Although the Diviner's lamentations about fate were rather ambiguous and unclear, Lin Yu could still grasp the core of the matter from his mystical ramblings.

"Is the source really Fish?"

Lin Yu immediately and subconsciously recalled the dungeon of the Mad Banquet Beyond Heaven.

That was where he and Fish had interacted, and coincidentally, Robin had also been present at the time.

"So, what exactly is the revelation?"

"Since you haven't killed me yet, it means that according to the revelation, me being alive can bring you greater benefits, right?"

Lin Yu said calmly.

A rare smile appeared on the Diviner's face: "I don't intend to directly tell you the content of the revelation, but I can tell you... you guessed half right."

"According to the revelation's content, behind the coincidences of fate is a butterfly flapping its wings that no one has noticed, and it will unexpectedly collide with me on my path to seeking the Dao."

"Keeping you might add more interesting variables to fate, but..."

The Diviner hopped off the rock and walked over to Lin Yu in two steps.

"After witnessing your intelligence and potential, I think I still prefer a safer approach—for example, shattering your soul as well."

"This way, I can both preserve your player identity and ensure things remain under my control," the Diviner said calmly, "and even... you'll still feel like you're alive."

"Just like Max?"

Robin suddenly interjected.

The Diviner nodded approvingly.

"You're quite smart too."

Then, looking at Robin whose gaze had grown even darker, he narrowed his eyes.

"It seems someone else is preparing to fight desperately."

At this moment, Lin Yu gently shook his head.

"There's no need, Robin..."

He suddenly spoke without context: "If you really want to help me, please run faster with me later."

Hearing this, Robin turned her head to look at Lin Yu—who was almost as immobilized as she was.

"What kind of joke are you making? You're only 'First-Tier'—succeeding just now was already an exception among exceptions."

The Diviner also watched with interest: "You actually still think you have means to deal with me?"

"Of course I don't," Lin Yu shook his head, "but... there's an old player here who's at least from the same generation as you."

"Although he's already dead, the home field advantage he's cultivated over a long time and the helper I sent should be able to somewhat compensate for that."

Lin Yu said softly.

The Diviner immediately realized something was wrong. His fingers quickly performed calculations, and he marveled: "There's actually an ominous sign?"

"It seems the divination's 'rough journey ahead' starts counting from here."

He sighed as he turned back, only to see the corpses in the asylum staggering to their feet.

They transformed from rotten and decayed forms into ferocious and robust monsters.

The monsters regained their mobility and instantly pounced toward the Diviner.

"Whoosh—!"

The Diviner turned around, his compass spinning in his hand as he began dealing with those "revived" monsters once again.

In that instant, Robin and Lin Yu felt the pressure on them suddenly lessen.

With Lin Yu's earlier reminder, Robin couldn't possibly let this opportunity slip. She instantly pulled out her brush, drew several acceleration lines on herself, and dragged Lin Yu as she ran.

"You actually managed to persuade the first generation Freud!"

Robin exclaimed as she dragged Lin Yu, unable to resist looking back at the asylum's rooftop.

A man dressed entirely in black combat gear was carrying the crude drawing cage she had created, with the brain inside it, also making a hasty escape in another direction.

Without a doubt, those revived corpses in the asylum were Freud's handiwork!

Lin Yu shook his head: "I didn't really persuade him either. It's because this guy was originally the Diviner's target too—the Diviner has already obtained most of what he wanted, and the remaining small portion has fallen into his hands."

"No wonder!"

Robin exclaimed.

The roars of monsters continued to come from behind them. It seemed just as Lin Yu had predicted—Freud's long preparations had proven somewhat useful after all.

The two of them were almost at the edge of the island.

All they needed to do next was jump down into the ocean. With good luck, it might count as clearing the stage—with bad luck, they would just need to drift a while longer.

"Draw a boat!"

Lin Yu said, and Robin immediately understood.

Even though she now appeared completely exhausted, she still managed to pull out her sketchbook and quickly drew a crooked raft while running.

"Poof!"

Robin vigorously tore the page from her notebook. The raft materialized in front of the island's cliff and rapidly plunged into the sea below.

"Splash!"

The raft floated on the sea. Lin Yu, who had reached the edge, leaned over to look down and couldn't help but complain.

"Are you really making a living through drawing? This crappy raft is way too ugly!"

Robin was also helpless: "I was drawing while running! Being able to give it any shape at all is already quite an achievement!"

"Then why didn't you draw a rubber dinghy? That would be simpler and more practical!"

Robin said irritably: "Stop pressuring me and just jump already!"

Lin Yu nodded.

Although the sea surface below was about ten meters down from their current position, and there appeared to be many submerged rocks—definitely not an ideal spot for jumping into the ocean—

But...

The situation was urgent! Where would they find the time to be picky?!

"Let's go!"

Lin Yu and Robin jumped down together. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The already salty, cold sea wind became even more rugged as they accelerated during their fall, rushing directly into Lin Yu's nasal passages.

Watching the dark, churning seawater getting closer and closer, Lin Yu's heart pounded wildly.

He kept praying.

"Hold on a little longer, asylum buddy!"

And just as he was about to hit the water...

"Enough!"

A sharp reprimand echoed around the island.

Beneath the seawater, white light emerged—the symbol of broken connecting lines lit up and slowly began to rotate.

Lin Yu felt their descent instantly halt. Both of them seemed frozen in mid-air.

"His Heart Domain can actually cover the entire island," Robin's voice trembled, "We're done for... we're completely caught this time!"

She and Lin Yu hung suspended in mid-air.

A moment later, the symbols beneath the sea surface flashed continuously, and they suddenly found themselves back in front of the Diviner.

Corpses lay scattered on the ground—some charred, some broken, some shriveled—as if they had simultaneously been struck by lightning, burned by fire, weathered by wind, and crushed by stones.

The Diviner looked at Lin Yu and Robin.

"You actually almost managed to escape."

"But... what a pity, you've still ended up in my hands."

As he spoke, he brought together the index and middle fingers of both hands, pointing respectively at Lin Yu and Robin.

"I won't give you any opportunities this time."

Lin Yu exhaled: "Is that so? Then you'd better perform a divination."

"Because since I dared to come back, besides betting that you would let us go, I also bet on something else..."

The Diviner didn't give him a chance to finish, waving his fingers.

Lin Yu and Robin simultaneously collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.

"I should have stopped you from speaking earlier. My curiosity is still too strong."

The Diviner sighed.

And just as he was preparing for the next step...

"Bzzzt—"

From Lin Yu's fallen body came a burst of intense and powerful music.