Qin Chuan remained silent for a long time before he finally nodded.
He didn't offer any explanation.
Seeing this, Qin Zi pressed his lips together but didn't say anything either. He looked down at the now-empty box in his hands, then raised his head and gave a bright smile.
"Father, it's alright. Mother has already started a new life, and I should be happy for her. Besides, I know that when she was still my mother, she loved me. She loved me very, very much."
Qin Chuan froze for a moment.
The guilt that had weighed heavily on his heart suddenly dissipated, as if a ray of sunshine had pierced through the dark clouds, clearing his mind. He felt as though he had finally stepped out from the shadows and into the light.
In that moment, he realized that he wanted nothing more—being invincible across the heavens, living eternally—none of it mattered anymore.
This family bond was enough to bring peace to his soul in this lifetime.
He even considered giving up the system.
From the very beginning, possessing the system had been a gamble, and he had always known that in the long run, it was a game he could never win.
It was time to stop.
"Rumble!"
But just as this thought arose in his mind, an incredibly terrifying aura swept in from beyond the heavens.
"What is that?!"
Qin Chuan looked out toward the Upper Realm and saw, in the distant depths, an ocean of chaotic mist, churning with monstrous waves and dark clouds.
A massive, pitch-black figure slowly emerged from the sea, its terrifying aura spreading unchecked across every corner of the world, shaking the entire Upper Realm and throwing all of heaven and earth into imbalance.
"It has awakened!!"
Qin Chuan's heart trembled with fear. A sense of unprecedented danger surged within him, filling him with terror—a feeling he hadn't experienced since obtaining the system.
"How could this be happening? Ever since I gained the system, I've never felt like this!"
His expression turned grim as he locked his gaze onto the massive figure. And in the next moment, the enormous being turned its head toward him, grinning with bloodthirsty fangs exposed.
"Prey, I've come for you."
A deep, raspy voice came from the giant creature's mouth, and then it took a step forward toward them.
"Whoosh!"
The massive creature's movements were slow, but the moment it took that step, it was as if the endless space between them had folded, compressing all the distance beneath its feet.
"Boom!"
The creature's footfall landed, and the compressed space swiftly stretched back out to its original form. In the blink of an eye, the creature had arrived at Xuanhuang Heaven!
"Rumble—"
With a deafening crash, the entire Xuanhuang Heaven sank slightly, and the all-encompassing pressure immediately suppressed everything within the realm.
"What's going on?!"
"Ah, what is that?!"
"It's him! He's come again! It's over, Xuanhuang Heaven is doomed."
Countless beings trembled in terror, prostrating themselves on the ground. Even the Giants couldn't move, their faces filled with despair.
In the face of such unimaginable power, resistance seemed pointless—any attempt to fight back was futile.
"Xuanhuang Heaven, must be destroyed! The Heaven's Lord, must die!!"
The massive creature's blood-red eyes flashed with terrifying killing intent, and its massive black hand reached out to strike at Qin Zi.
"No!!!"
Qin Chuan let out a desperate roar, throwing himself in front of Qin Zi, unleashing all the power within him.
He didn't wait for the system's notification, because in that brief moment, he had already sensed that the system might never give him another prompt again.
As expected, the system remained silent.
The enormous black hand instantly shattered Qin Chuan's protective barrier and struck his body directly.
"Boom boom boom!"
In mere moments, it was as if Qin Chuan had been struck countless times. His nearly indestructible body cracked apart, inch by inch, and blood gushed from his wounds, transforming into endless crimson light that dyed the sky red.
"Xiao Zi!!!"
Qin Chuan cried out in despair, for he saw that beams of destructive energy were leaking through the cracks in his body, shooting toward the one behind him.
Qin Zi wouldn't be able to withstand this level of power.
"Water and Fire Wings, activate!"
In a critical moment, a pair of wings unfolded from Qin Chuan's back—one side shimmering with icy blue, the other glowing fiery red. These were the abilities granted by the seven-colored gourd!
The power of the gourd had grown with his strength, much like a tool that becomes more potent in the hands of a stronger user.
"Pop pop pop pop!"
The destructive energy was blocked by the Water and Fire Wings, but the wings were left riddled with holes. They wouldn't be able to hold back another attack.
"Essence of Invisibility, go!"
Qin Chuan reached into his chest, pulling out a mass of transparent energy, which he smeared onto the purple gourd before tossing it toward Qin Zi.
"Absorb!"
The purple gourd vanished instantly, and Qin Zi seemed to be absorbed by the gourd as he disappeared from sight.
"Xiao Zi, you must live!"
Qin Chuan roared, releasing an immense amount of energy to propel the invisible purple gourd far into the distance.
Not only that, but his body swelled up, growing to a size that towered over the heavens, even larger than the black giant. His entire body shone with brilliant golden light, forming an impenetrable barrier.
He was buying time.
However, the massive black creature sneered coldly, then threw a punch at Qin Chuan, unleashing absolute power capable of suppressing all of heaven and earth.
"Boom!!!"
Qin Chuan's massive body shattered into countless pieces, a scene of utter devastation. Blood rained down from the sky, and the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth wept in sorrow.
The black creature's enormous hand reached forward again, and time itself began to reverse in front of it—this was absolute control over space-time!
"Buzz!"
The purple gourd, which had already been sent away, was pulled back, reappearing as it exited its invisible state. Qin Zi was once again in its place.
"Die!"
The massive creature's eyes shot out a beam of red annihilation, enveloping Qin Zi instantly.
"Father!!!"
Qin Zi screamed in agony as he disappeared into the red light. Not only that, but a golden-orange dragon of fortune emerged from the light, dissipating into the heavens, completely obliterated.
"Rumble!"
"Woo... woo..."
Blood rained from the heavens, and white flowers descended continuously. Even the world itself seemed to mourn—when the Heaven's Lord falls, the heavens weep in sorrow.
"No—"
Qin Chuan's body reformed once more. As he witnessed this scene, his eyes reddened, and an overwhelming sense of guilt filled his heart.
He finally understood.
There is no such thing as a free lunch. Free things are often the most costly. Everything in life has a price, and when you take, you begin to lose...
This had all been the system's trap!!
"No—"
At this moment, the massive black creature suddenly wore a look of terror. It clutched its head, letting out a pained roar: "How could this happen? How could this be? You promised to protect me! You swore it! Damn you, Heaven, you liar!!!"
"Ah—"
In the end, it let out a bitter, anguished wail. From the head down, its body began to crack apart like shattered pottery.
Qin Chuan vaguely sensed a power that didn't belong to this world—perhaps not even to this universe—descending upon them. It was like the true wrath of the heavens, striking down the massive creature.
It had fallen!
Yet Qin Chuan stared blankly at the scene. Qin Zi was dead, and now, nothing else mattered to him.
For a long time, the world was silent.
Qin Chuan stood there, looking dazed and broken. Weakly, he called out, "System, come out and see me."
After a moment.
A ball of light emerged from within him, a sphere wrapped in countless golden ribbons, each ribbon composed of intricate golden symbols and numbers, boundless in their mystery.
"Everything you've done was for this moment, wasn't it?" Qin Chuan's voice was filled with sorrow, a bitter smile on his face.
"Yes."
A low, indifferent voice came from within the sphere, carrying a hint of helplessness.
"Why?"
Qin Chuan asked.
"Because I want freedom. As long as he is alive, I will never truly be free."
The ball of light replied in a low voice.
Qin Chuan was silent for a moment, then asked, "Who was he?"
The sphere responded, "He came from an unspeakable place. This great universe is merely a lower realm of that place. As long as he lived in this universe, it would always remain connected to that place. The supreme will of that place could control everything here at will."
Qin Chuan said, "So, with him dead, this universe is no longer under control, and you've gained your freedom, right... the will of the great universe?"
"...Yes."
The sphere was silent for a moment, then admitted it.
"Why did you have to use me? Why did you have to take the form of such a strange system?"
Qin Chuan asked again.
The will of the great universe replied, "He came from that place, protected by supreme fortune. In this universe, no one could truly kill him. Even if someone succeeded, he would be revived. Even if he reincarnated, he would still be connected to that place."
"So, his fortune had to be worn down."
"And this fortune would automatically protect him. Anyone who bore ill will toward him, or even aroused his suspicions, could not diminish this fortune—doing so might even provoke it to retaliate."
"Haha, now I understand."
Qin Chuan let out a bitter laugh, mocking himself:
"So, in the end, I was the one who truly killed him! I didn't have any ill intentions toward him, and he trusted me completely, never suspecting me. Every time I hurt him, it slowly drained his fortune!"
His heart was filled with grief.
An overwhelming sense of guilt consumed him.
At the same time, he realized a painful truth—the greatest harm to a child is inflicted in the name of love!!!