115: Chapter 115 The Rise of the Protectorate, Strange Omens Suddenly Appear

The morning bell of the Guardian Academy pierced the skyline of Black Stone City. Three thousand Disciples of the main academy, dressed in green robes, stood neatly arrayed in the Martial Arts Arena with upright postures.

Bai Yunzhou stood in the center of the Martial Arts Arena, the aura of his Chaos Green Lotus Body restrained. Wielding the chaos green lotus sword in his hand lightly, a wisp of Chaos Sword Qi cleaved straight into the firmament, tearing out a faint trace of light.

"Starting today, the Guardian Academy will teach the Six Arts: Sword, Pill, Array, Talisman, Body, and Wisdom. Everyone shall enter their respective halls according to their Aptitude, practicing in the morning and cultivating in the evening without slack."

The Disciples agreed in unison, their voices shaking the Martial Arts Arena. Afterward, they were assigned to the six halls according to their assessment results, where the Elders of each hall were already waiting outside to begin the first day of lectures.

Ling Shuang sat solemnly in the Sword Hall, the Ice Soul Sword Intent condensing at her fingertips as she demonstrated basic sword moves for the Disciples. Every action and movement contained the supreme principles of the Sword Dao, leaving the youths staring fixatedly.

Feng Qingyang presided over the Pill Hall. Pill Furnaces were arrayed in rows with mature fires. He personally demonstrated the method of refining the Qi Condensation Pill, explaining material proportions and fire control techniques with meticulous detail.

Deng Mufeng guarded the Array Hall, outlining a basic protective Formation with his spiritual power. As the runes flickered, a simple Formation took shape, teaching the Disciples how to recognize runes, understand Formation bases, and comprehend Formation eyes.

Su Wanqing headed the Talisman Hall. Her talisman brush fluttered, and yellow paper turned into talismans as she demonstrated the drawing methods for demon-breaking talismans and soul-protecting talismans, emphasizing the unity of mind and spirit alongside the divine charm of the runes.

Zhou Zhiting presided over the Body Hall, slightly unfurling her Battle Blood Sacred Body as she demonstrated basic Body Refining techniques. She corrected the Disciples' movements hand-in-hand, warning the Body Cultivators to progress step by step and avoid acting recklessly.

Song Xinghe managed the Wisdom Hall, lecturing on the geography of the Northern Region, common sense of the Cultivator world, and the rules of the Guardian Alliance. He also elaborated on the deeds of the Northern Region's martyrs, making the Disciples engrave the responsibility of protection in their hearts.

Bai Yunzhou patrolled the halls daily to inspect the teaching conditions of the six halls. Whenever he encountered Disciples with great Aptitude but slow comprehension, he would personally guide them, gently transferring the Power of Chaos to help them achieve enlightenment.

A youth with impure Spiritual Roots but a tenacious Heart-Nature was stuck at the threshold of sword moves. Bai Yunzhou used Chaos Sword Qi to guide his comprehension, causing the youth to instantly become enlightened and execute his sword moves fluently.

An orphan girl who was the daughter of a martyr possessed extraordinary talent in the pill path but was timid about getting her hands dirty. Feng Qingyang intended to teach her painstakingly, and Bai Yunzhou specially bestowed upon her a qinglian pill seed to help her stabilize her pill heart.

The days in the Guardian Academy passed in an orderly fashion, and the Disciples progressed by leaps and bounds. The Yao Race youths of Qingmang Mountain also entered the halls on schedule, living in harmony with the human Disciples and cultivating and advancing together.

Yao Race youths were naturally powerful in physique and mostly entered the Body Hall, sparring with human Disciples in Body Refining and learning each other's strengths. Yao Race maidens had delicate minds, and quite a few entered the Talisman Hall and Pill Hall with rather high Comprehension Ability.

The commoners of Black Stone City would come to gaze outside the Guardian Academy every day. Seeing their own children studying and practicing diligently, their eyes were filled with gratification, and they frequently sent fresh fruits and spiritual grains to reward the teachers and students.

The Guardian Academy did not disappoint the commoners' expectations either. In addition to teaching Disciples, it frequently dispatched Pill Hall Disciples to refine healing pills and Qi Condensation Pills for the commoners, and sent Array Hall Disciples to set up protective Formations for the villages.

The five branch academies in the Northern Region also opened successively, with each academy teaching according to the main academy's regulations. The representatives of the four major Sects and Song Xinghe performed their respective duties, spreading the concept of safeguarding the Dao across all parts of the Northern Region.

On this day, Bai Yunzhou returned to Black Stone City after inspecting the five branch academies. Just as he entered the Guardian Academy, he saw Ling Shuang hurrying over with a trace of solemnity in her expression.

"Domain-Protecting Envoy, the Sword Hall Disciples were cultivating in the Sword-Quenching Valley outside Black Stone City when they sensed an abnormal fluctuation of Spiritual Qi in the valley, which seemed to be a sign of an ancient sword weapon emerging."

A trace of surprise flashed through Bai Yunzhou's eyes. The Sword-Quenching Valley was an ancient sword territory in the Northern Region. Rumor had it that ancient Sword Cultivators had once quenched swords here, yet there had never been any sign of treasures emerging.

"Accompany me to take a look." Before his voice finished falling, his figure had already transformed into a green shadow, with Ling Shuang following closely behind as the two headed straight for the Sword-Quenching Valley.

Inside the Sword-Quenching Valley, dozens of Sword Hall Disciples were surrounding a black stone in the center of the valley. The black stone was pitch-black all over, its surface covered in sword marks, and it was radiating faint Sword Qi.

The Sword Qi was gentle yet refined, different from the sharpness of ordinary sword weapons. It carried a warm intent of protection, which coincided seamlessly with the philosophy of the Guardian Academy.

Bai Yunzhou walked up to the black stone and circulated the Chaos Eye, penetrating the surface layer of the black stone. He saw that deep within the stone core, a rustic short sword was sleeping quietly, its scabbard carved with lotus patterns and sword patterns.

"This is an ancient Guardian sword. It is not an instrument of slaughter, but a sword of protection, and it has an affinity with our Guardian Academy." Bai Yunzhou said in a deep voice, condensing a wisp of the Power of Chaos at his fingertips to lightly touch the black stone.

The Power of Chaos resonated with the Sword Qi in the black stone. The black stone instantly shattered, transforming into stone chips filling the sky, while a short sword about a foot long floated in mid-air, with green light flowing across it.

The Guardian sword slowly landed in Bai Yunzhou's hand, feeling warm to the touch. The lotus patterns and sword patterns on the sword body flickered, producing a strong resonance with the Chaos Green Lotus Body inside his body.

"This sword recognizes a Guardian as its master. Today, it belongs to the Guardian Academy as the town-academy treasure of the main academy, to be placed in the Sword Hall for Disciples to comprehend the Guardian sword dao." Bai Yunzhou raised his hand and handed the Guardian sword to Ling Shuang.

Ling Shuang received it with both hands and bowed, saying, "This Disciple will certainly keep it properly, letting the Sword Hall Disciples comprehend it day and night to inherit the Guardian sword dao."

The news of the Guardian sword entering the Sword Hall spread throughout the Guardian Academy, and all Disciples yearned for it. The Sword Hall Disciples practiced even more diligently, yearning to gain even a trace of recognition from the Guardian sword.

The development of the Guardian Academy was thriving day by day, and the prestige of the Northern Region's Guardian Alliance grew increasingly profound. Cultivators from various Sects worked with one heart and one mind to rectify the order of the Northern Region and repair the trauma of war.

True Monarch Tianxing, Sword Sovereign Hanbing, and others presided over the Alliance's affairs, clearing out the remnant demonic Cultivators across the Northern Region, repairing cities and villages damaged by the flames of war, and restoring people's livelihoods.

The four major Sects guarded the four directions of the Northern Region respectively, echoing each other with the Guardian Academy's branch academies. Whenever Yao Beasts wreaked havoc or bandits ran rampant, they would join forces to suppress them, ensuring peace in the region.

Nourished by the Power of Chaos and the spiritual power of various Sects, the mountains and Spiritual Veins of the Northern Region gradually recovered their vitality. The Spiritual Qi grew increasingly dense, and the cultivation speed of Cultivators increased accordingly.

On this day, Bai Yunzhou was deducing the trends of the Northern Region's Spiritual Veins on the Star-Gazing Platform. The chaos domain-protecting seal in his hand grew slightly warm, and the runes on the Seal unexpectedly began to flicker disorderly.

His heart sank as he raised his eyes to look toward the horizon. He saw that above the sky of the Northern Region, a layer of faint gray fog faintly emerged across the originally azure canopy of heaven, blocking the sunlight.

The gray fog was neither Devilish Qi nor Demonic Qi. It carried an unfamiliar spatial fluctuation, faintly resembling the aura of ancient domain gates, yet it was even more bizarre.

"Domain-Protecting Envoy, strange omens have appeared in the heavens! Transmissions have arrived from branch academies in all regions, saying that gray fog has appeared in the skies everywhere, and the Spiritual Qi has also begun to become chaotic." Zhou Zhiting quickly ascended the Star-Gazing Platform, holding several communication talismans in her hand.

Bai Yunzhou took the communication talismans and checked them one by one. The five regions of the Northern Region—east, west, south, north, and center—had all experienced the same strange omens. Wherever the gray fog passed, the Spiritual Qi fluctuated between strong and weak, making it extremely easy for Cultivators to suffer Qi Deviation while cultivating.

"Immediately send a message to all high-level members of the Guardian Alliance to quickly come to Black Stone City to discuss matters. At the same time, order all branch Guardian Academies to suspend Disciples from going out to Cultivate, close the courtyard gates tightly, and deploy the Guardian grand Formation."

Bai Yunzhou's voice carried a trace of solemnity. The appearance of this gray fog was by no means accidental; it might be related to the space outside the realm, or it might even be that a problem had arisen with the domain gate's Seal.

Half an hour later, high-level Alliance members such as True Monarch Tianxing, Sword Sovereign Hanbing, and Master Cangwu Zi, along with representatives of the four major Sects, all gathered in the council hall of the Guardian Academy.

Everyone looked at the gray fog in the sky outside the window, their expressions all extremely solemn. Master Cangwu Zi spoke first: "This gray fog carries spatial fluctuations yet lacks Devilish Qi; it doesn't seem like the loosening of a domain gate Seal."

"The astrolabe platform of my Qingyun Sect has deduced that this gray fog does not come from the Outer Realm Demonic Realm, but from another unknown space. It seems that a passageway is opening."

Sword Sovereign Hanbing nodded and said, "There are records in the ancient books of my Taixuan Holy Land that in ancient times, the Northern Region once connected to multiple spaces. Apart from the Demonic Realm, there were also the Spirit Realm, the Monster Realm, and even the Realm of Nothingness."

"It's just that after the ancient great war, all spatial passageways were sealed. Now that the gray fog has appeared, I'm afraid that a passageway to an unknown space is quietly opening in the Northern Region."

Su Wanqing rose at this moment, holding the latest investigation results from the Intelligence Hall in her hands: "Reporting to the Domain-Protecting Envoy and the Alliance Leader, the Intelligence Hall's investigation has found that the source of the gray fog is the Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain at the extreme north of the Northern Region."

"Deep within the Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain, there is an ancient ice cave. The space above the ice cave is distorting, and the gray fog is overflowing precisely from the ice cave, with the overflow speed becoming faster and faster."

Bai Yunzhou pondered for a moment and said, "The Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain is an extremely cold place in the Northern Region and was a strategic spatial throat in ancient times. It seems that the passageway to the unknown space is within that ancient ice cave."

"Today's discussion is to determine the strategy for investigation. I need to personally head to the Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain to investigate the abnormal movement of the ice cave and ascertain the origin of the gray fog and the truth of the spatial passageway."

"Zhiting and Ling Shuang will accompany me. Senior Hanbing and Sect Head Cangwu will hold down the fort in Black Stone City, coordinating the affairs of the Alliance and the Guardian Academy while guarding against emergencies."

"The representatives of the four major Sects will each bring their Sect's elites to guard the five key locations of the Northern Region separately. If a spatial passageway opens, deploy defenses immediately and do not let unknown entities step foot into the Northern Region by even half a step."

Everyone had no objections. At this moment, the Northern Region had just returned to peace, and they must never allow an unknown crisis to strike again. Investigating the abnormal movement of the ice cave admitted of no delay.

After the discussion concluded, the trio of Bai Yunzhou made preparations immediately, bringing the chaos green lotus sword, the Guardian sword, as well as a large number of demon-breaking talismans, soul-protecting talismans, and healing pills, getting fully equipped and ready to set out.

True Monarch Tianxing personally escorted the three outside Black Stone City and handed Bai Yunzhou an ancient ice talisman of the Taixuan Holy Land: "This talisman can resist the extreme cold of the Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain and help you all investigate the ice cave."

"Remember, the existences of the unknown space are unpredictable. If your strength is insufficient, do not fight hard; transmit a message immediately, and the Alliance will spare no effort to support you."

Bai Yunzhou took the ice talisman and bowed, saying, "True Monarch, rest assured. This Disciple will definitely act cautiously, ascertain the truth, and safeguard the peace of the Northern Region."

With that, the three transformed into three streaks of flowing light—interweaving in green, red, and blue—and galloped swiftly toward the Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain at the extreme north of the Northern Region.

The Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain was located at the northernmost end of the Northern Region. A thousand miles were ice-bound and ten thousand miles of snow drifted; biting cold winds blew year-round, ice peaks stood like a forest, and human traces were rare.

The three galloped all the way. The closer they got to the ice plain, the denser the gray fog between heaven and earth became, and the Spiritual Qi grew increasingly chaotic, even allowing them to feel slight distortions of space.

Zhou Zhiting circulated her Battle Blood Sacred Body, with a blood-colored halo lingering around her body to resist the biting cold wind. Ling Shuang used her Ice Soul Sword Intent to condense an ice shield, blocking the wind and snow filling the sky.

Bai Yunzhou expanded the Chaos Domain, shrouding the two within it to purify the surrounding gray fog and stabilize the chaotic Spiritual Qi, ensuring that the advancing speed of the three was unaffected.

Arriving at the hinterland of the Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain, the scene before their eyes grew increasingly bizarre. The ice peaks were covered with dense spatial cracks, and the gray fog overflowed from the cracks, merging into the space between heaven and earth.

In the distance, a huge ice cave stood in the center of the ice plain. The space around the ice cave was twisting extremely severely, and the gray fog gushed out from the ice cave like a tidal wave, charging straight into the firmament.

At the entrance of the ice cave, ancient spatial runes were carved. The runes flickered with a dim light and were constantly dissipating, clearly showing that the ancient spatial Seal was gradually failing.

"This is the place." Bai Yunzhou said in a deep voice, fully opening his Chaos Eye to pierce through the distorted space and thick gray fog, gazing deep into the ice cave.

Inside the ice cave, it was not an ordinary ice cave, but a patch of distorted spatial turbulence. In the center of the turbulence, a vague spatial passage was slowly taking shape. At the other end of the passage lay a Realm of Nothingness, with no end in sight.

The gray fog was spilling out from the spatial passage. On the walls of the passage, faint black shadows flashed by. The aura of the black shadows was bizarre; neither Demonic Cultivators nor the Yao Race, carrying a trace of the chilling Power of Nothingness.

"The other end of the passage is the Realm of Nothingness." A trace of solemnity flashed in Ling Shuang's eyes. Her Ice Soul Sword Intent could perceive the ultimate coldness, and the coldness of the Realm of Nothingness was even more intense than that of the Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain.

"According to ancient texts, the Realm of Nothingness is a barren land in the cracks of space. The Void Clan within it survives by devouring Spiritual Qi and space, making them extremely dangerous."

Zhou Zhiting tightly gripped the battle blood spear in her hand, operating her Battle Blood Sacred Body to the limit: "It seems these gray fogs are the Power of Nothingness. Once the spatial passage opens, the Void Clan will step into the Northern Domain, devour Spiritual Qi, and destroy the heavens and earth."

Bai Yunzhou nodded. The chaos green lotus sword and the Guardian sword appeared simultaneously in his hands, reflecting off each other as the Power of Chaos and the Guardian Sword Qi intertwined: "The Void Clan lives on space; the Power of Chaos can suppress space, and the Guardian sword can protect the Spiritual Veins. Today, we shall reinforce the Seal here and block the passage."

He waved his hand and sacrificed the ancient ice talisman given by True Monarch Tianxing. The ice talisman transformed into a huge ice wall, blocking the entrance of the ice cave and temporarily halting the overflow of gray fog.

Afterwards, the three of them leaped into the ice cave, stepping into that patch of distorted spatial turbulence. The spatial turbulence tore at their bodies; had they not been protected by the Chaos Domain and Spiritual Qi, they would have long been torn into pieces.

Moving forward to the spatial passage, its opening degree had reached thirty percent. Several tiny void black shadows were crawling out from the passage, and upon seeing the three, they let out a sharp hiss.

The black shadows transformed into streaks of the Power of Nothingness, pouncing toward the three. Wherever they passed, space was devoured, leaving behind black traces.

"Zhiting, you guard the left side. Ling Shuang, guard the right side. I will suppress the front. First, slaughter these void black shadows, then reinforce the Seal!" Bai Yunzhou let out a low cry as he slashed out with the chaos green lotus sword.

A streak of chaotic Sword Qi chopped straight ahead. Wherever the Sword Qi passed, the distorted space was smoothed out. Upon encountering the Power of Chaos, the void black shadows instantly emitted miserable hisses and dissipated into wisps of black smoke.

Zhou Zhiting wielded the battle blood spear, condensing the power of battle blood into spear radiances. The spear radiances carried a scorching temperature, colliding with the coldness of the Power of Nothingness, completely defeating the black shadows.

As for Ling Shuang, she used her Ice Soul Sword Intent to condense thousands of ice swords. The ice swords rained down, shooting toward the void black shadows on the right. The ice swords contained the intent of a Guardian, specifically countering the Power of Nothingness.

Joining forces, the three slaughtered all the void black shadows crawling out from the passage in a short moment, temporarily restoring peace before the spatial passage.

However, from the other end of the passage came even more terrifying hisses, clearly indicating that more powerful members of the Void Clan were approaching the passage, attempting to step into the Northern Domain.

Bai Yunzhou knew that time was tight. If the Seal was not reinforced as soon as possible, once the passage fully opened and the powerful Void Clan flooded into the Northern Domain, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He raised his hand and sacrificed the chaos domain-protecting seal. The Seal body surged in size, transforming to about a zhang wide. The Power of Chaos and the Power of Xuanhuang intertwined, while the green lotus runes and Guardian runes on the Seal flickered.

"Zhiting, Ling Shuang, lend me a hand! Inject your own Spiritual Qi into the Domain-Protecting Seal, and with the power of the three of us combined with the ancient ice talisman, reinforce the spatial Seal!"

Zhou Zhiting and Ling Shuang immediately stepped forward, placing their hands on the chaos domain-protecting seal. The power of battle blood and the Ice Soul Sword Intent were continuously poured into the Seal, merging with the Power of Chaos and the Power of Xuanhuang.

The three forces intertwined, transforming into a huge three-colored light screen. Within the light screen, the icy power of the ancient ice talisman was further integrated. The five forces condensed and pressed toward the spatial passage.

"Chaos protects the domain, Xuanhuang Seals and suppresses, Ice Soul condenses its form, Battle Blood guards, space remains eternally solid, and nothingness is isolated!" Bai Yunzhou shouted loudly, his hand Seals shifting as he guided the five forces to merge into the Seal of the spatial passage.

The three-colored light screen merged with the ancient runes at the entrance of the ice cave. The previously dissipating runes lit up again, becoming even more brilliant than before, and the opening degree of the spatial passage began to slowly shrink.

The overflow speed of the gray fog became slower and slower, and the distorted space gradually calmed down. The hisses of the Void Clan at the other end of the passage grew increasingly miserable, yet they could never break through the Seal.

Just as the Seal was about to close completely, a huge black palm suddenly probed out from the other end of the passage. The palm was covered with void patterns, containing a terrifying Power of Nothingness.

With a slap, the giant palm fiercely smashed onto the three-colored light screen. The light screen instantly caved in, and the light of the ancient runes dimmed by a few fractions. Bai Yunzhou and the other two were all shaken back repeatedly, blood spilling from their mouths.

"It is a Void General, an expert of the Void Clan whose strength rivals the Void Refining Late Stage!" Ling Shuang's expression changed drastically, and her Ice Soul Sword Intent fluctuated violently, clearly shaken by this force.

Bai Yunzhou wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a trace of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. He knew that if he did not repel this Void General today, the Seal could not be completely closed, and the Northern Domain would know no peace.

"You continue to stabilize the Seal; I will go meet this Void General!" He let out a low cry, fully unfolding his Chaos Green Lotus Body across his entire body. The Chaos Immortal trait was activated, and his injuries instantly recovered by more than half.

The chaos green lotus sword and the Guardian sword merged into one, and the Power of Chaos intertwined with the Guardian Sword Qi, transforming into a hundred-zhang-long Chaos Guardian sword that slashed toward the giant palm.

"Chaos guards the Dao, a single sword suppresses nothingness!"

The hundred-zhang-long sword cleaved down, carrying the power to purify everything and protect everything, colliding with the giant palm of the Void General and producing a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering loud noise.

The spatial turbulence churned violently, and the ice cave trembled intensely. The void patterns on the giant palm began to crack, and the Void General emitted a painful hiss as the giant palm was forced to retract back into the passage.

Seizing the opportunity, Bai Yunzhou leaped up and poured all of his Power of Chaos into the chaos domain-protecting seal. The light of the Seal surged violently, and the three-colored light screen instantly wrapped around the spatial passage completely.

"Seal!"

With a loud shout, the spatial passage slowly closed. The ancient runes completely locked the entrance of the passage, the overflow of gray fog completely stopped, and the distorted space also returned to calm.

Within the ice cave, only faint traces of the Power of Nothingness remained, which were slowly purified by the Power of Chaos. The gray fog between heaven and earth also began to gradually dissipate, and sunlight once again showered upon the earth.

Bai Yunzhou slowly withdrew his sword. The chaos domain-protecting seal shrank and flew back into his hand. His aura was listless all over; this forcible urging of the two swords merging had consumed a massive amount of the Power of Chaos.

Zhou Zhiting and Ling Shuang hurriedly stepped forward, supporting him from left and right respectively, each infusing Spiritual Qi to replenish his consumption: "Senior Brother, are you alright?"

Bai Yunzhou shook his head and smiled slightly: "It's fine, just excessive consumption. A moment of rest will do. The spatial passage is sealed, the Power of Nothingness is dissipating, and the Northern Domain is safe."

The three of them rested briefly in the ice cave, circulating their Spiritual Qi to recover themselves, and then walked out of the ice cave. They saw that the gray fog of the Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain was rapidly dissipating, and the sky had once again turned azure blue.

On the distant horizon, streaks of light galloped over. They were precisely the elite of the Alliance led by Sword Sovereign Hanbing and Master Cangwu Zi. Seeing that the three were safe and sound and that the ominous sign of the ice cave had been eliminated, they were all overjoyed.

"Yunzhou, you've worked hard. The Northern Domain has escaped crisis once again." Sword Sovereign Hanbing stepped forward, his eyes filled with praise.

Bai Yunzhou bowed and said: "Senior is too polite. Protecting the Northern Domain is originally this Disciple's responsibility. Although the passage to the Realm of Nothingness is sealed this time, the ancient spatial Seal has weakened, and I fear there may still be abnormalities in the future."

"My intention is to establish the Ice Plain Branch of the Guardian Academy in the Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain, dispatching Disciples from the Sword Hall and Array Hall to garrison it, strengthening the spatial Seal day and night to guard against another raid by the Void Clan."

Master Cangwu Zi nodded and said: "The Domain Protector's proposal is brilliant. My Cangwu Mountain is willing to dispatch Disciples to assist and join forces with the Ice Plain Branch to guard this extremely northern spatial strategic point of the Northern Domain."

Having finalized their discussion, everyone immediately arranged personnel to establish the Ice Plain Branch in the Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain, with Ling Shuang temporarily acting as the branch dean, leading Disciples of the Sword Hall and Array Hall to garrison it and reinforce the Seal.

After arranging everything, Bai Yunzhou and Zhou Zhiting followed Sword Sovereign Hanbing and the others back to Black Stone City. The ominous signs of the Northern Domain had been eliminated, and the common people returned to stable lives once again.

The morning bell of the Guardian Academy still rang every day in Black Stone City, and the Disciples still studied and practiced diligently. However, after this ominous sign, the Disciples' Guardian hearts became even more firm.

Bai Yunzhou stood once again on the Star-Gazing Platform. The chaos domain-protecting seal in his hand was slightly warm, and the runes on the Seal flickered steadily. The mountain rivers and Spiritual Veins of the Northern Domain had once again restored a stable trend.

He raised his eyes to gaze at the horizon, his gaze seemingly piercing through time and space, seeing countless spaces outside the Northern Domain and countless crises that might appear in the future.

But there was no trace of fear in his heart, because he knew that the Northern Domain was no longer fighting alone; the Guardian Alliance condensed the power of ten thousand Sects, and the Guardian Academy inherited the concept of protection.

Generation after generation of Guardians would grow up on this land, take over the heavy burden of protecting the Northern Domain, and pass down the ambition of defending the Dao for eternity.

Zhou Zhiting walked to his side, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. Looking at the vibrant Guardian Academy below and the common people living and working in peace and contentment in the distance, she softly said: "Senior Brother, the peace of the Northern Domain will continue forever."

Bai Yunzhou nodded, his eyes filled with expectations: "It will. As long as the heart of protecting the Dao is not extinguished and the concept of protection does not disperse, the peace of the Northern Domain will continue for eternity."

The setting sun spilled onto the Star-Gazing Platform, illuminating the figures of the two, as well as the entire land of the Northern Domain.

Within the six halls of the Guardian Academy, the sounds of Disciples cultivating rose and fell in succession; across the four regions of the Northern Domain, Cultivators of various Sects and common people lived in harmony and recuperated; at the Ice Plain Branch of the Myriad-Fathom Ice Plain, Disciples were reinforcing the Seal and holding their posts firmly.

The path of guarding the Dao in the Northern Domain was growing ever wider and steadier.