161: Chapter 161 Heroes Return to Their Places, Eternal Peace Across the Starry Sea

The aftermath of the explosion gradually dissipated, and the Star Sea restored its long-lost tranquility.

Ling Shuang knelt in the Void Realm, holding in both hands the cyan-green speck of light found at the center of the explosion.

That was the last thing left behind by Bai Yunzhou—a wisp of the Origin imprint of the Law of Creation.

The speck of light was very faint, so faint that it seemed it would extinguish at any moment.

But it was still pulsing, still emitting a faint glow.

Just like the Patriarch's heartbeat, just like he had never left.

Zhou Zhiting came to her side and knelt down as well.

"Ling Shuang, the Patriarch he..."

Ling Shuang shook her head, her voice hoarse.

"He is not dead, his Origin is still here."

"As long as this wisp of imprint remains, there is still a possibility for him to return."

Song Xinghe also rushed over, holding a shattered Jade Slip in his hands.

That was the Guardian Jade Slip that Bai Yunzhou carried with him, recording his lifelong insights.

Although the Jade Slip was shattered, the runes on it were still flickering.

"The Patriarch's Dao Heart is still here."

The three of them looked at each other, seeing hope in each other's eyes.

As long as the Origin was still there, as long as the Dao Heart was still there.

There was still a possibility for the Patriarch to return.

Ling Shuang stood up and carefully put the speck of light into a specially crafted jade box.

The jade box was carved from a realm core crystal, which could preserve the Origin from dispersing.

She tucked the jade box close to her body, feeling its faint warmth.

"Let's go, there are still many things to do."

The three turned around and flew in the direction of Black Stone City.

Behind them was a scarred battlefield.

Five hundred thousand soldiers of the Realm Guardian Army were cleaning the battlefield, treating the wounded, and collecting the remains.

In this battle, more than one hundred thousand soldiers died in action.

Countless families could no longer wait for their loved ones to return.

But the Star Sea had been defended.

The six Grey Devourer Progenitors were completely annihilated.

The threat of the Ash-Eater Clan was eradicated from then on.

Three days later, in Black Stone City.

In front of the Alliance Grand Hall, a huge high platform had been erected.

In the center of the platform stood a pitch-black stone tablet.

Four large characters were engraved on the tablet—Souls of the Patriarch's Heroes.

Below the tablet, dense names were engraved all over.

Those were the one hundred thousand soldiers who died in this battle, as well as the Guardians who sacrificed themselves through the generations.

Ling Shuang stood in front of the tablet, with Zhou Zhiting, Song Xinghe, and representatives from various realms behind her.

Five hundred thousand soldiers of the Realm Guardian Army formed arrays beneath the platform.

Countless commoners spontaneously gathered around the square.

Everyone was waiting in silence.

Ling Shuang stepped forward, her voice echoing across the entire venue.

"Today, we hold a memorial here for the Patriarch."

"A memorial for those heroic martyrs who sacrificed themselves to protect the Star Sea."

"The Patriarch, Bai Yunzhou, paid the price with his own body to end the threat of the Ash-Eater Clan."

"His spirit will forever illuminate the Star Sea."

"His Dao Heart will be passed down as a Legacy forever."

She lit three sticks of incense and respectfully inserted them into the censer in front of the tablet.

Zhou Zhiting stepped forward and similarly lit three sticks of incense.

Song Xinghe stepped forward and lit three sticks of incense.

Representatives from various realms stepped forward one by one.

Five hundred thousand soldiers knelt down in unison.

Countless commoners knelt down in unison.

The entire Black Stone City fell into a solemn silence.

Only the wisps of incense smoke drifted away with the wind.

Ling Shuang knelt in front of the tablet, closed her eyes, and silently prayed.

"Patriarch, can you see this?"

"The Star Sea has been defended, the commoners are still here, and the soldiers are still here."

"The peace you exchanged with your Life, we will surely guard with our lives."

"Rest assured."

She opened her eyes and stood up.

"Pass down my command: starting today, Black Stone City is renamed to 'Yongning City'."

"This is to commemorate the Patriarch and all the heroic martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the Star Sea."

"May the Star Sea have eternal peace, and may the Guardians exist forever."

A response like a roaring tsunami rang out from beneath the platform.

"Eternal peace for the Star Sea! Eternal existence for the Guardians!"

The voice shook the earth, lingering for a long time.

Zhou Zhiting walked to Ling Shuang's side and looked towards the stone tablet.

On the tablet, the Patriarch's name was at the very top, shining brightly.

She softly said, "Ling Shuang, can the Patriarch really return?"

Ling Shuang shook her head, then nodded.

"I don't know."

"But I believe that as long as the Guardian's heart does not extinguish, he will not truly leave."

"His spirit will always accompany us."

Song Xinghe also walked over, still holding the shattered Jade Slip in his hand.

"The runes on this Jade Slip are still flickering."

"The Patriarch's insights are still here."

"We can pass down its Legacy so that future generations can also learn the Patriarch's Dao."

Ling Shuang took the Jade Slip and carefully looked at the familiar words on it.

Those were carved by the Patriarch's own hands, representing his lifelong efforts.

She nodded solemnly.

"Alright, let it serve as the Guardian Academy's ultimate treasure."

"Allow every generation of Disciple to comprehend the Patriarch's Dao Heart from it."

The three stood side by side in front of the tablet, remaining silent for a long time.

As the sun set, the golden afterglow sprinkled onto the tablet.

The four large characters 'Patriarch's Heroes' Souls' were illuminated brilliantly in gold.

As if the Patriarch was still here, still watching them.

Still protecting this land where he had given everything.

Three days later, the Guardian Academy reopened.

The first batch of new students enrolled, totaling three thousand people.

They came from various realms; some were descendants of Guardians, and some were children of ordinary commoners.

But they all harbored a common dream—to become a Guardian and protect the Star Sea.

At the opening ceremony, Ling Shuang personally recounted the Patriarch's story to the new students.

Recounting his journey from an ordinary youth step by step to growing into the Guardian Patriarch.

Recounting his decisive battle with the Void Sovereign, the bloody battle with the Void Clan, and the ultimate showdown with the Ash-Eater Clan.

Recounting his final choice, the peace exchanged with Life.

The new students listened, their eyes filled with reverence and yearning.

A youth raised his hand and asked, "Lord Patriarch, is the Patriarch really dead?"

Ling Shuang was silent for a moment and slowly said.

"He is not dead; he just changed a way to protect us."

"His spirit will live in our hearts forever."

"His Dao Heart will be passed down as a Legacy forever."

"You must remember, a Guardian does not rely on powerful strength, but on a steadfast Dao Heart."

"As long as you have the belief to protect in your heart, you can become a true Guardian."

The youth nodded heavily, his eyes flashing with a steadfast light.

After the ceremony, Ling Shuang came to the Monument of Heroes alone.

She took out the jade box and opened it.

Inside, that cyan-green speck of light was still pulsing.

It was a bit brighter than before.

A surge of hope welled up in Ling Shuang's heart.

"Patriarch, are you really still here?"

The speck of light pulsed once, seemingly responding to her.

Ling Shuang smiled, her smile carrying tears of light.

"Wait for us, we will continue to protect the Star Sea."

"Until the day you return."

She put the jade box away again and turned to leave.

Behind her, the Monument of Heroes stood quietly.

The afterglow of the sunset sprinkled on the tablet, illuminating the Patriarch's name with brilliant golden light.

As if the Patriarch was still here, still watching all of this.

Above the Star Sea, a cyan-green light flickered in and out of view.

That was the trace of the Law of Creation, the imprint left behind by the Patriarch.

They would exist forever, guarding this Star Sea all along.

Until eternity.

Three months later, the first batch of new students at the Guardian Academy completed their basic training.

They were about to head to various realms and begin their true Guardian career.

Before leaving, Ling Shuang came to the Monument of Heroes once again.

She took out the jade box and opened it.

That speck of light was even brighter than before.

Faintly, one could even see a blurry figure inside the speck of light.

That figure looked extremely much like the Patriarch.

Ling Shuang's tears burst out of her eyes.

"Patriarch..."

The speck of light pulsed once, as if responding to her.

Ling Shuang took a deep breath and put the jade box away properly.

She turned around and looked at those young faces about to set off.

"Go, go and protect everything you ought to protect."

"Remember, the Patriarch is watching you."

"The Guardian's Dao Heart shall be passed down as a Legacy for eternity."

The young Guardians responded in unison and turned to embark on their journey.

Above the Star Sea, star skiffs set sail one after another, heading towards various realms.

Ling Shuang stood in front of the Monument of Heroes, watching those departing star skiffs.

By her side were Zhou Zhiting and Song Xinghe.

The three stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing at this Star Sea they had protected for thousands of years.

Zhou Zhiting softly said, "Ling Shuang, do you think the Patriarch can really see?"

Ling Shuang nodded.

"He can."

"He has always been watching us."

"Watching the Star Sea, watching the commoners, watching these young Guardians."

"He has never left."

Song Xinghe also said, "Yeah, the Patriarch's spirit has already merged into this Star Sea."

"Merged into the heart of every Guardian."

"As long as the Guardian's heart does not extinguish, he lives forever."

The three smiled at each other, seeing the steadfastness in each other's eyes.

The sunset sprinkled down once more, illuminating the Monument of Heroes with brilliant golden light.

On the tablet, the Patriarch's name shone brightly.

As if telling them—I have always been here.