The starship soon reached the edge.
Within the Edge region, the void grew unstable and distorted, space folding in on itself in irregular patterns, yet the ship remained completely unaffected. It had been designed precisely for such conditions, its formations compensating for fluctuations that would have torn lesser vessels apart. They ventured deeper, passing through regions most ancient cultivators had never dared to explore.
Eventually, they arrived at the endless gulf where the galaxy ended, and the Great Nothing began.
The void stretched before them in absolute darkness, an expanse that seemed to swallow distance, light, and meaning alike. The starship slowed, hovering at the boundary.
Adrian knew the Great Nothing was not real. It was an illusion created by the barrier. He also knew he could not pass through it without the Guardian Spirit. He did not possess a golden token to grant him passage, and the Spirit had told him clearly to come when he had decided.
As if summoned by that thought, the Guardian Spirit appeared before the starship.
Its presence washed over the vessel, and Adrian felt everyone aboard react instinctively, their attention drawn to the being that had guided them through the Edge trials.
Adrian blinked out, informing the others that he would return shortly. He appeared in the void before the Guardian Spirit, the massive starship looming behind him.
"You've decided, then," the Guardian Spirit said.
"I have," Adrian replied.
The Spirit regarded him for a long moment, then glanced back at the enormous vessel. It had observed the events within the galaxy and understood Adrian's intentions, yet it still struggled to accept that this had been organized as an excursion.
It could sense countless presences aboard the ship, including a child. To the Spirit, this felt dangerously naive, as though Adrian and those with him were gravely underestimating the universe. The universe was not something one approached lightly.
But what could it do? It had already warned him, but Adrian stood stubborn in his path. The Guardian Spirit was certain that once he stepped beyond the galaxy, the universe would teach him lessons far harsher than words ever could.
And right now, the Spirit had not come only to open the path. It had another task.
Its master had ordered it to reveal information that was never meant to be shared at this stage. Normally, such knowledge was granted only after joining the Void Sect and reaching Peak Rule Stage. Yet now, Adrian had not even joined the sect, and still the order stood.
There was a reason.
If Adrian, or any of his people, unknowingly use up an essence seed required for the Void Sect's second Divine Concept in a different Divine Concept, they'd lose the chance at ever joining the Void Sect. In the universe, it was common for mortal cultivators to travel across many galaxies, participating in sect entrance exams wherever they could. Most would lack exceptional talent and would begin in minor sects, advancing slowly over time. Many geniuses had risen along such paths.
Both the Void Emperor and the Guardian Spirit believed Adrian would walk this same route. His people did not possess talent comparable to his own, making it unlikely they could meet the Void Sect's strict requirements. And since Adrian's ideal was to walk together, that would naturally push him toward a lesser sect first, just as it had for countless others.
Still, this was only a possibility. The universe rarely unfolded exactly as predicted.
But no matter how things played out, the Guardian Spirit was convinced of one outcome: Adrian would fail the test.
His people lacked the talent to bind themselves to high-tier divine concepts capable of dominating the Andromeda Galaxy. That failure would force Adrian to confront how unforgiving reality truly was, and how fragile ideals became when weighed against the universe.
And when that happened, the Void Sect would naturally take him in.
Thinking all this, the Guardian Spirit replied, "Very well. Since you have decided, your test will begin the moment you step beyond this galaxy."
Adrian nodded. Internally, he had not yet decided whether to take this test at all. But, regardless of what this test entailed, he would naturally help his people grow stronger. Test or not, his path remained the same.
"There is one more matter, before you leave this galaxy, you must hear this."
Adrian waited.
"This knowledge is forbidden. However, my master has ordered me to tell you now. And you cannot reveal it to anyone."
Adrian listened silently, his expression calm but attentive.
"The Void Sect's second Divine Concept," the Spirit said, "is formed from five Arcane Concepts: Void, Entropy, Silence, Erosion, Boundary."
Hearing this, Adrian was genuinely surprised. Even with what he knew, he could sense the gravity of this information. And that it had been revealed to him at all spoke volumes about how much importance the Void Emperor placed on him.
He also understood why the Spirit was telling him now. From the knowledge that the Guardian spirit shared, he also learned about sect entrance exams and the paths mortal cultivators usually walked.
And he could judge that, rather than the spirit mentioning this for his people, it was clear this warning was meant specifically for him, so that he would not accidentally use one of these concepts and permanently sever his chance of entering the Void Sect.
At the same time, with this, Adrian learned something else.
Concepts like Boundary were not even recorded or categorized within the Milky Way Galaxy. And even he had never considered that something like Boundary itself could be a separate Arcane Concept.
Adrian replied, "I will not reveal this."
The Guardian Spirit nodded. Words alone were never enough in the universe, but it had observed Adrian's life, his choices, and his character. Potential alone would never have earned such consideration. These other qualities also mattered.
The Spirit then summoned a small violet token, which hovered between them.
"This will grant you access to UNI OS," it said. "It allows communication, information exchange, and various universal functions. Every cultivator in the universe carries one. You will understand its uses once you activate it."
The token drifted forward, and Adrian caught it in his palm. It was compact, etched with intricate rule-based runes. With a glance, he could tell it functioned similarly to the Nodes used in the galaxy, though vastly more advanced, designed to interface with something vastly larger.
"Activate it when you're ready," the Spirit added. "It will register your essence signature."
Adrian nodded and slipped the token into his storage ring.
"One last warning," the Guardian Spirit said, "Never use your Arcane Concept openly. Ultimate-tier divine concepts grant only ninety percent authority. Even Astral Stage beings wield only ninety-five percent. If anyone witnesses you wielding one hundred percent authority, you will become a target."
Adrian understood. From what he had learned, in the universe, cultivation stages seemed to be mostly measured by how much authority a divine concept granted. By that standard alone, he could already appear comparable to someone beyond the Astral Stage, a fact that would invite unimaginable danger.
Still, he did not overestimate himself. Authority alone meant nothing without the energy to enforce it.
He had been completely drained after erasing the Demon Emperor, a Mid Rule Stage being. By that measure, his current strength would be no greater than a Mid Rule Stage cultivator.
So now, it was fine to travel the universe as a Mid Rule Stage being, but, as the Spirit advised, if he avoided using his Arcane Concept entirely, then he would lose even the Mid Rule Stage combat power he currently possessed, appearing as little more than a mortal without a divine concept.
How, then, could someone like him venture into the universe and do so while carrying the lives of so many others? Adrian had chosen this path, yes, but he was not foolish enough to gamble everything without preparation.
Even though he learnt that mortal cultivators traveling like this was normal, he was sure that they did so with the guidance of someone powerful leading them. And when Adrian considered that path, it led back to the same conclusion the Guardian Spirit had said: cultivate alone, grow strong alone, and only then lead others.
But Adrian didn't want that, so for years, this question had weighed on him, and he had spent long periods searching for an answer.
Eventually, he found a solution, and that solution was one of the reasons he had felt confident enough to bring his people on this excursion. He had no intention of sharing it with the Guardian Spirit. Instead, he simply nodded in response.
Seeing that Adrian was nodding, the Guardian spirit had nothing further to say. Finally, it raised one hand, "I will open the path now."
The Great Nothing began to shimmer. A seam appeared within the darkness, splitting the void as though invisible fabric were tearing apart. Beyond it, Adrian glimpsed something immense and distant, stars that belonged to a space far larger and more complex than anything he had ever known.
The barrier opened.
"Go," the Guardian Spirit said, "And may you survive what lies ahead."
Adrian inclined his head, then turned back toward the starship.
He blinked onto the command deck, where Kaelith stood waiting near the central console.
"We're clear," Adrian said.
The ship moved forward, crossing the threshold.
Space warped around them, the transition smooth but undeniable. For a brief moment, Adrian felt the barrier pass over the vessel like a membrane, and then—
It was gone.
The Milky Way Galaxy vanished behind them.