Ye Yun had many questions for the Xuanhai Goddess. Just the fact that she had experienced the era of gods and encountered the divine city was enough to provide him with valuable information, provided she was truthful.
Ye Yun gazed at the Xuanhai Goddess and asked, word by word, "What exactly happened in the Heavenly Domain back then?" He was desperate to understand everything.
However, the Xuanhai Goddess showed no reaction, as if she hadn't heard his words. Seeing her current state, Ye Yun fell silent. Although he could understand her feelings, her refusal to speak was also quite vexing.
"If I truly harmed you and your people in the past, I apologize, but I truly have no recollection of it."
"I hope you can inform me, Senior. If I did indeed commit any heinous acts, I will take responsibility."
This had always been one of Ye Yun's principles. While he had no ambition to be a great benefactor, he would not be a devil who did evil without restraint.
As he spoke, the Xuanhai Goddess looked up and gazed at him intently.
Throughout their exchange, she remained silent. Only the red on her body began to dissipate into countless rays of light, spreading outwards.
In an instant, the surrounding gray chaos began to change rapidly. From nothingness, it was as if creation itself was taking place, splitting the heavens and earth. The countless red lights transformed this world into an endless, deep blue sea. And there, he found himself floating on the surface of this sea, before a magnificent, majestic oceanic city!
His form then shifted, appearing within a lavish palace.
"Hmm? Is this an illusion?"
Though everything around him felt incredibly real, and the ground beneath his feet felt normal, his keen senses detected a subtle incongruity. Everything he saw seemed to lack substance.
Undoubtedly, this must have been created by the Xuanhai Goddess, but for what purpose, he did not yet know.
At that moment, in the empty palace hall, red light gathered to form figures of various attire. On the throne at the far end of the grand hall, a graceful red figure slowly emerged – it was the Xuanhai Goddess he had seen earlier. Compared to the state she was in just moments ago, she was now clad in opulent and dignified attire, her eyes gazing down upon the assembled crowd.
At this point, a person below spoke in a deep voice.
"My Lady, we have heard that the Lord of the Divine City has just issued a final decree, stating that the Cycle of Divinity will be activated for the Great Cycle this evening."
Upon hearing this, the hall erupted in much commotion. A shade of gloom and even fear appeared on everyone's faces. Once the Cycle of Divinity was activated, all of them would perish, so no one wanted to believe it was true.
The Xuanhai Goddess on the throne slowly replied.
"Indeed, we only have half a day left."
"..."
The people in the hall fell into complete silence. Such news was no different from their death sentence. Once the Cycle of Divinity was activated, all karma and events that had transpired in this great world would be reversed. However, gods and inheritors of divine bloodlines were beings transcending the cycle of reincarnation. Under the Great Cycle, they too would inevitably meet their end.
Ye Yun surveyed the people in the hall, feeling like a first-person spectator, quietly observing everything that was happening.
"Cycle of Divinity, Great Cycle?"
Listening to their conversation, Ye Yun was greatly astonished. If that were the case, did past lives and present lives truly exist? He continued to watch, harboring this question.
At this moment, a person below announced loudly.
"Since that is the case, My Lady, you should still agree to the Lord of the Divine City's invitation to take refuge in the Divine City."
Someone beside him immediately chimed in.
"Yes, we are all destined to die, but you do not have to wait for death with us."
"My Lady, you should go to the Divine City!"
The crowd buzzed with noise, but their sentiment was largely unified. They wished for their Goddess not to wait for death with them. Only by entering the Divine City could they escape the eradication of transcendent beings by the Great Cycle.
To this, the Xuanhai Goddess's face remained unperturbed. Only her clear, cold, and dignified voice echoed throughout the entire hall.
"Do you mean to have me abandon my subjects, abandon the dynasty I established, and survive alone like a dog?"
Her voice was not loud, but it carried an immensely authoritative power that silenced everyone else. For a deity, life was long considered dispensable. Compared to life, there were many more important things...
"..."
The hall fell into silence.
The Xuanhai Goddess looked at them and finally said faintly.
"Enough, you may all disperse. In this final period, do whatever you wish to do, and bid farewell to those close to you."
The expressions of the people turned somber. But they still called out in unison.
"We thank you for your divine grace. We shall withdraw..."
Perhaps, this was the last time they would ever see their divine lady.
As the Xuanhai Goddess waved her hand, everyone gradually left the hall and flew outwards. Soon, only the Xuanhai Goddess and Ye Yun remained in the vast palace.
The Xuanhai Goddess gazed forward, and Ye Yun stood there. She slowly rose and walked step by step towards the front. Finally, as she reached Ye Yun's side, she passed directly through his body and proceeded to the entrance of the hall. Since the entire hall was situated at the apex of a tower-like structure, this entrance was not on the ground but faced the towering sky.
Ye Yun followed her to the railing and looked up, his gaze instantly becoming dazed...
"What a beautiful city..."
From the top of this tall tower, the city that met his eyes was magnificent and grand. Standing at such a height, gazing upon the resplendent city below, filled one with a sense of pleasantness.
Ye Yun took a deep breath, filled with a touch of awe.
"This is truly a city of the ancient divine era, how spectacular..."
This vast city floated entirely on an endless sea. It was unimaginable what earth-shattering power was required to maintain it for thousands upon thousands of years without change.
At this moment, the Xuanhai Goddess was silently watching the last rays of her dynasty. One could only wonder what emotions filled her heart.
Ye Yun stood beside her, quietly observing her and the myriad of human lives within the city...
Perhaps the news of the impending doom had spread throughout the city. Upon learning that they had only half a day left to live, some collapsed to the ground on the spot, while others wept in utter terror. Of course, many also roared with extreme anger, wishing they could storm the Divine City at that very moment and kill the culprit behind it all!
And many, in these final moments of their lives, chose to confess their feelings to those they had never dared to express them to. Most of them succeeded, and together, they savored a half-day romance, walking together towards the demise of the gods...