Chapter 1200: Chapter 1201: Casket Ascenders

"Then why haven’t you left the Dimensional Esophagus yet?"

Green’s question interrupted the Skeleton Monster. However, before the Skeleton Monster could get angry, the Paper Man nearby answered.

"Because we don’t have the key to open the Coffin of Hope. Later, a powerful being realized that if four truly top-tier strong individuals worked together on the seals engraved above, they could forcibly open the Coffin of Hope for a short time. Unfortunately, the four Casket Ascenders here don’t have enough strength to open the Coffin of Hope and obtain the Time Casket."

Casket Ascenders!

Green finally understood the meaning behind the Paper Man’s previous question about whether he was ready.

Since the four Casket Ascenders don’t have enough power, stronger individuals need to replace the weaker ones to gain the opportunity to open the Coffin of Hope.

As such, the numerous strong figures gathered here, after being filtered by the rules of the Dimensional Gap, have the chance to challenge and replace the Casket Ascenders!

In this way, as the Casket Ascenders grow stronger, there may be a day when the coffin can be opened.

This place, being one of the legends able to escape the Dimensional Esophagus, continues to attract strong beings who, upon hearing the news, are drawn here to become potential candidates for the esophagus’s digestion. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

And this key to the Coffin of Hope, Green is almost certain, is none other than the Scepter of Hope in his hand!

Did the Sovereign of the Light of Hope hope that his descendants would come to the Dimensional Esophagus to receive his legacy and then leave with the Time Casket?

Or perhaps fearing that the Time Casket would be taken by others out of the Dimensional Esophagus, he created the Coffin of Hope to merge it with the Time Casket, choosing to exile his own body...

Right!

Green suddenly thought, if I use the Scepter of Hope to open the Coffin of Hope, then, as part of the legacy, the Time Casket would inevitably become my private item, and I would immediately take it out of the dangerous Dimensional Esophagus.

The faint pulling force from the Scepter of Hope suggests that I must not take it out here, or it will surely attract some anomalies. It is almost certain that a terrifying battle to seize the Scepter of Hope will erupt here instantly.

Current Green is not a Casket Ascender, which makes him an enemy of at least these two terrifying lifeforms who are Casket Ascenders!

And if Green succeeds in the future challenge, considering the Time Casket can be used only once in a lifetime, after returning to the real world the Time Casket would have no more use for Green, but it could be left as a legacy for his three disciples.

Yet, he would still become a life-and-death enemy with the other three Casket Ascenders!

Ssss...

Given this, my only chance is through the traditional Casket Ascender method here.

The Sovereign of the Light of Hope probably never thought that the terrifying beings trapped in the Dimensional Esophagus, in their attempt to escape, would break through his meticulous designs and come up with these coping methods.

Boom...

At this moment, from a distance across the horizon of the Skeleton Land, an energy wave surged up that made Green’s heart tremble. Terrified, Green’s Three-Colored Light Eyes under the Face of Truth twitched as he observed the surge. Just the outer aftermath experienced by Green likely already approached a million degrees.

A Casket Ascender?

However, what frightened Green even more was that within that terrifying energy ripple, another strong figure was battling relentlessly. It must be a challenger.

"Oh? A fine fellow has arrived, but unfortunately, they’ve chosen to challenge the Demon Doll—seeking their own death."

The Paper Man also looked over, muttering to himself.

Thud, thud, thud, thud...

Not to mention the strong figures in the distance covered by the energy fluctuations under Green’s Face of Truth, in another direction, an Iceberg Giant was stepping across the Skeleton Land. Appearing significantly affected by the phenomena within the Dimensional Gap, its body held vast, fragmented cracks. With the "thud, thud" tremors of the land, it took one step at a time forward.

"Who among you are the Casket Ascenders?"

On the Iceberg Giant’s head, the will of a pure white Holy Flower extended and questioned Green, the Paper Man, and the Skeleton Monster.

The Skeleton Monster glanced at the White Flower and the Iceberg Giant below, and with contemptuous cold laughter, its mouth spewing deathly black smoke said: "Barely made it through the Dimensional Gap, you stand no chance—do not come here to die."

However, amidst the "cough, cough, cough" of the white Holy Flower’s breath, came a low voice: "Even if there’s no chance, it’s my last chance. I no longer have time to explore other gathering places within the esophagus. Compared to the previous ones, the Coffin of Hope and the Time Casket feel more real."

In Green’s perception, the Soul Fire of the white flower had reached its final stage and could wither and extinguish within a few hundred years.

Looking at its aged soul traces, it must have existed for at least ten eons. Such an ancient creature, possibly older than most True Spirit Wizards of the Wizard World, yet even closer to life’s end.

Such a long lifespan, seemingly infinite to lower living beings, now approached its end, about to be digested by the Endless World.

"Ahh..."

A barely audible sigh.

Having experienced the cruel battles of civilizations and, even earlier, repeatedly severe injuries with intense healing, the aftermath of Self-sealing Technique outbursts, forced recovery with magic potions, Nightmare Body activation, soul damage, and even the soul consumption of the Black Sphere of the Grand World in Green’s hand, Green could keenly feel that his Saint Trace Soul was not infinite.

In fact, compared to many other wizards, Green’s Saint Trace Soul seemed somewhat inferior.

Witnessing firsthand the fall of a World Master due to the exhaustion of Soul Fire is incredibly rare. Most World Masters either die in battle during their lifespan or step into the ranks of Dominators. But in this Dimensional Esophagus—the place of Endless World’s digestion—the proportion of such existence is far greater than in the Material World.

Here, only the truly strong can survive.

"Alright, let me send you back for re-digestion by the Endless World."

With those words, the Skeleton Monster, with the ability to break through True Time, seemed like a series of black shadows constantly leaping through space and clashing with the Iceberg Giant, firmly holding the advantage.

"Heeheehee, Old Black Wind Monster comes to challenge the Casket Ascender!"

From afar, a black whirlwind approached, carrying a sharp, piercing laugh within a wave of will. Indeed, stronger than the Iceberg Giant, the Paper Man glanced at it and let out a cold laugh. With a flick of his hand, a thread made of white paper pierced through the heavens, instantly piercing the Old Black Wind Monster.

Yet, the Old Black Wind Monster continued with its sharp, ear-piercing laughter, unchanged after being pierced by the white paper. The Paper Man let out a low, cold laugh: "House of Cards."

Rustle, rustle...

A sky full of paper formed a giant paper ball, layer upon layer wrapping around. It seemed endless. Shortly thereafter, the Paper Man dispersed into countless pieces, and then inside the House, massive fluctuations ensued.

Whoosh!

A half-eagle, half-human monster, over ten meters tall, suddenly appeared before Green. With golden shimmering feathers on its wings, a powerful, sharp aura blew over.

"Casket Ascender?"

Its sharp eagle eyes regarded Green. Previously, encountering such a formidable creature, Green would have unleashed the Black Sphere of the Grand World without hesitation.

However, now Green quickly said: "Over there, they’re challenging the Casket Ascender. I am just passing by and watching briefly. After all, I still have a lot of soul left. No need to risk it now."

Upon hearing that Green wasn’t a Casket Ascender, the half-human, half-eagle creature lost all interest in Green and simply waited there instead.