This is a realm of immortal beauty, bathed in sacred light, filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers. A soul-stirring melody arises, bringing peace and delight.
The eighty-ninth duel.
As soon as the scene changed, Li Xiaotian tensed his entire body, ready for an imminent attack.
To his surprise, however, his opponent did not launch an immediate assault. Instead, the scene before him brought him immense joy, completely extinguishing any desire to fight.
"Ding!"
A melodious chime sounded. A man in white appeared on the distant lawn, playing a zither with grace and elegance, exuding an approachable aura.
Li Xiaotian frowned deeply. This man in white was clearly his opponent for this duel, but he felt entirely different from all the previous challengers.
"Not a historical figure? Could he be alive?" Li Xiaotian muttered, his gaze fixed intently on the man in white.
The man in white was powerful. At the very least, Li Xiaotian couldn't discern his true strength at a glance.
"I am not alive; I died long ago. This is merely a projection of myself," the man in white said softly, his voice peaceful and gentle, as if he had heard Li Xiaotian's thoughts.
Hearing this, Li Yuntian's expression turned solemn, and he was inwardly shaken. All the opponents he had faced before were like emotionless machines. He had never expected his current opponent to possess his own thoughts.
More importantly, this opponent somehow knew he was already dead and that he was merely a projection brought forth by the rules of the War God City. This astounded him.
"Do not be nervous. Although a battle between us is inevitable, War God City does not set a time limit for each duel. Therefore, there is no rush. You may take this opportunity to recover."
The man in white spoke calmly, casting a kind glance at Li Yuntian before returning to his music.
"I do not know what era it is now, but my presence here suggests I have already passed away. War God City never captures projections of living beings."
The man in white spoke leisurely, as if addressing Li Xiaotian, or perhaps himself.
"I truly wish to know how I died. Did I exact my revenge in my time? Did I become the strongest person in this world!"
"It is quite unexpected that I would reappear in such a manner."
"Who are you?" Li Xiaotian asked, his heart filled with extreme caution. The calmer the man in white appeared, the stronger his sense of danger became.
This opponent was more powerful than any he had faced before!
"My name is Yan Yu, a human from the Third Era," Yan Yu stated plainly.
Li Xiaotian's eyes narrowed sharply at this, and he was immediately struck with shock. The Third Era!
What was this? He had never heard this term since entering the void cosmos!
"You do not know?" Yan Yu seemed surprised, sensing Li Xiaotian's emotions. He was full of unexpectedness.
"The universe has an end. Each endpoint marks the conclusion of one era and the beginning of a new one."
"Eras change, all things wither, and all things are reborn. The old will be destroyed, and only those who transcend or reside in special places will endure."
A trace of horror flashed in Li Xiaotian's eyes. He had heard none of this before. He had always believed the universe's lifespan to be infinite, but he never imagined it had an endpoint.
Destruction, then rebirth.
All things perish, all things are born!
"Hundred Battles City is a product of the Second Era. The powerhouses of that era exhausted all the universe's essence to forge this city, hoping to cross over into the new era."
"Alas, they all failed. Everyone died, leaving only this city behind."
Yan Yu continued, looking at Li Xiaotian with curiosity. He found it strange that someone with Li Xiaotian's strength should be unaware of these matters.
"I know nothing of what you speak, nor do I understand it. In our era, there is no information whatsoever about the universe's cycles." Li Xiaotian said, sitting down on the grass to adjust his state. He could tell that the man in white currently bore no ill will.
"Strange," Yan Yu murmured. He plucked a string on his zither, and instantly, a scene appeared between him and Li Xiaotian.
As Li Xiaotian witnessed the scene, he was stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief.
It depicted a glorious era, with myriad races battling and countless powerful beings.
He saw the universe being born anew, saw all things perish, saw the end of the universe, and saw everything turn into nothingness.
Simultaneously, between this rebirth and destruction, he saw a brilliant world painted with history as the canvas and living beings as the brushes.
This was the Third Era, the sights Yan Yu remembered.
"No! Not right!" Li Xiaotian suddenly looked at Yan Yu, his eyes filled with vigilance.
Since this person was from the Third Era, why did he possess memories of the Third Era's destruction?
"I existed, and this universe remembers me. If I wish to know, I will know," Yan Yu said calmly, perceiving Li Xiaotian's confusion.
"These memories are mine, yet they are not mine."
Yan Yu's words were obscure, but Li Xiaotian understood. The memories Yan Yu showed him belonged to his true self, not this projection.
However, Yan Yu's true self was immensely powerful, having lived until the universe's end and influenced its rules.
What has existed will not be forgotten!
The universe remembered him!
It was like the high-level powerhouses of today. Even if they had died, as long as their traces remained, they would revive within those past traces.
Li Xiaotian looked at Yan Yu, his heart churning with immense waves. What realm had Yan Yu's true self reached in the past?
Ninth tier? Or tenth tier!
Perhaps even beyond the tenth tier!
He dared not imagine what kind of realm it was, to possess such terrifying power through a mere projection!