Living in the deep palace

"It seems it was all worth it."

"This is the end of time. It seems I can indeed take the last half step towards the Taiyi Golden Immortal Dao Fruit!"

Su Chen was filled with excitement and was about to sit cross-legged to activate the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit within his body to complete its final transformation.

He had waited a long time for this step.

That's when.

An ancient, distant voice, seemingly devoid of any gender or emotion, yet containing all the ultimate truths of the universe, suddenly and without warning resounded in his sea of ​​consciousness.

"You've come."

The voice, though not loud, seemed to traverse countless ages, resounding directly in the deepest recesses of his soul.

"Who?!"

Su Chen's pupils suddenly contracted to their maximum size! His divine sense, which had long since merged with the universe, swept out instantly, covering countless billions of miles of space and time!

But they gained nothing!
It was as if the source of this sound did not exist in this dimension at all!

"No need to search."

The mysterious voice rang out again, its tone carrying a hint of all-knowing indifference.

"I am everywhere, yet I am nowhere."

“I am but a wisp of… echo at the ‘end of time’.”

“I have been here for you... for countless ages.”

"Waiting for me?" A storm raged in Su Chen's heart, but on the surface, he remained calm and asked, "Senior, do you recognize me?"

"I don't recognize it." The mysterious voice's reply surprised Su Chen. "What I recognize is the 'Dao' within you."

"That indomitable will that attempts to give birth to new life within the 'end'."

"Oh, by the way, you call it Taiyi..."

"This road is difficult to travel."

"The last person who tried to take this path failed."

"Although he was exceptionally talented and unparalleled throughout history, he was too lonely and... too rigid."

"But you are different."

The mysterious voice seemed to carry a hint of... expectation.

“Your ‘Dao’ not only possesses the domineering nature of ‘Taiyi’, but also the inclusiveness of ‘World Tree’. It combines strength and gentleness, and yin and yang complement each other. Perhaps… you can reach the level that he failed to reach.”

Su Chen's mind was shaken once again!

The previous person? Failed?

Almost instantly, he thought of that name—Zuo Qingcang!

And the other party even revealed his biggest secret—that he possessed the origin of the "World Tree"!
What terrifying origins does this mysterious being possess?!

"Senior, who exactly are you?" Su Chen's tone carried a hint of heartfelt respect.

"Who am I?" The mysterious voice seemed to fall into a brief moment of contemplation before finally saying slowly, "I can't remember myself."

"All I remember is that I stayed here to complete the final step of the Taiyi Path guidance..."

Before the words were finished, a faint, yet seemingly more dazzling than any star, point of light slowly lit up in the center of the mirror-like "Sea of ​​Time" ahead.

"Go."

"That place is the 'Embryo of All Paths, Tomb of Epochs'."

"It is the only place in this universe where the 'end' of the old order and the 'beginning' of the new order perfectly intersect."

"Only there can your 'revolution of the Heavenly Way' have a sliver of a chance of success."

Leaving behind these words filled with endless meaning, the mysterious voice fell into complete silence.

It was as if it had never existed.

Su Chen hovered silently in the void, remaining speechless for a long time.

He knew that the other person was giving him pointers.

Regardless of the other party's origins or purpose, at least in the matter of attempting to become a Taiyi Golden Immortal, the other party has no malicious intent.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior."

Su Chen bowed respectfully towards the void.

Without hesitation, he transformed into a streak of light and sped toward the single point of light!

When his figure descended upon the area where the light was, he finally saw the scene clearly.

This is a chaotic lotus platform, no more than a hundred feet in circumference, suspended above the "river of time".

On the lotus platform, countless mysterious and unfathomable ancient Dao patterns were constantly being created, destroyed, and flowing.

Half of the Dao patterns exuded a strong aura of "death" and "end," as if they were the final imprint left behind after countless eras and countless universes had moved towards destruction.

The other half of the Dao patterns, however, burst forth with boundless aura of "creation" and "hope," as if it were nurturing a brand new, soon-to-be-born... prototype of the universe!
Life and death are perfectly intertwined here!
"What a magnificent 'Embryo of Myriad Paths, Tomb of an Epoch'!"

An unprecedented glint flashed in Su Chen's eyes!
He knew that this was the most perfect place for him to attain enlightenment in his entire life!
Without further hesitation, he took a step forward and sat cross-legged directly in the very center of the chaotic lotus platform! "Since that's the case..."

"Then let's begin!"

Su Chen slowly closed his eyes. His spirit, which had already reached its perfect state, completely merged with his "Great Dao of Taiyi" at this moment!
boom--!!!!!!!!

An unprecedented revolution, one that could shake the entire vast cosmos, has begun!
Behind him, the ten immortal apertures that had long since evolved into "blessed lands" suddenly appeared!
They are no longer simply "worlds," but have transformed into ten constantly expanding and evolving... prototypes of the universe!
Earth, fire, water, and wind surge wildly! Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, are establishing a completely new order amidst the chaos!
Above Su Chen's head, the "Taiyi Dao Fruit," which had already reached the pinnacle of the half-step Taiyi Golden Immortal realm and was half golden and half nine-colored, slowly emerged!

It is like the "core" of this new universe, radiating an immortal and indestructible supreme divine light!
"Taiyi Golden Immortal, condense for me!"

A roar of fury, originating from the depths of his soul, erupted in Su Chen's heart!

He began to draw upon all his power, all his insights, and all his will, frantically pouring them into that Dao Fruit!

He wanted to completely transform that final "nine colors" into radiant gold, representing "my way is the way of heaven"!
Buzz——!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As he struck, the Dao Fruit began to tremble and hum violently! The golden light on it became increasingly dazzling, constantly devouring the last of the nine colors!

however!
Just as the transformation was about to reach its peak!
A terrifying repulsive force, originating from the deepest reaches of the universe and filled with the will of "decay" and "end," suddenly descended!
That was the final and strongest "immune counterattack" emitted by the "old Heavenly Dao" that remained in this universe!
It will absolutely not allow any new "Heavenly Way" to be born on its corpse!

*Snap!*

One after another, black chains formed from the pure laws of "the end of Dharma" and "annihilation" appeared out of thin air, binding Su Chen's Dao Fruit that was about to transform!
At the same time, the resentment and afterimages of countless ancient gods and demons, ancient ferocious beasts, and extraterrestrial evil gods who had long since perished in the long river of history were also stirred by the will of the "Old Heavenly Dao" and transformed into boundless "calamities," rushing madly towards Su Chen from all directions!

"roll!"

Su Chen roared, and the illusory figure of "Taiyi Daozun" behind him suddenly opened its eyes!
A terrifying divine light burst forth from those eyes, which were half creation and half destruction. As soon as the gaze swept over them, the boundless illusion of "calamity" melted and was purified in large swathes, just like ice and snow encountering the scorching sun!
However, the "chains of the end times" that bound his path to enlightenment were extremely strong!
No matter how much it attacks or evolves, it can never break free!
"puff!"

Su Chen's face suddenly flushed an abnormal red, and a mouthful of golden blood gushed out of his mouth!

At this moment, his aura showed a hint of... decline!

"how come?!"

Su Chen's heart was filled with disbelief!
"My path is complete! My power has merged with the time essence of the 'Lord of Time'! Why... why can't I break free from this final constraint?!"

He felt as if he was missing something.

One crucial element is missing!
"foundation..."

"I am ultimately lacking... a true, genuine inheritance of the 'Taiyi' lineage!"

A flash of understanding crossed Su Chen's eyes, but also a deep sense of resentment.
He has relied on his own exploration all the way, and although he has had many adventures, he has a profound foundation that far surpasses his peers.

However, on the "Path of Taiyi," a "dead end" where even Zuo Qingcang failed, he was ultimately just a...lonely explorer!
He had no teacher, no lineage, and no experience from predecessors to draw upon!

And this became his most fatal weakness when he was trying to take this final step!
As the "Chains of the End of Dharma" tightened, his already radiant Dao Fruit began to show fine cracks!
It seems that this grand "Revolution of Heaven" is about to end in failure!
However, if they fail, their fate will be the collapse of their Dao fruit, their death and the dissipation of their Dao, and they will be completely erased from the level of "existence"!

Right there, at the critical moment, in a moment of despair!
Buzz—!!!! ...

A powerful and ancient "Taiyi Mark," hidden deep within his consciousness, suddenly erupted without warning, unleashing a supreme divine light so dazzling it could illuminate eternity!
That "Taiyi Mark" was the final gift that the soul created by Zuo Qingcang in the Bronze Gate World gave to Su Chen before it dissipated!

It remained silent for a long time.

So long that Su Chen had almost forgotten about it.

But today, at this most crucial and critical moment in Su Chen's attempt to break through to the "Taiyi Golden Immortal" realm, it has finally... awakened!

Buzz——!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That ancient mark transformed in Su Chen's sea of ​​consciousness into a golden sun, more dazzling than any star and more domineering than any Great Dao!
A pure and supreme Daoist aura, filled with the unparalleled will of "creating the world and being the only one who is supreme," erupted from the golden sun!

In an instant, it flowed through Su Chen's limbs and bones, merging into his collapsing "Taiyi Dao"!
"This...this is..."

Su Chen's body jolted violently!
He could clearly feel a will that shared the same origin as him, yet was more ancient, purer, and more... domineering than his own, rapidly merging with him!
boom--! ! ! !

Behind him, the illusory image of "Taiyi Daozun" that had long since merged with him underwent another earth-shattering change at this moment!
Its features became increasingly clear and... majestic!
Its body became increasingly solid and... majestic!
It also possessed an aura of royalty, as if it carried the fortune of the entire immortal civilization!
A figure, dressed in a dark yellow imperial robe and wearing a flat-topped imperial crown, with a gaze that looked down upon all ages, as if he were the sole ruler of all heavens and myriad realms... the illusory image of the supreme immortal emperor slowly overlapped with Su Chen's "Taiyi Daozun"!
Zuo Qingcang!
This is none other than the most primordial... Dao imprint left behind by the First Immortal Emperor, Zuo Qingcang!
He has not vanished!

Instead, in another way, he sealed his "Tao," his "inheritance," and his unfinished "regrets" all within this mark, waiting for the next "Taiyi Path" companion!
“Younger generation…”

A powerful and domineering will, filled with endless vicissitudes, resounded deep within Su Chen's soul, transcending countless ages!
"My path is 'opening up'!"

"However, the universe already has its order, and the way of heaven already has its rules!"

"If I wish to 'open up new horizons,' I must first... 'revolution'!"

"This is the true essence of the path to becoming a 'Taiyi Golden Immortal'!"

"However, revolution cannot be accomplished by one person alone!"

"I have been defeated by 'loneliness'!"

"Today, I entrust this 'loneliness,' all that I have, to you!"

"Take on my 'path' and bear my 'regret'!"

"Go and finish... the road I have not yet finished!"

"Let's go see...that unprecedented...landscape!"

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

As that final roar of the grand will fell!
The illusory image of the Supreme Immortal Emperor completely and perfectly merged with Su Chen's "Taiyi Daozun"!
At this moment, Su Chen finally understood what the "foundation" he lacked really was!

That is not power, not law, not supernatural ability!
Rather, it's a kind of... "qualification"!
A kind of revolutionary's "qualification"—the courage to challenge the "old order" of the entire universe!
Zuo Qingcang was the first revolutionary! Although he failed, he ignited the first spark of "resistance" for Su Chen later on!

And Su Chen is the... inheritor of this "Heavenly Dao Revolution"! (End of Chapter)