219: Chapter 219 Seven Reincarnations

Shen Zhao stayed in the Meteor Minor Realm for a full three days.

Every day, he would go to Elder Xuan's stone house and listen to him recount the history of the first six cycles.

Elder Xuan's words were few, but every single one was heavy, like a stone pressing on one's heart.

On the evening of the third day, Shen Zhao came to the stone house for the last time.

Elder Xuan was still sitting on the stone stool, and the tea in front of him had already gone cold.

"Senior, this Disciple will return to Yongning City tomorrow."

Elder Xuan nodded and raised a hand to signal him to sit down.

"Before you leave, this seat will tell you the complete history of the first six cycles."

Shen Zhao sat down upright, just like a student listening to a teacher's lecture.

Elder Xuan raised his hand, and a faint beam of light surged from his palm.

It condensed above the stone table into a huge image.

Within the image was endless Chaos.

Within Chaos, countless points of light floated, and every single point of light was a star.

"The first cycle, the Genesis of Chaos."

Elder Xuan's voice was very soft, as if he were recounting a story from a very, very long time ago.

"At that time, there was no Universe, no sea of stars, and no living beings."

"There was only endless Chaos and boundless nothingness."

"Within Chaos, the first strand of consciousness was born—the Three Great Spirits."

"The Spirit of Chaos, the Spirit of Space-Time, and the Spirit of Causality."

"They created the Universe, created the stars, and created living beings."

"That was the most wonderful moment of the Universe, with no wars, no death, and no pain."

In the image, stars lit up one after another, like countless lamps.

Living beings multiplied on the stars, built cities, and developed civilizations.

Everything was wonderful, and everything was harmonious.

"But good times did not last long."

Elder Xuan's voice grew deep.

"The living beings of the first cycle were too weak to bear the will of the Universe."

"They did not know how to protect, only how to take."

"They frantically mined Spiritual Veins and frantically consumed resources."

"In a mere hundred thousand years, more than half of the Universe's Origin was consumed."

In the image, stars dimmed one after another.

Spiritual Veins dried up, the earth cracked, and living beings became extinct.

"When the cycle ended, the Universe was destroyed."

"The Three Great Spirits used their remaining power to preserve the Origin fragments of the Universe."

"And waited for the next cycle."

The image changed, revealing a huge palace.

Inside the palace, countless figures were busy.

Their figures were tall, their expressions majestic, and spiritual light lingered around their bodies.

"The second cycle, the rise of the first living civilization."

"They called themselves the 'God Race', thinking they were the Dominators of the Universe."

"They learned to Cultivate, learned to create, and learned to control the power of heaven and earth."

"But they were too greedy, wanting to control the Origin of the Universe."

In the image, the Elders of the God Race sat around a huge formation.

In the center of the formation floated a glowing crystal stone—the Universe Origin.

"They attempted to refine the Universe Origin so they could become eternal existences."

"However, the Universe Origin was no ordinary object; how could it be something they could control?"

"The refinement failed, and the Origin backlashed."

In the image, the formation burst apart, scattering light in all directions.

The palace collapsed, and the Elders of the God Race were reduced to ashes.

"Infighting broke out, and the God Race split into several factions."

"They attacked each other and slaughtered one another."

"In a mere tens of thousands of years, the God Race perished."

"The second cycle ended with the destruction of civilization."

The image changed, revealing a giant tree.

The canopy covered the entire Void Realm, and every single leaf was glowing.

The tree roots pierced deep into the Void Realm, as if absorbing the power of the Universe.

Shen Zhao recognized that tree—the tree of life.

"The third cycle, the rise of the Creation God Clan."

Elder Xuan's voice grew a bit gentler.

"Using the tree of life as their Foundation, they created countless living beings."

"Humans, the Yao Race, the Spirit Race... Most races in the sea of stars were created by them."

"They were not greedy, did not engage in infighting, and only knew how to create."

"That was the most prosperous era of the Universe, with living beings spreading across the sea of stars and civilizations blooming in a hundred schools."

In the image, countless living beings multiplied in the sea of stars.

There were cities, villages, laughter, and singing.

"But good times did not last long."

Elder Xuan's voice grew deep again.

"The balance of the Universe was broken."

"With too much creation, destruction would descend."

"The Mother of Evil Spirits was born."

In the image, a giant black shadow emerged from the depths of Chaos.

Its body was like a continent, and its tentacles were like mountain ranges.

Its eyes were like stars, scarlet and terrifying.

"The Mother of Evil Spirits, the source of all evil."

"It devoured everything and destroyed everything."

"The Creation God Clan fought a great battle with it that lasted for hundreds of millions of years."

In the image, countless warriors of the Creation God Clan charged toward the Mother of Evil Spirits.

Sword lights flashed, and spiritual light soared into the sky.

But the Mother of Evil Spirits was too strong; with a wave of its tentacles, thousands of warriors were reduced to ashes.

"In the end, the Creation God Clan paid with their own lives to Seal the Mother of Evil Spirits."

"However, the Creation God Clan also perished."

"The third cycle ended with the sacrifice of heroes."

The image changed, revealing the figures of humans.

They wore coarse cloth garments and held crude weapons.

Their expressions were resolute, and their eyes were filled with yearning for the future.

"The fourth cycle, the rise of the Human Race."

"The progenitors of you humans were born in the fourth cycle."

"They learned to Cultivate, learned to uphold the Dao, and learned to protect."

"But they were too weak to break through the boundaries of the 'Gate'."

In the image, a huge gate stood tall at the edge of the sea of stars.

The gate was engraved with runes, exuding a heart-palpitating pressure.

Countless Cultivators rushed toward that gate, attempting to push it open.

But the gate did not budge at all.

"The Gate is the connection point between the Old Universe and the New Universe."

"Only the Chosen One can push it open."

"In the fourth cycle, there was no Chosen One."

"When the cycle ended, only a few people escaped into the New Universe."

"Most humans perished along with the Old Universe."

The image changed, revealing a familiar figure.

That was a Cultivator wearing a green robe, with a long sword hanging at his waist.

A green lotus was engraved on the sword body.

Shen Zhao's heartbeat quickened.

Progenitor Bai Yunzhou.

"The fifth cycle, the concept of Path Guardianship matured."

Elder Xuan's voice carried a hint of reminiscence.

"The first batch of 'Guardians' appeared, and they established the Guardian Academy."

"Your progenitor, Bai Yunzhou, is a person of the fifth cycle."

In the image, Bai Yunzhou stood before the Monument of Heroes.

Dense names were engraved on the monument.

He knelt before the monument and kowtowed deeply.

"Bai Yunzhou is the Chosen One of the fifth cycle."

"He was very strong, stronger than the Chosen Ones of the previous cycles."

"Yet he still failed."

In the image, six giant black shadows emerged from the Void Realm.

The Grey Devourer Progenitors, six Grey Devourer Progenitors.

They charged toward Bai Yunzhou simultaneously, wanting to devour him.

Bai Yunzhou did not retreat; he burned his Origin and perished together with the six Grey Devourer Progenitors.

"He used his body as a sacrifice to Seal the Ash-Eater Clan."

"However, his Origin scattered, with a part remaining in the Eternal Forbidden Zone and a part remaining in the depths of Chaos."

"The fifth cycle ended with the sacrifice of the Guardian."

Shen Zhao's tears streamed from his eyes.

The progenitor turned out to be a person of the fifth cycle.

He had always been protecting, always fighting.

From the fifth cycle, to the sixth cycle, to the seventh cycle.

He had never given up.

The image changed, revealing the figures of Guardian Lin Jingyun, Path Guardian Ancestor Qin Hao, and Shen Yuan.

And Shen Zhao himself.

"The sixth cycle is the cycle you are in."

"Guardian Lin Jingyun suppresses the abyss forever, and Path Guardian Ancestor Qin Hao uses his body as a formation."

"They are both Guardians, both heroes."

"But the cycle is about to end, and you are the Chosen One of the sixth cycle."

In the image, Shen Zhao stood before the Monument of Heroes, with seven-colored light flowing atop the monument.

He knelt before the monument and kowtowed deeply.

"The sixth cycle is the last time."

Elder Xuan's voice grew heavy.

"In the first five cycles, although the Universe was destroyed, the Origin remained."

"It could still nurture new cycles and have new living beings."

"But the sixth cycle is different."

"If the sixth cycle fails, the Universe will be permanently destroyed."

"There will be no New Universe, and no Rebirth."

"Everything will return to nothingness."

Shen Zhao's hands were trembling.

"Senior, why is the sixth cycle the last time?"

Elder Xuan was silent for a long time.

"Because the Origin of the Universe can only support six cycles."

"The first five cycles consumed most of the Origin."

"The remaining Origin is only enough for the sixth cycle."

"If the sixth cycle fails and the Origin is exhausted, the Universe will completely die."

Shen Zhao clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

"This Disciple will not fail."

Elder Xuan looked at him, his eyes filled with expectations.

"This seat believes in you."

"You are the Chosen One of the sixth cycle and the final hope."

"If you succeed, the Universe will enter a new stage."

"Not destruction and Rebirth, but expansion and Fusion."

"Different seas of stars and different civilizations will eventually Fuse into a larger Universe."

"That is the seventh cycle—the eternal cycle."

Shen Zhao raised his head.

"The eternal cycle? With no end?"

Elder Xuan nodded.

"Correct, with no end."

"Because the Chosen One of the seventh cycle has already succeeded."

"He traded his own Life for the birth of the New Universe."

"He became the Spirit of the New Universe, forever protecting that sea of stars."

Shen Zhao's tears gushed out once more.

That Chosen One was himself.

In his precognition, he saw his own ending.

Using his body as a passage, he would send everyone into the New Universe.

Then he would dissipate and become a part of the New Universe.

"Senior, this Disciple saw it in the precognition."

"This Disciple will use his body as a passage to send everyone away."

"Then dissipate and become a part of the New Universe."

Elder Xuan looked at him, his eyes filled with compassion.

"That is your destiny."

"But you have a choice."

"Become the Spirit of the New Universe, or become the Spirit of the Gate."

"By becoming the Spirit of the New Universe, you will forever watch over them, but you will be unable to touch them."

"By becoming the Spirit of the Gate, you will be forever trapped within the Gate, waiting for a latecomer to replace you."

Shen Zhao was silent for a long time.

"This Disciple does not want to become the Spirit of the Gate."

"This Disciple wants to watch over them and watch them live well."

Elder Xuan nodded.

"Then become the Spirit of the New Universe."

"Although you will be unable to touch them, your power will merge into the New Universe."

"You will become the sun, the stars, the wind, and the rain."

"You will always be by their side."

Shen Zhao wiped away his tears, stood up, and bowed deeply to Elder Xuan.

"Senior, thank you for telling this Disciple these things."

Elder Xuan waved his hand, signaling that he need not be overly courteous.

"Go, there are still many things to do."

"Remember, you are the final hope."

"Do not let down those who believe in you."

Shen Zhao nodded, turned around, and walked out of the stone house.

The sunlight was blinding, causing him to squint his eyes.

In the distance, commoners were busy working in the spiritual fields.

Children chased and played on the field ridges, their laughter crisp and clear.

Everything was as usual, as if nothing had ever happened.

But Shen Zhao knew that everything was different now.

He was the final hope.

He could not fail.

He took a deep breath and walked in the direction of the flying boat.

When he returned to Yongning City, it was already late at night.

Shen Yuan was still busy in the Council Hall.

Seeing him enter, he put down the scrolls in his hands.

"Zhaoer, what did Elder Xuan say?"

Shen Zhao sat down and told his uncle every single word Elder Xuan had said.

After listening, Shen Yuan was silent for a long time.

"Seven Reincarnations... You are the final hope..."

His voice was hoarse, and his eyes were filled with complexity.

Shen Zhao nodded.

"Uncle, this Disciple will not fail."

Shen Yuan looked at him, tears flashing in his eyes.

"Good, good child."

He stood up, walked over to Shen Zhao, and patted his shoulder.

"Uncle believes in you."

Shen Zhao's eye sockets turned red.

But he did not cry.

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

He stood up and walked out of the Council Hall.

The night wind blew past, its chill piercing to the bone.

He stood before the Monument of Heroes, gazing at the seven-colored light atop the monument.

"Seniors, this Disciple has learned the truth of the seven Reincarnations."

"This Disciple is the final hope."

"This Disciple will not fail."

"This Disciple will bring everyone to the New Universe."

"This Disciple will become the Spirit of the New Universe and forever protect you."