No wonder it's number 3.

Stepping out from the flowing starry sky, standing above the Origin Mud Plate covered with True God's handprints, the mermaid beauty's eyes suddenly revealed a trace of envy as she gazed at the dark purple vast plains below.

According to the information she obtained from the 9th origin, the earlier the chosen race's number, the stronger the potential and corresponding origin it possesses, but the awakening time would be later.

The source of the Ocean Abyss Realm is just a clear small lake, whereas the source of the present world is an extensive plain. Compared to the Ocean Abyss Realm selected as number 9, the quantity of the present world's source selected as number 3 is truly enviable, almost three times that of her Ocean Abyss Realm.

And back when number 1 came knocking, if she could have controlled such a vast source, would things be different now?

Thinking of the Ocean Abyss Realm's journey from prosperity to destruction, the mermaid beauty couldn't help but close her eyes slightly, then descended onto a silent Origin Mud Plate, flicked her shell earrings, and spoke with a cheerful smile:

"I'm about to succeed, don't any of you have something to say?"

"..."

"I've obtained what I want, and soon you will get what you want too, aren't you planning to celebrate together?"

"..."

"Hello?"

Faced with the mermaid beauty's invitation for communication, the once talkative shell earrings didn't offer even a hint of response, as if they died right after helping her open the door to [Yesterday's Residence], silent ever since.

Alright then.

Seeing the Four Pillar Gods clearly refusing communication, a faint regret flashed in the mermaid beauty's eyes, then she slightly flipped her wrist and dragged a fainted True God out of the void.

Mastering the power of Fertility, True God... let's see.

Her sea-blue eyes flashed with multicolored light, after glancing at the trajectory of the source flowing over the Origin Mud Plate, the mermaid beauty, with the unconscious True God held lightly, found a place brimming with life.

The power of the God of Fertility should be in the realm of [Prosperous] and [Declining], this should be the place.

Placing the God of Fertility on the purple-black Origin Mud Plate, after softly shattering a bit of her power, the mermaid beauty stepped back a few steps, watched the [Fertile] power gradually flow out and be absorbed by the Origin Mud Plate, she nodded satisfactorily, and then took out two more fainted True Gods.

Next are [Flower] and [Untimely Death], the former probably falls into the realm of [Flesh] and [Spirit], the latter should be in the domain of [Death] and [Life]...

Classifying the True Gods in her hand simply according to life and death, false and real, prosperity and decline, soul and body, into four groups of eight categories, and after placing them in the corresponding positions, the mermaid beauty walked to the center of the Origin Mud Plate, sat down, and slowly closed her eyes.

As her consciousness sank into the Origin Mud Plate, the originally chaotic sources near the Source God Platform began, under the guidance of each True God's power, to turn from chaos into order, and according to the mermaid beauty's "classification" method, they flowed into the purple-black ground.

"Pop!"

With a sound like a bursting soap bubble, the layer of mud that had been so thick and impenetrable, never before penetrated by any True God, melted away like snow under the blazing sun, in an instant.

And through the mermaid beauty's relentless efforts, more sources began to guide through the eight powers, continuously scraping away the protective layer of the Origin Mud Plate, inching towards the origin hidden at the bottom.

One day, two days... one week, two weeks...

After a full half month of erosion, the thick Origin Mud Plate had been scraped away to ninety-nine percent, leaving only a very thin layer, even visible to the naked eye, where one could faintly see the brilliant colors shining from below.

However, at this moment, when success was near, a dazzling star gate traversed the endless star realm, shining from the world of the dead all the way to the deepest part of the Source God Platform, precisely opening above the Origin Mud Plate.

"You've come?"

Noticing the fluctuations belonging to the Stargate, the mermaid beauty opened her eyes and glanced upwards, then smiled at Leon who stepped out of the Stargate:

"You're later than I expected, I've been waiting a long time for you, was it difficult to prepare the means to deal with me?"

No, under the collaboration of Taurus Pavilion and the third-generation elder, the means to deal with you were swiftly prepared, I came late just to wait for you to continue weakening yourself.

Glancing at the Origin Mud Plate below, which had already been shaved to ninety-nine percent, and sensing the extremely weakened aura of the mermaid beauty, Leon did not verbally respond but directly touched his cufflink with his fingertip.

No...

"Don't just stand up there; come down."

Smiling at Leon, the exhausted mermaid beauty didn't rise to confront him but rather waved at him with a smile:

"Come and listen to my lecture; if nothing unexpected happens, I will teach you to refine the color of the source into the splendor of the source, and then use this to break through the method of eighty points immersion, and also the way to stabilize time with the source, allowing easy passage through the Old Soil without being affected."

"?!?!?!?"

"Quite surprising, isn't it~"

Seeing the astonishment in Leon's eyes, who for the first time lost his composure in front of her, the tired mermaid beauty couldn't help but smile proudly.

"When we parted in the Abyssal Realm, you once asked me a question: Will we be enemies the next time we meet? Now I can answer that question... No."

"..."

"I want my people to live once more, to have the opportunity to choose their own lives... But I will never do what he did to me, forcibly taking the roots that belong to others, and using the suffering of other worlds to make up for my regrets."

Pointing at the roots shimmering with colorful light below, the mermaid woman said with a smile:

"I plan to invest in the roots of the present world, to become a part of it, and once I master the roots and actively dissolve into yours, the Abyssal Realm will thoroughly merge into the ocean of the present world, just like the Tidal Realm.

By then, the area of the world's ocean will triple, and although your roots won't be directly enhanced, their limit will increase by a third. This way, even if someone targets you, you won't be utterly defenseless."

"You..."

"I may have many regrets in my heart, but I'm smarter than you think, much smarter... Indeed, I can't resist the temptation to make up for my regrets, but I'm far from being overwhelmed by my desires."

Pointing a finger and circling it around her temple, the mermaid woman spoke in a calm tone:

"Taking your roots could completely make up for my regrets, but if my roots can be taken once, they can be taken a second time. Rather than living in perpetual fear of greater future pain, it's better to place my hope in you... After all, you are indeed a good person."

"..."

Ah, well... I might not be as good as you think.

With mixed emotions on Leon's face, the mermaid woman extended her pinky finger toward him, speaking earnestly:

"Leon, I want you to make me a promise now. After I actively dissolve into the roots of this world, I need you to bring out the 4,350,000 corpses of my people from the Abyssal Realm and give them a chance to choose with your roots.

Whether they want to retain their memories, live out their remaining years, or prepare to forget the painful past and embrace a new life, you must promise them... Can you do that?"

"..."

Actually... I've already brought your people out, though the method might differ from what you imagined...

Not knowing what to say for a moment, but considering that he preserved their free will to maximize the efficacy of his mental attacks specifically for Evangelin's people, and still had time to resurrect them, Leon nodded firmly.

"Alright... I promise you."

"Very well~"

Seeing Leon make the promise, the mermaid woman couldn't help but breathe a small sigh of relief, then said with a smile:

"In that case, let me give you another gift... Do you want the Supreme Four Pillar Gods?"

"?!!!"

"This shell of mine was created by the joint efforts of the Four Pillar Gods, and there must be some contingencies they left behind. If I'm not mistaken, they are very likely to forcibly control my body at a crucial moment."

After tapping on the shell earrings, the mermaid woman smiled and said:

"They won't allow me to lean toward you, they will definitely choose to control my body. And although I'm already dead, it would take at least two Supreme Four Pillar Gods working together to suppress my will.

So, if you can defeat me next, you'll have the chance to capture the souls of two Supreme Four Pillar Gods at once, nearly imprisoning them forever, or even throwing them into the roots to be utterly crushed...

Hmm... I reckon they're coming soon, be prepared! I am quite strong!"

"Wait... Hold on!"

Hearing this, Leon widened his eyes in shock.

"You mean you will go offline shortly, and then two of the Supreme Four Pillar Gods will come in as substitutes?!!!"

"Don't worry."

The mermaid woman smiled upon hearing this, then confidently said to Leon:

"I let you see my past, gave you the chance to scavenge materials in the Abyssal Realm, stirred the clearing bureau to give you the motivation to confront me, and left the two Taurus secret technique users in the clearing bureau. Since you've come, you've definitely prepared, crafting exceptions specifically targeted at me.

With such adequate preparation and my guidance, even if the Four Pillar Gods control my body, they won't be a match for you. You can be more confident."

"..."

"Come on!"

With a twitching smile at the corner of his mouth, Leon hooked his finger at her as the mermaid woman smiled:

"Bring out everything you've prepared to deal with me, let me see your methods!"