Since both are fighting for human civilization, Xuanming and Gua Tianshi should be steadfast allies. However, Xuanming never seemed to consider teaming up with Gua Tianshi, and the latter also showed no intention of cooperation.

After all, why did Xuanming choose to betray Luo Mountain?

"Be it Gua Tianshi or Fa Zheng, they both want to obtain the divine seal," Xuanming said. "It's not just to prevent Doomsday; they also want to realize their own aspirations through the divine seal, bringing their ideal society into the real world. And this is something I can't agree with, it's that simple."

"Why can't you agree... why is that?" I asked. "Gua Tianshi may have some cold-blooded thoughts about the development of human civilization, but ultimately, he still pursues the outcome of Governance Ideology, and Fa Zheng's pursuit of an ideal societal form needs no further explanation. Do you think their pursuits don't align with your beliefs?"

"It's not about that level of issue. Ultimately, something as potent as a divine seal shouldn't be acquired by any individual. Even for beings like us, Impermanence, our existence isn't necessarily a good thing for civilization," Xuanming glanced around.

After numerous clashes, this city at this moment has been razed to the ground except for the city center area that no forces can invade. The Fire Sea that stretches across all directions has disassembled and destroyed almost all surface constructions. If not for the City Barrier's sealing, the disaster would certainly spread to more distant places. The Southern City, originally existing as the national economic center, was annihilated in such a short period.

"I am Impermanence, so I can slaughter all beings as I please, destroy anything. My crimes won't be judged because I am the standard of morality. If there is a moral system that defines me as evil, then it's the moral system that's wrong, not me personally," Xuanming said. "Countless believers see me as a God whereas what I possess is a human heart. I raised the flag of justice wishing to blood sacrifice innocent children, yet in this process killed countless others. How can that be correct?

"The weak will be infected by my thoughts just by nearing me. Just hearing my words will make them soulfully surrender and become my fanatic believers. Except for a few beings like you, no one can stop my rampage. And if I were replaced by someone who holds the divine seal, then who could stop it?

"To wield the all-powerful ability to alter the world at will, that means turning the world into a dream that can transform with a single thought, essentially no different from 'Paradise,' an eternal cradle. Even if they are well-meaning individuals like Gua Tianshi and Fa Zheng, the result is no different than turning the world into a mere plaything beneath themselves.

"From ancient times to the present, I've witnessed countless times in my lengthy life a truth: any ideology and thought, especially projections for the future, are specific products formed based on the material conditions of that historical stage. The divine seal may seem to fast track civilization to the so-called future ideal society, but actually it only fixes it immovably instead. Even merely unmoving isn't the worst outcome; the most catastrophic situation is the current crisis.

"I don't know where the divine seal originated, but I believe that as human civilization progresses, one day it can reach the stars and seas, even develop into a super interstellar civilization capable of creating the divine seal. By then, humanity would surely be prepared to embrace the divine seal.

"Currently, however, the divine seal is too premature for humanity."

Upon hearing this, I felt a clear premonition, "So... your true goal is..."

"After preventing Doomsday, I must utterly destroy the divine seal," Xuanming said resolutely. "I can firmly assure myself that I will definitely do this, but I'm uncertain whether other Impermanence, facing the temptation of All-Powerful Power, will make the same choice as I do.

"If I were to continue collecting Divine Seal Fragments at Luo Mountain, it would likely fall into Gua Tianshi's schemes. Therefore, I must promptly turn to darkness, fighting alone. However, the events that followed soon spiraled beyond my control...

"But these events will soon come to a conclusion. The hidden Seal Master will be vanquished by me, and the world will once again be steered onto the right course by my hand. Zhuang Cheng, since you are here to obstruct me, then it shall lead to your demise."

His flames grew even more scorching, his offensive more fierce, nearly overwhelming me.

And in the midst of fiery clashes, I felt that he spoke truthfully. He truly had no greed for the All-Powerful Power, only wishing to make it vanish from this world.

I admired the strong willpower he exhibited in this matter and respected his unwavering determination, but I did not intend to lose to him here. The fate of the world, the future of civilization, those matters are extremely important, even I yearned for the civilization blueprint that Xuanming's words presented. But if that means sacrificing those I care about, then I will first eliminate all those seeking to do so.

Ultimately, I am not like Xuanming, Gua Tianshi, or Fa Zheng who view issues from the grand perspective of the world and civilization, nor do I wish to become them. From beginning to end, I have a personal perspective, harboring my own emotions. And I will not doubt myself for this, each person's heart holds its own sacredness. To realize it, I too can wager everything without hesitation.

We repeat thrilling clashes at an extremely high frequency in the sky above the city. Now, all our cards are on the table, and there are no more hidden aces worth mentioning, only battles to the death. While injuring the enemy, we ourselves also endure damage.

Xuanming's overwhelmingly outputted power seemed unsustainable, but actually, with the support of the Fire Sea on the home ground, the duration might not be under my Crown Form's duration. If dragging time was my plan, I would end up completely toppled by the relentless attacking Xuanming. Accumulated damage step by step made me feel like I was on the brink of death. Within my consciousness, darkness emerged, spreading like ink in water.

In those few instants, I seemed to lose consciousness, not sure if it was really so. Xuanming's injuries grew quite grave, yet his power continued to escalate with increasing wounds.

Yet in the end, the first unable to withstand it was Xuanming. In a certain moment, his movement showed significant deceleration.

Without thinking, I seized the opportunity. In hindsight, this might have been a feint by Xuanming, rushing forward might lead to a counter-kill. But my consciousness was already quite dispersed, akin to suffocating shortage of oxygen causing darkness in vision, basically responding with instinct-driven pursuit. However, it could also be my instincts judging this as a genuine opportunity without embellishments. Coming to my senses, I had already rapidly collided with Xuanming.

Xuanming, unable to construct much defense, was struck by me, his body plummeting downward in an explosion. Mana fluctuations showed a plunge for the first time, the intensity suddenly dropped by thirty percent.

This endurance test's victory, it seems, is mine.

Perhaps this is also natural. I possess the Manifestation Undying Body, granting me massive advantage in this aspect. Though Xuanming's power is stronger than mine in a wounded state, I only need to destroy his soul, while he must rely on deeper penetration to further injure my True Spirit on the foundation of destroying my soul.

My soul can be destroyed many times, while he only needs to be destroyed once, and it's all over.

Mercilessly, I swooped in pursuit. At this stage, Xuanming still hadn't abandoned his spirit to turn the tables. As flame mana built up defenses before him, several highly-dense flame shockwaves suddenly erupted around me like hidden thunder.

However, these concealed lethal moves could no longer surprise me anymore. Though I hadn't anticipated these attacks' presence, the blessed consciousness enhancement swiftly allowed me to respond, performing nearly reflexive extraordinary evasive maneuvers. Like threading a needle, I darted through the attack gaps without delay, dashing forward with full speed to confront Xuanming.

Xuanming's hasty constructed defense, I penetrated through it effortlessly, simultaneously raising my right hand, unleashing from my palm flames of utmost effort slamming onto Xuanming.

This time, I felt like I shattered something decisive.

Like the explosion that could shatter the sky, Xuanming descended like a celestial weapon to the barren earth, raised a dust cloud reaching skyward. Then, the dust cloud was swept away by the internal shockwave, Xuanming stood up on the ground, his body about to burst forth with orange flames once more.

But then, these flames suddenly extinguished mostly, he staggered back and forth, his legs no longer able to support his body, collapsing heavily onto the ground.

He was defeated.