315: Chapter 315 The First Lawsuit! The First Law of the Universe vs. the Fundamental Law of the New Era

Three days later, the Cosmic Supreme Court.

This was a massive structure floating in the void, condensed from pure Conceptual Power. Twelve pillars of light that reached from the heavens to the earth supported the dome, each engraved with inscriptions of the changing epochs. Inside the court, the judge's bench hung high in mid-air, with the plaintiff's and defendant's seats below it, and countless gallery seats further out.

Today, the gallery was packed to capacity.

Representatives from civilizations across the myriad realms crowded every corner—Nascent Soul Ancestors from the Cultivation Alliance, Chief Scientists from technological civilizations, Elders from the Council of Emotionally Awakened, Core Administrators of data lifeforms, survivor leaders from the Icebound Star Domain, the Emotionally Awakened from the Dead Silence Star Domain... there were even a few daring representatives from minor civilizations who risked being knocked unconscious by the pressure just to observe.

Even more eyes were projected in via live broadcast. According to statistics, at least three hundred trillion beings were watching this trial at this moment.

Because this was not just a lawsuit between Lin Chen and the Old Gods; it was a verdict concerning the future order of the entire universe.

At exactly nine o'clock in the morning, the judge's bench erupted in brilliant light.

Yuanshi's figure slowly emerged.

Today he wore the highest-specification robes of the Administration Bureau, a pure black gown embroidered with golden runes of order, each rune flowing slowly. His expression was solemn and dignified, devoid of any emotion.

"Silence."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered the depths of everyone's consciousness.

The entire hall fell silent instantly.

Yuanshi scanned the room, his gaze lingering for a moment on the plaintiff's and defendant's seats before he slowly spoke:

"Today, the Cosmic Supreme Court is holding a public hearing for the case of 'New Era Joint Development Company v. Chaos Ancient God, Ancient Immortal Emperor, and Mechanical God regarding a cosmic property rights dispute'."

"Plaintiff: New Era Joint Development Company, represented by Lin Chen."

"Defendants: Chaos Ancient God, Ancient Immortal Emperor, Mechanical God."

"Presiding Judge of this court: Yuanshi of the Epoch Administration Bureau."

"The court is now in session."

He struck the gavel.

A soft sound, yet it made the entire courtroom tremble.

At the plaintiff's table, Lin Chen sat calmly in a well-tailored black suit. Behind him was Golden Abacus—today's lead counsel—wearing a specially made golden robe and holding a thick stack of materials.

Further back were Zhang Hao, Arrogant Dragon, and the young girl Morgana. Zhang Hao was responsible for records, Arrogant Dragon for security, and Morgana for technical support related to the Frost Law—though she had little power, her heritage fragments contained countless memories of the first epoch.

At the defendant's table sat three terrifying figures.

The chaotic aura around the Chaos Ancient God was much more restrained today, but those blood-red eyes were still impossible to look at directly. The Ancient Immortal Emperor remained expressionless, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest; with every tap, the surrounding space-time produced tiny ripples. The Mechanical God remained motionless, only the light screen in its eyes flashing continuously, clearly performing massive calculations.

Yuanshi spoke:

"Will the plaintiff please state their claims."

Golden Abacus stood up and walked to the center of the court.

He cleared his throat, his voice resonant:

"Honorable Judge, esteemed observers. My party—the New Era Joint Development Company—is suing the three defendants today on the grounds that they have groundlessly claimed ownership over the entire universe. Using this as a pretext, they have threatened my party to hand over assets and cease operations, severely interfering with our normal business activities and damaging the legal rights and interests of our company and all shareholders."

"My party requests the court: First, to rule the defendants' property claims invalid; second, to prohibit the defendants from interfering with our operations in any form; and third, to order the defendants to compensate my party for losses caused by this litigation totaling 1 quadrillion dimension points."

The entire hall broke into an uproar.

1 quadrillion in compensation? It was less than the 3 quadrillion the Old Gods had demanded, but it was still ruthless.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor sneered, "Arrogant."

Golden Abacus ignored him and continued:

"My party will submit the following evidence to the court—"

He opened a holographic projection:

"First, official records from the Administration Bureau proving that since the first epoch, cosmic ownership has never been registered under any individual's name."

"Second, detailed records of my party investing 967 trillion dimension points to save the four major star domains during the Zeroing Storm, proving my party's actual development and guardianship rights over the relevant civilizations and resources."

"Third, joint testimony signed by representatives of civilizations from across the myriad realms, proving that during the storm, the three defendants never appeared, let alone provided any assistance."

"The above evidence is sufficient to prove the reasonableness of my party's claims."

After Golden Abacus finished speaking, he retreated to the plaintiff's seat.

Yuanshi nodded and looked toward the defendant's seat.

"Will the defendants please state their case."

The Chaos Ancient God slowly stood up.

The chaotic aura around him surged violently, causing many in the gallery to instinctively retreat. But he quickly restrained his pressure; after all, this was a courtroom.

"Judge." His voice was low and hoarse. "Everything the plaintiff has said is based on the 'Rules of the Administration Bureau'. But what we are discussing today are not the rules of the Administration Bureau, but a much older existence—the cosmic property law of the first epoch."

He raised his hand, and a grey-white light condensed in the center of the court, turning into a broken stone tablet.

Ancient characters were carved on the tablet, each word radiating a primordial aura.

"This is an original legal document left over from the first epoch," the Chaos Ancient God said. "It clearly records that from the beginning of its birth, the universe was jointly owned by the first batch of intelligent life. The three of us are precisely the survivors of that first batch of intelligent life."

"According to this law, the entire universe—including all resources, space, and civilizations—belongs to us. The plaintiff's New Era Development has developed without our authorization, which constitutes illegal infringement."

He put away the stone tablet and looked at Yuanshi.

"Judge, you are the executor of the first epoch; you should recognize this law."

Yuanshi fell silent for a second.

Then he nodded.

"This court confirms that this stone tablet is indeed a relic of the first epoch, and the cosmic property law did indeed exist."

The gallery broke into an uproar once again.

Those who had just felt Lin Chen was certain to win now saw their expressions change.

Yuanshi continued: "However, the existence of a law does not equate to its validity. The first epoch ended over three million years ago; whether this law still possesses binding force requires debate between both parties."

He looked at Golden Abacus.

"Plaintiff, please respond."

Golden Abacus stood up and smiled.

That smile was identical to Lin Chen's—calm, composed, as if everything was under control.

"Judge, my party acknowledges that the first epoch once had a cosmic property law. However, according to the records of the Administration Bureau, this law was never officially filed with the Administration Bureau, nor was it confirmed or continued in any subsequent epochs."

He opened another holographic projection:

"Please look—this is the Administration Bureau's 'Overview of Legal Filings'. From the first epoch until now, there have been a total of 3,270,000 legal provisions, of which 1,030,000 are valid and 2,240,000 are invalid. Every invalid law has the reason for its invalidity noted behind it."

He zoomed in on the image and pointed to a line.

"'cosmic property law'—Reason for invalidity: Cosmic Iteration; the original legal basis no longer exists."

The entire hall went silent.

Golden Abacus continued: "The so-called 'Cosmic Iteration' refers to the fact that the underlying laws of the universe reset every certain cycle. The rules of the first epoch became mostly invalid by the second epoch; by the third epoch, they were essentially all voided. This is common knowledge known to all civilizations."

"The three defendants have slept for three million years and wake up wanting to use the Laws of the First Epoch to bind the current universe? This is like—"

He thought for a moment and used an analogy:

"It is as absurd as using hunting laws from ancient times to regulate today's commercial transactions."

Someone in the gallery couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The Chaos Ancient God's face turned livid—if he had a face.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor said coldly, "What do the Administration Bureau's filings matter? We are beings of the first epoch; our laws do not need the Administration Bureau's approval!"

Golden Abacus looked at him, his smile unchanging.

"Then may I ask, do you have the Administration Bureau's recognition?"

The Ancient Immortal Emperor was at a loss for words.

Golden Abacus continued: "According to the rules of the Cosmic Supreme Court, for any law to have universal binding force, it must be filed with the Administration Bureau. This has been the custom for three million years and is the foundation for maintaining cosmic order. If you can choose not to follow this rule, then anyone could take an ancient law to claim ownership, and wouldn't the entire universe fall into chaos?"

He turned to Yuanshi.

"Judge, my party requests the court to confirm: Laws of the First Epoch that were not filed with the Administration Bureau do not have legal effect in the current universe."

Yuanshi fell silent.

The entire hall held its breath.

Three seconds later, Yuanshi slowly spoke:

"This court rules: The first epoch's cosmic property law, due to not being filed with the Administration Bureau and because its legal basis has been invalidated by Cosmic Iteration, does not have legal effect in the current universe."

Cheers erupted from the gallery.

The Chaos Ancient God suddenly stood up, his chaotic aura surging madly: "Yuanshi! You dare—"

Yuanshi looked at him coldly.

"This court is currently in session. If the defendant is dissatisfied, they may appeal. But if you roar in court again, this court will treat it as contempt of court."

The Chaos Ancient God gnashed his teeth but ultimately sat back down.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor pulled him back and whispered, "Don't be impulsive. This is not the place to take action."

The light in the Mechanical God's eyes flashed as it was calculating something.

Golden Abacus pressed his advantage:

"Judge, since the defendants' property claim is not established, my party requests the court to order: First, the defendants immediately cease all threats and harassment against New Era Development; second, compensate my party for various expenses incurred due to this litigation, totaling 5 quadrillion dimension points; third—"

He paused and looked at the three Old Gods.

"Third, given that the defendants' actions have already caused serious interference with the order of the myriad realms, my party requests the court to issue a 'Gag Order' against the defendants, prohibiting them from making any public statements involving cosmic property rights for the next ten thousand years."

The Chaos Ancient God was enraged again: "Bullshit!"

Yuanshi struck the gavel.

"If the defendant roars in court again, this court will directly rule in favor of the plaintiff."

The Chaos Ancient God forced himself to swallow the words that followed.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor stood up and said coldly:

"Judge, my party does not accept this."

"According to the Administration Bureau's rules, if you do not accept, you may appeal," Yuanshi said. "But an appeal requires new evidence. Do you have any?"

The Ancient Immortal Emperor fell silent for a second.

Then he raised his hand, and a beam of light flew from his palm, landing in the center of the court and transforming into a figure.

It was an old man, white-haired and gaunt, wearing an ancient robe similar to those of the Old Gods.

"This is a witness from our first epoch," the Ancient Immortal Emperor said. "He can prove that our ownership truly exists."

The hall was in an uproar once again.

A witness? There was still a living witness from the first epoch?

Lin Chen's eyes narrowed.

Golden Abacus whispered, "Boss, what's the situation?"

Lin Chen didn't speak, just looked at the old man.

The old man spoke slowly, his voice as raspy as rusted machinery:

"I... am the... last ordinary life... of the first epoch... I can prove... they... indeed owned the universe..."

Before he could finish, the old man suddenly coughed violently; what he coughed up wasn't blood, but grey-white dust.

That was a sign that his existence was about to dissipate.

Lin Chen suddenly laughed.

He stood up and walked to the center of the court.

"Judge, I would like to ask this witness a few questions."

Yuanshi nodded.

Lin Chen walked up to the old man and looked at him.

"You say you are an ordinary life from the first epoch. Then let me ask you, what is your name?"

The old man was stunned.

"I... my name is..."

He couldn't say it.

Lin Chen continued: "Which star domain did you live in? Who was your family? Which specific events did you witness?"

The old man opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Lin Chen turned around and looked at the three Old Gods.

"This witness you found can't even say his own name; what did he witness?"

The Ancient Immortal Emperor said coldly, "He has slept for too long; his memories are a bit blurred—"

"Blurred?" Lin Chen interrupted him. "Then what does he remember?"

The Ancient Immortal Emperor fell silent.

Lin Chen smiled.

That smile was different from before—it was true mockery.

"Judge, my party believes that this witness is not a survivor of the first epoch at all, but a piece of false evidence created by the defendants using some method. The purpose is simply to stall for time."

The hall was in an uproar again.

The Chaos Ancient God roared: "You're slandering us!"

Lin Chen looked at him and said leisurely:

"Then let him say his own name. If he can't, it's perjury."

The old man stood there, trembling all over. His body became increasingly transparent, and the grey-white dust he coughed up increased.

Three seconds later, he completely dissipated.

Vanishing into nothingness.

The hall was deathly silent.

Lin Chen brushed off non-existent dust from his hands and looked at Yuanshi.

"Judge, the false evidence has destroyed itself. I request the court to continue the proceedings."

Yuanshi was silent for three seconds.

Then he struck the gavel.

"This court pronounces—"

"In the case of plaintiff New Era Joint Development Company v. defendants Chaos Ancient God, Ancient Immortal Emperor, and Mechanical God regarding a cosmic property rights dispute, the trial has found: the defendants' claim lacks a valid legal basis, and the witness testimony provided cannot be accepted."

"The judgment is as follows:"

"1. The defendants' property claim is invalid."

"2. The defendants shall not interfere with the plaintiff's normal operations in any form."

"3. The litigation costs of this case shall be borne by the defendants."

"4. The plaintiff's other compensation requests are dismissed due to insufficient evidence."

The gavel fell.

"Court adjourned."

Thunderous applause erupted from the gallery.

Lin Chen stood up and looked at the three Old Gods.

Endless fury burned in the Chaos Ancient God's eyes.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor was expressionless, but the aura around him was already as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice.

The Mechanical God was still calculating, but the results of the calculation were clearly not optimistic.

Lin Chen smiled at them.

"If you don't accept it, you can appeal."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Behind him, the Chaos Ancient God's roar made the entire court tremble:

"Lin Chen! You think you've won? This is just the beginning!"

Lin Chen didn't look back.

"Then let it begin."