"Purgatory!"
"Do you still remember your goal?"
"Weren't you going to save your brother?"
"Even though your master will be leaving your side… this is only temporary."
"Your master will never die! No matter how long it takes, no matter how many endless years pass…"
"I believe that one day, we will meet again!"
"And now, Master will give you your final trial!"
"That is—stay alive. Find your brother's soul. Then persist until the day we meet again! Everything I should teach you, I've already taught you!"
…
Beef Noodles patted Purgatory's shoulder and spoke loudly.
"Master!!!"
Purgatory really couldn't bear it. He didn't want Beef Noodles to leave at all. But seeing that firm gaze of his master, he still chose to listen obediently.
"Master… can we really meet again?"
"Yes! Maybe it will take endless years, maybe countless eras will pass! But if one day we do meet again, I hope you'll still remember your master!"
"I, Purgatory, will never forget Master in my entire life! I will definitely endure until that day! When that time comes, I'll bring Big Brother with me… and we'll meet Master together again!"
…
Purgatory shouted at the top of his lungs!
"Oh right, Master! Although this power I've realized might seem weak and insignificant in Master's eyes… I still want to give it to you, to express my gratitude!"
Purgatory suddenly spoke. He pressed his palms together, then slowly pulled them apart.
A black, eerie rune surfaced.
It was…
A character from the Ancient Era. Translated, it meant just one word:
Refine!
"This is the inheritance of my Refine Clan. I hope Master likes it."
Purgatory slowly raised both hands and offered the black rune to Beef Noodles.
"This…"
Beef Noodles froze.
What a good disciple!!!
No way!
He had to leave something behind too!
"Pseudo Divine Ability—Life Unending!!!"
He gritted his teeth, unleashed all his power, and condensed his Life Unending into his palm!
It formed a tiny cyan rune.
Also one word:
Noodles!
"Disciple! This is Master's final blessing. Wear it! If you encounter hardship or danger, it should be able to help you!"
Beef Noodles said as he casually formed a wooden vine chain and hung the cyan 'Noodles' rune around Purgatory's neck.
"Thank you, Master!!!"
Purgatory cried with excitement and handed the black rune to Beef Noodles.
Clatter!
The black 'Refine' rune fell into Beef Noodles' palm and instantly melted into his body, spreading and fusing within him.
Only a tiny remnant remained, forming a black 'Refine' rune. Beef Noodles made a vine necklace and hung it on his own neck.
Ding!
"Congratulations Player Beef Noodles, for comprehending the Intent: Purgatory Incarnation!"
"???"
Beef Noodles was dumbfounded.
Wtf???
Isn't this supposed to be a Demon Race player's ultimate skill??
How did it become an Intent?!
Even if it's only Small Attainment, just newly mastered…
It's still insanely awesome!!!
"Don't tell me… even as a human, I can use Demon Race players' ultimate moves?? No way, right? No way??"
Beef Noodles was completely stunned.
"!"
Right then, he noticed the bridge suddenly becoming faint, like it might disappear at any time!
Looks like he couldn't delay any longer!
"Disciple, Master has one last thing to say to you!"
"Master!"
"Stay alive! Remember—you're the disciple of me, Handsome Noodles! Even the Five Heavenly Dao Calamities got beaten by you! No matter what heaven-defying monsters appear in the future—don't be afraid!"
"Yes! Disciple will remember!"
…
With tears streaming down his face, Purgatory watched Master Handsome Noodles' back as he slowly walked onto the bridge, growing farther and farther away.
"Master… one day, we will definitely meet again!"
Purgatory clenched his fists tightly.
Thinking back to his master's final words, that loneliness and despair instantly vanished.
Because one day… they would meet again.
"Hmm? This bridge is seriously weird…"
Beef Noodles walked along it, the further he went, the stranger it felt.
Ding!
"Congratulations Player Beef Noodles! Five Intents successfully fused! You have comprehended a brand-new Intent: Heavenly Dao Five Calamities!"
…
At that moment, a string of system notifications suddenly rang out.
"???"
Beef Noodles was completely dumbfounded.
Wtf???
What the hell?!
Since when can five Intents fuse together?!
Damn it, he didn't even know what each of the five Intents actually did yet—hadn't even played with them!
And they just auto-fused on their own?!
Fully automatic or what??
"Hmm?"
Right then, the thick surrounding mist suddenly dispersed!
Everything twisted wildly, then instantly became bright.
"So soft…"
Beef Noodles realized the ground beneath his feet felt squishy, like one more step and he'd stomp straight through it.
But he didn't think too much about it—his body just instinctively stabilized.
Because right beneath his feet…
An absolutely shocking scene was unfolding!
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
A figure overflowing with an unbelievably vast aura was seated in meditation. Violent crimson energy surged across his entire body, sweeping madly in all directions!
His aura condensed… then condensed again… and kept condensing!
Like a volcano constantly heating up, seconds away from erupting!
This scene was very familiar to Beef Noodles.
Or rather—he'd seen it way too many damn times. Players loved mass breakthrough parties…
"This guy… is breaking through?"
Beef Noodles stared blankly.
What the hell?
Why did he cross that bridge… only to arrive and see someone casually attempting a breakthrough?!
And this guy's aura was insanely terrifying! Probably thousands of times stronger than Brother Ming!
What the hell is this place?!
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
The breakthrough aura was so overwhelming that thousands of li of land and mountains were constantly cracking apart!
Even more terrifying—
The sky was rumbling endlessly. Infinite thunder and overwhelming powers were converging… all targeting this breakthrough madman!
"Come then, Heavenly Dao Tribulation!!! Today, I, Human Emperor Breaking the Abyss, will defeat you and achieve my Supreme Sacred Body!!!"
The seated figure slowly floated up, head raised toward the heavens, roaring furiously!
"???"
Beef Noodles' expression froze.
And for some reason… it felt like this guy was roaring straight toward him.
Bro, you're breaking through your realm—why are you yelling at me?!
Human Emperor?
Wow, what a show-off…
If you're the Human Emperor, then I'm the Heavenly Dao!
And then…
SMACK!
A "hand" suddenly slapped his shoulder from behind.
"!"
Beef Noodles broke into a cold sweat instantly. He almost pooped himself.
"Who are you? Which Heavenly Dao are you…? This is the territory under my jurisdiction—the Three-Color Heavenly Tribulation Zone! Why have you crossed into my domain?"
A voice calmly spoke behind him.
"???"
Beef Noodles turned around…
A humanoid entity made entirely of three-colored lightning stood there.
Its face carried whirlpool-like lightning patterns.
"And… you are?"
Beef Noodles dug his ear, wondering if he heard wrong.
"I am the Three-Color Heavenly Tribulation! Heavenly Dao in charge of one of the Three Thousand Domains—the Condensed Frost Domain! Who are you? Why did you cross realms?"
The lightning entity questioned.
"Hmm? Your aura… so deep… is this… could you be from the Ancient Era…?"
Suddenly, the Three-Color Heavenly Tribulation seemed shocked.
A spark lit up in Beef Noodles' mind!
He smoothly turned around, then turned back with a practiced dramatic flair and leisurely spoke:
"Three-Color Heavenly Tribulation, greetings!"
"I am…"
"The Ancient Heavenly Dao… Noodles!!"