247: Chapter 247 The Shadow of Beginning

The figure of the Shadow of Beginning floated before the main trunk of the giant tree, black light intertwining with the gold of the tree crown to form a bizarre yet magnificent scene.

Shen Zhao floated before it, seven-colored light circulating across his body to resist the oppressive pressure emitted by the giant tree.

That pressure was very strong, so strong that his breathing was somewhat difficult, but he did not step back.

"Six cycles."

The voice of the Shadow of Beginning was very soft, as soft as a sigh, yet it clearly entered Shen Zhao's ears.

"This seat has waited for six cycles, waiting for a person with a pure Dao Heart."

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly, looking into those golden eyes.

"Have you seen the Chosen Ones of the first five cycles?"

The Shadow of Beginning nodded, a trace of complex emotion flashing in its eyes.

"I have seen them. Pan, Yi, Nong, Xuanyuan, and Bai Yunzhou, this seat has seen them all."

"They all came here, and they all tried to break the cage and rescue those Souls."

"But they all failed."

Shen Zhao's brows furrowed.

"Why did they fail?"

The Shadow of Beginning was silent for a moment, then raised its hand, and a streak of black light surged from its palm.

It condensed into a huge image in the Void Realm.

In the image, "Pan", the Chosen One of the first cycle, stood before the giant tree, holding a giant axe and hacking at the trunk with all his might.

The giant axe hacked onto the trunk, sparking dazzling sparks.

A shallow crack appeared on the trunk, but it healed instantly.

"Pan's power was very strong, strong enough to split stars."

"But he was too strong, strong to the point of not trusting anyone."

"He came here alone, fought alone, and fell alone."

"After he died, his body turned into mountains and rivers, his blood turned into rivers, and his eyes turned into the sun and moon."

"But among his clansmen, no one could inherit his will."

The image changed, and "Yi" of the second cycle appeared in the picture.

She held a long bow, stood before the giant tree, and shot arrow after arrow at the trunk.

The arrows pierced into the trunk, going three points deep, but were quickly forced out by the healing power of the trunk.

"Yi's archery was unmatched, but she was too proud."

"She did not trust others, believing only in her own arrows."

"She came here alone, fought alone, and fell alone."

"After she died, her long bow turned into a rainbow, and her arrows turned into shooting stars."

"But among her clansmen, no one could inherit her will either."

The image continued to change.

"Nong" of the third cycle stood before the giant tree, attempting to use the power of the tree of life to nourish the giant tree and make it voluntarily release those Souls.

But instead of releasing Souls, the giant tree began to absorb Nong's Life Power.

"Nong was too stubborn, thinking that the tree of life was omnipotent."

"He refused to accept other possibilities, coming here alone, fighting alone, and falling alone."

"After he died, his body merged into the earth, turning into nutrients for all things to grow."

"Xuanyuan" of the fourth cycle stood before the giant tree, holding a long sword and hacking for three days and three nights, breaking ten swords.

"Xuanyuan was too upright, thinking that the Dao of the sword could solve everything."

"He was unwilling to use schemes and tricks, coming here alone, fighting alone, and falling alone."

"After he died, his long sword turned into mountain ranges, and his Sword Intent turned into wind and clouds."

At the end of the image, the figure of Bai Yunzhou appeared.

The Chosen One of the fifth cycle, Shen Zhao's ancestor.

He stood before the giant tree, using no brute force, no arrows, no power from the tree of life, and no sword.

He just stood there, looking at the giant tree for a very long time.

"Bai Yunzhou did not make a move."

The voice of the Shadow of Beginning carried a hint of reminiscence.

"He said, 'This seat does not want to break the cage, this seat only wants to guard the door and not let more people come in to throw away their lives.'"

"He said, 'This seat is not alone, there are countless Monument of Heroes behind this seat.'"

"Then he turned around, left this place, and went in the direction of the door."

"He used his body as a sacrifice to Seal the door, ensuring ten thousand years of peace for the Star Sea."

Shen Zhao's tears streamed out of his eyes.

Ancestor, so he had come here.

So he had also tried, but he chose another path.

Not breaking the cage, but guarding the door.

Not letting more people come in to die.

"The Chosen Ones of the first five cycles all failed."

The voice of the Shadow of Beginning became low.

"It is not that they were not strong enough, but that they were too strong."

"Strong to the point of being unwilling to let others help, strong to the point of carrying everything alone."

"They did not know that guardianship is not a matter for one person."

Shen Zhao wiped away his tears and looked into the eyes of the Shadow of Beginning.

"Then what about Disciple? Can Disciple succeed?"

The Shadow of Beginning was silent for a long time, so long that Shen Zhao thought it would not answer.

"This seat does not know."

"But you are the first person to walk here and still maintain a pure Dao Heart."

"When the Chosen Ones of the first five cycles came here, cracks had already appeared in their Dao Hearts."

"Their power was too strong, too strong to bear a pure heart of guardianship."

"You are different. Your power is not as great as theirs, but your Dao Heart is purer than theirs."

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly.

His Dao Heart was purer than the Chosen Ones of the first five cycles?

"Why?"

The Shadow of Beginning looked at him, a trace of complexity flashing in its golden eyes.

"Because you are not alone."

"Behind you are your uncle, Director Su Yun, the Disciples of the Guardian Academy, Cultivators from various realms, and tens of billions of common people."

"You are willing to let others help you, and you are willing to trust others."

"That is enough."

Shen Zhao was silent.

He remembered his uncle's words— "Zhao'er, you are not alone."

He remembered Director Su Yun's words— "Come back alive, this is an order."

He remembered the figures of the Guardian Academy Disciples kneeling on the Star Port, and the smile of the Old Farmer when he handed him that bowl of water.

He remembered countless people, countless faces, and countless pairs of eyes.

They were all behind him.

"Senior, what should Disciple do?"

The Shadow of Beginning raised its hand, pointing to the huge golden crystal core in the center of the giant tree.

The crystal core was beating slowly. With every beat, spots of light were drawn from the roots, merged into the crystal core, and then new energy surged from the crystal core and was transported back to the giant tree.

Like a heart, like breathing, like a never-ending cycle.

"That is the core of the tree of civilization. Break it, and the cage will shatter, and all Souls will be liberated."

"However, breaking the core requires the unification of seven powers, as well as the power of the realm-breaking stone."

"More importantly, it requires the resonance of hundreds of millions of Souls."

"Without their resonance, your single-handed power cannot shake the core."

Shen Zhao's brows furrowed.

"How can Disciple make them resonate?"

The Shadow of Beginning was silent for a moment.

"Let them know you have come. Make them believe you are here to save them."

"They have been trapped here for countless epochs and no longer trust anyone."

"You must prove it to them."

Shen Zhao took a deep breath.

"What should Disciple do?"

The Shadow of Beginning raised its hand, and a streak of black light surged from its palm, condensing into a gate of light in the Void Realm.

Behind the gate of light was a hazy space, within which countless spots of light were slowly rotating.

"That is the interior of the tree of civilization—the Sea of Memories."

"The memories of all imprisoned Souls from the first six cycles are all there."

"You need to enter the Sea of Memories, find those Souls, and establish a connection with them."

"But the Sea of Memories is very dangerous; you will be trapped in their memories, unable to tell true from false."

"If you get lost there, your consciousness will remain in the Sea of Memories forever and never come back."

Shen Zhao did not hesitate.

He took a step and walked toward the gate of light.

The voice of the Shadow of Beginning sounded behind him.

"Latercomer, this seat has one more thing to tell you."

Shen Zhao stopped his steps, turned around, and looked at it.

"The core of the tree of civilization is not only the lock of the cage, but also the cage of this seat."

"Breaking the core, this seat will also dissipate."

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly.

"Senior..."

The Shadow of Beginning smiled, smiling so softly, as soft as the wind blowing across withered branches.

"Do not be sad. This seat has waited for six cycles, waiting for someone who can break the cage."

"Having waited for it, that is enough."

"This seat does not regret it."

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm and kowtowed deeply toward the Shadow of Beginning.

Then he stood up and stepped into the gate of light.

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

There was no grayish-white mist, no floating spots of light, only endless darkness.

In the darkness, countless huge memory fragments floated.

Every fragment was a hundred zhang wide, floating in the Void Realm like broken mirror surfaces.

On the fragments, various images flashed constantly.

Some were the birth and destruction of stars, some were the rise and fall of civilizations, and some were the laughter and weeping of living beings.

Those were the memories of all imprisoned Souls from the first six cycles.

Hundreds of millions of years of history, hundreds of millions of years of sorrow and joy, hundreds of millions of years of waiting.

They were all here.

Shen Zhao floated in the darkness, not knowing where to go.

He closed his eyes, and the seven-colored power surged out from his body, spreading in all directions.

He perceived the auras within those memory fragments.

Some were warm, some were icy, some were bright, and some were dim.

Some were filled with hope, and some were filled with despair.

Some were weeping, some were shouting, and some were silent.

He heard countless voices and saw countless faces.

"Who will save us..."

"We have waited too long..."

"Is there anyone who still remembers us..."

"Have we been forgotten..."

Shen Zhao's tears streamed out of his eyes.

He did not wipe them, just quietly floating there, listening to those voices and looking at those faces.

Then, he spoke.

The voice was very soft, as soft as a sigh, yet it clearly entered every single memory fragment.

"Disciple has come. Disciple is here to save you. Disciple will not forget you."

Those voices suddenly quieted down.

Those faces suddenly turned toward him.

Those eyes, countless pairs of eyes, were all looking at him.

There was surprise, doubt, hope, and also fear.

"You... who are you?"

A faint voice came from the nearest memory fragment.

Shen Zhao looked at that fragment and saw an aged face.

That was an old man with white hair and beard, a hunchbacked figure, and wearing a tattered robe.

His eyes were cloudy, but a trace of light could still be seen.

"Disciple Shen Zhao, the Chosen One of the sixth cycle. Disciple is here to save you."

The old man was silent for a long time.

"The sixth cycle... has it already been the sixth cycle?"

"We have been here... for five cycles..."

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly.

Five cycles.

From being imprisoned in the first cycle to the sixth cycle.

They had been here for hundreds of millions of years.

"Elder, Disciple will save you and get you out."

The old man looked at him, a trace of tears flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"Child, do you know what you are saying?"

"Do you know what price must be paid to break the cage?"

Shen Zhao was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Disciple knows. If the core is broken, the Shadow of Beginning will dissipate. If the core is broken, Disciple might not be able to return either."

"But Disciple is not afraid. Because there are countless people behind Disciple. There is Uncle, there is Director Su Yun, and there are the Disciples of the Guardian Academy."

"There are Cultivators from various realms, and tens of billions of common people. They are all behind Disciple."

"Disciple is not alone."

The old man looked at him, tears streaming from his eyes.

"Good, good child. We will wait for you."

That memory fragment lit up, then slowly drifted toward Shen Zhao and melted into his body.

A warm surge of energy poured into his limbs and bones.

That was the old man's power, his will after being trapped for five cycles.

Shen Zhao's cultivation level was climbing slightly, but there was no joy on his face, only compassion.

He continued to fly forward.

Memory fragments drifted toward him one after another, and Soul after Soul established a connection with him.

Their power poured into his body, and his cultivation level continuously climbed.

But his heart grew heavier and heavier.

Because he had seen far, far too much.

He saw how the stars of the first cycle were destroyed, and how the civilization of the second cycle was ruined.

He saw how the Creation God Clan of the third cycle fought a bloody battle with the Mother of Evil Spirits, and how humanity of the fourth cycle was harvested by The Designers.

He saw how the Guardians of the fifth cycle risked their lives to guard the Sea of Stars.

He saw the back of the ancestor Bai Yunzhou using his body as a sacrifice.

He saw Uncle's white hair before the Monument of Heroes.

He saw Director Su Yun's sleepless figure on the tower of the Investigation Department.

He saw countless people, countless faces, and countless pairs of eyes.

Their sorrow, their pain, their despair, their hope.

Were all in his heart.

Not knowing how long he had flown, Shen Zhao finally saw the end of the Sea of Memories.

There, a giant figure was floating.

It was a figure far more colossal than anyone he had ever seen.

Sitting cross-legged in the Void Realm, with closed eyes, as if in a deep sleep.

Its body was grayish-white, like rock weathered for a thousand years.

Its face was blurry, leaving only an outline.

But Shen Zhao recognized that outline.

That was the figure of the Spirit of Creation, the figure of "Beginning".

The other half of the Shadow of Beginning, the memory fragment of the Spirit of Creation.

Shen Zhao flew in front of that figure and stopped.

He reached out, wanting to touch it.

Just at this moment, the eyes of that figure suddenly opened.

Golden eyes, exactly the same as the Shadow of Beginning.

"Latecomer, you have finally come."

The voice rang in Shen Zhao's mind, aged and weary.

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm and deeply kowtowed toward that figure.

"Senior, Disciple has come."

The Spirit of Creation looked at him, its golden eyes filled with compassion.

"Did you see it? Did you see those memories? Did you see the pain of those Souls?"

Shen Zhao nodded, tears silently sliding down.

"Disciple has seen it. Disciple will save them."

The Spirit of Creation was silent for a very long time.

"Do you know that if the core is broken, this seat will also dissipate?"

"Disciple knows. Senior Shadow of Beginning has already told Disciple."

"Then are you not afraid?"

Shen Zhao raised his head and looked into those golden eyes.

"Disciple is afraid. But Disciple is even more afraid of those Souls being trapped here forever."

"Disciple is even more afraid of failing those who believe in Disciple."

"Disciple is even more afraid that Uncle will be disappointed when watching Disciple from heaven."

The Spirit of Creation looked at him, the compassion in its eyes gradually turning into gratification.

"Good, very good."

"This seat waited for six cycles and finally waited for you."

Its figure began to fade, starting from the feet, bit by bit turning into golden spots of light, scattering in the Void Realm.

"Go, latecomer. The power of this seat is given to you."

Golden spots of light surged into Shen Zhao's body.

A massive amount of information exploded in his Sea of Consciousness.

That was the full power of the Spirit of Creation, all the secrets of the Universe's birth, and all the Profound Truths of creation and guardianship.

Shen Zhao closed his eyes and quietly absorbed it.

Not knowing how long had passed, he opened his eyes, and a streak of golden light appeared in them.

That was the color of the Spirit of Creation, the color of "Beginning".

He stood up and flew toward the exit of the Sea of Memories.

Behind him, countless memory fragments gently pulsated, like countless stars seeing him off.

When he flew out of the Sea of Memories, the Shadow of Beginning was still standing there.

It looked at him, a trace of surprise flashing in its golden eyes.

"You... have you seen the other half of this seat?"

Shen Zhao nodded.

"Disciple has seen it. Its power has already been given to Disciple."

The Shadow of Beginning was silent for a very long time.

"Good, very good. It has also waited for this day for six cycles."

It raised its hand and pointed at the golden crystal core in the center of the giant tree.

"Next, it's up to you."

Shen Zhao took a deep breath and flew toward that crystal core.

Seven-colored light flowed within his body, and the power of the realm-breaking stone pulsed in his chest.

The power of the Spirit of Creation surged in his Sea of Consciousness.

The will of the Chosen One of the six cycles gathered behind him.

He was not alone.

He had countless Seniors, countless heroic Souls, and countless people who believed in him.

He could not fail.

He flew in front of the crystal core and stopped.

The crystal core pulsated slowly. With every pulse, spots of light were extracted from the roots and integrated into the crystal core, while new energy surged out from the crystal core and was transported back to the giant tree.

Like a heart, like breathing, like an endless cycle.

Shen Zhao raised his hand, and seven-colored light surged from his palm, turning into a seven-colored light sword.

The light sword was a hundred zhang long, and dense runes circulated along the blade.

Those runes were collected from the Sea of Memories, formed by the will of hundreds of millions of Souls.

"With this sword, break this cage."

The light sword slashed down, striking the crystal core.

The crystal core trembled violently, golden light intertwining with the seven colors.

The light sword slashed into the crystal core, penetrating three feet deep.

Cracks began to spread on the crystal core, but the healing speed was even faster.

Shen Zhao gritted his teeth and poured more power into the light sword.

The light sword penetrated another foot, two feet, three feet.

But the crystal core was too large, and the tip of the light sword could only touch its surface.

It couldn't hurt the core at all.

Shen Zhao's spiritual power was rapidly depleting, and his complexion grew paler and paler.

But he didn't stop, because he knew.

Stopping meant failure.

He could not fail.

He had promised Uncle to return alive.

He had promised Director Su Yun to return alive.

He had promised the Disciples of the Guardian Academy to return alive.

He had promised those names on the Monument of Heroes to guard the Sea of Stars.

He had promised the Shadow of Beginning to break the cage.

He gritted his teeth and burned his Origin.

The seven-colored power surged drastically, and the light sword penetrated another zhang deeper.

Cracks on the crystal core became more and more numerous, and the healing speed became slower and slower.

But it was still not enough.

Far from enough.

Just when Shen Zhao was about to not hold on, countless voices came from behind.

"Latecomer, we will help you."

He turned back and saw countless spots of light flying out from the Sea of Memories.

Those were the Souls he had awakened.

Hundreds of millions of spots of light, like hundreds of millions of stars, surged into his body.

Their power, their will, their hope.

Were all in his heart.

Shen Zhao's cultivation level surged drastically once more.

From the Void Refining Late Stage to the Void Refining Perfection.

The light sword surged again, from a hundred zhang to a thousand zhang, to ten thousand zhang.

He raised the ten-thousand-zhang light sword and slashed down with all his might.

The blade slashed into the crystal core, penetrating ten zhang, twenty zhang, thirty zhang deep.

The crystal core finally couldn't bear it and emitted a muffled, earth-shattering sound.

Cracks spread from the center to the surroundings, and more and more Souls flew out from the cracks.

Some of them were crying, some were smiling, and some were silent.

But they were all looking at Shen Zhao, their eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, latecomer."

"Thank you, child."

"Thank you, Guardian."

Shen Zhao's tears streamed from his eyes, but he did not stop.

He continued to slash.

One sword, two swords, three swords.

Cracks on the crystal core became more and more numerous and denser.

When the ninth sword fell, the crystal core finally shattered with a bang.

Golden fragments scattered in all directions, turning into countless spots of light floating in the Void Realm.

The giant tree began to tremble, and its roots began to snap.

Those Souls imprisoned for countless epochs surged out from the cracks like a tide.

They danced in the Void Realm like countless shooting stars.

Their laughter, crying, and shouting intertwined together, converging into an eternal movement.

Shen Zhao floated in the Void Realm, looking at those Souls, the corners of his mouth slightly rising.

He had done it. He had truly done it.

At this moment, the voice of the Shadow of Beginning rang in his ear.

"Latecomer, thank you."

Shen Zhao turned around and looked at that fading black figure.

Its body began to disintegrate from its feet, turning into countless black spots of light.

But in its golden eyes, there was no sadness at all, only relief.

"Senior..."

The Shadow of Beginning smiled, smiling incomparably peacefully.

"Do not be sad. This seat waited for six cycles and finally waited for this day."

"This seat does not regret it."

"Latecomer, the Sea of Stars is handed over to you."

As the voice fell, its figure completely dissipated.

Turning into black spots of light all over the sky, intertwining with those golden, white, and cyan spots of light.

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm and deeply kowtowed toward the dissipating light.

"Senior, rest assured, Disciple will definitely not fail the trust."

He stood up, wiped away his tears, and turned to fly toward the direction of the fissure.

Behind him, the giant tree was collapsing, and those Souls were scattering.

He could not stay here; he had to go home.

Uncle was waiting for him, Director Su Yun was waiting for him, and the Disciples of the Guardian Academy were waiting for him.

Tens of billions of common people were waiting for him.

He took a deep breath and accelerated as he flew toward the fissure.