Grey dismantled the final node of the Eternal Chaos Heaven Lock Array, rotating it into perfect alignment. The last rune clicked into place with a soft hum, followed by complete silence.
Then everything shattered.
CRACK!
The entire formation fractured like glass, every rune exploding into countless fragments of light. The surrounding reality began glitching far more violently than before, entire landscapes appearing and disappearing in rapid succession. Grey, Alan, and Alissa witnessed echoes of the past flickering around them.
A group of cultivators appeared, screaming as time suddenly reversed around them.
"No!"
"Time reset again!"
Another powerful expert materialized, shouting desperately while reality collapsed beneath his feet.
"We can't leave this universe!"
"It controls space and time!"
Someone else appeared, desperately attacking an invisible enemy.
"Destroy the Codex!"
"It is the source of all!"
"The Codex." The instant he heard the term, Grey narrowed his eyes.
