165: Chapter 165 A Century of Recuperation, Undercurrents Resurface

The morning bell of Yongning City rang out once more. A full one hundred years had passed since that decisive battle against the Destruction Patriarch.

Ling Shuang stood before the Monument of Heroes, gazing at the cyan-green light at the top of the monument, her eyes filled with complete calm.

For one hundred years, the Patriarch had never left that light, nor had he ever appeared in his true form again.

But she knew that the Patriarch was always watching them, watching this Star Sea.

Whenever the Star Sea was in trouble, that light would pulse more violently.

Whenever a crisis was resolved, it would return to peace.

It was as if the Patriarch was using this method to tell them—I am still here.

Zhou Zhiting walked over from the distance, the battle blood spear still in her hand, though there were a few more marks on the shaft.

Her hair had already turned gray, but the Battle Intent in her eyes had not diminished in the slightest.

One hundred years of time had left its traces on her, but it had never erased her Guardian heart.

"Ling Shuang, the Investigation Department has sent word that all domains of the Star Sea are completely normal."

Ling Shuang nodded, taking the Jade Slip she handed over to examine it carefully.

The Jade Slip recorded the development of various domains—Spiritual Veins were more flourishing, the common people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the Disciples cultivated by the Guardian Academy grew stronger with each generation.

Everything was so wonderful, so peaceful.

But Ling Shuang's brows furrowed slightly.

It was too normal.

Normal to the point of being abnormal.

Ever since the Destruction Patriarch appeared, the Star Sea had experienced some small-scale anomalies every few decades.

Either spatial fluctuations or energy anomalies.

Although they all proved to be false alarms in the end, it had never been like this—a full one hundred years without a single ripple.

"When things are abnormal, something is bound to be amiss."

She handed the Jade Slip to Zhou Zhiting.

"Zhiting, do you feel like it has been too peaceful lately?"

Zhou Zhiting took the Jade Slip, read it carefully once, and nodded.

"Indeed, for one hundred years, there has been no anomaly whatsoever."

"In the past, this has never happened."

The two looked at each other, both seeing the solemnity in each other's eyes.

Song Xinghe's voice came from behind them.

"You felt it too?"

The two turned back and saw Song Xinghe walking over slowly.

His hair was also gray, but those eyes remained as sharp as an eagle's.

For a hundred years, the Investigation Department had never made a single mistake under his hands.

Any slight disturbance in the Star Sea could not escape his eyes.

"Xinghe, did you discover something?"

Ling Shuang asked directly.

Song Xinghe nodded, raised his hand with a wave, and a wisp of spiritual light condensed into a star map in front of the three of them.

On the star map, the positions of various domains in the Star Sea were clearly marked.

But in the very outermost edge, there was an extremely tiny dot of light slowly flickering.

"This was discovered by the Investigation Department three months ago."

"It is located at the very edge of the Star Sea, beyond our furthest detection point."

"At first, we thought it was just stardust reflection and didn't pay attention."

"But for three months, this light dot has been moving."

"Moreover, its movement trajectory is very regular."

Ling Shuang stared at that dot of light, an ominous premonition welling up in her heart.

"Regular? What kind of regularity?"

Song Xinghe pointed a finger, and the movement trajectory of the light dot appeared on the star map.

That was an arc, a perfect arc.

It was as if something was flying along this arc towards the direction of the Star Sea Alliance.

Zhou Zhiting's expression changed.

"This is not a natural phenomenon!"

Song Xinghe nodded.

"Correct, this is conscious behavior."

"Something is approaching us."

The three of them fell silent.

A hundred years of peace was indeed just a facade.

A new threat was closing in.

Ling Shuang took a deep breath and asked.

"Can you determine what it is?"

Song Xinghe shook his head.

"The distance is too far and the energy fluctuation is too weak to determine."

"But what can be confirmed is that its volume is huge, at least as large as a small domain."

"Moreover, its movement speed is extremely fast. According to its current trajectory, it will enter the alliance's edge in three years at most."

Three years.

Only three years of time.

Ling Shuang looked toward the cyan-green light at the top of the Monument of Heroes.

"As for the Patriarch side..."

Song Xinghe shook his head.

"I have tried various ways to awaken the Patriarch, but there has been no response."

"That light remains stable, without any abnormal fluctuations."

"The Patriarch may still be in deep slumber and hasn't perceived this threat."

Zhou Zhiting gripped her spear tightly.

"Then we will go up."

"The Patriarch has protected us for so many years, it is time for us to protect him."

Ling Shuang nodded, determination flashing in her eyes.

"Pass down my order, the alliance enters a second-level combat readiness state."

"The Investigation Department will monitor that light dot with all its might, reporting the latest developments every three days."

"The Realm Guardian Army will begin assembling, and all domains will prepare their defenses."

"At the same time, try every possible way to awaken the Patriarch."

Song Xinghe and Zhou Zhiting acknowledged in unison and turned to make arrangements.

Ling Shuang stayed in front of the Monument of Heroes, gazing at that cyan-green light.

"Patriarch, a new threat has come again."

"This time, I wonder what it will be."

"But rest assured, we will hold it."

"Just like how you protected us back then."

That light pulsed gently, as if responding.

Ling Shuang smiled slightly and turned to leave.

Three years' time passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the Investigation Department sent the latest news.

That mysterious light dot had already entered the edge of the Star Sea Alliance.

Its true appearance was finally revealed.

That was a huge planet, pitch-black throughout, its surface covered with eerie patterns.

Surrounding the planet was a thick gray-black mist, and that mist contained a kind of energy never seen before.

Song Xinghe stood before the star map, pointing at the position of that planet.

"It has stopped, right at the edge of the alliance, only three days' journey away from the nearest Lingxi Realm."

"But it didn't continue moving forward, seemingly waiting for something."

Ling Shuang stared at that planet, her brows tightly locked.

"What is it waiting for?"

Song Xinghe shook his head.

"I don't know, but according to monitoring, there are signs of Life inside the planet."

"Moreover, the quantity is not small."

Zhou Zhiting gripped her spear tightly.

"No matter what it's waiting for, we will strike first."

"Send troops over to see what on earth it is."

Ling Shuang pondered for a moment and nodded.

"Good, I will go personally."

Zhou Zhiting's expression changed.

"Ling Shuang, you are the master of an alliance..."

Ling Shuang raised her hand to interrupt her.

"Precisely because I am the master of an alliance, I must go."

"An unknown threat must be seen with one's own eyes."

"If I hide in the rear and only send soldiers to their deaths, what kind of Guardian Patriarch am I?"

Zhou Zhiting knew she couldn't persuade her, so she had to say:

"Then I will accompany you."

Ling Shuang nodded.

"Good, you will come with me."

"Xinghe, you stay behind to guard Yongning City and coordinate the overall situation."

"If there is any unforeseen event, awaken the Patriarch immediately."

Song Xinghe nodded solemnly.

Two star skiffs rose from Yongning City and galloped toward that black planet.

Three days later, the star skiffs arrived at the outer periphery of the black planet.

Looking from afar, that planet was like a sleeping giant beast, quietly suspended in the Star Sea.

The eerie patterns on the surface flickered with a faint gray-black light.

Those patterns were like living creatures, slowly writhing.

Ling Shuang ordered the star skiffs to slow down and slowly approach.

The closer they got, the more they could feel the eeriness of that energy.

It was ancient and profound, as if coming from before antiquity, from the very beginning of the Universe's birth.

At the same time, it carried an inexplicable dead silence, as if devouring all vitality.

Zhou Zhiting gripped her spear tightly, staring vigilantly at that planet.

"Ling Shuang, this energy... is somewhat similar to the Law of Destruction, but not entirely the same."

Ling Shuang nodded.

"Indeed, it is more ancient and profound than the Law of Destruction."

"It is as if it is the source of the Law of Destruction."

Just at this moment, the patterns on the surface of the planet suddenly flickered violently.

Those gray-black lights surged, and countless tiny tentacles gushed out from the surface of the planet.

Those tentacles moved at extreme speed, sweeping toward the two star skiffs.

"Evade!"

At Ling Shuang's command, the star skiff pilots operated with full force, narrowly avoiding the tentacles.

But those tentacles seemed to have a Life of their own, pursuing relentlessly.

Zhou Zhiting slashed out with a spear, and the battle blood spear radiance collided with the tentacles.

The tentacles were cut off, but new ones grew back instantly, continuing the pursuit.

Ling Shuang gritted her teeth, operating her Ice Soul Sword Intent to the fullest.

An ice-blue sword light slashed out, freezing the tentacles.

But those tentacles trembled slightly, shattering the ice layer and continuing to chase.

"Retreat!"

Ling Shuang made a prompt decision and ordered a retreat.

The two star skiffs accelerated with all their might, galloping toward the distance.

Those tentacles chased for hundreds of miles, finally exhausted, and slowly retracted back to the surface of the planet.

Ling Shuang looked back, and that planet was still quietly suspended there.

The patterns on the surface were still slowly writhing.

As if nothing had happened at all.

But in her heart, monstrous waves had already been stirred up.

This thing was too strong.

Strong to the point that even she and Zhou Zhiting joining forces couldn't touch its main body.

She took a deep breath and ordered,

"Return to Yongning City immediately."

"For this thing, we must awaken the Patriarch to deal with it."

The star skiffs galloped and returned to Yongning City three days later.

Ling Shuang headed straight for the Monument of Heroes and knelt before the monument.

"Patriarch, we have encountered an unprecedented threat."

"It is stronger and more ancient than the Destruction Patriarch."

"We cannot stop it."

"Only you can deal with it."

She took out the jade box that she had kept close to her body all along and opened it.

Inside the jade box, that wisp of cyan-green Origin imprint was still there, but it was much dimmer than before.

She held the jade box high up, her voice choking with sobs.

"Patriarch, did you hear?"

"We need you."

"The Star Sea needs you."

The light inside the jade box suddenly pulsed once.

Then, it became brighter and brighter, brighter and brighter.

That light soared into the sky, transforming into a huge pillar of light.

Within the pillar of light, a figure slowly walked out.

Bai Yunzhou appeared in his true form once again.

He looked toward Ling Shuang, his eyes filled with gentleness.

"I heard."

"I have always been listening."

Ling Shuang's tears burst out of her eyes, and she rushed forward to hug him tightly.

Zhou Zhiting and Song Xinghe also rushed up, and the four of them embraced tightly.

Bai Yunzhou gently patted Ling Shuang's back, his voice gentle.

"Alright, stop crying."

"Aren't I here now?"

Ling Shuang released him and wiped away her tears.

"Patriarch, that planet..."

Bai Yunzhou nodded.

"I know it all."

"That is the source of the Law of Destruction—the Star of Destruction."

"The records left behind by the Creation God Clan back then mentioned it."

"It is an ancient existence that has existed since the very beginning of the Universe's birth, the root of all destruction."

"It awakens once every million years, devouring the Star Sea and recasting order."

Ling Shuang's face turned pale as death.

Once every million years?

Doesn't that mean...

Bai Yunzhou saw through her thoughts and shook his head.

"No, its awakening this time is not periodic."

"It was artificially awakened."

"Someone is manipulating all of this behind the scenes."

Zhou Zhiting was stunned.

"Someone? Who?"

Bai Yunzhou looked toward the direction of the black planet, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

"An existence more ancient than the Destruction Patriarch."

"An existence that even the Creation God Clan failed to destroy."

"It has been observing in the dark all along, waiting for an opportunity."

"Waiting for the Star of Destruction to awaken, waiting for us to exhaust ourselves through internal friction."

"Then, devouring the entire Star Sea in one fell swoop."

The three of them looked at each other, endless chill welling up in their hearts.

So, all of this was no accident.

The appearance of the Destruction Patriarch, the awakening of the Star of Destruction.

Were all manipulated by someone behind the scenes.

That person was the true mastermind behind the scenes.

Bai Yunzhou looked at them and smiled slightly.

"However, don't worry."

"Since I have awakened, I will not let it succeed."

"This time, I will completely resolve all of this."

He transformed into a streak of cyan rainbow, galloping toward that black planet.

Ling Shuang and the other two wanted to keep up, but were blocked by a gentle force.

"You stay behind and guard the Star Sea."

"If I cannot return, you are the last hope of the Star Sea."

That cyan rainbow went further and further away, disappearing into the depths of the Star Sea.