Chapter 385: Space Anchor

Three days have passed.

Since that gaunt Divine Transformation expert fell, three days have already passed.

Over these three days, they tallied the losses, collected the bodies, and comforted the wounded. Over these three days, the distress signal sent out before that Divine Transformation expert fell was like a thorn, deeply lodged in everyone's heart. Over these three days, they made a decision—to withdraw, but not completely withdraw.

But, how to withdraw? Where to withdraw to? And how should those who remain defend themselves?

These problems, like countless tangled threads, incessantly knotted in his mind.

"Can't sleep?"

A faint voice came from behind.

Wang Ping turned his head and saw You Ying leaning against the bulkhead, walking slowly over. Her face was still pallid, her steps unsteady, each step difficult. Yet she came.

Wang Ping hurriedly rose and supported her.

"How did you come out? Bai Cao Senior said you need to rest at least three days."

You Ying gave a faint smile, that smile weak yet gentle.

"I've lain for three days, my bones have stiffened. Let's get up and walk around."

Wang Ping helped her sit beside him, took off his outer robe, and draped it over her shoulders.

You Ying did not refuse. She simply leaned quietly against his shoulder, gazing out at the darkness beyond the porthole.

"What are you thinking about?"

Wang Ping fell silent for a moment, then softly said: "Immortal Palace fragments."

You Ying said nothing, just listened quietly.

Wang Ping continued: "The survivors have guarded this place for thirty thousand years; it is their home. To abandon it like this, I am unwilling. Yet if we do not abandon it, what can we do? With over three hundred people, guarding a shattered ruin, waiting for the next attack from the Purifying World Court? That would be suicide."

He paused, his voice low.

"Yun Hao hasn't said anything, but I can see he's heartbroken. Every survivor is heartbroken. When they left, how many times did they look back? Each glance felt like a knife cutting my heart."

You Ying gently took his hand.

Her hand was cold, but she gripped it tightly.

"Do you still remember what I told you?"

Wang Ping looked at her.

You Ying said: "Thirty thousand years ago, when the Chaos Immortal Palace shattered, I also pondered the same question. Back then, I watched those fragments scatter into the void, watched countless clansmen perish, watched our civilization destroyed in an instant. I also wanted to preserve something, to leave something behind for future generations."

Her voice was so soft, as if a breeze could blow it away.

"But I couldn't do it. Back then I was too weak; I could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything."

Wang Ping felt a pang of sourness.

He knew that You Ying was speaking of that catastrophe—the catastrophe that destroyed the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers' civilization, the catastrophe that caused her to slumber for thirty thousand years.

"But you're different." You Ying turned her head to look at him, her eyes flashing with light: "You are stronger than I was back then. You have something I lack."

"What?"

"The Way of Chaos." You Ying uttered each word with a pause, "and— the Sprout of the World Tree."

Wang Ping's heart stirred.

You Ying continued: "The World Tree is a primordial innate spiritual root, famed as the Heaven-Reaching Tree. Its greatest power is not combat, not defense, but— space."

"Space?"

"Yes." You Ying nodded, "The roots of the World Tree can penetrate the void and anchor all things. Legend says that in ancient times, the World Tree took root at the center of the myriad heavens and worlds, its roots extending to every world, linking the entire universe into one. Although the World Tree later collapsed, its descendants still retain some of that ability."

She looked at Wang Ping, her eyes full of trust.

"After Jiu Er fused with the Chaos Azure Sprout, the power of the World Tree within her has awakened. Although she is young and does not yet know how to use it, that power exists. If you can guide that power, combining it with the spatial formation knowledge you learned from the Formation Grandmaster, then—"

"Perhaps we can anchor the Immortal Palace fragments." Wang Ping blurted out.

You Ying gave a faint smile.

"Yes."

Wang Ping's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He suddenly rose to his feet and paced back and forth in front of the Observation Platform.

"Space anchor… using the Sprout of the World Tree as the core… combining formations… Yes! Yes! The Tianyuan Elder taught me that the foundation of spatial formations is 'fixing' and 'solidifying'. As long as one can find a sufficiently strong 'anchor point', a expanse of void can be 'fixed in place'!"

He turned around, looked at You Ying, his eyes full of excitement.

"But the Sprout of the World Tree is inside Jiu Er. Jiu Er is still unconscious……"

You Ying said softly: "Although Jiu Er is unconscious, the power of the World Tree within her is not completely dormant. Bai Cao Senior said she is undergoing transformation, the will of the World Tree is awakening. At this time, her perception of the outside world is even sharper than when she is conscious. If you can communicate with her using Chaos power, perhaps you can guide that power."

Wang Ping fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Worth a try."

The next day, in Jiu Er's room.

Bai Cao Fairy gently laid Jiu Er on the soft couch, then stepped aside. Her eyes were full of worry, but she said nothing. She knew Wang Ping would not harm Jiu Er.

Wang Ping sat cross-legged beside the couch, gazing at that sleeping little face.

Jiu Er's breathing was steady, her brows relaxed, the corner of her mouth even hinted at a faint smile, as if she were having a sweet dream. She did not know what was happening outside, did not know what the Immortal Palace fragments were facing, did not know that those who loved her were risking everything for her.

"Jiu Er." Wang Ping said softly, "Big brother needs your help."

Jiu Er gave no response.

Wang Ping drew a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Chaos divine sense extended slowly.

He did not forcefully enter Jiu Er's sea of consciousness; instead, he transformed his divine sense into countless tiny tendrils, lightly encircling her. Those tendrils carried the Chaos-specific inclusiveness and warmth, like a mother's hand, gently stroking the sleeping child.

Time trickled by, second by second.

One incense stick, two incense sticks, half an hour——

Just as Wang Ping thought this attempt would fail, his divine sense suddenly touched something.

It was a cluster of faint light, curled in the deepest part of Jiuer's sea of consciousness. Within the light, a vague silhouette of a small tree swayed gently.

The Jianmu sprout.

Wang Ping was overjoyed, but his movements grew even more gentle.

He gently touched that cluster of light with his divine sense.

The light quivered slightly, and then a tender consciousness awakened within it.

"Big... brother?"

That was Jiuer's voice, so faint it was barely audible, yet filled with surprise.

"Big brother... is it you... Jiuer... Jiuer is so sleepy... I can't open my eyes..."

Wang Ping quickly replied with his divine sense.

"Jiuer, it's me, your brother. Don't open your eyes, keep sleeping. I only need you to do one thing for me."

"Help?" Jiuer's voice held a hint of doubt, but more excitement: "Jiuer... can I help big brother?"

"Yes." Wang Ping's voice was gentle and firm: "Jiuer, you have a small tree inside you, right?"

"The little tree... yeah, Jiuer knows. It has always kept Jiuer company, telling her many things. It said it is called Jianmu, a divine tree from ages past. It said it likes Jiuer and wants to be friends with her."

Wang Ping felt a warm feeling in his heart.

"Jiuer, did that little tree tell you what its power can be used for?"

"Hmm..." Jiuer's voice sounded thoughtful: "It said it could... could... take root? Yes, take root. It said that as long as its roots take hold, it can make a place very stable, not move, not drift, not be damaged."

Wang Ping's eyes lit up.

"Yes, that's it—take root. Jiuer, big brother now needs you to do a favor. Let the little tree's roots go into the fragments of the immortal palace below, okay?"

"Fragments of the immortal palace..." Jiuer's voice sounded a bit confused: "Where is that?"

"It's the place where you sleep. This ruin is the home of those uncles and aunts. They have guarded it for thirty thousand years, unwilling to give up. Big brother wants to help them protect this place, but his strength is not enough. Only your and the little tree's strength can do it."

Jiuer fell silent.

Wang Ping felt a bit uneasy.

He knew Jiuer was still young and might not understand these. Forcing her to do something beyond her abilities could hurt her.

But after a moment, Jiuer's voice sounded again.

"Big brother, Jiuer understands."

That voice was tender yet firm.

"Jiuer will help big brother. The little tree says it is also willing, because it says there are many things it likes beneath this ruin—spiritual energy, runes, and... and..."

She paused, seeming to think how to express it.

"And... memories? Yes, memories. The little tree says it has sensed many memories, left by people from long ago. It says it likes these memories and doesn't want them to disappear."

Wang Ping's eyes felt slightly warm.

"Good. Then let's work hard together."

His chaotic divine sense gently touched that cluster of light.

Then he felt it.

That was an immense, mighty power, slowly awakening from within Jiuer's body.

Jianmu's power.

Next came three full days of setting up the formation.

Wang Ping barely slept or rested.

First, he used his chaotic divine sense to scan the entire immortal palace fragments countless times. Every inch of land, every stone, every crack was deeply imprinted in his mind.

Then, combining the spatial formation knowledge he learned from Senior Tianyuan, he began to work it out.

"Space Anchor Array," as the name suggests, anchors a space in a certain place. Its core is an anchor point—it can be a treasure, a spiritual object, or even a cultivator with sufficient cultivation. The stronger the anchor point, the more stable the array.

And the Jianmu sprout is undoubtedly the strongest anchor point.

But having just an anchor point is not enough.

It also needs array foundations, runes, energy circuits, and to perfectly combine all of these.

Wang Ping shut himself in the quiet chamber of the World-Breaking Shuttle, and pondered for a full day and night.

When he stepped out of the quiet chamber again, his eyes were bloodshot, but his face bore a confident smile.

"Found it." He said to the approaching Youying: "Beneath the immortal palace fragments lie the ancient array foundations left by the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers. Though damaged, they still exist. As long as we repair those foundations and take the Jianmu sprout as the core, we can activate the entire formation."

A flicker of surprise flashed in Youying's eyes.

"Can you repair it?"

Wang Ping nodded, then shook his head.

"Repairing the array foundations requires chaotic power. But I alone am not enough. That formation covering the immortal palace fragments needs at least seventy-two array foundations to be activated simultaneously. I alone, even if I exhausted myself, could not do it."

Youying fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "I can help you."

Wang Ping looked at her, frowned, and said: "Your injuries are too severe..."

"I understand runes." Youying interrupted him: "The runes on those ancient array foundations are all the work of the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers. You repair the array foundations, I'll help you decipher the runes. That way, it will be much faster."

Wang Ping looked at her, at her pale face, at the determination in her eyes that would not allow refusal.

Finally, he slowly nodded.

"Good. But you must promise me that if you can't hold on, you will rest immediately."

Youying gave a faint smile.

"Okay."

The first array foundation lies beneath a ruin at the far east of the immortal palace fragments.

After Wang Ping locked onto the position with his Chaos Divine Sense, he brought Youying, transformed into a stream of light, and landed on the ruins.

This is a hall almost completely collapsed, only a few broken stone pillars remain, standing crookedly there, as if they could topple at any moment. On the pillars, faintly visible are some blurred runes, eroded by time until they are almost unrecognizable.

Youying walked up to a stone pillar, raised her hand, and gently stroked those runes.

Her fingers trembled slightly, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

"This is... the writing of the Myriad Phenomena Star Observers." She whispered, "The characters carved here are the 'Stabilizing Character Formula.' It means—take this as the foundation, take this as the base, unchanging through myriad ages."

Wang Ping walked to her side and looked at those runes.

His divine sense probed underground and quickly discovered the formation base hidden deep below.

It was a huge stone slab, buried deep under a three-zhang-thick layer of earth. The slab was densely covered with runes, those runes more complex and profound than those on the pillars, faintly emitting a weak light.

"This stone slab is the core of the formation base." Wang Ping said, "It needs to be activated with Chaos Power, but the method of infusion must match the attributes of the runes. Otherwise, the entire formation base will be destroyed."

Youying nodded, pointing to a certain rune on the slab.

"This one is of the earth attribute. Your Chaos Power must first be transformed into earth-element power before being infused."

Wang Ping closed his eyes, and his Chaos Nascent Soul slowly revolved.

A strand of Chaos Power welled up from his dantian, flowing along his meridians to his palm. At the moment it was about to leave his body, he began to operate the energy transformation law—Chaos Power quietly changed in his palm, becoming a strand of pure, immensely heavy earth-element power.

He gently infused that strand of power into the rune.

The rune trembled slightly, then glowed with a faint earth-yellow light.

Success.

Wang Ping felt a surge of joy and continued to do the same.

Youying stood beside him, pointing out each rune one by one.

"This one is metal."

"This one is void."

"This one is the most complex, the source rune of the Stabilizing Character Formula. It requires simultaneous infusion of Five Elements power to activate."

Wang Ping took a deep breath, transformed his Chaos Power into five different attributes, and simultaneously infused them into that rune.

"Boom—"

A low, deep rumble came from underground.

That rune suddenly burst forth with brilliant light. The light pierced the three-zhang earth layer, pierced the ruined hall, and shot straight into the clouds.

The first formation base was activated.

Wang Ping and Youying exchanged a glance, both seeing joy in each other's eyes.

But Wang Ping did not linger.

He hoisted Youying onto his back, turned into a stream of light, and rushed toward the next location.

Second, third, fourth…

One formation base after another was awakened by them.

The runes that had slept for thirty thousand years, the traces forgotten by time, under Wang Ping's Chaos Power and Youying's guidance, lit up one after another.

Seventy-two formation bases were scattered across every corner of the Immortal Palace fragments.

Some lay deep in the ruins, requiring excavation.

Some were on the edge of cliffs, requiring caution.

Some even floated in the void, requiring them to fly out to search.

Wang Ping carried Youying as he shuttled through this expanse of ruins.

He seemed tireless.

Youying on his back softly pointed out the location of each rune and each key to activation. Her voice grew weaker and weaker, but she never stopped.

Because this is her homeland.

It is the place where she has slept for thirty thousand years.

It is the place she is unwilling to abandon.

Tenth, twentieth, thirtieth…

When the thirtieth formation base was activated, Youying could no longer hold on.

Her head drooped onto Wang Ping's shoulder, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible.

"The next one… is… in the northeast direction… that… ruined tower…"

Wang Ping's heart tightened, and he hurriedly stopped.

"Youying? Youying!"

Youying slightly opened her eyes, looked at him, and pulled the corner of her mouth into a weak smile.

"No… no problem… just… a little tired…"

Wang Ping's heart felt as if it were being cut by a knife.

He knew that Youying was giving her all.

She had just awakened, her cultivation had plummeted, and she ought to be resting. Yet now she accompanied him, searching for formation bases one by one, deciphering the runes one by one.

He took a deep breath and gently set her down.

"You rest here. I will find the next one myself."

Youying wanted to say something, but he stopped her with a raised hand.

"Listen. You helped me find the thirtieth one—that's already a great help. The rest, I can manage on my own."

Youying looked at him, saw the anguish and determination in his eyes, and finally nodded slowly.

"Be careful…"

Wang Ping gave a slight smile and smoothed the outer robe draped over her shoulders.

Wait for me to come back.

The thirty-first, thirty-second, thirty-third...

Without Yinying's guidance, Wang Ping's speed slowed down.

But he did not give up.

Whenever he reached a site, he used his Chaos Divine Sense to search with all his might, looking for the runes hidden deep in the ruins. Some runes were obvious, visible at a glance; others were buried too deep, requiring him to dig bit by bit, to sense them inch by inch.

Time passed, unnoticed.

Who knows how long had passed—perhaps a few hours, perhaps a whole day—when he activated the sixtieth formation base, his whole body went limp and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

His Chaos Immortal Essence was almost exhausted.

His divine sense was also exhausted to the extreme.

But he still had twelve sites.

Twelve formation bases.

He gritted his teeth and struggled to his feet.

Just then, a figure flew from afar.

Cangxuan.

He landed beside Wang Ping, looking at his wobbly, near-falling state, brows furrowed tightly.

Are you crazy?

Wang Ping gave a bitter smile.

There are still twelve sites.

The sixty-first, sixty-second, sixty-third...

Wang Ping was startled.

Cangxuan said coldly, 'The Way of the Sword requires single-minded focus, but I cannot stand by and watch you throw away your life.'

He paused, then, unusually, added another sentence.

'If you die, who will bring us back?'

Wang Ping looked at him and suddenly laughed.

That smile was weary yet warm.

Good.

With Cangxuan's help, the speed afterward became much faster.

Although Cangxuan did not understand formations or runes, he could help Wang Ping excavate the ruins, help him keep watch around, and lend him a hand when he was exhausted.

The sixty-first, sixty-second, sixty-third...

The seventieth, seventy-first—

When the final formation base was activated, the entire fragment of the immortal palace shuddered suddenly.

Seventy-two beams of light shot up from the ruins, converging above the main formation base into a point. That point grew brighter and brighter, hotter and hotter, finally—

Boomed outward.

An intangible wave, centered on the immortal palace fragment, spread outward in all directions. Wherever it passed, the stones that had been drifting slowly in the void suddenly came to a stop.

No, not stopped.

They were 'anchored'.

They no longer drifted with the current, no longer wandered about, but were firmly fixed in place, as if bound by an invisible chain in the void.

Wang Ping stood before the final formation base, watching all this, a weary yet relieved smile on his face.

Success...

His voice grew weaker, his vision darker.

Then he collapsed.

Cangxuan caught him in a grip.

'Wang brother? Wang brother!'

Wang Ping could no longer hear.

He was too tired.

Three days and three nights without rest. Seventy-two formation bases, sought one by one, activated one by one. His Chaos Immortal Essence, his divine sense, his stamina—all had been overdrawn to the limit.

But he did it.

He really, did it.

When Wang Ping awoke, he found himself lying in the quiet chamber of the Realm-Breaking Shuttle.

Beside him, Yinying leaned against the edge of the bed, eyes closed, her face still pale but her breathing steady. Her hand lightly held his, not loosening even in sleep.

Wang Ping gazed at her sleeping face, a warmth welling up in his heart.

He gently withdrew his hand and smoothed her slipped outer robe.

Then he rose and left the quiet chamber.

Outside, Cangxuan, Yuliuli, Mysterious Turtle Venerable, and Herbal Immortal Maiden were present. Seeing him come out, several gazes fell upon him at once.

'Awake?' Cangxuan said coldly, though a hint of relaxation flashed in his eyes.

Wang Ping nodded, walked to the porthole, and gazed toward the distant anchored ruins.

The seventy-two beams of light still flickered.

Those beams, like seventy-two stars, dotted the sky above the ruins, illuminating that slumbering land.

'The formation... is it complete?'

The Herbal Immortal Maiden nodded, her eyes full of admiration.

「Completed. The old woman has lived eight thousand years and has never seen such an exquisite formation. Using the sprout of the Establishing Tree as the core, and the seventy-two formation bases as fulcrums, the entire Immortal Palace fragments are firmly anchored. Even if a Unity Stage expert makes a move, they may not be able to shake it. 」

Wang Ping smiled faintly, and a surge of pride welled up in the heart.

But this pride was quickly diluted by another matter.

「What about Yunhao and the others? 」

Yuliuli said softly: "The first batch of survivors has already been teleported away. Yunhao insists on being the last batch to leave. Now, only the last batch remains."

Wang Ping fell silent for a moment, then slowly said: "I'll see them off."

Immortal Palace fragments, before the ancient teleportation array.

Yunhao led the last batch of survivor warriors, standing silently.

This batch of warriors are all lightly wounded or uninjured. They are responsible for the rear guard, for protection, and only leave after everyone has safely withdrawn.

At this moment, they are gazing at this wasteland, at the gleaming formation bases, at the sapling of the Establishing Tree that is growing, their eyes full of reluctance.

But they did not cry.

Because they are warriors.

Wang Ping landed beside Yunhao.

Yunhao turned his head to look at him, his eyes full of gratitude.

「Brother Wang, great kindness needs no thanks. 」

Wang Ping shook his head: "Don't say that. I did these not only for you, but also for myself."

Yunhao was stunned.

Wang Ping continued: "Youying has been sleeping here for three years, and Jiu'er wants to take root here. I promised them to protect this place. So, it's not just for you, but also for them."

Yunhao looked at him and suddenly laughed.

That smile was more relaxed than at any previous time.

「Brother Wang, you are truly a good person. 」

Wang Ping also laughed.

「A good person? Not quite. It's just that promises must be kept. 」

The two locked eyes, everything understood without words.

Yunhao turned to face those warriors.

「Brothers, it's time to go. 」

The warriors nodded silently, stepping into the teleportation array one by one.

Yunhao was the last one.

He stood before the teleportation array, taking one last look at this wasteland.

Then he turned and looked toward Wang Ping.

「Brother Wang, are you six people staying behind really okay? 」

Wang Ping smiled faintly.

「Rest assured. We six people can guard better than your three hundred plus. 」

Yunhao gave him a deep look, then stepped into the teleportation array.

A flash of light, and his figure vanished.

Wang Ping stood before the empty teleportation array, silent for a long time.

Behind him, Youying had awakened at some point and walked to his side.

「They have all left. 」

Wang Ping nodded.

Youying gently grasped his hand.

「Now it's our turn to guard. 」

Wang Ping looked at her, at her pale face, at the unshakable resolve in her eyes.

He laughed.

「Good. Let's guard together. 」

The six gathered together again.

Wang Ping, Youying, Cangxuan, Yuliuli, Mysterious Turtle Venerable, Herbal Immortal.

They stood before the highest ruined palace, overlooking this empty wasteland.

After the more than three hundred left, this place became especially spacious and especially quiet.

Only the wind sound, sobbing between the broken walls and ruined ramparts.

Only the light of the seventy-two formation bases still flickered.

And also the sapling of the Establishing Tree, gently swaying in the center of the wasteland.

Jiu'er was held in the arms of the Herbal Immortal, still asleep. A faint smile hovered on her face, as if she were having a sweet dream.

She did not know what had happened outside.

She did not know that the six were keeping watch for her.

She did not know that the Immortal Palace fragments had already been anchored.

But she knew that her big brother was there.

That was enough.

Wang Ping gazed at the sapling, at the sleeping Jiu'er, at the five people beside him, and a previously unprecedented calm welled up in his heart.

Not the calm after battle.

But rather—

The road ahead is hard, but someone walks with us.

The homeland is far, but it will be rebuilt eventually.

The path is obstructed and long, but walking will get us there.

He drew a deep breath, turned, and looked at the five people beside him.

Everyone.

From now on, we will stay here and guard until Jiu'er wakes.

Guard until the next attack wave comes.

You, are you afraid?

Cang Xuan gave a cold smile, hand on his sword hilt.

With sword in hand, what is there to fear?

Yu Liuli gently plucked the strings, and the ethereal notes echoed in the ruins.

The Way of Music needs listeners. Here, it's quite good.

Venerable Xuan Gui grinned; though his wounds weren't fully healed, his smile remained bold.

This old body of mine can still hold out for a few days!

Bai Cao Immortal Maiden held Jiu'er, gently stroking her hair.

I won't go anywhere. When Jiu'er wakes, the first thing she should see is me.