Chapter 996 - 447: The Final Bastion!
But he still sat cross-legged.
His Heart Spirit was completely immersed in resonance with the Dark Gold Armor.
A different aura began to emanate from him, distinct from before.
It was a calmness forged by trials of blood and fire, a sharpness that reached a higher realm’s Dao resonance.
Though still youthful, the shape was forming!
Finally, at some moment, Yu Kong suddenly opened his eyes!
There was no excitement or ecstasy in his gaze.
Only an indescribable heaviness and reverence!
He stood up and once again looked at the dark gold armor standing quietly.
This time, what he saw was not just a cold object, but a monumental hero, carrying the sorrow of an entire era, facing endless darkness alone, fighting to the last breath—a lonely Guardian!
"Guardian."
Yu Kong murmured softly.
These two words seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight, pressing him until he almost couldn’t breathe.
He vaguely understood what the armor represented.
It wasn’t just a powerful Magical Treasure.
But a responsibility!
A legacy!
An unyielding continuation of Guardian Will, even at the cost of being shattered!
"I see now."
"Senior, you did not fall."
"Instead, you turned yourself into the final bastion."
"Guarding something important."
"Or perhaps waiting."
"Waiting for someone who can inherit your will."
Yu Kong’s Heart Spirit surged, and he bowed deeply to the armor!
This bow was a show of respect to the strong!
A display of admiration for the hero!
More importantly, it was a promise to that weighty Guardian Will!
"Senior."
"I am Yu Kong."
"Although I cannot bear your glory today."
"I will surely return one day when I have the strength."
"I will strive to understand the unfinished mission you left."
"I will ensure this Guardian Will is passed on!"
The voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried a resolute determination!
As if it were an oath.
Echoing in the core of the Deathly Silence battlefield.
After speaking, Yu Kong hesitated no longer, knowing this place was not fit for a prolonged stay, as the ripples of that terrifying will’s eruption were mostly obscured by the chaos of this core area.
But it couldn’t ensure that it wouldn’t attract some fearsome existences, and he had already obtained what he sought.
Not just the recovery of his wounds and slight advancement in his Cultivation, but more importantly, the transformation of his mindset.
And a preliminary understanding of the word "guardian!"
This would be the most precious treasure on his future path!
He took one last glance at the Dark Gold Armor, standing like an eternal monument, then turned, stepping out—his figure ghost-like, silently blending into the surrounding twisted space, cautiously moving towards the Celestial Fall Battlefield’s outskirts.
Not long after Yu Kong left, the space in this region suddenly rippled violently.
Powerful and elusive Divine Thoughts, like invisible tentacles, cautiously reached out.
Evidently drawn by that momentary flash of terrifying will.
Yet when they swept over the Dark Gold Armor, they seemed to encounter some taboo.
All shrunk back as if electrocuted!
"The Guardian’s remains."
"Cannot be touched."
"Retreat."
Several vague thoughts communicated in the void, filled with deep fear.
Soon, these powerful Divine Thoughts retreated like a tide, and the area returned to Deathly Silence.
Only the Dark Gold Armor still stood quietly.
As if silently recounting a forgotten epic, or quietly waiting for the promised return.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the Southern Celestial Star Cosmos, an abandoned star domain.
This place once boasted a thriving Cultivation Civilization.
But during a domain war tens of thousands of years ago.
It was completely reduced to ruins.
Broken stars, floating continental fragments, and omnipresent space rifts create the dominant atmosphere of this star domain.
Rarely frequented by humans, it’s known as the "Abandoned Star Domain."
Yet, in this forgotten corner, inside the core of a vast Withered Star that long lost all vitality.
Deep within the core, a massive subterranean cavern held a different scene.
In the cavern’s center, there was a massive blood pool!
Inside the pool, viscous blood churned like magma, exuding a nauseating stench, countless twisted runes flickered along the pool’s edge.
Forming an eerie and malevolent Array!
The Array’s power seemed to be continuously extracting the last remnants of this Withered Star’s Source.
Incorporating it into the blood pool!
And at the center of the blood pool, sat a figure cross-legged!
It was a young protagonist!
Appearing only sixteen or seventeen, his face handsome, almost with a touch of alien beauty!
He was bare-chested, revealing bronzed skin, covered in scars as if he endured many brutal battles.
But the most striking feature was his brow!
Where a faint grey mark resided!
The mark seemed alive, slightly writhing, emanating a cold, evil aura that made even the soul tremble!
At this moment, the young protagonist kept his eyes tightly shut, brow furrowed.
As if enduring immense pain, his body subtly trembled, wisps of grey aura were spreading from the mark on his brow.
Slowly infiltrating his body and soul like a spider web.
"Argh." The young protagonist let out a suppressed low growl.
Forehead veins bulging, his teeth clenching, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth.