"There is, of course, a second path," Daniel continued. "You can search for an entirely new universe and turn it into the future homeland of the Eternal Empire."

His tone was calm, but the proposal was vast enough to determine the fate of countless lives.

"Many supreme factions still exist throughout the Eternal Universe. Have you considered bringing them all under imperial control? They possess immense reserves of resources, terrifying military forces, and territories that are practically independent kingdoms. They resemble regional lords who acknowledge the empire only when it benefits them."

Daniel’s voice grew colder.

"Rather than allow those forces to remain idle while the universe approaches destruction, assemble them into a single expeditionary legion. Send that force deep into the Endless Starsea and make it search for a young, newly born universe that can become your people’s next home."

Dorek fell into thought.

He did not reject the proposal, but he immediately saw the political difficulty. The great factions had obeyed him only because his legions had surrounded the capital and destroyed Treasure-Rich Starfield. Would they truly surrender their elite experts and accumulated wealth to a newly enthroned emperor?

"Teacher," Dorek said honestly, "what should I do if those powers refuse my order?"

Daniel answered without hesitation.

"There is no need to worry. Begin by ordering the Fated Human Race to contribute part of its forces. Once the Fated Human Race publicly obeys, the remaining factions will lose their best excuse for resisting. Anyone who still refuses an imperial command can be treated as a rebel and suppressed by force."

He continued, "The Oracle Hall must also provide manpower. Its Oracle-grade experts have enjoyed the resources and offerings of the empire for countless years. It would be unreasonable for them to refuse service when the entire universe faces extinction."

Daniel looked directly at Dorek.

"Issue the order immediately. Gather experts from the Fated Human Race, the Oracle Hall, and every major faction. Reorganize them into an expeditionary legion and send them into the Endless Starsea to search for information concerning new universes. The sooner they depart, the greater the chance that the empire will survive."

Dorek carefully considered every part of the plan.

At present, there truly was no better alternative. Waiting for the previous Eternal Emperor to complete his breakthrough was little more than gambling the lives of an entire universe upon an almost impossible success. Searching for a new home was difficult, but it at least placed the future in their own hands.

Dorek issued several imperial decrees in rapid succession.

The Fated Human Race and the Oracle Hall were ordered to provide experts for a newly formed expeditionary force. Every other supreme faction within the empire was required to contribute warriors, vessels, resources, scouts, and navigators. The expedition would enter the Endless Starsea and search for a suitable universe before Tribulation-Ash corruption consumed their current home.

The Fated Human Race responded immediately and dispatched its people without complaint.

The other factions began delaying.

* * *

"What is the new emperor trying to do? He has only just taken the throne, yet he is already conscripting our experts."

"The empire already possesses enormous legions. Why create another force unless he intends to weaken the foundations of our families?"

"I cannot tolerate this new emperor. Should we unite and resist?"

"Resist? Have you forgotten what happened to Treasure-Rich Starfield? Its Lord was a T9 Oracle-grade expert, and the entire territory was still erased in half a day."

"The Fated Human Race has already sent an army. We cannot claim that the burden is unfairly placed upon us."

"We have all seen how ruthless the new emperor can be. For now, obedience is the only safe choice."

"Then we will obey in appearance and wait for a chance to regain control later."

The factions complained in private, but none dared issue an open refusal.

* * *

Inside the Holy See, Dorek looked at Daniel with surprise.

"Teacher, you said that the opportunity you seek is inside the imperial treasury. Is that true?"

Daniel had personally asked him for a treasure only moments earlier. It was the first time Dorek could remember his teacher requesting any direct reward.

Dorek did not hesitate.

"Everything inside the treasury is yours. Take whatever you require. Even if you emptied the entire place, I would not object."

The final sentence contained a trace of humor. The Eternal Empire had ruled its universe for immeasurable ages, and its treasury contained foundations far beyond those of ordinary factions. If Daniel truly removed everything, even Dorek would suffer a considerable headache.

Still, the offer revealed his sincerity.

Daniel understood the meaning behind it and smiled faintly.

"There is no need to empty the treasury. I require only one item."

"Then take it, Teacher. I will open every necessary authorization."

Dorek immediately granted Daniel unrestricted selection rights.

Not long afterward, a treasury archivist led Daniel into an underground palace built for the storage of imperial treasures.

"Imperial Tutor, what kind of artifact do you require? If you provide its designation, I will retrieve it immediately."

The rules of the imperial treasury were extremely strict. Even Daniel could not simply walk among the treasures. He was permitted to extend his Divine Sense through the sealed catalog, identify the object he wanted, and request it by number.

Daniel nodded and allowed his Divine Sense to spread into the depths of the treasury.

His only goal was the Great Universal Will Fragment.

Purchasing the fragment from the points shop required one hundred million Realm-Crosser Points. Daniel had no intention of wasting so many points when he now possessed legal access to the imperial treasury.

His perception soon locked upon the fragment.

The object was hidden inside layers of spatial seals and protected by laws far stronger than those surrounding ordinary artifacts. Daniel memorized its identification number.

"51423967951," he said.

The archivist immediately entered the restricted storage region.

When he returned with the treasure, even his disciplined hands trembled.

"My lord, the object you selected is one of the greatest treasures in the entire imperial treasury."

The archivist had expected Daniel to choose something valuable, but he had not imagined that the Imperial Tutor would select the unique supreme-grade treasure whose quality surpassed every other item in storage.

Nevertheless, the decision was not his to question. His duty was to retrieve the designated object, record the transaction, and report the complete process to the emperor.

He respectfully placed the Great Universal Will Fragment in Daniel’s hands.

Daniel left the treasury without looking at anything else.

Upon returning to his residence, he immediately activated the fragment.

[Ding! Please choose how to use the Great Universal Will Fragment.]

[Option One: Fuse the fragment directly.]

[Option Two: Use the fragment to advance a spacetime-law Sacred Art.]

Daniel made his choice the instant the notification appeared.

"Advance the Sacred Art."

[Ding! Advancement successful!]

[Your spacetime-law Sacred Art has evolved into Absolute Spacetime. Its grade has increased to mid-grade!]

Daniel released a long breath.

His spacetime Sacred Art had finally completed its long-awaited advancement.