291: Chapter 289 New Era Celebration

The sky over Yongning City had never been so brilliant.

Countless spirit lamps hovered above the city, resembling an inverted river of stars.

The lamp bodies were carved from spirit crystals of the Liuli Realm, sealing within them a wisp of spirit fire from Qingmang Mountain, emitting a warm and soft glow in the twilight.

Between the spirit lamps were delicate silver lines connected, which was the first gift left behind by the Tiangong Clan—a set of self-luminous decorative array patterns said to last a full hundred years without dimming.

Shen Nian stood in the plaza before the Monument of Heroes, raising his head to look at that sea of lamps.

His hair remained streaked with gray, and the wrinkles on his face had not decreased with the passage of time, but his spirit looked much better than in previous years.

Ever since the matters of the Sea of Reincarnation concluded, he was finally able to sleep soundly for a few full nights, and finally had the time to sit down and properly look at this city he had personally guarded.

The colorless light at the top of the Monument of Heroes intertwined with the radiance of the spirit lamps, making it impossible to distinguish which stream came from the heroic martyrs and which came from the living.

On the stone steps beneath the monument were placed fresh flowers sent from various realms, their petals gently swaying in the night breeze, emitting a crisp and refreshing fragrance.

"Shen Nian! What are you daydreaming about standing here?"

Yue Li's voice came from behind.

Today, she had rarely changed out of her plain white robe and wore a dark red long dress—that was the favorite color of the first Hall Master of the Reincarnation Hall during her lifetime.

Embroidered on the hem of the skirt were intricate samsara lotus, shimmering with an elusive dark glow under the lamplight.

Shen Nian turned back and saw Yue Li walking towards him.

Her complexion was much rosier than before, and the exhaustion in her eyes had mostly dissipated.

Although the years had likewise left traces on her face, her steps were lighter and more brisk than ever before.

"This Disciple is looking at those spirit lamps," Shen Nian said, "They're truly beautiful."

Yue Li walked to his side and likewise looked up at the sea of lamps: "For the New Era Centenary Celebration, various realms have brought out their absolute best.

The Lingxi Realm sent ten jars of the finest spirit spring water, the Cangwu Domain sent a hundred newly forged spirit swords, and the Yao Race of Qingmang Mountain gathered spirit flowers for three whole days just to make those floral wreaths.

The Artifact Refiners of the Liuli Realm spent three whole months grinding the finest spirit crystals into lamp bodies."

She paused, turning to look at Shen Nian: "All of this is what you deserve."

Shen Nian shook his head: "It's not what this Disciple deserves. It was earned together by everyone."

Yue Li did not refute and merely smiled gently.

She knew Shen Nian was never willing to take credit, and she was used to it.

This person, just like his Master Shen Zhao, clearly did the most things yet always said he merely "did what should be done."

More and more people gathered in the plaza.

Representatives from various realms wore their respective ceremonial attire; some were simple, some gorgeous, and some eccentric.

The Realm Lord of the Lingxi Realm wore an aqua-blue robe embroidered with flowing water ripples on the hem, making it seem as if shimmering water was genuinely swaying as they walked.

The representative of the Cangwu Domain wore martial attire, with a newly forged spirit sword hung at their waist, its scabbard engraved with the totem of the Cangwu Domain.

The Old Ape Patriarch of Qingmang Mountain leaned on a spirit wood cane, the top of which was inlaid with an emerald-green demonic core that glowed faintly under the lamplight.

Most eye-catching of all were those representatives from the Myriad Realms.

They were those Souls rescued by Shen Nian from the depths of the Sea of Reincarnation, originating from countless destroyed cycles and Universes.

Their appearances, attire, and languages all varied, but in their eyes lay the exact same thing—gratitude.

An elderly man with white hair leaning on a cane walked up before Shen Nian.

His figure was stooped, and the wrinkles on his face were as deep as knife carvings, but that pair of eyes was exceedingly bright, shining like two stars.

"Benefactor." The old man's voice was hoarse yet clear, "This old man is finally able to stand here and personally say thank you to you."

Shen Nian hurriedly stepped forward to support him: "Elder, you don't need to be like this. This Disciple merely…"

"Merely did what should be done." The old man took over his words and then smiled, "Your Master said the exact same thing back then.

This old man met him during the fifth cycle; he always said, 'This Disciple merely did what should be done.'

The two of you, Master and Disciple, are truly alike."

Shen Nian's hand paused slightly: "You've met this Disciple's Master?"

The old man nodded: "Met him.

At that time, he was still a youth, even younger than you are now.

He knelt before Senior Ling Shuang, kneeling for an entire night.

By dawn, his knees were worn raw, yet he was still smiling.

He said, 'This Disciple isn't in pain.'"

Shen Nian's tears swirled in his eye sockets, but he did not let them fall.

Today was the celebration; he could not cry.

From afar came a burst of drumbeats, low and distant.

That was the unique war drum of the Yao Race of Qingmang Mountain; it was said that during the Old Universe era, they used this kind of drum sound to boost morale and deter enemies.

Nowadays, the drumbeat was no longer the horn of war, but the opening prelude of the celebration.

Guardian Ancestor Ling Xi walked over from the direction of the Council Hall.

Today she wore a plain white robe, with that newly forged long sword hung at her waist.

Her white hair was even more abundant than a hundred years ago, almost completely white, bound behind her head by a cyan hair ribbon.

Yet her steps remained steady, her back remained straight as a ramrod, and her eyes still held light.

She walked up to the Monument of Heroes and came to a halt.

The people in the plaza gradually quieted down, all gazes concentrating upon her.

She turned around, facing everyone.

Her voice was not loud, yet it clearly spread across the entire plaza: "Everyone, today is the centenary celebration of the establishment of the New Universe Alliance.

One hundred years ago today, on this land, we built the first city and erected the first Monument of Heroes."

"Over the past hundred years, from having nothing at all, we have reached a state where Myriad Realms share a single heart.

The spirit spring water of the Lingxi Realm has nourished the spirit fields of various realms, the spirit swords of the Cangwu Domain have guarded the peace of various realms, and the spirit wood of Qingmang Mountain has sheltered countless people from wind and rain.

The spirit crystals of the Liuli Realm have illuminated countless nights, and the power of Reincarnation of the Reincarnation Hall has given every departed Soul a place to belong."

"These past hundred years, not only have we survived, but we have lived very well."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the entire audience.

"But we must remember, all of this did not come out of thin air.

It was exchanged with the lives of those who are no longer here.

It is Patriarch Bai Yunzhou, Senior Ling Shuang, General Zhou Zhiting, and Directorate Head Song Xinghe.

It is Guardian Lin Jingyun, Path Guardian Ancestor Qin Hao, and Patriarch Shen Yuan.

It is Patriarch Shen Zhao."

Her voice trembled slightly, but quickly returned to calmness.

"And there are those whose names cannot be called, those who fell on the battlefield, collapsed from exhaustion during construction, or went missing during exploration.

Every single one of them is a cornerstone of the star sea."

"Today, we celebrate rebirth, but we must also remember sacrifice."

The plaza fell into a solemn silence.

Some began to cry softly, some silently wiped away tears, and some clenched their fists tightly.

Among those rescued Souls, quite a few wept aloud—they recalled their loved ones, their clansmen, and their destroyed homelands.

Shen Nian stood before the Monument of Heroes and slowly knelt down.

Yue Li stood beside him and likewise knelt down.

Guardian Ancestor Ling Xi turned around and bowed deeply toward the Monument of Heroes.

In the plaza, everyone knelt down.

From the representatives of various realms to ordinary citizens, from the Disciples of the Guardian Academy to the investigators of the Investigation Department, from human Cultivators to the warriors of the Yao Race.

No one spoke; there was only the sound of the wind blowing through the spirit lamps and low sobs.

They knelt for a long time, so long that the glow of the spirit lamps became even brighter.

Then, Guardian Ancestor Ling Xi straightened up and raised a hand to signal everyone to rise.

"Let the celebration begin."

The drumbeats sounded once more, this time even more enthusiastic and joyful.

Representatives from various realms stepped forward one after another to present congratulatory gifts.

The Realm Lord of the Lingxi Realm presented newly brewed spirit spring water, the representative of the Cangwu Domain presented a long sword engraved with blessing runes, and the Old Ape Patriarch of Qingmang Mountain presented a seed of a thousand-year spirit wood.

Those rescued Souls also stepped forward in succession; some offered local specialties from their hometowns, some presented hand-woven fabrics, and some simply stepped up to say "Thank you."

Shen Nian stood aside, watching all this, as an indescribable warmth welled up in his heart.

Yue Li walked to his side and handed him a cup of wine: "Drink some.

This is a new brew from the Lingxi Realm, said to prolong life."

Shen Nian took the wine cup and took a gentle sip.

The wine was crisp and refreshing, entering the mouth with a hint of sweetness, which then transformed into a warm surge of power flowing down the throat into all four limbs and bones.

"Delicious," he said.

Yue Li smiled: "You're just like your Master; no matter what you drink, you only ever say 'Delicious'."

Shen Nian also smiled, smiling with calm detachment.

In the plaza in the distance, children were running and playing, chasing each other.

Their laughter was as crisp as silver bells, carrying far away in the night breeze.

The Disciples of the Guardian Academy sat together in a circle; someone plucked a zither, while someone else sang a song.

The youths of the Yao Race danced a war dance nearby, their movements agile and powerful, drawing bursts of cheers.

Those rescued Souls gathered in twos and threes; there were humans, members of the Yao Race, and races Shen Nian had never seen before.

Some were conversing, some were drinking wine, and some were simply sitting quietly, watching all of this.

They had waited for countless years, waiting for someone who could save them.

Now, although that person was no longer here, his Disciple was still around.

They were all alive, living very well.

Shen Nian watched all this, an unprecedented peace welling up in his heart.

He recalled what Patriarch Shen Zhao had said: "Only by staying alive is there hope."

Now, they were all alive.

He raised his head and drained the wine in his cup in a single gulp.

The night grew deeper, and the glow of the spirit lamps grew brighter and brighter.

The colorless light at the top of the Monument of Heroes intertwined with the radiance of the lamp sea, illuminating the entire Yongning City and lighting up the heart of every single person.

The bell tower in the distance rang out with bell chimes; it was the toll of midnight.

At this exact moment one hundred years ago, the New Universe Alliance was officially established.

The plaza erupted into earth-shattering cheers.

People embraced and wept, holding their wine cups high.

Shen Nian stood within the cheering crowd, a smile on the corners of his lips.

He turned around and looked at those names on the Monument of Heroes—Bai Yunzhou, Ling Shuang, Zhou Zhiting, Song Xinghe, Guardian Lin Jingyun, Path Guardian Ancestor Qin Hao, Shen Yuan, Shen Zhao.

And countless unfamiliar names, countless sacrificed heroic martyrs.

They were all there, all looking at him, all smiling.

He softly said: "Seniors, the star sea is wonderful. You can rest assured."

The night breeze blew past, causing the spirit lamps to sway gently, resembling a swaying sea of stars.