239: Chapter 239 Shen Yuan's Last Moments

When the communication talisman lit up once again, Shen Zhao was nurturing his parents' Origin.

The cyan light spots and white light spots gently pulsated in his palm, resembling two interdependent stars.

He had already grown accustomed to this rhythm—every morning, the communication talisman would light up, and Director Su Yun's voice would come through, telling him about his uncle's condition.

Sometimes it was good news, and sometimes it was bad news, but regardless of whether it was good or bad, at least his uncle was still alive.

As long as he was alive, there was hope.

Shen Zhao thought to himself.

He reached out to pick up the communication talisman, infusing a trace of seven-colored power into it, and the Talisman lit up.

But this time, the voice that came through was not Director Su Yun's.

It was Shen Yuan's.

"Zhao'er."

Shen Yuan's voice was even weaker than yesterday, so faint that it was almost inaudible, as if it were coming from a very, very distant place.

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly, his heart tightening abruptly.

"Uncle, this Disciple is here."

Shen Yuan smiled, his laughter very light, as faint as a candle flame about to be extinguished in the wind.

"Zhao'er, Uncle wants to talk with you."

Tears welled up and spilled from Shen Zhao's eyes, but his voice remained calm: "Uncle, this Disciple is listening."

Shen Yuan fell silent for a moment, seemingly gathering his strength to speak.

"Zhao'er, do you still remember when Uncle first took you to the Monument of Heroes when you were a child?"

Shen Zhao nodded, his tears dripping onto the light spots in his palm, causing the cyan and white lights to pulsate slightly.

"I remember. The year this Disciple turned five, Uncle said that we must remember these names."

Shen Yuan acknowledged with a hum: "You knelt for the entire night. Uncle stood behind you and accompanied you for the entire night."

"You asked Uncle, 'Are they all gone?' Uncle said, 'They are all here, in the heavens, in the sea of stars, and in every place that needs a Guardian.'"

"You didn't understand, but you didn't ask again. You just knelt there, looking at the names on the monument."

"At that time, Uncle thought to himself that this child would definitely become a Guardian in the future."

Shen Zhao's tears flowed uncontrollably.

Uncle had never said these words before.

He only knew that Uncle was strict with him, demanding that he Cultivate, memorize texts, and practice swordplay, never allowing him to relax.

He had thought that Uncle was unsatisfied with him and that he wasn't doing well enough.

Turns out, Uncle had always been proud of him.

"Uncle, this Disciple..."

Shen Yuan interrupted him. Although his voice was weak, it carried an unquestionable firmness.

"Zhao'er, let Uncle finish speaking. Uncle is afraid... afraid there won't be a chance later on."

Shen Zhao's heart sank abruptly, as if tightly gripped by an invisible hand.

"Uncle, please don't say things like that. You can still live for a very long time; this Disciple is going to take you to the New Universe and show you New Yongning City."

Shen Yuan smiled, his laughter carrying a trace of bitterness.

"Zhao'er, Uncle knows his own body. I can't hold on for many more days."

"Uncle is not afraid of death. Uncle is only afraid... afraid of not being able to see you for one last time."

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm, his forehead touching the illusory ground as his tears fell drop by drop.

Every single drop landed on the light spots in his palm, and the cyan and white lights were stimulated by the tears, glowing as bright as two small suns.

"Uncle, this Disciple will return very soon. There are still... still a few months left. You must wait for this Disciple."

Shen Yuan did not answer, only letting out a soft sigh.

"Zhao'er, Uncle has a few things to tell you. Remember them well."

Shen Zhao wiped away his tears, straightened his body, and said with a hoarse voice: "This Disciple remembers."

Shen Yuan took a deep breath, his voice becoming a bit clearer than before, as if it were a flash of lucidity before death.

"The first matter: the Shadow Society has not been completely purged yet. Mo Chen is dead, but his remnants are still around."

"The Investigation Department has already found that stronghold. Inside, there is a massive amount of intelligence regarding The Designers."

"Director Su Yun will send people to retrieve it. Once you get that intelligence, you will know how to deal with The Designers."

Shen Zhao clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white: "This Disciple remembers."

"The second matter: how long will your parents' Origin need to be nurtured before they can condense a Physical Body?"

Shen Zhao lowered his head to look at the two light spots in his palm: "This Disciple does not know. Perhaps a few years, perhaps several decades."

"But this Disciple will keep nurturing them until they wake up."

Shen Yuan acknowledged with a hum: "Ruoxue is afraid of the cold, so channel more Life Power to her. As for your father's stubborn temper, don't copy him."

Shen Zhao nodded, tears welling up once again: "This Disciple remembers."

"The third matter." Shen Yuan's voice grew weak again, as if the previous clarity had merely been a final burst of vitality.

"Zhao'er, promise Uncle that no matter what difficulties you encounter, you must not shoulder them all by yourself."

"You have Director Su Yun, the Disciples of the Guardian Academy, the Cultivators of various realms, and tens of billions of commoners."

"You are not alone."

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm and deeply kowtowed: "This Disciple remembers."

Shen Yuan smiled, his laughter carrying a trace of relief.

"Good, good child."

"Zhao'er, Uncle is tired. Uncle is going to sleep for a while."

"You... you must do well within the sect."

The communication talisman dimmed.

Holding that Talisman which had already lost its glow, Shen Zhao did not move for a long time.

The light spots in his palm pulsated gently, the cyan and white lights intertwining to illuminate his tear-stained face.

He lowered his head to look at those two light spots and said softly.

"Father, Mother, Uncle... he is not going to make it."

The cyan light spot pulsated hurriedly, as if his father were urging him: "Go back and see him."

The white light spot pulsated gently, as if his mother were comforting him: "Child, be stronger."

Shen Zhao shook his head, his tears dripping onto the light spots.

"This Disciple cannot return. The sect cannot be left without someone guarding it."

"This Disciple can only stay here and pray for him."

He closed his eyes, and seven-colored power surged out from his body, infusing into the communication talisman.

The communication talisman lit up, but no one responded on the other side.

He infused even more power, and the glow of the communication talisman grew brighter and brighter.

Still, no one responded.

An ominous premonition surged in his heart, resembling the dead silence before a storm.

"Director Su, Director Su, can you hear me?"

There was no response.

Only the faint glow of the communication talisman flickered in the grayish-white Void Realm.

Like a heartbeat, like a breath, like a person quietly waiting in the darkness.

Shen Zhao gripped the communication talisman tightly, his fingernails digging into his palms as fresh blood dripped down between his fingers.

He dared not infuse any more power, fearing that the communication talisman would shatter if it couldn't bear the strain.

But he dared not stop, afraid of missing any news.

Just like that, he held the communication talisman and sat in the Void Realm for the entire night.

The light spots in his palm kept pulsating, the cyan and white interweaving as if his parents were keeping him company.

After a long while, the communication talisman finally lit up.

Director Su Yun's voice came through, carrying an uncontrollable sobbing tone.

"Shen Zhao, your uncle... he is gone."

Shen Zhao's hand abruptly paused, and the communication talisman almost slipped from his palm.

His mind went blank; he could no longer hear any sounds.

Only Director Su Yun's words echoed over and over again.

"Your uncle... he is gone."

Gone.

Where did he go?

Did he go to the Monument of Heroes?

Did he go to reunite with his grandfather?

Or... was he simply tired and wanted to rest?

"Shen Zhao, Shen Zhao, can you hear me?"

Director Su Yun's voice carried anxiety, worry, and endless sorrow.

Shen Zhao opened his mouth, but his throat felt as if it were blocked by something, unable to squeeze out a single word.

He knelt in the Void Realm, lowering his head to look at the two light spots in his palm.

The cyan light spot no longer pulsated, and the white light spot no longer pulsated either.

They lay quietly in his palm, as if also observing a moment of silent mourning.

After a very long time, so long that Director Su Yun thought he wouldn't speak again.

Shen Zhao finally spoke, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible.

"When Uncle... left, what did he say?"

Director Su Yun fell silent for a moment, her voice carrying a trace of trembling.

"He said, 'Tell Zhao'er that Uncle is waiting for him at the Monument of Heroes.'"

Tears burst from Shen Zhao's eyes. This time, he did not suppress them, nor did he hold back.

He knelt in the Void Realm, hugging the communication talisman, and wailed loudly.

He cried like a child, as if trying to cry out twenty years of grievances, pain, and longing.

The cyan light spot pulsated softly once, and the white light spot also pulsated softly once.

As if his parents were holding him and gently patting his back.

"Child, cry. It will be better once you let it out."

After crying for who knows how long, Shen Zhao finally raised his head and wiped away his tears.

His eyes were red and swollen, and his voice was hoarse, but his gaze was even firmer than before.

"Director Su, Uncle's spirit tablet..."

Director Su Yun picked up the thread: "It has already been placed beneath the Monument of Heroes. Placed side by side with your grandfather and your parents."

"Representatives from various realms have all come to pay their respects. The Disciples of the Guardian Academy knelt for the entire night."

"Your uncle... departed peacefully. He was holding your amulet in his hand, with a smile at the corner of his mouth."

Shen Zhao's tears welled up again, but the corners of his mouth curved upward slightly.

When Uncle left, he was holding his amulet.

That was something Uncle had prayed for him when he was a child.

He had thought it was long lost, but turns out Uncle had been keeping it all along.

"Director Su, that amulet..."

Director Su Yun's voice was very soft: "It has been placed before your uncle's spirit tablet. You can look at it when you return."

Shen Zhao nodded, even though Director Su Yun couldn't see it.

"Okay."

The communication talisman fell silent for another moment.

Director Su Yun's voice came through again, carrying a trace of hesitation.

"Shen Zhao, before your uncle passed away, he left behind one final sentence."

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly: "What sentence?"

Director Su Yun took a deep breath and said word by word.

"He said, 'Zhao'er, do not grieve for Uncle. Uncle has no regrets in this Life.'"

"He said, 'Uncle's greatest pride is not becoming the Guardian Patriarch, but raising you up.'"

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm, kowtowing deeply toward the direction of Yongning City.

His forehead touched the illusory ground without making a sound, but his sentiments had already been transmitted far away.

"Uncle, this Disciple remembers."

"This Disciple will not let you down."

He straightened his body, tucked the communication talisman into his robes, and then lowered his head to look at the two light spots in his palm.

The cyan light spot and the white light spot began to pulsate once again.

Their rhythm was different from before—slower and steadier.

As if telling him—Life was simply like this, full of ups and downs, laughter and tears.

"Father, Mother, Uncle is gone."

"This Disciple couldn't go back to see him for his final glance."

"This Disciple is unfilial."

The cyan light spot pulsated hurriedly, as if his father were saying: "No, you are very filial."

The white light spot pulsated gently, as if his mother were saying: "Your uncle won't blame you."

Shen Zhao smiled, but his tears flowed uncontrollably.

He pressed the two light spots against his chest, closed his eyes, and felt their warmth.

That was his parents' power, and also his uncle's power.

They were all by his side, never having left.

Time within the sect continued to pass.

Every day, he would still contact Director Su Yun, but the topics had changed.

No longer was it about his uncle's condition, but rather the Shadow Society's stronghold, the movements of The Designers, and the construction of the New Universe.

Director Su Yun said that the Investigation Department had already found that stronghold, and inside there was a massive amount of intelligence regarding The Designers.

Shen Zhao said that once he came out, he would go take a look.

Director Su Yun said that the Spiritual Vein of the New Universe was becoming increasingly stable, and the commoners had already settled down.

Shen Zhao said, good, very good.

Director Su Yun said that the Disciples of the Guardian Academy missed him very much, and they prayed for him in front of the Monument of Heroes every day.

Shen Zhao's tears welled up once again, but his voice remained calm.

"This Disciple will return very soon."

On this day, the communication talisman lit up, and Director Su Yun's voice carried a trace of puzzlement.

"Shen Zhao, the Investigation Department found a letter inside the Shadow Society's stronghold."

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly: "Who wrote it?"

Director Su Yun fell silent for a moment: "Your uncle."

Shen Zhao's heart leaped abruptly.

Uncle's letter?

"What is written in the letter?"

Director Su Yun took a deep breath and slowly spoke.

"The letter is written to you."

"He said, 'Zhao'er, if you see this letter, it means Uncle is no longer around.'"

"He said, 'Do not grieve, nor should you blame yourself. Uncle has no regrets in this Life.'"

"He said, 'Your parents went to the abyss back then, not to scout the path, but to protect you.'"

"He said, 'Mo Chen knew you were the Chosen One and wanted to kill you before you grew up. To draw away his attention, your parents intentionally exposed themselves and went to the abyss.'"

"He said, 'They did not die at the hands of the Abyss Clan, but rather at the hands of Mo Chen.'"

"He said, 'Uncle investigated for a long time and finally uncovered the truth. But Uncle dared not tell you, fearing that you would act rashly and go seek a desperate fight with Mo Chen all by yourself.'"

"He said, 'Now that you have sufficient strength, it is time for you to know the truth.'"

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm, his tears blurring his vision.

His parents went to the abyss precisely to protect him.

Not to scout the path, not to take risks, but to protect him.

They traded their own lives for his Life.

"Shen Zhao, are you still there?" Director Su Yun's voice carried worry.

Shen Zhao wiped away his tears, his voice hoarse: "This Disciple is here."

"You... are you alright?"

Shen Zhao shook his head, even though Director Su Yun couldn't see it: "This Disciple is fine."

He tucked the communication talisman back into his robes and lowered his head to look at the two light spots in his palm.

The cyan light spot and the white light spot pulsated gently, even brighter than before.

"Father, Mother, this Disciple knows now."

"This Disciple knows why you went to the abyss."

"This Disciple knows that you did it to protect this Disciple."

The cyan light spot pulsated hurriedly, as if his father were saying: "Do not blame yourself."

The white light spot pulsated gently, as if his mother were saying: "This was our choice."

Shen Zhao's tears welled up again, but he did not cry out loud.

He pressed the two light spots against his chest, closed his eyes, and said softly.

"This Disciple will not blame himself. This Disciple will only feel gratitude toward you."

"Grateful that you gave this Disciple Life, and grateful that you sacrificed yourselves to protect this Disciple."

"This Disciple will live well, living for you and living for Uncle."

"This is this Disciple's promise."

The cyan light spot lit up once, and the white light spot also lit up once.

Then, they simultaneously pulsated three times, as if saying: "We believe in you."

Shen Zhao opened his eyes and placed the light spots back into his palm.

In his eyes, there was no longer sadness or self-blame, only firmness.

Uncle was gone, and his parents were still in slumber.

But he was not alone.

He had them, Director Su Yun, and the Disciples of the Guardian Academy.

He had tens of billions of commoners, and countless people who believed in him, supported him, and cherished him.

He had to live on for their sake.

To guard the New Universe for them, and to find a way to deal with The Designers for them.

To complete... Uncle's unfinished mission for them.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and continued nurturing his parents' Origin.

The seven-colored power surged out from his palm, splitting into two streams and infusing into the cyan and white light spots.

The light spots grew brighter and brighter, and the frequency of their pulsation became increasingly synchronized.

Resembling a pair of dancers gracefully dancing in the darkness.

Resembling a pair of parents watching over their child.

The years within the sect continued to pass.

But he knew that the day of his return was drawing closer and closer.

Uncle was waiting for him at the Monument of Heroes.

His parents' Origin was being nurtured in his palm.

He could not let them down.