281: Chapter 281 The Key to the Gate of Reincarnation

The crystal core in the secret room was still throbbing, beat by beat, like the heartbeat of a dying person, slow and steady.

Shen Nian's hand had been pressed against the surface of the crystal core for three whole days, and the six-color Legacy power continuously surged from his palm, pouring into the disintegrating dark red giant core.

His complexion was as pale as paper, his lips were chapped, and the dark circles under his eyes were so heavy as if they had been smeared with a layer of ink, but he did not withdraw his hand, nor did he move a fraction of an inch.

Yue Li knelt beside him, having not closed her eyes for three days as well. Holding the black token in her hand, the samsara lotus on the token was glowing slightly, its dark red light synchronizing with the throbbing of the crystal core, and every flash made her heart tighten a fraction.

Deep within the crystal core, Yuehua's Physical Body had mostly disintegrated, leaving only the upper body still suspended in the dark red light.

Her expression remained calm, and the corners of his mouth still carried that trace of an ethereal smile, as if she were having a wonderful dream.

But her body from the waist down had completely vanished, transforming into countless dark red specks of light that drifted within the crystal core, merging into one with the power of the seven demon god origins.

Those specks of light were very bright and dense, like countless fireflies flying in the darkness.

Every speck of light was a part of her Life, and the final gift she left to this world.

"Shen Nian, can you hold on?"

Yue Li's voice was very soft, as light as a sigh about to dissipate in the wind, but Shen Nian heard it.

He did not open his eyes, merely nodding slightly.

"This Disciple can hold on."

His voice was hoarse, so hoarse that it was almost inaudible, yet very firm.

Yue Li said nothing more, only injecting more Reincarnation power into the token, making the token's light synchronize even more with the crystal core's throbbing.

She knew Shen Nian was risking his Life.

Not for her, not for Yuehua, but for those Souls that had been harvested for countless years.

For those sleeping in the Sea of Reincarnation.

For those waiting for Rebirth.

This person, just like his Master, always put others first and never thought of himself.

On the morning of the fourth day, the throbbing of the crystal core suddenly accelerated.

From a slow, almost stagnant rhythm, it abruptly turned hurried, like the beating of battle drums or ten thousand horses galloping.

Shen Nian abruptly opened his eyes, fourteen-colored light flashing past in them and vanishing.

He felt an unprecedented power surging out from deep within the crystal core—that was the power of the seven demon god origins activated simultaneously, the Reincarnation power Sealed for countless years, and the final chance Yuehua exchanged with her Life.

"Senior Yue Li, the Gate of Reincarnation is about to open!"

Yue Li felt it too.

She stood up, holding the token above her head. Dark red light surged from the token, intertwining with the light of the crystal core and illuminating the entire secret room.

The walls of the secret room began to tremble, the ground began to crack, and countless fine fissures spread outward from the crystal core like spiderwebs and lightning.

Within the fissures, dark red light gushed out, condensing into a gigantic gate of light in the secret room.

The gate of light was ten zhang high and six zhang wide, its entire body interwoven from dark red runes. Those runes circulated slowly, emitting a heart-palpitating pressure.

That was the Gate of Reincarnation.

The gate leading to the "Real Layer".

The place where all harvested Souls rested in peace.

And the hope for their Rebirth.

Shen Nian withdrew his hand from the crystal core.

His palm was already red and swollen, the skin at his fingertips rubbed raw, and fresh blood dripped down his fingers onto the dark red crystal floor, making a faint sound.

But he paid it no mind, only staring fixedly at that gigantic gate of light as his heartbeat accelerated.

Yue Li stepped forward and pressed the token against the gate of light.

The token lit up, its dark red light intertwining with the runes on the gate, producing a muffled, thunderous roar like an ancient bell toll echoing through the secret room.

In the center of the gate of light, a fissure split open.

The fissure was very narrow, only a palm's width, but Shen Nian could see the light emanating from within the fissure—it was a light he had never seen before, neither white, nor gold, nor dark red, but an indescribable color.

Like the faintest streak of light in the sky before dawn, or the final ray of sunset at dusk, carrying a vicissitude that pierced through the years.

"The Gate of Reincarnation has opened."

Yue Li's voice trembled, her body trembling as well, but she did not step back.

She had waited for countless years, waiting for this day.

Now, this day had finally arrived.

Shen Nian walked to her side, standing shoulder to shoulder with her before the gate of light.

The qinglian sword gently swayed at his waist, the qinglian patterns on the sword body radiating a faint azure glow amidst the dark red light.

The six-color Legacy power circulated within his body, resonating with the Power of Dao Protection and echoing the Progenitor's Origin mark.

He took a deep breath and reached his hand toward the fissure.

Just the instant his fingertips were about to touch the light—

Yuehua's voice resounded in his mind.

"Child, wait."

Shen Nian's hand paused slightly, withdrawing his hand.

"Senior?"

Yuehua's voice was very soft and weary, like someone who had just awakened from a long slumber and had not yet fully recovered their strength.

"The Gate of Reincarnation requires a key. The seven demon god origins are the keys to open the gate. But the keys have already been used; the gate is open, and the keys are ruined."

Shen Nian's hand paused slightly.

"Then how should this Disciple enter?"

Yuehua fell silent for a moment.

"This seat's Physical Body has not completely dissipated yet. This seat's power is still here. This seat can use her final power to open a passage for you. But the passage can only last for the time it takes to burn an incense stick. You must find those harvested Souls within that time and awaken them with your power. Otherwise, the passage will close, and you will be trapped inside the Gate of Reincarnation, never able to come out."

Shen Nian did not hesitate.

"This Disciple will go."

Yue Li's complexion instantly turned pale.

"Shen Nian, in the time it takes to burn an incense stick, you won't even reach the edge of the Sea of Reincarnation; how can you possibly find those Souls?"

Shen Nian turned to look at her, his gaze calm.

"Senior, this Disciple is not alone. This Disciple has the qinglian sword, the six-color Legacy power, and the Progenitor's Origin mark. This Disciple has the convictions of countless martyrs supporting him from behind. This Disciple can do it."

Yue Li looked at him, her eye sockets turning red, but she said nothing more.

She knew she couldn't stop him.

This person, just like his Master, once he decided on something, even nine oxen couldn't pull him back.

Yuehua's voice sounded once again.

"Child, this seat doesn't have much power left. This seat will now open the passage for you. Are you ready?"

Shen Nian took a deep breath, drew the qinglian sword from his waist, and gripped it in his hand.

The qinglian patterns on the sword body shone brilliantly amidst the dark red light, and fourteen-colored light circulated around the sword body like a blooming lotus.

"This Disciple is ready."

The crystal core suddenly lit up.

Dark red light gushed from the crystal core, pouring into the gate of light.

The runes on the gate of light began to flash wildly, the fissure growing larger and wider.

From a palm's width to an arm's width, to a person's width.

When the fissure became wide enough to accommodate one person passing through, the light suddenly stagnated.

Then, an aged and weary voice came from deep within the gate of light.

"Latecomer, enter."

Shen Nian stepped forward, walking toward the gate of light.

Yue Li called out from behind.

"Shen Nian, come back alive!"

Shen Nian did not look back, merely waving his hand.

The moment he stepped into the gate of light, a low hum came from behind—that was the sword hum of the qinglian sword, as well as the convictions of countless martyrs echoing his voice.

He did not stop, simply continuing to walk forward.

Because he knew countless people were watching him from behind.

There was the Progenitor, Uncle, Ling Shuang, Kashyapa, and Xuantian.

There were all the people who believed in him.

He could not let them down.

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

There was no light, no runes, only a hazy gray space.

Countless specks of light floated within the space, each speck of light slowly rotating and emitting a faint glow.

Those specks of light were the harvested Souls.

Not six cycles, but countless cycles.

Not hundreds of millions, but countless numbers.

Shen Nian floated in the space, looking at those specks of light, an indescribable emotion welling up in his heart.

He recalled what his uncle Shen Yuan had said— "They are all there, in the heavens, in the sea of stars, in every place that needs protection."

Now, he believed it.

Because they were truly here, among these specks of light.

But the time it takes to burn an incense stick was simply too short.

It was impossible for him to find every Soul, impossible to awaken every single person.

He could only do what he could do.

He closed his eyes, sinking his mind into the qinglian sword.

The Progenitor's Origin mark was slumbering within the sword; he needed to awaken it.

"Progenitor, this Disciple needs your power."

Light lit up.

The Origin mark within the qinglian sword began to throb, growing brighter and brighter.

A majestic power surged out from the sword, pouring into Shen Nian's body.

His cultivation level climbed, from the Peak of the Mid Stage of Integration to the Perfection of the Mid Stage of Integration, and onward to the Later Stage of Integration.

He opened his eyes, fourteen-colored light flashing past in them and vanishing.

He raised the qinglian sword, and fourteen-colored light surged from the sword body, condensing into a gigantic pillar of light in the Void Realm.

The pillar of light soared into the sky, illuminating the entire hazy gray space.

Those specks of light began to throb, began to flash, and began to close in toward him.

Not because he summoned them, but because they sensed his power—the power of protection, the power of hope, the power of Rebirth.

Shen Nian did not move, simply standing there, holding high the sword, letting the light illuminate everything.

He didn't know if this would be useful, nor did he know if those Souls would awaken.

But he knew he had tried his best.

He had done everything he could do.

The rest he left to heaven's will.

The pillar of light lasted for who knows how long—perhaps the time it takes to burn an incense stick, perhaps even longer.

Shen Nian's spiritual power was rapidly depleting, his complexion growing paler and paler, his body trembling slightly.

But he did not lower the sword.

Because he knew that once he lowered the sword, those Souls might never wake up again.

Gritting his teeth, he poured his final power into the sword.

The qinglian sword emitted a crisp, resonant sword hum, like a Phoenix singing.

The pillar of light surged drastically, from ten zhang to a hundred zhang, from a hundred zhang to a thousand zhang.

Those specks of light began to change—from motionless to throbbing, from throbbing to flashing, from flashing to condensing.

One after another, patch after patch, countless specks of light condensed into blurred figures amidst the light.

Their faces were still blurred and indistinct, but their eyes had opened.

Within those eyes were surprise, gratitude, and hope.

They looked at Shen Nian, as if saying— "Thank you, latecomer."

Shen Nian's tears burst forth from his eyes.

He did not wipe them, simply letting them flow.

Because he knew he had done it.

He had truly done it.

The pillar of light began to shrink.

From a thousand zhang to a hundred zhang, from a hundred zhang to ten zhang, from ten zhang to one zhang.

Shen Nian's power was already exhausted, and the light of the qinglian sword had also dimmed.

But he was still standing, still alive, still keeping his eyes open, looking at those awakening Souls.

Yuehua's voice resounded in his mind, carrying a trace of gratification.

"Child, you did it. This seat did not misjudge you."

Shen Nian's voice was hoarse.

"Senior, this Disciple merely did what should be done."

Yuehua laughed, her laughter very soft, as light as the wind blowing past withered branches.

"What should be done... Yes, what should be done. This seat thought the same way back then. This seat used her own Physical Body to Seal the demon god origin, thinking that was what should be done. Now this seat knows, this seat was wrong. What should be done is not sacrificing oneself, but protecting others. You have taught this seat this point."

Shen Nian's tears welled up once more.

"Senior..."

Yuehua interrupted him.

"This seat does not have much time left. This seat's Physical Body is about to completely dissipate. But this seat has no regrets, because this seat has finally understood. Understood what true protection is."

Her voice grew weaker and weaker, further and further away.

"Child, help this seat tell Li'er—Master loves her. Master has always loved her."

As her voice fell, Yuehua's voice completely vanished.

Shen Nian knelt in the Void Realm, bowing deeply toward the dissipating voice.

"Senior rest assured, this Disciple will definitely bring the message."

He stood up, wiped away his tears, and turned to fly toward the direction of the gate of light's exit.

Behind him, those awakened Souls were still watching him, seeing him off as he left.

He knew they would come back to Life.

Perhaps it would take time, perhaps it would require more nurturing, but they would definitely come back to Life.

Because hope was still here.

Because protection was still here.

Because he was still here.

The moment he flew out of the gate of light, the gate slowly closed behind him.

In the secret room, that gigantic crystal core had completely disintegrated, transforming into countless dark red specks of light drifting in the Void Realm.

Yuehua was no longer there.

But her will was still here.

Within those awakened Souls, within Yue Li's heart, within Shen Nian's qinglian sword.

Yue Li knelt on the ground, looking at those drifting specks of light, her face streaming with tears.

But she did not cry out loud, because she had promised Master to wait for her to return.

Master did not return, but her will had returned.

Her love had returned.

Shen Nian walked to Yue Li's side, squatted down, and said softly.

"Senior, Senior Yuehua asked this Disciple to tell you—she loves you. She has always loved you."

Yue Li's tears flowed uncontrollably, but the corners of her mouth curved slightly upward.

"This Disciple knows. This Disciple has always known."

She stood up, wiped away her tears, and looked at Shen Nian.

"The Gate of Reincarnation has opened, and those Souls have also awakened. Next, it is time to let them experience Rebirth."

Shen Nian nodded.

"This Disciple will help them. This Disciple promised the Progenitor to walk this path for him."

Yue Li looked at him, her eyes filled with gratification.

"You and your Master are truly alike."

Shen Nian smiled, his smile as light and breezy as clouds and wind.

"This Disciple is inferior to the Progenitor. This Disciple merely did what should be done."

The two of them walked out of the secret room side by side, walking in the empty passage.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the passage, like a heartbeat, like breathing, like the footsteps of a new era.

The key to the Gate of Reincarnation was the seven demon god origins, as well as Yuehua's Life.

The gate was open, and those Souls had awakened.

But this was only the beginning.

The road to Rebirth was still very long.

But Shen Nian was not afraid.

Because he knew he was not alone.