Author: Three Hundred Jin's SmileCategory:Last updated: 2020-08-10Word count for this chapter: 4502 words
Saint Nu Yi was one of Yi Mang's nine disciples from earlier times. Though she was the youngest disciple, responsible for validating the evolutionary rules of acquired life, this youngest one had by now become incredibly ancient.
Yet at this moment, she was utterly bewildered.
The Grand Dao Singularity!
He was actually the Grand Dao Singularity!
He was the universe itself; it was His Big Bang that created this cosmos, with the diffusion of matter, rules, and energy giving rise to all living beings and phenomena.
"And now, He has appeared here, manifesting in human form and possessing self-awareness!" Nu Yi's blood boiled, and her heart pounded in her chest.
The entire universe had actually gained self-awareness! It had developed its own thoughts! This was utterly inconceivable.
Even if there was a hidden cosmic will, a Creator God, it should merely be a natural phenomenon—like a storm, rain, a mirage, or a rainbow—and absolutely not possess consciousness.
This was terrifying—a vast universe with self-awareness. It was like an Earthling suddenly realizing that the Earth they lived on had its own consciousness and could move. Even she felt goosebumps all over. What could possibly have caused the Grand Dao Singularity, the Creator God, to develop self-awareness?
She suddenly recalled a statement:
"I am not even a living being; it is only due to certain special circumstances, the loss of some powerful authority, that consciousness was born. Perhaps after some time, when that past authority returns, consciousness will be lost again."
Lost authority? What authority?
Could it be authority over the universe itself? As the aggregation of the vast consciousness of all beings, the convergence of countless rules, and the mysterious collective will formed by the accumulation of endless matter and energy, He developed a self because He lost His authority and was no longer subsumed by the convergence of sentient beings' wills.
"But... but why would He lose His authority?"
The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became. This was an incredibly profound truth; merely contemplating it sent shivers down her spine. Is the universe about to face a great catastrophe? Is our universe on the verge of collapse, or something else? Did Master Yi Mang know about this before his death? Is this matter related to the legendary Eleventh Order?
"You don't need to think too much. When the time is right, you will naturally know the truth." Xu Zhi sat back down in his chair, his expression calm and remarkably human-like. "For the rest of your life, you can simply study and seek the Dao here at the Heavenly Sound Sect."
"Yes," Nu Yi replied without hesitation after her initial shock.
The disciples didn't know what they were cultivating, and even some Ninth-Order Daoists might not comprehend what this exploding bead implied when they witnessed it. But as a Saint, and moreover, the most ancient Saint of her time, she naturally understood: this was the Creator God, the universe itself, developing self-awareness and seemingly trying to reclaim His authority, with the method being to evolve the universe.
Could it be that the universe has a flaw and needs to be re-evolved and perfected?
Xu Zhi looked at her, his mind instantly calm. This was precisely his objective.
In Xu Zhi's view, Saint Nu Yi had only a few millennia left to live, which was why he allowed her to enter here, told her the "truth," and wouldn't let her leave. After all, knowing the truth could easily influence the grand trajectory of cosmic development. Just as at the final moment, Xu Zhi only went to see Yi Mang after confirming he could no longer influence the overall situation, the same applied to Nu Yi before him. At the very end of her life, she would help him here, assisting in his evolution.
If mortals were those least aware of cosmic laws, most prone to flights of fancy, then Saints were the other extreme, possessing an incredibly profound understanding of the universe. Xu Zhi wanted to see what results could emerge from having a Saint participate in this evolution. This was also the last extraction of residual value; since Nu Yi was nearing her demise and didn't have many years left, why not let her do something meaningful for him?
As for extending her lifespan, Xu Zhi considered it impossible. Even Yi Mang couldn't achieve it back then. Nu Yi, before him, hadn't even seen what the Eleventh Order truly was and was already inevitably destined to fall.
"I understand. For the rest of my life, I will remain here." Nu Yi's eyes shimmered with a look of longing and aspiration, as if seeking the Dao. For a Saint, nothing could be more exciting than this. After all, at their level, the Dao had been fully comprehended, reaching its limits; there was no way to break through further in cultivation. They could only remain stuck at their current realm, but what lay before them undeniably opened a new door. If word got out, countless Saints would rush here without hesitation, even if it meant certain doom, like moths to a flame.
"Could you wait for me for a moment? I need to go back and take care of some final important matters," Nu Yi said. "I won't interfere with anything or reveal anything." She hesitated for a few seconds, then suddenly requested, "Could this area be moved outside the primordial chaos? After all, within the universe, Saints' lifespans are rapidly being assimilated."
"Of course," Xu Zhi replied. He was naturally not unsympathetic. Living a bit longer would allow her to contribute her final efforts, conducting more research on the simulated mini-universe Big Bang experiments. Xu Zhi also felt a sense of pity. If he had reached this stage earlier, he could have allowed Yi Mang to contribute his remaining efforts during his final moments.
Nu Yi eventually departed. Her time away was brief, just a day or two, before she returned completely.
Meanwhile, the entire region beyond the primordial chaos was in turmoil. They discovered that Saint Nu Yi's Daoist palace had suddenly vanished, prompting feelings of both lament and bitterness.
"Has this being also reached the end of her life?" a Saint lamented, with a bitter tone. "Counting the time, she has reached the end of her lifespan; it's difficult for her to live any longer."
"No Saint can escape the universe's assimilation, eventually becoming a part of the cosmos, transforming into a grand Dao blueprint, shining like scattered stars in the firmament, eternally suspended there. One can only strive to be the brightest among them." Another Saint spoke coldly, acknowledging this inescapable fate.
"Yesterday, Yi Mang; today, Nu Yi; tomorrow, it will be us." Some Saints merely fell silent. "The era of the Innate Gods and Demons has completely passed."
The region beyond the primordial chaos continued to tremble.
On the other side, in a secluded spot beyond the primordial chaos, a tea garden quietly stood. Nu Yi arrived and began her intensive study of Heavenly Sound. Some disciples of the Heavenly Sound Sect knew that an elderly woman had arrived and became a vice-sect master, but no one knew her true identity, merely thinking she might be a genius. Only Venerable Ming was covered in goosebumps: that elderly woman was none other than the legendary strongest Saint, who had pioneered the life rules for acquired beings. Even such a being had come to study the Heavenly Sound musical scores!
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