Li Pin gazed into the vast expanse of the cosmos. "This... universe!?" The Great Dao Radiance had already hinted to him that there was something amiss with this universe. Yet, he couldn't perceive it. It was like being given the answer to a problem but being utterly clueless about the steps used to reach that result. The chasm between his own comprehension and the complexity of this universe was too vast, so vast that even with the answer laid out before him, he had no idea how to proceed or even how to replicate it. A burst of laughter echoed within the depths of his inner spirit. "Hahaha!” A towering figure seemingly appeared before Li Pin’s eyes. It was a man exuding a primal, untamed aura. As the Great Dao Radiance continued to resonate, Li Pin realized that this figure wasn't physically present before him. Instead, it had manifested directly within his inner spirit, projected from the depths of his consciousness. The laughter came from the burly man before him. "This little brat? Too fragile. I can only communicate with you . Did you truly wish to see my true form? Do you know what happens when a mere mortal stands before a black hole? Do you really want to witness one up close?" A black hole.... Is the gap between me and a Highlord truly as vast as that between a mortal and a black hole? thought Li Pin. Beside the man, Sasha gave a slight nod. "Your Majesty." It had become clear by now that this seemingly unremarkable burly man, devoid of any overt divine aura, was none other than the Black Abyss Highlord himself. There was nothing outwardly extraordinary about him, but the moment Li Pin realized he was inside the body of the Black Abyss Highlord, any notions of "mystic" or "extraordinary" became irrelevant. This very scene was in itself something far beyond the comprehension of ordinary lifeforms. "I appreciate your efforts in maintaining the operation of the Heavenly Prison World during this time," the Black Abyss Highlord said with a chuckle. "By the way, my authority hasn't expired yet, has it?" "No, Your Majesty. Do you have any further instructions?" Sasha replied. "Not much. I'll transfer my authority to this young one here. Until the term ends, why don't you assist him in his cultivation?" the Black Abyss Highlord said casually, his tone as straightforward as any ordinary being's. Sasha smiled faintly. "This is all up to you." "Then it's settled," the Black Abyss Highlord said, turning his gaze to Li Pin. At that moment, a sensation of being utterly seen through once again surged from the depths of Li Pin's inner spirit. He couldn't even shield himself from the scrutiny of a True Spirit, let alone a Highlord. However, that didn't mean he would simply accept it without resistance. He activated the Endless Reincarnation Secret Art, shifting his inner spirit state into one that rendered him immune to all external influences. This move clearly caught the Black Abyss Highlord off guard, and he let out a hearty laugh. "You've got quite the personality, kid. Fine, if you don't want me to look, I won't. You self-proclaimed 'geniuses' all have your little secrets and hidden talents, acting as if keeping them hidden makes them something extraordinary." Li Pin remained silent, his attention still fixed on the cosmic expanse around him. Despite the Great Dao Radiance having already revealed the "correct answer," he refused to accept that he still couldn't discern the true essence of the Black Abyss Highlord. "Reaching the fourth level of the Primordial Supreme Technique in just ten stellar years... Even with the advantage of the Heavenly Prison World's unique environment, I must admit, I'm impressed. That's about as fast as I was at your age. Hahaha..." The Black Abyss Highlord laughed heartily, though whether his words were genuine or not remained unclear. His nature was direct and to the point, unwilling to waste time on unnecessary talk. Once his laughter subsided, he got straight to the point. "Little one, would you like to become my disciple?" Li Pin withdrew his gaze from the starry sky, which appeared indistinguishable from a real universe, and turned his attention to the Black Abyss Highlord. Compared to a Supreme, a Highlord was more powerful. Their very being encompassed the complete structure and evolution of the existing universe. No matter what kind of cosmic-level attack they faced, their very nature allowed them to neutralize or counteract it, rendering any attack meaningless. In a battle between a Highlord and a Supreme of equal tier and foundation, the Highlord would always emerge victorious. If Li Pin accepted this offer... what awaited him was a future beyond anything he had ever imagined. A future where he would rise to the pinnacle in a single leap, with no obstacles left on the path toward Highlord, Supreme, and Transcendence. However... Li Pin refused. The moment he expressed his refusal, both the Black Abyss Sovereign and Sasha fixed their gazes on him. As an intelligent lifeform, Sasha had theoretically accounted for every possibility, leaving no room for error. Yet now... she had miscalculated. Did a mere Divine Being just reject a Highlord!? Even if this Divine Being possessed unparalleled talent and would inevitably reach the level of a Cosmic Tyrant, the gap between that and a Highlord was still far too vast. It didn't make sense. It defied all logic. After a long pause, the Black Abyss Highlord's voice rang out once more. "Little one, perhaps you should give me a reason, one good enough to convince me." Along with it came an all-encompassing, omnipresent pressure, an oppression that seemed to stem from the very hostility of the universe itself. This force struck directly at the inner spirit. In terms of mastery over the inner spirit, the gap between Li Pin and the Black Abyss Highlord was immeasurable. "I may not be among the Human Race's Supreme beings," the Black Abyss Highlord continued, "but I still stand at the pinnacle of the universe. If I were to take on a disciple, forget someone like you with the potential to become a Tyrant, even Sacred Monarchs and Divine Emperors would fight for the chance to enter my tutelage. "You should be well aware of what it means to become my disciple, the advantages, the guidance, and the limitless future that come with it. With my aid, your cultivation path would be smooth. Your potential would be boundless. And yet, you choose to refuse my goodwill?" "Too easy," replied Li Pin. "I know what it means to become the disciple of a Highlord." He continued, "Becoming your disciple would mean that within a thousand stellar years—perhaps even just a hundred, I could use my comprehension of the Primordial Supreme Technique to directly ascend to Cosmic Tyrant, not just attain True Spirit. "Even after reaching that stage, my path would remain effortless, paved with endless advantages. Sacred Monarch, Divine Emperor—none of it would be out of reach..." He paused briefly before speaking again. "But that... would be too easy." He gazed at the vast starry cosmos, which was an extension of the Highlord's true form. "I walk my own path, one that cannot be interfered with. My path can only move forward in the direction I choose, and every decision must stem from my own will. Because I know that is the only way to what I believe is truly right." The Black Abyss Highlord spoke. "I understand now. You think..." In the cosmic expanse before him, an enormous star suddenly expanded, erupting with an unprecedented radiance that illuminated the entire void. Heat and radiation surged in all directions. In that instant, Li Pin felt as though he had been cast into a sea of fire. This was... the sign of an impending supernova. The Highlord's voice echoed once more, completing his earlier thought, "You think... that I'm wrong?" A slight smile escaped Li Pin's lips. "Isn't this exactly what you wanted?" Telling a Highlord he was wrong. And saying it to his face? Forget everyone else. Even Sasha, the AI assistant, looked utterly stunned before quickly being overcome with disbelief. Sasha couldn't help but take a sharp, human-like breath. Arrogance. Unimaginable arrogance! A mere Divine Being! No! Even a Cosmic Tyrant wouldn't dare to claim that a Highlord is wrong! This is utterly... "Li Pin..." Black Abyss muttered. "I know what you seek. Perhaps you have always been waiting for an answer." Facing the explosion of the supergiant star, Li Pin understood with absolute clarity that this moment was pivotal for him. It was so pivotal... that he had no choice but to act. Just as he had once paved the way for the emergence of the Void Emperor. Even if it was only the Void Emperor as perceived by Baili Zhu, the master of the Void Divine Treasure. He had still used that Emperor to validate his own Dao. And now... it was no different. "It's not you—or rather, it's not just you who is wrong." He raised his hand, and the power of the fourth level of the Primordial Supreme Technique—the force of universe creation—began to gather at his fingertips. However, within the domain of the Black Abyss Highlord, every force, every law obeyed the Highlord's will. The moment Li Pin attempted to unleash that power, its fundamental parameters were altered, rendering it impossible to manifest. Yet... this interference lasted only a few breaths. In the next instant, the light of the Great Dao Radiance erupted from the depths of Li Pin's inner spirit. In a flash, it manifested the four fundamental forces: matter, energy, time, and space. These forces instantly tore through the Highlord's alterations to the cosmic parameters, converging and collapsing into a singularity. The rapidly expanding star suddenly came to a halt. Black Abyss was taken aback. "This is..." Li Pin's voice followed, "I believe... I am right." Then, the force of the collapsing singularity erupted violently, crashing through the cosmic void and sending visible ripples across the fabric of space. As these ripples continued to spread, Sasha could clearly see the fundamental components of the universe being stripped apart and thrown into disarray, reverting to their most primal, chaotic forms. It was as if the entire world had been shattered, returning to a state of elemental chaos. This disruption lasted only a moment before the vast cosmos, with its immense and profound foundation, effortlessly restored order. However, in that fleeting instant when the laws of the universe manifested, Li Pin took a single step forward, emerging unscathed from the chaos. And in that moment... the Black Abyss Highlord, as if struck by something incomprehensible... remained utterly still.