on what the Little Person in the Bottle had just said, he had deduced that Blood Plague must have been held up in Stan City. If Vivien chose to come save him, the most tragic scene would likely unfold.

If that happened, Vivien would simultaneously lose her teacher Lan and her sister Anli, while indirectly causing the deaths of everyone in Stan City.

Suffering such a blow, Vivien would surely collapse completely.

It would be just like what happened to Lester years ago.

The Little Person in the Bottle not only wanted to destroy the holy land in the hearts of all priests, but also wanted to crush the spirit of Demon-Hunting Group Captain Vivien, turning her into a toy like Lester.

Lan could not allow this to happen.

Vivien’s relationship with Lester was currently the only pivot maintaining the alliance between the Temple of Truth and Blood Plague, and also their greatest power in opposing the Little Person in the Bottle.

If something happened to Vivien, it would be an unimaginable disaster for the Trilobite Men.

Little Person in the Bottle: “Oh!”

“You’re in a hurry? Is it because of that student of yours?”

It stretched out its hand, and colorful light flowed forth.

As if a giant reaching down to press back a leaping child, or forcing a struggling beast back into its cage.

But Lan unleashed all his power without hesitation, colliding with the Little Person in the Bottle’s Light of Original Sin.

“Heh~”

“Are you seeking death?”

Even though Lan knew he was facing certain doom, he didn’t retreat in the slightest.

The unique mental power field, a fusion of three forces, neutralized most of the Light of Original Sin. A crystalline giant shield emerged, shattering the storm as it soared skyward.

From afar, it was a breathtaking sight: a colossal figure, a hundred meters tall, charging into the heavens to challenge the mythical monster that stood between earth and sky.

A hero daring to defy a god.

“I believe she will make the right choice. The Temple of Truth has never been just a building, nor any single person.”

“As long as the will of the saints persists, the Temple of Truth will continue to exist in this world.”

“Little Person in the Bottle, Anhofus, your scheme will not succeed.”

“I believe that she, who has inherited the will of the saints and my ideals, will certainly be able to do it.”

“One day, my student will set foot on the Sacred Mountain.”

Light burst forth in Lan’s eyes: “She will completely eradicate you, this artificially created monster, from this world, and correct the mistakes of Haru and Anhofus back onto the right path.”

Little Person in the Bottle: “You think you lowly mortals can do that?”

“Always speaking such self-deceptive words, but unfortunately, these grand statements will never come true.”

Lan continuously broke through the power of the Light of Original Sin and the storm, gradually reaching the edge of the Little Person in the Bottle’s enclosure.

That is, the bottle-shaped barrier.

Lan instantly dispersed his Divine Grace Puppet, transforming it into a dense army of puppets.

The giant Divine Grace Puppet had become like a paste, directly adhering to the barrier.

“Explode!”

All the paste-like puppets detonated at once, causing the entire barrier to violently shake.

However, one could also see that the paste-like creatures instantly disintegrated from their puppet forms, transforming into countless fragments of God’s Grace Stones.

Then, in quick succession, the God’s Grace Stones shattered, transforming into mythical blood and the power of seal imprints, both emitting a phosphorescent glow.

Lan, the world’s first and most powerful God’s Grace Priest, had directly detonated his mythical power.

This self-destructive force blasted through the barrier surrounding the Island of Mist, triggering a chain reaction.

The self-destruction of the Divine Grace Puppet caused an uproar of disbelief across the Island of Mist.

“Sage!” someone shouted, rushing out of the castle.

“Lord Lan!” Another fell to their knees, wailing in agony as if their very faith had crumbled.

“The power of God’s Grace… has dispersed?”

Inside the castle, many tutors who had long been prepared couldn’t spare a moment to grieve for Lan’s eternal rest. They immediately shouted:

“Now’s our chance!”

“Quickly, escape if you can, every single one of you!”

Flocks of Wing Demons took to the sky, each carrying over a dozen people as they flew in different directions.

The Little Person in the Bottle was caught off guard by Lan’s desperate fighting from the start, unable to comprehend why this mortal would rush so recklessly to his death.

Such self-sacrificing actions were never part of the Little Person in the Bottle’s considerations. The very thought made it want to laugh.

“Heh~”

“Foolish mortal, do you think this will change anything?”

“Everyone… must die.”

As the barrier shattered, the Little Person in the Bottle immediately unleashed waves of the Light of Original Sin.

The terrifying light covered the Island of Mist, with countless beams chasing after the fleeing Wing Demons.

This battle had been without suspense from the very beginning. The Little Person in the Bottle’s power had transcended mortal limits, a power that could truly be called mythical.

Lan’s self-destruction had broken through the barrier set by the Little Person in the Bottle, but he perished in the process.

Everyone left on the Island of Mist had their divine blood drained under the Light of Original Sin, transforming into dazed spirits.

Most of the escaping Wing Demons were pierced by the Light of Original Sin and fell from the sky.

Only a few scattered ones carrying people managed to surge towards the distance, disappearing over the sea.

The mythical shadow retracted the Light of Original Sin, once again becoming a pillar of light standing between sea and sky.

The once bustling and lively island fell into an eerie silence in an instant.

Except for Lan, who had managed some resistance, no one on the Island of Mist could enter the Little Person in the Bottle’s eyes. The battle ended the moment Lan died, concluding in that instant when the Light of Original Sin erupted.

“Boring.”

The Little Person in the Bottle had been hoping to see some more exciting scenes.

Unexpectedly, it all ended in the blink of an eye, which was indeed extremely dull for it.

After Lan’s self-destruction, the fourth-level God’s Grace power dissipated, but the divine blood remained.

Although the divine blood dispersed into light dust in the air, the Little Person in the Bottle still managed to collect most of it.

However, the Little Person in the Bottle couldn’t find Lan’s memory carrier. It seemed Lan had deliberately released this part before his death, and it should have returned to the dream realm by now.

“Boring! Boring! Boring!”

There was a hint of irritation in the Little Person in the Bottle’s voice. Killing and fighting weren’t things it found interesting; toying with others was what it enjoyed most.

The Little Person in the Bottle had wanted to turn Lan into its prized collection, to take back to the Sacred Mountain.

Just like Anhofus.

The Light of Original Sin of the Little Person in the Bottle was truly evil to the extreme. It could turn people into spirits, preventing them from ever returning to the dream realm.

According to mortal understanding, these people were already dead.

But from another perspective, these people had merely transformed from one form of life to another.

Therefore, before the spirits dissipated, they couldn’t return to the sea of stars in the dream realm.

At the edge of the island, the sound of rolling wheels came from the black mist. A person with only half a body left, clinging to life, lay in a wheelchair, observing everything on the Island of Mist.

It was Xiao, Lan’s student.

Xiao’s gaze swept across everything on the Island of Mist, his eyes revealing nothing.

It was as if even his teacher couldn’t see through his eyes to know what he was truly thinking.

The voice of the Little Person in the Bottle came down from above: “Your teacher is dead. Aren’t you sad?”

Xiao: “Every person’s life is a story, and everyone born into this world has a reason for their existence.”

“It’s just that some people’s stories are like repetitive clichés, no one wants to remember them.”

“Some meanings are like autumn winds brushing over water, leaving only the faintest trace.”

“But my teacher, the second-generation Sage of the Temple of Truth, the strongest among the Trilobite Men, Lan.”

“His life has already reached the pinnacle of glory, his life’s meaning has been endowed with more than enough.”

“To be able to exit the stage like this.”

Xiao’s voice paused for a moment, then he smiled: “It’s perfect.”

The Little Person in the Bottle, Anhofus, laughed loudly: “Hahahaha!”

“Xiao!”

“You are an interesting person. I will give you everything you want.”

“You will become the new Divine Contract High Priest, given a grand enough stage.”

“I believe you will present me with the most spectacular performance.”

The power of the mythical shadow descended, and Xiao’s body began to melt continuously, but from the original spot, a strong and tall figure gradually arose.

Xiao had become a bone demon, a fourth-level bone demon.

This was his deal with the Little Person in the Bottle.

Xiao looked at his own hands. The power he had craved for a lifetime was now so easily obtained.

What he could never achieve on his own was, for some, either innate or easily attainable.

“I have finally stepped onto the stage!”

Xiao ascended the island and took away everything that could be moved. All the divine techniques treasured by the Temple of Truth, the classics and divine techniques created by generations of priests.

Especially Lan’s experimental data on another mythical path of the Wisdom Ability, and that egg hiding the unknown—

“Hiss!”

Light surged within the Wing Demon’s body as it spat out colorful saliva and let out a hiss.

The Wing Demon carried seven or eight Trilobite Men wearing Demon-Hunting Group uniforms, rushing towards Stan City at high speed.

When Vivien arrived hastily with her people at their destination, the battle between Blood Plague Stuen and the Truth High Priest had already reached its critical moment.

At this point, the Truth High Priest had withdrawn all illusions and no longer made any attempt to conceal anything.

Looking down from the sky, one could directly see the scenes within the city, rather than the bustling, prosperous illusion from before.

Vivien listened to the roaring tide and saw that most of the blood river had surged into the Door of Truth. Stuen was contending with the Truth High Priest for control over the illusory world behind the door.

Presumably, it wouldn’t be long before Stuen could break through that illusory world and release everyone’s consciousness back into reality.

But this also meant that the Truth High Priest had thoroughly entangled Blood Plague Stuen.

Before either side could determine a victor, it would be difficult for anyone to withdraw from this battle.

However, this wasn’t what Vivien wanted to see now.

She had hoped that when she arrived, the battle would already be over, and Blood Plague Stuen could go with her to rescue the imperiled Island of Mist.

From within the blood river, a blood-soaked Trilobite Man stood up.

He asked Vivien.

“Vivien, why have you come?”

After speaking, the Trilobite Man looked towards the direction of the sea.

“Has something gone wrong? I sense the aura of that demon in another location as well.”

The Wing Demon circled at low altitude as Vivien shouted to him.

“Stuen, that demon’s target is the Island of Mist. It has already descended upon the sea.”

The blood-colored shadow nodded: “I just sensed its aura appearing in the distance, but it’s too late now. I can’t withdraw from the battle.”

“Moreover, there’s an entire city of people here.”

The blood-colored shadow raised its head, looking at Vivien seriously: “Are you sure… you want to abandon them?”

At the same time, a puppet of the Truth High Priest suddenly appeared on the Door of Truth, its gaze turning to Vivien, the captain of the Demon-Hunting Group.

The Truth High Priest’s main body was still fighting and grappling with Blood Plague inside the Door of Truth, but he had managed to divide his attention to observe the outside situation.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Captain Vivien of the Demon-Hunting Group?”

“Have you come to arrest me and burn me at the stake in God-Descended City?”

By this point, Vivien’s mood had reached its lowest point. She let out a voice filled with utmost fury: “You lunatics, I will make you pay for this.”

“You won’t succeed… you won’t succeed.”

But such words only showed that Vivien had lost her composure.

Hearing this, the Truth High Priest showed no fear, instead laughing maniacally.

“Don’t be in such a hurry!”

“Captain Vivien, I can give you a choice.”

“You just need to ask me, and I can open the Door of Truth right now to let Stuen out, so he can go with you to save your teacher.”

“Maybe your teacher can hold on a little longer, just enough for you to get there and save him?”

“How about it?”

“Aren’t I kind and benevolent enough to move you?”

The Truth High Priest’s face was full of emotion: “Ah! I’ve just realized that even someone like me is full of love and justice!”

The Truth High Priest’s wild laughter echoed. Despite his humble demeanor before the “God of Knowledge,” it did nothing to mask the lunacy that defined the Ghost Cult.

“Come on! Make your choice!”

“Vivien, Captain of the Temple’s Demon-Hunting Group.”

He looked at Vivien with burning eyes, eager for her to make a choice.

“Will you kill me and save everyone in Stan City?”

“Oh! And that lovely sister of yours, Anli, the most talented priest of the Temple of Truth.”

“Or will you abandon everything to go save your teacher?”

The Truth High Priest spread his arms wide, raising them high: “The great Sage of Truth… Lan.”

He deliberately drew out the last syllable of Lan’s name.

The Truth High Priest knew the God of Knowledge’s plan and was well aware of his master’s evil nature and preferences.

He also knew that even if Blood Plague rushed over now, it would likely be too late.

The God of Knowledge had instructed him to present an interesting performance, and this was his design.

Lan wanted to buy time, but the God of Knowledge was also buying time along with him.

Would the renowned Captain Vivien of the Demon-Hunting Group choose to abandon the lives of everyone in this city and her sister to save the Island of Mist?

Or would she abandon the Island of Mist to choose her sister and this city?

Whatever choice she made would be so interesting.

This was the ultimate test and torment of a person’s heart, and exactly the kind of performance the Little Person in the Bottle enjoyed most.

Vivien stood frozen, her mind reeling from the impossible choice before her.

If she had Blood Plague Stuen withdraw from the battle immediately and rush with her to the sea, perhaps everything could still be saved.

The Temple of Truth couldn’t be lost, and she couldn’t even imagine the scene if her teacher Lan died.

For all of Yinsai and them, it would be like the sky falling.

But if she chose this path…

It would mean abandoning the lives of everyone in Stan City, including her sister Anli.

For a moment, Vivien recalled the scene of her going to study at the Temple of Truth, the excitement of being accepted as Lan’s student, the aspirations she had standing beneath the statue of the saint.

But at the same time, she also saw the image of herself pulling a cart with her sister, searching for witch doctors.

Her young sister reaching out to her, telling her how sweet the candy was.

“No!”

“No!”

“I can’t make this kind of choice.”

Vivien knew all too well that this was just a scheme of these demons before her. How could they possibly be so kind as to let her go rescue her teacher? These cultists just wanted to see her despair as she abandoned one side for the other.

Even though Vivien knew this, she couldn’t make a choice.

She considered herself a strong and rational person, but at this moment she could only stand rooted to the spot, hesitating.

Finally, she raised her hand, trembling slightly.

“Stuen.”

“I…”

The blood river surrounding the Door of Truth continued to surge, crashing against the door.

Suddenly, the shadow that emerged from the blood river looked towards the distance.

Interrupting Vivien’s next words.

“The aura of that monster over the sea has erupted with violent fluctuations, but now it’s starting to subside.”

The blood shadow looked at Vivien, speaking to her calmly.

“It’s already over, Vivien.”

Vivien’s trembling hand dropped instantly, her whole body slumping weakly. She steadied herself by holding onto the frame of the Wing Demon.

For a moment, Vivien didn’t know if she felt grief or some other emotion.

But tears kept flowing from her eyes.

She could only scream hoarsely, her eyes bloodshot as she looked at the Truth High Priest of the Ghost Cult.

“Kill him!”

“Kill him Stuen!”

The blood river rose in massive waves tens of meters high, surging upwards and directly engulfing the entire Door of Truth.

The blood shadow disappeared into the blood river, leaving only a voice: “As you wish.”

The Door of Truth erupted in brilliant light. Even now, the crazed Ghost Cult High Priest clung to the idea of resistance, hoping to drag the entire population of Stan City into oblivion with him.

But the blood river had completely surged into the Door of Truth. His strategy to lure the enemy had successfully trapped them, but it had also dragged him to his doom.

The moment Vivien made her choice, he no longer had a way out.

As the blood river completely surged into the Door of Truth, cracks immediately appeared on the giant door, continuously spreading outwards.

And the Truth High Priest, hidden behind the Door of Truth, was finally caught by Blood Plague Stuen.

As the sky gradually darkened, the battle finally approached its end.

“Evil one! Die!”

The blood river devoured the Truth High Priest, dragging his remains into its depths.

But although the Truth High Priest died, the moment the Door of Truth disappeared, it took his divine blood with it.

The giant door vanished between heaven and earth, transforming into a point of distorted light.

Even Blood Plague Stuen couldn’t retain this giant door, for it was the manifestation of the Little Person in the Bottle’s four abilities.

Immortality, Original Sin, Truth, and Divine Contract formed the entirety of the Little Person in the Bottle.

Blood Plague Stuen withdrew the blood river, disappearing into the city.

Coming and going without a trace, his shadow could only be found where evil cultists appeared.

At the same time, the Trilobite Men in Stan City who had been asleep for two or three days finally began to wake up one by one.

“I feel terrible.”

“Ugh! What’s that smell? It’s so foul.”

“Why am I lying here? Wasn’t I in the shop just now?”

The rescue workers who had been waiting outside rushed into the city, starting to assist the Trilobite Men who were in poor condition.

The Demon-Hunting Group members who had entered Stan City earlier also woke up one after another. Anli led people to the city wall where Vivien stood.

But she still didn’t know exactly what had happened, only that her sister had once again saved the entire Stan City from disaster.

“Sister. You came just in time.”

Vivien just looked into the distance, saying only one sentence.

“Let’s go to the sea.”

Although she could imagine what scene she was about to see, Vivien still held onto a glimmer of hope.

An expectation pushed to the extreme—

Dream Realm.

When Lan woke up again, he was already on a small boat.

Lan, of course, knew where this was. He looked back towards the stern of the boat, that was the mortal world.

“Vivien, Anli.”

“And… Xiao.”

He thought of his students, knowing that his departure would mark the beginning of another era, yet not knowing whose era it would be.

And who would reignite the flame of the saint’s will, illuminating all of Yinsai?

Or perhaps, the light of the saint’s will would disappear from this world forever.

He felt some reluctance, some worry.

But in the end, he chose to believe.

“My time has ended!”

“Everything… I leave to those who come after!”

The ferryman poled the boat across a void, and in the distance, the gates of God’s realm slowly opened, light streaming through the crack to form a fan shape.

The boat sailed in the light, gradually entering behind the gate.

The boat returned to the Spirit Country, and the spirit he had contracted with came to welcome him.

“You are… God’s messenger?”

Lan had eagerly anticipated this meeting, though he had never before laid eyes on this divine messenger.

The spirit shook its head: “I’m not Lady Hila. Lady Hila is still on the sun right now.”

At this moment, Hila was still gradually mastering this Divine Artifact on the Divine Cup.

Lan felt some regret, but still followed closely behind the spirit.

He saw the dreamlike and magnificent scenes of the Spirit Country that his teacher Sandean had recorded.

Finally, he entered the Great Spirit Library.

There he met his teacher, the old man standing behind the platform.

Lan knelt before Sandean, not daring to raise his head to look at him: “Teacher.”

Sandean just smiled at him: “How is the Temple of Truth?”

Lan was silent: “Teacher.”

“The Temple of Truth still stands.”

“The will of the saints is still being passed down.”

“I believe there will always be people who come forward to become the light that illuminates the entire civilization, ensuring that the era of truth never ends.”