Living in the deep palace

Su Chen slowly closed his eyes, giving up on observing with his eyes and exploring with his divine sense.

He completely opened his mind and tried to merge with this dead universe.

He felt that last bit of energy fluctuation struggling in absolute zero.

He listened to the absolute silence, which seemed all the clearer because all other sounds had vanished.

He traced back the long river of time that had long since frozen, and saw the universe's former glory and splendor.

I witnessed countless civilizations, blooming brilliantly in this universe like summer flowers, and quietly withering away like autumn leaves.

I have witnessed countless powerful figures, like shooting stars, streaking across the sky of time, only to eventually fade into eternal silence.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Formation, dwelling, decay, emptiness.

Everything is heading towards its end.

Nothing can escape this final annihilation.

Is this the way of Heaven?
Is this the ultimate fate of the universe?
No.

A sudden realization dawned on Su Chen's mind.

He recalled his first life, to that ordinary yet magnificent blue planet called "Earth".

Life there is fragile and short-lived, lasting no more than a hundred years.

Yet, within their finite lives, they created infinite possibilities. With wisdom, they explored the mysteries of the universe; with emotion, they wove the bonds of civilization; and with generation after generation of reproduction and inheritance, they defied the ruthlessness of time.

Although their physical bodies will die, their spirit, their civilization, and their "existence" will achieve "immortality" in another way.

He recalled his second life, from an insignificant eunuch in a library to the present day, becoming the uncrowned king of this vast starry sea.

His rise to prominence is itself an example of creating something extraordinary from something ordinary.

In the midst of despair, is it about seeking hope?
"The end is not true death."

"Decline does not mean the end of hope."

A slow smile crept onto Su Chen's lips.

"When all matter returns to its most fundamental, most disordered state..."

"When all energy returns to absolute balance and stillness..."

"When all laws lose their meaning and become pure 'nothingness'..."

"That also means..."

"Can everything start over?"

"Absolute 'nothingness' itself gives birth to absolute 'being'!"

"The end of annihilation is the beginning of creation!"

boom--!!!!!!

The moment this enlightenment fully arose in Su Chen's heart!
His sealed, mortal will suddenly erupted with a light that was more brilliant and dazzling than any immortal power or supernatural ability!

That light did not come from his physical body, but from his Dao heart! It came from his ultimate understanding of the "Dao"!

"I understand!"

"This is the meaning of 'new life'!"

Su Chen's will transformed into a tiny yet incredibly bright "spark"!
He did not try to use this spark to ignite anything.

He simply threw this spark of "hope" and "new life" into the core of this death universe that represents "despair" and "end"!
That singularity of absolute balance and absolute stillness!

next moment!
The entire simulated universe shattered with a deafening roar!
The endless darkness and cold receded like the tide.

Su Chen's consciousness returned to that simple courtyard.

Before him was still the same stone table, the cup of "Void God Tea" that had long since cooled, and the Lord of the Abyss whose face held an undisguised expression of approval and surprise.

"In the midst of heat and stillness, the opportunity for creation is found—"

“Young friend, your understanding of the Dao is far beyond my expectations.”

"You have passed the first trial."

The Lord of the Abyss spoke slowly, and then he raised his hand again and gently waved it towards Su Chen.

"Then, the second trial will begin."

……

……

The scene before my eyes changed once again.

This time, Su Chen arrived in a beautiful world full of vitality and hope.

Azure sky, white clouds, vast grasslands, and clear rivers.

Countless unique creatures thrive and live in peace and contentment on this fertile land.

Everything seemed so peaceful and beautiful.

This stands in stark contrast to the desolate universe of the first trial.

"What is the second trial?"

A sense of vigilance rose in Su Chen's heart.

He knew that beneath this seemingly beautiful scene lay an even more terrifying danger!

Moreover, this time, the Lord of the Abyss did not seal his power.

He could clearly feel the vast Taiyi Immortal Power surging within his body.

"The power has not been sealed, which means that this trial requires battle."

Su Chen's divine sense, like an invisible giant net, instantly covered the entire world.

However, he did not find any powerful or threatening presence.

This world, though vibrant with life, generally has a low level of life. The strongest beings are only comparable to true immortals in the vast starry sea.

Where exactly is the enemy?

Su Chen frowned slightly, and the unease in his heart grew stronger.

He strolled through this beautiful world, observing every blade of grass and every tree, and experiencing the local customs and culture.

Everything seemed so normal.

But just as he was passing through a bustling city and saw countless children laughing and playing in the square...

A sudden change occurred!

A tall tower on the edge of the city vanished without warning before everyone's eyes!
It was not destroyed, nor was it reduced to ruins.

Instead, it was as if an invisible eraser had forcefully wiped the painting away from the canvas!
It has completely disappeared!

Not even a trace of its existence was left!

"what?!"

The city's residents screamed in terror and descended into chaos!
Su Chen's pupils suddenly contracted to their maximum size!

"This feeling is like a 'devourer'!!!"

He suddenly looked up at the sky!

Above the azure sky, a tiny, almost imperceptible "flaw" had appeared.

It was neither a dark cloud nor a crack.

Instead, it is a pure, distorted "nothingness"!
It floated there quietly, like a drop of ink accidentally spilled onto this perfect painting. But this "ink drop" was slowly expanding at a speed visible to the naked eye!
Wherever it goes, everything—the sky, the clouds, the light—is mercilessly erased!

Transform into nothingness, just like itself!
"So this is the second trial?"

"Face the Devourer!"

An unprecedented solemnity erupted in Su Chen's eyes!
This is no longer a simulation, no longer an illusion!
Rather, it was the Lord of the Abyss who, with his supreme power, intercepted a true shadow of the "devourer"!

Although it was just a shadow, its essence was exactly the same as what Su Chen had seen in the memories of the "Spark"!
It is a conceptual natural disaster that transcends the laws of nature and feeds on "existence" itself!
"Roar--!"

Seemingly sensing the presence of Su Chen, this "high-energy" being, the "nothingness" in the sky suddenly accelerated its expansion!

It was like a ravenous beast that had caught the scent of blood, frantically "devouring" Su Chen's location!

Below, the bustling city, under the spread of this "nothingness," could not even hold on for a moment before being completely wiped out!
Countless living beings, without even uttering a scream, vanished into nothingness along with the very concept of their existence!

A cold killing intent flashed in Su Chen's eyes!
Without further hesitation, the Taiyi Immortal Essence within his body erupted with a thunderous roar!

"Taiyi Shattering Star Fist!"

He unleashed a punch, a golden fist imprint containing the power of the birth and death of billions of stars, tearing through the sky and slamming fiercely into the spreading "nothingness"!
however!
What happened next shocked Su Chen!

His terrifying fist imprint, capable of shattering stars, vanished the moment it touched that "nothingness," like a stone thrown into a bottomless abyss...

They vanished without a sound!

Swallowed!

Or rather, it was "erased"!

"What?!" Su Chen was utterly shocked!
His power was ineffective against it?!

"Jie Jie"

A strange laugh, seemingly nonexistent in this dimension, echoed in Su Chen's mind.

"A decent 'existence'"

"It can fill my 'emptiness' perfectly."

That "nothingness" seemed to be enraged by Su Chen's attack, and it descended upon Su Chen at a speed more than ten times faster than before!

It was as if they wanted to completely erase him, along with the space he was in!
Faced with the overwhelming "nothingness" that could erase everything, Su Chen felt a sense of powerlessness that originated from the very source for the first time.

His power, his laws, and the Taiyi Immortal Path he was so proud of all seemed to lose their meaning in the face of this purely "conceptual" natural disaster.

Because you cannot use "existence" to attack the existence of "non-existence".

Just like you can't use your fist to shatter your own shadow.

"Is this really the end?"

Su Chen's heart sank little by little.

He can hide, he can escape.

But he knew this was just a trial. If he chose to run away, it would mean failure.

More importantly, he will inevitably have to face the true "devourer" in the future! If he cannot even defeat a "shadow" today, how can he talk about protecting his world in the future?!

Do not!
I cannot lose!

An indomitable will rose in Su Ri's heart!

He suddenly raised his head, and a fierce flame ignited once again in his pale golden eyes!

"I understand"

"I was wrong from the very beginning!"

He muttered to himself, a knowing smile appearing on his face.

Since I cannot use 'existence' to attack 'non-existence'

"Since I cannot use 'destruction' to overcome 'annihilation'..."

"That……"

Su Chen took a deep breath and stopped trying to attack the spreading "nothingness".

instead.

He opened his arms and released the vast Taiyi Immortal Essence within his body, which was filled with endless vitality and creative power, without reservation!

"The Record of Suppressing Demons in Taiyi"

"Taiyi Creates Life!"

Buzz——!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At this moment, Su Chen's body seemed to transform into a source of creation!

Endless, nine-colored rays of light surged wildly from his body!
He neither built a defense nor organized an attack!
He's simply creating!
In that region where "nothingness" was about to be swallowed up, a completely new "something" was being created frantically!
He created light, and light was born, dispelling the conceptual darkness!

He created the soil, and the soil solidified, forming the solid and heavy earth!

He created water, and water flowed and gathered into mighty rivers!

He created life, and the seeds of life took root and sprouted wildly in the rivers and land, transforming into towering trees and magnificent flowers!

He is fighting against the terrifying power of the "Devourer" that erases reality, all by his own strength!
You erase, I create!
See if you can erase faster, or if I can create faster!
This is an unbelievable tug-of-war!
A conceptual battle between "creation" and "nothingness"!

"roar?!?!"

For the first time, the shadow of the "devourer" let out a roar filled with surprise and anger!

It had never seen such a "stubborn" existence before!
In its understanding, everything that "exists" is utterly vulnerable and instantly assimilated in the face of "non-existence"!

But this tiny creature in front of it is actually "competing for territory" with it?!

It erased a piece of the sky, and Su Chen immediately created a new sky!
It wiped away a piece of land, and Su Chen immediately condensed a new piece of land!
Its "devouring" is as if it has sunk into an endless quagmire!

"Hehehe, an interesting struggle."

"But your 'creativity' has its limits!"

"But my 'nothingness' is endless!"

The shadow of the "devourer" has gone completely berserk!

That area of ​​"nothingness" stopped slowly spreading and suddenly contracted! It coalesced!
It transformed into a pitch-black spear, seemingly capable of piercing through all of reality!

With a terrifying will to completely erase Su Chen, the "source of creation," it stabbed fiercely towards him!

This is the culmination of all its power!

It is "nothingness" itself that is the final judgment on "existence"!
Su Chen stared at the spear of nothingness that seemed to pierce even time itself, his expression extremely solemn!
He knew this was the final blow that would decide the outcome!
He did not try to create anything to defend himself.

Because he knew that any created "being" could not withstand the ultimate blow of this pure "nothingness".

All he could do was...

"Then use 'existence' itself to fight against your 'nothingness'!"

An unprecedentedly brilliant divine light erupted from Su Chen's eyes!
Instead of retreating, he took the initiative to meet the spear of nothingness!

He transformed himself, his Taiyi Dao Seed, his immortal soul, and everything about himself into the purest and most dazzling concept of "existence"!

I think, therefore I am!
I fight, therefore I am!

I desire to create, therefore I am!

As long as my will remains, my "existence" will be eternal!

boom--!!!!!!!!!!

Su Chen's "existence" collided violently with the spear that represented "nothingness"!
There was no sound, no light, and no explosion of energy.

Only two diametrically opposed ultimate concepts are undergoing a most fundamental mutual annihilation! (End of Chapter)