407: Chapter 342: Eternal Shaking, Captain's Dao Heart Impacted

The crack in the eternal throne, like an ugly scar, stretched across that once majestic and unshakeable silver-white throne.

The crack was not wide, no thicker than a thumb at its widest, but it pierced through the core of the entire throne—extending from the base to the top of the backrest, tearing the rule runes that represented "Eternity," "Immortality," and "Absolute" into two.

Golden, blood-like rule Origin slowly seeped from the crack, dripping into the Void Realm, turning into specks of light, and then rapidly dissipating.

[eternal throne · Status]

- Integrity: 78% (Decreased 22%)

- Core rules damaged: "Eternity" rule integrity - 30%

- Time rule efficacy: - 30%

- Repair possibility: Requires at least one year and massive resources

Elios stood before the throne, looking at the crack, his eyes hollow.

His hands were trembling.

Not fear, not anger, but—shaken.

He had never imagined the eternal throne could be damaged.

This throne was the Foundation of the Eternal Divine Court, the symbol of the Legacy of past Eternal Gods, the embodiment of the concept of "Eternity" in the material world. It had endured countless Divine Wars and attacks from countless powerhouses, yet never... never had a crack appeared.

"Impossible..." Elios muttered, his voice hoarse. "How could the eternal throne crack?"

His gaze passed through the Void Realm and landed on the figure in the distance who was also covered in wounds but still held their back straight.

Lin Zhou.

That "weak" opponent, whose Divine Rank was only LV500, whose Divine Kingdom area was only one-tenth of his, and whose average Retinue Rank was ten levels lower, had actually slashed the eternal throne with one sword.

The remaining power of the Sword of Civilization still lingered at the crack, emitting a faint, warm golden light. That light formed a sharp contrast with the silver-white coldness of the throne, like fire and water that could not coexist.

"His sword... how could it possibly damage the eternal throne?"

Elios tried to understand.

His Divine Rank was calculating at high speed, analyzing the composition of that sword strike: Fire of Civilization, Hundred Schools of Thought, Confucian Righteousness, Legalist Edicts... these things, taken individually, were not enough to shake the eternal throne. But combined, they produced a qualitative change.

"Civilization..." he muttered. "Is this the power of civilization?"

He recalled the words Lin Zhou said during the battle:

"Time can freeze all things, but it cannot freeze 'Legacy'."

"The core of civilization is the 'passing of the torch'."

"Your 'Eternity' is a 'static' Eternity. And my 'Civilization' is a 'flowing' Eternity."

"Static Eternity... flowing Eternity..."

Elios's gaze fell on the crack of the throne again.

At the crack, the remaining Fire of Civilization was still slowly burning the rule structure of the throne. Although weak, it was continuous, like dripping water piercing a stone.

He suddenly realized a problem:

If "Eternity" is static, then, is the damaged eternal throne still "Eternity"?

Can it repair itself?

Yes.

But repair takes time.

And time is exactly the enemy of "Eternity".

Because, as long as there is time, nothing is "Eternal".

Stars will extinguish, the Universe will suffer heat death, and even time itself has a beginning and an end.

"Then, what does 'Eternity'... actually mean?"

Elios's Divine Rank began to show subtle disorder.

This was the first time since he began to Cultivate the "Way of Eternity" that he doubted the path he had chosen.

[Elios · Dao Heart Status]

- Stability: 78% (Starting to decline)

- Doubt Index: + 30%

- Divine Fire Fluctuation: Slight (Output power decreased 5%)

"No, that's not right." Elios shook his head violently, trying to suppress the distracting thoughts in his heart. "Eternity is Eternity, an existence that transcends time. Although the throne is damaged, its 'Eternity' essence has not changed. As long as it is repaired, it is still the eternal throne."

He took a deep breath, trying to re-condense his Dao Heart.

But, the crack was right there.

The Fire of Civilization was still burning.

His gaze could not move away from those warm, flowing golden lights.

"Captain!"

A member of the Eternal Divine Court rushed over, face full of anxiety: "Our Divine Power reserves have dropped to 120,000! The resurrection frequency of the Heroic Spirit Legion must be lowered again, otherwise we won't last the next hour!"

Elios did not respond.

His gaze remained on the crack.

"Captain!" The member raised their voice.

"I know." Elios finally spoke, his voice terrifyingly calm. "Pass the order down, the Heroic Spirit Legion is to contract the defense line, focusing on defense. Do not actively attack again."

"But, if we don't attack, Xinghai University will..."

"I said, contract the defense line."

The member was swept by Elios's cold gaze and dared not say more, leaving in a hurry.

Elios stood alone before the throne, looking at the crack, silent for a long time.

Then, he slowly reached out and touched the Fire of Civilization remaining on the edge of the crack.

"Hiss—!"

The moment his finger touched the flame, a burning pain came. Not physical pain, but at the rule level—his "Eternity" rule was being burned, eroded, and shaken by the fire of "Civilization".

[Elios · Status Update]

- Dao Heart Stability: 75%... 72%... 70% (Continuing to decline)

- Divine Fire Fluctuation: Intensified (Output power decreased 8%... 10%... 12%)

- Divine Power Output: Currently only 85% of normal, and still declining

"Is this... the power of the Fire of Civilization?" Elios withdrew his hand, looking at the tiny, unhealable wound burned onto his fingertip.

The wound was not large, but it existed.

For Elios, who Cultivated the "Way of Eternity", any "unhealable" wound was a negation of "Eternity".

Because, "Eternity" means "unchanging".

And a wound is "change".

"Does 'Eternity'... really exist?"

This question, like a thorn, pierced deep into Elios's Dao Heart.

He began to recall his original intention for embarking on the "Way of Eternity".

That was when he was ten years old, the first time he entered the Legacy site of the Eternal Divine Court.

The statues of past Eternal Gods stood in the Hall of Legacy, each one lifelike, as if still alive. Their gazes passed through thousands of years of time, watching the latecomers.

"Eternity is transcending time." The mentor at the time told him, "No matter how the outside world changes, the Eternal Divine Court will always stand tall. No matter how time passes, Eternal Gods will always be immortal."

"Always..." Young Elios's eyes flashed with longing.

He longed for "always".

Because, his mother died in an accident when he was eight.

That was the first time he felt the pain of "loss".

He didn't want to lose anything ever again.

So, he chose the "Way of Eternity".

He wanted to make himself, and everything around him, exist "forever".

But...

Does "forever" really exist?

His mother was gone.

The Seniors of the Eternal Divine Court had also fallen.

Even the eternal throne had cracked.

"Then, what is the meaning of 'Eternity'?"

Elios's Divine Fire trembled violently!

[Elios · Dao Heart Status]

- Stability: 65% (Critical point)

- Doubt Index: + 60%

- Divine Fire Fluctuation: Violent (Output power decreased 20%)

- Current Divine Power Output: Only 75% of normal

"Captain!"

Another member rushed over, this time his adjutant, an old veteran who had followed him for many years: "On the Xinghai side, Lin Zhou seems to be seriously injured and is in the medical pod. Should we take the opportunity to..."

"No." Elios interrupted him. "Taking advantage of someone's danger is not the style of the Eternal Divine Court."

"But, this is a competition..."

"I said, no."

The adjutant opened his mouth, finally sighed, and stepped back.

Elios looked at the preparation space of Xinghai University in the distance, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

Lin Zhou was injured.

He knew.

That sword, although it cracked the eternal throne, Lin Zhou himself paid a huge price—Divine Power exhausted, Divine Rank dormant, civilization furnace on the verge of destruction.

If he ordered a general attack now, Xinghai University might not hold.

But, he was unwilling.

Not because he was kind.

But because he wanted to know—how far that person who could crack the eternal throne could go.

"Lin Zhou... how far can your 'Way of Civilization' go?" He muttered. "If one day, your civilization also encounters the dilemma of 'Eternity', what will you do?"

No one answered him.

Only the crack was still silently telling something.

Time continued to pass in the stalemate.

Elios's Divine Power reserves had dropped below 100,000.

The resurrection frequency of the Heroic Spirit Legion dropped to less than five hundred per minute.

And on the Xinghai University side, Lin Zhou was still lying in the medical pod, not waking up.

The battle between the two sides changed from fierce attacks to silent confrontation.

"Captain, let's... concede." The adjutant walked over again, his voice weary. "Our Divine Power cannot last much longer. Also, the throne is damaged and needs to be repaired as soon as possible. If we keep fighting, the throne might..."

"I know." Elios interrupted him. "Give me... ten more minutes."

"Ten minutes?"

"After ten minutes, no matter the result, I will make a decision."

The adjutant stepped back helplessly.

Elios looked at the crack again.

In the crack, the Fire of Civilization was still burning.

Weak, yet firm.

Like that young man lying in the medical pod, even if unconscious, he did not give up.

"Does 'Eternity'... mean stagnation and death?"

This thought, like lightning, flashed through Elios's mind.

He was shocked.

Stagnation and death...

If "Eternity" means "unchanging", then, aren't things that don't change stagnant?

Aren't stagnant things "dead"?

True "life" is change, growth, and flow.

And "Eternity" is exactly the opposite of all this.

"So, the 'Eternity' I pursue is actually 'death'?"

Elios's face turned pale instantly.

His Divine Fire swayed violently, like a candle in a gale!

[Elios · Dao Heart Status]

- Stability: 50% (On the verge of collapse)

- Doubt Index: + 90%

- Divine Fire Fluctuation: Out of control (Output power decreased 30%)

- Current Divine Power Output: Only 60% of normal

"No... impossible..."

Elios stumbled back, holding onto the armrest of the throne, barely avoiding a fall.

In his mind, countless thoughts collided—

"Eternity is stagnation, stagnation is death."

"Then, what I pursue is actually death?"

"I have Cultivated for so many years, just to head towards death?"

"No, that's not right... there must be something wrong somewhere..."

But, he couldn't find where it was "wrong".

Because Lin Zhou's words were logically impeccable.

Civilization is flowing, changing, and growing.

And Eternity is static, unchanging, and stagnant.

Static Eternity will eventually be replaced by flowing Civilization.

"Then, what is the meaning of my 'Dao'?"

Elios slowly slid to the ground, back against the eternal throne, looking up at the crack.

In the crack, the Fire of Civilization was still burning.

The warm golden light shone on his pale face, but could not warm his cold Dao Heart.

"Does 'Eternity'... mean stagnation and death?"

He muttered, repeating this question.

No one answered him.

Only in the distance, in the medical pod, the unconscious young man's mouth seemed to turn up slightly.

As if saying:

"You have finally started to think."

[Eternal Divine Court Main Team · Status]

- Captain's Dao Heart: Seriously shaken

- Team Morale: Dropped significantly

- Overall Combat Power: Only 60% of normal

- Decision Tendency: Probability of surrender increased significantly

Ten minutes later.

Elios slowly stood up, walked to the throne, raised his hand, and touched the crack.

This time, he did not flinch.

His fingers pressed on the Fire of Civilization, letting the flame burn.

"Pain..."

It hurt.

But, it was this "pain" that made him feel "alive".

"So, this is what the feeling of 'being alive' is like."

He smiled.

The smile was bitter, but carried a hint of relief.

"Adjutant."

"Here!"

"Pass the order down, the Eternal Divine Court main team... concedes."

The adjutant was stunned, then nodded: "Yes."

[Eternal Divine Court Main Team — Conceded!]

[Xinghai University Team — Advanced to the Top 20!]

The match prompt echoed in the Void Realm.

Elios took one last look at the preparation space of Xinghai University in the distance, turned around, and with the broken eternal throne, disappeared into the Void Realm.

He needed time.

To rethink the meaning of "Eternity".

Maybe, one day, he will find the answer.

Maybe, never find it.

But at least, he knows now —

"Eternity" is not the end.

Thinking is.