The altitude, still climbing...

Amid Ji Jue's cheers.

He was still ascending, towards the highest firmament, breaking free from all constraints, embracing freedom.

Even if all this was just an illusory dream, even if this freedom was just a mirage in the dream, so brief, yet it had already intoxicated him.

BOOM!

The last propulsion engine fell off from the battered hull, crashing towards the world below, and in the shattered hull, the Melting Furnace shook violently, breaking apart, leaving only the last faint wisp of flame.

The core cabin had disintegrated completely.

In the explosion, Ji Jue inside the spacesuit involuntarily floated up and was pulled out, spun helplessly in the dark, with fragmentary light reflecting on his helmet.

The night sky seemed round.

Countless lights moved through the darkness, distant and ethereal, those were the stars.

The bright moon hung high like a mirror, illuminating all, and slowly fell into a deeper darkness. The massive sun rose slowly in the distance, lighting up the tattered world once again.

He could already see the earth in the distance.

Through the connection of streams of light, all the shattered pieces were pieced together once more.

Above the azure ocean, clouds that once seemed to cover the sky now appeared insignificant like trivial stains. In the center of the world, the desolate remnants of Central Earth lay barren, with countless islands scattered around like stars, enveloped with a dreamlike glow over the Empire in the south and the Federation in the north.

The present world is square.

Magnificent and grand outlines emerged faintly from the void, crisscrossing, with Superior like pillars, supporting everything, laying the foundation for all.

Countless Crack Realms orbited silently like satellites, sometimes flashing through the sky.

Below the present world, the eternal turbulent Vortex appeared at the edge of the void, operating soundlessly, expanding or contracting, swallowing all the tiny fragments falling from the present world.

This was the true form of the world.

Complete, yet broken. Radiant, yet dark. Magnificent, yet cruel.

"So beautiful."

He reached out his hand, stroking that faint light through the thick protection.

The present world remained silent, never responding.

.

.

"Well done."

Jiang Tongguang took one last look at the magnificent mirage in the fleeting light, and couldn't help but softly praise, "Searching the heavens and the Netherworld, the pursuit of knowledge never stops, and the flame of Transformation never extinguishes... After so many years in the association, it's the first time I've seen such a scene."

However, when he turned back, his expression immediately became serious, and he instructed, "When Delong calls to scold us in a while, don't drag me into it."

"Don't worry, he won't."

Gustav, as calm as ever, then reached into his pocket and took out his phone.

Turned it off.

"..."

Jiang Tongguang was speechless, applauding in admiration.

Well done!

As long as I turn off my phone fast enough, the Councilman can't scold me. Learned it well.

I'll try it next time...

But at this moment, after witnessing an overambitious ember space exploration, he turned back, looking at the many projections and changing scenes in the fleeting light, he couldn't help but sigh.

"What's the matter?" Gustav said: "Are you worried I would make you take the blame?"

"No, just admiration."

Jiang Tongguang turned back to look at him, "As a teacher, you are indeed impeccable."

Gustav remained indifferent, expressionless: "I haven't taught them anything."

"Teaching them about setbacks, nurturing them, instilling awe, showing the way forward, such things, some teachers might not be able to manage."

Jiang Tongguang grinned teasingly: "However, for so many years, I've heard people say: your demands are so stringent, the Stone Life School you lead is so strict, ordinary talents can't even catch your eye.

But now it seems, you're the one who least believes in talent and giftedness, right?"

"Talent? Giftedness?"

Gustav seemed to laugh, but unfortunately, the calm face only showed a trace of ridicule: "What level of talent can be called talent? What level of giftedness can be called giftedness?"

"True talent and giftedness are like the Plowsmith who blazed a new trail from old rules, like the Carrion Eater who had countless disciples, like the Heavenly Furnace who reached the peak of ember in just ten years.

Forget about the apprentices; even the entire association and You Sui, who dares to say they can compare?

If you can compare, why have you not achieved that?

But if you cannot, those talents you pride yourself on are nothing but trifling cunning!

Trying to be smart sometimes means digging your own grave.

Embers are ruthless, unkind to mediocrity.

How much of this statement comes from craftsmen who became lost in flattery and arrogance, weaving their own cocoons, and eventually reaped their just deserts?

Rather than watching these apprentices get lost in the halo of so-called genius, becoming unrecognizable, it's better to slap them awake sooner.

At the very least, they wouldn't have to face harsh reality decades later and be smashed to pieces.

"Mediocrity is like this; it always needs alertness, setbacks, tempering, and restraint, just with different degrees."

Gustav overlooked the many projections of elimination and demise, unmoved: "True geniuses can grow wings and soar in the sky, but others don't understand, for them, jumping off a cliff only leads to death.

For the vast majority, good or bad rules are better than no rules at all.

This is the unique crutch of mediocrity.

As long as they can endure restraint and toil, withstand torment and pain, they too can go where only wings can reach step by step."

"Sounds great."

In the long silence, Jiang Tongguang shrugged, sighing: "Rarely see you, old Gu, so genuinely expressive, you almost made me feel ashamed. If you run for Councilman someday, I'll definitely vote for you."

Gustav remained unmoved, looking at him.

Looking at his silly smirking face, he suddenly asked: "But what about you?"

"Me?"

Jiang Tongguang was puzzled, "What's wrong with me?"

"How long can you endure?"

Almost as a return, Gustav mercilessly pierced that fake smile: "To me, you, the most popular director in the association, are probably the most disappointed with the association?"

Jiang Tongguang said nothing.

He didn't wave it off as lightly as usual either.

'Do as you please', 'I don't care', 'Then let's discuss it', 'Isn't it good?'... For a long time, these were the words heard from the council.

Perhaps, the reverse had another meaning:

—Damn it, I give up, do as you like!

The person who gets along with everyone might not actually like anyone.

The beloved friend of everyone might not actually welcome everyone in his heart.

Everyone knew this truth; they just got used to the long-familiar face and smile.

To the extent that everyone subconsciously or intentionally forgot.

Before he succeeded as a director, he had stormed into the Valley of Abyss three times in anger, bringing back each of his fellow disciples and nephews, and hanging them at the Tianshu Gate...

"To be honest, with Delong's capability, maintaining the situation until now is already quite impressive."

Gustav sighed lightly: "He just has limited capability; the fact you can still keep the bigger picture in mind and not act until his retirement surprises me."

"What are you talking about?!"

Jiang Tongguang was alarmed and glared: "I'm just not willing to take the blame for you, don't slander me! Who doesn't know that Director Jiang is most humble and courteous, uncontentious?"

His name, same light, same dust, embodies ancient wisdom of our Federation, you don't understand, don't speak carelessly!"

Gustav looked at him, for a long time, nodded in understanding: "Then let it be so."

"That's exactly it!"

Jiang Tongguang nodded decisively, taking out a flask, sipping to calm himself: "The association is my home; I love the association. Goddamn, I love it so much. Don't be too extreme, old Gu. We're all one happy family; there aren't any insurmountable obstacles, are there?"

Just like that, silence resumed inside the Tower of Transformation.

The 'family' forgot the previous conversation, work continued, happy and harmonious.

The results of the second round of elimination were about to be revealed.

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