210: Chapter 210 The Return Journey

The starry sea outside the Eternal Forbidden Zone was still dazzling.

Shen Zhao stood in front of the porthole of the spacetime flying boat, looking ahead.

Three years had passed, and he had finally returned.

The Eternal Forbidden Zone behind him had vanished into the darkness.

The starry realms ahead were brightly lit.

Like countless stars twinkling in the Void Realm.

Shen Zhao took a deep breath, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

That was the feeling of home.

When he left, he was only sixteen years old, and his Cultivate was at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

Now nineteen years old, his Cultivate was at the Nascent Soul Late Stage.

In three years of time, he had experienced too much.

Time Labyrinth, spatial fragments, and spacetime beasts.

The tree of life, Spirit of Taichu, and the ruins of the Creation God Clan.

Every single test had almost taken his life.

But he had survived and grown stronger.

Because he wanted to protect this starry sea.

Protect those he loved.

The spacetime flying boat sped through the starry sea.

Its speed was much faster than three years ago.

Shen Zhao injected the Primordial Power into the crystal core.

The flying boat turned into a stream of light, piercing through the Void Realm.

Three days later, the outline of Yongning City appeared in his field of vision.

The city walls were still towering, and the flags of the Guardian Academy were still fluttering.

The two beams of light on top of the Monument of Heroes were still bright.

Shen Zhao's eyes were somewhat moist.

He slowed down the flying boat and slowly approached the Star Port.

The Star Port was already packed with people.

Shen Yuan stood at the very front, his white hair fluttering in the wind.

Director Su Yun stood behind him, holding the command token of the Investigation Department in her hands.

Representatives from various realms, Elders of the Guardian Academy, and generals of the Realm Guardian Army.

And countless people Shen Zhao knew or didn't know.

Everyone's gazes were focused on the spacetime flying boat.

The flying boat slowly landed, and the cabin door opened.

Shen Zhao walked out of the cabin door and stood on the Star Port.

Sunlight shone on him, drawing his shadow very long.

He was wearing a green shirt, with a qinglian sword hanging from his waist.

Three years of tempering had made his facial features more mature.

His gaze was firmer, and his aura was more restrained.

Shen Yuan looked at him and remained silent for a long time.

Then he walked forward and reached out to pat his shoulder.

"You're back?"

"I'm back."

"You've lost weight."

"Disciple didn't eat well outside."

Shen Yuan's eyes turned red, but he did not cry.

He just nodded and turned to walk toward the Council Hall.

"Let's go, representatives from various realms are all waiting for you."

Shen Zhao followed behind him, with Director Su Yun and the others closely following behind.

The Council Hall was packed with people.

When the representatives from various realms saw Shen Zhao enter, they all stood up.

Some applauded, some cheered, and some wiped their tears.

Shen Zhao walked to the front of the main seat and bowed deeply to everyone.

"Disciple Shen Zhao has returned."

An old representative stood up with a hoarse voice.

"Shen Zhao, have you found the Primordial Power?"

Shen Zhao nodded and raised his hand.

A ball of Chaos-colored light emerged in the palm of his hand.

Within that light, it contained the power of creation and protection.

There were gasps of astonishment throughout the main hall.

"This is the Primordial Power?"

"Such a powerful aura!"

"It's even purer than the power of the Three Great Spirits!"

Shen Zhao put away the light, his gaze sweeping across the entire audience.

"Disciple has not only found the Primordial Power."

"But also passed the test of the Spirit of Taichu."

"And obtained the gift of the tree of life."

"Now, Disciple's Cultivate is already at the Nascent Soul Late Stage."

Gasps of astonishment rang out in the main hall once again.

Three years, from the Foundation Establishment Early Stage to the Nascent Soul Late Stage.

What kind of Cultivate speed was this?

Shen Yuan looked at his nephew, his eyes full of gratification.

"Zhao'er, sit down and speak."

Shen Zhao nodded and sat down beside his uncle.

Director Su Yun stood up and walked to the front of the star map.

"Shen Zhao, you need to know the situation of the Seal."

She raised her hand, and a real-time image of the Seal appeared on the star map.

The runes on the Seal were even dimmer than three years ago.

There were more cracks, and the grayish-black mist was thicker.

"Three years have passed, and the Seal has loosened a lot more."

"The Investigation Department estimates that it can hold on for at most two more years."

Shen Zhao looked at the star map, his brows slightly furrowed.

Two years, even shorter than he had expected.

"What about the Abyss Clan?"

Director Su Yun shook her head: "No movement."

"After the Seal loosened, they didn't impact the Seal."

"Nor was there any abnormality."

"It's as if... they are waiting for something."

Shen Zhao was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"They are waiting for Disciple."

"Waiting for Disciple to return from the Eternal Forbidden Zone."

"Waiting for Disciple to find them."

The main hall quieted down.

Everyone's gazes were focused on Shen Zhao.

Shen Yuan looked at him with tightly furrowed brows.

"Zhao'er, are you going to the land of the Seal?"

"I am going."

"What are you going there to do?"

"To see Abyss Emperor and retrieve the Primordial fragments."

Shen Yuan's hand paused slightly.

"The Primordial fragments are in the hands of the Abyss Clan?"

Shen Zhao nodded and told everyone the words from Guardian Lin Jingyun's final words.

"Guardian Lin Jingyun said."

"The Primordial fragments are in the Void Abyss."

"Guarded by the Abyss Clan."

"Only by obtaining the Primordial fragments can one obtain the complete Primordial Power."

There was an uproar in the main hall.

Representatives from various realms looked at each other; some were shocked, and some were worried.

A young representative stood up.

"Shen Zhao, the Abyss Clan is our enemy!"

"How can you believe them?"

Shen Zhao looked at him with a calm gaze.

"Guardian Lin Jingyun said that the Abyss Clan is not our enemy."

"They just want to go home."

"Disciple believes him."

The young representative opened his mouth, unable to speak.

Guardian Lin Jingyun, Guardian Lin Jingyun.

That person who suppressed the abyss forever.

He said the Abyss Clan is not an enemy, who dared to refute?

Shen Yuan was silent for a long time.

"Zhao'er, when do you plan to go?"

"Three days later."

"So fast?"

"The Seal cannot wait for too long."

Shen Yuan looked at him, his eyes full of complexity.

"Zhao'er, do you know what you are doing?"

"I know."

"You are going to enter the Seal, go to the abyss, and see Abyss Emperor."

"That is something even Guardian Lin Jingyun never did."

Shen Zhao nodded, his voice calm.

"Disciple knows."

"But Disciple must do it."

"Because this is the mission of a Guardian."

Shen Yuan was silent for a long time.

Then he stood up and walked to Shen Zhao's presence.

He took out the Guardian Patriarch Seal from his arms.

"Zhao'er, accept the Seal."

Shen Zhao was stunned.

"Uncle, you..."

"You are more suitable to sit in this position than Disciple."

Shen Yuan's voice was hoarse, yet firm.

"Three years ago, Disciple handed the Talisman to you."

"Today, Disciple is also handing the Seal to you."

"Starting from today, you are the Guardian Patriarch."

"And also the Guardian."

The main hall was pin-drop silent.

Everyone's gazes were focused on that Seal.

Shen Zhao did not accept it.

He knelt on the ground and kowtowed deeply to his uncle.

"Uncle, Disciple cannot accept it."

"Why?"

"Because Disciple is going to the abyss."

"And might not return."

"The Guardian Patriarch cannot be someone who might not return."

Shen Yuan looked at him and remained silent for a long time.

Then he put away the Seal and reached out to help him up.

"Alright, Disciple will guard it for you."

"Waiting for you to return."

Shen Zhao nodded, his eyes turning red.

But he did not cry, because he knew.

He was a Guardian and could not shed tears in front of everyone.

Three days later, Shen Zhao stood on the Star Port once again.

In front of him was a new spacetime flying boat.

It was larger and faster than the one three years ago.

Director Su Yun had prepared ample supplies for him.

Medicinal Pills, Talismans, food, and clean water.

And a special communication talisman from the Investigation Department.

"Shen Zhao, this communication talisman can penetrate the Seal."

"If you encounter danger, send a message immediately."

"Disciple will lead the Realm Guardian Army to save you."

Shen Zhao took the communication talisman and put it into his arms.

"Many thanks, Director Su."

Director Su Yun shook her head, her eyes somewhat red.

"Come back alive."

"This is an order."

Shen Zhao nodded and turned to board the flying boat.

Shen Yuan stood on the Star Port, looking at his back.

Without saying a single word.

Shen Zhao walked to the cabin door and suddenly stopped.

He turned his head to look at his uncle.

"Uncle, Disciple has something to say to you."

Shen Yuan looked at him without speaking.

"Disciple has always wanted to say it, but dared not say it."

"Disciple was afraid that once spoken out, it would truly be lost."

"But Disciple knows now."

"Not speaking is the true loss."

Shen Zhao knelt on the Star Port and kowtowed deeply to his uncle.

"Uncle, thank you."

"Thank you for raising Disciple."

"Thank you for teaching Disciple how to be a person."

"Thank you for letting Disciple become a Guardian."

A trace of tearlight flashed in Shen Yuan's eyes.

But he didn't say anything, just waved his hand.

"Go, come back alive."