In the heights beyond the Infinite Immortal Realms, where the very fabric of reality thinned and gave way to higher planes of existence, the Godly Realm reigned supreme. This realm, untouched by mortal hands and rarely traversed even by the most powerful immortals, was ruled by beings who had long surpassed the concept of simple cultivation. These were beings of Ideas, whose thoughts shaped the cosmos, whose presence alone commanded the essence of reality itself.
At the pinnacle of this realm sat the Divine King, an embodiment of an idea so old and so ingrained in the workings of the universe that it predated even the formation of the heavens and the earth. His idea was Authority—the ultimate power of dominion over all things, living or dead, mortal or divine. For eons, his presence had quietly shaped the Infinite Immortal Realms, guiding the ascension of gods and the fall of empires, all without ever stepping foot in the mortal world.
But now, something had changed.
As the tremors of Paracausality spread across the Infinite Immortal Realms, the Divine King felt a disturbance deep within the core of his existence. Paracausality—the ability to transcend cause and effect—was a force that threatened the very foundations of his authority. For if beings could create their own destinies, break the chains of karma and destiny, what use was authority? What place was there for a Divine King in a world where power no longer needed his blessing to exist?
The Divine King stood at the edge of the Godly Realm, his towering figure casting a long shadow across the stars. His golden robes shimmered with celestial light, and his eyes burned with the glow of a thousand suns. Yet, there was an unease in his heart, a feeling that had not touched him since the dawn of time.
He had felt the rise of Zui Tian, Wujin Meng, and Pan Gu. He had sensed their ascension into Ideas, and while they had disrupted the balance of the realms, he had not interfered. The Infinite Immortal Realms had always been a playground for gods, immortals, and beings striving to reach the heights of power. But this—Paracausality—was something different.
The Divine King clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his authority trembling. If the rules of reality could be bent, if the cause-and-effect chain that governed all beings could be shattered, then even he, the Divine King, could lose his dominion.
“Ideas cannot be broken,” he muttered to himself, his voice echoing through the empty expanse of the Godly Realm. “But if this new power takes hold… will my Idea remain absolute?”
The Divine King descended.
In the Infinite Immortal Realms, where celebrations of ascension and newfound freedom were still echoing from the Grand Chaotic Banquet, the sky began to ripple. The air around the highest peaks of the realm shimmered, and the cultivators, gods, and immortals alike felt a crushing pressure descend upon them. It was an energy unlike anything they had felt before—a presence that demanded obedience, that called for submission without question.
The Divine King had arrived.
In an instant, the stars above shifted, glowing a deep gold as if bowing to the authority that had appeared in the mortal world. The very laws of the universe seemed to bend and tremble beneath the weight of his presence. All who stood in the Infinite Immortal Realms could feel it—the presence of a being who was far beyond the power of any god or immortal.
The Immortal Emperor, who had only recently felt the loosening of his own karmic bonds due to the rise of Paracausal energy, was the first to feel the full brunt of the Divine King’s presence. He stood frozen in his throne room, unable to move as a pressure unlike any he had ever known pressed down upon him.
“Divine… King?” the Immortal Emperor whispered to himself, his voice trembling. He had heard tales of the Divine King, a being who had ruled over the Godly Realm since time immemorial, but never in his long life had he thought to feel this presence so directly.
Across the realms, the Abyssal Master, locked in his own contemplation of paracausal power, felt the Divine King’s descent and immediately stood. His dark eyes narrowed, his expression one of disbelief. “Even he feels threatened,” the Abyssal Master muttered, clenching his fist. “This will change everything.”
The Divine King descended to the mortal plane, his form growing smaller as he approached the Infinite Immortal Realms. His once colossal figure took on the appearance of a man, though his presence was anything but human. His robes, woven from celestial threads, shimmered with power as he touched down upon the earth, his feet never quite making contact with the ground.
The cultivators and gods who saw him immediately bowed, not out of reverence, but because they had no choice. The Divine King’s very presence demanded submission. Even the wild beasts of the realms cowered, sensing the overwhelming authority that now walked among them.
He gazed across the land, his eyes settling on the Celestial Tavern where Zui Tian and Wujin Meng had last been seen. His lips curled slightly, not in a smile, but in something closer to disdain. These two had triggered the events that led to the Paracausal Era. And while the Divine King had no fear of mere mortals or gods, the power they wielded now—the power to transcend—threatened the very essence of what he was.
In the distance, Zui Tian stood on the balcony of the Celestial Tavern, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He had felt the Divine King’s descent long before the others and had been waiting for this moment.
“Looks like the old man finally decided to come down from his golden throne,” Zui muttered, taking a swig from his flask. Wujin Meng, standing beside him, glanced over with her usual calm.
“Do you think he’s here to talk or to fight?” she asked.
Zui Tian chuckled. “Oh, he’ll try to talk. But he’s already lost. He knows it too. The Paracausal Era isn’t something he can stop, no matter how hard he tries.”
Wujin nodded. “He’s afraid of losing control. Afraid that his Idea won’t matter in a world where beings can break the chains of destiny.”
Zui Tian looked up at the sky, watching as the Divine King slowly approached. “Exactly. And that’s why he’s here.”
The Divine King reached the steps of the Celestial Tavern, his eyes locking onto Zui Tian and Wujin Meng. His presence alone caused the very air around them to grow heavy, as if reality itself bent to his will. He spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an edge of command.
“Zui Tian. Wujin Meng. You’ve both played your part in the rise of this Paracausal energy. You’ve broken the laws that have governed the realms since their creation.”
Zui raised an eyebrow, taking another swig from his flask. “Not broken. Just… rewrote them a little.”
The Divine King’s eyes narrowed. “This power, this freedom you’ve brought into the realms, threatens everything. The balance, the order, the structure of reality. You, of all beings, should understand what it means to defy the natural order.”
Wujin Meng met his gaze evenly. “We do. But that’s why we did it. The natural order was never supposed to be static. Change is inevitable. Growth comes from breaking the chains that bind.”
The Divine King’s expression hardened. “And what of the consequences? What of the chaos that will follow? Do you believe the realms will survive if every being can simply will their own reality into existence?”
Zui Tian grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “That’s the fun part, isn’t it? Seeing how far they can go. Seeing what they’ll do with freedom.”
The Divine King stood silent for a moment, his mind racing. He had come here to impose his authority, to remind the realms of their place under his rule. But now, standing before Zui Tian and Wujin Meng, he felt something he hadn’t felt in eons—uncertainty. For the first time in his existence, the Divine King was faced with a power he could not control.
The Paracausal Era had begun, and even the Idea of Authority was powerless to stop it.
With a final glance at Zui Tian, the Divine King turned and disappeared into the sky, leaving behind only the faintest trace of his presence.
The realms were no longer his to command.