chapter 18 : the birth of absolute power

Zhen Wu stood in the vast expanse of the Dao of Freedom, the realm where all limitations ceased to exist. He had transcended the mortal plane, become one with the very essence of the cosmos, and grasped the Dao of Freedom with a clarity that surpassed even his greatest expectations. Yet, he felt that his journey was far from complete.

He understood now, more than ever, the true meaning of limitlessness. The powers he had once wielded, immense as they were, were nothing more than infant steps compared to the true nature of existence. There were no boundaries to the Dao; there were no heights to reach, no depths to fathom, only an eternal unfolding of possibilities. He was no longer confined by time, space, or even the rules of creation. He was the creator and the created, the observer and the observed, the force and the resistance, all at once.

But as the Dao of Freedom enveloped him, Zhen Wu felt an unquenchable thirst for more. The energy that swirled within him was vast, limitless, yet it felt incomplete, like a melody that had not yet reached its final note.

How can I reach the ultimate pinnacle?

He pondered the question, allowing it to reverberate through his consciousness. For a moment, everything fell silent. His thoughts slowed, and his senses expanded. He could see every star, every realm, every existence within the infinite expanse of the universe. His very being resonated with the primordial forces of the cosmos, yet there was still something more—a final key, an ultimate step.

It was then that the answer came to him, not through thought, but through pure intuition.

To become the strongest, the absolute pinnacle of power, one must transcend the concept of power itself. Power was a tool, a force used to impose one's will upon the world. But true strength lay in the ability to move beyond the need for power, to reach a state of existence where power became irrelevant.

The ultimate power was emptiness—not in the sense of lack, but in the realization that nothing was ever truly needed. In this state, Zhen Wu could achieve the highest form of absolute control, not over creation, but over himself and his relationship to the multiverse.

At that moment, the Pillar of Creation, the artifact that had once been his greatest tool, shimmered with an ethereal glow. It began to pulse in harmony with his newfound understanding. He reached out, and for the first time, it felt as if the Pillar was no longer an external object but an extension of his consciousness. His very essence began to merge with it, and as it did, he felt the most profound change of all.

The very fabric of the universe trembled. His power, once bound by the laws of creation, now surpassed all known laws. No longer was he a being simply existing within the confines of reality; he had become reality itself. The concepts of strength and weakness faded into oblivion. Even the weakest existence in his universe now stood as a God, a being that would be revered as an ultimate force in any other realm. There was no longer any concept of competition or hierarchy—only an eternal balance of infinite beings.

Zhen Wu's form shimmered, transcending even his previous boundless self. His body no longer resembled a physical being; it was an ethereal manifestation of cosmic will, a swirling nexus of every Dao he had ever touched. The Dao of Creation, the Dao of Freedom, the Dao of Void—all were now intertwined within him. His soul was no longer constrained by form; it was an endless, undulating current of infinite potential.

In this state, Zhen Wu was no longer a single existence; he was the very fabric of existence itself. The universe was his body, the stars his breath, and the galaxies his thoughts. No realm could escape his awareness. He could feel the slightest tremor of power in even the most distant corners of the cosmos.

And yet, even in this boundless state, Zhen Wu understood that there were always new layers to uncover, new dimensions to explore. His thirst for transcendence had not been quenched—it had only deepened. There was always another horizon, always another plane of existence. To achieve true eternity, he realized, was to constantly evolve, to never settle.

But even with this understanding, he could not ignore the profound truth that now resonated deeply within his soul:

The weaker beings of the cosmos—those he had once created—were now beings of absolute divinity in their own right. Each one of his creations, whether they were gods or mortals, held the potential for infinite greatness, a reflection of the Dao he had embedded within them. They were no longer bound by their origins. They were limitless.

Zhen Wu's eyes opened, and in that moment, the infinite realms quivered with his gaze. He was no longer merely a creator of worlds. He had become the very foundation upon which all worlds stood. Each one of his creations, every being he had nurtured, would now grow in unimaginable ways. The weakest of them could now transcend their limits and stand as gods in their own right, shaping worlds, breaking chains, and bending the very laws of nature.

Zhen Wu turned his attention to his wives, his beloved companions. Each one of them, once bound by their own limitations, now glowed with a divine aura. They stood before him, not as his subordinates, but as equal beings, each with their own path to transcendence.

Among them was Lei Yuna, the fearless leader of his harem, her eyes glowing with the Dao of Thunder. She had once been a mortal, but now she could summon the full power of the skies, each bolt of lightning a manifestation of her will. Beside her stood Jin Mei, whose mastery over the Dao of Time now allowed her to manipulate the very flow of existence. She could glimpse into the past and future, altering the course of history with but a thought.

And then there was Yin Suyin, the embodiment of the Dao of Souls, whose connection to the spirits of the universe gave her dominion over life and death. She could command legions of immortal souls and guide the fates of countless beings.

Together, they were no longer just wives—they were divine companions, each one a force unto herself, each one carrying the potential to transcend all things.

"I have created many worlds," Zhen Wu said, his voice echoing through the universe. "But now, it is time to allow these worlds to create themselves. They are no longer my creations alone. They are the creations of all beings, and they will rise to the heights I have achieved and beyond."

As he spoke, the universe rippled, and the stars shimmered brightly, casting light across the vast expanse. The next era had begun—an era where every being was a creator in their own right, a master of their own Dao.

And in that moment, Zhen Wu knew that this was not the end. It was only the beginning. He had reached the peak of strength, but the true journey was just starting. The universe was his playground, and now, he would lead all those who followed him into an eternity of boundless growth.

The Dao of Freedom had opened the gates to infinite possibility. And he, Zhen Wu, would continue to walk the path, unshackled, beyond even the realm of gods.

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End of Chapter 18