As he spoke, he paced around, questioning the visitor.

"But what have you done? When Leoz launched the Primordial Abyss Unification War, you just stood by, picking up the leftovers behind the Primordial Abyss Federation. A shame indeed, you knew well when civilization would collapse, yet if only you had united earlier instead of fighting and scheming for trifles, how could you let the Earthlings get this far."

Li Aozi raised his hand, pointing upwards and then downwards:

"In truth, the Six Abysses and Thirteen Narratives do not wish for Starry Abyss to unify; they all want to stay in their domains and live like petty emperors. Among them, who is truly for the masses of Starry Abyss, who is for saving the world and ensuring peace? They're all for their own Grand Narratives, trapped within their own small territories."

"I don't deny it, you're right."

Dialan said:

"But if you don't come with us now, Starry Abyss will surely be destroyed by Arstala!"

"Oh yes, indeed," Rista hurriedly said. "I've even stopped playing Witness; I'm ready to submerge into Starry Abyss. Just think of it as a journey, join us to the Void... at most to Mass Abyss."

"Why should I?"

Li Aozi, with drooped eyes, lazily replied:

"The rise and fall of the world is predetermined, it has nothing to do with me, a half-old man. If the heavens collapse, someone taller will prop it up; if a cosmic realm needs a mortal like me to die for it, then such a realm might as well be destroyed."

"...So, is this your true nature?"

Nomi, silent until now, suddenly spoke:

"Cowardly and fearful of battle, selfish and self-serving, not only lacking respect for those who try to change the world but also taking a cold and mocking attitude."

"You are mistaken; this isn't my true nature. It's the common, ordinary folk—this represents the majority of the vast beings in this world."

Li Aozi laughed wryly, sitting on the doorstep:

"I am the human side of Leoz that he chose to abandon—do you know why he abandoned me? Because ordinary people get nothing done. Those high and mighty elites, chosen by destiny, always try to use Grand Narratives to bind common folk, enticing us to fight for them—but what hatred is there among ordinary civilians? It's nothing but being forced by one side to kill another."

"Ideals do not belong to the laborious masses at the bottom; they belong to you elites. Precisely because I am weak, fearful, and shallow in understanding, that's why I'm a civilian, that's why I represent the majority. Success and fame have nothing to do with us; Leoz abandoned me, so he could achieve greatness."

"What qualifies you to comment on my nature? Speaking of Six Abysses and Thirteen Narratives, those narratives beyond, haven't set foot out of their native planets—when you conquer them, did you ever consider their feelings? Whether Earth wins or Starry Abyss wins, what's the difference to them?"

He tapped the doorboard behind him, sitting amidst the dilapidated kiln and broken tiles, calmly saying:

"Do you see this? If Leoz were like me, an ordinary civilian with a normal humanity, how could he become the Great Commander of Primordial Abyss, how could he be the True God? At most, he'd just be a sloppy blacksmith."

"Even if Leoz achieved great success, what does it have to do with me, an ordinary person? Clearly, he abandoned me, so he could succeed. And now you still want to erase the one chance for this commoner to stand up? Do you think it's possible?"

"I'm not a hero, nor do I plan to become one for you."

"I'm not special, nor do I wish to be; just living till the end of life like this is satisfying enough."

Li Aozi's speech left the three silent.

None of them expected Li Aozi's human side to be such an ambitionless commoner. No specialty, no qualities, profoundly mediocre and miserly in his bones.

End of the world? What's it got to do with me? That's for the big shots to worry about.

Need me to save it? No way, not even at gunpoint, why should I sacrifice everything to extend the lives of those lords?

Dialan already understood clearly.

"Let's go."

She shook her head, ready to leave.

"Go? Then wouldn't my curse be for nothing?" Rista replied surprised: "It can't be!"

"The purpose of this journey has already failed." Dialan was already too lazy to waste words explaining.

The present Li Aozi, with extreme hatred and disdain for certain elites, clearly does not see himself as part of Starry Abyss and doesn't care who dominates, Starry Abyss or Earth.

As he said, the mortal Li Aozi refuses to serve any privileged hierarchy.

Such human nature, even returned to the original body, what use is it?

It only means Starry Abyss loses a high-level combat strength, making it easier for Earthlings to beat.

The trip wasn't entirely in vain, at least it further strengthened Dialan's resolve; she began to plan in her mind how to carry out the hunt for Secret Citizens in Border Abyss.

Everyone has his mission, and those with certain specialties are just right for such tasks.

Just as Dialan was preparing to leave, Nomi spoke again:

"The Li Aozi I know isn't like this."

She stepped forward, brushing past the turning Dialan, pushing open the fence, and entered the courtyard, saying to Li Aozi:

"In my memory, Li Aozi is neither a hero nor an ordinary person."

Li Aozi looked up at her.

Only at this moment did Nomi realize that this was their true reunion since Frost Plated left.