Chapter 480 - 479: The True Reality
And so, the moment this Divine Star completed its final transformation and acknowledged Lu Jingming as its sole creator arrived. The divine star's feedback began. It was as if the world itself was expressing gratitude to the gods who had brought it into being. Strands of chaos, bundles born at the dawn of the Big Bang, after countless eons of silence, and now, the wisps of chaotic energy that could scarcely be extracted even by detonating black holes—these condensed from the void at the bottom of the universe.
They no longer followed the laws of physics. As if summoned, they crossed the barriers of space and dimension, merging into Lu Jingming's body. In that instant, his form seemed to become a singularity capable of containing the entire cosmos. His divine body radiated—not with a blinding, overpowering light, but with a gentle brilliance that seemed to envelop all, springing forth from the glow of reality itself.
With this grand influx of energy—enough to reshape and remake the world—the ultimate fusion began within the deepest recesses of his soul. Within him, the authorities that were once distinct and separate now seemed to heed the command of "reality" itself.
They represented eternity and quietude.
They represented the "life" of wisdom and creation.
They represented the "wither" of decay and end.
They represented the "eternity" of cycle and order.
They represented the "destruction" of ruin and rebirth.
They represented the "creation" of all origins.
Defeating even one of these authorities would be enough to ascend a god to the realm of Godking. Yet in this moment, they all converged as pure bands of the law's light, actively flowing toward the core of his soul—a single point where the foundation of all his strength, and the proof of his existence, resided.
The True Authority.
If the other authorities were magnificent chapters in the epic of the universe, then the "True" one determined whether this book was reality or pure fiction, and whether it bore the only label.
The integration began. It was silent, yet it was a sublime "sublimation" to the utmost. Thunder and lightning merged into "reality," and from that moment, every form of energy in the world became a reality that could be defined by his will. Life and wisdom merged into "reality," and from then on, the birth and extinction of every soul, the transmission and storage of all information, became truths that God could freely write.
From then on, the increase in entropy and annihilation of all matter, the end and return of all concepts, became realities he could freely set. All powers lost their original names, becoming insignificant branches under the highest concept of reality.
At this moment, Lu Jingming finally understood. Revelation flashed in his eyes as never before.
"So that's it..."
He murmured softly,
"Truth is existence."
The instant these six words left his lips, the entire universe fell silent. Invisible yet omnipresent ripples of concept spread from Lu Jingming, expanding out across the whole universe and the endless parallel worlds, faster than bubbles transcending light, time, and causality.
From this moment onward, the reality of this universe and all parallel worlds connected to it would be redefined.
What is "truth"?
It is the "truth" as recognized by Lu Jingming.
What is "falsehood"?
It is "falsehood" as denied by Lu Jingming.
Lu Jingming's divine power began to surge with geometric ferocity, beyond measure.
Godking?
Supreme Godking?
In his perception, that domain was as fragile as a bubble that would burst at a touch. He easily surpassed it. Furthermore, he reached a new, supreme, and unique realm—even the Creator God could not reach it.
—The Realm of Transcendence.
This is not a state that can be attained through cultivation or inheritance of divinity. This is a unique title for a living being whose mere existence has already surpassed the reality of the entire universe.
The moment he ascended to the Realm of Transcendence, Lu Jingming's perception—no, his very existence—became one with the entire universe. He no longer needed to see with his eyes or probe with his consciousness. The universe itself actively revealed all its secrets to him.
He "saw" it.
In the dark starfields, separated from the Divine Star by several galaxies and shrouded in ominous crimson light, a dimension formed purely of greed and obsession with destruction was slowly stirring. He saw the nucleus of that plane—a peerless beauty in a blood-red dress, her eyes filled with madness and hunger—Crimson Mother.
He also saw it.
In another dimension known as the "Throne of Seals," the terrifying "God of Vengeance," Austin Griffin, was roaring.
He even saw the "past."
The long river of time was no longer before his eyes, but a rushing one-way torrent, transformed into a heavy tome of history he could freely read. He saw the rise and fall of the invincible Dragon God. He gazed upon the starting point of time itself, which was even older than the Dragon God. There, he "saw" the Creator who fashioned the entire universe—the Primordial Creator God.
He saw the Creator God forge the universe out of chaos, then merge with it, becoming the fundamental laws that govern reality. The sole meaning of that existence seemed to be to light the first flame known as "universe."
And after seeing all this, Lu Jingming slowly looked away, a thoughtful smile on his lips.
"Since 'reality' can be defined..."
"Then this universe seems a little too monotonous."
Slowly, he stretched out his hand.
"O true Star God, grant me your power."
"Fix all the imagined energies of this universe."
"The true concept manifests here."
His voice echoed throughout the cosmos.
In the next moment, the entire universe began to "expand" more violently than ever before. From a sea of imagined numbers, countless new planes "were born" like mushrooms after the rain. Innumerable planes shifted from falsehood to reality.
A blue plane covered more than ninety percent by endless seas was born. Within it, strange treasures known as "Devil Fruits" existed, granting people all sorts of peculiar powers. And the force known as "Haki," derived from spiritual will, became the ultimate measure of strength.
A plane melancholic atmosphere was born. There, man-eating monsters called "Demon" rampaged at night. Powerful swordsmen, who had mastered "Breathing Techniques," fought a never-ending, tragic battle to protect humanity.
A plane boasting the "Chakra" energy system and various powerful ninja arts was born.
Another plane, blending spirit children and Zanpakutō, combining the current world's plane with the Soul Society, was born.
Another dimension, rooted in "love" and based on "destiny," allowed humans and demons to form pacts for "reincarnation and the rebirth of fate."
Ninja, Shinigami, pirates...
Countless worlds that once existed only in Lu Jingming's memory—or in "fantasy"—were now, at this very moment, granted real "existence." They had never belonged to this universe. But with the birth of the true Star God—because of Lu Jingming's thoughts—they now existed.
As endless "realities" were fixed, as the vast universe teemed with countless splendid civilizations and worlds born from his will, the new "True Star God," Lu Jingming, slowly withdrew his gaze, now encompassing the entire multiverse.
Endless galaxies flowed in his eyes. Supreme authority gathered at his fingertips. He was no longer who he used to be. His very existence was now the highest and only "truth" in this universe.
Yet, after feeling a pride and loneliness so intoxicating it could bewilder any living thing, he restrained his power. In an instant, he traversed the boundless sea of stars.
Douluo Star.
…
…
Haiyuan City.
When Lu Jingming's figure quietly appeared in a tranquil room, the supreme divine power residing in his body was enough to shatter eras and reshape the cosmos. Yet, he was unchanged from before he left—still that handsome face, still in a simple black trench coat. He simply stood quietly before the window, gazing at the familiar, life-filled scenery outside, breathing in the scent of grass carried by the gentle breeze brushing his cheek.
That feeling was truly real. Even more real than the countless "realities" he had just created.
But this peace did not last long.
Snap.
With a soft sound, ripples spread through the space before him. In the next instant, Herta and Ruan Mei stepped out, one after another, from the ripples.
When Lu Jingming ascended to the highest boundary of the "True Star God," they too—summoned from fantasy by his "true" authority—were the first to clearly recognize this transformation, aside from Lu Jingming himself. At that moment, they felt the "foundation" of their existence rise infinitely.
Strictly speaking, their "existence" was fundamentally no different from the newborn "fantasy worlds" of the universe. All of them existed by Lu Jingming's "truth."
"Hurry up! Let me see, let me study—what kind of lifeform are you now?!"
Almost as soon as Herta appeared, she darted over, grabbing Lu Jingming's hand with sparkling eyes, her excitement unhidden.
Ruan Mei was less direct, quietly walking to Lu Jingming's other side. She said nothing, but her beautiful eyes never left him for a second. Her gaze was so intense, burning with curiosity—not the look lovers should exchange, but one a top biologist would give a unique and perfect experimental specimen she'd dreamed of for countless ages.
"Um…"
Caught between these two "aggressive" gazes, Lu Jingming felt the awe-inspiring majesty he'd just acquired as a transcendent vanish in an instant. He coughed lightly—twice, for effect—then smiled at Herta in what he hoped was a dignified tone.
"Herta, I'm the stronger one now. Can't you show me a little respect?"
Herta paused. She looked him up and down, then suddenly smiled. She let go of his hand.
"Ara~."
She placed a hand on her chest, gazing at Lu Jingming with a leisurely, playful expression, the corners of her mouth curled in a knowing smile.
"'Respect,' huh?" She deliberately drew out the word. "So, tell me, how do you want me to respect you? I mean, before I obediently let you study me, what do you want me to do?"
"I can promise anything. Anything at all."
Lu Jingming: "..."
Herta knew him very well. She knew exactly what was on his mind. At this moment, all he wanted was to lean on his newfound "strength" and ask her for that little wish he couldn't put into words—a wish she and Ruan Mei had once righteously refused.
For Herta, so-called "face" or "reserve" were worthless before knowledge. And besides—Lu Jingming was her man. She felt there was nothing she couldn't do to fulfill his wishes.
Seeing Herta's proud expression of "I see right through you and am fully prepared," Lu Jingming fell silent. He turned to Ruan Mei, who, from beginning to end, hadn't said a word, but whose eyes had never left him. Then, he looked back at the black tower before him, a smile of anticipation spreading across his face.
"So… maybe, you and Ruan Mei, together…"
As for what he wanted them to do together, he left it unsaid. But all three present understood.
Herta curled her lip in contempt at the expected answer.
"Tch, as if I didn't know."
She looked at Lu Jingming with that kind of expression.