Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1484: Impossible Condition

[Third Grand Star (Star #5)

Highest Bliss: 0/1

Blood of God: 0/1

Bottomless Void: 0/1]

A considerable amount of time passed before the requirements for Adam’s next Grand Star finally manifested.

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, Adam understood instinctively that the difficulty of these conditions scaled with every Grand Star achieved.

To reach the First Grand Star, he had needed the Midnight Crystal and the Twilight Crystal. Similarly, the Second Grand Star required the Connected Heart and the Dark Heart. While the stakes had been higher, the essence of those tasks was simple: Adam just had to emerge victorious in two specific encounters.

The Desire of Beyond had been an outlier compared to the others. It was a milestone Adam had to forge himself, ultimately manifesting something unique to his own Cultivation path.

However, this new trio of conditions felt entirely different. They didn't seem like physical objects he could simply locate or seize from a defeated foe.

There was one glaring exception, though, and it filled Adam with a sense of dread.

“Blood of God...?” Adam whispered, his voice laced with skepticism. “What on earth is that supposed to be?!”

Having climbed the ranks to become a K4-Phantom through countless life-and-death struggles, his knowledge of the world was vast, spanning from lowly beasts to the Great Lords and major Sects.

But... actual Gods?

“Do gods even exist in this world?” Adam asked, raising a doubtful eyebrow.

He quickly dismissed the thought with a shake of his head.

“No, the strongest entities are undeniably Damien or the masters of the Befallen Crown. There’s no question about it. So, what is the Path Construct demanding from me? What exactly is Blood of God?”

To Adam’s frustration, that was only the first mystery on the list.

The Highest Bliss and Bottomless Void were equally unsettling. He strongly suspected these weren't tangible items like the Midnight or Twilight Crystals, but something far more abstract and complex.

“Damn... with things being this vague, I definitely need some guidance... How can I possibly solve this on my own?” Adam muttered with a frown.

In a way, there were perks to not being the absolute strongest yet.

Many others had already traversed the path Adam was currently walking. Even though every Phantom followed a unique Dao, Adam was still in a position where he could seek the wisdom of superior Phantoms.

If he were at the very peak or the only one facing such trials, he would be forced to wander in the dark. It would be like the time he obtained the Desire of Beyond, only significantly more brutal.

After staring at the Third Grand Star one last time, Adam gave a firm nod.

He had committed to this path and had no intention of wavering.

A strategy began to form in his mind.

“I have to gather intelligence on these requirements. I'll start with one, just like I did with the Connected Heart. From there... well, I can only hope the next steps become clear over time.”

Of course, Adam wasn't planning to rush into the Dead Lands immediately; he intended to remain at the Citadel for a while longer to fully recover.

Furthermore, his family was scheduled to visit him and Silvana in a few days. He wasn't about to cancel those plans.

‘Hmm, but who can provide the answers I need? Damien? Erik? They are the most powerful individuals I know. Then again... there’s Wilfred, but traveling to the Lower Ring is quite a hassle...’

Douglas was another possibility. While not a Phantom, his long life and vast experience in this world meant he could offer invaluable insights.

Regardless, Adam had several high-level contacts. He hoped these connections would prove useful.

However, the person he chose for the initial discussion wasn't any of those powerful figures.

...

Silvana sat at the table, her somber reflection staring back at her from the surface of her coffee.

“Highest Bliss, Bottomless Void, and Blood of God...” she murmured, trying to decode the cryptic words.

Sitting across from her, Adam raised an eyebrow as he slowly munched on chocolate cookies.

“Any ideas? The First Grand Star looks like child's play compared to this. I'm completely stumped. Every one of these is a riddle.”

Silvana chewed her lip, focusing on the words 'Highest Bliss.' She had scribbled the three requirements onto a sheet of paper.

“Highest Bliss... could it be a specific mental state achieved in the heat of battle? Perhaps an evolution of Resonance? Since Stellar Resonance is just a refined version of Common Resonance, it stands to reason there could be an even higher stage.”

Adam leaned in closer, intrigued.

“You think I can reach the Highest Bliss through combat? I’m not sure if it’s related to Resonance, but it sounds like a description of a feeling or a state of being. I doubt it’s just some item waiting to be picked up.”

Silvana nodded in agreement.

“It’s just a hypothesis, but I’ve seen how much you thrive when you fight, especially against powerful enemies. Ever since our energies merged, I’ve started to feel that sensation myself. It’s not as overwhelming for me as it is for you, but it’s there.”

She reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as if she were trying to pluck something from the air.

“Imagine if the adrenaline, the thrill, the gamble of life and death, the risk, and the raw ecstasy of battle—all mixed with the pain—reached a simultaneous peak. Think about how that would feel, Adam.”

Silvana turned her gaze toward him slowly.

“Wouldn't that be a sensation one could call the Highest...”

She cut herself off with a sharp intake of breath.

Adam was frozen, his eyes darkening until the blue was nearly swallowed by shadows. Two deep abysses seemed ready to consume every drop of that incredible, dream-like sensation.