The Gaze of the Immortals

"After so long, there have finally been some results."

The pitch-black night.

The surging souls.

The turning pages of a book.

By evening, a figure stood under the lamplight, delving into the mysteries of knowledge.

Thirteen years had passed since Xu Xi reached the Fourth-Circle realm. Thanks to relentless research over this vast stretch of time, he had finally made progress in cross-dimensional technology.

"Spatial tearing, anchor stabilization, dimensional traversal."

"And the colossal arcane device capable of converting soulfire."

"At last, with the gathered materials and remnants of the Wizard Tower, I’ve managed to replicate the first step."

His voice echoed through the empty study.

Xu Xi lowered his eyelids, reclining in his chair as he reflected on the efforts of these past years.

Gathering soulfire.

Researching cross-dimensional technology.

Reconstructing the Wizard Tower.

And ceaselessly cultivating to strengthen his own power.

Everything had proceeded according to plan, without a single misstep.

From here on, as long as he continued collecting soulfire and refining the precision of cross-dimensional technology, he could safely send Servia and the others away.

Yes.

That was how it should have been.

"Yet accidents always come unexpectedly." Xu Xi reached out, lightly grasping an arcane tome on the desk. The book was pristine and cool to the touch, its leather cover smooth.

This was not his creation.

Instead, it had been discovered when the Tower of Salvation drifted through the Wizard World, passing by an unexplored ruin of a Wizard Tower.

The Plateau of Deities was the gathering place of the Wizard factions, but the world was vast and boundless. Some powerful Wizard Towers chose to remain elsewhere.

The ruin Xu Xi found was one such place—desolate, silent, overgrown with weeds.

At first glance, this newly discovered Wizard Tower was no different from the others.

Yet the arcane tome retrieved from within contained exceedingly rare and invaluable information about the Endless Netherworld.

"For a long time, I’ve been puzzled."

"Why did the Wizards retreat in such haste?"

"At the start of the simulation, there was still a considerable amount of time before the Black Sun’s descent."

"To Wizards, high-tier undead are rare and precious arcane materials—yet they abandoned them like worthless dust."

"The answer—"

"Wasn’t unwillingness, but fear."

Rustle—

The arcane tome flipped rapidly, revealing once more the contents Xu Xi had reviewed countless times.

It documented the research of a Seventh-Circle Wizard from ages past, detailing the nature of the Endless Netherworld.

That realm was the chaotic dark side where the dead passed on and souls slumbered eternally.

It was the inevitable end all life must reach.

Countless worlds and dimensions nurtured an equally incalculable number of living beings. And when those beings met their end, they would all merge into the Endless Netherworld.

An unfathomable span of time had forged its terrifying vastness.

Within the Endless Netherworld, layer upon layer of soul planes, as numerous as the stars in the sky, ceaselessly received the souls of the living world.

A Seventh-Circle expert could commune with the Netherworld’s origin, gaining authority over a single soul plane.

This was a meager privilege granted by the Netherworld.

Yet it offered Seventh-Circle powerhouses a glimpse of the path beyond.

Snap—

Xu Xi closed the tome. The lamplight grazed the bridge of his nose, casting a slanting glow on the book’s russet cover.

"There is no limit to the number of soul planes an Immortal can control."

"The more soul planes one governs, the greater the authority granted by the Netherworld."

"And a major world like the Wizard World, capable of nurturing Seventh-Circle Wizards, would inevitably become a new soul plane once devoured by the Netherworld."

"In other words—"

Xu Xi paused, lifting his gaze to the dim ceiling.

His deep, steady eyes, enhanced by spiritual vision, confronted the sublime enormity of the Endless Netherworld—its silent, frigid chaos.

"From the moment the ritual to summon the Netherworld began, the Wizard World was no longer safe."

"Immortals, whose power rivals Seventh-Circle Wizards,"

"Could turn their gaze upon it at any moment."

"Like a pack of wolves, they would surround and feast upon this bountiful [meal]."

"..."

In the unnervingly quiet study, the faded lamplight spilled gently. Xu Xi raised a hand to cover his eyes, rubbing them heavily.

He felt mentally exhausted, his vision strained.

"The Immortals of the Netherworld are forbidden from corrupting normal worlds with deliberate malice."

"That’s why the Wizard World has managed to linger until now."

"But their scrutiny will never fade."

"The closer the world is to destruction, the more Immortals will covet it—and even the weakest among them could annihilate the Tower of Salvation in an instant."

What should he do?

How could he evade them?

The same thought that had driven the Wizards now surfaced in Xu Xi’s mind.

To leave the Wizard World as soon as possible, escaping this perilous land before the true end arrived.

Only then could Servia and the others be kept safe.

But at present, Xu Xi’s cross-dimensional technology was not yet ready for use.

As for soulfire—the energy source—he had gathered most of what was needed, thanks to the Tower of Salvation’s formidable capabilities.

"Not enough. This still isn’t enough."

Xu Xi murmured to himself.

When he opened his eyes, surging soul energy distorted the surrounding space, producing sharp, crackling sounds.

"Merely collecting soulfire for dimensional travel is far from sufficient."

"It’s too late now."

"At this stage, there must already be Immortals observing the Wizard World—and they would notice the Tower of Salvation’s departure."

"There’s no guarantee they wouldn’t take an interest in it."

"I need… to prepare countermeasures."

Seventh-Circle Immortals wielded power surpassing that of entire worlds.

No one wanted to draw the attention of such beings.

That was precisely why the mid-to-high-tier Wizards of the Wizard World had fled long ago.

Xu Xi’s circumstances were unique.

By the time his simulation began, the world was already on the brink of annihilation—forcing him to face the unknown Immortals.

"The Soul Collector is my only reliance."

"I can only hope it proves useful…"

"Once the Tower’s dimensional modifications are complete, we must leave the Wizard World immediately."

Xu Xi gazed at his right hand, clenching it slowly as a staff materialized within his grasp.

Even now, he wanted nothing more than to strike down the mastermind behind all this.

But it seemed there would be no chance for that.

With limited soulfire and the situation growing dire, Xu Xi prioritized Servia and the others’ safety over his own desire for vengeance.

"If necessary, I can draw the Immortals’ attention myself."

"To ensure the Tower of Salvation escapes safely."

"Before then, I need as much soulfire as possible—and to accelerate the Tower’s dimensional modifications."

[The peril of the dying Wizard World exceeds your imagination.]

[Beyond the devouring grasp of the Endless Netherworld,]

[You now know that within the boundless chaos, countless hidden gazes linger.]

[You have no confidence in victory, nor have you ever entertained the thought.]

[The gathering of Seventh-Circle Immortals—or even greater beings—would bring unimaginable devastation.]

[Even if Servia is an undead, remaining in such a treacherous world would mean annihilation.]

[Silently, you make your decision.]

[To ensure Servia and the others escape this hell unscathed.]