255: Chapter 255 The Legacy of the Chosen One

On the third day after Shen Tianxing and Lin Ruoxue woke up, a grand celebration was held in New Yongning City.

Representatives from various domains rushed over from all directions of the New Universe; some rode star skiffs, some passed through teleportation arrays, and others walked step by step from the most remote domain settlements.

No one complained, and no one called themselves tired, because the people they were going to see were Shen Zhao's parents—that heroic couple who had once ventured alone into the abyss to protect the star sea.

The square was packed with people, and the commoners were dressed in festive holiday attire, holding fresh flowers and spiritual fruits in their hands.

The Disciples of the Guardian Academy lined up in two rows, stretching all the way from the Star Port to the front of the Monument of Heroes, with long swords hanging at their waists and cyan robes fluttering gently in the morning breeze.

Shen Zhao stood in front of the Monument of Heroes, with his father Shen Tianxing and mother Lin Ruoxue by his side.

Shen Tianxing wore a cyan robe, with that cyan long sword hanging at his waist, its sword tassel swaying gently in the wind.

Lin Ruoxue wore a white long dress with her long hair draped over her shoulders, holding a Jade Slip in her hand—that was the Formation diagram she had taken away from the Array Hall back then, and twenty years later, it finally returned to its master's hands.

Director Su Yun stood behind them, holding the master token of the Investigation Department in her hands.

Her white hair fluttered in the wind, but her eyes were filled with smiles.

She had not smiled like this for a long time.

The celebration began.

Representatives from various domains stepped forward one by one to present congratulatory gifts to Shen Tianxing and Lin Ruoxue.

The Realm master of the Lingxi Realm presented a jar of spiritual spring water, saying it was brewed using the Spiritual Veins of the New Universe and was sweeter and fresher than that of the Old Universe.

The representative of the Cangwu Domain presented a newly forged long sword with the two characters "Tianxing" engraved on the sword body, their strokes vigorous and powerful.

Old Ape Patriarch of Qingmang Mountain presented a spiritual wood seed, saying it was plucked from the spiritual wood of the New Universe, and once planted, it could grow into a forest.

Shen Tianxing accepted them one by one and returned the courtesy one by one.

His movements were very slow, every action was very serious, and his eyes were filled with gratitude.

"Thank you. Thank you for still remembering us."

The commoners swarmed around, some holding Lin Ruoxue's hand, some hugging Shen Tianxing and crying, and some kneeling on the ground to kowtow.

Some of them were people saved by Shen Tianxing back then, some were Disciples taught by Lin Ruoxue, and some were latecomers who had never met them before but had heard their stories.

The celebration lasted for a whole day.

By dusk, the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only Shen Zhao's family and Director Su Yun in the square.

The setting sun shone on the Monument of Heroes, making the names on the monument shine brilliantly.

Shen Tianxing stood in front of the monument, looking at his younger brother Shen Yuan's name in silence for a long time.

"Little Yuan, brother is back. Brother didn't protect you well; it is brother's fault."

Shen Zhao walked to his father's side and said softly,

"Father, it is not your fault. Uncle never blamed you. Before his death, he even said that his proudest thing was not becoming the Guardian Patriarch, but raising his Disciples."

Shen Tianxing's tears fell silently.

He didn't wipe them away, simply letting them flow.

"Little Yuan, rest assured. Zhaor'er, brother will watch over everything for you."

Lin Ruoxue walked over and held her husband's hand.

The two stood side by side in front of the monument, looking at the younger brother's name and remaining silent for a long time.

Night fell, and the lights of Yongning City lit up.

Shen Zhao accompanied his parents back to the secret chamber—their physical bodies had just condensed and still needed to be nurtured in a place with abundant Spiritual Veins for a period of time before they could live like normal people.

Shen Tianxing sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

Lin Ruoxue sat beside him, holding the Jade Slip in her hand with a hint of a satisfied smile at the corners of her mouth.

Shen Zhao sat opposite them, looking at his parents, and an indescribable warmth surged up in his heart.

"Father, Mother, this Disciple has something to discuss with you."

Shen Tianxing opened his eyes.

"What is it?"

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

"This Disciple wants to organize the seven-power Legacy—no, the eight-power Legacy into a book and pass it on to the Disciples of the Guardian Academy. This Disciple wants them to know what protection is, what sacrifice is, and what hope is. This Disciple wants them to be able to guard this star sea even after this Disciple is gone."

Shen Tianxing looked at him, a trace of complexity flashing in his eyes.

"Zhaor'er, are you leaving?"

Shen Zhao shook his head.

"This Disciple is not leaving. This Disciple just wants to... pave the way well, leave the Legacy behind, and let the later generations know what to do."

Shen Tianxing was silent for a long time, then nodded.

"Alright. This is something you should do. Father supports you."

Lin Ruoxue also opened her eyes and looked at her son.

"Zhaor'er, Mother will help you. Mother will write the Legacy regarding Formations."

Shen Zhao's tears welled up and spilled out of his eyes.

"Thank you, Father; thank you, Mother."

In the following days, Shen Zhao's family of three all lived in the secret chamber.

During the day, Shen Zhao organized the eight-power Legacy, Shen Tianxing organized the swordsmanship Legacy, and Lin Ruoxue organized the Formation Legacy.

At night, the family of three sat together, chatting, drinking tea, and looking at the moon.

Shen Zhao told them about his experiences over the past twenty years—from entering the Guardian Academy at sixteen, going to the Eternal Forbidden Zone at nineteen to obtain the Primordial Power, integrating the seven powers into one at twenty-two, to going to the tree of civilization at twenty-six to break the cage.

He talked a lot, speaking very slowly and not letting go of a single detail.

Listening to him, Shen Tianxing's eyes were filled with heartache.

"Zhaor'er, you have suffered."

Shen Zhao shook his head.

"This Disciple has not suffered. This Disciple has merely done what should be done."

Lin Ruoxue held her son's hand.

"Zhaor'er, in the future, don't carry everything alone anymore. You have a father, a mother, Director Su Yun, and the Disciples of the Guardian Academy. You are not alone."

Shen Zhao nodded, tears swirling in his eyes.

"This Disciple will remember it."

On this day, while Shen Zhao was organizing the Legacy of the Power of Space-Time, the communication talisman suddenly lit up.

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

"Shen Zhao, the Investigation Department has discovered a new star at the edge of the New Universe. There is an ancient ruin on that star, and inside the ruin is a stone tablet. Some texts are engraved on the stone tablet, which are so ancient that even the Elders of the Array Hall cannot understand them. But a rescued Soul recognized those texts—they are the texts of the tribesmen of 'Pan' from the first cosmic cycle, recording the Legacy of the Chosen One."

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly.

The Legacy of the Chosen One? Was that left behind by the Chosen Ones of the previous six cycles? Or was it an even more ancient existence?

He put away the Jade Slip in his hand and stood up.

"This Disciple will go and take a look."

Shen Tianxing also stood up.

"Zhaor'er, Father will go with you."

Shen Zhao shook his head.

"Father, your Physical Body has not completely stabilized yet and you cannot travel far. It is enough for this Disciple to go alone. This Disciple has the eight-color power and the Power of Nothingness, so there will be no danger."

Shen Tianxing looked at him, was silent for a moment, and then nodded.

"Be careful. Take the communication talisman with you, and communicate immediately if anything happens."

Shen Zhao nodded and turned to walk out of the secret chamber.

An hour later, the spacetime flying boat rose from the Star Port and flew toward the edge of the New Universe.

The flying boat sped through the star sea, with eight-color light flowing around its hull, and the stars outside the portholes twinkling like countless diamonds in the darkness.

Shen Zhao stood in front of the porthole, looking at those stars, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

Not knowing how long he had flown, a small star appeared ahead.

The star was not large, only one-tenth the size of Yongning City, its surface covered with a thick layer of ice, reflecting a faint blue light under the starlight.

On the ice layer was an ancient ruin constructed of huge stones, and the stones were covered with dense runes.

Those runes were ancient—so ancient that even the ancient books of the Guardian Academy had no records of them.

The flying boat landed in front of the ruin, and Shen Zhao stepped out of the cabin door, the ice under his feet making a creaking sound.

He walked to the front of the ruin and raised his hand to gently touch those runes.

The runes lit up, and grayish-white light gushed out from the stones, condensing into a huge picture in the Void Realm.

In the picture, a giant stood in Chaos, holding a giant axe in his hand.

The Chosen One of the first cycle—Pan.

"Latercomer, if you see this text, it means this seat has already failed. This seat proved the Dao with physical strength, attempting to break the boundaries of the Universe with brute force. This seat failed, but this seat does not regret it. Because this seat did his best. Latercomer, this seat leaves his power here, waiting for the destined person. If you can inherit this seat's power, guard this star sea on this seat's behalf."

The giant in the picture raised his hand, and the giant axe flew out of his hand, turning into a golden light that poured into Shen Zhao's body.

Shen Zhao only felt a majestic power surging into his limbs and bones; that was Pan's power, the power of the Chosen One of the first cycle.

His cultivation Realm climbed once again, from the Body Integration Late Stage to Body Integration Perfection.

Shen Zhao knelt in front of the stone tablet and kowtowed deeply.

"Thank you, Senior."

He got up and continued walking toward the next stone tablet.

On the second stone tablet was engraved the Legacy of "Yi", the Chosen One of the second cycle.

The long bow turned into a silvery light and poured into his body.

On the third stone tablet was the Legacy of "Nong", the Chosen One of the third cycle; the wooden staff turned into a green light.

On the fourth stone tablet was the Legacy of "Xuanyuan", the Chosen One of the fourth cycle; the long sword turned into a cyan light.

On the fifth stone tablet was the Legacy of Bai Yunzhou, the Chosen One of the fifth cycle; the Green Lotus Sword Intent turned into a golden light.

Five stone tablets, five kinds of powers, and the wills of five Chosen Ones.

Fusing with the eight powers inside Shen Zhao's body, it transformed into an entirely new power—not Primordial, not Chaos, not Space-Time, not Karma, not Life, not Guardian, not Termination, not Nothingness, but Chosen.

That was the power of all Chosen Ones from the previous six cycles, the will of countless heroic martyrs over hundreds of millions of years, and the ultimate power to protect the star sea.

Shen Zhao's cultivation Realm broke through once again, advancing from Body Integration Perfection to Body Integration Great Perfection, being only a step away from breaking through to the Mahayana stage.

He knelt in front of the last stone tablet and kowtowed deeply.

"Seniors, rest assured; this Disciple will definitely not fail the trust placed in him."

He stood up and turned back to return to the flying boat.

The flying boat lifted off and flew in the direction of New Yongning City.

Outside the portholes, that small star grew further and further away, and the runes on those stone tablets gradually dimmed.

But Shen Zhao knew they were still there, waiting for the next destined person.

The path of the guardian is endless.

But as long as there are still people willing to protect it, the star sea will have hope.

When the flying boat landed at the Star Port of New Yongning City, the sky was already growing dark.

Shen Tianxing and Lin Ruoxue were standing on the Star Port waiting for him, and seeing him walk out of the cabin door, both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

"Zhaor'er, did you find it?"

Shen Zhao nodded and raised his hand, a cluster of golden light emerging from his palm—that was the power of the Chosen One, a power condensed from the wills of all Chosen Ones of the previous six cycles.

"This Disciple has found it. Pan, Yi, Nong, Xuanyuan, and the Patriarch, they have all left their power to this Disciple. Now this Disciple has thirteen kinds of powers within his body—the eight colors plus the powers of the five Chosen Ones. With the thirteen colors integrated into one, this Disciple is already a true Chosen One."

Shen Tianxing looked at him, his eyes filled with shock.

Thirteen kinds of powers, thirteen colors integrated into one—that was a Realm that even the Patriarch Bai Yunzhou had never reached, an achievement that even the Chosen Ones of the previous six cycles had never accomplished.

"Zhaor'er, you..."

Shen Zhao shook his head.

"It is not that this Disciple is strong, but that the Seniors are strong. It is they who gave their power to this Disciple, and it is they who stand behind this Disciple, supporting this Disciple. This Disciple is not alone."

Lin Ruoxue's tears welled up and spilled out, stepping forward to hug her son.

"Zhaor'er, Mother is proud of you."

Shen Zhao smiled, but his tears kept flowing uncontrollably.

He had waited for this day for far, far too long.

Waiting for his parents' embrace, waiting for his father's recognition, waiting for his mother's pride.

Now, he had waited for all of them.