Chapter 344

As time passed, the surviving warriors with higher cultivation and stronger wills, such as Yun Hao and Qing Yu, gradually regained consciousness. Their first reaction upon waking was to look toward the altar, where they saw the suppressed darkness and the stable seal, and their eyes burst with the wild joy and excitement of having survived a catastrophe.

But soon they also sensed the abnormality at the entrance and the disappearance of the nether shade, and their joy was replaced by a complex mix of gratitude, guilt, and sorrow.

"It was Lord Nether Shade... he used a forbidden technique to seal off the inside from outside, buying us time..."

Yun Hao's voice was hoarse as he forced himself to sit up, facing the illusory space at the entrance, and performed the highest salute a survivor warrior could offer with solemnity and difficulty. Qing Yu and the others followed suit, their expressions solemn and mournful.

The entire hall was filled with a heavy silence. The crisis was temporarily resolved, but the sacrifice was great.

Time passed slowly in this silent mourning and gradual recovery.

Wang Ping was the last to regain clear consciousness.

He had fallen into the deepest coma, expended the most, and was nearly drained of all vitality. But perhaps because of the successful condensation of the "Chaos Purifying World Lotus," his consciousness resonated deeply with the "Suppress" character divine text in his sea of consciousness and the spirit of the primordial chaos fire.

Or perhaps it was because, after breaking through to the late Nascent Soul stage and giving birth to the Chaos Immortal Essence, his life essence and regenerative power had far surpassed the ordinary; or perhaps it was... his subconscious indomitable will and unfulfilled duty of guardianship that would not allow him to sink thus.

In his coma, his body instinctively circulated the most basic Zhou Tian of the "Chaos Immortal Classic," drawing in thread by thread of weak chaos qi from the formation hub and heaven and earth, mixed with the residual vitality of the building wood and the remaining power of elixirs, slowly repairing his damaged meridians and organs.

In his sea of consciousness, the "Suppress" character divine text fused with the spirit of the primordial fire, though its light was dim, remained steadfast like a divine needle calming the sea, preserving his soul from scattering.

No one knew how long it had been—perhaps a day, perhaps several days.

Wang Ping's fingers first twitched slightly.

Then his thick eyelashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes.

His vision was initially dazed, but quickly focused. The silent darkness on the altar, the stable golden light, the faint lingering chaos dao rhyme and purifying aura in the air, and not far away, Cang Xuan, Yu Liuli, Yun Hao, and others sitting cross-legged to regulate their breath—though their complexions were still poor, they were no longer in mortal danger—all came into view one by one.

Success... the seal has been temporarily stabilized.

This realization caused his tightly tensed heartstrings to suddenly loosen, but immediately, a deeper, sharper pain seized his heart!

Nether Shade!

He almost instantly sensed the illusory, icy, lifeless space at the entrance, and within it, the familiar yet now completely merged-with-the-void, lifeless will of sacrifice!

Although he had sensed it coming, when this cold reality was laid bare before him, Wang Ping still felt a suffocating, intense pain, his vision even darkening for an instant. That companion who was always silent, always hidden in the shadows, yet always appeared at the most critical moments... had truly... paid with eternal rest.

He closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, and forcibly suppressed the surging emotions. Now was not the time to drown in grief. Nether Shade had bought them time with his life, and it was certainly not merely for them to mourn. The seal was only temporarily stable, the "Primordial Source of Chaos" had not vanished, and no one knew how long the effect of the "Chaos Purifying World Lotus" would last. They must seize this opportunity to complete the final step of the "Chaos Suppressing Seal Technique," to leave this seal with a longer, more stable guarantee!

This was the best consolation for Nether Shade's sacrifice, and also for everyone, and for the unfulfilled duty of guarding countless worlds.

Wang Ping struggled up, enduring the pain as if his body were being torn apart and the near-emptiness of his spiritual power, and with difficulty sat upright. His movement immediately drew the attention of the others.

"Brother Wang!" Cang Xuan immediately ended his breath regulation and stepped forward quickly, wanting to support him.

Yu Liuli, Yun Hao, and the others also looked over with concern.

Wang Ping waved his hand, indicating he could still hold on. He sat cross-legged, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his voice weak yet carrying an unquestionable firmness: "Friends, the crisis is temporarily resolved, but far from over. The opportunity bought by Daoist Nether Shade's eternal rest must be seized. Taking advantage of the 'Primordial Source of Chaos' being temporarily soothed by the Purifying World Lotus, when the seal formation responds best, I need to complete the final step of the 'Chaos Suppressing Seal Technique'—using my immortal essence, combined with the Immortal King's residual grace, to reforge the core formation eye, to give this seal... a thousand more years!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions tightened, then they nodded heavily. They knew what this meant, and they also knew how terrible Wang Ping's condition was at this moment. But no one tried to dissuade him, because this was necessary, and also the only thing they could do.

"How should we cooperate?" Cang Xuan asked in a deep voice. Though his wounds were not healed, his sword-heart will remained sharp as ever.

"Stabilize yourselves, guard your heart meridians, and let the little spiritual power you have recovered and your firm will of guardianship resonate with the formation." Wang Ping said briefly, "The rest... leave it to me."

No more words were needed. Cang Xuan, Yu Liuli, Yun Hao, and the others immediately returned to their original positions, sat cross-legged, closed their eyes, and focused, gently releasing the faint spiritual power they had just recovered and their firmest guardianship beliefs from their hearts, creating a weak resonance with the still-operating great seal formation around them.

Wang Ping took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Looking inward, the situation was not optimistic. His meridians were damaged and blocked in multiple places, the chaos immortal infant in his dantian glowed dimly, rotated slowly, and that thread of chaos immortal essence was so weak it was almost undetectable. The "Suppress" character divine text in his sea of consciousness was also gravely wounded.

But he still had one thing—after resonating deeply with the spirit of the primordial chaos fire and the residual will of the Immortal King, the understanding of the complete essence of the "Chaos Suppressing Seal Technique" had been imprinted deep in his dao foundation, and... the extremely weak feedback connection established by the "Chaos Purifying World Lotus" slowly rotating at the core of the "Primordial Source of Chaos."

"With my body as a bridge, my spirit as a guide, and my residual immortal essence as fuel... communicate with the formation hub, draw upon the residual dao rhyme of the Immortal Palace, and re-establish the core!"

Wang Ping silently recited the secret method from the "Chaos Immortal Classic," and began to activate it in a near-self-destructive manner!

He no longer cared whether his meridians could bear it, gathering the scattered, chaotic five-element chaos spiritual power remaining in his body, and the last vitality squeezed from the building wood seed, forcing them to circulate along the most perilous path of the "Chaos Immortal Classic," toward the chaos immortal infant in his dantian!

Excruciating pain! As if countless steel needles were pricking inside his body! Wang Ping's forehead veins bulged, cold sweat instantly soaked his tattered clothes, his body uncontrollably shook violently, and blood once again trickled from the corner of his mouth.

But his will was like iron, he clung tightly to a sliver of clarity in his spiritual platform, and continued to activate!

The chaos immortal infant was stimulated, violently trembled, its dim light forced to brighten, and its rotation accelerated! That thread of chaos immortal essence, weakened to the extreme, was also drawn in the core of the immortal infant, like a spark beginning to jump!

"Now!"

Wang Ping suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of chaos light flashing in his eyes! He struggled to raise his hands, his ten fingers as if bearing mountains, and once again formed the ultimate core seal of the "Chaos Suppressing Seal Technique"! This time, it was no longer repair, no longer soothing, but—forging and sublimation!

"Formation hub as base, immortal essence as guide, Purifying World Lotus as pact, Immortal King's residual grace... heed my command!"

He let out a hoarse, low shout, each word seeming to exhaust his strength. As the seal was completed, he without hesitation sent the thread of chaos immortal essence just forcibly awakened in his dantian—weak but of essential high quality—along with his entire understanding and belief in the Dao of Chaos Suppression, condensing into an extremely refined stream of chaos-colored light, which violently struck into the formation hub pattern beneath him!

At the same time, through the connection between the "Suppress" character divine text in his sea of consciousness and the "Chaos Purifying World Lotus," he transmitted his will and plea toward the depths of the altar: "Immortal King predecessors! Lend me your strength! Stabilize this realm, protect all living beings!"

As if responding to his call—

HONG!!!

The entire central hall, no, the entire ruins of the Zhen Xu Immortal Palace, at this moment, emitted an unprecedented, deep and magnificent resonance!

The thirty-six chaos stone pillars violently shook, all the dim or damaged runes on their surfaces, under this inward-to-outward force driven by Wang Ping's immortal essence and aided by some higher will, were repaired, lit up, and even... evolved into new, more profound and complex chaos dao patterns at a visible speed!

These newly born dao patterns intertwined and fused with the ancient runes, causing each stone pillar to emit a richer, deeper chaos dao rhyme, as if coming alive. The golden runes floating atop the pillars also transformed into chaos-gold, their light becoming more solid, the light beams they emitted becoming thicker and tougher, interweaving into a seal light net whose color shifted from pale gold to deep chaos-gold, emitting a suppressing power that rose layer by layer, as heavy as the earth, as vast as the starry sky!

The altar itself was also changing. The ancient sacrificial patterns on its nine levels lit up one by one, flowing with chaos-colored light, connecting with the pillar light net to form a more three-dimensional, more stable composite seal system.

And the most astonishing change occurred above the formation hub corresponding to the center of the altar.

There, under the combined action of the chaos immortal essence Wang Ping had input, the residual dao rhyme drawn from the Immortal Palace, and the shared will of the Immortal King of Chaos in the dark, a point of entirely new light, purely formed from pure chaos energy and supreme order dao rhyme, began to slowly condense and take shape!

This light ball was only the size of a fist, yet it seemed to be the "heart" and "brain" of the entire great seal formation. It rotated slowly, within it appeared to be microcosmic chaos nebulae being born and dying, with ineffable order laws flowing. It emitted a gentle yet supreme aura, perfectly resonating with and governing the energy of the thirty-six stone pillars, the altar, and the entire Immortal Palace's dragon veins.

New core formation eye!

A core formation eye that fused Wang Ping's chaos immortal essence, the Immortal Palace's source dao rhyme, the Immortal King's residual will, and used the temporary balance of the "Chaos Purifying World Lotus" and the "Primordial Source of Chaos" as an "anchor point"—new, powerful, and possessing self-repair and growth potential!

Its formation meant that the "Chaos Suppressing Seal Technique" was not only completely completed, but also qualitatively upgraded and reinforced on its original foundation!

With the complete formation and stable operation of the new core formation eye—

At the top of the altar, the cluster of "Primordial Source of Chaos" temporarily soothed by the "Chaos Purifying World Lotus," as if pressed by the final, irresistible force, had its turbid flow almost cease, its writhing amplitude weakened to near nothing. That heart-pounding fluctuation of chaos and destruction sank into total silence, as if fallen into the deepest "sleep." Although its existence remains a great hidden danger, at least in the foreseeable future, the possibility of it breaking free from the seal and causing pollution has been reduced to an extremely low point.

Based on the stability of the new core formation eye, the resonance strength with the Immortal Palace's dragon veins, and the estimated consumption of the "Chaos Purifying World Lotus," Wang Ping silently calculated in his heart an encouraging limit—this seal could last at least three thousand years without worry!

Three thousand years! Enough for countless beings in the Spirit Realm and even the lower realms to propagate and multiply for generations, enough for future generations to grow, prepare, and seek a method to possibly completely resolve the "Primordial Source of Chaos."

Boom—

The immortal palace's prolonged tremors, whether violent or subtle, finally ceased completely at this moment.

It was not a temporary lull, but a stability and tranquility originating from the deep earth veins and the very structure of space. The fallen palace debris no longer slid, the cracks in the ground stopped expanding, and even the restless energy turbulence that had long permeated the air gradually returned to an orderly flow.

A long-absent, heavy, and safe tranquility descended upon this ancient relic that had endured too much disaster and sacrifice.

Completed…

Wang Ping's mind flashed with this thought, and immediately an irresistible fatigue and weakness, like a tide, overwhelmed him. His vision darkened, his body swayed, and he was about to fall forward.

"Wang brother!" Cang Xuan, who had been closely monitoring him, instantly flashed forward and caught him.

Yu Liuli, Yun Hao, and others also gathered around, their faces full of concern and complex expressions of relief.

"I'm fine… just… exhausted." Wang Ping leaned on Cang Xuan, forcing a weak smile, but his gaze involuntarily turned again toward the illusory space at the entrance, a flash of deep sorrow crossing his eyes.

The seal was set, the immortal palace stabilized, three thousand years of peace could be expected.

But that silent companion now slept forever in the cold void.

"Shadow Daoist… did you see it?" Wang Ping whispered softly, "We… did not betray your sacrifice."

Cang Xuan's hand supporting him tightened slightly, Yu Liuli turned her face away, Yun Hao and others also fell silent, heads bowed.

In the hall, the joy of success was diluted by this heavy sacrifice and remembrance.

Just then—

"Master… person…"

An extremely weak, faint as spider silk, yet familiarly celestial voice suddenly resonated in Wang Ping's mind.

Wang Ping's body jerked violently, incredulously lowering his head to look into his embrace—there was nothing there. But the source of the voice…

He abruptly turned his head, looking toward the edge of the formation hub, the position where Jiu Er had been before.

There, the point of light that had originally been so faint as to be nearly invisible now… brightened just a little! Though still dim, it no longer had a sense of dissipation, but rather like a candle flame in the wind being protected, steadily emitting a weak yet pure nine-colored radiance!

What shocked Wang Ping's mind and spirit even more was that he clearly felt Jiu Er's spiritual body consciousness was gradually recovering! Though still extremely fragile, it truly… "came" back to life!

"Jiu Er?! Is it you, Jiu Er!" Wang Ping's voice trembled, attempting to communicate with his divine sense.

"…uh… Jiu Er… so tired… but it seems… not so painful anymore…" The intermittent, fatigue-filled yet slightly lively thought transmission came, indeed from Jiu Er! He seemed to have, under the nourishment of the magnificent vitality and order power from the condensation and final completion of the "Chaos Purifying World Lotus," the full recovery of the immortal palace's Dao rhyme, stabilized his on-the-verge-of-dissipation spiritual essence, and even gained a bit of feedback!

"Great! Great!" Wang Ping's eye sockets heated, nearly bringing tears. Shadow's sacrifice pierced his heart, but Jiu Er's survival undoubtedly brought forth a precious glimmer of light in this heavy gloom.

Cang Xuan, Yu Liuli, and others also sensed the recovery of Jiu Er's consciousness, their faces all showing surprise. Jiu Er's survival was likewise a comfort for their efforts.

Wang Ping forced himself, carefully guiding a wisp of the gentlest, containing the vitality of the Jianmu chaotic spiritual power, slowly toward Jiu Er's point of light. The light flickered slightly, as if responding, greedily and slowly absorbing this strand of nourishment.

"Take it slow, Jiu Er, don't rush, we have all the time…" Wang Ping whispered soothingly, as if treating the most precious porcelain.

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping once more over the silent altar, over the stable and majestic thirty-six stone pillars, over the illusory entrance, and finally landing on these companions beside him, equally scarred but with determined eyes.

The seal is set, darkness temporarily subdued, sacrifice remembered, faint light remains.

The road ahead remains long, the ultimate threat of the "Chaotic Origin" still looms, Shadow's slumber needs a method to awaken, the spiritual realm beyond the immortal palace and even the wider world may still have unrest.

But at least now, they have won a crucial battle, gaining precious three thousand years of time for countless worlds.

"First heal injuries, recover." Wang Ping's voice was weak but carried a steady strength, "Then… we still have much to do."

Cang Xuan nodded, Yu Liuli remained silent, Yun Hao and others stood solemnly.

In this hall of the Chaos Palace core, which had just undergone ultimate suppression and returned to tranquility, the survivors began a slow and firm recovery.

Deep in the altar, the "Chaos Purifying World Lotus" rotated silently in the darkness; the new core formation eye blinked steadily like a star; at the entrance, the eternally sealed void domain was cold and eternal.

And hope, like Jiu Er's faint point of light, stubbornly rekindled upon the ashes of sacrifice and the foundation of order.

In the Chaos Palace core hall, time seemed to be lengthened by the newly formed seal formation eye and the eternal void domain, flowing especially slowly and heavily.

Supported by Cang Xuan, Wang Ping barely managed to sit cross-legged. He first carefully and gently continued to steadily pass that wisp of Jianmu vitality-containing gentle chaotic spiritual power toward Jiu Er's point of light.

The light, like a seedling meeting rain after drought, slowly but firmly absorbed the nourishment, its brightness increasing imperceptibly to the naked eye, strand by strand, and that weak nine-colored radiance gradually gained some vitality.

Though full recovery was still far off, the crisis of spiritual essence dissipation had been completely resolved, and the origin was being gently repaired by the purest order vitality.

Jiu Er's intermittent thought transmissions also gradually became more connected, though still full of fatigue, but already able to simply respond to Wang Ping's concern.

After confirming Jiu Er's condition was stable, Wang Ping finally breathed a sigh of relief and began to truly assess his own state.

Upon internal inspection, the situation was worse than expected. His meridians were like dry, cracked land, covered in minute cracks and spiritual blockages, many key acupoints even in a half-closed state.

In his dantian, the chaotic infant that had just broken through to late Nascent Soul now had dimmed light, its form somewhat illusory, rotation sluggish, clearly severely overdrawn.

That core strand of chaotic immortal essence was even weaker, almost imperceptible, like a candle in the wind.

In his sea of consciousness, the "Suppress" character divine text fused with the fire spirit remained stable, light inwardly gathered, but the transmitted thought also carried deep weariness.

"Foundation not damaged, already a great fortune." Wang Ping silently told himself. This breakthrough and continuous fierce battles, especially the final forced activation of remaining immortal essence to complete the ultimate seal, had nearly been drawing on life potential.

Had it not been for the Jianmu seed providing vital energy at the critical moment, and the high quality of the chaotic immortal essence itself bringing great resilience, he likely would have already seen his Dao foundation shattered, death and Dao extinction.

He no longer hesitated, first taking out the remaining few highest-grade "Soul-Nourishing Pills" and "Return to Origin Purple Gold Pills" from his Qiankun One Qi Bag, and swallowed them all at once.

The medicines melted upon entry, transforming into a warm yet mighty torrent of medicinal power that rushed into his dried meridians. Wang Ping immediately gathered his mind, fully operating the basic Zhou Tian of the "Chaos Immortal Classic," guiding the medicinal power to repair damage and nourish the infant.

His recovery process was entirely different from that of ordinary cultivators. Ordinary cultivators healing injuries mostly absorb heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, or rely on medicinal spiritual power to mend themselves.

But Wang Ping now, located at the core of the just-completed "Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Chaos Suppressing Source Great Array," was surrounded by the most pure and rich chaotic Dao rhyme and order power.

With each breath, each circulation of spiritual power, he naturally resonated deeply with the surrounding environment.

Strands of chaotic qi, without deliberate guidance, actively seeped into his body, resonating with his own chaotic infant, accelerating the repair process.

The newly formed core formation eye seemed to especially favor this "creator" and "energy source," faintly emitting a gentle pulling force, helping him more efficiently draw the relatively mild chaotic energy remaining in the immortal palace's earth veins.

This was not because the formation eye had spirit, but because the formation's natural operation produced a kind of "feedback" and "affinity" toward the same-source high-level energy body.

Cang Xuan, Yu Liuli, Yun Hao, and others were also adjusting their breath in their own ways.

Cang Xuan's recovery method was the most direct. He sat cross-legged, his broken sword resting across his knees, eyes slightly closed, his whole body seeming to have become a sheathed sharp sword, sharpness inwardly gathered.

He did not rush to absorb spiritual power, but instead sank his mind into the sword heart, using his own unbending sword intent to gradually tidy the chaotic sword essence in his body caused by overexertion and impact, smoothing the violent fluctuations in the sword heart produced by Shadow's sacrifice.

The way of the sword cultivator, primary importance is a clear sword heart. If the heart is not settled, the sword will not be effective.

His recovery was more a settling of the mind and a reforging of will. A faint silver sword aura pulsed subtly around him, resonating delicately with the lingering, purified power of order in the air, slowly restoring his strength.