241: Chapter 241 Emerging from Seclusion

Shen Zhao knelt before the Monument of Heroes for an entire night.

He did not speak, just knelt quietly, looking at the names on the monument.

The seven-colored light at the top of the monument slowly flowed in the night sky, spilling onto him and enveloping his entire body in a soft halo.

Director Su Yun stood in the distance, neither approaching nor leaving.

She knew that this young man needed solitude.

He needed to speak with those who had already left.

The night of Yongning City was very quiet, quiet enough to hear the sound of the wind blowing past the pillars.

In the distance, the lights of the Guardian Academy went out one by one, and the Disciples went to sleep one after another.

Only this lamp before the Monument of Heroes remained lit forever.

Shen Zhao laid the qinglian sword horizontally across his knees, the qinglian patterns on the sword body glowing faintly under the moonlight.

This sword had followed him for a very long time—perhaps not very long, but that period of years within the gate made the concept of time become hazy and unclear.

He closed his eyes, and the images from within the gate surfaced in his mind.

The grayish-white Void Realm, the floating points of light, and the two Origins of his parents.

And the smile of the Spirit of the Gate when it dissipated.

"Latercomer, this seat's mission is complete. This seat can finally rest."

Shen Zhao opened his eyes and looked up at the seven-colored light at the top of the monument.

Within those seven rays of light, a hint of grayish-white seemed to have been added.

Was that the color of the Spirit of the Gate, or the color of 'Beginning'? He did not know.

But he knew that the Spirit of the Gate had not completely left.

It had simply changed into another way to stay by their side.

Just like those names on the Monument of Heroes.

Dawn had broken.

The first ray of morning light spilled onto the Monument of Heroes, making the names on the monument shine brilliantly.

Director Su Yun walked over from the distance, holding a Jade Slip in her hands, her expression more solemn than usual.

"Shen Zhao, the Investigation Department has urgent intelligence."

Shen Zhao stood up, his knees somewhat numb, but he did not care.

He took the Jade Slip, and his Divine Thought probed into it.

The information in the Jade Slip was very brief, consisting of only one line — "The stronghold of the Shadow Society has been found. It is on the abandoned mineral star in the eastern Star Sea. There is a large amount of intelligence regarding The Designers in the stronghold. Please Patriarch, proceed as soon as possible."

Shen Zhao put away the Jade Slip and looked at Director Su Yun: "This Disciple will go right now."

Director Su Yun did not stop him, merely taking out a new communication talisman from her bosom and handing it to him.

"This was newly refined by the Investigation Department and 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 tucked it into his bosom: "Many thanks, Director Su."

Director Su Yun shook her head, her eye sockets slightly red: "Come back alive. This is an order."

Shen Zhao nodded and turned to walk toward the Star Port.

The spacetime flying boat was still parked there, its silver-white hull shimmering with faint spacetime runes in the morning light.

He boarded the flying boat, the cabin door closed, and the seven-colored light flowed around the hull.

The flying boat slowly rose into the air, flying toward the direction of the eastern Star Sea.

Shen Zhao stood before the porthole, gazing at the shrinking Yongning City below.

Those familiar buildings, those familiar streets and alleys, those familiar faces.

Were all growing distant from him.

But this time, he was not going to his death. He was going to find answers.

The flying boat sped through the Star Sea, the seven-colored light flowing around the hull with extreme speed.

In less than two hours, the flying boat arrived at the eastern Star Sea.

That abandoned mineral star still floated in the Void Realm, its surface pockmarked and filled everywhere with deep pits left behind by mining.

There was no vegetation, no water source, and no signs of Life.

But the seven-colored power sensed weak spiritual Qi fluctuations — not coming from the surface of the mineral star, but from deep within it, from the stronghold of the Shadow Society.

Shen Zhao had the flying boat land on the surface of the mineral star and walked out of the cabin door.

The ground of the mineral star was covered with a thick layer of grayish-white dust, making a rustling sound when stepped upon.

The air was filled with a rotten aura that was nauseating. He circulated the seven-colored power to form a barrier on the surface of his body, isolating that aura.

He walked toward the direction of the spiritual Qi fluctuations, passing through deep pit after deep pit.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, a huge mine cave entrance appeared ahead.

The entrance was very wide, enough to accommodate ten people entering side by side. Inside the cave, it was pitch black, and the bottom could not be seen.

The spiritual Qi fluctuations came precisely from deep within the mine cave.

Shen Zhao took a deep breath and stepped into the mine cave.

The mine cave was very deep. The further inward he walked, the denser that rotten aura became.

On the cave walls, broken runes could occasionally be seen, left behind by miners back then. The runes had already dimmed and lost all power.

After walking for about half an hour, a faint light appeared ahead.

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

Shen Zhao quickened his pace and walked toward that light.

When he passed through the final passage, the scene before his eyes made him halt his steps.

That was a huge underground space, measuring a full hundred zhang in radius.

In the center of the space stood a black altar. The altar stood ten zhang tall, constructed entirely from some unknown black stone material.

The surface of the altar was densely carved with runes, and those runes had already dimmed, clearly having not operated for a very long time.

Around the altar, dozens of skeletons were scattered. Some sat cross-legged, some lay flat on the ground, and some curled up into a ball.

On their bodies, all wore the black robes of the Shadow Society.

The remnants of the Shadow Society. Mo Chen's followers.

After Mo Chen died, they lost their leader, were trapped in this stronghold, and were trapped to death alive here.

Shen Zhao walked up to a skeleton, squatted down, and examined it carefully.

There was a deep crack on the chest of the skeleton, pierced by some kind of Sharp Weapon.

It was not suicide; they were killed by someone.

He stood up and looked around, discovering that most of the skeletons had similar fatal injuries.

Infighting. After Mo Chen's death, infighting broke out within the Shadow Society. No one could leave alive.

Shen Zhao did not look much longer and walked straight toward that black altar.

Although the runes on the altar were dim, parts of their contents could still be recognized.

He raised his hand, and the seven-colored power surged out from his palm, pouring into the altar.

The runes lit up, black light intertwining with the seven colors. A huge image surfaced above the altar.

That was the truth of The Designers civilization.

In the image was a huge tree. It was not the small tree of the World Behind the Door, but a truly giant tree — its canopy covered the entire Void Realm, every leaf was glowing, and its roots plunged deeply into the depths of spacetime. The Souls of countless living beings were imprisoned within the root system, hanging like fruits on the branches.

The tree of civilization.

Shen Zhao's hands were trembling slightly.

This was the device used by The Designers divine power faction to harvest the Universe Origin.

Those imprisoned Souls came from the previous six cycles and countless destroyed worlds. Some of them were humans, some were of the Yao Race, and some were The Designers' own clansmen. Every Soul was wailing, weeping, and waiting for liberation.

The image continued to flow.

In the center of the tree of civilization floated a huge golden crystal core.

The crystal core pulsed continuously; with every beat, points of light were extracted from the root system, merged into the crystal core, and then new energy surged out from the crystal core to be transported back to the giant tree.

This was the operating method of the tree of civilization — absorbing Souls, transforming energy, and maintaining the operation of The Designers civilization.

Those extracted Souls were not dead. They were "asleep". Slumbering within the crystal core, waiting for the day they would be awakened.

Shen Zhao's tears fell silently.

He remembered what Patriarch Bai Yunzhou had said — "The Guardian's mission is to protect all those who need to be protected."

Those Souls imprisoned in the tree of civilization were the ones who needed to be protected.

They had waited for six cycles, waiting for someone who could save them. The Chosen Ones of the first five cycles had all failed.

He could not fail.

Shen Zhao wiped away his tears and continued to check the runes on the altar.

The runes recorded the location of the tree of civilization — it was not in the Star Sea, not in the World Behind the Door, and not in the New Universe. It was in the cracks of the Universe, at the intersection of time and space, and at the source of all existence.

Only the realm-breaking stone could open the door leading to the tree of civilization.

And the realm-breaking stone was in his hands.

Shen Zhao lowered his head, looking at the black crystal stone on his chest. The realm-breaking stone hung there quietly without any reaction.

He reached out to touch it, feeling a cold power surge out from the crystal stone, flowing into his body along his fingertips.

That black figure did not appear.

It was still slumbering, still waiting.

Waiting for him to make the final choice.

Shen Zhao withdrew his hand and continued to check the runes on the altar.

The runes also recorded the organizational structure of The Designers divine power faction — "Lord" was the supreme ruler, possessing seven great arbiters, with each arbiter commanding a legion of The Designers. The scale of the legions was unknown, but it was at least at the million level.

A million-level legion of The Designers.

Shen Zhao's heart sank.

A million, not a million common people, but a million Cultivators. Every single one had the cultivation of the Nascent Soul Stage or above, and every single one was a veteran warrior who had experienced hundreds of battles.

Yet the Realm Guardian Army of the Star Sea Alliance had less than two hundred thousand remaining.

Two hundred thousand versus one million.

How was he to fight?

He had no answer.

But he knew that he must find the answer.

Shen Zhao continued to check the runes and discovered that there was still a hidden piece of information at the deepest part of the altar.

That was not left behind by Mo Chen, but rather an even more ancient existence—perhaps the "Beginning", perhaps the Spirit of the Gate, perhaps the Spirit of the Universe Origin.

The message was very brief, containing only a single line—"The breaker of the deadlock lies not in power, but in the Dao Heart. Those with a pure Dao Heart can shatter all illusions."

Shen Zhao looked at that line of text and remained silent for a long time.

Those with a pure Dao Heart.

Was his Dao Heart pure?

He thought of Xuan Lao's words—"You are afraid, but you do not retreat." He thought of the Spirit of the Gate's words—"You are stronger than this seat. Not stronger in power, but stronger in the Dao Heart." He thought of his uncle's words—"You have always been your uncle's greatest pride."

He stood up and bowed deeply toward that line of text.

Then, he turned around and walked out of the mine cave.

The sunlight was dazzling, and he narrowed his eyes.

The flying boat was still parked there, waiting for him.

He boarded the flying boat and flew in the direction of Yongning City.

Standing in front of the porthole and gazing at the sea of stars ahead, seven-colored light circulated around the hull.

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, Director Su Yun was already waiting at the Star Port. Her complexion was even paler than before, and the bloodshot veins in her eyes were clearly visible.

"Shen Zhao, what is in the stronghold?"

Shen Zhao told Director Su Yun everything he discovered on the altar. The tree of civilization, The Designers' divine power faction, the Seven Arbitrators, and a million-strong legion.

After hearing this, Director Su Yun's complexion turned as pale as paper.

A million-strong legion.

Two hundred thousand against a million.

"Shen Zhao, what should we do?"

Shen Zhao was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "This Disciple will go to the tree of civilization. Break the cage and release those imprisoned Souls. Once The Designers' divine power faction loses its energy source, their legion will be nothing to fear."

Director Su Yun's hands were trembling slightly: "You are going alone?"

Shen Zhao nodded: "Alone. The realm-breaking stone can only carry one person."

Director Su Yun's eye sockets turned red, but she did not cry. She knew that this was the destiny of a Guardian.

"When are you leaving?"

Shen Zhao looked in the direction of the Monument of Heroes: "Three days later. This Disciple is going to the New Universe to see my parents' Origin."

Director Su Yun nodded and said nothing more.

She turned and walked in the direction of the Investigation Department. There were still many things to do, and there was no time to grieve.

Shen Zhao stood on the Star Port, watching her retreating figure, as an indescribable emotion surged in his heart.

He turned around and walked towards the Monument of Heroes.

The seven-colored light at the top of the monument shone brilliantly in the setting sun.

He knelt in front of the monument, placed the qinglian sword horizontally across his knees, and kowtowed deeply.

"Seniors, this Disciple has found the stronghold of the Shadow Society and the location of the tree of civilization. Three days from now, this Disciple will go there to break the cage and rescue those imprisoned Souls."

The light at the top of the monument beat gently, as if responding to him.

Shen Zhao raised his head and looked at that stream of seven-colored light.

"This Disciple does not know if I can return alive. But this Disciple promises that as long as I have a single breath left, I will give it my all."

The light beat once more, becoming even brighter than before.

Shen Zhao kowtowed deeply, then stood up and walked toward his small courtyard.

There were still many things to do, and no time for sentimentality.

Three days later, just as the sky was beginning to grow light.

Shen Zhao stood on the Star Port, facing Director Su Yun and several Elders from the Guardian Academy.

Director Su Yun's eye sockets were very red, but she did not cry. She simply shoved that specially-made communication talisman into Shen Zhao's hand.

"Return alive. This is an order."

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

He turned around, preparing to board the spacetime flying boat.

Director Su Yun's voice came from behind him: "Shen Zhao."

He turned back.

Director Su Yun's lips were trembling slightly: "Your parents' Origin... I will guard it well for you."

Shen Zhao nodded, tears spinning in his eyes, but he did not let them fall.

He turned around and boarded the flying boat.

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

The flying boat slowly rose into the air, flying in the direction of the New Universe.

Shen Zhao stood in front of the porthole, looking down at Yongning City, which was growing smaller and smaller below.

Those familiar buildings, those familiar streets and alleys, and those familiar faces were all growing distant from him.

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

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

He raised his hand and touched it gently.

"spacetime flying boat, target: New Universe."

The crystal core lit up, and the flying boat accelerated, flying towards the New Universe.

The light of the World Behind the Door unfolded before his eyes.

Within that radiance, countless tiny spots of light floated, every single spot of light being a star.

The New Universe was even more vast than he had imagined.

Those stars were slowly rotating, emitting a warm glow.

Tens of billions of common folk lived and worked in peace and contentment right here, building new homes upon those stars.

Shen Zhao had the flying boat decelerate, moving forward slowly.

He was going to New Yongning City to check on his parents' Origin.

The flying boat passed through nebula after nebula, bypassing star after star.

When the outline of New Yongning City appeared in his field of vision, his eyes turned red.

That city was identical to old Yongning City.

The city walls, the grand halls, the Martial Arts Arena, the Scripture Pavilion, the towers of the Investigation Department, and the Monument of Heroes.

They were all built according to the style of old Yongning City.

Director Su Yun had said that this was the sentiment of tens of billions of common folk.

They wanted those fallen heroes to also have a home in the New Universe.

The flying boat landed at the Star Port.

Shen Zhao stepped off the flying boat and saw a person standing in front of the Monument of Heroes.

That was an Investigation Department Disciple left here by Director Su Yun, specifically responsible for guarding his parents' Origin.

Seeing Shen Zhao, she hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "First Ancestor, you have arrived."

Shen Zhao nodded: "Where are this Disciple's parents?"

The Disciple turned and walked toward a secret chamber beside the Monument of Heroes: "Over this way. Director Su gave instructions that no one is allowed to approach. Only when the First Ancestor arrives can it be opened."

Shen Zhao followed behind the Disciple, crossed the plaza in front of the Monument of Heroes, and arrived before the door of the secret chamber.

The door of the secret chamber was sealed by seven-colored runes, which had been personally cast by Director Su Yun.

Shen Zhao raised his hand, and seven-colored power surged from his palm, pouring into the runes.

The Seal was lifted, and the door slowly opened.

Inside the secret chamber, two spots of light floated in the air, beating gently.

One was cyan, carrying the biting chill of Sword Intent. The other was white, carrying the gentle warmth of a Formation.

Shen Zhao walked in and knelt before the two spots of light.

"Father, Mother, this Disciple has come to see you."

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

Their rhythm was even more synchronized than before, like two stars leaning against and depending on each other.

Shen Zhao reached out and gently touched that cyan spot of light.

A warm power surged out from the spot of light, flowing along his fingertips into his body.

He "saw" his father's retreating figure standing in front of the Monument of Heroes.

"I will guard the sea of stars. I will guard Ruoxue, and I will guard Zhao'er."

His tears silently slipped down.

He touched the white spot of light again, and a cool power surged over, like a mother's hand gently stroking his brow.

He "saw" what his mother looked like sitting in the Array Hall, teaching Disciples how to set up defense Formations.

"A Formation is not a dead object; it has Life. You must feel its breathing, feel its pulsation."

His tears dripped onto the spots of light, stimulating the cyan and white lights to shine as brightly as two small suns.

"Father, Mother, three days from now, this Disciple will go to the tree of civilization. To break the cage and rescue those imprisoned Souls. This Disciple does not know if I can return alive, but this Disciple promises that as long as I have a single breath left, I will give it my all."

The cyan spot of light beat hurriedly, as if his father were saying: "Go."

The white spot of light beat gently, as if his mother were saying: "We will wait for you."

Shen Zhao kowtowed deeply, his forehead touching the cold ground.

He sat in the secret chamber for a day and a night.

Talking to his parents, telling his own story, telling his uncle's story, telling the story of the sea of stars.

He spoke of the Martial Arts Arena of the Guardian Academy, the names on the Monument of Heroes, and the morning bell of Yongning City. He spoke of Director Su Yun's Investigation Department, the stronghold of the Shadow Society, and the truth about the tree of civilization.

He spoke a lot, very much.

The spots of light kept beating, as if listening and responding.

Early the next morning, Shen Zhao stood up and took one last look at those two spots of light.

"Father, Mother, this Disciple is leaving. This Disciple will return."

He turned around and walked out of the secret chamber.

The sunlight was dazzling, and he narrowed his eyes.

In the distance, the common folk of New Yongning City were busy at work. Wisps of smoke rose from the breakfast stalls, and the playful sounds of children could be faintly heard.

Everything was so peaceful, so tranquil.

Shen Zhao took a deep breath and walked towards the Star Port.

The flying boat was still parked there, waiting for him.

He boarded the flying boat, the cabin door closed, and seven-colored light circulated around the hull.

The flying boat slowly rose into the air, flying in the direction of the Old Universe.

Shen Zhao stood in front of the porthole, gazing at New Yongning City growing further and further behind him.

Those common folk, those children, those wisps of smoke and laughter.

Were all behind him.

He had to protect them.

No matter what price he had to pay.