211: Chapter 211 Sealed Land

The spacetime flying boat sped through the sea of stars, heading toward the edge of the sea of stars.

Shen Zhao stood in front of the porthole, gazing at the grayish-black area drawing closer ahead.

When he left three years ago, the Seal could still hold for thirteen years.

Now only two years remained.

Most of the runes on the Seal had dimmed.

Visible cracks had appeared in many places.

Grayish-black mist continuously gushed out from the cracks.

Like blood flowing from a wound.

Shen Zhao tightly gripped the qinglian sword, and the Power of Three Spirits circulated within his body.

The Primordial Power also slowly rotated within his Dantian.

The three forces echoed each other, forming a faint barrier.

Isolating him from the surrounding grayish-black mist.

The flying boat passed through the final stardust belt.

The outline of the Sealed Land appeared in his field of vision.

That was a giant barrier spanning across the Void Realm.

Its entire body was interwoven with gold, silver, and azure runes.

But now, those runes had lost all their light.

Cracks densely covered it, like a spiderweb.

Shen Zhao slowed down the flying boat, slowly approaching the edge of the Seal.

The closer he got, the stronger the sense of oppression became.

The grayish-black mist surged around the flying boat.

Making low roars, like a giant beast breathing.

Shen Zhao took a deep breath and walked out of the cabin door.

Hovering in the Void Realm, gazing at that huge Seal.

This was the Seal forged by Guardian Lin Jingyun using his body as an array.

For ten thousand years, it had guarded the sea of stars and isolated the abyss.

Now, it could barely hold on.

Shen Zhao raised his hand, and the Primordial Power gushed out from his palm.

Transforming into a Chaos-colored light, injecting into the Seal.

The runes on the Seal lit up slightly.

But quickly dimmed again, like the flash of brilliance before a dying person's death.

Shen Zhao withdrew his hand, a sense of desolation welling up in his heart.

He could not save this Seal.

He could only enter the Void Abyss and find the Taichu fragments.

Then obtain the complete Primordial Power.

Reseal the abyss, or help the Abyss Clan go home.

He turned and returned to the flying boat, taking out that special communication talisman of the Investigation Department.

Injecting spiritual Qi, the communication talisman lit up.

"Director Su, this Disciple has arrived at the Sealed Land."

"The condition of the Seal is worse than expected."

"This Disciple is prepared to enter the Void Abyss."

The communication talisman fell silent for a long time.

Director Su Yun's voice then came through, hoarse and trembling.

"Shen Zhao, are you sure?"

"Sure."

"Once you enter the Void Abyss, you might never be able to come out again."

"This Disciple knows."

"Then why still go?"

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

"Because this Disciple is a Guardian."

"Because this Disciple made a promise to those names on the Monument of Heroes."

"Because this Disciple wants to protect the sea of stars."

The communication talisman fell silent once more.

Then, Director Su Yun's voice came over, carrying a hint of a sob.

"Come back alive."

"This is an order."

Shen Zhao nodded and put away the communication talisman.

He walked out of the cabin door and once again hovered in the Void Realm.

In front of him was a huge crack.

That was the largest crack on the Seal.

About a hundred zhang wide and bottomless.

The grayish-black mist frantically gushed out from the crack.

Within the mist, countless tiny specks of light could be vaguely seen flickering.

Shen Zhao tightly gripped the qinglian sword, operating the Primordial Power to its fullest.

A Chaos-colored light enveloped his entire body.

He took a step and walked toward that crack.

One step, two steps, three steps.

The moment he stepped into the crack, the surrounding scenery suddenly changed.

No longer the Void Realm, but a gray and hazy space.

Countless huge fragments floated within the space.

Some were shattered stars, and some were collapsed continents.

Some were fractured timelines, and some were broken spatial walls.

Every fragment slowly rotated, emitting a faint grayish-black light.

Shen Zhao hovered in the space, looking around.

This was the Void Abyss.

The remnants of the world devoured by the Mother of Evil Spirits.

A place guarded by the Abyss Clan for ten thousand years.

He took a deep breath, operating the Power of Three Spirits to its fullest.

Perceiving everything around him.

Among those fragments, there were countless faint Life auras.

It was the Abyss Clan.

They were hiding within the fragments, watching him.

Shen Zhao did not move, simply hovering quietly there.

He was waiting, waiting for the Abyss Clan to appear on their own initiative.

A moment later, a huge fragment ahead split open a gap.

From the gap, a figure slowly walked out.

That was an old man with a hunchbacked figure and white hair.

He wore a grayish-black robe and held a wooden staff in his hand.

Embedded at the top of the wooden staff was a grayish-black crystal.

The old man's eyes were grayish-white, without pupils.

But he could "see" Shen Zhao.

"Human, you have finally come."

The old man's voice was hoarse, like wind blowing through withered branches.

Shen Zhao bowed in salute: "This Disciple Shen Zhao greets Senior."

"Senior? You are not afraid of this seat?"

"Not afraid."

"Why?"

"Because Guardian Lin Jingyun said that the Abyss Clan are not enemies."

"You just want to go home."

The old man fell silent for a long time.

Then he smiled, smiling with matchless desolation.

"Go home... Our home has long been gone."

"Devoured by the Mother of Evil Spirits and turned into fragments."

"Drifting in this Void Realm."

"Ten thousand years, we can't even find the direction of home anymore."

Hearing this, a stinging sorrow welled up in Shen Zhao's heart.

"Senior, this Disciple knows."

"This Disciple saw the ruins of the Creation God Clan in the Eternal Forbidden Zone."

"And learned the history of the Mother of Evil Spirits."

"And learned how you came here."

The old man looked at him, a trace of light flashing through his grayish-white eyes.

"You know?"

"I know."

"Then why did you still come?"

Shen Zhao raised his head, looking into the old man's eyes.

"Because this Disciple wants to help you."

"Help you find a new home."

"Help you rest in peace."

The old man fell silent for a long time.

Then he turned around and walked toward the depths of the fragments.

"Follow this seat."

"The Abyss Emperor wants to see you."

Shen Zhao followed behind the old man, passing through fragment after fragment.

In every fragment, members of the Abyss Clan were watching him.

Within those eyes, there was vigilance, curiosity, and a hint of anticipation.

They had waited for too long.

Waited for ten thousand years, waiting for someone who could help them.

Now, that person had come.

The old man led Shen Zhao through the final fragment.

The scenery ahead suddenly opened up.

That was a huge space, with no fragments, only the Void Realm.

In the center of the Void Realm hovered a massive palace.

The entire palace was built from grayish-black crystals.

The surface was densely engraved with runes.

Those runes slowly rotated, emitting a faint glow.

In front of the palace stood a figure.

That was a middle-aged man with a tall figure and a majestic expression.

He wore a set of black battle armor and held a long spear in his hand.

The long spear was pitch-black all over, and its spear tip flashed with a cold glint.

His eyes were golden, like a pair of stars.

"Human, you are the one who can trigger the Three-Spirit Resonance?"

His voice was low, yet clearly transmitted into Shen Zhao's ears.

Shen Zhao bowed in salute: "This Disciple Shen Zhao greets the Abyss Emperor."

The Abyss Emperor looked at him, his golden eyes filled with scrutiny.

"You have the aura of the Three Great Spirits on your body."

"And... the aura of the Primordial Power."

"You have been to the Eternal Forbidden Zone?"

"Been there."

"Saw the Spirit of Taichu?"

"Saw it."

"Passed the test?"

"Passed."

The Abyss Emperor fell silent for a long time.

"Ten thousand years."

"You are the first human to walk here."

"And the first human this seat cannot see through."

Shen Zhao did not speak, simply standing there quietly.

The Abyss Emperor turned around and walked into the palace.

"Follow this seat inside."

Shen Zhao followed behind the Abyss Emperor and walked into the palace.

The interior of the palace was even more magnificent than the outside.

Huge stone pillars supported the dome, and the dome was covered with murals.

The murals depicted the history of the Abyss Clan.

From the birth of their world to being devoured by the Mother of Evil Spirits.

From being trapped in the abyss to guarding the Taichu fragments.

Ten thousand years of time were condensed into these murals.

Shen Zhao looked at them one by one, an unspeakable emotion welling up in his heart.

These were not enemies; these were refugees.

Refugees who had lost their homes, lost their families, and lost everything.

They just wanted to go home.

The Abyss Emperor stood in the center of the palace, his back facing Shen Zhao.

"Human, do you know what the Taichu fragments are?"

"I know."

"It is the very first matter when the Universe was born."

"Possessing the power to reshape the world."

"Then do you know why this seat does not use it himself?"

Shen Zhao shook his head.

The Abyss Emperor turned around, his golden eyes filled with bitterness.

"Because the Taichu fragments require a 'pure Dao Heart' to activate."

"The Abyss Clan has been trapped in the abyss for ten thousand years."

"Their hearts are filled with hatred, pain, and despair."

"Our Dao Hearts are long no longer pure."

"Unable to activate the Taichu fragments."

"So we can only wait."

"Waiting for someone with a pure Dao Heart to come."

"Waiting for someone who can help us go home to come."

Shen Zhao fell silent for a long time.

Then he raised his head, looking into the Abyss Emperor's eyes.

[part:gemini-3.5-flash]

"Senior, this Disciple is willing to try."

The Abyss Emperor looked at him, a gleam flashing in his golden eyes.

"Are you not afraid?"

"I am not."

"Why?"

"Because this Disciple is a guardian."

"Because this Disciple wants to help you."

"Because this Disciple promised those names on the Monument of Heroes."

"To protect the Star Sea, and also protect everyone who needs protecting."

The Abyss Emperor fell silent for a long time.

Then he turned and walked toward the depths of the palace.

"Come with me."

Shen Zhao followed behind the Abyss Emperor, passing through the long corridor of the palace.

At the end of the corridor was a massive stone door.

The stone door was densely carved with runes.

Those runes were exactly the same as the ones on the Seal.

The Abyss Emperor raised his hand and pressed his palm against the stone door.

The stone door slowly opened, revealing the space behind it.

It was a small stone chamber, only ten zhang square.

In the center of the stone chamber, a fist-sized crystal floated.

The crystal was completely transparent, containing endless light within.

The light was very faint, so faint it was almost imperceptible.

But it truly existed, like a lonely star amidst the grayish-black.

The Taichu fragment.

Shen Zhao's heart rate quickened.

He walked up to the crystal and reached out to gently touch it.

The moment his fingertips touched the crystal,

an old and weary voice echoed in his mind.

"Latecomer, you have finally arrived."

Shen Zhao's heart shuddered, and he took a step back.

"Who are you?"

"I am... the Spirit of Taichu."

"No, you are not the Spirit of Taichu."

"The Spirit of Taichu is in the Eternal Forbidden Zone; this Disciple has seen it."

The voice laughed, a laugh filled with immense desolation.

"That was my Clone."

"My true body has always been here."

"Within the Taichu fragment."

"In the deepest part of the Void Abyss."

"Waiting for the true successor."

Shen Zhao was stunned.

The true body of the Spirit of Taichu has always been here?

The Spirit of Taichu in the Eternal Forbidden Zone was only a Clone?

The voice continued.

"Back then, the Three Great Spirits fought a decisive battle against the Mother of Evil Spirits."

"At the cost of my own self, I sealed the Mother of Evil Spirits."

"My Origin was split into two."

"One half remained in the Eternal Forbidden Zone, waiting for someone destined."

"The other half remained in the Taichu fragment to suppress the abyss."

"Now, the Seal is loosening, and the abyss is about to break."

"My power can no longer hold on."

"Latecomer, are you willing to inherit my power?"

Shen Zhao knelt on the ground and bowed deeply to the Taichu fragment.

"This Disciple is willing."

The voice laughed, filled with immense relief.

"Good, very good."

"I have waited ten thousand years for this day."

The Taichu fragment suddenly lit up, turning into countless spots of light.

It poured into Shen Zhao's body.

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

That was the full power of the Spirit of Taichu.

It was the secret of the birth of the Universe, the Origin of all things.

It was the true meaning of creation and destruction.

Shen Zhao closed his eyes and quietly absorbed it.

After an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes.

In his eyes, a Chaos-colored light flashed and vanished.

He stood up and looked at the Abyss Emperor.

The Abyss Emperor knelt on the ground and bowed deeply to him.

"Lord of Taichu."

Shen Zhao was stunned.

"Senior, you..."

"The Taichu fragment has recognized you as its master."

"From this day on, you are the Lord of Taichu."

"The new master of the Abyss Clan."

Shen Zhao quickly helped the Abyss Emperor up.

"Senior, this Disciple does not want to be a master."

"This Disciple only wants to help you."

The Abyss Emperor looked at him, his golden eyes filled with complexity.

"Help us? How?"

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

"This Disciple can use Primordial Power."

"To open up a Small World in the abyss."

"To let you rest in peace."

The Abyss Emperor was stunned.

"Open up a Small World?"

"You... you can do that?"

Shen Zhao nodded and raised his hand.

Primordial Power surged from his palm, turning into a Chaos-colored light.

The light condensed in the Void Realm, turning into a small patch of land.

A sprout grew from the soil, quickly growing into a small tree.

The small tree was not tall, only about a zhang high, but it was glowing.

Looking at the small tree, tears welled up in the Abyss Emperor's eyes.

"It has been ten thousand years."

"We have waited for ten thousand years."

"We have finally waited for this day."

He turned to face the Abyss Clan members hidden within the fragments.

"My people, come out."

"Our savior has arrived."

The fragments cracked open one by one.

Countless Abyss Clan members emerged from the fragments.

There were old people, children, men, and women.

They wore tattered clothes, their faces haggard.

But in their eyes, the light of hope burned.

They knelt in the Void Realm, bowing deeply to Shen Zhao.

"Lord of Taichu."

Looking at these Abyss Clan members, a wave of sadness welled up in Shen Zhao's heart.

He raised his hand, fully circulating his Primordial Power.

Chaos-colored light surged from his body, spreading in all directions.

Wherever the light passed, the Void Realm began to condense.

The fragments began to fuse, and land began to take shape.

Clouds appeared in the sky, and grass grew on the ground.

Rivers flowed, and flowers bloomed.

A brand new Small World was born within the abyss.

Shen Zhao buried the primordial seed into the earth.

The seed sprouted, growing into a small tree.

The small tree grew taller and thicker.

Eventually, it grew into a towering tree.

Its canopy covered the entire sky, and every single leaf was glowing.

The tree of life had taken root in the abyss.

The Abyss Emperor knelt on the ground, looking at this tree, tears streaming down his old face.

"Home... we have a home..."

The Abyss Clan members wept in each other's arms; ten thousand years of waiting.

Ten thousand years of pain, ten thousand years of despair.

At this moment, it was finally over.

Shen Zhao stood beneath the tree of life, looking at these Abyss Clan members.

An unprecedented peace welled up in his heart.

He had done it.

He had helped the Abyss Clan find a new home.

He had helped them find peace.

He turned and looked toward the direction of the Seal.

There, the Seal was still there, and the cracks were still there.

The grayish-black mist was still churning.

But he knew he could use his Primordial Power to reseal the abyss.

Not to Seal the Abyss Clan, but to Seal the Void Realm.

To let the Abyss Clan rest in peace in Guixu.

To keep the Star Sea safe forever.

He took a deep breath and flew toward the Seal.

The Abyss Emperor called out from behind.

"Lord of Taichu, where are you going?"

"To reseal the abyss."

"To let you rest in peace."

"To keep the Star Sea safe."

The Abyss Emperor fell silent for a long time.

Then he knelt on the ground and bowed deeply toward Shen Zhao's retreating figure.

"Lord of Taichu, have a safe journey."

Shen Zhao did not look back, only waving his hand.

He passed through the fragment area, through the grayish-black mist,

and arrived before the Seal.

The runes on the Seal were still dim, and the cracks were still spreading.

He raised his hand, and Primordial Power surged from his palm,

pouring into the Seal.

The runes on the Seal lit up once more.

Gold, silver, and green light intertwined with the Chaos-colored light.

The cracks began to heal, and the grayish-black mist began to dissipate.

The Seal was strengthening, undergoing Rebirth.

Shen Zhao's spiritual energy was rapidly depleting.

His face grew paler and paler, and fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

But he did not stop, because he knew.

He had to complete this Seal.

He had to let the Abyss Clan rest in peace.

He had to keep the Star Sea safe.

He poured his remaining strength into the Seal.

The Seal suddenly blazed, erupting with a dazzling light.

The light illuminated the entire Void Abyss.

It illuminated the Guixu of the Abyss Clan.

It illuminated the edge of the Star Sea.

Then, the light gradually dimmed.

The Seal returned to its original state.

The runes were still flowing, and the light was still flickering.

But it was much stronger and more durable than before.

Shen Zhao slumped in the Void Realm, panting heavily.

His spiritual energy was exhausted, and his Primordial Power was also nearly depleted.

But he smiled, a smile of complete relief.

He had done it.

He had truly done it.

He stood up and took one last look in the direction of the abyss.

There, the Guixu of the Abyss Clan was bathed in the light of the tree of life,

completely peaceful and tranquil.

He turned and flew toward the Star Sea.

Someone was waiting for him there.

There was everything he had sworn to protect.

The spacetime flying boat sped through the Star Sea.

Shen Zhao leaned against the porthole, looking at Yongning City ahead.

It was brightly lit, like countless stars.

He was back, back alive.

Bringing with him the Primordial Power and the gratitude of the Abyss Clan.

Bringing with him his promise to the Star Sea.

The flying boat landed at the Star Port.

Shen Yuan stood there, his white hair fluttering in the wind.

Seeing Shen Zhao step out of the cabin door, his eyes turned red.

"You're back?"

"I'm back."

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"That's good."

Shen Yuan turned and walked toward the Council Hall.

"Let's go. The representatives of all domains are waiting for you."