234: Chapter 234 The Gate Spirit's Last Advice

On the third day after the seed of breaking the game was planted, Shen Zhao went to the edge of the sea of stars again.

He did not know why he wanted to go; perhaps he wanted to see if the crack had expanded, perhaps he wanted to see if the thousand-zhang-tall giant had moved, or perhaps he just wanted to hear the voice of the Spirit of the Gate.

The Spirit of the Gate said its mission was complete and that it could finally rest, but Shen Zhao always felt that it was not a farewell, but something much deeper.

The spacetime flying boat sped through the sea of stars, with seven-colored light circulating around the hull at the ultimate speed.

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

That crack still spanned across the Void Realm, ten thousand zhang long and a thousand zhang wide. Grayish-white mist continuously poured out from the crack like a cascading waterfall.

In the center of the crack, the seed of breaking the game had grown into a small tree. Its stems and leaves swayed in the Void Realm, and its root system penetrated deep into spacetime, emitting a faint golden light.

It was growing, taking root, and connecting the Old Universe and the New Universe.

The connection between The Designers and this Universe had been severed—at least temporarily.

But Shen Zhao knew this was only the beginning.

The real drama had not yet begun.

That thousand-zhang-tall giant still floated at the edge of the crack. Its entire body was condensed from grayish-white light, its face was blurry, and its eyes were tightly closed as if it were in a deep sleep.

But it was not sleeping; it was simply waiting.

The Spirit of the Gate had said that it did not need to actively do anything, because everything would operate according to its design.

It was "Shi", the first consciousness at the birth of the Universe, the creator of the Three Great Spirits, the creator of the Spirit of Taichu, and the creator of the Spirit of Creation.

It created this Universe and also created The Designers.

It was stronger than anyone else, older than anyone else, and lonelier than anyone else.

Shen Zhao walked out of the cabin door, floating in the Void Realm. The seven-colored light circulated within his body, resisting that suffocating oppressive force.

He walked to the edge of the crack, separated by the small tree, and looked at that thousand-zhang-tall figure.

"Senior, this Disciple has come," he said softly, not knowing whether he was speaking to the Spirit of the Gate or to "Shi".

There was no response.

Only the grayish-white mist surged, and only the light of the seed of breaking the game pulsed.

Shen Zhao waited for a long time, so long that he thought the Spirit of the Gate had truly dissipated.

Then, a voice resounded in his mind.

It was not the voice of the Spirit of the Gate, but another voice—older, deeper, carrying the vicissitudes of piercing through the years.

"Latecomer, you should not come here."

Shen Zhao trembled all over: "You are… Shi?"

The voice was silent for a moment.

"That was a name from a long time ago. Today, this seat is merely the 'Spirit of the Gate'."

The hand of Shen Zhao paused slightly.

The Spirit of the Gate was Shi? Shi was the Spirit of the Gate?

That voice seemed to see through his thoughts and continued speaking.

"This seat is not Shi, this seat is merely a lingering thought of Shi."

Back then, Shi sealed himself in the deepest part of the World Behind the Door; his body turned into the Seal, his power turned into the Origin, and his consciousness split into two.

One half slept in the World Behind the Door, guarding the seed of breaking the game. The other half turned into this seat, guarding this door."

Listening to this, an indescribable emotion surged in the heart of Shen Zhao.

The Spirit of the Gate turned out to be half of the consciousness of Shi.

It had guarded this door for hundreds of millions of years, waiting for someone who could break the game.

Now, that person had come.

"Senior, why did you not tell this Disciple all along?"

The voice of the Spirit of the Gate carried a trace of exhaustion.

"Because if I told you, you would only be more frightened. The power of Shi is too strong, so strong that even this seat feels fear.

If you knew that the existence in the World Behind the Door is Shi, would you still be as brave as you are now?"

Shen Zhao fell silent.

He did not know; he truly did not know.

But he knew that no matter who that existence was, he would still stand here.

Because behind him was the sea of stars, tens of billions of common people, and everything he swore to protect.

"Senior, this Disciple is not afraid."

The Spirit of the Gate smiled, a smile of incomparable desolation.

"No, you are afraid. This seat can feel your fear.

But you still came anyway; this is what makes you different from others. You are afraid, but you do not flinch."

Shen Zhao did not speak, only looking at the small tree in the crack, watching its swaying stems and leaves, and looking at its rooted system.

The Spirit of the Gate continued speaking, its voice filled with reminiscence.

"This seat has lived for hundreds of millions of years and has seen countless people come here.

Some people came for power, some for longevity, and some to escape.

They were all very strong, even stronger than you. But they all failed.

Because the reasons they came here were all for themselves. Only you came for others."

The hand of Shen Zhao paused slightly.

For others?

He had never thought about this question before.

He simply felt that this was his responsibility.

He was the Guardian, the person recognized by the Monument of Heroes, the nephew of his uncle, and the successor of the primordial ancestor.

He had to hold the sea of stars and bring everyone to the New Universe.

This was not a choice; this was a mission.

"Senior, this Disciple merely did what should be done."

The voice of the Spirit of the Gate turned gentle.

"What should be done… Indeed, what should be done.

This seat thought the same way back then, but this seat failed to do it. This seat was too strong, so strong that it was unwilling to let others help.

This seat shouldered everything alone, and then failed alone."

Shen Zhao recalled the words of Elder Xuan—the Chosen Ones of the first five cycles all failed because they were too strong.

Pan, Yi, Nong, Xuanyuan, and Bai Yunzhou—they all shouldered everything alone.

They all failed.

"Senior, this Disciple is not alone."

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

"This seat knows.

This seat sees the people behind you, sees your uncle, sees Director Su Yun, sees the Disciples of the Guardian Academy, sees the Cultivators of various realms, and sees the tens of billions of common people.

They are all behind you, which is why you can walk to this place."

Its voice carried a trace of gratification and also a trace of regret.

"Back then, this seat did not have such luck as you."

Shen Zhao did not know what to say, only quietly floating in the Void Realm, looking at that thousand-zhang-tall figure.

The topic of the Spirit of the Gate suddenly shifted.

"Latecomer, this seat does not have much time left. This seat has a few matters to tell you, so listen well."

The heart of Shen Zhao tightened: "Senior, you…"

The Spirit of the Gate interrupted him.

"This seat is half of Shi's consciousness; after Shi wakes up, this seat will dissipate. This is inevitable and cannot be changed.

This seat does not regret it, because this seat has finally waited for you."

Tears burst from the eyes of Shen Zhao.

"Senior…"

"Do not cry, listen to this seat finish."

The voice of the Spirit of the Gate became solemn.

"The first matter: the main force of The Designers is rushing over.

Although the seed of breaking the game has severed their connection with this Universe, they left marks on the edge of the Universe.

They need time to re-orient, but it will not take too long."

The hand of Shen Zhao paused slightly: "How long?"

The Spirit of the Gate was silent for a moment.

"Perhaps ten years, perhaps fifty years, or perhaps even shorter. It depends on how long your Karma shielding can last."

The heart of Shen Zhao sank.

Ten years was shorter than a hundred years, shorter than fifty years.

He had to take everyone and leave within ten years.

"The second matter: Shi will not actively attack you.

But if you do not leave, when the Universe ends, you will perish along with the Old Universe.

Shi is not your enemy; it is merely the creator of this Universe.

What it wants to reclaim is the universal Origin, not your Life."

The brow of Shen Zhao furrowed.

"Then how should this Disciple distinguish? The universal Origin and Life are inherently one body."

The voice of the Spirit of the Gate was very soft.

"Therefore, you need to take everyone and leave. Go to the New Universe; there is its own Origin there, and it does not need to rely on the Old Universe.

There, you can survive and live well."

Shen Zhao nodded, engraving these words in his heart.

"The third matter, and also the most important matter."

The voice of the Spirit of the Gate became heavy.

"Your uncle, Shen Yuan, cannot hold on for much longer."

The hands of Shen Zhao were trembling slightly.

He knew.

Of course he knew.

His uncle's body was getting worse and worse; his hair was completely white, he needed a cane to walk, his voice was hoarse when he spoke, and his face was pale when he coughed.

The Elder of the Pill Hall had said that his uncle's Origin was already exhausted, and he could hold on for at most three years.

Three years.

Shorter than ten years, shorter than fifty years, shorter than a hundred years.

"Senior, this Disciple knows."

The voice of the Spirit of the Gate carried a trace of compassion.

"You know, but you do not dare to face it. You are afraid that he will leave, afraid that he will not see the New Universe, and afraid that he will not see the day you complete your mission."

Tears gushed out from the eyes of Shen Zhao once more.

"Yes. This Disciple is afraid. This Disciple is extremely afraid."

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

"This seat cannot help you change anything; this seat can only tell you one sentence—in this Life of your uncle, his greatest pride is not his own achievements, but you.

You are his greatest pride. As long as you live, he has not lived in vain."

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm, deeply kowtowing toward that thousand-zhang-tall figure.

"Senior, this Disciple remembers."

He stood up, wiped away his tears, and turned to leave.

The voice of the Spirit of the Gate sounded once more.

"Latecomer, there is one more matter."

Shen Zhao turned back.

"The Origin of your parents—this seat can release them. But the price is that you guard the door for this seat for one year."

The hands of Shen Zhao suddenly paused.

"Senior, you… what did you say?"

The voice of the Spirit of the Gate was very soft.

"This seat says that this seat can release your parents.

You should know that their Origin has always been sealed within the door. This seat is not trapping them; this seat is saving them.

Back then, they broke into the abyss, attempting to seize the Taichu fragment, and were severely injured by the Abyss Emperor.

This seat took their Origin into the door, waiting for you to come and save them."

Tears blurred the vision of Shen Zhao.

"Senior, this Disciple…"

"You do not need to answer this seat now. Go back and think about it, and come again when you have thought it through.

But remember, you only have one year.

One year later, this seat will dissipate.

At that time, the Origin of your parents will also dissipate along with this seat."

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm, deeply kowtowing toward that door.

"Senior, this Disciple understands."

He stood up and returned to the flying boat.

The flying boat lifted into the air, flying in the direction of Yongning City.

Shen Zhao stood before the porthole, gazing at the increasingly distant crack behind him.

In the crack, that thousand-zhang-tall figure still floated there, its eyes tightly closed, and grayish-white mist surged around it.

That small tree swayed in the center of the crack, the golden light intertwining with the grayish-white mist, as beautiful as a dream.

Shen Zhao clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

One year.

He only had one year to make a decision.

Guarding the door for the Spirit of the Gate for one year to save his parents.

Or refuse, watching the Origin of his parents dissipate along with the Spirit of the Gate.

How should he choose?

He did not know.

The flying boat sped through the sea of stars, arriving at Yongning City in less than two hours.

When Shen Zhao stepped off the flying boat, the sky was already growing dark.

The setting sun spilled onto the Monument of Heroes, and the seven-colored light at the top of the monument shone brilliantly in the setting sun.

He walked to the front of the monument and knelt down.

"Seniors, the Spirit of the Gate said it can release this Disciple's parents. The condition is that this Disciple guards the door for it for one year. Should this Disciple agree?"

The light at the top of the monument gently pulsed once.

Shen Zhao waited for a long time, but the light did not pulse again.

He knew that the Seniors would not make the decision for him.

This decision had to be made by himself.

He stood up and walked toward his uncle's small courtyard.

Shen Yuan was sitting on the stone stool in the courtyard, holding a cup of tea that had already gone completely cold in his hands.

His hair was completely white, the wrinkles on his face were deeper, and his gaze was much murkier than before.

But when he saw Shen Zhao enter, he still smiled.

"Zhaoer, you have returned?"

Shen Zhao nodded and sat down opposite his uncle.

"Uncle, this Disciple has a matter he wishes to consult you about."

Shen Yuan put down the teacup and looked into his eyes.

"Speak."

Shen Zhao told his uncle every detail of what the Spirit of the Gate had said.

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

Then, he picked up the teacup and gently took a sip.

The tea was very bitter, so bitter that his brow furrowed.

"Zhaoer, do you know why your parents went to the abyss back then?"

Shen Zhao nodded: "I know. They wanted to enter the New Universe to scout the path for the people of this cycle."

Shen Yuan shook his head, compassion flashing through his eyes.

"No, they were not just scouting the path. They were doing it for you.

They wanted to find a safe home for you in the New Universe before the cycle ended.

They were afraid that you would not be able to survive, afraid that you would suffer, and afraid that you would be alone."

Tears burst from the eyes of Shen Zhao.

His parents did it for him.

Not to let everyone else survive, but to let their child survive.

"Uncle, this Disciple…"

Shen Yuan raised his hand, interrupting him.

"Zhaoer, Uncle will not make the choice for you. But Uncle will tell you one sentence—if your parents have spirits in heaven, they would not wish for you to sacrifice yourself to save them.

Their greatest wish is for you to live well."

Shen Zhao wiped away his tears, his voice hoarse.

"Uncle, this Disciple understands."

He stood up, bowed deeply toward his uncle, and then turned to walk out of the small courtyard.

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

Shen Zhao stood before the Monument of Heroes, gazing at the seven-colored light at the top of the monument.

"Seniors, this Disciple knows how to choose now."

"This Disciple will guard the door for the Spirit of the Gate for one year to rescue his parents."

"Not because they are worthy of being saved, but because they went to the abyss for this Disciple's sake."

"What this Disciple owes them cannot be repaid in this lifetime."

"But this Disciple will use this lifetime to live well."

"This is this Disciple's promise."

He turned around and walked toward the Star Port.

He was going to find the Spirit of the Gate and tell it his choice.

An hour later, the spacetime flying boat rose from the Star Port and sped away in the direction of the edge of the sea of stars.

Shen Zhao stood before the porthole, gazing at the sea of stars ahead.

The seven-colored light circulated around the hull at the ultimate speed.

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

That crack still spanned across the Void Realm, that small tree still swayed, and that thousand-zhang-tall figure was still in a deep sleep.

Shen Zhao walked out of the cabin door, suspended in the Void Realm, and walked to the edge of the crack.

"Senior, this Disciple has thought it through."

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

"Speak."

"This Disciple will guard the door for you for one year. One year later, you will release this Disciple's parents."

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

"You do not regret it?"

Shen Zhao shook his head: "No regrets. This Disciple owes it to them."

The Spirit of the Gate smiled, a smile of incomparable relief.

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

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

Behind the door of light was a hazy, gray space, and countless points of light floated within the space.

Every point of light was a segment of memory, a piece of history, and the trace of a Life.

"Come in. This seat will teach you the method of guarding the door."

Shen Zhao took a deep breath and stepped into the door of light.