181: Chapter 181 Rewinding Cause and Effect, Hidden Clues in the Starry Sea

The maiden voyage test of the space-time ark was a complete success, yet Guardian Lin Jingyun did not relax in the slightest.

On the third day after returning from the ancient space-time, he began secluded cultivation to digest the Origin crystal left behind by the Spirit of Chaos.

The power contained within that crystal was far too vast; even with his current cultivation, it would take him several months to initially refine it.

But plans could never keep up with changes.

On the seventh day of his secluded cultivation, Shen Qiuyu hurriedly rushed to the small courtyard beside the Monument of Heroes, her expression as solemn as iron.

"Patriarch, something has happened."

Guardian Lin Jingyun opened his eyes, and upon seeing Shen Qiuyu's expression, he knew in his heart that the matter was no small one.

He got up and walked out of the stone chamber, taking the intelligence Jade Slip she handed over.

The Jade Slip recorded the patrol records of the Investigation Department over the past three days—across various domains of the starry sea, seventeen places had experienced bizarre "space-time wrinkles".

Some of those wrinkles appeared at the core of the domains, while others appeared on the barren edges; they varied in size, and their durations were also different.

But most bizarrely, within the areas covered by the wrinkles, the flow of time was completely chaotic.

In a spiritual field of the Meteor Minor Realm, the rice matured ten times and withered ten times overnight.

The Old Farmer guarding the spiritual field stood by the field, watching helplessly as the rice grew, spiked, matured, and withered in endless cycles, turning his hair white in a mere hour.

In a city of the Cangwu Domain, the clock tower in the center of the city suddenly stopped operating.

The hands on market clock tower no longer moved, yet the common folk in the city felt as though time was passing by at lightning speed.

Some turned from their prime into elderly people within a single day, while others grew from children into youths.

The city was in utter Chaos, with cries for help, shouts, and weeping rising one after another.

At the entrance of a Secret Realm in the Biluo Minor Realm, the flow of time became extremely slow.

An exploration team entered the Secret Realm, and clearly only half an hour had passed, but upon coming out, they discovered that a full year had already passed in the outside world.

Their families had thought they were dead and were holding funerals for them.

Guardian Lin Jingyun looked at these records, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

"Space-time wrinkles… This is not a natural phenomenon," he said in a deep voice.

Shen Qiuyu nodded: "The Elders of the Array Hall say the same."

"They inspected all the wrinkled areas and found that the spatial structures of these regions were undamaged, and the Spiritual Veins were operating normally."

"Only time has a problem."

She paused, took out a projection stone from her bosom, and handed it to Guardian Lin Jingyun.

"There is something even more bizarre. Take a look at this."

Guardian Lin Jingyun injected spiritual power, and the projection stone projected an image.

In the image was the scene of that spiritual field in the Meteor Minor Realm.

The rice was crazily growing, maturing, and withering in an endless cycle.

However, Guardian Lin Jingyun's gaze fell upon a phantom at the edge of the spiritual field.

That phantom was very faint, so faint it was almost imperceptible, yet it truly existed.

It hovered above the spiritual field, shaped like a giant spider, its eight slender legs deeply pierced into the Void Realm, seemingly extracting something.

"This was accidentally captured by a Disciple of the Investigation Department during patrols," Shen Qiuyu's voice carried a hint of trembling.

"After capturing this phantom, that Disciple… disappeared."

Guardian Lin Jingyun's pupils constricted: "Disappeared?"

"Yes, vanished into thin air, leaving not even a trace behind."

"We searched the entire Meteor Minor Realm and couldn't find him."

"The communication talisman couldn't reach him either; his natal soul lamp… went out."

Guardian Lin Jingyun fell silent.

An elite Disciple of the Investigation Department with Late Stage Nascent Soul cultivation had vanished just like that, without a sound.

Without even a struggle, without even time to cry for help.

Staring at the spider-shaped phantom in the image, an ominous premonition surged within his heart.

Where had he seen this phantom before?

Not in this lifetime, but in the ancient space-time, within the memories left behind for him by the Three Great Spirits.

He closed his eyes, sank into his Sea of Consciousness, and rummaged through that massive amount of information.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, his complexion as pale as paper.

"Void Evil Spider."

Shen Qiuyu was startled: "What?"

Guardian Lin Jingyun's voice was low and solemn: "Void Evil Spider, the vanguard of the Outer Realm Evil Spirits."

"Back then, when the Three Great Spirits sealed the Mother of Evil Spirits, the Void Evil Spiders were the last batch of existences to be sealed."

"They feed on time and space, and can freely shuttle through any space-time node."

Pointing at the spider-shaped phantom in the image, he continued: "This is a Void Evil Spider."

"It is not extracting Spiritual Veins, but devouring time."

"Those space-time wrinkles are the traces left behind when it feeds."

Shen Qiuyu's expression changed drastically: "Then… what should we do?"

Guardian Lin Jingyun did not answer, instead turning around and walking back into the stone chamber.

He took the green lotus jade talisman out of his storage ring, holding it in his hand as he felt the gentle power left behind by the patriarch.

Then, he closed his eyes and circulated the Law of Karma.

Eye of Karma, open.

This was the first time he fully unleashed the Law of Karma after inheriting the power of the Spirit of Causality.

A light cyan radiance gushed out from his eyes, completely altering the world before him.

He saw the threads of Karma on Shen Qiuyu—one connecting to the Investigation Department, one connecting to Yongning City, and another… connecting to an unknown distance.

He saw the threads of Karma on the Monument of Heroes—each one as thick as a pillar, connecting to the heroic souls of past guardians, linking the past and future of the starry sea.

He looked toward the directions of various domains in the starry sea, seeing countless threads of Karma converging from all directions, weaving into a giant net above Yongning City.

That net was dense and intricate, crisscrossing with one another, and every single thread bore a segment of Karma.

Yet at the edge of this net, one thread was exceptionally bizarre.

It was not light cyan, but ash-black.

It twisted, coiled, snapped, and yet constantly regenerated.

One end of it connected to the spiritual field of the Meteor Minor Realm, while the other end… stretched toward the deepest depths of the starry sea, toward that barren region where no one had ever set foot.

Guardian Lin Jingyun looked along that thread, seeing a scene that caused his heart to abruptly stop.

At the end of the thread was a giant Seal.

The Seal was circular, fully a thousand miles in diameter, woven entirely from ash-black runes.

Those runes had already grown dim and dull, and in many places they had shattered and peeled off, revealing the Void Realm beneath.

And within the Void Realm, a pair of crimson eyes was slowly opening.

Void Evil Spider.

Not just one, but a swarm.

Guardian Lin Jingyun abruptly opened his eyes, and the Eye of Karma closed.

Fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, and his complexion was as pale as paper.

The consumption from forcibly urging the Law of Karma was even greater than he had imagined.

Shen Qiuyu hurriedly stepped forward to support him: "Patriarch, are you alright?"

Guardian Lin Jingyun waved his hand, signaling that he was fine.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"Qiuyu, immediately issue an order to all domains: in all areas where space-time wrinkles have appeared, immediately evacuate the common folk and blockade the surroundings."

"Disciples of the Array Hall are to monitor day and night, and report immediately upon discovering any anomalies."

Shen Qiuyu nodded solemnly, turning around to go issue the order.

"Wait," Guardian Lin Jingyun called out to her.

"There is one more matter. Go invite Senior Ling Shuang over; I have an important matter to discuss with her."

Shen Qiuyu acknowledged the command and left.

Half an hour later, Ling Shuang came to the courtyard leaning on a cane.

Seeing Guardian Lin Jingyun's pale complexion, she knew the matter was not trivial.

"Speak, what is the situation?"

Guardian Lin Jingyun detailed the matter of the Void Evil Spider, including the Seal seen within the Eye of Karma and that pair of crimson eyes slowly opening.

After listening, Ling Shuang remained silent for a long time.

"How much longer can the Seal hold?" she asked.

Guardian Lin Jingyun shook his head: "I don't know."

"The runes on the Seal have peeled off in large areas, and the consciousness of the Void Evil Spiders has already begun to infiltrate."

"In as short as a year, or as long as three years, the Seal will definitely break."

The hand with which Ling Shuang leaned on her cane trembled slightly, but her voice remained calm.

"One year… is enough."

Guardian Lin Jingyun was startled: "Teacher, what are you going to do?"

Ling Shuang looked at him, a resolute flash crossing her eyes.

"I am going to the place of the Seal to stand guard."

Guardian Lin Jingyun's expression changed drastically: "Teacher, you are getting old, how can you…"

Ling Shuang raised her hand to interrupt him: "Precisely because I am old, I should go all the more."

"Jingyun, you are the future of the starry sea; you cannot take risks."

"But I am different. I have lived for over a thousand years; I have experienced everything that should be experienced, and guarded everything that should be guarded."

"Let me go to the final battle."

Guardian Lin Jingyun wanted to retort, but found that he could not speak.

He looked at Ling Shuang's graying hair, at her wrinkle-filled face, and at those eyes of hers that remained as sharp as ever.

For over a thousand years, this elderly woman had gone from an unsophisticated young girl to a Guardian Patriarch, from her youthful prime to white-haired and elderly; her entire life had been spent guarding this starry sea.

Now, she was going to do one final thing.

"Teacher…" Guardian Lin Jingyun's voice was somewhat choked with emotion.

Ling Shuang smiled slightly and patted his shoulder: "Don't be like this."

"I'm not dead yet; I'm just going to guard the Seal, not going to throw my life away."

"Besides, with you and Zhiting here, I can't bear to die."

She paused and continued: "As for you, you must Cultivate well."

"Ten thousand years from now, you will still need to go to the Void Abyss and face the Mother of Evil Spirits."

"That will be the truly tough battle."

Guardian Lin Jingyun nodded solemnly: "Teacher, rest assured, this Disciple will certainly not fail your commission."

Ling Shuang nodded with satisfaction and turned to walk out of the courtyard.

Walking to the doorway, she suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Guardian Lin Jingyun.

"Jingyun, do you know what the patriarch did back then when facing the Ash-Eater Clan?"

Guardian Lin Jingyun nodded: "You said before that he burned his Origin and perished together with the six Grey Devourer Progenitors."

Ling Shuang shook her head: "No, that is not what I am saying."

"What I am saying is that he would never let the people by his side throw their lives away."

"He always rushed to the absolute front, leaving the danger to himself."

She gazed toward the Chaos-colored radiance atop the Monument of Heroes, a flash of reminiscence crossing her eyes.

"Back then during the bloody battle on the Eastern Front, Zhiting was heavily injured and unconscious, and I led the army to reinforce them."

"The patriarch could have remained seated in the rear, but he didn't."

"He charged alone into the nest of the Void Clan and slew the Void Emperor."

"Back when the Ash-Eater Clan invaded, six Grey Devourer Progenitors broke their Seals simultaneously."

"The patriarch could have retreated to guard Black Stone City, but he didn't."

"Alone, facing six formidable enemies, he burned his Origin and perished together with them."

"He always carried everything alone."

"Because he knew he was the Guardian Patriarch, and this was his responsibility."

Ling Shuang withdrew her gaze and looked at Guardian Lin Jingyun.

"Jingyun, you are also a guardian."

"But remember, you are not alone."

"Behind you is the entire starry sea, and countless people willing to fight side by side with you."

"Do not learn from the patriarch and carry everything alone."

Hearing this, a warm current surged within Guardian Lin Jingyun's heart.

"Teacher, I will remember it."

Ling Shuang nodded and turned to leave.

Under the setting sun, her figure was drawn out very, very long.

Her head of white hair fluttered in the evening breeze, like the brightest star in the starry sea.

Guardian Lin Jingyun stood at the courtyard doorway, gazing at her distant retreating figure, remaining silent for a long time.

Three days later, Ling Shuang left Yongning City.

She did not bring many people, only taking along a few veteran generals who had fought side by side with her back then.

Zhou Zhiting hurried over from Qingmang Mountain, wanting to go with her.

Song Xinghe also put down his memoirs and joined with the last batch of veteran generals from the Investigation Department.

The three white-haired Elders once again donned battle armor and embarked on their expedition.

Before their departure, Guardian Lin Jingyun saw them off before the Monument of Heroes.

"Teacher, Senior Zhou, Senior Song, take care."

Ling Shuang smiled slightly: "Rest assured, these old bones of ours can still fight for a few more years."

Zhou Zhiting gripped the battle blood spear tightly, her eyes filled with Battle Intent: "The Void Evil Spiders will be just right to practice on."

Song Xinghe did not speak, merely giving a deep bow toward Guardian Lin Jingyun.

The three figures boarded a star skiff and sailed toward the deepest depths of the starry sea.

Guardian Lin Jingyun stood before the Monument of Heroes, watching that star skiff grow more and more distant until it ultimately vanished deep within the starry sea.