I Gain a God-Tier Talent Every Level

Chapter 348

"Are you saying... you saw the boundary between the real and the unreal—and that crack in between?"

A hint of surprise surfaced in Ansu’s tone.

"Then you’ve most likely glimpsed the Deep Ground."

"What exactly is the Deep Ground?"

For some reason, the moment the question left his lips, Kanzaki Rei felt his spirit let out a long, quiet breath—like something deep within him had relaxed.

"The Deep Ground... is a very interesting place."

"You can think of it as the world’s dumping ground—a repository of worlds that do not exist."

"Legends of the Deep Ground date back to the very beginning of creation."

"It is said that at the instant heaven and earth were first formed, everything in existence was already predetermined."

"Fate does not roll dice."

"The endless river of time—past, present, and future—has already been completely decided. That is what ’true fate’ means: everything is fixed, inevitable."

"There is only one timeline in this world. There are no ’what-ifs,’ no alternate branches."

"Nor are there any so-called parallel worlds imagined by pseudo-scholars."

"What happens, happens. What doesn’t, never will."

"History cannot be changed. The future has already been set in stone."

Kanzaki Rei paused briefly before replying, "That doesn’t align with what I’ve learned about temporal theory... or future modeling."

"The future isn’t necessarily fixed as the future."

Ansu chuckled.

"Heh... that’s just your current theory."

"And tell me—does it actually contradict what I said?"

"Even if you recreate the past, even if you foresee the future—once everything settles, what can you truly change?"

"What has already happened cannot be altered."

"Time... is absolute."

Ansu let out a cold laugh.

"Boy, it seems you’re entertaining some rather unrealistic delusions."

"Are you thinking you can change the past?"

"Well, with your age and your current power, it’s only natural you’d start believing in impossible things."

"I once thought the same. I believed I could overturn the heavens and remake the world."

"But..."

"There are limits to what a person can achieve."

"When you truly reach Level 9, you’ll realize just how many things remain beyond your grasp."

Fragments of memory flickered through Ansu’s mind.

Back then...

The Ansu Dynasty stood at its peak.

Across all seas and lands, beneath sun, moon, and stars—every corner of existence bowed to him.

His empire stretched so vast that even he could not count its full extent. The lands and oceans he had conquered could be recited for three days and nights without repetition.

At that time...

He truly believed there was nowhere he could not go.

No being who could stand as his equal.

Nothing in the world that he could not accomplish.

Until that day.

The day he challenged Tsukishin—the deity who governed death and destruction.

If he could slay that embodiment of death—

He would ascend directly to the true Level 10.

He would replace "White" and become the new Tsukishin.

He would stand at the absolute pinnacle of existence.

On that day...

Drawing upon the full might of his empire, he gathered souls from across the world—refined them, fused them, purified and elevated them—

Until he amassed one hundred billion supreme, flawless souls.

On that day, he used the culmination of his entire dynasty’s power to construct the ritual of Pure White Descent.

He summoned the descent of the Pure White.

And on that day—

All of heaven and earth turned into a lifeless, pale void.

The Ansu Dynasty... was annihilated in an instant.

The power of Tsukishin had far exceeded anything Ansu had imagined.

"Heh... when you think you’re invincible, there will always come a day when you realize your strength has limits."

Ansu shook his head, his voice tinged with unmistakable bitterness.

If he hadn’t challenged Tsukishin that day...

Perhaps his empire would never have fallen.

"Time cannot be changed. It is already determined."

"But..."

"The Deep Ground is a place where regret can be undone."

"All the regrets in your heart... can be fulfilled there."

Kanzaki Rei’s youthful voice responded calmly, "So you’re saying... it’s an illusion?"

"A place where you sink endlessly into a dream?"

Ansu immediately denied it.

"No. Not an illusion."

"It is a real world."

"If you can return from the Deep Ground, you can even bring things from that world back with you."

Kanzaki Rei narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You seem to know a lot about it."

Ansu gave a low, amused laugh.

"Heh... I’ve had the fortune of entering it once."

"Unfortunately, there is no exit."

"The Deep Ground is the destination of all desires."

"It is the final refuge of all life."

"No matter when, returning to its embrace is a blissful retreat."

"But no one has ever known what happens to their real body after entering."

He paused, then continued.

"But now it seems..."

"If a crack leading to the Deep Ground has appeared in this girl’s Sea of Consciousness..."

"Then her true mind has likely already entered the Deep Ground."

"And the Deep Ground... has no exit."

"She cannot be saved."

"Interesting... so when the mind enters the Deep Ground, what remains in the Sea of Consciousness is a corrupted shell."

"That’s quite a fascinating discovery."

"As expected... each reincarnation reveals something new."

Hearing this conclusion, Kanzaki Rei’s expression grew heavy.

He looked at Luluwi, and a trace of sorrow surfaced in his heart.

If that were true...

Then Luluwi was no longer Luluwi.

What stood before him was merely a corpse bearing her name?

He glanced at the lifespan indicator above her head—it still showed over thirty years remaining.

So... this didn’t count as death?

"Ansu... is there really no way to save her?"

After a brief silence, Kanzaki Rei finally asked.

Ansu let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"You like this woman that much? You’re still thinking about saving her?"

At that moment, Luluwi slowly regained consciousness.

Her eyes were filled with confusion as she looked at Kanzaki Rei.

She felt no abnormalities... and had no idea what had just happened.

"Even if you want to bring her back, it’s impossible."

"The Deep Ground belongs to the individual."

"You cannot enter Luluwi’s world."

"Even if you enter the Deep Ground yourself, you’ll only return to your own regrets."

"Instead of thinking about how to save her..."

"You should be asking why a gateway to the Deep Ground exists within her Sea of Consciousness—and what that implies."

"Blinded by this woman, you’re the one who’s losing your mind."

"It’s obvious—this isn’t just spiritual contamination."

"There is something residing within her Sea of Consciousness..."

"Something far beyond your ability to deal with."

Ansu’s voice turned colder, sharper.

"If it were me..."

"I would kill the woman standing in front of you."

"Erase the threat completely."

"Kanzaki Rei... you’re a smart man."

"You know better than to keep danger by your side."

"I trust you understand what needs to be done."