256: Chapter 256 The Bell of the Protectorate

As the morning bell of New Yongning City struck three times, Shen Zhao walked out of the secret chamber.

The morning glow sprinkled upon him, his cyan robe fluttered gently in the breeze, and the tassel of the qinglian sword hanging at his waist swayed with the wind.

In his hands, he held a thick stack of Jade Slips.

That was the 《Thirteen-Color Legacy Record》 he spent three whole months writing: Primordial Power, Power of Chaos, Power of Space-Time, Karma Power, Life Power, Power of Dao Protection, End Force, and Power of Nothingness.

Together with the power Legacy of the five Chosen Ones: Pan, Yi, Nong, Xuanyuan, and Bai Yunzhou.

A total of thirteen volumes, each recording the essence of a kind of power.

Shen Tianxing and Lin Ruoxue followed behind him; his father held a volume of 《Tianxing Sword Canon》 in his hands, which was the crystallization of his lifelong sword Dao insights, while his mother held a volume of Ruoxue Formation Diagram》, which was the essence of ancient Formations she had exhausted her heart and blood to organize.

The family of three walked side by side toward the Guardian Academy, where Director Su Yun was already waiting at the gate of the courtyard, holding the chief token of the Investigation Department in her hands, her white hair fluttering gently in the morning wind, but her eyes filled with smiles.

"Shen Zhao, the Disciples have all arrived."

Shen Zhao nodded and stepped into the Guardian Academy.

On the Martial Arts Arena, thousands of Disciples sat cross-legged—from those who had just entered to those about to graduate, from twelve-year-old youths to Disciples who were hundreds of years old, from humans to the Yao Race, coming from various domains of the New Universe to Yongning City to study.

Everyone was present, and everyone's gazes were focused on Shen Zhao.

Shen Zhao walked up to the high platform in the center of the Martial Arts Arena and placed the thirteen volumes of Jade Slips in his hands onto the platform.

"Today, this Disciple will impart the Legacy of the thirteen powers to all of you."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly spread across the entire venue.

"This is not the power of this Disciple alone; this is the power of all Chosen Ones from the previous six cycles, the will of countless heroic martyrs over hundreds of millions of years, and the ultimate power to guard the sea of stars."

"This Disciple cannot take them away; this Disciple wants to leave them in the Guardian Academy, leaving them for those who come after."

The Disciples listened quietly, and no one spoke.

Shen Zhao picked up the first volume of Jade Slips—《Primordial Volume》.

"Primordial Power is creation. The source of all things, the ancestral Origin of all laws. It is not used for slaughter, but for guarding. Remember, the essence of Primordial Power is not creation, but guarding."

He handed the Jade Slip to an Elder beside him. The Elder received it with both hands and solemnly tucked it into his bosom.

Shen Zhao picked up the second volume—Chaos Volume》.

"Power of Chaos is inclusivity. Yin and Yang give birth to each other, and all things restrain each other. It is not used for suppression, but for balance. Remember, the essence of the Power of Chaos is not conquest, but inclusivity."

The third volume—《Space-Time Volume》.

"Power of Space-Time is circulation. Past and future are all the present. It is not used for avoidance, but for confrontation. Remember, the essence of the Power of Space-Time is not changing, but accepting."

The fourth volume—Karma Volume》.

"Karma Power is connection. All matters and things have Karma. It is not used for scheming, but for understanding. Remember, the essence of Karma Power is not manipulation, but respect."

The fifth volume—Life Volume》.

"Life Power is growth. Endless and unceasing, looping in repetition. It is not used for plundering, but for nourishing. Remember, the essence of Life Power is not taking, but giving."

The sixth volume—《Dao Protection Volume》.

"Power of Dao Protection is guarding. Guarding the sea of stars, guarding the common people, guarding all those who need to be guarded. It is not used for showing off, but for bearing. Remember, the essence of the Power of Dao Protection is not glory, but responsibility."

The seventh volume—《End Volume》.

"End Force is the final destination. All things have a beginning, and all things have an end. It is not used for destruction, but for rebirth. Remember, the essence of End Force is not an ending, but a beginning."

The eighth volume—《Nothingness Volume》.

"Power of Nothingness is the Origin. Before the birth of the Universe, after the end of everything. It is not used for avoidance, but for facing. Remember, the essence of the Power of Nothingness is not emptiness, but inclusivity."

The Disciples listened; some were deep in thought, some picked up notes, and some closed their eyes to comprehend.

Shen Zhao picked up the ninth volume—《Pan Volume》.

"Pan, the Chosen One of the first cycle. He used physical strength to prove the Dao, attempting to break the boundaries of the Universe with brute force. He failed, but his power remained. Remember, Pan's power is not brute force, but courage."

The tenth volume—《Yi Volume》.

"Yi, the Chosen One of the second cycle. She used archery to prove the Dao, attempting to pierce the door with an arrow. She failed, but her will remained. Remember, Yi's will is not pride, but persistence."

The eleventh volume—《Nong Volume》.

"Nong, the Chosen One of the third cycle. He used Life to prove the Dao, attempting to open the passage with the power of the tree of life. He failed, but his conviction remained. Remember, Nong's conviction is not stubbornness, but hope."

The twelfth volume—Xuanyuan Volume》.

"Xuanyuan, the Chosen One of the fourth cycle. He used sword Dao to prove the Dao, attempting to split open the door with a sword. He failed, but his Sword Intent remained. Remember, Xuanyuan's Sword Intent is not slaughter, but guarding."

The thirteenth volume—Bai Yunzhou Volume》.

"Bai Yunzhou, the Chosen One of the fifth cycle, the Guardian Patriarch. He used Dao Protection to prove the Dao, attempting to Seal the door with the power of guarding. He failed, but his spirit remained. Remember, the Patriarch's spirit is not sacrifice, but Legacy."

Shen Zhao handed the last volume of Jade Slip to the Elder and turned around to look at those Disciples.

"This is the Legacy of the thirteen powers. Every kind of power has its essence and its meaning. They are not independent, but one. Just like a person who has hands, feet, a head, and a heart—not a single one can be missing."

He raised his hand, and thirteen-colored light surged from his palm, condensing into a huge thirteen-colored lotus flower in the Void Realm.

The lotus flower rotated slowly, every petal glowing and illuminating the entire Martial Arts Arena.

"Guarding is not a matter for one person. It is a matter for a group of people. No matter how strong a single person is, they cannot guard the entire sea of stars. Only when everyone unites can they truly guard."

The lotus flower slowly drifted down, landing in the center of the Martial Arts Arena, transforming into a small tree that took root in the soil, its branches and leaves gently swaying in the wind.

The Disciples looked at the small tree, their eyes filled with shock.

Shen Zhao walked up to the small tree and reached out to gently stroke the trunk.

"This is the rebirth of the tree of civilization, the seed of hope. It will take root and sprout here, growing taller and larger. In the future, it will block the wind and rain for the Guardian Academy, block the wind and rain for Yongning City, and block the wind and rain for the entire New Universe."

He turned around and looked at those Disciples.

"But relying on it alone is not enough. You are also needed. You are the future of the sea of stars, the hope of the Guardian Academy. You must take over this Disciple's sword and continue walking down this path. The path of Dao Protection is endless."

The Disciples knelt down in unison, kowtowing deeply.

"This Disciple will firmly remember the Patriarch's teachings."

Shen Zhao's eye sockets turned red, but he did not let his tears fall.

He turned around and walked back to his parents' side.

Shen Tianxing patted his shoulder.

"Zhao'er, you did very well."

Lin Ruoxue held his hand.

"Zhao'er, Mother is proud of you."

Shen Zhao smiled, smiling with light and breezy ease.

"This Disciple merely did what should be done."

The bell of the Guardian Academy rang again.

This time, it was not the morning bell, nor the evening bell, but a long and lingering bell, a bell that had never rung before.

That was the first time since the establishment of the Guardian Academy that a bell tolled for a power, a conviction, and a Legacy.

The bell passed through the Martial Arts Arena, through the Scripture Pavilion, through the tower of the Investigation Department, through the plaza in front of the Monument of Heroes, spreading throughout the entire Yongning City and the entire New Universe.

The common people walked out of their homes and looked up in the direction of the Guardian Academy.

They did not know what had happened, but they could feel that power—thirteen kinds of powers, thirteen colors, intertwining into a huge painting scroll above the sky of Yongning City.

In the painting scroll, there were the birth and destruction of stars, the rise and decline of civilizations, and the laughter and cries of living beings.

There was Pan wielding an axe to split open Chaos, Yi drawing a bow to shoot towards the door with heroic grace, Nong kneeling devoutly under the tree of life, Xuanyuan holding a sword to split the door with absolute determination, and Bai Yunzhou sacrificing his body as an offering to guard the door from behind.

There was Shen Zhao breaking the cage before the tree of civilization with firmness, Shen Zhao sealing nothingness before the crack with composure, and Shen Zhao kowtowing before the Monument of Heroes with piety.

There were also countless people, countless faces, and countless pairs of eyes.

All of them were watching, all of them were guarding, and all of them were passing down the Legacy.

The painting scroll slowly dissipated, transforming into countless points of light that drifted away in the Void Realm.

The bell of Yongning City was still echoing, chime after chime, long, lingering, and firm.

Shen Zhao stood before the Monument of Heroes, looking at those points of light, and said softly.

"Uncle, did you see it? This Disciple has left the Legacy behind. This Disciple has passed down hope. This Disciple has not disappointed you."

The thirteen-colored light on top of the monument beat gently, as if responding to him.

Shen Tianxing and Lin Ruoxue walked to his side, and the family of three stood side by side in front of the monument.

As the setting sun went down, the golden afterglow sprinkled upon the Monument of Heroes, making the names on the monument shine brilliantly.

Guardian Patriarch Bai Yunzhou, Ling Shuang, Zhou Zhiting, Song Xinghe, Guardian Lin Jingyun, Path Guardian Ancestor Qin Hao, Shen Yuan, Director Su Yun...

And countless unfamiliar names, countless heroic martyrs who made sacrifices.

They were all there, all watching, all guarding.

Shen Zhao took a deep breath, turned around, and looked at his parents.

"Father, Mother, this Disciple wishes to go out and walk around. To look at the various domains of the New Universe, to look at the lives of the common people, to look at those rescued Souls. This Disciple will return very soon."

Shen Tianxing nodded.

"Go. Father will wait for you here."

Lin Ruoxue said softly.

"Return soon."

Shen Zhao nodded and turned to walk towards the Star Port.

The spacetime flying boat was still parked there, its silver-white hull emitting a faint glow under the setting sun.

He boarded the flying boat, and the cabin door closed. Thirteen-colored light circulated around the hull, even more dazzling than before.

The flying boat slowly rose into the air, flying towards the east of the New Universe.

Shen Zhao stood before the porthole, gazing at Yongning City growing smaller and smaller below.

Those familiar buildings, those familiar streets and alleys, and those familiar faces were all fading away from him.

But he knew that he would come back.

Because this place was his home.