300: Chapter 298 Evolution and Protection

The interior of the Heart of Tiangong was far vaster than Shen Nian had anticipated.

Those intersecting metallic structures were like living meridians, with warm light flowing through them, brightening and dimming at times, as if breathing.

The Disciples followed behind him, their footsteps echoing softly in the empty passage. Some couldn't help but reach out to touch the light-flowing walls; when their fingertips met the warm, smooth surface, a faint humming sound resonated—as if in response to their touch.

The light form of The Artisan's consciousness led the way ahead of them, its luminous figure silently traversing the passage.

Shen Nian walked at the very front, his gaze sweeping over the patterns that occasionally emerged on the walls—some were geometric shapes, some were intertwined lines, and others were indecipherable symbols.

They seemed to be conveying something, but Shen Nian could not yet read them.

At the end of the passage was a massive circular space.

Suspended in the center of the space was a transparent crystal core about thirty feet in diameter. Countless fine specks of light flowed inside it, like stars swirling in a miniature Universe.

"The core of the Heart of Tiangong."

The Artisan's voice resonated in Shen Nian's mind. "Stored here are all our memories regarding creation and evolution."

"You may sense here, and you may learn here."

"However, this requires an ability—whether you can receive the will of the Origin."

Shen Nian walked forward to the crystal core, raised his hand, and gently touched it.

The moment his fingertips touched the crystal core, a vast amount of information flooded into his Sea of Consciousness—not words, nor images, but something far more direct, like an experience stamped directly into his consciousness.

He saw the birth of the Tiangong Clan.

When Chaos first condensed, the Origin Power gathered together, solidifying into the earliest specks of light.

From those specks of light, the first batch of consciousness was born—without bodies, without names, possessing only pure comprehension.

They understood the Chaos they were in, understood the flowing energies within Chaos, and then began attempting to alter the flow of those energies.

The first creation.

A speck of light rerouted a stream of energy, causing it to flow across a patch of Chaos; that patch of Chaos began to solidify, becoming a piece of new matter.

That matter resembled a stone, yet also resembled metal, glowing faintly in the Chaos.

Then, more specks of light joined in; they began to divide tasks, collaborate, and construct—the earliest structures appeared.

They were merely simple geometric shapes with straight lines and precise angles, but they were the very first "created things" in this Chaos.

Then, creation itself began to evolve.

Those specks of light learned how to interweave two different streams of energy to produce new effects.

They learned how to make structures actively absorb the surrounding Chaos energy to maintain their own shape.

They learned how to establish connections between multiple structures, forming a larger whole.

With every evolution, their creations became more complex and exquisite.

But Shen Nian also saw another side.

As their capacity for creation grew, the Tiangong Clan questioned "why create" less and less.

They fell into the inertia of creation—like a river that initially rushed forward to flow into the sea, but later flowed simply because it had always been flowing.

They built more and more structures, larger and larger, yet gradually forgot the significance of those structures.

Shen Nian withdrew his hand and took a step back.

The information that had flooded into his Sea of Consciousness slowly settled, like stirred water coming to a rest once more.

He stood in place, motionless for a long time.

The Artisan's luminous figure hovered before him: "You have seen our past."

"You have seen our prosperity, and you have also seen our aimlessness."

Shen Nian nodded, his voice hoarse: "This Junior has seen it."

"The Seniors' capacity for creation is truly admirable."

"However, this Junior also noticed something concerning."

"Seniors seem to have... lost your purpose."

The light around The Artisan flickered slightly: "You are right."

"We forgot why we create."

"We only know how to create more exquisitely, but we do not know what those things were created for."

"This is why we have been waiting."

"We are waiting for someone to bring us the answer."

Shen Nian fell silent.

He lowered his head, his gaze falling onto the fine patterns on the floor.

The problem of the Tiangong Clan and the problem of the Guardian Academy Disciples were remarkably similar.

"Senior, this Junior has observed a similar phenomenon within the Star Sea Alliance as well."

Shen Nian raised his head, his eyes calm. "My Disciples have mastered various Dao-protecting arts—swordsmanship, Formations, Talismans, and spells—and they excel at them all."

"Yet they too have gradually forgotten why they learned these things."

"They only know how to protect, but not what they are protecting."

The light of The Artisan was silent for a moment: "So, you are searching for answers as well."

"Yes."

"This Junior brought the Disciples out this time precisely to let them see the outside world."

"To let them see with their own eyes the things that need to be protected, rather than merely reading about them in books."

Shen Nian's voice was soft, yet carried an indescribable resolve. "This Junior believes that only when one truly understands the meaning of protection can the strength of protection have a Foundation."

The Artisan slowly drifted forward a short distance: "Your Star Sea Alliance's concept of 'guarding the Dao' and our Tiangong Clan's concept of 'evolution' seem to be two opposing paths."

"You emphasize protecting everything that exists, while we emphasize continuously creating everything anew."

"Yet perhaps these two paths are not incapable of intersecting."

Shen Nian's brow twitched slightly: "Senior means..."

Within the light of The Artisan, a diagram emerged—a tree whose roots were deeply embedded in the soil, while its branches and leaves continuously reached toward the sky.

The trunk was thick and solid, as if guarding the Foundation; the canopy was lush and dense, as if constantly growing.

"Protection and evolution are inherently one and the same."

The Artisan's voice carried a calm that penetrated the ages. "Evolution without a Foundation loses its direction; protection without growth becomes a rigid, lifeless prison."

"The true path is to grow continuously upon a solid Foundation."

Shen Nian looked at the diagram, unable to avert his gaze for a long time.

Deeply rooted below, branching upward above.

Guarding the Foundation, growing toward the distant horizon.

He pondered this phrase repeatedly in his mind, feeling as though he had grasped a key.

This key might simultaneously unlock two doors—one to the direction lost by the Disciples of the Guardian Academy, and one to the significance forgotten by the Tiangong Clan.

"Senior,"

Shen Nian raised his head, looking at the luminous figure of The Artisan. "This Junior wishes to make an attempt."

"This Junior wishes to stay in the Land of Origin with the Disciples for a period of time."

"To let them witness the creations of the Tiangong Clan with their own eyes, and let them personally feel the vitality within this Chaos."

"This Junior wants them to reconsider their path of guarding the Dao after seeing all this."

The Artisan's light flickered: "That is a good idea."

"We can also take this opportunity to re-experience those 'meanings' we have forgotten."

"Your understanding of protection may help us rediscover our goal."

Shen Nian bowed deeply: "Many thanks, Senior."

He turned and walked toward the Disciples.

The two hundred or so Disciples were spread across the space; some were examining the patterns on the walls, while others were discussing the information they had just perceived.

Lu Qing stood before the crystal core, eyes closed, her fingers gently touching its surface as if receiving something.

Lin Yuan crouched in a corner, drawing a pattern on the ground with his finger.

Shen Nian walked to the center of the space and clapped his hands, drawing the Disciples' attention.

His voice was not loud, yet it entered everyone's ears clearly: "Disciples, we will stay in the Land of Origin for a period of time."

"The Seniors of the Tiangong Clan are willing to share their wisdom regarding creation and evolution with us."

"I hope you will observe, listen, and feel with all your heart."

"I hope that when we leave this place, you will be able to figure out one question—what exactly is the sword in your hand meant to protect?"

"This is the first test I give you."

The Disciples quieted down, their eyes converging on him.

Some were lost in thought, some looked bewildered, and others had already begun looking around, as if seeking clues to the answer within the Heart of Tiangong.

Looking at the changes in their expressions, a surge of indescribable warmth rose in Shen Nian's heart.

He turned and looked at the crystal core once more.

Warm light flowed slowly inside it, like countless dormant stars awaiting awakening.

The answer of the Land of Origin might very well be hidden right here.

And before finding that answer, he would continue walking forward with his Disciples in this Chaos.