Is That A Wisp?

Several people and beasts of other Universes remained in the Lokrathos Universe to see what they could take from this abandoned Universe. However, the population wouldn't leave their best things behind, so there wasn't much to be found, to begin with.

In this same Universe, Krune's group had appeared once again. Because Luvile knew where it was, they could head back straight to it. 

"Let's go see Zule."

It didn't take long before they arrived at the massive black hole once more. The buildings were still there together with the formation. However, it had been turned off and began to gradually fall apart little by little. There were a few cultivators and demon beasts from other Universes checking it, with Krune's group looking like it was just one more. Of course, Arminia made sure to not leave anything they needed behind.

The others ignored Krune's group since they thought they came here for the same reason. 

Krune and the others eventually arrived at the hall after that. There were two more cultivators talking there, with them noticing when they arrived.

"You arrived late. We didn't find any clue about where the Lokrathos people and beasts went, nor was there anything left behind."

Krune smiled, not minding it at all.

"It's fine."

Following that, Krune stopped in the middle of the hall before saying.

"Zule, we're here."

Suddenly, a distortion in space appeared before it engulfed Krune and the others. Before those two guys could say anything, Krune's group disappeared together with the distortion.

"What?!"

"Where did they go?"

They used their Divine Senses to check the room before them, but there was nothing there. In the end, they could only look puzzled at each other, not knowing what to do.

Back at Krune's side, everyone appeared in front of the Lokrathos Universe's Foundation, where Zule was waiting.

"Have you finished everything?"

Luvile nodded.

"We sent them all to Dalin already."

"What about the rest who remained?"

Zule sighed as he said.

"There's nothing we can do for them. A Universe is still a Universe. It would take ages to find every single one of them and force them out. We can only hope they understand the risks and leave it before Lokrathos collapses. As for those who don't have the cultivators to go, I'll give them a little help with the key's power and send them straight into planets of other Universes. It would be impossible with the entire population, but the little that remains won't be that hard."

Krune and Feifei were happy to hear that. They thought they would need to leave them behind to die along with the Universe. Of course, many of those who stayed did that because they didn't want to leave. However, Krune and Feifei didn't just want to leave them off to die.

"Krune, Luvile, this is the last time I'll be talking with you. Once the key is removed, my will wouldn't be able to stay."

Krune was taken aback.

"Really?"

"Yes. There's nothing I can do about it. However, don't worry. This is just my will. My real body and soul is still out there, waiting for the day you all come and pay me a visit."

Krune and Luvile nodded. Soon, Krune said

"Very well, we will get there."

Zule was satisfied with the answer. 

"Well, then..."

Not long after, the planet-sized crystal began to shine brightly. Together with it, the entire Universe Foundation started to tremble nonstop. After some time, several cracks appeared on the roots of the foundation attached to the giant crystal. 

At some point, the crystal released a tremendous amount of Spatial and Spiritual Energy that followed its connection to the entire Universe. Those powers traveled all around in the background of the Universe in a matter of seconds due to the Spatial Laws in it.

Outside the Universe Foundation, all the cultivators and demon beasts at the Divinity Realm from other Universes noticed this change. The fabric of space began to crack all around them, giving the feeling that space itself would break apart.

"It's here! The Universe is really coming to its end."

"Let's get out, quickly! No one can survive a Universe's destruction!"

"Fuck! I still didn't find anything valuable!"

However, these were the only types who had the power to leave the Universe on their own. In their case, Zule completely ignored their existence. Instead, he focused on all the other lives that refused to leave the Universe, the ones who were not found, and those who didn't have the power to do so.

In places where many were gathered, small Spatial Gates began to appear and swallow everyone against their own will before closing. Before they knew it, they were already on the surface of some foreign planet in one of the surrounding universes.

The same thing happened all around the Universe as the energy of the giant crystal escaped the foundation every time it found signs of life. After an hour's worth of effort, the only ones remaining in the Lokrathos Universe were Krune's group. The rest had fled on their own or was sent out by Zule.

"Alright, there's only you guys. The Universe will collapse as soon as I remove the key, so get ready to leave straight away."

Luvile nodded.

"It's fine. I can open a Spatial Gate straight out of here. We just need the key."

"Very well. Until another time."

As soon as Zule said that, he used his will to act on the planet-sized crystal. It then shone several times brighter than before. Following that, Krune's group heard the cracking sound as the crystal detached itself from the Universe's paths. Eventually, it was completely separated from it.

All around them, the foundation began to collapse together with space itself. As for the planet-sized crystal, it started to shrink at high speeds. All the power was compressed until the crystal assumed the form of a small pearl. It then stopped right in front of Krune and Luvile.

"Luvile, it'll be much safer in your hands, right?"

Luvile nodded as he said.

"Indeed. I'll keep it until the day we use it in the God Realm."

Luvile grabbed the key and immediately put it in his Spatial Ring. There was no Spatial Ring in the Mortal Realm that could contain the key's power. However, Krune didn't lack materials and Godly Energy from the Godly Path Realm to start with. That being said, he had long since prepared the best Spatial Ring he could. Only then was Luvile able to put the key away.

Not long after, Luvile's Purple Tribulation Lightning ran through the Spatial Ring, completely sealing it with his power. Unless another god paid special attention to it, they wouldn't be able to find anything strange with it.

*Rumble...*

"There's not much time. Let's get out of here."

Luvile and Soren nodded as they used their power to open a Spatial Gate in the middle of the chaotic space. After that, they passed through it before disappearing from the Lokrathos Universe.

The other Universes surrounding it observed as Lokrathos collapsed little by little. Not long after, explosions of ridiculous magnitudes could be felt through the flow of Spiritual Energy. Soon enough, Lokrathos Universe lost its entire foundation. With that, the whole Universe began to collapse on itself. The chaotic Spatial Laws made it progress even faster as the energy accumulated at the very center of the Universe.

Little by little, everything was swallowed into a single tiny point of energy until suddenly...

*Boom!*

An explosion that surpassed the level of power that any Divinity Realm expert of the Mortal Realm could unleash occurred. Everyone surrounding the Lokrathos Universe watched through their own methods as a new Universe was now taking form in place of the last one. It wouldn't be suitable for living or even cultivating for the next several tens of millions of years at the very least. It would probably take billions of years until it stabilized enough for new life forms to appear.  Still, it was definitely a sight to behold.

What would it be called next? How would the powers of the Universe be when the first cultivators and demon beasts go inside or are born from it? No one knows. They only knew that it would happen at some point.

Valan was one of its neighboring Universes. At this moment, Krune's group was there, watching as all of that happened.

"So that's how a Universe dies. It doesn't disappear forever but becomes the source of a new one."

Luvile and Soren nodded.

"Yes. It has always been like that. However, the new Universe will not be like the last anymore. There's even a chance that it might become a new Dalin. You never know..."

Feifei couldn't help but ask.

"What was there before the first Universe appeared?"

Luvile and Soren shook their heads.

"We don't know. Did you forget? It was guys like Zule, who live outside the Four Realms, that created it. The primordial demon beasts are the ones you should ask regarding that question."

Heavin pondered a bit before saying.

"I wonder what the Four Realms were created for."

"We'll have to ask Zule once we leave."

Krune sighed as he looked at Luvile.

"Well, there's only one thing left for us to do in the Mortal Realm. After that, we can focus on our ascension to the Godly Path Realm."

Feifei nodded.

"Indeed, let's go back to Luvile Universe so that I can fulfill my promise with Xanio."

"Oh, the guy who told you about the Heavenly Fragments back then?"

Feifei nodded.

"I promised to take his soul back in exchange for his help. It's time to do it."

Krune and the others nodded before Luvile opened a Spatial Gate. They quickly entered it before disappearing from Valan. With that, they now had the first key.