232: Chapter 232 The Legend of the Origin Land

On the seventh day after Mo Chen died, Shen Zhao sat alone in front of the Monument of Heroes, holding the Jade Slip found from Mo Chen's Immortal Cave in his hand.

The four words "Land of Origin" recorded in the Jade Slip lingered in his mind constantly.

That was the place where the first consciousness of the Universe was born, hiding the ultimate secret of the Universe Origin.

Only the Chosen One could enter, but those who entered never returned.

Mo Chen had been there, but he did not go deep.

He wrote in his notes — "Deepest within the Land of Origin, there is a slumbering existence. That existence is older than The Designers and more ancient than the Universe itself."

Shen Zhao did not know what that existence was, but he knew there was a method to counter The Designers there.

He had to go.

But he could not go alone; he had promised his uncle that he would not go take risks alone.

He stood up and walked toward the Council Hall.

Shen Yuan was holding a meeting with representatives from various realms. Seeing him enter, everyone fell silent.

Shen Zhao walked to the front of the main seat, his gaze sweeping across the audience.

"This Disciple is going to the Land of Origin."

There was an uproar inside the main hall.

Shen Yuan's hand paused slightly, and his expression instantly turned pale.

"Zhao'er, do you know what you are saying? Only the Chosen One can enter the Land of Origin. Those who enter never return."

Shen Zhao nodded, his voice calm: "This Disciple knows. But there is a method to counter The Designers there. This Disciple must go."

Director Su Yun stood up with a solemn expression: "Shen Zhao, the Investigation Department has checked all ancient texts, and records about the Land of Origin are extremely scarce. We only know it is in the deepest part of the World Behind the Door, surrounded by spacetime turbulence and spatial traps. Going there means nine deaths and a lifetime of survival."

Shen Zhao looked at her with a firm gaze: "This Disciple is not afraid."

Shen Yuan stood up leaning on his cane and walked in front of Shen Zhao.

"Zhao'er, you promised your uncle that you would not go take risks alone."

Shen Zhao was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Uncle, this Disciple is not going alone. This Disciple will bring the qinglian sword, the will of the ancestors, and the blessings of all fallen heroes. This Disciple is not alone."

Shen Yuan looked at him, his eyes full of worry and helplessness.

He knew that once this nephew decided on something, not even nine oxen could pull him back.

Just like Shen Tianxing back then, just like Lin Ruoxue back then.

"Go, Uncle will wait for you to return."

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

Then he stood up and walked toward the Star Port.

Director Su Yun chased after him and stuffed a specially crafted communication talisman into his hand.

"This is a communication talisman newly refined by the Investigation Department, which can pierce through the barrier of the World Behind the Door. If you are in danger, transmit a message immediately."

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

"Many thanks, Director Su."

Director Su Yun shook her head, her eye sockets turning red: "Return alive. This is an order."

Shen Zhao nodded, turned around, and boarded the spacetime flying boat.

The cabin door closed, and seven-colored light circulated around the hull.

The flying boat slowly rose into the air, flying toward the edge of the sea of stars.

Shen Zhao stood in front of the porthole, looking at Yongning City below that was becoming smaller and smaller.

Those familiar buildings, those familiar streets and alleys, and those familiar faces were all moving away from him.

He took a deep breath and turned to walk toward the console.

On the crystal core, those spacetime runes were slowly circulating.

He raised his hand and touched it gently.

"spacetime flying boat, target: World Behind the Door, Land of Origin."

The crystal core lit up, and the flying boat accelerated, speeding toward the edge of the sea of stars.

In less than two hours, the flying boat arrived at the edge of the sea of stars.

That door still stood tall in the Void Realm, and the runes on the door were slowly circulating.

Shen Zhao walked out of the cabin door, suspended in the Void Realm.

Seven-colored light circulated within his body, steady and peaceful.

He walked up to the door and raised his hand to touch it gently.

The voice of the Spirit of the Gate sounded in his mind.

"Latecomer, you have come again. Where are you going this time?"

"Senior, this Disciple is going to the Land of Origin."

The Spirit of the Gate was silent for a long time.

"The Land of Origin... That is the place where the first consciousness of the Universe was born. This seat has been there once, but did not dare to go deep. The spacetime turbulence there is a hundred times stronger than the Time Labyrinth. The spatial traps there are a thousand times denser than the spatial fragment area. The ancient Restrictions there cannot even be deciphered by this seat."

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly.

Ancient Restrictions that even the Spirit of the Gate could not decipher.

As a Cultivator at the Late Stage of Nascent Soul, would he be able to manage?

The Spirit of the Gate seemed to see through his thoughts.

"Latecomer, you are not alone. You have seven powers within your body, and the wills of the Chosen Ones from the first five cycles. You are stronger than this seat. Places where this seat cannot go, you can go."

Shen Zhao nodded, a flash of determination in his eyes.

"Senior, this Disciple is going."

The Spirit of the Gate said nothing more.

The runes on the door lit up, and a light door opened in front of Shen Zhao.

Behind the light door was an endless brilliance.

Shen Zhao took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Passing through the light door, he came to that world of brilliance once again.

In the brilliance, countless tiny light spots floated, and every light spot was slowly rotating.

He flew toward the depths of the brilliance, flying further and further away.

Those light spots swept past him like countless stars.

Not knowing how long he had flown, a huge light screen appeared ahead.

The light screen was pale golden, with countless dense runes circulating on its surface.

Those runes were ancient and profound, more complex than any runes Shen Zhao had ever seen.

The entrance to the Land of Origin.

Shen Zhao walked up to the light screen and raised his hand to touch it gently.

At the very moment his fingertips touched the light screen, a terrifying power surged out from the light screen, knocking him flying.

He was shaken back several hundred zhang, and fresh blood overflowed from his mouth.

Such a strong Restriction.

He wiped the fresh blood from the corner of his mouth and walked up to the light screen once again.

This time, he did not touch it with his hand, but closed his eyes and used the seven-colored power to perceive it.

Primordial Power, Power of Chaos, Power of Space-Time, Karma Power, Life Power, Power of Dao Protection, End Force.

Seven kinds of power surged out from his body, resonating with the runes on the light screen.

The runes on the light screen began to flicker, and the pale golden light grew brighter and brighter.

Shen Zhao perceived the meaning of those runes.

"Primordial as the Origin, Chaos as the form, space-time as the flow, Karma as the chain, Life as the root, Dao protection as the heart, and ending as the return. Only when the seven powers unite can one enter this door."

He opened his eyes, and the seven powers condensed in his palm, transforming into a seven-colored light sword.

The light sword slashed toward the light screen, and a gap split open on the light screen.

Shen Zhao turned sideways and squeezed into the gap.

The world behind the light door was completely different from what he had imagined.

There was no light, no light spots, only endless darkness.

In the darkness, countless huge stone tablets floated.

Every stone tablet was a hundred zhang high, pitch-black throughout, and its surface was carved with dense runes.

The runes were slowly circulating, emitting a faint glow.

Shen Zhao walked up to the first stone tablet and looked at the runes on it.

Those runes were ancient, so ancient that they were not even recorded in the ancient texts of the Guardian Academy.

But he could understand them because the power within the runes shared the same Origin as the seven powers within his body.

"Primordial Power is the basis of the Universe. It is the source of all things and the ancestor of all methods."

Shen Zhao recited the contents of the runes, and a burst of enlightenment surged in his heart.

This was the record left behind by "Pan", the Chosen One of the first cycle.

He continued walking forward and came to the second stone tablet.

"Power of Chaos is the form of the Universe. Yin and Yang give birth to each other, and all things restrain one another."

The record of "Yi", the Chosen One of the second cycle.

The third stone tablet: "Power of Space-Time is the flow of the Universe. Past and future are both the present."

The record of "Nong", the Chosen One of the third cycle.

The fourth stone tablet: "Karma Power is the chain of the Universe. All matters and things are interconnected."

The record of "Xuanyuan", the Chosen One of the fourth cycle.

The fifth stone tablet: "Life Power is the root of the Universe. Endless and unceasing, cycling back and forth."

The record of "Bai Yunzhou", the Chosen One of the fifth cycle.

Shen Zhao knelt in front of Bai Yunzhou's stone tablet and kowtowed deeply.

"Ancestor, this Disciple has come to see you."

The runes on the tablet jumped gently, as if responding to him.

He stood up and continued walking forward.

The sixth stone tablet, the seventh stone tablet, the eighth stone tablet.

Every stone tablet recorded the essence of a power.

When he walked up to the ninth stone tablet, he stopped his footsteps.

This stone tablet was different from the other stone tablets.

It was not black, but white, snow-white throughout, emitting a soft glow.

There was only a line of words on the tablet.

"The seventh cycle, no Chosen One. The one who breaks the game comes from the sixth cycle."

Shen Zhao's hands were trembling slightly.

The one who breaks the game comes from the sixth cycle.

It was talking about him.

He walked up to the stone tablet and raised his hand to touch it gently.

The stone tablet lit up, and white light enveloped him.

An aged and weary voice sounded in his mind.

"Latecomer, you have finally come."

Shen Zhao felt a chill in his heart: "Who are you?"

"This seat, Spirit of the Universe Origin. The first consciousness, the source of all things."

Shen Zhao trembled all over.

Spirit of the Universe Origin, the first consciousness, the source of all things.

Older than the Spirit of Creation, stronger than the Spirit of Ending.

"Senior, have you been waiting for Disciple?"

"Yes. This seat has waited for six cycles, waiting for someone who can break the game. The Chosen One of the first five cycles all failed. They were too strong, so strong that they were unwilling to let others help. You are different; you are willing to let others help you. Therefore, this seat chose you."

Shen Zhao was silent for a moment.

"Senior, why did The Designers want to create this Universe?"

The voice of the Spirit of the Universe Origin carried a trace of compassion.

"It is not for creation, but for harvesting. They need the Origin to sustain their own civilization. Every time they harvest the Origin of one cycle, their civilization can continue for ten thousand years. For six cycles, they have already harvested six times. The seventh cycle is the last time. Once harvested, this Universe will be completely destroyed."

Shen Zhao's fists clenched tightly, cracking audibly.

Harvesting.

So, they were not experimental subjects, but fuel.

"Senior, what should Disciple do?"

"Find the 'seed of breaking the game' in the deepest part of the Land of Origin. That is a seed condensed by this seat using the Origin of six cycles. Planting it can cut off the connection between The Designers and this Universe. By then, The Designers will no longer be able to locate this place. You will be able to safely enter the New Universe."

Shen Zhao nodded.

"Where is the seed of breaking the game?"

"In the deepest part of the Land of Origin, in the hands of that sleeping entity."

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly.

The sleeping entity.

Mo Chen's notes had mentioned it, and the New Universe consciousness had also mentioned it.

It was older than The Designers, and more ancient than the Universe itself.

"Senior, what is that entity?"

The Spirit of the Universe Origin was silent for a long time.

"It is the Clone of this seat, and also the shackles of this seat. Back then, in order to create this Universe, this seat split itself into two. One half stayed here and became the Spirit of the Universe Origin. The other half entered a deep slumber and guarded the seed of breaking the game. It has no consciousness, only instinct — guarding. Anyone who approaches will be attacked by it."

Shen Zhao's heart sank.

Anyone who approaches will be attacked by it.

It doesn't even recognize the Clone of the Spirit of the Universe Origin.

"Senior, how can Disciple get the seed of breaking the game?"

"Prove your Dao Heart. Make it recognize you. Let it know that you are not here to destroy, but to save."

Shen Zhao was silent for a long time.

Then he nodded.

"Disciple understands."

He turned around and walked towards the deepest part of the Land of Origin.

The deeper he went, the thicker the darkness became.

Those stone tablets became fewer and sparser.

Replaced by a suffocating sense of oppression.

It was as if something was watching him in the darkness.

Shen Zhao gripped the qinglian sword tightly, and the seven-colored power circulated within his body.

He walked for a long time, so long that he forgot about time.

Finally, a faint light appeared ahead.

That light was very faint, so faint that it was almost imperceptible, but it was particularly eye-catching in the darkness.

He quickened his pace and walked toward that light.

When he passed through the last streak of darkness, the scene before him made him stop.

That was a huge space, fully a thousand zhang in radius.

In the center of the space, a fist-sized seed was suspended.

The seed was completely transparent, containing endless light inside.

The seed of breaking the game.

And beneath the seed, a figure sat cross-legged.

That was a giant, standing a hundred zhang tall, its entire body condensed from grayish-white light.

Its face was blurry and indistinct, with only a pair of eyes clearly visible.

That pair of eyes was huge, resembling two stars.

There were no pupils in the eyes, only endless light.

The sleeping entity.

The Clone of the Spirit of the Universe Origin.

It had its eyes closed, as if in a deep sleep.

But Shen Zhao could feel that its aura was very strong, so strong that even his seven-colored power felt palpitation.

He slowly approached, stepping very lightly, afraid of waking it up.

But when he walked to a distance of a hundred zhang from the seed, the giant's eyes suddenly opened.

That pair of eyes stared at Shen Zhao, with no emotion in them, only scrutiny.

"Who are you?"

The voice rang in Shen Zhao's mind, deep and hoarse.

Shen Zhao bowed and saluted: "Disciple Shen Zhao, I have come for the seed of breaking the game."

The giant was silent for a long time.

"The seed of breaking the game is what this seat guards. Only someone with a pure Dao Heart can take it away. Is your Dao Heart pure?"

Shen Zhao thought for a moment and replied honestly: "Disciple does not know. Disciple just wants to do what should be done."

The light in the giant's eyes flickered slightly.

"What do you want to do?"

"Guard. Guard the sea of stars, guard the common people, guard everyone who needs to be guarded."

The giant was silent for a long time.

Then, it slowly stood up.

The hundred-zhang-tall body blotted out the sky and sun, casting a huge shadow.

"Prove it to this seat."

It raised its hand, and a grayish-white light gushed out from its palm, turning into a giant sword of light.

The sword of light slashed directly at Shen Zhao.

Instead of retreating, Shen Zhao advanced, and the qinglian sword was unsheathed.

The seven-colored sword Qi collided with the grayish-white sword of light, bursting out dazzling sparks.

Shen Zhao was forced back dozens of zhang, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth.

Such formidable power.

The giant did not give him a chance to catch his breath, and the sword of light slashed down again.

This time, Shen Zhao did not take it head-on, but dodged sideways.

The sword of light slashed into the Void Realm, tearing open a huge crack.

From the crack, spacetime turbulence surged out, tearing everything around to shreds.

Shen Zhao gritted his teeth, erupting with all his seven-colored power.

The qinglian sword slashed out, and the seven-colored sword Qi turned into a ten-thousand-zhang giant dragon, lunging straight at the giant.

The giant dragon opened its huge mouth, biting towards the giant's arm.

The giant raised its hand, and with a gentle squeeze, crushed the giant dragon into pieces.

The fragments of sword Qi scattered in all directions, turning into countless specks of light that dissipated.

Shen Zhao was shaken back by the backlash, vomiting blood once more.

His complexion was as pale as paper, and more than half of the seven-colored power in his body had been consumed.

But he did not fall down, because he could not fall down.

He had promised his uncle that he would return alive.

He had promised Director Su that he would return alive.

He had promised the Disciples of the Guardian Academy that he would return alive.

He had promised those names on the Monument of Heroes to guard the sea of stars.

"Come again!"

He rushed towards the giant again, the qinglian sword slashing out.

This sword strike condensed all of his power.

The seven-colored sword Qi turned into a ten-thousand-zhang longsword, piercing straight between the giant's eyebrows.

The giant raised its hand, blocking between its eyebrows.

The longsword pierced through its palm, and grayish-white blood gushed out.

The giant let out a muffled grunt, a trace of surprise flashing in its eyes.

"Not bad. This seat has seen your Dao Heart."

It withdrew its hand, and the light in its eyes became gentle.

"Go, take the seed of breaking the game. Use it to cut off the connection with The Designers. Save the people you want to save."

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm, kowtowing deeply to the giant.

"Many thanks, Senior."

He stood up, walked to the seed of breaking the game, and reached out to gently grasp it.

The seed felt warm to the touch, and the light inside slowly circulated.

He felt an unprecedented power.

That was the power condensed from six cycles and countless heroic martyrs.

It was hope, the future, and the key to breaking the game.

He put the seed into his arms, turned around, and walked back the way he came.

Behind him, the giant's voice rang out once more.

"Latecomer, this seat's mission is complete. Thank you for granting this seat release."

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

He passed through the darkness, through the stone tablets, and through the light barrier.

When he stepped out of the Land of Origin, the voice of the Spirit of the Gate rang in his mind.

"Latecomer, you did it."

Shen Zhao nodded, his voice hoarse: "Disciple has obtained the seed of breaking the game."

The Spirit of the Gate was silent for a long time.

"Good, very good. This seat has waited for this day for far too long."

Shen Zhao returned to the flying boat and flew towards Yongning City.

Standing in front of the porthole, he gazed at the sea of stars ahead.

Seven-colored light circulated around the hull of the boat, moving at an extreme speed.

In less than two hours, the flying boat arrived at Yongning City.

Shen Yuan stood on the Star Port, his white hair fluttering in the wind.

Seeing Shen Zhao walk out of the cabin door, he let out a long breath of relief.

"You're back?"

"I'm back."

"Got it?"

"Got it."

Shen Yuan nodded, turned around, and walked toward the Council Hall.

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