Zombie Marvel? Luckily, I'm Superman!

"What are you collecting?" Lin Yi asked again.

"This..." The Celestial Venerable hesitated, his eyes flickering.

"Can't you say?"

"No, that's not it... I was afraid you wouldn't believe me if I told you," the Grandmaster said. "They asked me to collect the genetic information of all life forms and races in this universe."

"I'm telling the truth..." The Grandmaster seemed to realize that he hadn't been sincere enough, and immediately emphasized it again.

Lin Yi squinted at him. No wonder he hesitated. He couldn't really believe what he was saying. What was the point of collecting the genetic information of all life forms in the universe?

Okay, even if it were really useful to them, would they still need the Grandmaster's help to collect it? With six Infinity Stones, couldn't they just snap their fingers and do it? Why would it take so long? This isn't even a smokescreen; it wouldn't fool a three-year-old.

The Celestial Venerable felt uneasy under Lin Yi's gaze, but fortunately, Lin Yi did not dwell on the matter any further.

"So since the gem isn't what you want, do you know what they need it for?" Lin Yi brought up the question from before.

Upon hearing this question, a hint of doubt flashed in Gao Tianzun's eyes. He looked at Lin Yi, seemingly trying to determine something. Why would Lin Yi ask such a question? Did he not know what this gemstone was? Was he trying to trick me?

Lin Yi's expression remained unchanged, and Gao Tianzun knew he had no right to question Lin Yi, so he could only answer honestly.

"They mentioned it once, saying that the gem was the key to unlocking that place, but I don't know which place."

"The key?" Lin Yi frowned.

"Yes, the key." The Grandmaster nodded. "Their original words were 'the key to the source,' but I don't know what the source is. They said that as long as you get the gem, you can open a certain passage."

Lin Yi fell silent again.

The key to the source. What does the source refer to? The origin of the universe, or a higher-dimensional existence?

There is too little information to make a judgment.

"Then, one last condition: tell me where those two things are!"

The array that restarted the universe has been running for so long that any living being that can move in the universe can feel this aura of annihilation hanging overhead. However, the two entities that are watching have not reacted at all, and have not even cast their gazes over. This in itself reveals something strange.

Do they not care about this universe, or have they already left it?

The Celestial Master gave a slightly embarrassed hum: "I don't know..."

Fearing that Lin Yi might think he was unwilling to speak, the High Celestial Venerable quickly added, "They have special methods to conceal themselves. I cannot sense their location. For the past seven hundred years, they have always been the ones to seek me out; I cannot initiate contact with them."

Lin Yi rested his chin on his hand and tapped the armrest of the seat with his left hand.

He couldn't completely believe the Celestial's explanation; the information was shockingly simple and seemed like something that had been prepared beforehand.

However, upon closer examination, it makes sufficient sense. While it cannot be completely trusted, it is likely mostly true.

While the Celestial Master was answering questions, Lin Yi kept a close eye on his heart rate and analyzed his facial expressions. Of course, at the Celestial Master's level, he could even lie with complete ease.

But if we're talking about a performance, and this story is false, then isn't it too simplistic? He could easily have crafted a more complex and convincing narrative, instead of this simplistic statement that makes people instinctively suspicious.

In short, we cannot rule out the possibility that it was done intentionally by the High Celestial Venerable; this suspicion must be kept.

As for that orange gem, its gold content is still increasing. At this stage, the only possible deduction is that my future self found it and then had the quantum beings give it to me. The absolute uniqueness of this story inherently contradicts itself; my own experience is the absolute and unique reality. How could there be another version of myself from another timeline giving something to that other version of myself?

Lin Yi now even doubts whether the "self" the quantum man was talking about is really himself.

Seeing that Lin Yi remained silent for a long time, the Celestial Venerable Gao cautiously asked, "Well, I've told you everything I know, and I've agreed to your conditions. Can the restart formation be removed now?"

Lin Yi stared at Gao Tianzun for a long time, until Gao Tianzun felt uneasy, before raising his hand.

The enormous magic circle in the universe began to shrink, the runes gradually dimmed, and a few seconds later, the magic circle was completely returned to the alternate dimension, and sunlight reappeared on Sakaar.

The aura of annihilation that enveloped the entire universe also dissipated.

Lin Yi stood up, opened a portal to Earth, and nodded to Tony and the other two: "Now that everything is resolved, let's go back."

The three nodded without speaking and walked towards the teleportation portal without hesitation. Although silent, the expressions on their faces were more relaxed than ever before, with a hint of joy and exhaustion mixed in.

Lin Yi followed at the very back. When the three people stepped into the teleportation portal, he stopped and turned to look at the Celestial Venerable.

The Celestial Venerable's heart skipped a beat.

"Tell me the exact time and place of their first appearance."

The Grandmaster was taken aback, then quickly realized: "The time should be 732 years ago, the 131st cycle and 209th day of the Saka standard calendar, the location is in the Alpha Fan system..."

Lin Yi noted down this information, and finally gave Gao Tianzun a meaningful look.

"Remember your promise. I will come to this universe again in the future. If I find out you lied..." Lin Yi narrowed his eyes, and before he could finish speaking, he turned and stepped into the portal.

The portal closed, and the Grandmaster stood there, looking at the empty room, his face slowly darkening.

"Those two bastards..." he muttered under his breath. He knew that the conditions they proposed back then weren't so simple, but more than seven hundred years had made him question his initial doubts, which led him to provoke Lin Yi.

Now all he wants is to end this competition as soon as possible, and then hide in the shadows and hope that Lin Yi and those two bastards will both be severely injured.

……

Blue Star, at the top of Stark Tower.

Standing here, Lin Yi could hear cheers coming from all directions.

The Grandmaster soon announced on Earth that Earth could permanently withdraw from the cosmic race survival competition.

This means that Earth will forever bid farewell to this cruel game.

This tremendous good news plunged the entire planet into a state of ecstatic joy at surviving, no longer needing to live in fear that the planet might disappear at any moment.

However, some people are worried, such as Tony and his friends. Will the Grandmaster's promise continue to work? The things in Lin Yi's conversation with the Grandmaster also made Tony and the others realize that there are deeper dangers in this universe. This makes them feel anxious even as they are happy.

However, this does not prevent them from holding a victory celebration at this moment.

Lin Yi declined Tony's invitation, saying she needed to be alone, and then came here.

He was pondering where those two entities with the gaze were hiding.