302: Chapter 300 The Price of Creation

When Shen Nian returned to the core space of the Heart of Tiangong, the Disciples were sitting around that huge crystal core.

Some people closed their eyes to comprehend, some whispered to each other about their respective insights, and some drew intricate lines on the ground—as if trying to restore a certain part of the structures left behind by the Tiangong Clan.

Lu Qing saw him walking over, stood up, and her gaze fell upon him: "Senior, your aura seems to have changed.

Is it this Disciple's illusion?"

Shen Nian's footsteps paused slightly.

He lowered his head to look at his own hands, then looked up at Lu Qing: "It is not an illusion.

This Disciple went to try Source Creation just now.

Created a blade of grass."

"A blade of grass?" Lu Qing was slightly stunned, "In the Chaos of the Ruins?"

"At the edge of the Heart of Tiangong."

Shen Nian's voice was very calm, "This Disciple used will to guide the Chaos energy and condensed a blade of grass.

It is almost identical to the weeds in the corner of the Guardian Academy's wall."

Several surrounding Disciples raised their heads to look over, their eyes filled with curiosity and surprise.

Lin Yuan squeezed to the front row, his voice carrying undisguised excitement: "Senior can really create things out of thin air?"

He paused and then asked, "What kind of feeling is that?"

Shen Nian was silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "It went very smoothly at the beginning.

The energy flowed in the palm of the hand, condensing according to the shape in imagination.

The veins of the leaves and the arc of the stem could be precisely controlled.

It was just like seeing a painting in one's own heart, and then making that painting a reality."

The Disciples listened quietly.

"But when that blade of grass truly took form, this Disciple suddenly felt something."

Shen Nian's voice became a little lighter, "That blade of grass is very real; it has shape, weight, and a trace of faint vitality.

But this Disciple knows that the entire reason for its existence is simply because this Disciple imagined it.

If this Disciple forgets it, it will lose its meaning."

The space quieted down, and the Disciples all looked at him.

Shen Nian did not stop and continued speaking: "This Disciple thought of a question.

If we can create anything out of thin air, then what is the meaning of the created thing?

Does it exist because it was created, or because it is worthy of existence in itself?"

Lu Qing's voice was very soft: "Senior, that blade of grass... is it still there?"

"It is.

This Disciple placed it on the wall at the edge of the Heart of Tiangong, and it took root."

Shen Nian's voice was very calm, "But this Disciple is not sure how long it can live after this Disciple leaves."

The space was quiet for a long time.

Then a young Disciple whispered: "Senior, if the created thing has no meaning of its own, then... shouldn't we avoid creating at will?"

Shen Nian did not answer this question directly, but sat cross-legged next to the crystal core and glanced at the young Disciple who spoke: "This is what this Disciple wants to discuss with you.

The Tiangong Clan mastered Source Creation and created countless exquisite structures.

But they eventually got lost because they created too much yet forgot why they created.

If from the very beginning they had asked themselves before every creation—'Why do I want to create this thing'—perhaps they would not have gotten lost.

Creation without direction is like running without a goal; the faster one runs, the further one deviates."

The Disciples listened quietly, Shen Nian's words like a pebble thrown into a calm lake surface.

Lin Yuan raised his hand, his voice carrying a trace of hesitation: "Senior, what if the things we create with Source Creation are to help others?

For example, creating a bridge so that the common people on both banks can travel back and forth more conveniently.

Is its meaning... a bit more solid then?"

Shen Nian looked at him with a gentle gaze: "If it can help others, then creation has a direction.

But this Disciple wants to remind you that the meaning of a bridge lies in connecting the two banks, not in the bridge itself.

If one day the two banks no longer need connection, the bridge will become a building without meaning.

Therefore, true guardianship is not guarding a bridge, but guarding the people on both banks."

Lin Yuan nodded thoughtfully, as if chewing on something.

Another Disciple spoke, his voice carrying a trace of confusion: "Senior, then... if when we create, we not only think of shape and structure, but also think of what it can bring to others, can that avoid getting lost?"

"Yes."

Shen Nian nodded, "This is what this Disciple wants to say—Source Creation itself has no right or wrong.

It is just a tool, like any other tool.

The key lies in whether the person using it has a clear goal and a true understanding of the world.

If there is no direction in one's heart, no matter how powerful the tool is, it will become a shackle."

Lu Qing slowly spoke: "Senior, after you created that blade of grass, did you feel any physical changes?

This Disciple saw that your complexion when you came back was a bit paler than when you went out."

Shen Nian's hand paused slightly without hiding it: "Yes.

What Source Creation consumes is not spiritual power, nor cultivation.

What it consumes is something more essential—like the will itself, like a certain dimension of Life.

When this Disciple creates a blade of grass, the extent of consumption is roughly equivalent to consecutively casting three high-tier spells.

If more complex things are created, the consumption will be even greater."

The Disciples looked at each other in dismay, and someone whispered: "Then creating a city, wouldn't it consume..."

"That is why the Tiangong Clan got lost."

Shen Nian took over the conversation, his voice calm, "They created too much and consumed too much, so much so that they gradually forgot who they were.

They continuously poured their will into creation, and what was left in the end was just a group of shells that only knew how to continue creating without knowing who they were creating for."

The space quieted down again.

Someone frowned, someone was pondering something, and someone cast their gaze towards those precise metal structures in the distance.

Shen Nian stood up and patted the dust on his robes: "This Disciple wants to make an agreement with you.

In the Land of Origin, you can try Source Creation and learn the craftsmanship of the Tiangong Clan.

But before every creation, this Disciple hopes you will first ask yourselves three questions."

The Disciples looked at him quietly.

"First, what is this Disciple creating this thing for?

Second, what will this Disciple creating this thing bring to others?

Third, if one day this thing is no longer needed, can this Disciple still calmly accept its disappearance?"

Shen Nian's gaze swept across every young face, "These three questions have no standard answers.

This Disciple only hopes that when you create, you can leave a little space for thought for yourselves."

The Disciples nodded one after another.

Lin Yuan lowered his head, as if repeatedly chanting those three questions; Lu Qing stood aside, her gaze falling upon Shen Nian, not knowing what she was thinking.

Shen Nian turned around and looked at the huge transparent crystal core.

Warm light slowly flowed within it, and his blade of grass remained at the edge of the Heart of Tiangong, rooted on the wall.

One day that blade of grass might wither, or perhaps it will continue to grow.

But no matter what, it was once a blade of grass that truly existed, rather than just an illusion in his heart.

The path of guarding is probably also like this—it does not lie in how many things are created, but in whether the created things truly carry meaning, and whether they can still independently exist in this world after he leaves.