287: Chapter 285 The Afterimage of the Courtroom

The points of light in the Sea of Reincarnation were still slowly flowing, like an unexhausted galaxy, twinkling with faint light in the darkness.

Shen Nian hovered above the sea of light, fifteen-colored light slowly gushing out from his body, turning into countless fine threads that reached deep into the sea of light, wrapping around those sleeping Souls to help them condense their Physical Body and recover their memories.

This was already the fourth month he had guarded within the Gate of Reincarnation.

For four months, he had hardly left this Void Realm.

Yue Li sat by the sea of light, holding that already blank reincarnation token in her hand.

The samsara lotus on the token had long since stopped glowing, but she still cupped it in her palm every day, as if doing so allowed her to feel the warmth of Master Yuehua.

Her complexion was a bit ruddier than four months ago, and the bloodshot eyes had also lessened.

But she remained taciturn, most of the time just quietly watching those points of light, watching them condense bit by bit into vague figures under Shen Nian's power.

On this day, Shen Nian was nourishing a larger point of light with the fifteen-colored power.

Inside that point of light, the outline of an old man could faintly be seen — white hair and beard, hunched figure, wearing a tattered robe.

The old man's eyes were still closed, but his fingers were beginning to slightly curl, as if grasping something, and as if waiting for something.

Suddenly, the entire Sea of Reincarnation trembled violently.

Those points of light began to jump wildly.

Some suddenly lit up.

Some suddenly went out.

Some darted around randomly in the Void Realm, like a frightened school of fish.

Shen Nian's hand suddenly paused, and the fifteen-colored threads were withdrawn from the point of light.

His complexion instantly turned solemn.

"Senior, what is going on?"

Yue Li stood up, walked to his side, and similarly stared at that surging sea of light.

Her brows were tightly locked, and the reincarnation token in her hand was slightly glowing — that token which had been dim for months unexpectedly lit up again at this moment.

Dark red light circulated across the surface of the token, flickering on and off, like a heartbeat.

"It is the Tribunal."

Yue Li's voice was very soft, yet carried a trace of indescribable fear, "The afterimage of the Tribunal."

"They have not completely dissipated yet, their consciousness still remains in this Void Realm, in the deepest depths of the Sea of Reincarnation."

Shen Nian's hand slightly paused.

The afterimage of the Tribunal?

Those beings who created The Designers, established the harvest system, and harvested the Souls of countless Universes?

He thought they had completely vanished along with the dispersion of the Tribunal Master.

He thought everything was over.

But he was wrong.

Yue Li raised the token above her head.

Dark red light gushed out from the token, condensing into a blurry image in the Void Realm.

In the image was a pitch-black palace — the Higher Space, where the Tribunal was located.

Around the palace hovered thirteen chairs, arranged in a ring, each one a hundred zhang tall, pitch-black all over, their surfaces covered with densely packed runes.

Sitting on the chairs were thirteen figures.

Their faces were blurry and indistinguishable, only their eyes clearly visible — scarlet-red, without pupils, possessing only endless indifference and majesty.

The thirteen judges.

The strongest beings beneath the Tribunal Master.

Every single one of them possessed power surpassing the Later Stage of Integration, and every single one had harvested the Souls of countless Universes.

Shen Nian thought they had dissipated along with the dispersion of the Tribunal Master.

But they did not.

Their afterimage was still here, in the deepest depths of the Sea of Reincarnation, in the memories of those harvested Souls.

"They are not dead yet?"

Shen Nian's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Yue Li shook her head, then nodded.

"Dead, but not completely dead either."

Shen Nian clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

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

"I do not know."

"This seat does not know either."

"The existence of the Tribunal is older than any Universe."

"Their consciousness has already merged with the Laws of this Void Realm."

"If you want to completely eliminate them, you must break the Laws of this Void Realm."

"But the price of breaking the Laws is something you cannot bear."

Shen Nian fell silent.

He thought of the Patriarch Shen Zhao.

He remembered how he used his own lifespan to reinforce the Seal of the Void King.

He remembered how he used his own Life to exchange for the peace of the starry sea.

The price, he always had to pay the price.

But he was not afraid.

Because he knew that some things had to be done by someone.

"This Disciple is not afraid of the price."

"This Disciple only fears that those Souls will never be able to rest in peace."

Yue Li looked at him, falling silent for a long time.

Then she nodded.

"Good."

"This seat will help you."

The two flew side by side toward the depths of the Sea of Reincarnation.

Those points of light swept past them.

Some were bright.

Some were dim.

Some were trembling, as if fearing something.

The deeper they went, the stronger that sense of oppression became.

It was not the oppression of power.

It was not the oppression of majestic aura.

But rather an indescribable sense of existence, as if something was watching them in the darkness.

That was the afterimage of the Tribunal.

They were watching them.

Waiting for them.

Waiting for them to throw themselves into the net.

Shen Nian tightly gripped the qinglian sword.

Fifteen-colored light circulated around the sword body.

The qinglian patterns shone brilliantly in the darkness.

The token in Yue Li's hand was also glowing.

The dark red light intertwined with the fifteen colors of the qinglian sword, illuminating the path ahead.

Not knowing how long they had flown, a huge black shadow appeared ahead.

That black shadow hovered in the Void Realm, a thousand zhang tall, pitch-black all over, its surface lacking any runes or decorations, possessing only endless darkness.

Around the black shadow hovered thirteen chairs.

No, not chairs.

They were the afterimages of the chairs.

Those afterimages were very faint, so faint they were almost invisible, but Shen Nian could feel their existence.

The afterimage of the Tribunal.

Shen Nian stopped his steps, hovering in the Void Realm.

Yue Li also stopped, standing by his side.

The two stood side by side facing that huge black shadow.

"Latecomer, you should not have come here."

A voice sounded in Shen Nian's mind, aged and majestic, carrying the vicissitudes that pierced through endless years.

That was not the voice of a single person.

But the voices of countless people superimposed together — the voices of the thirteen judges exploded in his mind simultaneously.

Shen Nian's head ached intensely, and blood began to seep from his seven orifices.

But he did not retreat, only staring fixedly at that black shadow.

"This Disciple has come to eliminate you."

That voice laughed.

The laughter was filled with utter disdain.

"Eliminate this seat?"

"Do you know who this seat is?"

"This seat is the Tribunal, the Guardian of order, the administrator of the Universe."

"This seat has existed for countless epochs, witnessing the birth and destruction of countless Universes."

"You, a mere Guardian, by what right do you eliminate this seat?"

Shen Nian did not answer.

He merely raised the qinglian sword.

Fifteen-colored light condensed on the sword body, transforming into a ten-thousand-zhang sword of light.

The sword of light slashed down, striking straight at that black shadow.

The blade collided with the black shadow, bursting forth dazzling sparks.

The black shadow trembled violently, countless fine cracks appearing on its surface.

But it healed very quickly.

"Too weak."

"Your power cannot even scratch this seat's fur."

Shen Nian gritted his teeth, pouring even more power into the sword of light.

The sword of light slashed down once more.

This time, light of fifteen colors circulated on the blade — golden, cyan, silver, light cyan, emerald green, golden, black, grayish white, golden, silver, cyan, green, blue, purple, dark red.

Fifteen powers, fifteen wills, fifteen Legacies.

Pangu's power of creating the world.

God Yi's archery power.

The Old Farmer's Life Power.

Ling Shuang's Power of Dao Protection.

Kashyapa's Karma Power.

Xuantian's Power of Space-Time.

Shen Zhao's Origin Power — all condensed in this single sword strike.

The blade slashed onto the black shadow.

The black shadow emitted a muffled, earth-shattering sound, like the dying moan of a colossal beast.

Cracks appeared once more, deeper, wider, and more numerous than before.

This time, the healing speed was much slower.

That voice carried a trace of surprise.

"You... you can actually injure this seat?"

Shen Nian did not answer.

He merely raised the sword of light once again.

The third sword strike.

The fourth sword strike.

The fifth sword strike.

Every single sword strike used up all his strength.

Every single strike left deep cracks on the black shadow.

His complexion grew paler and paler.

The fifteen-colored power within his body was rapidly depleting.

But his gaze remained steadfast.

His hand still steadily gripped the sword.

He could not stop.

Stopping meant failure.

He had promised the Patriarch to walk the path down for him.

He had promised those resurrected Souls to help them rest in peace.

He had promised those names on the Monument of Heroes to guard the starry sea.

When the sixth sword strike fell, the black shadow shattered with a bang.

Countless black fragments scattered in all directions, turning into black light filling the sky, drifting in the Void Realm.

Those chair afterimages also dissipated along with the shattering of the black shadow.

The voices of the thirteen judges rang out in Shen Nian's mind for the last time.

Carrying unwillingness.

Carrying anger.

And carrying a trace of indescribable relief.

"Latecomer, do you think killing this seat can end everything?"

"Too naive."

"The Will of the Tribunal has already merged with this Universe."

"As long as someone is still harvesting, as long as someone is still sacrificing, the Tribunal will not truly disappear."

Shen Nian put away the sword of light, panting heavily.

His complexion was pale as paper.

The fifteen-colored power within his body was almost completely exhausted.

The light of the qinglian sword also dimmed considerably.

But he was still standing.

Still alive.

Still opening his eyes, watching those black fragments that were dissipating.

"This Disciple will not let anyone be harvested again."

"This Disciple will not let anyone sacrifice again."

"This is this Disciple's promise."

That voice did not sound again.

The black fragments completely dissipated, turning into nothingness.

The Sea of Reincarnation returned to peace.

Those points of light no longer jumped.

No longer darted around randomly.

Instead, they quietly hovered in the Void Realm, like countless stars twinkling in the darkness.

Yue Li walked to Shen Nian's side, supporting his crumbling figure.

"Are you alright?"

Shen Nian nodded.

"Disciple is fine."

"Disciple is just a bit tired."

Yue Li looked at his graying hair.

Looking at his face covered in wrinkles.

Looking at his slightly trembling hands.

Her eyes turned red.

"You always say you're fine, but your body can't hold out anymore."

Shen Nian smiled, a calm and lighthearted smile.

"Disciple can still hold out for a long time."

"Disciple promised the Progenitor to guard the Sea of Stars for him."

"Disciple will not break this promise."

Yue Li didn't say anything more.

She just supported him and flew toward the exit of the Sea of Reincarnation.

The two of them flew one after another through the sea of light.

Those points of light brushed past them, like countless meteors carving beautiful arcs through the darkness.

When they flew out of the Gate of Reincarnation, the sky was growing dark.

The setting sun spilled over the spiritual fields of the Meteor Minor Realm, making the golden rice ears look even more brilliant.

The Old Farmer was still sitting in front of the wooden house, smoking a dry pipe and squinting at the spiritual rice.

Seeing Shen Nian come out, he waved.

"Kid, are you done talking?"

Shen Nian walked over and sat down beside the Old Farmer.

"Done talking."

The Old Farmer took out a coarse porcelain bowl from his bosom, poured a bowl of water, and handed it to him.

"Drink a bowl of water."

"Your Master drank this old man's water back then too."

Shen Nian took the bowl and drank it in one gulp.

The water was very cool and sweet, just like what the Progenitor had drunk back then.

The Old Farmer put away his dry pipe and patted his shoulder.

"Kid, come back alive."

"Your Master promised this old man, but he didn't do it."

"Don't be like him."

Shen Nian's tears swirled in his eyes.

But he didn't let them fall.

"Disciple won't."

"Disciple will definitely return alive."

He stood up and made a deep bow toward the Old Farmer.

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

Yue Li followed behind him.

The two of them walked one after another on the path beside the spiritual field.

The setting sun stretched their shadows very long.

The qinglian sword swayed gently at Shen Nian's waist.

The qinglian patterns on the sword body shone brilliantly under the setting sun.

Returning to the flying boat, Shen Nian crossed his legs, placed the qinglian sword across his knees, and closed his eyes.

He was recovering his consumed Origin Power.

He was also comprehending the information left behind when the Tribunal's lingering shadow dissipated — about the history of the Tribunal, the truth of the harvest system, and the secrets of the Universe's cycle.

Yue Li sat by the porthole, holding the reincarnation token in her hand.

The lotus on the token had completely dimmed.

No longer glowing.

No longer throbbing.

But she didn't throw it away.

Instead, she held it tightly in her palm, as if holding her Master's hand.

The flying boat sailed slowly in the Sea of Stars, toward the direction of Yongning City.

The stars outside the porthole flashed past one by one, like countless eyes watching them in the darkness.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Nian opened his eyes.

His complexion was a bit ruddier than before, and the bloodshot veins in his eyes were fewer.

But his gaze remained resolute.

"Senior, Disciple saw some things in the Tribunal's lingering shadow."

Yue Li turned her head to look at him.

"What things?"

Shen Nian took a deep breath and slowly spoke.

"The origin of the Tribunal."

"They are not existences after the birth of the Universe, but existences before the birth of the Universe."

"They were born in the Void Realm, earlier than the Spirit of Nothingness, earlier than the Transporter, earlier than any consciousness."

"They live on order and feed on order."

"They need order, they need rules, they need cycles."

"Without cycles, they will perish."

Yue Li's hand paused slightly.

"So, they created The Designers and established the harvest system, not for anything else, just to maintain order?"

"In order to survive?"

Shen Nian nodded.

"Yes."

"In order to survive."

"Just like us, they just want to survive."

"It's just that the way they chose is to sacrifice others."

Yue Li fell silent.

She thought of her Master Yuehua.

She thought of how she used her Physical Body to Seal the demon god origin.

She thought of what she said when she dissipated — "This seat finally understands, understands what true protection is."

True protection is not sacrificing others, but protecting others.

The Tribunal doesn't understand this principle.

They will never understand.

"Shen Nian, what do you plan to do?"

Shen Nian looked at the Sea of Stars outside the window and remained silent for a long time.

"Disciple is going to Higher Space to see the lingering shadow of the Tribunal Master."

"Disciple wants to ask him why."

"Why create The Designers, why establish the harvest system, why sacrifice so many people."

Yue Li's brows knitted together.

"Higher Space?"

"That place has already collapsed, you can't get in."

Shen Nian shook his head.

"Disciple can get in."

"Disciple has Origin Power, and has the fifteen-color power."

"Disciple can open the passage."

Yue Li looked at him and fell silent for a long time.

Then she nodded.

"Alright."

"This seat will accompany you."

Shen Nian wanted to refuse.

But Yue Li's gaze left him unable to speak.

That gaze was very calm and resolute, carrying an unquestionable power.

He nodded.

The flying boat turned its direction and flew toward Higher Space.

Higher Space is located above all Universes, where the Tribunal is located, and also the core of order.

There used to be a pitch-black palace, thirteen chairs, and a golden crystal core.

Now, the palace had collapsed.

The chairs were shattered.

The crystal core was also broken.

But the lingering shadow of the Tribunal Master was still there, within those ruins, within those shattered fragments of order.

The flying boat sailed in the space-time passage for a full month.

During this month, Shen Nian almost didn't close his eyes.

He Cultivated every day.

Every day he comprehended the deeper Profound Truth of those Legacy powers within the qinglian sword.

Yue Li would send him tea and meals every day.

But most of the time she remained silent.

Just quietly sitting by the porthole, looking at the flowing light outside the window.

The scene outside the porthole made Shen Nian stop breathing.

That was a ruin, endless ruins.

Shattered spar, broken pillars, broken runes floated in the Void Realm, slowly rotating like countless corpses floating in the darkness.

The palace no longer existed.

The chairs no longer existed.

The crystal core no longer existed either.

Only ruins.

Only fragments.

Only those forgotten histories.

Shen Nian walked out of the cabin door, suspended in the Void Realm.

Yue Li followed behind him.

The two of them flew side by side toward the depths of the ruins.

The deeper they went, the stronger the fluctuation of that order power became.

Not oppression.

Not a threat.

But an indescribable desolation, as if these ruins were crying, crying for those harvested Souls.

At the deepest part of the ruins, a faint light was suspended.

That light was very faint, so faint it was almost imperceptible, but it was particularly eye-catching in the darkness, like a lonely star.

In the light, an old man sat cross-legged — the Tribunal Master.

His figure was very faint, almost transparent, as if he would dissipate at any moment.

His eyes were closed.

His complexion was calm.

A faint, ethereal smile hung at the corners of his mouth.

There was no trace of Life breath on his body.

But his consciousness was still there, within those shattered fragments of order, within the memories of those harvested Souls.

Shen Nian knelt in the Void Realm, making a deep kowtow toward that light.

"Senior, Disciple has come."

The Tribunal Master's eyes slowly opened.

Those eyes were golden, unlike any eyes Shen Nian had ever seen.

Not majesty.

Not indifference.

But an indescribable exhaustion, as if a person who had lived for too long could finally rest.

"Latecomer, you have come."

"This seat has waited for you for a long time."

Shen Nian raised his head, looking at those golden eyes.

"Senior, Disciple wants to ask you a question."

"Ask."

"Why did you create The Designers?"

"Why did you establish the harvest system?"

"Why sacrifice so many people?"

The Tribunal Master fell silent for a long time.

So long that Shen Nian thought he wouldn't answer.

Then, he slowly spoke.

"Because this seat thought that order is everything."

"Thought that as long as order is maintained, more people can survive."

"Thought that sacrificing a minority can preserve the majority."

"This seat was wrong, this seat was wrong for many years."

His figure began to fade.

Starting from his feet, inch by inch turning into golden points of light.

"Latecomer, this seat hands the Tribunal's power over to you."

"Use your own way to protect everything you want to protect."

Shen Nian's tears gushed from his eyes.

"Senior..."

The Tribunal Master smiled, a smile of incomparable relief.

"No need to be sad."

"This seat has waited for countless years, waiting for someone who can inherit the Tribunal's power."

"Having waited for it, that is enough."

"This seat does not regret it."

His figure completely dissipated, turning into golden points of light all over the sky, drifting in the Void Realm.

Those points of light drifted toward Shen Nian, merging into his body, intertwining with the fifteen-color power, and resonating with the Power of Dao Protection.

His cultivation climbed once again.

From the Later Stage of Integration to Mahayana Perfection.

He knelt in the Void Realm, making a deep kowtow toward the dissipated light.

"Senior, rest assured, Disciple will definitely not fail the commission."

He stood up, wiped away his tears, and turned to fly toward the direction of the flying boat.

Yue Li followed behind him.

The two of them flew one after another through the ruins.

The Tribunal is no longer here.

But its power is still here.

In Shen Nian's body.

In the qinglian sword.