Living in the deep palace

The sacred cemetery, which had become solemn and majestic through purification, once again returned to its eternal tranquility.

Su Chen's figure had already vanished without a trace.

This time, his hunt was no longer a aimless search, but rather carried a clear "mission"—he had to resolve the hidden dangers in his own soul before continuing to devour.

Although the fragments of the Purifying Spirit Pearl are incredibly effective, they are ultimately just fragments.

Su Chen could sense that the total amount of "impurities" it could purify was limited.

If it were to devour one or two more forbidden ancient life forms, the purifying power of the pearl would likely be exhausted first.

"We must find more fragments before the power of the orb runs out, or... find a way to restore its power."

"Otherwise, if the Purifying Spirit Pearl collapses when I absorb the [Armor], I'll go insane too..."

Su Chen's mind raced, and at the same time, following the sensation of the fifth "Dao Beacon" in Chen Sheng's memory, he traversed the endless sea of ​​stars.

This feeling was completely different from the previous ones.

There is no tyranny of [Kui], no compassion of [Wu], no deathly silence of [Mu], and no chaos of [Zhuo].

What he felt was an extreme sense of "stability" and "gravity".

The feeling was as if there existed an absolute "fulcrum" in some corner of the universe, which remained as immovable and indestructible as an ancient sacred mountain, regardless of the changes in time and space or the alternation of laws.

"【helmet】……"

The name of this fifth forbidden ancient life form appeared in Su Chen's mind.

Its origin represents the purest "power" and the most solid "protection" in the universe!
It is a combination of contradictions, and also the most perfect warrior.

After traversing countless star systems and crossing countless desolate cosmic dust belts, Su Chen finally arrived at the source of the sensation.

The sight before him stirred a ripple of wonder in his usually calm eyes.

Before him, there were no planets, no stars, and no ordinary celestial bodies.

There is only one... fortress.

A colossal, perfect, spherical fortress large enough to contain several galaxies!
Its entire body has a dark golden metallic texture, and its surface is as smooth as a mirror, yet it is engraved with countless innate Dao patterns that are invisible to the naked eye, representing "protection", "solidity" and "eternity".

It floated quietly in the cold, dark universe, neither emitting nor absorbing light, yet exuding an aura of absolute "defense" that could suffocate any being.

It was as if, as long as it existed here, no power could... break through it!
"Heavenly Fortress..." The name Chen Sheng used to refer to this fortress appeared in Su Chen's mind.

This is the true form of the [Armor]!

It is He who built the strongest "shield" in the universe with His own "protection" essence!
Su Chen made no attempt to conceal his aura as he slowly walked towards the magnificent fortress, step by step.

Just as he was about to approach within ten thousand feet of the fortress.

A grand, steady, powerful yet exceptionally calm voice resounded directly in his mind.

"A traveler from... beyond the collapsed dream."

"I have sensed your arrival."

Su Chen paused slightly in his steps.

This was the first time since he began hunting that a forbidden ancient life form had taken the initiative to communicate with him before he even made a move.

“I have sensed that my four brethren, the origins that represent ‘devouring,’ ‘decay,’ ‘rest,’ and ‘chaos,’ have all returned to your body.”

That steady voice continued to ring out, without the slightest hostility, only a calm statement of facts.

"You came for the source of my last bit of 'power' and 'protection'."

"Or perhaps, you came for... what I am protecting."

A glint of light flashed in Su Chen's eyes.

"You knew I was coming?"

“I didn’t know you were coming. But I know that the ‘end’ will always come.”

[Zhou]'s voice carried a hint of wisdom, as if he had seen through everything: "From the day I was born, my mission has been to 'protect'. To protect the core of this universe, and the last vestige of... 'life'."

"As long as the Heavenly Dao of Mythology, that is, the will of Chen Sheng, still exists, what I protect is the 'order' that He established."

"And when His will is ended by you, what I will protect is this 'dream' that is about to collapse completely, that last... 'root'."

As His voice fell, the surface of that enormous, dark gold fortress turned as clear as crystal!
Su Chen's gaze instantly pierced through the incredibly thick barrier, revealing the core of the fortress.

Then, he saw it.

He witnessed a miracle that moved him deeply.

At the very center of that fortress, there were no ferocious monsters, no raging energy.

There was only one ball of light, no bigger than a human head, yet it seemed to contain a complete universe and was slowly pulsating...

The sphere of light possessed an indescribable quality, brimming with "beginning" and "possibility."

Within it, there is the birth of stars, the evolution of life, the rise and fall of civilizations... It seems that all the history, all the laws, and all the "information" of the entire mythological era are condensed into this small ball of light.

It is like a "seed".

A single seed, given the right soil, can re-evolve into an entire universe... the World Seed!
“The Core of an Epoch…” Su Chen slowly uttered these four words.

He knew of this object's existence from Chen Sheng's memories. This was the most fundamental and core legacy of the universe formed from Chen Sheng's remains!
This is something that can only be born in the universe after a true fifth-realm life form has perished!

This is a treasure!

Do not!
This is almost beyond description as a treasure.

Even if it means giving up the chance to reach the peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, it would be extremely worthwhile in the long run as long as one can obtain this item.

For a while.

Su Chen was quite interested.

"It seems you know about it."

[Zhou]'s voice remained calm: "From the moment I was born, I was born alongside this core. My 'power' is to provide it with the energy to grow; my 'protection' is to safeguard it from all external disturbances."

"However, your arrival, and the fall of my four compatriots, have made me realize something."

"This world...this dream can no longer provide fertile ground for this seed to grow."

"Your fighting, your devouring, are accelerating the collapse of this world. You are destroying its last place of origin."

For the first time, the voice of [Zhou] carried a heavy, mountain-like oppressive quality. "Traveler, your path is filled with 'ending' and 'plunder.' You are the greatest 'variable' in this world, and also... the greatest 'threat'."

"Therefore, I will not let you take another step forward."

"If you want to obtain this core of the era, if you want to devour my last source... then first, break through my absolute 'protection'."

"If you cannot break my absolute protection, then I will suppress you here today. I may not be able to kill you, but I can imprison you for eternity until the world collapses."

boom--! ! ! !

As His voice fell, the "Heavenly Fortress," which had become transparent, instantly returned to its dark golden color, exuding an immortal and eternal quality!

Countless intricate and complex protective runes shone brightly on the surface of the fortress!

An aura of absolute defense, "impervious to all laws and eternally unbreakable," soared into the sky, even forcefully pushing the surrounding chaotic storm of laws outwards by several star domains!
……

……

Faced with [Zhou]'s righteous "declaration of challenge", Su Chen remained silent.

Looking at the fortress before him, which embodied the word "protection" to its fullest extent, he felt a sense of...respect.

This is a guardian who, for the sake of his mission, can stay until the very end of the universe...

But he had no choice but to personally shatter this "protection" completely!
"you are wrong."

After a long silence, Su Chen finally spoke.

"I am not here to destroy."

“I have come to… ‘bear’.”

"What you are protecting is nothing more than a 'corpse' that has long lost its soul. What you think is 'protection' is just delaying the decay of the corpse."

"This kind of protection is meaningless; it will only bury this last glimmer of life along with the corpse."

Su Chen's gaze became incredibly profound, as if he could see through the past and the future.

"This era is dead. Its only way to survive is not to 'protect' it, but to 'break away' from it."

"And I am that ark that can carry this 'seed' and all the 'remnants' of this world who are unwilling to perish, to a new world."

"This is the true and only opportunity in this universe."

"I am the future of Xinghai!"

"After all, in the future star sea, I will be the new Heavenly Dao!"

[胄] fell silent.

Su Chen's words seemed to touch the depths of His heart, the truth He had long sensed but was unwilling to admit.

However, His innate mission did not allow Him to waver in the slightest.

“Your words cannot shake my ‘Tao’.”

[Zhou] That steady voice rang out again, filled with an unquestionable resolve.

"If you want to prove that your future is bright enough to support everyone, then first... shatter me, this remnant of the old era!"

"as you wish."

Su Chen said no more.

Different road non-phase plan.

Only by proving the Way through force!
He took a step forward, and his figure instantly appeared in front of the Heavenly Fortress!
He did not immediately use his two conceptual swords, but wanted to test the limits of this so-called "absolute protection" first!
"Swallow!"

The essence of [Kui] appeared in Su Chen's right palm! A pitch-black vortex, radiating boundless attraction, slammed down on the dark golden barrier!

However, the terrifying suction force that was powerful enough to devour stars vanished the moment it touched the barrier, as if a mud ox had entered the sea, without causing the slightest ripple!

A Daoist aura of "perfect harmony and invincibility" emanated from the barrier, completely dissolving all of his devouring power!
"Wither!"

The origin of [Waste] reappeared on Su Chen's left hand! A gray aura that could decay all things and extinguish life enveloped it!
However, a Daoist aura of "eternal and indestructible, immortal for all eternity" emerged above that barrier, completely isolating the power of decay from the outside!

"confusion!"

With a thought, Su Chen unleashed the primordial power of [Turbidity], transforming it into a torrent of filth that swept away the impurities!

However, on the barrier, the countless protective Dao patterns instantly lit up, forming an ultimate "order" and "purity," purifying all the filth!
After a series of probing questions, Su Chen's face showed a serious expression for the first time.

"What a magnificent armor! What a perfect absolute protector!"

He discovered that the "Guardian" path of the [Armor] was not simply "solid," but rather... "perfect"!
His way seems to have no weaknesses! It can evolve into the most perfect "restraint" power, with completely opposite effects, depending on the different attributes of the attack!
This is no longer simply a fourth-realm level defense. It even contains a trace of the nascent form of the fifth-realm "immortality" characteristic!
"It seems that ordinary methods are no longer effective."

Su Chen slowly withdrew his hand.

His eyes became incredibly serious.

He was about to unleash his true power.

"Be careful," he whispered a warning. "You might not be able to withstand this next sword strike."

Having said that, he raised his left hand and made a sword-like gesture.

A chaotic sword light, full of contradictions and uncertainties, bloomed quietly at his fingertips!
[Zhou] is definitely in the same league as the Ten Ancient Venerables, and his ranking is not weak. If it weren't for the fact that his recovery time was too short, Su Chen would have fled when he saw him.

[Heaven-Slaying Sword]!
Su Chen got serious right from the start.

"cut!"

Su Chen swung his sword at the massive dark gold fortress!

Tsk-!
That chaotic sword light instantly traversed the distance of space and slammed fiercely into the walls of the Heavenly Fortress!

boom--! ! ! !

This time, it won't be a silent affair like before!

A deafening roar, powerful enough to shake the entire chaotic starry sea, erupted!
[Armor] That proud, "perfect" absolute protection, for the first time, showed a flaw in the face of this sword!
The protective Dao patterns constructed from the ultimate "order" seemed to encounter their nemesis upon contact with the sword light filled with "chaos" and "disintegration." They began to flicker violently, become disordered, and even... conflict with each other!
Click!Click!
For the first time, countless tiny cracks appeared on the fortress's impregnable walls, cracks that were not physical but rather at the level of "laws"!
"Um……"

From within the fortress, the first muffled groan came from the calm and collected will of [Armor]!
Clearly, this sword strike has damaged His very essence!
However, before Su Chen could launch a second attack, the newly appeared cracks in the laws healed rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye!

An even more powerful and profound "protective" force surged forth from within the fortress!

At this moment, it transformed into even more robust protective armor! (End of Chapter)