176: Chapter 176 The Time-Space Ark

The morning bell of Yongning City rang out once again, and a full year had already passed since Guardian Lin Jingyun returned from the Chaos ruins.

During this past year, Guardian Lin Jingyun had almost never appeared in public.

He spent all day in the small courtyard beside the Monument of Heroes, which was a quiet place for seclusion specially carved out for him by Ling Shuang.

In the courtyard, there was only a stone chamber, a rush mat, and a pot of clear tea.

On the walls of the stone chamber were carved Chaos runes left behind by the Ancestor Bai Yunzhou, and those runes would emit a faint glow in the night sky, resembling sleeping stars one by one.

Ling Shuang would occasionally come to deliver some tea, and seeing him sitting cross-legged on the rush mat with pale golden Power of Chaos swirling around his entire body, she knew that he was still immersed in the information of the Chaos fragments.

She did not disturb him, simply setting down the teapot gently before turning and leaving.

A year had passed, and Guardian Lin Jingyun had almost digested all the information in the Chaos fragments regarding the history of the Chaotic Universe.

He came to know the Origin of creation and destruction, the hundreds of millions of years of protection by the Spirit of Chaos, and the great battle that caused the Chaotic Universe to fall apart.

But what he cared about the most were the three Origin fragments last mentioned by the Spirit of Chaos.

The Creation fragment had already become the Foundation of the Creation God Clan and was later inherited by the Ancestor Bai Yunzhou, merging into the Chaos Green Lotus Body.

The Destruction fragment was sealed by the remnant soul of the Source of Destruction, becoming the core of the Destruction Realm, and was similarly inherited by the Ancestor.

As for the third fragment—the space-time fragment—its whereabouts remained unknown to this day.

Before dissipating, the Spirit of Chaos had once said that the space-time fragment had drifted into an unknown different space, and if acquired by someone with ill intentions, it could reshape the Chaotic Universe and trigger a crisis where heaven and earth would return to Chaos.

Over this past year, Guardian Lin Jingyun had constantly deduced the possible locations of the space-time fragment.

He had tried countless methods and spent countless days and nights, but still had no clues whatsoever.

That fragment seemed to have vanished into the long river of time, leaving behind no traces.

Early on this morning, while Guardian Lin Jingyun was deducing in the stone chamber, Ling Shuang suddenly pushed open the door and entered.

Her expression was unusually solemn, and she held a Jade Slip emanating an ancient aura in her hand.

"Jingyun, something has happened."

Guardian Lin Jingyun opened his eyes, took the Jade Slip, and extended his Divine Thought into it.

The information within the Jade Slip came from a detection point at the very edge of the sea of stars.

Disciples of the Investigation Department had discovered a bizarre space-time fissure there, and a never-before-seen energy fluctuation occasionally overflowed from the fissure.

That fluctuation was extremely similar to the records in the Chaos fragments and was suspected to be related to the space-time fragment.

Even more bizarrely, the space surrounding the fissure was slowly distorting, and the flow rate of time was also beginning to become chaotic.

A Disciple at the detection point accidentally stepped into the area near the fissure, and when coming out, unexpectedly aged by ten years.

After reading the intelligence, Guardian Lin Jingyun's expression became as solemn as iron.

"A space-time fissure... This is a sign that the space-time fragment is about to manifest in the world."

Ling Shuang looked at him.

"Are you sure?"

Guardian Lin Jingyun nodded.

"The records of the Spirit of Chaos mention that after the space-time fragment drifts into a different space, it will resonate with the main Universe once every ten thousand years."

"During the resonance, a space-time fissure will appear, and the aura of the fragment will briefly overflow. If we can seize this opportunity, we can find the location of the fragment."

He paused for a moment and continued speaking.

"However, the resonance time is very short, only three days. After three days, the fissure will close, and the fragment will once again vanish into the space-time turbulence."

Ling Shuang asked.

"What do you plan to do?"

Guardian Lin Jingyun stood up and looked out the window.

"I am going to that fissure, enter the different space, and search for the space-time fragment."

Ling Shuang did not stop him, but after a moment of silence, she said,

"I will accompany you."

Guardian Lin Jingyun shook his head.

"Teacher, you are getting older, it is not advisable for you to take risks. Moreover, the sea of stars needs you to hold down the fort. If I cannot return..."

Ling Shuang interrupted him.

"You will return."

Her tone was calm and resolute, leaving no room for doubt.

Guardian Lin Jingyun looked at her, and a warmth welled up in his heart.

"Alright, I will return."

Three days later, a specially crafted star skiff rose from Yongning City, speeding toward the edge of the sea of stars.

On the star skiff, besides Guardian Lin Jingyun, there was also Shen Qiuyu, the head of the Investigation Department, the chief Elder of the Array Hall, and ten of the most elite investigation Disciples.

Ling Shuang did not come, but she stood before the Monument of Heroes, gazing continuously in the direction where the star skiff had departed, until that ray of light completely vanished into the horizon.

The star skiff sailed for a full half-month before finally arriving at the edge of the sea of stars.

Looking from afar, that space-time fissure resembled a ferocious wound, lying horizontally across the Void Realm.

The fissure was ten thousand zhang long, and eerie grayish-white light constantly flickered at its edges.

That light flickered on and off, as if it possessed Life.

The space around the fissure was severely distorted, and distant stars were pulled into slender light arcs, slowly rotating within the Void Realm.

The flow rate of time was equally chaotic. In an area near the fissure, a cluster of stardust condensed, evolved, and dissipated at a speed visible to the naked eye, then recondensed in another position, repeating endlessly in a cycle, resembling a cosmic evolution accelerated countless times over.

Guardian Lin Jingyun ordered the star skiff to stop outside a safe distance, then led everyone to transfer to a small exploratory flying boat, slowly approaching the fissure.

The closer they got to the fissure, the stronger the oppressive feeling of that Power of Space-Time became.

The flow rate of time on the flying boat began to become chaotic; some Disciples felt their heartbeats accelerate, while others felt their movements slow down.

A Disciple raised a hand to scratch their face, the movement of that hand being as fast as an afterimage, while the other hand was as slow as a turtle's speed.

The chief Elder of the Array Hall had a solemn expression.

"Ancestor, the Power of Space-Time here is too strong; our bodies cannot withstand it for too long. At most three hours, and we must evacuate."

Guardian Lin Jingyun nodded.

"Three hours will be enough."

He raised his hand, and the Power of Chaos surged from his palm, transforming into a layer of pale golden light curtain that enveloped the entire flying boat.

The light curtain isolated the external Power of Space-Time, and everyone's condition finally stabilized.

The flying boat continued to approach the fissure and finally stopped at the edge of the fissure.

Guardian Lin Jingyun stood at the front of the flying boat, gazing at that bottomless fissure.

Deep within the fissure, countless dots of light could be faintly seen twinkling; those dots of light were like stars, yet even older and more profound than stars.

"This is the hiding place of the space-time fragment," he said softly, a look of determination flashing through his eyes.

Shen Qiuyu asked.

"Ancestor, are you going in?"

Guardian Lin Jingyun nodded.

"I will go in alone. With too many people, it would instead be bad."

Shen Qiuyu wanted to dissuade him, but was stopped by a wave of Guardian Lin Jingyun's hand.

"Qiuyu, take everyone and wait for me outside. If I do not return after three days, immediately return to Yongning City and notify Senior Ling Shuang."

He paused for a moment and continued speaking.

"If I cannot return... the sea of stars will be left to you all."

Having said that, without waiting for everyone to react, he took a step forward and stepped into the fissure.

The world inside the fissure was completely different from what he had imagined.

There was no up or down, no front or back, no left or right here.

All around was endless grayish-white Void Realm, with countless dots of light suspended within the Void Realm.

Those dots of light varied in size; some were like fists, some were like stars, and every single dot of light was slowly rotating, emitting a faint glow.

Guardian Lin Jingyun floated within the Void Realm, feeling everything around him.

He could clearly perceive that every single dot of light was an independent time node.

Within some dots of light, one could see the birth and destruction of stars; within some dots of light, one could see the propagation and demise of living beings; within some dots of light, one could see the rise and fall of civilizations.

This was the long river of time.

It was the complete history of the Universe from its birth to its destruction.

Guardian Lin Jingyun took a deep breath, operating the Power of Chaos at full strength.

Pale golden light surged out from within his body, resonating with the surrounding power of time.

He was searching, searching for the location of the space-time fragment.

A day passed, with no clues at all.

Two days passed, and still it had not been found.

On the third day, just when Guardian Lin Jingyun was about to give up, a faint light appeared within his perception.

That light was completely different from the other dots of light.

It was not grayish-white, but pale golden, sharing the same Origin as the Power of Chaos within his body.

A surge of joy welled up in Guardian Lin Jingyun's heart, and he hurriedly flew toward the direction of that light.

He passed through countless dots of light, flying past countless time nodes.

Within some dots of light, he saw the birth of the sea of stars; within some dots of light, he saw the rise of the Creation God Clan; within some dots of light, he saw the decisive battle between the Ancestor Bai Yunzhou and the Void Sovereign.

When he flew past a particularly bright dot of light, he suddenly stopped his steps.

Within that dot of light, he saw himself.

That was the scene from three hundred years ago when he had just entered the Guardian Academy.

An ignorant youth stood before the grand gates of the Guardian Academy, his eyes filled with longing and trepidation for the future.

Guardian Lin Jingyun looked at that youth, and a complex emotion surged up in his heart.

So time had always been here.

So he had always been here.

He took a deep breath and continued flying forward.

Finally, as the third day was coming to an end, he arrived at the source of that pale golden light.

That was a fist-sized crystal stone, transparent throughout, containing endless Power of Space-Time within.

On the surface of the crystal, countless tiny runes circulated, those runes being identical to the ones on the Chaos fragments.

The space-time fragment.

Guardian Lin Jingyun reached out and gently touched it.

The moment he touched the crystal, an aged and majestic voice resounded in his mind.

"Latercomer... You have finally come..."

Guardian Lin Jingyun's heart chilled.

"Who are you?"

That voice said slowly,

"This seat... is the Spirit of Space-Time... sharing the same Origin as the Spirit of Chaos..."

"Chaos is responsible for balance... space-time is responsible for flow..."

"Hundreds of millions of years ago... the Chaotic Universe fell apart... This seat transformed my body into fragments... sealing the Power of Space-Time right here..."

"Waiting for... the true successor..."

Guardian Lin Jingyun was stunned.

Spirit of Space-Time?

Sharing the same Origin as the Spirit of Chaos?

That voice continued speaking,

"You being able to come here... shows that you have already gained the recognition of the Spirit of Chaos..."

"Chaos and space-time... are originally one..."

"Only by grasping both simultaneously... can one truly protect the Chaotic Universe..."

"Latercomer... Are you willing... to inherit this seat's power..."

Guardian Lin Jingyun was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Senior, after inheriting your power, what can I do?"

That voice laughed.

"You can... shuttle through space-time..."

"You can return to the past... and also travel to the future..."

"You can repair shattered space-time... and also protect the peace of the present..."

"But remember... the Power of Space-Time... must not be abused..."

"Every single Transmigration... will consume the Origin... excessive use... will cause oneself to become lost in the long river of time..."

Guardian Lin Jingyun took a deep breath.

"Senior, I am willing."

That voice said with satisfaction,

"Good... Very good..."

As the voice fell, that space-time fragment suddenly transformed into countless dots of light, surging into Guardian Lin Jingyun's body.

A massive amount of information exploded within his Sea of Consciousness.

That was the hundreds of millions of years of comprehension of the Spirit of Space-Time, the complete mysteries of the Law of space-time, and the ultimate method of transmigrating through space-time.

Guardian Lin Jingyun closed his eyes, quietly absorbing this information.

Not knowing how much time had passed, he opened his eyes.

Within his eyes, there was now an extra hint of space-time color.

He turned around and flew toward the direction of the fissure exit.

Behind him, those dots of light were still rotating, and the long river of time was still flowing.

But at this moment, he was no longer a bystander, but a protector.

Three days later, Guardian Lin Jingyun walked out from the fissure.

On the flying boat, Shen Qiuyu and all the Disciples had been waiting anxiously like burning hearts.

Seeing his figure, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ancestor! You have finally come out!"

Guardian Lin Jingyun smiled slightly and stepped onto the flying boat.

"Let's go, let's go home."

The flying boat turned its direction and sped toward Yongning City.

A month later, Guardian Lin Jingyun returned to Yongning City.

He went before the Monument of Heroes at the very first moment.

At the top of the monument, that Chaos-colored light was still bright.

He knelt before the monument and said softly,

"Ancestor, I have found the space-time fragment and inherited the power of the Spirit of Space-Time."

"From now on, I am the space-time protector."

That ray of light lightly jumped once, as if responding to him.

Guardian Lin Jingyun smiled and deeply kowtowed.

In the distance, within Ling Shuang's small courtyard.

Ling Shuang stood before the window, gazing in the direction of the Monument of Heroes.

She saw that Chaos-colored light, even brighter than before.

She smiled slightly and said softly,

"Jingyun, you have finally grown up."