Under 'normal' circumstances, when two universes with differing charges of reality merge, the result is often catastrophic, typically leading to mass extinction. Such mergers disrupt the universal laws of the universes involved. For rank 13 and 12 worlds in those universes, this disruption is particularly severe, as their very stability depends on the consistency of these universal laws. Immortals of corresponding ranks, who derive their power from universal laws, also find themselves at a grave disadvantage. They lose their ability to cast spells and access their powers, rendering them effectively powerless.
In contrast, rank 11 and 10 immortals are far less affected by such disruptions. While they, too, ultimately rely on universal laws, their powers are more closely tied to complete laws. Though derived from universal laws, complete laws maintain a layer of separation that acts as a buffer. This separation allows rank 10 and 11 immortals to retain much of their combat prowess, provided they can quickly adapt their understanding of the complete laws under their control. In this way, they can weather the storm of change, even as the universe around them is thrown into chaos.
In most cases, universal mergers do not result in outright obliteration. Instead, the process is gradual and unfolds over time, often without any dramatic events to signal its occurrence. The destruction and mass extinction that does happen is usually the result of the fundamental changes brought about by the altering of universal laws. It is important to note that mergers are not collisions in the conventional sense. Universes should not be mistaken for stars and planets. Even if two universes were to "collide," it does not mean they would explode like celestial bodies. Most collisions between universes result in a slow and silent fusion, one that is far removed from the violent imagery the term might suggest.
Mergers between two universes that draw power from the same infinite domain are relatively simple. Since both universes share the same origin, any inconsistencies between them can typically be harmonized with minimal friction.
On the other hand, mergers involving two universes that rely on entirely different infinite domains are an entirely different matter. Such events are unprecedented and far more dangerous. Universes tethered to separate domains have vastly different underlying laws and principles, making harmonization nearly impossible. The friction between these incompatible frameworks can lead to intense destruction and catastrophic consequences on a scale unimaginable in simpler mergers.
...
Wu Jian gazed at the mirror before her, her expression tense and her thoughts unsettled. A few days ago, she had sensed an overwhelming sense of urgency, an inexplicable feeling that disaster was looming on the horizon. This foreboding sensation was not unique to her. It seemed that everyone—immortals, the three dynasties of the Firesprit World, the cosmic beings of the sect, and countless others—had been gripped by the same unbearable sense of crisis.
Since that day, Wu Jian had begun noticing subtle yet undeniable changes in the world around her. Though she couldn't pinpoint any specific anomaly, the sense that something was fundamentally shifting gnawed at her consciousness. What had begun as a vague unease had now solidified into concrete worry.
A few minutes ago, however, the situation escalated. Wu Jian had discovered a concerning flaw—a "bug"—in the world's laws. Standing before the mirror, she waved her hand slowly. Her reflection mirrored her action, but something was wrong. The timing was off. There was a slight delay, an unnatural hesitation that sent chills down her spine.
"Horrible!" Wu Jian whispered, her voice trembling as the realization struck her. Her heart went cold as she stared at the mirror. The flaw in the laws was not only real but also worsening. The ramifications were unfathomable. If the bug continued to spread unchecked, it could unravel the fabric of reality itself.
The issue was disturbingly simple: her reflection in the mirror was delayed. Wu Jian waved her hand, but the movement was only mirrored a moment later. That was not how it was supposed to work. Mirrors should reflect actions at the speed of light—instantaneously, from any practical perspective.
At her level, Wu Jian was capable of surpassing the speed of light when traversing the vast emptiness of outer space. However, within the cultivation world's sphere of influence, the situation was entirely different. The cultivation world's laws were exceptionally rigid in this regard. The speed of light was absolute, the uppermost limit of velocity within its bounds. This speed was perceived as instantaneous for most beings, even rank 10 true immortals.
Now, for reasons she could not fathom, her reflection lagged behind her actions. Her hand moved, and only after a noticeable pause did the image in the mirror catch up. Wu Jian frowned, her mind racing. Her own level of power was insufficient to diagnose the issue, but she understood enough to recognize the gravity of the situation. Disruptions to fundamental laws, especially those governing universal constants like light, could lead to catastrophic consequences on a massive scale.
"The Golden Immortal World must already be working to fix this," she muttered under her breath, a flicker of hope in her otherwise grim thoughts. "They'd better patch this bug quickly."
She had no idea why the anomaly had occurred, but she knew one thing with certainty: if the problem worsened, the entire world would be in danger. And if it reached that point, her life would no longer be her own. She dreaded the possibility of being recruited to sacrifice herself in some desperate attempt to stabilize the cultivation world's laws.
Wu Jian sighed. Her ascension to rank 10 had not come without strings attached. The cultivation world had granted her a complete law; in exchange, she had promised to remain within the world's boundaries for many years, ensuring her availability to assist in times of dire crisis. At the time, it had seemed like a distant, almost theoretical obligation. She hadn't imagined she would actually face such a situation. Yet here she was, with her terrible luck, staring down the barrel of a potential apocalypse.
She waved her hand again, testing the reflection. This time, the delay was longer. Almost a full second passed before the mirror finally mirrored her action.
"It's getting worse," she whispered, her voice tight with alarm. Shaking her head, she clenched her fists. There was nothing she could do. The issue lies with the world's universal laws or the universe's foundational coding. Whatever the cause, it was far beyond her ability to fix.
Just as she was about to leave the room, something unprecedented happened. The image in the mirror moved—but it did not follow her. Instead, it turned and exited the room.
"What the hell?" Wu Jian froze, her eyes locked on the now-empty mirror. Her reflection had left. For a moment, she simply stared, stunned, before piecing the fragments together.
"The reflection…" she murmured, her mind spinning. "It's displaying the future—where I leave the room."
Her breathing quickened as she analyzed the situation. The scene in the mirror was no longer tethered to her reality. The reflection's actions had deviated from her own. It was an anomaly of the worst kind.
"This is horrible!" she thought, dread seeping into every corner of her mind. "If this continues, it will definitely lead to the formation of illusion worlds far more serious than anything we've ever encountered!"
Illusion worlds and dream worlds were rare phenomena within the cultivation world, deliberately suppressed by the world's laws to prevent chaos. Encounters with such anomalies were exceedingly uncommon. Yet now, with these massive inconsistencies between reality and reflection, the suppression mechanisms might fail. Illusions could spring up everywhere, untethered and unchecked.
For example, her reflection in the mirror had left the room moments ago. That "version" of herself was now diverging further and further from her actual actions. If the divergence continued, it would completely separate from reality. Such a reflection could eventually manifest in the real world as a powerful illusion—or worse, it might form an independent illusion world, complete with its own twisted inconsistencies.
Wu Jian clenched her jaw, her mind racing through the implications. The cultivation world's fabric was fraying, and she was standing at the edge of a disaster she could neither understand nor stop.
Wu Jian had already checked other places and spoken to other immortals; the reports were the same: reflections in mirrors were behaving abnormally, with delays and inconsistencies. This meant that the situation wasn't isolated to her. It was a systemic problem affecting the entire cultivation world. She knew what this signified: soon, illusion immortals and illusion worlds would begin to manifest.
At first, these illusion immortals would closely resemble their real-world counterparts, mimicking their behaviors and appearance. But as the situation deteriorated, the illusions would diverge, becoming entirely distinct entities. These independent illusions, unbound by the laws of reality, could create chaos on a scale that defied imagination.
"I'm not good at illusions!" Wu Jian muttered angrily, clenching her fists in frustration. "How am I supposed to communicate with my illusion in the mirror world?" She cursed herself for her lack of expertise. Despite her status as an immortal, she was still relatively new to the rank and lacked the knowledge and skills needed to deal with such a disaster. Her one complete law seemed wholly inadequate in the face of this growing catastrophe.
A few moments later, her mirror reflection reappeared. But something was wrong.
The reflection's face was smeared with blood, its eyes wide with fear. Wu Jian froze, her breath hitching as a cold sweat broke out across her skin. Her heart pounded in her chest, a rare sensation for someone who had attained immortality. It was the first time she had felt such intense dread since ascending to her current rank.
The mirrored version of her moved with frantic urgency, grabbing a pen and a sheet of paper. It began writing something before holding the paper up to the mirror, as if it knew the real Wu Jian was watching.
Wu Jian leaned closer, her eyes scanning the hastily scrawled message. Her blood ran cold as she read the words:
"There is no hope."
"What happened in there?!" Wu Jian shouted, her voice trembling with panic. She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, quickly scribbling the question, "What happened?" She pressed the paper against the mirror, desperate for answers.
Her reflection read the message and nodded grimly. It grabbed another sheet of paper, writing furiously before holding it up again.
"The end of everything. Disintegration and destruction. There is no hope."
The reflection's words sent a shiver down Wu Jian's spine. Her knees felt weak as she tried to process the enormity of the situation. "Damn it!" she exclaimed, her voice hoarse with desperation.
But before she could do anything else, the reflection in the mirror began to fade. Its form grew translucent, and within moments, it disappeared entirely.
Wu Jian stared at the now-empty mirror, her heart pounding in her chest. The surface no longer reflected her image. Instead, it displayed only a deep, impenetrable blackness, as if the mirror itself had ceased to exist as a reflective surface.
The chilling message echoed in her mind: "The end of everything."