Living in the deep palace

"Um?!"

Su Chen frowned.

A dazzling light surged within his palm.

only.

He truly hadn't expected that the [Armor] was so powerful; his most powerful killing move couldn't even shake the opponent much.

Even the injuries sustained are healing rapidly.

"useless."

The voice of [Zhou] rang out again, though tinged with weariness, it remained as steady and resolute as ever: "My 'guardianship' is based on this 'Core of the Epoch'."

"As long as this core remains, my essence will be inexhaustible and never run dry! Your sword, though sharp, is not enough to kill with a single blow!"

"In other words."

"As long as I am still in the fourth realm and have not reached the pinnacle of the fourth realm, my defense is invincible and no one can break through my armor!"

"And that's why I'm called 'Armor'!"

The helmet opened its mouth.

His tone was quite smug.

"is it?"

Su Chen looked at the barrier that had been restored to its original state, but there was no surprise on his face.

He simply and slowly lowered his left hand.

Then, he raised... his right hand.

"you're right."

Su Chen's voice became incredibly calm at this moment, so calm that it was almost cold.

"That sword strike, indeed, could not kill you."

"but……"

"This sword strike is acceptable."

"I have certainly not reached the pinnacle of the fourth realm, and I am not even in the fourth realm, but unfortunately..."

"This sword is different; it's the one that counters you!"

As his words fell.

A pure, indescribable darkness, representing "absolute end," quietly gathered at the tip of his right finger.

The instant I saw that "pitch black" appear!

Inside the Heavenly Fortress, for the first time, [Zhou]'s unwavering will stirred up a monstrous wave!
An uncontrollable sense of extreme crisis, originating from the very source of life, enveloped His entire mind!

He "saw" it!
What He "saw" was not a supernatural power, nor a law, but a... "result"!
One that is predetermined, unchangeable, and inevitable for all things... the final outcome!

Once this sword strikes, the outcome will be decided!

"Do not……"

"How can it be!"

"How...how could you comprehend such a devastating sword strike? No, you devoured all of Chen Sheng's divine powers and creations?"

"no!"

"I can't die!"

"I must also protect the core of the universe, and protect everything here..."

For the first time, the calm and steady will of the [Zhou] showed a violent fluctuation!

He frantically activated the power of the "Core of the Epoch," pushing his "Guardian" Dao to an unprecedented, limitless... peak!
At this moment, the entire Heavenly Fortress was even engulfed in a dark golden flame called "Immortal"!

however.

In the face of "the end," so-called "immortality" is nothing more than a much longer process.

Su Chen slowly and gently swiped his right hand towards the burning fortress.

All laws return to nothingness!
No sound.

There is no light.

Time and space seemed to lose all meaning in the face of this one sword strike.

【Zhou】, the strongest guardian in the universe, simply watched as that subtle, pure "blackness" pierced through His proud "immortal" flame, through His so-called "absolute protection" barrier, and finally, gently imprinted itself on His own core essence.

then.

it's all over.

In that instant, the "guardian" heart that [Zhou] had upheld for countless eras shattered completely.

He finally understood.

It turns out that his protective power has an end.

However, the end that Su Chen's sword strike contained did not come to pass.

"So...that's it..."

Just before His will completely dissipated, His grand and steady voice rang out in Su Chen's mind for the last time. Gone was the previous determination and opposition; only a sense of relief and entrustment remained after enlightenment.

"So...you are not the embodiment of the end of this world..."

"You are the path leading to... 'new life'..."

“Protect...that...seed…”

"So be it."

Rumble…

That towering "Heavenly Fortress," standing between heaven and earth and hailed as eternally indestructible, silently transformed into primordial cosmic dust from the point touched by that "pitch-black" mark, slowly dissipating.

……

……

After the fortress completely disappeared.

The two items floated silently in that void.

It was also a dark golden light, containing the pure essence of "power" and "protection"... the origin of the [Armor].

The other thing is that, seemingly carrying all the hopes of a universe... the Core of an Epoch.

Su Chen looked at the two items quietly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He reached out and temporarily sealed away the essence of the [Armor] with a seal.

Then, he slowly floated to the front of the "Core of the Epoch".

An unprecedented and immense temptation emanated from that sphere of light, rushing straight into his heart!

He could clearly sense that as long as he swallowed this "seed".

His strength will instantly surge to an unimaginable level! It's even possible that he'll skip the fourth realm and directly reach the threshold of the legendary... fifth realm!
At that time, he will become the only, supreme...god in this dream that is about to be destroyed!

of course.

He too will become like the mythical Heavenly Dao, existing only in this fallen era, unable to leave this place even for a moment.

That is, becoming a new prisoner, a new mythical Heavenly Way.

“Is this what I want?”

"No!"

"This is not what I need."

A flicker of struggle flashed in Su Chen's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by clarity and determination.

He remembered Wu's entrustment. He also remembered Zhou's final... instructions.

“My path is the ‘true self’, not the ‘only one’.”

"What I seek is transcendence, freedom, and the slaying of calamities, not... to rule a decaying and silent starry universe here."

He whispered softly and slowly extended his hand.

He did not attempt to "devour" the core of the era.

Instead, it was handled with utmost care, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world, gently cradling it in the palm of one's hand.

Then, he had a thought.

A door leading to the universe within his body slowly opened.

He did not integrate the seed into his Dao Fruit, but instead gently placed it into the very center of his vast inner universe, which already contained countless living beings.

He wanted this seed to take root and sprout anew in this brand-new, vibrant soil, relying on its own strength.

He wanted to preserve, before this dying "old myth" completely withered away, the last spark that could create a "new myth"!
This is the highest respect he can give to "Wu" and "Zhou," two "losers" who, though enemies, inspire his own respect.

After doing all this, Su Chen slowly withdrew his supernatural powers.

He could feel that his state of mind had become incredibly clear and fulfilled after making this choice.

His hunt continues.

However, his "way" is no longer purely about "plunder".

"As long as I don't fuse with this cosmic core here, when I return to the Star Sea of ​​the Future, this cosmic core will allow me to regain my status as a top-ranked being."

"Or perhaps, let me, having reached the peak of the third realm, attempt to break through to the fourth realm!"

……

……

"Not even close."

"Even after devouring the armor, it's still not enough for me to take this step..."

"Let's continue the hunt."

Soon, the resonance of the sixth "beacon" quietly emerged.

This feeling was completely different from the previous five.

It has no physical form, no fixed shape, and not even a clear "power" attribute. It is more like a pure "idea", a wisp of "spirit", or a silent "thought".

"【spirit】……"

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

Its origin represents the first aggregate of "spirituality" and "consciousness" at the beginning of the universe.

This is the origin of all thoughts, the idea of ​​all living beings.

"A pure spiritual energy entity..." A hint of interest flashed in Su Chen's eyes.

Following that elusive feeling, he transformed into a streak of light, instantly traversing endless time and space.

……

The Silent Sea.

This is the most peculiar of the fourteen star systems.

This is not a real "ocean," but a vast and boundless absolute vacuum star field where no "matter" exists.

Here, the laws of physics become extremely weak, while the power of the spirit and soul is amplified countless times.

Legend has it that powerful beings with strong souls can create worlds or destroy stars with a single thought in this place. There are also cultivators with weak hearts who mistakenly enter this place and are devoured alive by illusions formed from their deepest fears, sinking into eternal damnation.

This place is a paradise for thought, but also a hell for the will.

The place where the [Spirit] is sealed is in the deepest part of this silent sea.

When Su Chen appeared in this strange star field, he immediately felt countless "thoughts" filled with curiosity, prying, fear, and awe, like invisible tentacles, extending towards him from all directions.

These are the "spirits" in the Sea of ​​Silence who, for various reasons, have lost their physical bodies and are left only with lingering remnants of their souls and obsessions.

However, the moment they came into contact with Su Chen's unbreakable "id" will, these thoughts were like encountering a red-hot iron, screaming and retreating in panic.

Su Chen ignored these minor characters and flew straight towards the core area where he sensed the strongest connection.

He saw it very quickly.

In that absolute vacuum, there were no fortresses, no graveyards, and no trace of any seals.

There was only one… enormous, enough to cover several star fields, a dazzling nebula of colors, constantly changing shapes…

That nebula seemed to be composed of the purest "thoughts" and "dreams." Within it, civilizations were born, universes were created and destroyed, gods and demons fought for supremacy, and mortals experienced love and hate... Countless "possibilities" were constantly playing out and cycling within it.

This is the spirit.

A forbidden ancient life form that exists as a "collective of cosmic consciousness" without a fixed form.

Su Chen hovered quietly before this vast "nebula of thought." He could sense that the other party had already discovered him.

But to his surprise, he did not sense any hostility or wariness.

Instead, it was a gentle, benevolent welcome.

"You came."

A grand yet gentle voice, indistinguishable by gender and seemingly a harmonious blend of the voices of billions of living beings, resounded directly into the depths of Su Chen's soul.

"I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Su Chen raised an eyebrow slightly.

"You know me?"

“I am the ‘thought’ of this universe.” The gentle voice slowly explained, “From the moment you stepped into this ‘dream’, I ‘saw’ you. I saw your struggle, your battle, your plunder, and I also saw… your ‘bearing’.”

“I saw it; I saw how you ended Chen Sheng’s already twisted will.”

“I saw it; I saw how you freed the [Tomb] from the resentment that had been bound for countless ages.”

"I also saw how you carefully placed that 'Core of the Epoch,' which represents the last hope, into your vibrant world."

The voice of [Ling] carried a hint of relief and a hint of appreciation.

"Therefore, I know why you have come. You have come for my last remaining 'spiritual' essence."

"Come on, take it."

"I will not resist."

These unexpected words stirred a ripple in Su Chen's unchanging heart.

He gazed silently at the vast nebula before him and asked in a deep voice, "Why?"

"Because I am also seeking 'answers'."

The voice of [Ling] carried a hint of confusion.

“I have seen the ‘past’ of this world, and I have also seen the ‘present’ of this world. But I cannot see the ‘future’ of this world. Before my eyes, there is only an eternal darkness that is constantly collapsing.”

"I can feel that this world is heading towards death. And I, as a part of this world, will eventually perish as well."

"Until...you came along."

“In you, I see… ‘variables’. I see a path that doesn’t belong to this ‘dream’, leading to the ‘outside world’.”

"My compatriots, some chose to fight, some chose to escape, and some chose to accept their fate. As for me, I choose... 'the future'."

"Your 'Ark' needs fuel, and it also needs a 'helmsman'. My very essence can become your most powerful 'fuel'. And my will, which carries the 'thought' of an entire era, may be able to help you see the course ahead."

[Ling]'s words were extremely frank.

He was actually willing to sacrifice himself to gain... a chance to follow Su Chen and witness the "future"! (End of Chapter)