Chapter 345: Return Once More to the Ninth Jing Tu

Chen Yuan turned around with difficulty, looking at you in disbelief.

The battle just now seemed simple, but in fact danger was everywhere; you were forced into a desperate situation, and a slight slip would cause defeat.

"Shu, I, the old one, acknowledge you."

After the shock, Chen Yuan's face showed a satisfied smile, "With your talent, there is truly hope to change the Jing Tu Shi Jie."

You clasped your fists and smiled, "Elder Xie, for the favor of your guidance."

If it were a life‑or‑death battle, Chen Yuan would have struck with full force from the start, and you would have had no chance to comprehend the 'Illusory World'.

The pressure Chen Yuan placed on you was more a honing.

"According to the rules, defeat everyone in our Second Jing Tu Elder Group, and you will become the guardian of Jing Tu."

"Where you wish to go, we have no right to stop you."

"Whatever you want to do, just go ahead."

Chen Yuan chuckled lightly, "With your current ability, you should be able to cross the void horizontally, without needing a passage, and go directly to the Ninth Jing Tu Shi Jie."

"With a focused heart, you can sense the location of the Ninth Jing Tu."

Receiving Chen Yuan's reminder, you closed your eyes to perceive, deducing the spatial coordinates of the Ninth Jing Tu, and in the dimness seemed to see that point.

"Elders, I'm going."

You bid farewell to the elders of the Second Jing Tu Shi Jie, and broke through the void to depart.

Behind you, Chen Yuan's reminder rang, "Shu, never act impulsively in all matters."

Breaking through space.

You arrived beyond the Second Jing Tu Shi Jie, within the Chaos Void.

The bridge spanning the Star River connected the Jiu Da Jing Tu Shi Jie, with the First Jing Tu Shi Jie the largest and the Second Jing Tu Shi Jie next.

The other seven Jing Tu Shi Jie differed little.

The Jiu Da Jing Tu Shi Jie formed a vortex, encircling a massive Darkness Shi Jie, which is the Dark Shadow World.

It was also the largest Living World before the Jing Tu era.

You looked there.

In the boundless Darkness Shi Jie, a pair of eyes seemed to stare at you.

In an instant, a ferocious Darkness force surged into your mind, seeking to assimilate you into a Dark Shadow life.

Boom—!

Your mind rang with a roar, and that fantastical world, like the legendary Di Yu, unfolded again.

The Dark Shadow's erosion was forced to retreat.

"An Ying Zhu! You truly still have consciousness?"

You only glanced at the Dark Shadow World, yet suffered such erosion; clearly the An Ying Zhu has not fully slumbered.

Or rather, it has already begun to awaken.

But you are not afraid.

You firmly believe you can defeat the An Ying Zhu.

After a brief pause in the Starry Sky, you followed the sensing and re‑entered the Ninth Jing Tu Shi Jie.

Accompanied by spatial fluctuations, you arrived at the center of the Ninth Jing Tu Shi Jie, where the Jing Shi Zhu that pierces the Jiu Da Jing Tu stood before your eyes.

Indeed! The Jing Shi Zhu is the true body and foundation of the Jiu Da Jing Tu Shi Jie.

It appears to be at the center of the Shi Jie, but actually envelops the entire Jing Tu Shi Jie's space.

Truly marvelous!

If not for the Jing Shi Zhu's protection, the Jiu Da Jing Tu would likely already have been eroded by the An Ying force.

"I'm back."

The moment you set foot on the Ninth Jing Tu, several figures descended, landing before you.

They were all familiar silhouettes.

"You are... Shu?"

The moment they saw you, disbelief flashed across their faces.

"Shu! How did you end up here?"

The one who asked you was Elder Yan Jin, the strongest and most prestigious Fa Zhi Zhang Lao of the Ninth Jing Tu Shi Jie.

In the crowd, your Shifu Zhu Yao was also present.

He has already entered the First Realm, becoming a member of the Elder Group, yet his gaze at you was different from before.

A hint of unfamiliarity? And awe?

The other Elder Group members also wore tense expressions.

It was only now that you realized a decade could bring so many changes.

You asked straight, "Elders, I'm here to fetch Sister Fu Yan, where is she?"

"Fu Yan?"

Elder Yan Jin frowned, "She committed a grave error and was confined within the internal space of the Jing Shi Zhu, awaiting judgment."

You asked, "Elder, may I ask what mistake Sister Fu Yan actually committed?"

"I do not know."

Elder Yan Jin shook his head, "We only know that after she went to the Dark Shadow World, she returned and was seized by the guardian..."

"Or the guardian acted personally."

"Clearly her fault is extraordinary, perhaps linked to her past experiences."

"Then I'll go ask her," you said, gazing at the Jing Shi Zhu.

【Under your careful perception, you discover that the interior of the Jing Shi Zhu holds another world within, concealing layer upon layer of special spaces.】

【Yan Jin warns, "Shu, I can sense it. You are very strong now, but that place is not somewhere you can barge into."】

【You glance at the elders.】

【They have their duties; you know very well that no matter how much you say, with different positions, your paths ultimately diverge.】

【You take a step forward.】

【"Open!"】

【A single punch! A world of Darkness unfolds visible only to you, terrifying power floods into your fist, and the void is split open by your fist intent.】

【You step into it.】

【The space within the Jing Shi Zhu is composed of countless shattered crystals, containing a strange power.】

【You roam within it.】

【Before long, you find Fu Yan.】

【She is imprisoned within a crystal fragment, floating in a sleeping posture.】

【"Sister Fu Yan," you call out.】

【She gives no response.】

【You reach out and touch the crystal, pouring your power into it. The crystal fragment shatters with a boom, and Fu Yan sleeping within slowly opens her eyes.】

【"Are you... little Shu?"】

【Fu Yan is still as beautiful as ever, her spring-water-like eyes gazing intently at you. "Am I dreaming?"】

【"Little Shu has grown this big?"】

【"Sister Fu Yan, it's me," you say earnestly. "I've come back, back to fulfill our original promise."】

【"You... have already become a Guardian?"】

【Fu Yan is shocked.】

【"More or less."】

【Even now, the Guardian has not come out to stop you, presumably having tacitly approved your actions.】

【Otherwise, with the Guardian's strength, they could absolutely suppress you.】

【Bai Li Ming alone is more than you can handle, unless you too can step into the Third Realm of Ascension to Immortality.】

【"Sister Fu Yan, come with me."】

【You lift Fu Yan in your arms, take a step, and return to the Ninth Jing Tu.】

【"Sister Fu Yan, what exactly happened?"】

【You ask, "Why did the Guardian imprison you inside the Jing Shi Zhu?"】