Chapter 1466: Immortal Ancient Being

"Let us discuss the possible future paths of the universe!"

Everyone in the hall was deeply shaken, standing restlessly. The future of the universe was already set, brilliantly clear, progressing towards perfect maturity. What other possibilities could there be? The realms had already reached their limits!

Tuxin's gaze suddenly deepened, and he instantly understood the Emperor's meaning. "But it is precisely because there seems to be no possibility that we must consider new ones!" If the possible paths were easily discernible, even ordinary people could foresee the future. Why, then, would they, the universe's most supreme beings, be tasked with contemplating future plans? And now, they were to devise the possible paths for the universe for the next hundred billion years? To deduce the next realm? To perfect and complete the universe?

Everyone held their breath. Was it truly possible? Paths are something people deduce. Before, people believed the Ninth Rank was the limit, then the Tenth. Now they considered the Eleventh Rank the limit. Perhaps there truly was more beyond.

Suddenly, Tuxin spoke. "Your Majesty, the Emperor, I have a few questions."

"Do not hesitate, speak," the Emperor said calmly.

Tuxin said, "First, devising a plan for the next hundred billion years! Our universe has only existed for a little over fourteen billion years. A hundred billion years is far too long. A normally developing universe would have long since collapsed and returned to dust. Are you saying, Your Majesty, that from now on, the universe will never collapse and return, that its aging process has been interfered with, and it will now continue to develop indefinitely?"

"Precisely," the Emperor replied.

The Emperor stated calmly, "At this moment, the cosmic trend has changed. The universe will no longer collapse and revert. This universe will move completely towards eternity."

Tuxin's face trembled. The collapse and return of a typical universe is a certainty! This is the universe's natural cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. It is like a cycle, destroying all exalted beings, reshaping everything, and then starting anew. Even an Eleventh-Rank individual singularity, capable of transcending the universe's death, cannot interfere with its self-cycling lifespan. Only a Twelfth-Rank being, becoming nature itself, can truly interfere with nature.

In other words, that ancient taboo who once became the Creation God, then fell, has altered the universe's fate of destruction, allowing it to remain in its current state indefinitely?

"I fear there's an even deeper scheme!" Tuxin's heart pounded. "Becoming a Creation God is a 'state of merging with the Dao,' secretly altering the universe's fundamental laws! That's how this new era was created."

Zhizhu, too, felt uneasy, secretly thinking, "The grand cosmic trend has completely changed. The future universe won't even have a return; isn't that unimaginable?"

Meanwhile, Rongcheng and the others were terrified, a horrifying thought emerging: "If the universe doesn't return, it means these ten Great Dao seats are all that truly exist in the universe. In this new cosmic era, whoever obtains a new Great Dao seat will be the true eternal ruler!" They looked at the remaining eight seats, their eyes growing more fervent! If they couldn't obtain one, they were bound to die of old age! If they couldn't obtain one, they would only practice false paths their whole lives, never grasping true principles!

Xu Zhi, however, remained calm in response to Tuxin's words. Naturally, he wouldn't allow the universe to undergo another major collapse. Because the universe's return and collapse would mean Xu Zhi entering the "Great Universe Cultivation State," becoming Twelfth-Rank, and heading towards death. He couldn't possibly commit suicide. Therefore, the grand cosmic trend, from this moment on, would no longer feature great collapses and great explosions. The universe might have undergone many cycles in the past, but starting from this moment, this cosmic era would be an eternal era, free from birth and destruction. How could he allow the universe to revert after all his arduous work greening it?

"My second question," Tuxin resumed. "Since you are asking us to devise a plan for the universe's development, it implies you want us to open up potentially higher realms. Theoretically, the singularity is the highest realm, with no stronger power possible. But human effort knows no bounds; we won't know if it's possible without trying. Every realm path in prehistory was forged by humans."

"My question is whether you, and other prehistoric beings, have already proven that continuing to break through realms—the path to the 'Twelfth-Rank Creation God' realm—is unfeasible?" Tuxin asked.

"There is no path," the Emperor replied calmly. "The beings of the prehistoric universe have already attempted this path. As you just witnessed, it failed. There is no way to resist the assimilation of the Great Universe. This is a realm of 'gods,' not a realm of 'humans.' We must open up a realm belonging to humans."

Tuxin nodded, no longer questioning.

"Everyone..." The Emperor rose, slowly descending from the throne. "There are ten Great Dao seats in total. Let us see if your future plans are worthy of selection."

"I have already witnessed your past talents: your miraculous martial arts, your research into new system foundations for your own races. Now, I ask you to establish a foundation for the universe. Whoever's proposal is adopted shall claim a seat!" The Emperor turned, pointing to the vacant seats high above. "No favoritism will be shown; only the virtuous shall hold them!"

Only the virtuous shall hold them!! Everyone was struck with awe, their gazes filled with immense fervor. Especially the Mother Queens of the previous insect eras felt boundless admiration. As vanquished foes, they already felt incredibly fortunate; to rely on their own abilities and efforts—this was the greatest fairness.

"I will await your deductions for the answers in your hearts. You will have a thousand years," the Emperor said calmly. "After a thousand years, according to each of your talents, if your devised plan is adopted, I will clear the path for you, allowing you to enter the Door of the Great Dao behind me, and become a pseudo-Creation God of a universe, reforming your own universe according to the plan."

"The ten Great Dao seats can accommodate ten cosmic plans in total. Ten multi-universes will undergo reform simultaneously. We shall see whose path achieves success!" "This is to pave the way for the future, to secure blessings for the universe, and to open a path for all sentient beings. I hope none of you refuse!" "Insect Mother Queens, Tuxin, this applies to you all as well."

The Emperor's voice left everyone dumbfounded, their eyes burning with intense desire. As long as a feasible plan was proposed, and if adopted, one could ascend to an Eleventh-Rank seat and then reform their own universe accordingly.

The Emperor continued, "However, if a plan is proposed and one ascends to the Eleventh Rank, but after a long time, the plan shows no progress, becomes perfunctory, or stagnates in decay, I will strike them down and cast them from the Eleventh-Rank divine altar!"

"What does that mean?" Zhizhu's face turned pale.

The Emperor looked at him coldly. "Do not think that ascending to the Eleventh Rank means eternity, where none can overthrow you. Normally, that is true; nine Eleventh-Rank beings surrounding one might not even be able to kill them. But here, I can suppress and kill any peer."

Everyone's minds went blank. Indeed, the Emperor's monstrous, heaven-defying combat power simply defied all conventional calculation! Within the same realm, he could kill any Eleventh-Rank being.

The Emperor spread his arms, raised his head, and looked towards the hazy sky outside the palace. "In this grand cosmic trend, no one is allowed to decay!" "In this cosmic era, all are born equal. No one can perpetually remain supreme, monopolizing the eternal epochs!"

The Emperor looked down, his domineering figure seemingly etched into the ancient divine light. "As exemplified by the prehistoric Realm of Longevity, ancient beings like the Longevity Palace Master will no longer find fertile ground for existence. The rulers of old, the celestial gods, will ultimately be overthrown."

The Emperor's voice began to spread wildly, pervading over all ten multi-universes. Almost all great beings heard the majestic, vast sound. "Though there are ten Great Dao seats, they can be ascended to in rotation. The virtuous shall occupy them," the Emperor said coldly. "I am the arbiter."

No decay allowed! All are born equal! No monopoly by bloodline classes, no families of saints, no generations of descendants to wield the Heavenly Dao. This was indeed the glorious era he desired.

Tuxin's gaze revealed a look of fervent admiration. Though he had lost, his dream had been realized. He suddenly couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, the Emperor, I've suddenly had a terrifying thought. Today, you have overthrown the ancient innate god rulers, overturned the cosmic trend, and are in charge of rebuilding cosmic order, where everyone strives in the present and is born like a dragon. But what about the future? If you, as the sole arbiter god, also succumb to decay, yet there is no one to overthrow you."

"Indeed, no one can guarantee they won't decay in the future, and neither can I." The Emperor's expression turned cold. He suddenly let out a low laugh, mocking himself. "Then, should I commit suicide?"

Those around exchanged glances.

"No! This is a new era, an era where all are born equal, where everyone has the opportunity to attain eternity!" The Emperor's laughter gradually became wild and unrestrained. "What is there to fear in the future?! I will stride forward boldly!"

"If one day in the future I succumb to decay, cease to care for the beings of this world, and transform into a truly supreme ancient innate being, then naturally, successors will rise again and overthrow me, this old god!"

"My seemingly invincible Eleventh Rank... but am I truly invincible?"

"You are deducing new realms, forging new paths. If you are not lazy, and in the future you open up a stronger Eleventh-Rank realm, or a new realm system, then naturally you will overthrow me, this once powerful being."

The Emperor walked towards the throne, looking at everyone below and saying calmly, "I was not born for this imperial position, so why should I fear being cast down to the mortal realm?"

"Everyone in the world may challenge me."

Everyone was profoundly shaken by the Emperor's domineering presence.

This scene was recorded for eternity, documented on the first page of *The Ten Primeval Eras*: Before this era, the primordial universe was destroyed, and the grand cosmic trend changed. The Emperor established the "Ten Great Dao Seats," with ten eternal Creation-level beings jointly governing the world, guiding all sentient beings to open new realms. From this point, the Cycle of Reincarnation Era ended, and the Era of Eternal Prosperity began.