Chapter 1270: Decay

"You... what are you doing?" Zhiji was taken aback.

"I'm sharing opportunities with all beings, for mutual benefit."

Di Zun sat atop the seaweed universe, the sea breeze ruffling his hair, and chuckled softly with an air of calm. "Didn't you say this was the most difficult universe to traverse? What's happening now is a win-win situation. I'm allowing a local saint, whose status is deeply entrenched, to protect me within this universe, help me achieve enlightenment, and secure a saint's position here. In return, they will also gain a saint's position within this seaweed universe. It's an exchange."

Although Xu Zhi spoke those words, his gaze intensely scanned the universe. He mused that these saints represented immense wealth, wondering how many he could bring into his "Myriad Worlds Project" as stakeholders. He believed that only by binding everyone to his vessel of self-interest would they help him "plant green grasslands" across the entire universe.

"Providing incentives is crucial," Xu Zhi mused to himself. "This is a revolution of eras. To dismantle the ancient rule of the old landlord class and powerful clans, these existing powers must be offered a 'ticket' to the new era, enticing them to willingly participate in overthrowing their own current age. Otherwise, they will become obstinate resistors to reform."

However, Zhiji was speechless at that moment, utterly dumbfounded by Di Zun's actions. This was a tremendous disadvantage! Everyone knew that once the Myriad Worlds converged, the Nine Yuan Universe would inevitably become interconnected. This universe, previously so difficult to access, would no longer be able to keep out visitors from other universes. The seats of the Great Dao would rapidly lose their value. This was an unavoidable certainty. If everyone could easily traverse between universes, how could anyone be stopped? There was no need to pay any price for them now; soon, they would be freely available. Yet, this seaweed universe was the first Zhiji had encountered that offered such a significant early advantage, making it incredibly important.

In that moment, Zhiji felt an urge to throttle this "idler." She silently fumed, "This seaweed universe is also crucial for our Longevity Dao Palace. At the very least, when my true form appears, I'll make a deal with him to secure the Great Dao seat within this seaweed universe."

The sea breeze rustled.

Zhiji still couldn't resist saying, "The Nine Yuan Universe, with its nine great continents, will undoubtedly become interconnected in the future. You don't need to give them such a bargain..."

"Our worldviews are different," Xu Zhi replied. "My focus isn't on myself; rather, my heart is set on the entire universe!" He circled the coastline outside the Chaotic Heavens, his gaze keenly observing the saints.

Zhiji's mind reeled. "Not focused on himself, but on the entire universe?" What an incredibly grand aspiration! She looked at the clear-eyed young man, her expression suddenly becoming complex. Was he merely a saint? Perhaps he was a true ancient sage.

Xu Zhi, however, remained serene, gazing towards the distant coastline. He noted that their arrival was even swifter than anticipated. The rules governing the space outside this universe's Chaotic Heavens were also variable, allowing news to propagate with extreme speed. In a blink, countless saints were slowly converging on the coastline.

"It's a pulsating cosmic entity!" "It actually wants to exchange Great Dao seats with us?" The saints, standing on the coastline, grew increasingly excited.

They were accustomed to seeing living universes, having previously observed returning life-universes docked like ships in a harbor. Some of these saints had originally sought to trade for saintly positions within those "Trilobite Universes," even willing to pay immense prices, but the saints residing within those cosmic entities had completely ignored them. Everyone understood that a single step ahead guaranteed continued leadership. The era was undergoing profound transformations. Resources, no matter how precious they once were, risked depreciation and could become utterly worthless. This was both a catastrophe and an opportunity. If one failed to secure a "ticket" to the new era, even the most powerful saint faced the potential for obsolescence! However, why would anyone willingly surrender valuable positions, thereby increasing their own competition?

Now, however, a valuable seaweed universe had appeared before them, effectively opening a door to a new world. With this thought in mind, they all approached the universe, bowing slowly as one of them inquired, "May we ask, esteemed visitor, have you come to our universe prepared to exchange saintly positions?"

"Precisely," Xu Zhi replied with a smile. "I wish to exchange for a saint's position within this universe."

The minds of the saints immediately stirred. Previously, they would have flatly refused such an offer. But they were acutely aware that with the advent of this new era, the saintly positions in the Nine Great Universes were no longer secure and would soon become worthless. It was a matter of trading the last embers of the old era for the dawn of a new one.

"Yes," one saint immediately responded. "I guarantee your eventual sainthood within my universe, with an uninterrupted supply of resources. With the Wall Demon clan's lineage, your ascent to the pinnacle of this universe is assured!"

"Not only will I guarantee your sainthood," another saint offered, proposing even better terms, "but I can also bestow upon you my clan's Great Dao bloodline, which is incredibly powerful." A clan's bloodline was its very essence, demonstrating the immense value they were willing to part with.

Then, a beautiful saint stepped forward. "Esteemed Saint, I am willing to become your Dao companion."

"I already have a Dao companion," Xu Zhi stated, glancing at the humanoid universe beside him.

"It is perfectly normal for a powerful, multidimensional saint to have numerous Dao companions," the elegant and dignified female saint calmly stated. "Several saints linking closely in this manner, pursuing the Dao together and sharing knowledge, would only multiply their achievements."

"You can certainly take her as a wife," Zhiji said indifferently. After all, in her view, though this man deeply loved her, a relationship between them was impossible. He was merely a fleeting ripple in her long existence. How could a humble mortal of an era and a great, eternal celestial being ever truly fall in love?

Unaware of the enigmatic senior's thoughts, Xu Zhi turned his attention to the assembled saints, carefully observing each one. The saints of this universe exuded an aura of pride and complacency, yet it was tinged with an air of stagnation. They truly represented the highest aristocratic families who had long held power, inheriting and controlling the Great Dao for generations. Their faces projected immense authority, power, and sacred vastness, but their eyes held a sense of clouded antiquity, decrepitude, and weariness.

"This universe is truly stagnant and decaying," Xu Zhi couldn't help but muse, shaking his head. "It's like a still pool, where not even a gentle breeze can create a ripple." He concluded that, indeed, every land possessed its own unique spirit.

Xu Zhi then addressed them: "You desire saintly positions, and that is acceptable; I will refuse no one. As many saints as there are among you, that many Great Dao positions can be obtained. But once you have these positions, then what? What do you intend to do?"

The saints paused, slightly taken aback. Xu Zhi, still seated on the seaweed universe, looked at them and asked, "Do you merely seek to preserve your current status? To ensure you don't fall?"

"Is that not the case?" A saint stepped forward, radiating an imposing aura, enveloped in a divine purple-green light.

"If that's all you aim for, you will inevitably be swept aside and rejected by the new era," Xu Zhi said, shaking his head with an air of profound composure. "Fellow Daoists, despite your elevated positions, you have lost your youthful fervor, your drive to push forward, and the passionate heart for seeking the Dao. Bestowing these opportunities upon you would be less beneficial than giving them to young prodigies, to the brilliant talents you have suppressed."

"We have lost our youthful hearts?" They were not enraged; beings of their stature were not easily provoked by insults. Instead, they remained silent.

"I've said it before: this is a revolution," Xu Zhi continued. "What does 'revolution' mean? It means completely overthrowing the old order and installing new gods in power... And you, are the old gods!" As these words resonated, the surrounding saints stirred uneasily, a sense of urgency evident among them. Their foresight was remarkable; they had indeed perceived such a future, which was precisely why they were so eager to seize an early advantage, as the seaweed universe now represented.

After all, securing a "ticket" was paramount. If they didn't even possess the qualification to venture forth, it meant they couldn't even cross the threshold into the new era and would be left far behind. Multidimensional saints could construct cosmic vessels as bait, venturing out to find Trilobite Universes, allowing themselves to be consumed to gain control of that universe. But what about ordinary saints like them? They were surely doomed. This was why their desperation was so acute. They were even willing to make any sacrifice, pay any price.

"Indeed, we are all old gods," an ordinary saint confirmed. "That is precisely why we seek to survive."

"You possess the determination to pay a price, yet you lack the fierce resolve to burn your bridges," Xu Zhi said with a smile. "Allow me to tell you a story. In a certain world's ancient era, known as the Ancestral Witch Era, there existed a distinction between acquired beings and innate beings..."

Xu Zhi then recounted the story of Human Ancestor Xuyounian and Emperor Qi. "...Back then, Jinwu Longhong knew that his era of Innate Ancestral Witches was inevitably doomed. This was an irresistible trend of the times, especially with the emergence of the Dantian Soul-Possession method, which allowed innate ancient gods to be replaced by acquired beings, thus losing their unique status. He therefore decided to descend to the mortal realm, becoming a humble woodcutter. He sought new teachers, learned a new system, and personally led a charge against the Heavenly Court, overthrowing his own previous rule... He still remained supreme, but what about you?"

As the story finished, a profound silence fell over all the saints, their minds deep in thought. They tried to envision themselves in Longhong's shoes. The Longhong from the story — they couldn't achieve what he did! To personally relinquish one's position, descend to become an acquired being, assume a disguise, overthrow one's own former rule, and then rebuild the Heavenly Court...

What incredible spirit was that? What unparalleled confidence and dominance? What absolute self-assurance? Longhong believed that even if he had to start anew, he possessed the absolute power to reclaim the pinnacle and was confident he could sweep through and dominate another era!

"And what about us?" they silently questioned, knowing they simply could not achieve such a feat. Their aptitudes were indeed exceptional, possessing the potential of saints. While they had once suppressed the outstanding talents of other eras, they hadn't surpassed them by so vast a margin. If they were to start over, there was a distinct possibility of failure.