The battlefield was still reverberating from the shockwaves of Zui Tian’s incredible display of power, and the morale of the allied army had been lifted considerably. But even as the forces of light celebrated their temporary victory, the Sea of Nihility continued to churn ominously in the distance. The Devourer of Nihility, though dealt a significant blow, was far from defeated. The Sea’s relentless advance threatened to overwhelm the realms, and the cracks forming in the Shield of Aether were a stark reminder that time was running out.
While the others prepared for the next stage of the battle, Wújìn Mèng—Zui Tian’s elder sister, the embodiment of dreams and stillness—was quietly working on a solution that could end the threat of the Devourer once and for all. As powerful as her brother was, Wújìn Mèng understood that brute force alone would not be enough to stop the Sea of Nihility. The true key lay in the consciousness that animated the Sea, the malevolent will that drove it to consume all in its path.
Her plan was simple in concept, but incredibly complex in execution: to seal away the Devourer’s consciousness, rendering the Sea of Nihility nothing more than an inert mass of energy. If she could achieve this, the Sea would no longer pose a threat, and the realms could begin to recover from the devastation.
But first, she needed to ensure the stability of the Shield of Aether, which had begun to show signs of strain. The Shield had been created using the power of the Aether, the very essence of creation and destruction, but even it was not immune to exhaustion. The continuous assault from the Sea of Nihility was pushing the Shield to its limits, and without intervention, it would soon collapse.
Wújìn Mèng, clad in a flowing blue and white dress that shimmered with a soft, ethereal light, slowly made her way toward the Shield. Her long, cascading black hair, which reached down to her waist, flowed behind her like a dark river, adding to her serene and otherworldly appearance. As she walked, the members of the allied army—immortals, gods, and ancient beings alike—watched in awe, their eyes widening as they took in her presence. Her beauty and grace were such that even the celestial fairies would have felt humbled.
As she reached the Shield of Aether, Wújìn Mèng extended her hand and gently touched its surface. The Shield, which had been flickering and cracking under the strain, immediately responded to her touch. The cracks began to mend, and the Shield’s energy grew stronger, much to the amazement of the allied forces. They watched in stunned silence as the Shield of Aether, which had been on the verge of breaking, was revitalized by her mere presence.
The Immortal Emperor, witnessing this incredible feat, exchanged a glance with the Abyssal Master. Both of these ancient beings, despite their immense power, found themselves in awe of Wújìn Mèng’s abilities. The fact that she could so effortlessly restore the Shield of Aether spoke volumes about her strength—strength that rivaled, if not surpassed, their own.
Once the Shield was stabilized, Wújìn Mèng turned her attention to the Sea of Nihility. She knew that the time had come to enact her plan. With a calm, resolute expression, she raised her hand and waved it through the air, her voice carrying a soft, melodic tone as she spoke the words that would initiate the spell.
“Restless Dream.“
As soon as the words left her lips, a brilliant golden light radiated from her, so bright that it seemed to illuminate the entire battlefield. The allied forces were momentarily blinded by the intensity of the light, but those who were powerful enough—the Abyssal Master and the Immortal Emperor—were able to witness what happened next.
From Wújìn Mèng’s hands, a thousand chains of gold and silver shot forth, each one gleaming with a radiant, otherworldly light. These chains were not ordinary bindings—they were forged from the very essence of dreams and stillness, imbued with the power of the Aether and the deepest secrets of creation. They snaked through the air, moving with a fluidity that defied the laws of physics, and plunged into the roiling mass of the Sea of Nihility.
The chains dove deep into the Sea, seeking out the source of its malevolent power. Wújìn Mèng’s expression remained serene as she continued to channel her energy into the Shield of Aether, reinforcing its strength even as she enacted her spell. The golden light from her body grew even more intense, casting long shadows across the battlefield.
For what seemed like an eternity, the chains continued to delve deeper into the Sea of Nihility, their golden and silver lengths shimmering as they moved. And then, at the very heart of the Sea, they found what they were searching for—the consciousness of the Devourer of Nihility, the dark will that animated the Sea and drove it to consume all in its path.
The consciousness was not a grand or imposing figure; in fact, it was incredibly small—a tiny soul no larger than a grain of rice. But its size belied its true nature, for within that tiny soul was the concentrated essence of destruction, the embodiment of nothingness. This was the Devourer’s mind, the source of all its power.
Wújìn Mèng’s eyes narrowed in concentration as she commanded the chains to wrap around the tiny soul. The chains responded instantly, binding the consciousness tightly, their golden and silver lengths shimmering with an ethereal glow. The Devourer’s soul struggled against the bindings, its dark energy pulsing as it tried to break free, but the chains held fast.
With a gentle tug, Wújìn Mèng began to pull the bound consciousness from the depths of the Sea of Nihility. The Sea itself seemed to recoil at the action, its waters churning violently as if in protest. But there was nothing it could do—the consciousness was now fully in Wújìn Mèng’s control, and without it, the Sea was nothing more than a mindless mass of energy.
The golden light surrounding Wújìn Mèng grew even brighter as she finally withdrew the soul from the Sea, holding it aloft for all to see. The tiny, chained soul glowed with a dark, malevolent energy, but it was no longer a threat. The consciousness of the Devourer of Nihility had been sealed, and with it, the power of the Sea was neutralized.
The allied army, still recovering from the intensity of the light, slowly began to realize what had just happened. The Sea of Nihility, which had been their greatest enemy, was now without its guiding force. The threat that had loomed over the realms for so long had been diminished, if not entirely vanquished.
The Immortal Emperor, his voice filled with awe, spoke quietly to the Abyssal Master. “She did it… She actually did it.”
The Abyssal Master, his expression unreadable, simply nodded. “Wújìn Mèng is more than we could ever comprehend. Her power… it’s beyond anything we’ve ever seen.”
Wújìn Mèng, her task complete, slowly lowered her hands, allowing the chains to gently pull the bound soul back toward her. The golden light around her began to fade, though the power she had just displayed remained palpable in the air.
As she stood there, holding the sealed consciousness of the Devourer of Nihility in her grasp, she glanced back at the allied army. Her expression was calm, almost serene, but there was a deep strength in her gaze—a strength that came from her understanding of the balance between creation and destruction, and her role in maintaining it.
With the Devourer’s consciousness sealed, the battle was far from over, but a significant victory had been achieved. The Sea of Nihility, now without its guiding mind, would no longer be able to press its attack with the same relentless force. The realms had been given a reprieve, and the allied forces could now focus on rebuilding and fortifying their defenses.
Wújìn Mèng, still holding the bound soul, turned to Zui Tian, who had been watching from a distance. His carefree smile returned as he raised his wineskin in a toast. “Well done, Big Sister. You always knew how to clean up after my messes.”
Wújìn Mèng allowed herself a small smile in return, though her eyes remained serious. “This is not over yet, Zui. We’ve won a battle, but the war is still ahead of us.”
Zui Tian nodded, his expression growing more somber. “I know. But with you by our side, I think we have a fighting chance.”
As the two siblings stood together, the battlefield around them slowly began to calm. The Sea of Nihility, now weakened and without direction, retreated slightly, its dark waters no longer as threatening as they once were.
But the true test was yet to come. The consciousness of the Devourer of Nihility was sealed, but the Devourer itself still existed, and it would not rest until it had consumed all of creation. The final battle was approaching, and the realms would need every ounce of strength, every drop of courage, to face the challenges that lay ahead.
Wújìn Mèng, her heart steady and her resolve unshaken, knew that the time for the final confrontation was drawing near. And she, along with her brother and their allies, would be ready.
With the consciousness of the Devourer of Nihility sealed away by Wújìn Mèng, the battlefield that had been engulfed in chaos just moments ago was now eerily quiet. The allied forces, still recovering from the intensity of the recent battle, took a collective breath. The Sea of Nihility, now a mindless mass of dark energy, had ceased its relentless advance, and the immediate threat to the realms had been halted.
But the reprieve, though welcome, was bittersweet. The final victory had not yet been achieved, and the realization hung heavily in the air. The Sea of Nihility still loomed on the horizon, and though its power had been diminished, the Devourer itself remained a looming threat. The battle had bought them time, but the war was far from over.
As the allied armies began to regroup and tend to the wounded, the key leaders gathered near the heart of the battlefield, where the remnants of the Sea of Nihility lapped against the edges of the Shield of Aether. The tension in the air was palpable, and though there was a sense of relief, it was overshadowed by the knowledge of what still lay ahead.
Wújìn Mèng stood at the center of the gathering, her form still radiant with the afterglow of her recent victory. The sealed consciousness of the Devourer of Nihility, now contained within a small, crystalline orb, hovered beside her, encased in a field of golden light. The orb pulsed faintly, a reminder that the threat had not been entirely vanquished.
The Immortal Emperor, his armor still gleaming with the light of battle, stepped forward and addressed Wújìn Mèng with a deep bow. “Lady Wújìn Mèng, on behalf of the Infinite Immortal Realms, I offer you our deepest gratitude. Your actions have saved countless lives and given us the chance to fight another day.”
Wújìn Mèng nodded in acknowledgment, her expression calm but distant. “The threat has been delayed, not eliminated. We must not let our guard down. The Devourer’s consciousness is sealed, but the Sea of Nihility still poses a danger. We need to prepare for what comes next.”
The Abyssal Master, his dark presence commanding attention, stepped up beside the Immortal Emperor. “She is right. The Sea of Nihility may be mindless now, but its essence is still tied to the Devourer. As long as the Devourer exists, the Sea will remain a threat. We cannot afford to be complacent.”
Zui Tian, who had been lounging casually at the edge of the gathering, took another swig from his Endless Wine Flask and let out a contented sigh. “Well, we’ve bought ourselves some time, haven’t we? That’s something at least. But yeah, Big Sis is right. We can’t just sit around and wait for the next wave to hit us.”
The Twins of Chaos, their forms still towering with residual chaotic energy, exchanged a glance. The older twin, his voice steady, spoke up. “What do you suggest we do? The Sea of Nihility is vast, and even without its consciousness, it’s still a force of destruction.”
Wújìn Mèng considered the question carefully, her mind racing through possibilities. “We need to strike at the heart of the Sea, at the very essence of the Devourer. The final battle will not be fought here, but within the depths of the Sea of Nihility itself. If we can sever the connection between the Devourer and the Sea, we may be able to end this once and for all.”
The Immortal Emperor frowned, his gaze fixed on the churning mass of dark energy that lay beyond the Shield of Aether. “But how do we accomplish that? The Sea is vast, and its depths are unknown even to us. Venturing into it could be a suicide mission.”
The Godly Manager, who had been silently observing the discussion, finally spoke. “The Sea of Nihility is indeed treacherous, but it is not impenetrable. The Devourer’s power lies at its core, where its essence is strongest. If we can reach that core, we can strike directly at the source of its power. But we will need to be prepared—both in strength and in strategy.”
Wújìn Mèng nodded in agreement. “We will need to assemble a force capable of withstanding the full brunt of the Sea’s power. This will not be an ordinary battle; it will be a test of our resolve, our unity, and our understanding of the balance between creation and destruction.”
Zui Tian grinned, his usual carefree demeanor returning. “Sounds like a good time. Count me in. Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve had a challenge like this. The Sea of Nihility, huh? I wonder what kind of wine it would make if we could bottle it up.”
The Immortal Emperor couldn’t help but chuckle at Zui Tian’s remark, though the gravity of the situation quickly sobered him. “If we are to undertake this mission, we must be united. The forces of the Infinite Immortal Realms, the Abyss, and the Aether must work together as one.”
The Abyssal Master nodded solemnly. “Agreed. The time for old grudges has passed. The Devourer of Nihility threatens us all, and we must stand together if we are to survive.”
Wújìn Mèng turned her gaze toward the Sea of Nihility, her eyes narrowing with determination. “We will begin our preparations immediately. The final confrontation is inevitable, and we must be ready. The Shield of Aether will hold for now, but it will not last forever. We must strike before it is too late.”
The allied leaders nodded in agreement, each one feeling the weight of the responsibility that lay before them. The Sea of Nihility, though weakened, was still a formidable opponent, and the Devourer’s essence continued to lurk in the darkness, waiting for the chance to strike.
As the gathering began to disperse, Zui Tian approached his sister, his expression uncharacteristically serious. “You did well, Big Sis. But I know you’re not finished yet. You’re going to need all the help you can get for what’s coming.”
Wújìn Mèng looked at her brother, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “I’ve never doubted that, Zui. And I’m glad you’re here with me. Together, we’ll see this through to the end.”
Zui Tian chuckled, taking another swig from his flask. “Always, Big Sis. Always.”
With the battle plans set in motion, the leaders of the Infinite Immortal Realms, the Abyss, and the Aether began to prepare for the final assault on the Sea of Nihility. The calm that had settled over the battlefield was deceptive, a brief respite before the storm that was yet to come.
Wújìn Mèng, Zui Tian, and their allies knew that the final battle would be unlike anything they had ever faced before. The Devourer of Nihility, though weakened, was still a force to be reckoned with, and the Sea of Nihility held secrets and dangers that had yet to be revealed.