249: Chapter 249 The Road Home

The cheers echoed in the Void Realm for a long time, so long that Shen Zhao's ears began to ring.

But he did not stop them, nor did he stand up; he simply knelt there quietly, watching the cheering soldiers.

There were tears and smiles on their faces, the relief of surviving a catastrophe, as well as the sorrow of losing comrades.

Director Su Yun let go of him, stood up, and swept her gaze across the battlefield.

Silver-white points of light were still drifting about; those were the traces left behind after the Chief Arbiter dissipated.

Those points of light were extremely faint, so faint they were almost invisible, yet they were exceptionally striking in the Void Realm, resembling countless fireflies dancing in the darkness.

"Count the casualties, treat the wounded, and collect the remains."

Director Su Yun's voice was hoarse yet clear, spreading across the entire battlefield.

The Disciples of the Investigation Department began to bustle about, counting the number of star skiffs, recording the names of the fallen soldiers, and tallying the lost equipment.

The soldiers of the Realm Guardian Army carried remains out of the star skiffs one by one, arranging them neatly in the Void Realm.

Some of the remains were intact, some were mutilated, and some had only a few pieces of shattered armor left.

But every single set of remains was carefully identified, and every name was earnestly recorded.

Looking at those remains, Shen Zhao felt his tears well up once more.

Those were people who had come for him, people who had died in battle because they believed in him.

They could have stayed in the New Universe, lived in peace and contentment, and reunited with their families.

But they had come, coming to this dangerous place, coming to this battlefield where they could lose their lives at any moment.

All for him.

Director Su Yun walked to his side and said softly,

"Shen Zhao, you should rest. You haven't closed your eyes for three days and three nights."

Shen Zhao shook his head and struggled to stand up.

His legs were weak and his body was swaying, with the qinglian sword stuck in the Void Realm, barely supporting his weight.

"This Disciple is fine. This Disciple wants to see them."

Director Su Yun did not stop him; she simply followed behind him, accompanying him step by step past those remains.

The first set of remains belonged to a centurion of the Realm Guardian Army, his chest pierced by a beam of light, his eyes still wide open.

Shen Zhao squatted down and gently closed his eyes.

"Rest in peace. This Disciple will guard the Sea of Stars well."

The second set of remains belonged to a Sword Cultivator from the Cangwu Domain, still grasping a broken sword in his hand, the Sword Intent on the blade not yet fully dissipated.

Shen Zhao picked up the broken sword and stored it in his spatial ring.

"This Disciple will bring your sword back to the New Sword Peak of the Cangwu Domain."

The third set of remains belonged to a young female Cultivator who looked to be barely in her early twenties, with delicate features and her left arm missing.

She wore the cyan robes of a Guardian Academy Disciple, and an identity token of the Guardian Academy hung at her waist.

Shen Zhao removed that token and saw the name engraved upon it—Lin Wan'er.

He did not know her, but she had died for him.

He tucked the token into his bosom and stood up to continue walking forward.

Remains after remains, name after name, story after story that never had the chance to be told.

Shen Zhao walked past every set of remains and memorized every single name.

Director Su Yun told him that in this reinforcement, 3,700 soldiers of the Realm Guardian Army had died in battle, 2,100 Cultivators from various domains had fallen, and 800 Disciples of the Guardian Academy had perished.

A total of 6,600 people.

6,600 lives, 6,600 shattered families, and 6,600 unfinished stories.

Shen Zhao knelt in the Void Realm and deeply kowtowed toward those remains.

"This Disciple, Shen Zhao, owes you all. If I cannot finish repaying it in this lifetime, I will continue to repay it in the next."

The soldiers gathered around; some helped him up, some patted his shoulders, and some silently shed tears.

No one spoke, because everyone knew that words could not express the feelings of this moment.

The work of clearing the battlefield lasted a full day.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were carefully placed inside specially crafted spiritual coffins, neatly arranged in the Void Realm.

The spiritual coffins were carved from profound yellow stones, their surfaces inscribed with runes from the Guardian Academy, emitting a faint golden glow.

Inscribed on each spiritual coffin were the deceased's name, place of Origin, and dates of birth and death.

Their names would be carved onto the Monument of Heroes in the New Universe, standing alongside the Primordial Ancestor Bai Yunzhou, alongside his uncle Shen Yuan, and alongside all the fallen heroic martyrs.

Shen Zhao stood before the spiritual coffins, taking one last look at those names.

Then he turned around and walked toward the direction of the spacetime flying boat.

Director Su Yun followed behind him, holding the chief manager token of the Investigation Department in her hands, the runes upon the token still glowing faintly.

"Shen Zhao, we are going home."

Shen Zhao nodded and boarded the flying boat.

The cabin door closed, and a seven-colored light circulated around the hull, much dimmer than before, matching his mood at this moment.

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

Those spiritual coffins were placed aboard specialized transport star skiffs, following behind the flying boat like a long silver river slowly flowing through the Void Realm.

Shen Zhao stood before the porthole, gazing at those spiritual coffins, remaining silent for a long time.

Director Su Yun walked to his side and handed a cup of hot tea into his hands.

"Drink some. You haven't eaten anything all day."

Shen Zhao took the teacup and gently took a sip.

The tea was very bitter, so bitter that it made him frown, just like the kind of tea his uncle loved to drink most.

"Director Su, this Disciple has something he wishes to ask for guidance on."

"Speak."

"Was this Disciple wrong to let them come? If this Disciple had faced the Chief Arbiter alone, perhaps so many people wouldn't have died."

Director Su Yun fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Shen Zhao, do you know why your uncle went to the abyss alone back then?"

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly.

"Because he didn't want others to die for him. He wanted to carry it alone."

Director Su Yun nodded.

"Correct. Your father and mother were the same. Neither of them wanted others to die for them, so they went to the abyss alone and died there."

"But before your uncle passed away, he said that his biggest regret was not stopping your parents and not going with them."

"He said that if he had been there at the time, perhaps your parents wouldn't have died. Perhaps you wouldn't have had to wait twenty years."

Shen Zhao's tears welled up once more.

"Director Su..."

Director Su Yun raised her hand to interrupt him.

"Shen Zhao, you are not alone. You have us, you have the Realm Guardian Army, you have the Cultivators of various domains, and you have tens of billions of common folk. We are willing to die for you not because you are the Chosen One, but because you are you."

"You are Shen Zhao, the nephew of Shen Yuan, the Guardian of the Guardian Academy, and the person who led everyone out of the darkness. You are worth it."

Shen Zhao did not speak; he merely placed the teacup on the control console and turned to face the porthole.

Outside the window, the spiritual coffins were still slowly flowing through the Void Realm.

Those golden lights were exceptionally striking in the darkness, resembling countless stars illuminating the road home.

The flying boat sped through the Sea of Stars, the seven-colored light circulating around the hull at an extreme speed.

After some time passed, the outline of the New Universe appeared in their field of view.

Those familiar stars, those familiar lights, that land he had guarded for twenty years.

Shen Zhao's tears welled up once more, but this time, he did not wipe them away.

Let them flow; nobody would see them anyway.

The Star Port of New Yongning City was already packed with people.

Representatives from various domains, Elders of the Guardian Academy, generals of the Realm Guardian Army, and countless ordinary folk.

They had learned the news of the reinforcement from the transmissions of the Investigation Department, learned the number of casualties, and learned the news of Shen Zhao's imminent return.

No one spoke, save for the sound of the wind blowing past the flags.

The flying boat landed at the Star Port, and the cabin door opened.

Shen Zhao stepped out of the cabin door, seeing those familiar faces, seeing the worry and anticipation in their eyes.

His throat choked up, unable to speak, and he merely gave a deep bow.

The representatives of the various domains knelt down in unison, the Elders of the Guardian Academy knelt down as well, and the generals of the Realm Guardian Army knelt down too.

In the plaza, everyone knelt down.

"Primordial Ancestor, welcome home."

The voices were uniform and shook the Star Port.

Shen Zhao's tears gushed from his eyes, his voice hoarse.

"This Disciple has returned."

The spiritual coffins were carried down from the transport star skiffs one by one, neatly arranged at the Star Port.

The common folk gathered around, looking at those spiritual coffins; some wept softly, some prayed silently, and some knelt on the ground to kowtow.

Before every single spiritual coffin, someone was weeping.

There were mothers hugging their sons' spiritual coffins, wives hugging their husbands' spiritual coffins, and children hugging their fathers' spiritual coffins.

Cries, shouts, and prayers intertwined, converging into a sorrowful elegy.

Shen Zhao walked up to a spiritual coffin and saw the name upon it—Lin Wan'er.

That was the first name he had memorized, that young female Cultivator.

Kneeling before the spiritual coffin was a pair of white-haired elderly people; they were Lin Wan'er's parents.

The old woman hugged the spiritual coffin, crying heart-rendingly, while the old man wept silently to the side, unable to utter a single word.

Shen Zhao knelt before them and deeply kowtowed.

"Elderly ones, this Disciple has failed you. It was this Disciple who harmed your daughter."

The old man shook his head, his voice hoarse.

"No, child, it is not your fault. When Wan'er left, she sent a message to us. She said, 'Father, Mother, your daughter is going to save the Ancestor. Your daughter does not regret it.' She said, 'If your daughter cannot return, do not be sad. Your daughter is dying to protect the Star Sea, dying a worthy death.'"

Shen Zhao's tears dripped onto the ground.

"Elder, this Disciple will carve Wan'er's name on the Monument of Heroes. This Disciple will let everyone know that she is a hero who died protecting the Star Sea."

The old madam nodded and helped Shen Zhao up.

"Child, you must live well. Live for Wan'er, and live for all those who sacrificed themselves."

Shen Zhao nodded solemnly.

"This Disciple will."

He stood up and continued walking toward the next spirit coffin.

Coffin after coffin, name after name, and story after story of sorrow.

He knelt before every spirit coffin, kowtowing, apologizing, and making promises.

The commoners looked at his back, their eyes blurred with tears.

He could have chosen not to do this; he was a Guardian, the Chosen One, and the hope of everyone.

But he knelt, kneeling before the spirit coffin of every ordinary soldier and in front of every ordinary commoner.

This was why they were willing to die for him.

Director Su Yun stood in the distance, looking at Shen Zhao's back, her eyes turning red.

She remembered Shen Yuan's words before his death: "Su Yun, that child Zhao is good at everything, except he loves to carry everything on his own. Help me keep an eye on him, and don't let him be alone."

She had failed to do so; she still let him carry it alone.

But she knew he was no longer alone.

He had them.

All the spirit coffins were placed in the plaza in front of the New Monument of Heroes.

Shen Zhao knelt before the monument, laying the qinglian sword horizontally across his knees, and kowtowed deeply.

"Disciple Shen Zhao pays tribute here today to all the martyrs who sacrificed themselves to protect the Star Sea."

"Your names will be carved on the Monument of Heroes, placed side by side with the Ancestor Bai Yunzhou, side by side with Uncle Shen Yuan, and side by side with all the sacrificed martyrs."

"Your achievements will be written into the texts of the Guardian Academy and remembered by future generations."

"Your families will be properly settled by the Alliance, with no worries for the future."

"This is this Disciple's promise."

The seven-colored light at the top of the monument twitched gently, as if responding to him.

The commoners knelt in the plaza, kowtowing deeply toward the spirit coffins.

The Disciples of the Guardian Academy marched in Formation past the spirit coffins, each holding a bunch of white spirit flowers in their hands and gently placing them on the spirit coffins.

The petals of the spirit flowers swayed gently in the night wind, exuding a faint fragrance.

That fragrance intertwined with the incense before the Monument of Heroes, permeating the entire plaza.

Shen Zhao knelt before the monument for a long time without getting up.

Director Su Yun walked to his side and said softly,

"Shen Zhao, it will soon be dawn. You should rest."

Shen Zhao shook his head.

"This Disciple wants to accompany them a little longer. They died for this Disciple, so this Disciple cannot fail to accompany them for even a single night."

Director Su Yun said no more; she simply stood behind him and accompanied him.

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

The seven-colored light at the top of the Monument of Heroes slowly circulated in the night veil, resembling an inextinguishable beacon.

The spirit flowers on those spirit coffins swayed gently in the wind, like countless eyes watching him in the darkness.

Shen Zhao closed his eyes, countless images flashing through his mind, flashing with the faces of those who had died for him.

Lin Wan'er, that young female Cultivator.

The centurion, that man whose eyes were still open.

The Sword Cultivator of the Cangwu Domain, and the Sword Intent upon that broken sword.

Six thousand six hundred names, six thousand six hundred faces, and six thousand six hundred unfinished stories.

He opened his eyes and kowtowed deeply.

"Rest in peace. This Disciple will guard the Star Sea well."

Dawn had broken.

The morning light shone upon the Monument of Heroes, causing the names on the monument to shine brilliantly.

Shen Zhao stood up. His knees were already numb and his legs had almost lost sensation, but he did not care.

He turned around and looked at Director Su Yun.

"Director Su, this Disciple wants to go see Uncle. This Disciple wants to tell him that this Disciple has returned."

Director Su Yun nodded and accompanied him to the other side of the Monument of Heroes.

There stood the spirit tablet of Uncle Shen Yuan, the spirit tablet of Father Shen Tianxing, the spirit tablet of Mother Lin Ruoxue, and the spirit tablet of his grandfather.

Four spirit tablets stood side by side, with golden characters carved upon the black mysterious yellow stone, shining brilliantly in the morning light.

Shen Zhao knelt before the spirit tablets, laying the qinglian sword horizontally across his knees, and kowtowed deeply.

"Uncle, this Disciple has returned. This Disciple shattered the core of the tree of civilization and released those imprisoned Souls."

"This Disciple killed the Shadow Arbiter and killed the Chief Arbiter."

"This Disciple guarded the Star Sea. This Disciple's promise has been fulfilled by this Disciple."

The golden characters on the spirit tablets glowed faintly, as if responding to him.

Shen Zhao's tears slid down silently.

"Uncle, this Disciple misses you."

The wind blew past the Monument of Heroes, past the spirit tablets, and past those spirit flowers.

The petals drifted gently in the wind, falling onto his shoulders and onto the qinglian sword across his knees.

It was like Uncle's hand gently stroking his head.

As if saying: "Zhao, do not cry. Uncle is watching you."

Shen Zhao wiped away his tears and stood up.

"Director Su, this Disciple wants to go see Father and Mother's Origin."

Director Su Yun nodded and accompanied him toward the secret room beside the Monument of Heroes.

The door of the secret room was sealed by seven-colored runes, which he had personally laid down.

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

The Seal was unlocked, and the door slowly opened.

Inside the secret room, two points of light suspended in the air, beating gently.

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

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

"Father, Mother, this Disciple has come to see you. This Disciple shattered the core of the tree of civilization and released those imprisoned Souls."

"This Disciple killed the Shadow Arbiter and killed the Chief Arbiter."

"This Disciple guarded the Star Sea. This Disciple did not disappoint you."

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

Their rhythm was even more synchronized than before, resembling two interdependent stars.

Shen Zhao reached out and gently touched the cyan point of light, and a warm wave of power surged over.

He "saw" Father's back standing before the Monument of Heroes, and heard Father say: "I will guard the Star Sea. I will protect Ruoxue and protect Zhao."

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

He "saw" Mother sitting in the Array Hall teaching the Disciples, and heard Mother say: "Formations are not lifeless objects; they have Life. You must feel their breathing and feel their pulsation."

Shen Zhao's tears welled up once more, but this time, a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

"Father, Mother, this Disciple is doing well. You do not need to worry. This Disciple will live well, living for you and living for Uncle. This is this Disciple's promise."

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

Then, they simultaneously beat three times, their rhythm slow and steady, as if saying: "We believe in you."

Shen Zhao stood up and walked out of the secret room.

Director Su Yun was still waiting outside, and seeing his eyes red, she did not ask much.

"Shen Zhao, what are your plans for next?"

Shen Zhao raised his head and looked toward the distance of the New Universe.

"This Disciple wants to go see those rescued Souls and see how they are living in the New Universe."

"Then, return to the Guardian Academy and give lectures to the Disciples."

"Tell those children what guardianship is, what sacrifice is, and what hope is."

Director Su Yun nodded.

"Good, I will accompany you."

Shen Zhao shook his head.

"Director Su, you have accompanied this Disciple for a long time. You should rest."

"The Investigation Department still needs you, and the Star Sea still needs you."

Director Su Yun looked at him, was silent for a moment, and then nodded.

"Alright. Then be careful."

Shen Zhao nodded, turned around, and walked toward the Star Port.

After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Director Su Yun.

"Director Su, thank you. Thank you for always accompanying this Disciple."

Director Su Yun's eyes turned red, but she did not cry.

"Go ahead. Go early and return early."

Shen Zhao nodded, turned around, and continued walking.

The morning light shone upon him, drawing his shadow very long.

The qinglian sword hung at his waist, and the qinglian patterns upon the sword body were still glowing faintly.

He was no longer alone.

He had Uncle watching him from the heavens, and Father and Mother waiting for him within the points of light.

He had Director Su Yun supporting him from behind, and the Disciples of the Guardian Academy waiting for him in the Martial Arts Arena.

He had tens of billions of commoners living and working in peace and contentment in every corner of the New Universe.

This was everything he fought desperately to protect, and this was why he was willing to give everything.

He took a deep breath and walked toward the distance of the New Universe.

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