Lord of Ashes Returns

The flames of the Concept Furnace burned more fiercely than usual.

Three hundred seventy-two streams of silver-white light floated overhead, illuminating the core space like a sea of stars.

Lin Ye stood amid the light streams. Behind him, the river of civilizations had solidified into a translucent crystal cloak, with three hundred seventy-two points of light quietly gleaming.

Radiant Stilllight leaned on the [Spear of Definition]. The cracks in his armor had yet to heal, but his gaze had already regained its resolve. He dropped to one knee. "The New Era Network, the Stilllight lineage, is willing to serve as Ashen Guardians, generation after generation, forever unwavering."

Harmonic Leaptone knelt, his crystal Tuning Fork playing a solemn melody.

Myriad Faces took human form and bowed deeply.

Xuxi's projected true form solidified, and she dropped to one knee.

Then came the representatives of every civilization within the furnace—

Lattice Mind Hall, Resonance Forest, Melody Weavers, Mindscape Scroll Tribe...

One after another.

In the end, not a single being remained standing.

Lin Ye slowly turned around. "Rise."

"Ashen Guardians are not ruler and subjects, nor master and servants. We are fellow travelers. We walk the same road, willing to carry the memories of those who have been forgotten and keep moving forward."

He raised a hand. One corner of the cloak behind him unfolded, scattering three hundred seventy-two specks of silver light that landed precisely before every representative.

"These are their gifts to you—within every thread of light lies the most essential memory of a civilization. A poem, a dream, or a victory."

"From this day onward, you will protect not only your own civilizations, but theirs as well."

Radiant Stilllight lowered his head to look at the silver light in his palm. Within it, an Energy Civilization was celebrating the birth