Above The Sky

Chapter 2112 - 53: Tree of the End, Black Hole Engine

Ian is diving into the depths of the Ether Sea.

The so-called Ether Sea, to put it simply, is the ’past and future’ and ’parallel universes’ of ’this space-time,’ much like how Ian can observe the circumstances of other Dao Paths using the Foresight View, which is actually Ian peering into the direction of a branch of the Ether Sea, seeing the scenery on the other side of the ocean.

And after becoming a ’Demi-Star God,’ Ian certainly cannot truly transcend time and space, ’crossing physically’ into those parallel universes, but having abandoned all physical form, he can still observe the conditions of numerous parallel universes.

In simple terms, Ian can now observe any kind of Dao Path at any time, and infinitely continue observing—as long as he has a causal connection with that Dao Path, just as he must have truly encountered the Worm Nest to be able to observe those infinite Dao Paths of the Swarm.

Ian can now be considered the most powerful Ian in all parallel universes, but the information he knows is still too little; he must collect his own ’previously experienced Dao Paths,’ summarize and consolidate all the information to become more powerful, and thereby understand the real enemies that obstruct his journey above the Sky.

’The End.’

Fortunately and unfortunately, just as Ian now can infinitely observe his own Dao paths, Ian indeed sees ’infinitely many ends’ in all parallel universes.

Unlike the Star God who becomes a circle, hence the sole Star God of infinite parallel universes, the End itself is likely a kind of ’infinite’, which does not need to turn into a circle; it simultaneously exists in infinite parallel universes, each universe is a main body, like an infinite tree sprouting infinite branches.

Ian is with the Heart of Terra, and as the Heart of Terra saw through the Duke of the Steep Ridge Fortress, he too saw through Bokang’s current form—existing simultaneously in infinite parallel universes, yet still only at the peak of the Fourth Energy Level.

The End is essentially the same, but because its essence is infinite, even if it simultaneously exists in infinite parallel universes, each of its ’fragments’ is also infinite.

The Star God who has become a circle is helpless against this.

But even with such a despairing prospect, Ian still deduced an extremely crucial piece of information from the many Dao Paths and from the numerous situations he observed.

—The End does not have self-awareness.

Although it’s not certain, this is what Ian, upon becoming a Star God, deduced from observing the fragments of Demise and the Cradle of the End, relying on the ’Aether’ and his unique ’half-human half-Star God’ nature.

As for why this conclusion was reached, the reason is simple.

Because the End cannot trigger the ’observer effect’ in the ’Great Aether Circulation.’

Any intelligent creature, as long as it comes into contact with Aether, will be transformed by the Aether.

Even weak creatures, unable to withstand the Aether, can, like primitive Humans, be transformed by the degenerated Origin Quality and Spirit Energy of Aether, and after adapting to these two forces, by their own will, merge Origin Quality and Spirit Energy, and then ascend through Aether.

This path is viable throughout the universe, whether for Elemental Life, silicon-based life, amino-based life, Gaseous Life, photon dots or any disorderly life forms, all can ascend through Aether and eventually become Star Gods.

As long as you can ’observe’, you can embark on this path; it’s merely a matter of talent, timing, and success.

Then, what if you have no self, no wisdom, and cannot observe?

It doesn’t matter, the Star Gods have thought of this.

Even a stone, a blade of grass, will be permeated by Aether, gradually becoming a special kind of sublimation material, accumulating a vast amount of Spirit Substance, thereby nurturing a soul, and ultimately gaining soul and wisdom, becoming ’Fae’, ’Elemental Life’, or some special type of Earthbound Spirit.

Everything in this universe can turn into a wise life form.

And all wise life forms possess self-awareness, have dreams and power, able to pursue their goals, chase their existential purpose.

This chasing desire will be converted into immortality, traversing infinite parallel space-times, in turn enhancing the Great Aether Circulation.

The Great Aether Circulation is perpetually expanding, absorbing every new possibility and parallel world, constantly evolving and growing more immense—all with the aim of allowing more lives to pursue their dreams more effectively.

—This is a universe created by a Star God, incomparably gentle.

But the End refused this gentleness.

No, it’s not such a malicious act.

—The End, does not perceive such ’gentleness.’

Because it likely does not have a ’self.’

Because without a self, without any self-awareness, merely simple ’existence’, all actions are ’instinctive reactions’, without any longing derived from the ’heart.’

Just as ants bring food back to their nests to feed, just as plants grow towards the direction of sunlight, just as worms curl up when stimulated by the external environment...

The End is likely such an existence: it lacks any subjectivity, merely using pure wisdom and instinct to react to everything.

It just happens that its database is vast enough to cover all unexpected situations, achieving ’perfect responses.’

Just like the broadcast of Star Gods’ wisdom, even their incomplete entities like the ’Duke of Steep Ridge Fortress’ possess wisdom surpassing ordinary humans; as long as the database is large enough, the End can handle any situation.