248: Chapter 248 Chief Judge

The moment Shen Zhao flew out of the crack, an off-white light sword brushed past his side, and the sword wind sliced his sleeve, leaving a deep bloody gash on his arm.

He did not stop, continuing to fly forward as seven-colored light circulated across the surface of his body, forcibly stopping the bleeding of his wound.

Ahead, the figure of the Shadow Arbiter appeared once again, its entire body condensed from off-white light, and those scarlet eyes were staring at him as if looking at a struggling prey on the verge of death.

"The Chosen One of the sixth cycle."

The Shadow Arbiter's voice remained hoarse and low, without any emotional fluctuations, as if stating a fact.

"You shattered the core and released those Souls. The Master is very angry."

Shen Zhao gripped the qinglian sword tightly, injecting seven-colored power into the blade, which emitted a crisp sword hum.

"So what?"

The Shadow Arbiter did not answer, merely raising its hand.

Off-white light surged from its palm, condensing into a gigantic light sword in the Void Realm. Dense Talismans circulated across the blade, each emitting a terrifying pressure that made one's heart palpitate.

The light sword was even more solid and massive than before, reaching a length of a thousand zhang.

"The Master has ordered that the Chosen One of the sixth cycle is to be killed on sight."

The light sword chopped down, its sword wind like a mountain that pressed down, making Shen Zhao's robes flap violently while the surrounding Void Realm trembled.

Shen Zhao did not retreat, meeting it head-on with the qinglian sword.

The seven-colored Sword Qi and the off-white light sword collided, bursting with dazzling sparks that illuminated the entire Void Realm.

Boom!

Amidst the deafening roar, Shen Zhao was blasted back a thousand zhang, the web between his thumb and forefinger splitting open as fresh blood dripped down the blade.

The Shadow Arbiter remained motionless, a trace of surprise flashing through its scarlet eyes.

"You are stronger than you were outside the crack."

Shen Zhao did not speak, simply injecting even more seven-colored power into the qinglian sword.

The qinglian patterns on the blade began to glow, and phantom qinglian flowers bloomed around the sword, each containing the pure Power of Dao Protection.

This was the sword technique he had just comprehended from the Sea of Consciousness — the thirteenth form of the Qinglian Sword Canon, Myriad Lotuses Return to the Sect.

Taking the seven powers as the foundation, the wills of the six Chosen Ones as the bones, and the resonance of billions of Souls as the catalyst.

With a single sword strike, a myriad of lotus flowers are born.

Shen Zhao raised the qinglian sword, pointing it at the Shadow Arbiter.

"It's my turn."

He took a step forward, his figure transforming into a seven-colored stream of light as he lunged straight at the Shadow Arbiter.

The qinglian sword slashed out, and the seven-colored Sword Qi transformed into thousands of qinglian phantoms, surging toward the Shadow Arbiter from all directions.

Every qinglian contained heaven-destroying and earth-shattering power; every qinglian blossomed, bloomed, withered, and was reborn amidst the withering.

Endless and cyclical, repeating in an endless cycle.

A trace of solemnity finally flashed across the Shadow Arbiter's eyes.

It raised its hand, and off-white light condensed into a huge shield in front of it. Dense Talismans circulated across the shield, each absorbing the energy of the surrounding Void Realm.

The qinglian crashed into the shield.

The first one, and the shield trembled.

The second one, and cracks appeared on the shield.

The third, the fourth, the fifth...

When the ninety-ninth qinglian crashed into the shield, the shield shattered with a loud bang.

The Shadow Arbiter was blasted back hundreds of zhang, the off-white light on its body beginning to flicker and fluctuate unstably.

It lowered its head and looked at its own chest.

There, a minute crack was present, and off-white mist was spilling out from it.

"You have injured this seat."

The Shadow Arbiter's voice finally had a hint of fluctuation, not out of fear, but out of anger.

"Chosen One of the sixth cycle, you deserve to die."

It burned its Origin, and the off-white light surged violently.

Its figure expanded from a hundred zhang to a thousand zhang, standing tall in the Void Realm like a gigantic demon god.

In its hand, a more powerful light sword condensed, with blood-red Talismans circulating on the blade, each emitting a nauseating stench of blood.

"Sword of Arbitration."

The Shadow Arbiter's voice came as if from the depths of Hell, low and hoarse.

The light sword chopped down; wherever the sword wind passed, the Void Realm collapsed, time became chaotic, and everything returned to nothingness.

Shen Zhao gritted his teeth, injecting all his power into the qinglian sword.

The qinglian sword emitted a piercing sword hum, the qinglian patterns on the blade beginning to burn as phantom qinglian flowers bloomed around the blade, then burned and turned to ashes.

This was the forbidden technique of the Qinglian Sword Canon — the fourteenth form, Undying Lotus Ashes.

Paying the price of burning the Origin of the qinglian sword in exchange for the strongest strike.

The sword struck out.

Thousands of qinglian phantoms transformed into a massive cyan pillar of light, colliding with the Shadow Arbiter's Sword of Arbitration.

There was no sound.

There was no light.

There was only silent annihilation.

The two forces stalemated in the Void Realm, eroding and devouring each other.

Shen Zhao's complexion grew increasingly pale, and blood began to seep from his seven orifices.

The Shadow Arbiter's body also began to disintegrate, off-white fragments falling off its body and drifting in the Void Realm.

"You cannot possibly be this seat's match."

The Shadow Arbiter's voice carried a hint of trembling, but it was still persisting.

"This seat has lived for one hundred thousand years and experienced countless battles. How could a Mortal in your thirties..."

"Because I am not alone."

Shen Zhao interrupted it, his voice hoarse yet firm.

"There are countless people behind me. There is Uncle, there is Director Su Yun, there are the Disciples of the Guardian Academy, Cultivators from various domains, and tens of billions of common people."

"There are the Chosen Ones of the first six cycles, billions of Souls, the Spirit of Creation, and the Shadow of Beginning."

"They are all behind me."

The qinglian sword's hum suddenly surged, the cyan pillar of light expanding violently to break through the blockade of the Sword of Arbitration, piercing straight into the Shadow Arbiter's chest.

The Shadow Arbiter lowered its head, looking at the cyan pillar of light piercing into its chest.

Its eyes were filled with unwillingness, but the corners of its mouth carried a trace of a bizarre smile.

"You think... killing me can end this?"

"The Master... has already come..."

"You cannot escape..."

As the words fell, its body completely disintegrated, transforming into countless off-white spots of light that drifted in the Void Realm.

Shen Zhao put away the qinglian sword and panted heavily.

His complexion was as pale as paper, over half of the seven-colored power within his body was consumed, and the blade of the qinglian sword had also dimmed considerably.

The price of burning the Origin was too great, and the qinglian sword would need at least several years of nurturing to recover.

But he had no time to rest.

The Shadow Arbiter's dying words were still echoing in his ears — "The Master has already come."

He had to leave this place as soon as possible, return to the New Universe as soon as possible, and tell Director Su Yun this news as soon as possible.

He turned around, preparing to fly toward the crack.

Right at this moment, a terrifying aura came from the Void Realm.

That aura was a hundred times, no, a thousand times stronger than the Shadow Arbiter.

It was like a huge mountain pressing down on his chest, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

Shen Zhao raised his head, looking toward the source of the aura.

In the Void Realm, a figure was slowly condensing.

That was a middle-aged man with a thin face, cold eyes, and wearing a silver-white robe.

Dense Talismans were embroidered on the robe, each emitting a terrifying pressure that made one's heart palpitate.

In his hand, he held a silver-white longsword, with seven rays of light circulating on the blade.

Those seven rays of light were identical to the seven-colored power inside Shen Zhao's body.

The head of the Seven Arbiters — the Chief Arbiter.

Shen Zhao's hands were trembling slightly.

The head of the Seven Arbiters, the strongest existence beneath the Master of The Designers.

The Shadow Arbiter was only the weakest one, yet it almost cost him his Life.

The Chief Arbiter was a hundred times stronger than the Shadow Arbiter; how could he possibly win?

"The Chosen One of the sixth cycle."

The Chief Arbiter's voice was very soft, as soft as a whisper, yet it clearly entered Shen Zhao's ears.

"You shattered the core and released those Souls. The Master is very angry, and this seat is very angry too."

Shen Zhao gripped the qinglian sword tightly. Although there was no chance of winning, he would not surrender without a fight.

"So what?"

The corners of the Chief Arbiter's mouth curved up slightly, revealing a cold smile.

"Nothing much. This seat is simply here to kill you."

He raised the silver-white longsword in his hand, and the seven rays of light on the blade lit up simultaneously, intertwining into a massive pillar of light that pierced straight at Shen Zhao.

Shen Zhao wanted to dodge, but his body simply refused to obey.

The Chief Arbiter's pressure was too strong, so strong that even his seven-colored power could not contend against it.

Right at the moment when the pillar of light was about to strike him —

A silver-white light screen lit up in front of him.

The light screen blocked the pillar of light, and the two collided, bursting with dazzling sparks.

The light screen shattered, and the pillar of light was also blocked.

Shen Zhao turned back and saw the source of the light screen.

That was a spacetime flying boat, its cabin door open, and Director Su Yun was standing at the entrance of the cabin.

In her hand, she held the director token of the Investigation Department, and the Talismans on the token were flickering frantically.

"Director Su!"

Shen Zhao cried out in alarm, not expecting Director Su Yun to appear here.

"Why are you here?"

Director Su Yun did not speak, simply flying out from the flying boat and landing beside Shen Zhao.

Her complexion was pale, her eyes filled with bloodshot veins, clearly having not closed her eyes for a long time.

"The Investigation Department monitored abnormal energy fluctuations here, so I rushed over."

Her voice was hoarse, yet it carried a trace of a smile.

"It's a good thing I made it in time."

The Chief Arbiter looked at Director Su Yun, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Mortal, you shouldn't have come here."

Director Su Yun ignored him, simply looking at Shen Zhao, taking a Medicinal Pill out from her bosom and stuffing it into his hand.

"Eat it and recover some spiritual power."

Shen Zhao took the Medicinal Pill and swallowed it.

Entering his stomach, the Medicinal Pill transformed into a warm surge of energy, nourishing his damaged Meridians and Dantian.

"Director Su, did you come alone?"

Director Su Yun shook her head, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly.

"I am not alone."

As the words fell, countless spots of light lit up in the Void Realm.

That was the light of teleporation arrays, lighting up one after another like stars in the sky.

star skiffs flew out from the spots of light one after another, dense and blocking out the sky.

star skiffs of the Realm Guardian Army, star skiffs of Cultivators from various domains, and star skiffs of the Guardian Academy Disciples.

And those Souls rescued from the tree of civilization — some had condensed temporary physical bodies, some existed in the form of light points, and some were attached to Magical Artifacts.

But they were all here, right here.

The Realm Guardian Army was on the left, the Cultivators of various domains were on the right, and the Disciples of the Guardian Academy were in the center.

Those rescued Souls hovered above everyone like stars all over the sky.

Director Su Yun's voice spread across the Void Realm.

"Shen Zhao, you are not alone."

Shen Zhao's tears burst out of his eyes.

He saw those familiar faces — the Elders of the Guardian Academy, the realm masters of various domains, and the generals of the Realm Guardian Army.

And Shen Nian, that twelve-year-old little Disciple, had also come.

He stood on a small star skiff, holding a longsword taller than himself, his little face tight, yet his eyes did not hold a trace of fear.

"You guys..."

Shen Zhao's voice choked up.

Director Su Yun patted his shoulder.

"Your uncle said before he passed away, no matter what difficulties you encounter, do not let you carry it all alone."

"We promised him. We cannot break our promise."

The Chief Arbiter looked at the endlessly arriving star skiffs, and the coldness in his eyes finally showed a trace of change.

Not fear, but annoyance.

"No matter how many ants there are, they are still ants."

He raised the silver-white longsword in his hand, and the seven rays of light on the blade lit up once again.

"Since you all wish to die, this seat will grant your wish."

The pillar of light shot out, thicker and brighter than before.

Wherever the pillar of light passed, the Void Realm collapsed, time stagnated, and everything returned to nothingness.

Shen Zhao wanted to rush up, but was grabbed by Director Su Yun.

"Let us handle it."

Director Su Yun raised the director token of the Investigation Department in her hand, and the Talismans on the token suddenly lit up.

Countless spots of light surged out from the token, intertwining into a gigantic net of light in the Void Realm.

The net of light blocked in front of the pillar of light, and the two collided.

Boom!

Amidst the deafening roar, the net of light shattered, and the pillar of light was also weakened by more than half.

The remaining pillar of light shot into the formation of the Realm Guardian Army, destroying several star skiffs and sending them plunging down as fireballs.

Director Su Yun gritted her teeth and raised the token once again.

"Again!"

More spots of light surged out from the token, and the net of light condensed once more, denser than before.

The soldiers of the Realm Guardian Army struck simultaneously, Sword Qi crisscrossing, spiritual light flashing, and countless attacks shooting toward the Chief Arbiter.

The Cultivators of various domains also made their moves, with spells, Talismans, and Magical Artifacts covering the sky and earth.

The Disciples of the Guardian Academy formed a sword formation, their sword light intertwining into a massive light screen that blocked in front of everyone.

Those rescued Souls transformed into countless spots of light, entangling around the Chief Arbiter to interfere with his vision and weaken his power.

Shen Zhao stood in the center of the crowd, watching all of this.

Tears blurred his vision, but he did not cry out.

He could not let them down, nor could he let them sacrifice in vain.

He closed his eyes, operating his seven-colored power to the extreme.

The power of the Spirit of Creation churned in his Sea of Consciousness, the wills of the six Chosen Ones gathered behind him, and the resonance of billions of Souls surged within his body.

He wanted to Breakthrough, breaking through to the Body Integration Stage.

Only by breaking through could he fight the Chief Arbiter.

Only by breaking through could he protect these people who came for him.

Only by breaking through could he not fail those who believed in him.

The seven powers within his body began to fuse, no longer a simple coexistence, but a true unification.

Primordial, Chaos, spacetime, Karma, Life, Dao Protection, and Annihilation.

Seven essences, seven wills, intertwined within his body into a perfect cycle.

Like a small Universe slowly rotating in his Dantian.

His cultivation began to climb.

Void Refining Perfection — Half-step Body Integration — Body Integration Early Stage.

Breakthrough!

Shen Zhao abruptly opened his eyes, the seven-colored light in his eyes flashing and disappearing.

He raised the qinglian sword, and the qinglian patterns on the blade lit up once again, even more brilliant than before.

Seven-colored light surged from the blade, condensing into a ten-thousand-zhang light sword in the Void Realm.

"Chief Arbiter!"

Shen Zhao's voice was like a thunderclap, exploding in the Void Realm.

"Your opponent is me!"

The ten-thousand-zhang light sword chopped down, directly hacking at the Chief Arbiter.

The Chief Arbiter raised his head, looking at that light sword, and the annoyance in his eyes finally turned into solemnity.

He raised the silver-white longsword, resisting with all his might.

The two swords collided.

Boom!

An earth-shattering loud noise shook the entire Void Realm.

The light sword and the longsword stalemated, eroding and devouring each other.

Shen Zhao's complexion grew increasingly pale, and the spiritual power within his body was frantically consumed.

But this time, he did not retreat, because there were countless people behind him.

They were all watching him, waiting for him, supporting him.

"Break for me!"

He roared, burning his Origin and injecting the final power into the light sword.

The light sword expanded violently, breaking through the blockade of the longsword and chopping straight into the Chief Arbiter's chest.

The Chief Arbiter was blasted flying, his silver-white robe shattered, leaving a deep sword scar on his chest.

Silver-white blood gushed out, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

"Impossible... How could you..."

"Because I am not alone."

Shen Zhao put away the qinglian sword and panted heavily.

His complexion was as pale as paper, his internal spiritual power was almost exhausted, and the blade of the qinglian sword had completely dimmed.

But he was still standing, still alive.

The Chief Arbiter struggled to get up, but the sword wound on his chest was too severe, and his body began to disintegrate.

Starting from his feet, inch by inch, he turned into silver-white spots of light.

He looked at Shen Zhao, his eyes filled with unwillingness, but the corners of his mouth carried a trace of a bizarre smile.

"You think... killing this seat can end this?"

"The Master... will not let you off..."

"All of you... will die..."

As the words fell, his body completely disintegrated, transforming into countless silver-white spots of light that drifted in the Void Realm.

The battlefield fell into dead silence.

Immediately, earth-shaking cheers erupted.

"We won! We won!"

"Long live Shen Zhao! Long live the Guardian Academy!"

The soldiers embraced and wept, crying tears of joy.

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm, panting heavily as tears silently slid down.

Director Su Yun walked to his side, squatted down, and gently hugged him.

"Shen Zhao, you did it."

Shen Zhao did not speak, simply leaning against Director Su Yun's shoulder and closing his eyes.

He was too tired, so tired that he didn't even have the strength to speak.

But he knew this was only the beginning.

The Chief Arbiter was dead, but the Master of The Designers was still around.

The real battle had not yet begun.

He opened his eyes, looking at those cheering soldiers, and chanted silently in his heart.

"Uncle, this Disciple has not disappointed you. This Disciple has held the line. This Disciple will continue to hold it. Until the very last moment."