Chapter 858: Seeking the Way Heart

The Brainworm Deity trembled with rage, having been mocked by the great octopus.

The Bird Octopus clan, indigenous to this land, boasts a history stretching back over 300,000 years to ancient, forbidden prehistoric creatures. They are colossal, invincible in combat, and possess a lineage far older than that of his own wandering, unconventional race. Their sole disadvantage, however, lies in their relatively simple minds.

And what about him?

As an outsider, he had traversed the universe with his civilization, pushing forward with unstoppable force. Though not a genius beyond compare, he was exceptionally clever, having fought his way through countless battles and even secretly hunted down a great octopus.

"I was actually mocked..." The Brainworm Deity took a deep breath, his mind falling into a silent fury.

He hadn't anticipated that this ancient cosmic land held secrets of creation gods dating back over 100,000 years — knowledge likely a closely guarded secret among the enlightened beings of the ancient Law Universe.

However, their current divine realms were too low to grasp such profound truths.

Realizing this, he couldn't help but respectfully ask the great octopus, "The Bird clan is indeed ancient, and you are truly knowledgeable. Please, I ask you to share more of your wisdom with me."

The great octopus, upon hearing this, was greatly pleased.

Looking at the other creature, he stated calmly and solemnly, "In the universe, there is the Dao, the beginning. From the Dao, One emerges, known as the Primordial. This One then transforms into all myriad things, encompassing everything, containing the entirety of heaven and earth."

The Brainworm Deity's mind shifted subtly.

The Dao... is One?

This "One" holds profound significance for countless civilizations across the universe, regardless of their level of advancement. From their origins and developmental histories to their ability to leave their home planets, this concept resonates deeply. They all understand the idea of an infinitely dense primordial point in the universe, which underwent a Big Bang to evolve into the cosmos as it is known today.

And this singular point, in the eyes of beings at such a high level, could be referred to as the Primordial, the Dao... the One that creates all things... the Creation God.

Could the Creation God be the very embodiment of a certain law?

One of the primordial beings?

Or perhaps a manifestation of cosmic evolution, a conceptual entity formed by the convergence of countless chaotic forces and laws?

While he was still lost in thought...

The great octopus cast a disdainful glance at him and simply added, "Across all the heavens and myriad realms, there are 129,600 Great Chiliocosm Worlds, and 3,900 Holy Grotto-Heaven Sects."

What... could this possibly mean?!

The Brainworm Deity's mind spun frantically.

Could it be that across these 120,000-plus worlds, within the cosmic sphere, there are such an enormous number of Rank 9 world overlords?

It was well known that even the ancient Rennimanskaya before him was an incredibly ancient being; entities of that caliber were mere legends in neighboring galaxies.

"No, that's not right," he suddenly murmured. "We have underestimated the sheer scale of the universe."

While this number might seem vast, it was still minuscule in comparison to the boundless universe. Perhaps it referred to a consistently maintained number.

And 3,900, clearly, signified an even higher level...

And what could possibly transcend Rank 9...?

The Brainworm Deity was utterly stunned.

"Could it be...?!" He stared at the confident octopus, his mind reeling as if he had just witnessed something utterly unbelievable!

The universe's ultimate Rank 10!

When there is nowhere left to go, when the Great Dao reaches its culmination, that is... the Ultimate!

This legendary term involuntarily sprang into his mind.

"This number is eternal," the octopus said. "Worlds may be born and perish, but this constant number remains."

With a serene expression, the great octopus turned to the bewildered Brainworm Deity and chuckled, "Therefore, 129,600 represents one 'Yuan'. This number contains infinite mysteries, capable of manifesting the three vehicles of teaching and encompassing all subtle laws... It can also be referred to as an 'Epoch', and within each Epoch, there is prosperity, decline, and destruction."

An Epoch...

The rise and fall of Epochs...

The Brainworm Deity's mind was violently shaken, completely overwhelmed.

In that moment, he felt as though he stood on a prairie amidst a torrential downpour, facing the onslaught of wind, rain, thunder, lightning, vast mountains and plains, and the shifting of stars...

Endless laws seemed to unfold, manifesting all creation.

As an ordinary deity, to have heard such ultimate secrets of the cosmos was simply terrifying.

"You are still too young, a mere country bumpkin," the octopus said, patting his shoulder. "The conflicts between civilizations are like strongmen brawling in village streets, each believing themselves formidable, masters of pugilism, reigning supreme in alleys and marketplaces. Naturally, they know nothing of the true splendor at the heart of the cosmos, nor of the magnificent civilizations that eternally reside in high-dimensional space-time! You will gradually come to understand this in time..."

"Seeing you," the great octopus continued earnestly, "is like seeing my younger self. Many things exist whether you believe in them or not. This universe and world are far more mysterious and profound than we can ever imagine. There's a saying: 'To hear the Dao in the morning, and die content in the evening.' Right now, we are truly fortunate!"

The great octopus was deeply moved, for he had personally witnessed that grand war: the Three Pillar Gods' infinity, Emperor Sakura's mind encompassing the universe, and Emperor Qi's Great Luo Heavenly Scripture.

The realms established by such beings — each one was an unprecedented marvel, hailed as a truly invincible, forbidden Rank 9 existence.

Any single one of them was capable of dominating an entire cosmic era!

The Brainworm Deity fell into complete silence.

"To hear the Dao in the morning, and die content in the evening..."

This single sentence profoundly stirred his heart.

It was as if he had peeled away layers of dust and decay, revealing a version of himself long devoid of ambition. He recalled his vibrant younger self on a humble planet, standing upon a boundless prairie...

"I want to break through to higher realms and witness grander vistas!"

Many years later, he had ascended to the peak, leading countless others in their escape. Along the way, he had become cold, ruthless, and even cruel. Concepts like morality and kindness were reserved solely for his own species; this cosmic jungle was simply too savage, a place where one either devoured or was devoured.

"I forgot my original purpose," he mused, suddenly feeling an urge to weep. He turned to the players, who were engrossed in their research, their faces alight with passionate discussion and study. This scene of shared pursuit of knowledge was truly inspiring.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" he asked.

A few players looked slightly surprised. "You want to join us in our research?" they asked.

"Yes," he affirmed, his gaze resolute.

"Excellent! Your task is quite simple: you will be the subject of our research."

"We plan to do away with your current body. You see, true elegance and the proper path lie in being small and refined. A colossal body like yours is a deviation; luckily, we discovered it and can now promptly 'eliminate' it, saving you from further error."

"And now, having eliminated your current form, we intend to reconstruct a small, wriggling brainworm body for you, similar to the great octopus. We'll call you..."

"Plankton."

A player in the form of a treant pointed to the ancient castle outside the window, exuding confidence. "Do you see that cosmic castle?" he declared. "One day, you will ascend to its pinnacle, trample it underfoot, and give it a new name."

The Brainworm Deity followed his gaze, hardly daring to imagine such a future for himself. "What name?" he couldn't help but ask.

The treant's eyes sparkled, as if brimming with dreams. "This castle's name should be your shared garden," he announced, "and it shall be called..."

"Bikini Bottom."