475: Silent guarding the crystal formation, the Lord's choice

Above the Void Realm of Guiji Cliff, the silence-guard crystal floated between heaven and earth. Black and white halos intertwined and flowed, like the Yin and Yang Qi at the dawn of creation, both opposing and unified. The pure white Guardian power and the pitch-black Power of Annihilation slowly rotated within the crystal core, forming a mysterious Tai Chi pattern. The balanced dao rhyme it emitted even caused the surrounding rampant Spiritual Qi to become docile, and the trembling of Guiji Cliff gradually subsided.

Lu Chen stepped forward, gently supporting the silence-guard crystal with his fingertips, his gaze fixed on the struggling Lord of Ultimate Silence in the air. The golden light of the eternal dao fruit flowed around him, echoing the light of the silence-guard crystal. His voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable power: "Lord of Ultimate Silence, you and I are both Guardians, but you lost your way in despair. This silence-guard crystal is the balanced crystallization of the Guardian and Power of Annihilation within your body; it proves that these two powers are not mutually exclusive. Choose to guard, and you still have a chance to atone for past regrets."

The Lord of Ultimate Silence's body paused slightly in the air, his black robe rustling. The black and white powers within him still collided fiercely, but no longer with the previous ferocity. His gaze was locked onto the silence-guard crystal in Lu Chen's hand, and complex emotions surged in his dark eyes—confusion, struggle, reminiscence of the past, and a trace of deep-seated longing.

He recalled eons ago, himself clad in plain white armor, fighting alongside his companions, protecting that ancient world; he recalled the tragic fall of his companions one by one when the tide of Power of Annihilation swept through; he recalled the scenes of widespread devastation and worlds returning to ultimate silence wherever he went after becoming the Lord of Ultimate Silence. Two completely different memories intertwined in his Sea of Consciousness, making his expression increasingly pained.

"Atonement for regrets?" The Lord of Ultimate Silence's voice was hoarse and dry, with a hint of self-mockery. "That world has long turned to nothingness, and those lost lives can never be resurrected. How can the sins I committed be offset by a mere 'atonement'?"

"Sins are not unforgivable," Yu Lan said softly, her eyes full of compassion. "The beings of the Twelve Realms have never resented you. They only know that you were originally a Guardian with the world in your heart. As long as you can turn back from your misguided path and protect the Twelve Realms with us, that would be the best atonement for the past."

"That's right!" Green Bud also stepped forward, the reincarnation spirit plant wings behind her Spirit Plant Myriad Laws Body gently fluttering. "reincarnation silent grass can bloom with Vitality in the land of ultimate silence, and silent life fruit can balance Power of Annihilation and Vitality. There is no absolute right or wrong in this world, only different choices."

The Lord of Ultimate Silence's gaze swept over Lu Chen and the others, then looked towards the myriad laws stele in the distance. He could clearly feel that the eight golden characters "After Annihilation, Guardian Rebirth" on the myriad laws stele were emitting a power originating from the mark on his brow. That power was warm and firm, like a mother's embrace, causing his long-frozen Dao Heart to loosen slightly.

His gaze returned to the silence-guard crystal. This crystal core was the product of the collision of two powers within him, and also the concretization of his inner struggle. To grasp it meant to abandon the Dao of Power of Annihilation he had upheld for eons and to pick up the long-forgotten belief in guardianship; but if he did not grasp it, he would forever be enveloped by despair, becoming a lonely ghost between heaven and earth, ultimately dissipating completely in Power of Annihilation.

"Om—"

As if sensing his hesitation, the black and white halos of the silence-guard crystal became even more brilliant. A gentle power emanated from the crystal core, slowly enveloping the Lord of Ultimate Silence's body. This power held no compulsion, no erosion, only tolerance and understanding, like spring rain nourishing his long-parched Dao Heart.

The Lord of Ultimate Silence's body trembled violently, and the Power of Annihilation within him began to furiously counterattack, attempting to prevent him from making a choice. On his black robe, ultimate silence runes flickered, and the nirvana sword also let out a harsh hum, as if protesting.

But at the same time, the guardian mark on his brow became even more radiant. The white Guardian power spread rapidly within his body like a prairie fire, engaging in the final contest with the Power of Annihilation.

"Ah—!"

The Lord of Ultimate Silence let out a heart-wrenching roar, a cry of his deepest inner struggle and a farewell to his past. He suddenly reached out and grabbed towards the silence-guard crystal in Lu Chen's hand.

The moment his fingertips touched the silence-guard crystal, a majestic balance dao rhyme instantly surged into his body.

Under the guidance of the balance dao rhyme, the white Guardian power and the black Power of Annihilation no longer tore at each other, but began to slowly merge. Like Yin and Yang combining, they formed a perfect cycle within his body, nourishing each other and transforming mutually.

At this moment, the Lord of Ultimate Silence's black robe crumbled inch by inch, revealing his body covered in black and white patterns. These patterns no longer repelled each other, but, like the Tai Chi symbol on the silence-guard crystal, slowly rotated, emitting a majestic dao rhyme.

The nirvana sword in his hand also began to change. The pitch-black light on the blade gradually faded, replaced by black and white patterns. The Power of Annihilation, which had once devoured everything, began to transform into a balanced power that nourished Vitality. Before long, the nirvana sword disintegrated, turning into countless streaks of black and white light that merged into his body.

"His Dao Heart... is recovering!" Chaos Child looked at the Lord of Ultimate Silence's transformation, his eyes filled with shock, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "The Dao of Balance can really make him rediscover the belief in guardianship from ultimate silence!"

Lu Chen's face showed a relieved smile. He could clearly feel that the dao rhyme within the Lord of Ultimate Silence was undergoing earth-shattering changes. The aura of despair gradually dissipated, replaced by a steady and firm aura of guardianship. Although it still carried a hint of the coldness of ultimate silence, it was no longer the terrifying and evil presence it once was.

The Lord of Ultimate Silence slowly opened his eyes. His dark pupils were no longer filled with dead silence, but reflected the black and white halos of the silence-guard crystal, shimmering with clarity and determination. Holding the silence-guard crystal, he floated in mid-air above Guiji Cliff, with black and white dao rhyme flowing around him, exuding an authority that transcended all heavens.

But just then, something unexpected happened.

The Lord of Ultimate Silence's figure began to become transparent. Like a reflection in water, it gradually blurred, as if about to merge into this world.

"This is..." Lu Chen's brow furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with doubt. "Why is his body becoming transparent?"

Yu Lan's face also showed worry: "Could it be an accident during the Fusion of the two powers?"

The Lord of Ultimate Silence looked down at his transparent hands, without any panic in his eyes, but rather a relieved smile. He looked at Lu Chen and the others, his voice gentle and calm: "This is not an accident. As the Lord of Ultimate Silence, I have long been integrated with the ultimate silence origin. Now that my Dao Heart has recovered and I have chosen the Dao of guardianship, it means giving up my previous identity and power, returning to the great dao cycle, and starting anew."

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts trembled.

They finally understood that the Lord of Ultimate Silence's choice was not only a change in belief but also a transformation of his life form.

Just then, a golden light shot out from the silence-guard crystal, transforming into an ancient Jade Slip, which slowly fell into Lu Chen's hand.

Lu Chen took the Jade Slip, swept it with his Divine Sense, and a look of understanding appeared on his face. This Jade Slip recorded the "Nirvana Guardian Crystal Application Technique," which detailed how to use the silence-guard crystal and how to leverage the crystal core's balance dao rhyme to assist the Lord of Ultimate Silence in completing his transformation. It also explained how to integrate the crystal core's power into the twelve realms spirit web to strengthen the Dao of guardianship.

"Lord of Ultimate Silence, have you truly decided?" Lu Chen looked at his transparent figure, his voice tinged with reluctance. "Returning to the great dao cycle means giving up everything and starting over."

The Lord of Ultimate Silence smiled faintly, his smile filled with relief and determination: "I have lived for eons, witnessing the ultimate silence and rebirth of countless worlds. This time, I wish to witness the great dao cycle once again as a Guardian."

His figure became increasingly transparent, but the silence-guard crystal in his hand grew even more brilliant.

The wind of Guiji Cliff blew gently, carrying a hint of warmth.

A transformation concerning the fate of the Lord of Ultimate Silence was about to begin.

And Lu Chen and the others could only watch him silently, their hearts filled with admiration and blessings.