Chapter 1101 - 499: The Way of Guardianship

Chapter 499

This world was pulled back from the brink of annihilation by his own hands. Every mountain here, every river is branded with his "Dao." The living beings here, whether existing or yet to emerge in the new chaotic order, are all "proof" of his existence.

He can struggle with the heavens, with the earth, with the so-called "Throat of Chaos," and can even clash with the ancient-spanning "Fire."

But he cannot idly watch all this vanish into nothingness because of his own "refusal."

"Alright."

Dao Sheng opened his eyes. In his golden left eye, the flame-like anger had extinguished, transforming into an unfathomable tranquility. The chaotic nebula in his gray right eye had calmed, allowing countless possibilities to settle into an indescribable depth.

He uttered only one word.

"Very well." The will of the Fire returned to its cold indifference, "You have made the right choice. When you complete the task, you will gain more access to the ’truth.’ Go, follow the star map I left for you, the Sea of Chaos will make way for you."

As the words fell, a star map composed of innumerable points of light, traversing endless void, appeared directly in front of Dao Sheng. The end of the star map was a blood-red barrier exuding an ancient, desolate, tragic aura.

The will of the Fire receded like the tide.

The entire world returned to peace once again.

Dao Sheng stood silently, unmoving, like a statue.

He did not set off immediately.

He turned and walked toward the "Prime Spirit" fawn that had been quietly waiting for him.

The fawn seemed to sense the extreme determination suppressing him and nervously pawed the ground, but in the end, it did not shy away, allowing Dao Sheng to come before it.

Dao Sheng extended his hand, gently stroking the Prime Spirit’s warm, smooth fur.

His movements were light and tender, as if caressing a rare treasure.

"Are you afraid?" he asked softly.

The Prime Spirit blinked its Liuli-like eyes, emitting a low, affectionate call, nuzzling his palm with its head.

Dao Sheng smiled.

That smile no longer contained mockery or madness, but a newfound tenderness and determination.

"Don’t be afraid," he said, "from today on, my Dao is no longer for ’order,’ nor for ’chaos,’ and certainly not for that so-called ’Fire.’

He lifted his gaze, looking at this world he had reshaped.

"My Dao is for ’guardianship.’

"To protect all that I wish to guard."

As his words ceased, the distinct yet harmoniously coexisting power of order and chaos within him suddenly surged!

No longer was it merely "accommodation" and "symbiosis."

A brand new will emerged, reigning over the two, becoming their common "master"!

This will was "guardianship"!

Bzzz—!

Dao Sheng’s body emitted an unprecedented brilliance. It wasn’t golden or gray, but an undefined "Heart Light" containing a myriad of colors!

Under the illumination of this "Heart Light," his golden left eye mirrored the silhouette of the Prime Spirit fawn. In the core of the Chaotic Nebula within his gray right eye, the outline of this distorted land and river emerged as well.

Order derived meaning from guardianship.

Chaos found boundaries due to guardianship.

At this moment, Dao Sheng truly became the "master" of his power!

He was no longer the "Dao Fruit" of the Fire; he was "Dao Sheng"! An unparalleled Dao Sheng, existing to guard!

"Fire... you calculated through eternity, making me your sharpest spear. Yet you do not realize the most solid shield can often transform into the most lethal weapon."

Dao Sheng straightened up, taking one last glance at this world.

With a flick of his fingers, a wisp of gray Heart Light containing his new "Path of Guardian" silently merged into the Prime Spirit’s body. This ray of light would not grant it any power but would continue to protect this world long after his demise, until the end of the epoch.

This was his contingency.

Having completed this, he no longer harbored any attachments.

He turned, locking his gaze onto the star map leading to the "Sea of Realms Dam."

Yet he did not follow the "path" indicated by the star map.

He slowly raised his right hand, in whose palm the golden light of order and the black radiance of chaos reappeared. But this time, they were not playful fish but were forged into an ancient, unadorned "key," woven in gold and gray.

"You provide me a path, but I prefer to open my own door."

Dao Sheng grasped the key without any hesitation, thrusting and twisting it into the void before him!

Crack!

A sound that seemed to originate from the soul resonated throughout the universe.

Before him, space did not tear open like a savage wound as it would for ordinary Great Powers, but rather like a lock truly opened by a key. The void silently "melted" to the sides, revealing a path more profound and domineering, woven from countless runes of order and the light and shadows of chaos!

This path circumvented the trajectory paved by the Fire, forcefully penetrating the layers of space-time barriers of the Sea of Chaos in a more direct and primal manner, pointing straight to that ultimate destination!

This was his first application of his new Dao, and his silent declaration to the Fire!

—Your path I will not tread. My Dao, I will forge myself!