Living in the deep palace

"The tributaries of time are scattered throughout the universe, and their number is greater than the sands of the Ganges. Which one is the oldest and which one is the most stable is a secret that can no longer be verified."

"but……"

Xuan Yuan Jin Xian changed the subject and took out an ancient compass from his sleeve, which looked as if it were formed from starlight.

"This is the most precious treasure of my Golden Immortal Alliance—the 'Heavenly Mystery Disc'. It may not be able to directly deduce the location of that tributary, but it can sense the world that has the deepest 'karma' with you, Dao Master."

"Perhaps the answer you are looking for is right there."

"Only from the world where we were born has a great chance of going against the river of time and reaching the end of time..."

Su Chen looked at the Heavenly Secrets Disc, and a thought suddenly struck him.

The world with which he has the deepest karmic connection?

A familiar yet distant name instantly surfaced in his mind.

The Boundary Between Mountains and Seas!
That place was the starting point of his journey to immortality, the source of all his karma.

Moreover, the flow of time in the Mountain and Sea Realm is completely different from that in the vast Starry Sea. Isn't this the perfect embodiment of the "tributary of time"?!
"I understand."

Su Chen nodded slightly to Xuan Yuan Jin Xian, acknowledging the favor.

He didn't linger in the Golden Immortal Alliance any longer; he knew where he should go.

He took one last look at this dimensional dimension, took a step, and his figure vanished.

The remaining Golden Immortals of the Alliance looked at each other, speechless for a long time.

After a long while, Xuan Yuan Golden Immortal finally let out a long breath. He looked in the direction where Su Chen had disappeared and muttered to himself:

"It seems he's also stuck at the third stage of the Taiyi Path, a half-step Taiyi Golden Immortal?"

"The storm is coming..."

"It seems."

"This era, because of him, is destined... to never be peaceful again."

……

……

The vast starry sea stretches to the horizon.

After leaving the headquarters of the Golden Immortal Alliance, Su Chen did not immediately tear through the void to return to his homeland, which he had forgotten for nearly ten thousand years.

Instead, he slowed his pace, like a solitary traveler walking among the dazzling stars.

His divine sense covered countless billions of miles of star fields.

He witnessed the earth-shaking changes that had taken place throughout the entire star sea since he established the "Taiyi Dao Platform" and initiated the "Great Dao Contention".

In the past, cultivating immortality was a privilege reserved for a select few, and the Great Dao was monopolized by various powerful forces.

Now, under the influence of those five Dao Platforms, the "Great Dao" is no longer a lofty deity, but has transformed into starlight that everyone can pursue.

He saw that in remote, desolate star regions, there were races that were born dull-witted, but after listening to the great masters preaching on the Dao platform, they actually gained intelligence and created their own cultivation methods.

He saw that in the rich central star field, there were rogue cultivators of humble origins who made a name for themselves in the Dao Platform battles, were noticed by the ancient Dao lineage, were accepted as true disciples, and rose to prominence in one step.

He even saw young geniuses from the divine race set aside their innate pride and quietly come to the foot of the platform, silently comprehending the wondrous methods of the "immortal path" that were completely different from their "divine path," their eyes gleaming with the light of seeking knowledge and contemplation.

"There are fifty great ways, forty-nine of which are derived from the heavens, and one is lost."

"What I have done is to find the 'one that has vanished' for all living beings in this sea of ​​stars..."

A realization dawned on Su Chen's mind.

His "Way of Taiyi" is order, creation, and protection.

He erected the altar, seemingly to gather fortune, but in reality, he was also spreading his "Tao" throughout the universe.

When all living beings in the universe acknowledge his "order," are bathed in his "creation," and live under his "protection."

He can then become one with the "great trend" of the entire universe.

At that time, overthrowing the broken old Heavenly Dao and becoming a true Taiyi Golden Immortal may no longer be an unattainable dream.

"Master Cang, you say my Dao is too complex and lacks sharpness."

"Perhaps he is right."

"But this is the path of Su Chen."

"My path is neither pure killing nor absolute self."

"My path is to protect."

"Protect everything behind me, protect everything I care about, protect this universe that gave me life and nurtured me."

Having figured this out, Su Chen's state of mind was once again elevated.

His half-step Taiyi Golden Immortal realm became increasingly perfect and unfathomable.

He continued onward, traversing one star system after another.

His speed wasn't fast, yet it seemed to resonate with the pulse of the entire universe.

With each step he takes, he covers the distance of a galaxy.

Along his journey, he encountered mortal stars that were about to be swallowed by spacetime storms. With a simple flick of his finger, he calmed the chaotic storms and transformed them into spiritual energy that nourished all things.

There were desolate star systems that had been corrupted by the remnants of the "devourer's" power and turned into demonic realms. He merely glanced at them, and the filthy demonic energy was purified. On the desolate land, tender shoots of life bloomed anew.

He did not deliberately seek fame or reveal his true appearance.

But his actions have become legendary tales, like miracles, that have quietly spread among the stars.

Some say it was a reclusive, powerful being who roamed the mortal world.

Some say that he is the Lord of Taiyi Dao, with countless Dharma bodies, who travels throughout the universe.

After an unknown amount of time, Su Chen finally arrived at the edge of the vast starry sea.

Ahead lay a void shrouded in endless chaotic mist, impenetrable even by starlight...

That is the coordinate of the Mountain and Sea Realm.

Looking at that familiar yet incredibly distant and unfamiliar chaotic mist, Su Chen felt a surge of indescribable complex emotions.

There was a sense of trepidation at the prospect of returning home, a premonition that things had changed, but more than anything, there was an anticipation, as if one were about to see a long-lost relative.

He said he would come back.

Now, ten thousand years have passed.

He is back.

But are those who were waiting for him still...?
"The mortal realm within the palm of one's hand, the five regions of mountains and seas, the Great Evolution Realm..."

"How long has it been since I left the Mountain and Sea Realm and stepped into the vast starry sky? Thirty thousand years, or fifty thousand years, I can't remember."

"A day in heaven is a year on earth. Five million years, or even longer, should have passed in the Mountain and Sea Realm..."

Su Chen stood still, seemingly reminiscing. Through the thick fog shrouding the Mountain and Sea Realm, he could clearly see everything that was happening inside.

Everything has long since changed beyond recognition.

Everything he knew had vanished.

"Ugh."

After a sigh,
Without any further hesitation, Su Chen stepped inside.

The Mountain and Sea Realm can only support those at the Nascent Soul stage, not even True Immortals. But now, Su Chen has already reached the Taiyi Heavenly Extreme Immortal stage, half a step into the third realm.

As long as he wants, the rules of this Starry Sky Realm cannot be imposed on him.

It's just a matter of spending some money and effort.

As the light around Su Chen surged, his aura began to decline rapidly.

Halfway to the third realm!
Taiyi Second Realm Immortal!
Tenfold Immortal Rebirth!
……

hum!
After a long while, Su Chen's True Immortal realm disappeared, and he returned to the Quasi-Immortal realm.

"Having sealed the half-step Golden Immortal realm to Quasi-Immortal along the way, it should be enough for me to step into the Mountain and Sea Realm now."

Su Chen stretched his muscles and bones.

It was at this time.

hum!
Rumble!
Accompanied by terrifying lightning, a figure slowly appeared, letting out a maniacal laugh.

"Hahaha!"

"I never expected that you, Immortal of Terror, would voluntarily seal your own cultivation level. This is truly a godsend!"

"Kill you, seize your essence, and I will have the potential to become the new Lord of Taiyi! To rule the Taiyi Immortal Palace!" Rumble!
A terrifying aura emanated from this figure, revealing his strength.

It turned out to be a Golden Immortal.

However, he was only at the early stage of the Golden Immortal realm, and his aura was extremely unstable, suggesting that he was a newly promoted Golden Immortal in recent years.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Golden Immortal made his move, instantly unleashing countless thunderous sounds that transformed into terrifying black light, devouring Su Chen.

"Um!?"

Su Chen frowned, puzzled as to why there could be such a fool in the world.

Even if he sealed his own realm.

He's only a quasi-immortal now!

But he is also a quasi-immortal at the third stage of the Taiyi realm!
"The Ancient Insect Immortal also investigated the origin of a Golden Immortal's corpse. Back when we were in the Golden Immortal Alliance, they were too friendly, so I didn't find an opportunity to make a move."

"did not expect."

"You, a foolish Golden Immortal, can suddenly appear out of nowhere."

"Fine, let's just harvest them as we please."

next moment.

Everything is silent.

boom!
The soul in the eyes of this mysterious golden immortal vanished rapidly, and the terrifying lightning seemed to have never existed at all.

moment.

His body transformed into a golden light, shrinking continuously until it landed in Su Chen's palm.

A Golden Immortal at the initial stage perished so easily.

This is Su Chen’s strength.

Even if his realm is sealed to the Quasi-Immortal level, he can't really be a Quasi-Immortal. He can casually apply the Great Dao rules and cause the Golden Immortal to perish in the early stage.

"only……"

Su Chen frowned.

He played with the Golden Immortal Essence in his hand, still harboring some doubts.

Anyone who can fight their way to Xuan Yu Xian is unlikely to be a fool, let alone a Golden Immortal.

Are there really such fools among the Golden Immortals?
It looks like they've come to us for free.

"Is there a trap?"

Su Chen shook his head.

It doesn't matter anymore.

He was strong enough to be the number one person in the starry sky, and he didn't care about any possible schemes.

"Even if it is Cang Gu or Da Luo who is plotting against me, what do I have to fear?"

"As long as I can successfully emerge from the end of time, I will be the strongest Golden Immortal, without exception!"

Say it.

Su Chen took a step forward, and his figure disappeared into the endless chaotic mist.

The terrifying seal that was once enough to stop true immortals and separate the two worlds was now as thin as paper in front of him, and was easily torn apart.

And after a very long time.

Where Su Chen had stood, two illusory figures appeared and disappeared. One of them remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"It's too rough."

"It's so rough."

"Let alone this Daoist Master Taiyi, even I, an old man, can see through the trickery. Can't you come up with a better plan?"

"There's no way around it, time is too tight." The other person frowned and couldn't help but curse, "If you're going to be such a clown, you're the one who's lost a clone of mine, why don't you think of a solution!"

"At the end of time, as long as I have this clone as an anchor point, I can teleport there. What's there to be afraid of!"

"At the end of this mysterious era, there must be a great secret. We will seize his Taiyi Origin then..."

The two illusory figures whispered to each other and gradually disappeared.

He is not a Great Luo Immortal, but two giant immortals!

After the two illusory figures dissipated, another figure shook his head and left.

"madness."

"To be able to cultivate the Taiyi Path, become the second Zuo Qingcang, or even surpass Zuo Qingcang, is this kid's Taiyi Origin so easy to plunder?"

"Those two old devils are desperate to reach the top, they're insanely obsessed with climbing to the top!"

This person was none other than Cang Daoren.

His strength was unfathomable; neither Su Chen nor these two immortal giants had noticed his arrival.

And, to leave.

He is terrifyingly strong!
……

……

As time and space change, the seasons shift and the world transforms.

When Su Chen opened his eyes again, a familiar yet extremely thin spiritual energy of heaven and earth rushed towards him.

He returned to this homeland called "Shan Hai".

The moment Su Chen set foot on the land of the Mountain and Sea Realm, his quasi-immortal divine sense, which had long been one with the universe, instantly covered the entire world.

The former five regions of east, west, south, north, and central have undergone tremendous changes, evolving into the unfamiliar Eastern Wilderness, Western Desert, Southern Frontier, Northern Plains, and Central Plains...

Every inch of the mountains and rivers, every piece of land, is within his perception, laid bare before him.

However, the next moment, his unchanging Dao heart trembled violently!
In his divine perception, this once familiar world had become utterly... strange.

The spiritual energy was extremely scarce.

The laws are incomplete and fragile.

The whole world seemed to have entered its twilight years, exuding an air of decay and decay.

What sank him even further was...

He could no longer find any familiar aura in his senses.

All the people in his memory, their life force, their causal connections, had long been... severed.

It was as if they had never existed in this world.

"how so?"

Su Chen's figure descended upon a towering mountain peak that seemed to reach into the clouds.

He remembered that this place was once the site of the Central Heavenly Palace.

But now, that majestic sacred mountain has been eroded beyond recognition by the years, and its height has shrunk by nearly half.

The once magnificent sect halls, with their carved beams and painted rafters, now stand in ruins, covered in vines and moss.

Everything points to a cruel truth.

Here, a period of time has passed, long enough for the sea to turn into mulberry fields...

Su Chen looked back at the passage of time and realized that he had been gone for nearly... five million years!
The moment he received this answer, even with Su Chen's current state of mind, he felt dizzy.

Today, it is known as the era of ruins.

The great war between the Heavenly Palace and the Divine Court shattered the previous era, turning the mountains and seas into ruins, thus creating the Age of Ruins.

Five million years!

For a world like the Mountain and Sea Realm, where even the Nascent Soul stage is the pinnacle.

What does five million years mean?
This signifies the rise and fall of countless mortal dynasties.

This signifies the rise and fall of countless cultivation sects.

This means that all those who did not become true immortals have long since turned into a handful of yellow earth, and their stories and traces have been washed away by the merciless river of time!

"Things remain the same, but people are gone, and all is lost..." (End of Chapter)