240: The New Territories will endure forever; their heroic spirits will live on.

“Boom——!!!!!!!”

The explosion of that chaotic light point did not produce an earth-shattering roar, but rather a kind of absolute silence, as if the universe had returned to a singularity. Wherever the light reached, everything was reduced to its most fundamental nothingness. The last furious roar from the enemy from beyond the border was abruptly cut short, as if its throat had been squeezed. Its massive, dark-red figure, along with the sea of ruins it occupied, completely vanished without a trace in this chaotic light, melting away like ice and snow!

Only the newborn chaotic seven-colored World Wall glowed resplendently under the light, with stars and chaotic patterns flowing upon it, seemingly containing endless vitality and mysteries. The once hideous crack (crack) on the World Wall had completely healed, leaving only a shallow chaotic-colored mark, like an eternal medal guarding this world.

The light gradually dissipated. The void returned to calm. But the world-destroying pressure from beyond the border had vanished without a trace, as if the world-shaking battle for the world's survival had never happened.

Deathly silence. A profound silence.

All the remaining members of the Anti-Alliance army stared blankly at the empty void, at the new World Wall, as stable as a mountain, and at the now empty space in front of the World Wall. A chaotic figure, a fusion of the world spirit and Xiao Chen, had once stood there.

“Brother Chen… Brother Chen…” Flame Heart murmured, her tears long dry, leaving only hollow despair. She reached out, as if to grasp something, but only caught a stretch of cold void.

“Emperor Xiao… he… succeeded…” Xuan Kongzi wept, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible. “He… exchanged himself… for the eternal stability of this world…”

“Long live the Alliance Leader! Long live the Anti-Alliance!” Someone was the first to let out a tearful roar. Immediately after, the remaining thousands of allied cultivators knelt down, unleashing thunderous cries of sorrow and shouts! In their shouts, there was the relief of surviving a catastrophe, and even more, endless mourning and reverence for the Emperor who had merged with the Dao through his own body!

The Dragon Emperor’s massive dragon head hung low, emitting a deep dragon’s roar, as if bidding farewell to a hero. Flame Emperor clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deeply into his palms, bleeding profusely, yet he seemed oblivious.

Just amidst this chorus of sorrow—

“Buzz——!!!”

On the stable new World Wall, the chaotic-colored mark suddenly lit up with a soft glow. Within the light, an extremely faint but incredibly familiar ripple of consciousness, like a spring breeze, gently brushed over everyone’s hearts.

“Xin'er… everyone… do not be sad…”

“I… have not… completely dissipated…”

“This body… has merged with… the World Wall… My will… will transform into… the guardian law of this world… forever protecting… all living beings…”

“As long as… this world… does not perish… and the star tower… does not fall… it will be… as if I… am always here…”

“Live well… and protect… our home…”

The consciousness was intermittent, so faint it seemed it could extinguish at any moment, yet it carried a reassuring warmth and steadfastness. Especially the call to Xin'er, it held endless tenderness and reluctance.

“Brother Chen! Is that you, Brother Chen!” Flame Heart suddenly looked up, tears streaming down her face, and stretched out her hands towards the World Wall mark!

“It’s Emperor Xiao! It’s Emperor Xiao’s aura!” The Dragon Emperor roared excitedly! Although the aura had already merged with the entire world, becoming incomparably vast and ethereal, they could all feel the Soul Imprint unique to Xiao Chen!

“Emperor Xiao… lives forever!” Everyone once again let out a thunderous shout! This time, the sound had less sorrow and more a firm belief and strength!

Yes, Xiao Chen had not truly left. He had transformed into the sky, the earth, the stars, and the laws of this world. He would, in another form, forever protect everything he cherished!

Xuan Kongzi wiped away his tears, took a deep breath, and declared loudly: “Everyone! Emperor Xiao… has opened a path to life for us… How can we… let him down?!”

“Order! From now on… with the Pill Tower as the core… rebuild… the Anti-Alliance! No… it’s the ‘World Guardian Alliance’!”

“We… will inherit Emperor Xiao’s will… and protect this world… until… eternity!”

“Protect this world! Until eternity!” Thousands of cultivators responded in unison, their voices rolling and echoing in all directions!

Flame Heart slowly stood up. She looked at the chaotic mark on the World Wall. Although her beautiful eyes still carried sadness, there was more of a resolute maturity. She gently caressed the star tower floating beside her and whispered, “Brother Chen… rest assured… I… will… take good care of… this world… for you.”

In the void, the chaotic mark flickered slightly again, as if responding to her words. A seven-colored rainbow light, spanning endless void, quietly appeared in the sky, like a bridge connecting the past and the future.

The catastrophe had passed. The hero slept eternally. But hope and guardianship would surely last forever. The newborn world, under the blessing of heroic souls, would surely usher in a more glorious tomorrow.

(The End)