Chapter 1543 : The Annihilation of the Universe

The Crown Prince of the True Dragons finished speaking and prepared to strike at the Netherworld Microcosm Array.

But at that very moment, the 10 1000 Spirits Ancestor stopped him and said, "If not for this fellow cultivator’s formation, this minor universe might already have been sacrificed by the Dark Cloud Demon Lord."

“This is a life-saving grace—do you dare to betray righteousness and raise your hand?” The crowd faltered, momentarily stunned by these words.

Seeing this, Jiang Daoxu also stepped forward and said, "Eldrin (Person Name) makes a valid point."

At the same time, the Flame-Severing Divine Spirit, the Heaven-Mourning Human Emperor, the 3 Great Emperors of the human race in this realm, and many others stepped forward 1 after another. Though none uttered a word, their stance was made unequivocally clear.

Another dozen or so half-step Celestial Immortal rogue cultivators sighed in resignation upon seeing this, shaking their heads as they flew off into the cosmic starry skies. The remaining True Dragon Prince, Patriarch Xi Geng, and the others still wished to contend, yet they understood their alliance had fractured beyond unity.

Patriarch Xigeng let out a cold sneer, his gaze fixed on Eldrin (Person Name). "What a silver tongue you possess," he remarked, "to sow discord among us all with just a few choice words."

"Was it truly an attempt to sow discord?"

Eldrin smiled faintly and said, "Although innate treasures are precious, ordinary half-step Celestial Immortals without backing would merely be risking their lives for others' gain even if they obtained such an item."

"After all, such innate treasures will ultimately fall into the hands of the Celestial Immortals behind you." "It's good that you understand."

The Western Geng Patriarch let out a cold sneer and immediately withdrew, vanishing without a trace.

At this moment, all the Quasi-Celestial Immortals snapped out of their fervor and regained their composure.

They understood that although innate treasures were precious, without a powerful backer to rely on, obtaining them would ultimately be a futile endeavor. Thus, numerous half-step Celestial Immortal loose cultivators departed from the minor universe 1 after another, returning to the immortal realm.

Only a select few with the backing of cave heavens remained in this universe—the Taiwhite Celestial Maiden, the Pure Sun Saint Child, the True Dragon Crown Prince, and others of their stature—waiting for the cosmic destruction treasure to take form. After the multitude had departed, Eldrin discovered that the netherworld mini-universe was also succumbing to annihilation.

He stowed away the Yin-Yang Void Mirror, the Abyssal Sea Pearl, and the Myriad Tribulations Sword of the Primordial Thunder Abyss, then urgently addressed Daoist Zi Xuan and Crystal Divine Sovereign, "The microcosm is on the verge of collapse. Depart at once, or it will be too late."

"Safety is paramount. You must leave with the treasure immediately." Hearing this, the Glazed Divine Monarch furrowed her brow slightly and asked, "What about you?" "I have my own means of returning safely."

Eldrin spoke slowly, then turned his gaze toward Human Emperor Tian'ai and the 3 great emperors—Sugu, Future, and Dongji—saying, "You should all leave as well." "I need not go."

Heaven’s Lament Human Emperor shook his head, then turned his gaze to Eldrin and asked, “How are our fellow clansmen of the human race faring these days?”

"Currently, among the human race in this universe, 30 percent reside within our Earth Immortal realms, while 70 percent have been guided to the 100 Seas of the Returning Abyss."

Eldrin spoke slowly, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Do not fear. So long as I endure, the flame of humanity within this cosmos shall never be extinguished—our bloodline will flow unbroken through the ages."

"Then I can rest easy."

The Heaven-Mourning Human Emperor nodded, then let out a soft sigh.

He gazed into the vast cosmos before turning to the trio—Sugu, Future, and Dongji—and declared, "This time, you have forsaken the guidance of the Taibai Grotto-Heaven and the Pure Yang Grotto-Heaven, choosing to forge your own path through the immortal realms."

"But the Immortal Realm is vast and perilous, far unlike this small universe. Remember to take care."

The Archaic Emperor nodded slightly, his expression serene as he declared, "Should the day come when I set foot upon the Great Luo Realm, I shall awaken this cosmos through the Great Dao of Time."

With those final words, the group bid their farewells and went their separate ways.

The 3 Great Emperors—Suigu, Weilai, and Dongji—followed Glazed Divine Lord and Mystic Violet Daoist through a spatial rift, stealthily crossing into the immortal realm. As the trio departed, Human Emperor Tiansorrow let out a soft sigh and murmured, "All gone... Perhaps it is for the best."

"They all have a bright future ahead. I can finally rest assured."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin felt a tremor in his heart. He had to admit that compared to the 2 great emperors of Ancient Origins and Future’s End, the Celestial Lament Human Emperor—the third Human Emperor in this universe—did not possess particularly astounding talent.

Yet to protect the human race, he made a grand vow while breaking through to the Great Unity Realm—such monumental courage rivals any. Thinking of this, Chen Eldrin (Person Name) could not help but remark, "What do you plan to do next?"

"My homeland is on the brink of destruction, yet I remain powerless. What more can I possibly do?"

Celestial Sorrow, the Human Emperor, shook his head. Gazing at the Human Emperor's Sword in his hand, he tossed it to Eldrin (Person Name). "From this day forth, you shall be the next Human Emperor of this universe's mortal race. I trust you will not tarnish the prestige of this blade."

"This..."

Eldrin’s heart stirred faintly. He never expected that the Heaven-Mourning Human Emperor would not bestow this sword upon the 2 great emperors, Ancient Dawn or Future’s End, but would instead entrust it to him. Without another word, the Heaven-Mourning Human Emperor drew a golden war halberd from his sleeve, his expression calm as he spoke.

"My Heaven's Lament War Halberd has not tasted blood in many years." "As I approach my nirvana today, I shall join you in 1 final battle."

As the words faded, Emperor Tian'ai gripped his war halberd and strode forth, advancing deep into the cosmos. Stars shattered and the universe crumbled.

In the vast cosmos, all things are marching toward annihilation.

Eldrin walked side by side with the Heaven-Mourning Human Emperor, traversing the ruins of a bygone era as they witnessed the annihilation of a universe. Wailing, agony, despair, obliteration, silence...

Eldrin gazed silently at the vast cosmos, a sudden inexplicable insight stirring within his heart. "The end of time, the origin of space, the cessation of all things, the universe returning to the primordial abyss."

"Entropy's increase is irreversible. From the perspective of 10 1000 years, a 100 million years, 10 trillion years, or even a 100 million trillions of years—everything shall ultimately be destroyed beneath the relentless march of entropy."

"Even the immortal and imperishable divine metal shall 1 day corrode."

"Is this the reason why all worlds, all universes, are doomed to perish?" Eldrin murmured softly, falling into contemplative silence.

He had a premonition that even the Celestial Realm would 1 day face destruction, though that day lay so far in the future it stretched beyond the concerns of immortals—be they Earth Immortals or even Celestial Immortals.

For before their fall, the Celestial Realm was all but impervious to destruction. "Is everything destined to perish?"

Eldrin pondered silently within his heart as he traversed the vast expanse between heaven and earth. He watched how, beneath the universe's perpetual collapse, countless strands of annihilation qi ceaselessly converged toward the cosmic center.

Countless stars, rare treasures, and mystical artifacts disintegrated completely, transforming into the most primordial rules and dao patterns. Interwoven together, they seemed to generate chaotic qi. "RUMBLE—!"

Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted throughout the cosmos.

Eldrin looked up to see the cosmos tearing asunder—a rift stretching across untold light-years, piercing deep into the boundless chaos. Countless torrents of primordial energy surged through the breach, cascading toward the heart of the universe in a cataclysmic deluge.

Countless chaotic torrents intertwined with the primeval essence of the cosmos, causing the tribulation energy to grow increasingly violent and rampant.

Eldrin (Person Name) strained to fully expand his Primordial Chaos Unified Aura, desperately evading the raging torrents of chaos as he gazed toward the cosmic core. There, at the universe's heart, a hazy Primordial Glow (Mystical Phenomenon) gradually unfurled like an embryonic dawn.