Chapter 603: Adults' World, No Dreams (Two-in-One)

2015 Audiobook Online Listening

“Future of Life.”

Referred to by the Celestials as the Forbidden Zone of Absolute Static Time.

This ability was almost heaven-defying, impossible to resist or withstand. Like the bizarre phenomena of the Three Realms, it possessed a unique quality that could even affect deities.

Whoosh—

Time seemed to freeze at that instant.

The Lord of Reincarnation appeared as a still white statue, his handsome, slender form clad in a black robe, his face as beautiful as jade. He was frozen motionless mid-air, in the static pose of delivering a punch.

“What of the Lord of Reincarnation? What of the Emperor? I have absorbed almost all the strongest talents of this era: infinite attack, infinite defense, damage immunity—no harm can befall me. I am indestructible, already the legendary ultimate Celestial Emperor of this world!”

Sizzzzzzle!!

Emperor Yun stood beside the motionless Emperor, like an immortal war god. His hands blurred into endless phantoms, delivering countless tiny, dense spear tips to a single point: the Emperor's most vulnerable eardrum.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The surrounding space continuously vibrated, crackling and popping. Dense streams of photons ignited the air, and radiation, mixed with air currents, transformed into an attack capable of destroying the very ground with each strike!

The space within the eardrum began to collapse, forming a visibly distorted vortex.

The Emperor’s eardrum slowly expanded, then subtly began to heal.

“The wound is healing. Has he awakened?” The Skeleton Celestial Emperor of the Human Path’s expression changed. “How could it be so fast? Sacrificing the Time Emperor’s life for this ritual, to strip away life force—it shouldn't be this quick.”

“He hasn’t awakened. This must be his inherent passive healing speed.”

“How is that possible?”

All the great Celestial Emperors of the Celestial World, each possessing extremely strange and powerful abilities, felt their scalps tingle with dread.

One must understand that this absolute static time reduced his entire body’s time perception, recovery speed, and reaction rate to an almost frozen state, effectively stripping him of “time.” This was equivalent to a 99% reduction in self-repair energy, yet even then, his recovery speed remained terrifying.

So, under normal circumstances, what level would his recovery reach?

Perhaps destroying his body would lead to near-instantaneous healing and recovery.

A thought of despair abruptly flashed through their minds.

Unbeatable.

Even if Emperor Yun had fused with all the Celestial Emperors, surpassing the limits of power they could imagine, the opponent still seemed to stand on the far side of a distant ocean, as if he were a life form from an entirely different dimension.

“Overwhelming power conquers all!”

This thought echoed in everyone’s minds, and they felt a chill run through their bodies. It was no wonder such a being couldn’t be defeated throughout the ancient ages; it was simply unheard of.

“Don’t panic, everyone! We’ve created an opportunity for victory! We’ve seized a one-in-ten-thousand chance!”

“Yes, right now, we have nearly eliminated the Emperor’s entire recovery speed and frozen his time. What if he is an ancient giant? We have already breached his most vulnerable eardrum!”

Their expressions gradually stabilized.

Because within this domain of static time, no matter how powerful, there was no way to resist.

Attacking the opponent’s eardrum, targeting the weakest point, and reducing his recovery to the extreme—

“Isn’t a miracle simply overcoming the impossible? No matter how powerful or invincible a being is, they can ultimately be moved by an ant-like, tiny lever that can pry open the entire world!”

This was no longer a question of courage; there was no retreat. They had to fight, no matter how grim the odds.

Tear!!

The frozen long spear furiously pounded the same spot. The eardrum finally widened, completely forming a hole, but it was still healing at a visibly rapid rate.

“If a miracle truly exists,” Emperor Yun’s expression became solemn, and he couldn’t help but say, “then it is now. We must enter his brain through his ear—this is the only possible way to defeat him.”

His decision-making ability and combat talent were naturally astonishing. The moment he engaged, he realized the opponent was too terrifying to be breached. He instantly devised a plan: immobilize the opponent. He had initially intended to pierce the eye to enter the brain, but he found that not only the eyeball but even the eyelid was impenetrable. He could only resort to the more vulnerable eardrum.

Emperor Yun let out a cold snort. “Emperor Xing.”

Emperor Xing understood. He quickly began to act.

He frantically began shrinking Emperor Yun’s body, but at this point, he had already shrunk the forms of over sixty Celestial Emperors. With Emperor Yun’s body added, it was nearly exceeding his control limit.

Gurgle, gurgle.

Endless fresh blood streamed from Emperor Xing’s mouth and nose, staining his seven orifices, a truly horrifying sight.

“Emperor Yun’s body… I can no longer shrink it enough to pass through the eardrum. We would also need to be shrunk even smaller inside him. We’re doomed,” he thought. He turned to look at the surrounding Celestial Emperors, suddenly wanting to calmly tell them this desperate news.

Now, piercing the eardrum was merely a futile effort. Because he could no longer do it.

But he wiped away the blood overflowing from his eyes, just as he was about to speak the truth.

“Emperor Xing, hold on!”

“We’re counting on you. Please, you must use this power to save the entire world.”

“On the path to immortality, you are indispensable!”

The voices of the surrounding Celestial Emperors quickly resonated in his ears, constantly encouraging him, cheering him on. Their fighting spirit had been fully ignited; there was no turning back.

“Save this world?” Blood seeped from Emperor Xing’s entire body. The usually taciturn Emperor dared not speak the truth at that moment, unwilling to strike down the hopes of these Celestial Emperors.

Fear, suppression, shock.

If he told them, with what state of mind would they face the Underworld Master who controlled the world's reincarnation? Would they simply await fate’s judgment?

It was truly despair-inducing.

At that moment, he clearly understood that facing the Lord of Reincarnation, confronting the Emperor, was like staring directly into the death of reincarnation, facing the entrance of the Underworld, the Road to the Yellow Springs. He himself signified…

Irresistible destiny.

Confronting death itself.

As for their furious shouts about saving the world? That phrase was too alien, too foolish, for him.

In a daze, a memory from long, long ago surfaced in his mind—a time of youth, a scene that flashed like thunder.

A classroom.

Soft, bright sunlight streamed in. A young boy gazed at the lush green grass outside, while an elderly Celestial stood at the front of the classroom, slowly writing the words “Dream” on the stone wall.

“Children, tell me, what are your dreams?” the elder asked.

One by one, students below eagerly began to speak.

“Is that even a question? I’m going to become a Celestial Emperor!”

“Hahaha, I’m going to save the world and rule it!”

“I’m going to become strong and protect those I love!”

“I want to save the world too! I’ll become the supreme powerhouse, receive the people’s adoration, become a symbol of an era, and protect all living beings!”

The elder smiled happily. “Very good, children. These are excellent dreams. We Celestials have a future precisely because of you. I believe an era with you will be filled with sunshine and miracles.”

The elder suddenly called out to the reclusive boy who had been looking out the window. “Xing Sheng, what is your dream?”

“Dreams? Children talk about dreams. Adults talk about reality. I’ll just talk about the reality I want. I don’t like interacting, I don’t fit in, and I especially don’t like talking to those sunny people. I prefer to hide solitarily in dark corners, shrinking a little, then shrinking some more, so no one can see me or try to talk to me.”

“What a gloomy fellow.”

“Always pretending to be an adult, acting so mature.”

“His dead fish eyes are terrifying.”

“Always looking sluggish, calling himself an energy-saver, and never playing with us. He’s too gloomy. I’m going to save such a reclusive guy!”

The teacher slowly pointed at the word “Dream” written above. “A very interesting dream. No wonder your talent has become…”