272: Chapter 272 Ruins of the First District

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the forest of the First District, gilding every leaf in a thin layer of gold.

In the distance, cooking smoke curled up from the Pan Clan village. The laughter of playing children and the calls of women intertwined, vaguely audible.

Shen Nian stood before the stone gate of the ruins, holding the dark red demon god origin in his hand.

The crystal core was cold, as if he were holding a piece of thousand-year ice. Yet, he could feel a faint force pulsing inside it, like a heartbeat, like breathing, like a Life imprisoned for countless years waiting for release.

Yue Li stood by his side, gazing at the crystal core, remaining silent for a long time.

"The first one is ours.

There are still six more."

Her voice was very soft, yet carried an indescribable exhaustion—the exhaustion of finally seeing a glimmer of hope after countless years of waiting.

Shen Nian stowed the crystal core into his storage ring and looked up toward the Pan Clan village in the distance.

"Senior, this Disciple wishes to go see the descendants of the Pan Clan.

Before Senior Pangu died, he asked this Disciple to tell his kin—he never forgot them."

Yue Li nodded without stopping him. She simply followed behind as they walked along the forest path toward the village.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long. The qinglian sword swayed gently at Shen Nian's waist, the lotus patterns on the blade glowing with a faint teal light in the dusk.

The Pan Clan village was not large, consisting of only several dozen households.

The houses were built from massive stone blocks, each carved with rugged patterns—runes unique to the Pan Clan that symbolized strength and courage.

A stone stele stood at the village entrance, carved with four large characters—"Pan Clan Endures Forever".

A burly elderly man stood at the entrance. Though his hair and beard were completely white, his back was still straight, and his bright eyes resembled an old lion's.

He wore a short hide robe with a hand axe hanging at his waist, its blade glinting coldly under the setting sun.

Shen Nian walked up to the old man and gave a deep bow.

"Disciple Shen Nian of the Guardian Academy greets Senior."

The old man sized him up, his gaze falling upon the qinglian sword at his waist, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"The qinglian sword?

Are you Shen Zhao's Disciple?"

His voice boomed like a giant bell, causing the surrounding leaves to tremble slightly.

Shen Nian nodded.

"Progenitor Shen Zhao is this Disciple's teacher."

A complex look flickered in the old man's eyes—admiration, regret, and an indescribable tinge of sorrow.

"Shen Zhao, that kid... I've heard of him.

He gave his Life in exchange for peace in the New Universe.

A true man, no lesser than your Master Bai Yunzhou."

He stepped aside, clearing the path.

"Come in.

I am old Pan Lie, current leader of the Pan Clan."

Shen Nian and Yue Li followed Pan Lie into the village.

Although the village houses were simple, flowers and plants were grown in front of every doorstep, kept neat and orderly.

Children chased each other in the alleys. Seeing Pan Lie, they stopped and bowed politely.

"Hello, Clan Chief Grandpa."

Pan Lie responded to each of them, a kindly smile gracing his rugged face.

He led Shen Nian and Yue Li to a stone house in the center of the village.

The stone house was grander than the others. Two stone statues stood before the entrance, depicting giants holding giant axes, their faces solemn and lifelike.

"This is the ancestral hall of the Pan Clan.

It enshrines the spirit tablet of the First Clan Chief, Pangu."

Pan Lie pushed open the stone doors, which produced a low scraping sound.

The interior of the ancestral hall was not large, measuring only about thirty feet square.

On the central altar table sat a black spirit tablet inscribed with golden characters: "Spirit Tablet of First Clan Chief Pangu".

Before the spirit tablet burned three sticks of incense, their faint smoke curling upward slowly in the dim light.

Shen Nian knelt before the spirit tablet, rested the qinglian sword across his knees, and kowtowed deeply.

"Senior Pangu, this Disciple has come to see you.

This Disciple has brought your words back."

Pan Lie's brow furrowed.

"You met the First Clan Chief?

He is still alive?"

His voice trembled, surging with anticipation suppressed for countless years.

Shen Nian shook his head and recounted everything that happened in the ruins to Pan Lie—Pangu's remnant soul, the trial of the giant axe, borrowing Shen Zhao's power, and Pangu's final words before fading away.

After listening, Pan Lie fell silent for a long time.

His eyes reddened, but he did not let his tears fall.

He turned, knelt before the spirit tablet, and kowtowed deeply.

"First Clan Chief, rest assured.

The Pan Clan is still here, and your people are still here.

We have always been carrying on your Legacy."

He stood up and looked at Shen Nian.

"Child, that the First Clan Chief gave you the demon god origin means he approved of you.

The Pan Clan has nothing much to give you, but there is one item I wish to bestow upon you."

He walked deep into the ancestral hall and took down a hand axe from the wall.

The axe blade was pitch-black, and the handle was carved with intricate runes that glowed faintly, as if alive.

"This is an axe the First Clan Chief used in his early years.

Not that Sky-Cleaving Giant Axe, but the very first axe he used when he was young.

Passed down through generations of our Pan Clan, it has been handed down for countless eras.

Today, I pass it to you."

Shen Nian hurriedly declined.

"Senior, this is a supreme treasure of the Pan Clan. This Disciple cannot accept it."

Pan Lie shook his head and pressed the hand axe into his hands.

"The First Clan Chief gave you the demon god origin, and you brought his words back for him.

The Pan Clan cannot repay such kindness.

A single axe is nothing in comparison.

Take it."

The hand axe felt heavy in his hands, transmitting a warm power through its handle—the belief passed down through generations of the Pan Clan, the will of countless ancestors.

Gripping the hand axe, Shen Nian felt that power resonate with the Green Lotus Sword Intent inside him, like two old friends conversing after a long separation.

Refusing no further, he stored the hand axe into his storage ring.

"Thank you, Senior."

Pan Lie waved his hand and turned to look at Yue Li.

"Are you the Saintess of the Reincarnation Hall?"

Yue Li nodded.

"I am Yue Li, the last Saintess of the Reincarnation Hall."

Pan Lie looked at her, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

"I have heard a bit about the Reincarnation Hall.

The First Hall Master, Yue Hua, was a remarkable person.

She sacrificed herself to Seal the demon god origin.

You waited for her for countless years. It must have been hard on you."

Yue Li's hand paused slightly, her eyes reddening, but she didn't let any tears fall.

"It was not hard.

This Disciple merely did what needed to be done."

Pan Lie sighed.

"You are going to seek the remaining demon god origins, and the path ahead is fraught with danger.

I cannot help you much, but there is one thing I must tell you—the Yi Clan in the Second District is not easy to deal with.

Their leader, Yi Xing, is eccentric and dislikes outsiders.

You must be extra cautious when you go there."

Shen Nian nodded.

"Thank you for the warning, Senior."

Pan Lie saw them off to the village entrance.

The sun had completely set, and the clouds on the horizon were dyed dark red, like congealed blood.

An evening breeze blew past, bringing the fresh scent of forest vegetation.

"Child, come back alive."

Pan Lie patted Shen Nian's shoulder with heavy force, shaking his body slightly.

Shen Nian nodded solemnly.

"This Disciple will."

He turned and walked toward the flying boat.

Yue Li followed behind. The two walked side by side in the dusk, the qinglian sword swaying gently at his waist, its lotus patterns faintly glowing with teal light in the twilight.

Pan Lie stood at the village entrance, watching their retreating backs without moving for a long time.

In his hand, he was still gripping that hand axe—no, the hand axe had already been given to Shen Nian; he was merely gripping empty air.

Yet his fingers curled slightly, as if still grasping something.

Returning to the flying boat, Shen Nian took out the demon god origin from his storage ring and placed it on the control console.

The crystal core glowed softly in the dark, its dark red light illuminating the entire cabin.

Yue Li sat beside him, looking at the crystal core.

"The first one... there are six more.

The second one is in the Second District, the Yi Clan's territory."

Shen Nian nodded.

"This Disciple is ready.

We can set off at any time."

Yue Li shook her head.

"No rush.

Rest first.

You have just emerged from Pangu's trial, and your body hasn't recovered yet.

Forcing the journey now will only slow down our progress."

Shen Nian wanted to object, but Yue Li's gaze left him speechless.

That gaze was calm and firm, carrying an unquestionable power.

He nodded, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing.

Resting the qinglian sword across his knees, the lotus patterns on the blade glowed softly as the Progenitor's power nourished his damaged Meridians.

Shen Zhao's Origin mark slept within the sword, quietly burning in the darkness like a warm flame.

Yue Li looked at his graying hair, his wrinkled face, and his slightly trembling hands.

She thought of Shen Zhao—a person who likewise had graying hair, a wrinkled face, and was similarly untiring.

She said softly,

"You and your Master are truly very alike.

Both of you are the type who would work yourselves to exhaustion for the sake of others."

Shen Nian did not open his eyes; the corners of his mouth simply curved up slightly.

"Master once said that a Guardian relies not on power, but on their Dao Heart.

As long as the Dao Heart remains, no matter how tired the body is, one can hold on."

Yue Li was silent for a moment.

"What else did your Master say?"

Shen Nian thought for a moment.

"Master also said, 'Only by staying alive is there hope.

So no matter how difficult it gets, one must go on living.'"

Yue Li's eyes reddened, but she held back her tears.

She turned to look at the sea of stars outside the porthole, where countless stars flickered in the dark like innumerable eyes watching over this Universe.

"Your Master was right.

Only by staying alive is there hope."

The flying boat floated quietly in the sea of stars, neither starting nor moving forward.

Shen Nian regulated his breathing, while Yue Li gazed at the stars.

Neither spoke; in the cabin, there was only the low hum of the flying boat's engine and the faint hum of the qinglian sword.

Night deepened.

The light in the sea of stars grew brighter, with countless stars set like diamonds against the dark canopy of space.

Yue Li stood up, walked over to the porthole, looked at those stars, and spoke softly.

"Master, do you see?

The first demon god origin is in hand.

This Disciple is getting closer and closer to you."

No one responded to her.

Only the wind of the sea of stars blew silently through the Void Realm.

The next morning, Shen Nian opened his eyes.

His complexion looked much better than yesterday, and the bloodshot lines in his eyes had diminished.

He stood up and stretched his muscles and bones, which cracked softly—a stiffness from sitting cross-legged for so long.

"Senior, this Disciple is ready.

We can set off."

Yue Li nodded, walked to the control console, and reached out to gently touch the crystal core.

"spacetime flying boat, target: Second District, Yi Clan settlement."

The crystal core lit up, and the flying boat slowly rose, flying toward the Second District.

The stars outside the porthole began to shift backward, faster and faster, until they finally turned into countless streaks of light flashing past on both sides.

Shen Nian stood before the porthole, watching those streaks of light, praying silently in his heart—Progenitor, Uncle, are you watching this Disciple from heaven?

This Disciple is going to the Second District now.

This Disciple will surely gather all the demon god origins and definitely will not disappoint you.