192: Chapter 192 Starry Sea Mourning, Myriad Realms Grieve

The bell of Yongning City was no longer as crisp as it used to be.

It became deep and lingering, ring after ring like a sigh, piercing through the morning mist, passing through the city walls, and penetrating into everyone's heart.

This was the funeral bell.

Since the establishment of the Guardian Academy, it had only rung three times.

The first time was when the Progenitor Bai Yunzhou dissipated, and the second time was when the first two of the three elders, Ling Shuang, Zhou Zhiting, and Song Xinghe, passed away—no, Ling Shuang was still alive, Guardian Lin Jingyun corrected himself in his heart.

He stood before the Monument of Heroes, looking at the three names side by side on the monument, his eyes stinging slightly.

The third time was today.

News from various domains had been coming in successively since last night.

By the spiritual springs of Lingxi Realm, commoners gathered spontaneously, lighting up spiritual lamps one by one, letting them float into the distance along the current.

On the sword peaks of Cangwu Domain, thousands of Sword Cultivators drew their swords simultaneously, their sword lights shooting straight into the clouds to clear the path for the deceased.

On the peak of Qingmang Mountain, the Yao Race lit bonfires, and the Old Ape Patriarch personally beat the drum, the drumbeats shaking the heavens as they sent the heroic souls back to the heavens.

The elderly of Meteor Minor Realm sat beside the ruins of the teleportation array, recounting over and over again how the Realm Guardian Army risked their lives to guard their homeland back then.

The entire sea of stars was in mourning.

Guardian Lin Jingyun stood before the Monument of Heroes, with representatives sent from various domains behind him.

Some of them had traveled for half a month on a star skiff, some arrived overnight through teleportation arrays, and others walked step by step from the most remote domain settlements.

No one complained, and no one shouted about being tired.

Because they knew that the ones they were seeing off were people worthy of being remembered by the entire sea of stars.

Ling Shuang stood by his side, her white hair fluttering in the wind.

Her expression was very calm, as calm as the lake water in late autumn.

But Guardian Lin Jingyun knew that his teacher's heart was bleeding.

Those names were the comrades of her lifetime and her closest loved ones.

Shen Qiuyu stepped forward, holding a long roster in her hands.

That was the list of all soldiers who sacrificed in this battle, compiled by the Investigation Department.

Dense names, from Realm Guardian Army generals to ordinary soldiers, from elites of various domains to logistics Disciples, every single person was recorded in the registry, and not a single name would be forgotten.

"Senior, Progenitor, the representatives of various domains have all arrived."

Shen Qiuyu's voice was very soft, for fear of disturbing this solemn atmosphere.

Ling Shuang nodded and turned to face the square.

The square was densely packed with people.

The soldiers of the Realm Guardian Army wore plain white battle armor, arrayed in square formations.

The Disciples of the Guardian Academy wore cyan academy robes and held white chrysanthemums in their hands.

Representatives of various domains wore plain clothes, standing solemnly in silence.

And countless commoners spontaneously rushed over from all parts of Yongning City, standing on the outer perimeter of the square and waiting silently.

No one spoke, only the funeral bell was ringing.

Ling Shuang spoke, her voice hoarse yet clearly spreading across the entire audience.

"Today, we mourn here."

"Mourning those heroic martyrs who sacrificed themselves to protect the sea of stars."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over every face.

"In this battle, we have lost too much."

One hundred twenty-three thousand seven hundred soldiers of the Realm Guardian Army died in action, eighty-six thousand elites of various domains died, and twelve thousand logistics Disciples died.

"And..." Her voice trembled slightly, "And General Zhou Zhiting, Director Song Xinghe, and countless veteran generals who followed them all their lives."

Low sobbing sounds echoed across the square.

Some were wiping tears, some were praying silently, and some clenched their fists so tightly that their nails sank into their palms.

Guardian Lin Jingyun stepped forward, taking over Ling Shuang's words.

"But their sacrifice was not in vain."

The Ancestor of Void Evil Spiders is dead, and the sea of stars has been guarded.

"Their blood did not flow in vain."

His voice was very soft, yet it carried a kind of power, like a gentle spring breeze turning into rain, falling into everyone's heart.

"From today onwards, the names of all sacrificed soldiers will be engraved on the Monument of Heroes."

"Their names will stand alongside the Progenitor and past Guardians, receiving the incense of Myriad Realms and being remembered for all eternity."

He raised his hand, and a golden light surged from his palm, pouring into the Monument of Heroes.

On the body of the monument, those dense names began to glow.

One after another, like stars being lit up.

One hundred twenty-three thousand seven hundred names, eighty-six thousand names, twelve thousand names—each one was clearly visible, each one shining brilliantly.

Zhou Zhiting's name was at the very top, side by side with Progenitor Bai Yunzhou.

Song Xinghe's name followed closely behind, then the ten veteran generals who self-detonated, and then countless unfamiliar names.

On the square, the weeping could no longer be suppressed.

Some knelt on the ground, kowtowing towards the names on the monument.

Some hugged their comrades' Legacy items, tears streaming down their faces.

Some raised their heads to look at the sky, crying silently.

Guardian Lin Jingyun stood before the monument, looking at those names, his eyes turning red.

But he did not cry, because he knew he was a Guardian, and he could not shed tears in front of the soldiers.

Ling Shuang walked to his side, gently holding his hand.

Her hands were very cold, yet they were trembling slightly.

"Jingyun, cry if you want to."

"Teacher is here."

Guardian Lin Jingyun shook his head, his voice somewhat choked with sobs: "Teacher, I cannot cry."

"The soldiers are watching."

Ling Shuang did not speak again, only squeezing his hand tightly.

The mourning ceremony lasted for a whole day.

In the morning, representatives of various domains stepped forward one by one to offer fresh flowers and sacrifices before the monument.

The representative of Lingxi Realm offered a pot of spiritual spring water, the representative of Cangwu Domain offered a long sword, the representative of Qingmang Mountain offered a Yao beast core, and the representative of Meteor Minor Realm offered a piece of Spiritual Vein crystal stone.

Every single item represented the sincerity of the various domains and their respect for the heroic martyrs.

In the afternoon, the soldiers of the Realm Guardian Army marched in formation past the monument.

They wore plain white battle armor with neat paces and solemn expressions.

Every single soldier, when passing before the monument, would stop their steps and bow deeply.

Among those names were their comrades, their brothers, and their superior officers.

In the evening, the Disciples of the Guardian Academy held white chrysanthemums and observed a moment of silence before the monument.

They were the future of the sea of stars, the inheritors of the fire of Dao protection.

Many of them had never experienced war and had never seen blood.

But they knew that today's peace was exchanged with the lives of countless people.

When night fell, the funeral bell stopped.

The candlelight on the square lit up like myriad stars, illuminating every single name on the Monument of Heroes.

Ling Shuang stood before the monument and took a final look at those names.

"Zhiting, Xinghe, old brothers, rest in peace."

"The sea of stars is guarded by us."

She turned around and walked towards the small courtyard.

After walking a few steps, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Guardian Lin Jingyun.

"Jingyun, keep Teacher company for a drink tonight."

Guardian Lin Jingyun nodded and followed behind her.

In the small courtyard, two pots of wine and a plate of small side dishes were placed on the stone table.

The wine was the Qingmang Mountain brew that Zhou Zhiting loved most, and the dish was the Lingxi Realm pickled bamboo shoots that Song Xinghe loved most.

Ling Shuang sat down and poured two cups of wine.

One cup was placed opposite, and one she picked up herself.

"Zhiting, this is what you love to drink most."

"Xinghe, this is what you love to eat most."

"You guys over there, be well."

She raised her head and drank it all in one gulp.

Guardian Lin Jingyun sat opposite her, watching her silently.

Ling Shuang poured another cup and drank it all in one gulp again.

The third cup, the fourth cup, the fifth cup...

Her alcohol capacity was very good, and she never got drunk.

But tonight, she seemed to be drunk.

Drunk with tears streaming down her face, drunk and incoherent.

"Jingyun, do you know?"

"Zhiting... she is actually very afraid of death."

Ling Shuang's voice was slurred, her eyes filled with tears, "Every time before going to the battlefield, she would secretly write letters, writing to her family, writing to her friends."

"She said that in case she couldn't come back, at least someone would still remember her."

Guardian Lin Jingyun did not speak, only listening quietly.

"But she never sent those letters out."

"Every time after a battle was fought, she would burn the letters."

"She said that if she returned alive, she wouldn't let her family worry."

Ling Shuang drank another cup, her tears dripping into the wine cup.

"This time, she didn't have the chance to burn the letters."

"Those letters of hers, I have kept them."

"Beneath her tombstone, I buried one."

"It was written to me."

Her voice became lower and lower, until it was almost inaudible at the end.

"She said, Ling Shuang, being able to meet you in this Life is my greatest fortune."

"In the next Life, we will still be comrades."

Guardian Lin Jingyun's eyes turned red.

He picked up his wine cup and gently spilled it onto the ground towards the direction of Zhou Zhiting's tombstone.

"Senior Zhiting, this Disciple toasts you."

Ling Shuang wiped away her tears and poured another cup of wine.

This time, she picked it up and faced the direction of Song Xinghe's tombstone.

"This person Xinghe spoke little his entire Life."

"But every time he spoke, he hit the nail on the head."

"He said the Investigation Department needed to expand its monitoring range, and the sea of stars was never ambushed again."

"He said early warning must be strengthened, and every attack by the Ancestor of Void Evil Spiders was anticipated by us in advance."

She took a sip and continued speaking: "When he left, he did not leave behind any words."

"But I knew it all."

"Whatever he wanted to say was all in that star map."

Guardian Lin Jingyun raised his head, looking at the still-shining star map above Yongning City.

The golden points of light were like eternal stars, illuminating every corner of the sea of stars.

"Senior Xinghe's star map will always shine."

He said softly, "As long as the sea of stars is still here, it will never be extinguished."

Ling Shuang nodded and drank another cup.

The wine pot was empty; she put down the wine cup, leaned back against the chair, and closed her eyes.

"Jingyun, Teacher is old."

"Truly old."

Guardian Lin Jingyun's heart ached: "Teacher is not old."

Ling Shuang smiled, her smile somewhat bitter: "Don't lie to Teacher."

"Teacher has lived for more than a thousand years, experienced everything that should be experienced, and guarded everything that should be guarded."

"Now, it's time for you young people to step up."

Guardian Lin Jingyun wanted to say something, but was interrupted by her raising her hand.

"Jingyun, promise Teacher one thing."

"Teacher, please speak."

Ling Shuang opened her eyes, looked into his eyes, and said word by word: "Promise Teacher to live well."

"Do not be like the Progenitor, burning Origin at every turn and perishing together at every turn."

"You are a Guardian, but you are not alone."

"Behind you is the entire sea of stars."

"Only when you live will the sea of stars have hope."

Guardian Lin Jingyun nodded solemnly: "Teacher, I promise you."

Ling Shuang smiled with satisfaction.

She closed her eyes, leaning against the back of the chair, and her breathing gradually stabilized.

She fell asleep, sleeping very deeply and peacefully.

This was the first time she had slept so deeply in all these days.

Guardian Lin Jingyun did not wake her up; he simply took off his outer robe and gently draped it over her.

Then, he got up and walked before the Monument of Heroes.

The names on the monument flickered under the moonlight, like stars.

He raised his head, looking at the Chaos-colored light at the top of the monument.

"Progenitor, are you watching?"

"The sea of stars, we will guard it well."

The light gently leaped, as if responding to him.

In the distance, the morning bell of the Guardian Academy was about to ring.

A new day was about to begin.

Guardian Lin Jingyun turned around and walked back to the small courtyard.

Ling Shuang was still sleeping, with a slight smile on the corner of her mouth.

Perhaps in her dream, she saw Zhiting, she saw Xinghe, and she saw those old brothers.

They were drinking, chatting, and cursing those blind enemies.

Guardian Lin Jingyun sat by her side and raised his head to look towards the horizon.

The morning light of the sea of stars was very beautiful.