Back when Jiang Ming first entered the Specter Secret Realm in the Xinghe Great Universe, he had already discovered various oddities about the place.

Based on the situation, he speculated that it was either the universe itself had given birth to its own consciousness or there was a certain expert at work.

Now, his speculation was finally confirmed.

In front of Jiang Ming’s soul avatar was an old man. Right that moment, the old man’s face was full of surprise and astonishment as he shook his head and laughed bitterly. “I can’t even consider myself to be your big brother. Back then, I witnessed Daoist Jiang become one of the Supremes. It hasn’t been that long ago yet you’ve already improved so much, leaving me far behind. Unbelievable. It’s simply a miracle.”

“If it wasn’t for the help of fellow Daoist back then, I wouldn’t have improved so quickly myself.” Jiang Ming laughed.

He had to acknowledge the favor given. Back when he was in the Specter Secret Realm, the blessings that he received were abundant. It wouldn’t even be an overstatement to describe it as him getting rich overnight.

“Why did you help me back then?” Jiang Ming inquired. This was something he couldn’t wrap his head around.

“That’s simple!” The old man smiled and continued. “It’s because you’re from the outside world! I wasn’t able to detect the aura belonging to our native domain from your body, not even a strand. You’ve befriended Luo Heng. Logically thinking, the two of you shouldn’t have become the best of friends for the gap between your strength is far apart. However, the two of you were like brothers, which was very abnormal. I also learned that Luo Heng carried great fortune and occasionally took out objects that weren’t of our universe. Excluding all the possibilities, the final conclusion was the answer.”

“Amazing!” Jiang Ming gave him a thumbs up.

He also evoked the Human Path Record to take a closer look at him.

This person in front of him was named Xi, one of the most ancient humans. He once obtained boundless power of creation and advanced into the Supreme Realm. In his later years, he traveled through the Sea of Chaos in search of great opportunities to advance even further.

He had great wisdom, great perseverance, great talent, and great fortune as well. By exchanging with countless other Supremes of the past cosmic epoch, fusing many cultivation techniques, and gaining benefits from the Valley of the End, he finally broke through the confinement and advanced into the King Saint Realm after boundless hardships and sufferings.

It was also at that time that Xi somewhat felt a power of attraction. With that he would be able to follow his senses and advance into the higher world, to peek into the supreme myths and witness the ultimate mystery of the universe.

Just as he was about to go forth, there was a pang of fear in his heart for no reason. Such was his natural premonition ability.

It seemed that if he was to go do it, he would die. Xi was shocked and forcibly suppressed the attraction that almost affected his will itself. However, such a force of attraction became stronger and stronger, causing him to involuntarily ascend upon the higher realm. He forcibly suppressed himself, putting himself into a state of thoughtlessness and hollowness.

Right that very moment however, the whole universe trembled abruptly. Over his head, a vortex that covered billion star streams appeared and a beast’s claw poked out, grabbing towards him. It was too overwhelming.

Even Xi, who had advanced into the King Saint Realm was unable to make any resistance. His flesh had even started to disintegrate.

Seeing such a scene, he fell into despair. Luckily. The Origin of the Universe trembled, emanating a divine might that blasted the beast’s claw into pieces, destroying the vortex with it.

Xi was able to survive the disaster. However, he had lost his physical body, leaving only his soul spirit intact.

The force of attraction towards the higher realm did not disappear, but instead was increasing little by little. It shook his will and affected his mind.

Xi understood that if this continued, he would fall for it sooner or later. As such, Xi thought of a way to integrate his Saint Soul into the origin of the universe.

While Jiang Ming was checking up on Xi’s ‘Status’, Xi slowly told of his past.

“I’ve long come into enlightenment that once a person’s will is integrated into the origin of the universe, he would be faced with two situations. It’s either he takes over the entire universe, replacing it at its place or being assimilated by the universe’s origin instead.” Xi slowly continued, ‘However, how can the Sacred Soul of mine that had just advanced into the King Saint Realm be able to affect the overwhelming origin of the universe? Soon after the integration, my will began to be affected and assimilated by the origin. If this went on, I would become a part of the universe’s origin.”

At that critical moment, he achieved enlightenment. He comprehended a heaven-defying special ability – The Universe in A Single Thought. The special ability enabled him to fuse himself with the origin of the universe but also remained independent, maintaining his true self. This was akin to the state whereby he was the universe but the universe was not him.

“I incarnated into the Origin of the Universe, peer through the heavens and earth but was also subjected to great restrictions. I couldn’t really make a move and wasn’t able to exert powers that are too strong. Otherwise, I would be rejected by the origin of the universe or even worse, the divine hammer of calamity would’ve turned me into ashes!”

Xi was slightly emotional. For his current state of existence, it was both great and bad. He could only be the witness to history.

However, he had also secretly guided the human race, allowing their technology to advance rapidly to the point that they were no weaker than the Machines. He even guided Pan Wang, allowing this person who was known as the number one peerless expert to rise above rapidly.

He did a lot of other things in secret as well.

During this period of time, Xi continued to comprehend the origin of the universe. He had a greater ambition of replacing the origin of the universe himself, one step at a time.

This was the only path left of him.

Otherwise, once the universe inches towards its destruction, it would also be his demise. This was because he was too deeply intertwined with the universe’s origin already.

“The fact is, this path was also a dead end as well.” Xi smiled bitterly. “Alas the origin of the universe. It’s as vast as the ocean while I’m merely a drop of water within. A single drop of water assimilating the entire ocean? It’s a fool’s errand! However, I found you! I saw a glimpse of hope in the midst of despair.”

This was also the reason why he helped Jiang Ming in the Specter Secret Realm back then.

Xi said that the Specter Secret Realm was a product of the self-evolution of the origin of the universe. It was a gift for the people of the universe.

In fact, he understood this universe quite thoroughly. Whether it was the current universe or the Sea of Chaos, and even the reason why there were so many Supremes who were trapped in their current realm?

A big reason was because of that beast’s claw. Whenever a person achieved the King Saint Realm, he would either be picked up or killed.

“What’s even more, the inevitable shackle that deterred the sentient beings from advancing further was from that beast’s claw itself!” Xi had a solemn look on his face as he continued. “If I hadn’t obtained the great fortune back in the Valley of the End, I wouldn’t have been able to break through and would stay at Half-King Saint Realm at most!”

Based on what had happened in the past and also the previous great calamity, Xi came to a conclusion that this universe was abnormal because it had been manipulated.

“The universe is akin to a prison!” Xi sighed. “That beast’s claw is so overwhelmingly strong that it just brings people into despair. I’ve speculated countless possibilities and the only way of transcendence is to take over the universe itself. Otherwise, we would all eventually inch towards our destruction.”

However, he had the same obstacle to overcome, because it was a task that was almost impossible to complete.

“Now you’re here!” Xi looked at Jiang Ming with a burning gaze. “The speed at which your strength has been increasing is unimaginable. The cultivation realm that you’ve advanced into, has given me a profound and unpredictable feeling. It’s the feeling that I used to have when I was facing the beast’s claws back then. I’m afraid that you’ve also discovered the abnormality of our world here. I suppose that you’re here today scanning through the area with your supreme soul power because you wanted to explore the secret of the universe, right?”

Jiang Ming nodded.

It was just that Jiang Ming was shocked at heart as well. To think that there was a mastermind behind the curtain? A person that could fiddle with the Sea of Chaos between his fingers?

It was just unbelievable. The shock was also tinged with the yearn to try finding out the truth.

“Fellow Daoist, are you planning to continue your exploration?” Xi asked, filled with hope.

“Of course!” Jiang Ming naturally knew about the reason why Xi would have such a hope. He couldn’t help but smile, “Whether it’s for my best friend Luo Heng or your support back then, I will still continue my exploration and uncover the person behind the curtain!”

Of course, the greatest reason of all was that there was the legend about the World Tree here.

“Many thanks to you!” Xi gave him a sincere salute and couldn’t help but ask, “Fellow Daoist, how is it like beyond the heavens?”

“Beyond the Heavens?” Jiang Ming sighed. “It’s bigger and stronger than his place here. Other than that, there isn’t much difference. Fellow Daoist, allow me to continue probing and see what that beast’s claw truly is.”

Jiang Ming dispersed his avatar as the power of his Soul continued to sweep across the vast universe.