When Xiao Yan woke up, dappled sunlight streamed through the glass windows of the Stargazing Hall, landing on the back of his hand, feeling warm and cozy. The medicine that the First Elder had brought was still steaming, its aroma carrying a hint of sweetness—it had been mixed with honey.
"How are you feeling?" The Grand Elder sat on the stone bench beside the bed, stroking an ancient jade slip in his hand. "That time you burned your life essence, it terrified quite a few people."
Xiao Yan smiled, took the medicine bowl, and drank it all in one gulp. The medicine wasn't bitter; instead, it carried a warm, soothing power that flowed slowly along his meridians, nourishing his depleted vital energy. "I won't die," he said, flexing his fingers, his knuckles making a slight cracking sound, "Just a little weak."
"That's right, you're being timid." The Grand Elder tapped his forehead. "Do you really think you're made of iron? After this, you'd better rest and recover properly. You're not allowed to participate in any fighting for three months."
Just as Xiao Yan was about to retort, light footsteps sounded outside the hall, and A Yao skipped in, holding a brocade box in her hands. " Brother Xiao Yan, look what good things I brought you!"
The box was opened, revealing several plump, red fruits, their skins still glistening with dewdrops and emitting a delightful fragrance. "These are Spirit Rhinoceros Fruit. I had someone pick them from the Tree of Life; they replenish your essence!" A Yao presented them to him like a precious treasure. "The Grand Elder said you need these."
Xiao Yan picked up a fruit and took a bite. The flesh was sweet and juicy, and a surge of pure Power of Life instantly coursed through his body, working even faster than the medicine he had just taken. "Thanks, A Yao."
"You're welcome!" A Yao leaned closer, staring curiously at the fading scar on the back of his hand. "I heard you shattered the Annihilation Origin Core? Was that thing particularly frightening?"
"It's alright," Xiao Yan said, a smile playing on his lips as he recalled the scene when the Origin Core shattered. "It was just a dusty, unremarkable sight."
As they were talking, the palace doors were pushed open again, and several young men in armor filed in. They were all cultivators who had participated in the siege of the Decaying Realm Spider Nest. The young man in the lead still had injuries on his face, but he stood up straight, holding a token covered in runes. He walked up to Xiao Yan and solemnly knelt on one knee. "Senior Xiao Yan, this is the ' Guardian of Order ' token. The elders said that only you are worthy of it."
The token was forged from meteorite iron, and it felt cold to the touch. It was engraved with intricate runes of order, the very design left behind by the creator. When Xiao Yan took the token, the moment his fingertips touched the runes, the token became slightly warm, as if it had a life of its own.
"I dare not accept such a title, senior." He helped the boy up. "This token belongs to all those who guarded the front line."
"Without your final sword strike, we wouldn't have survived until the source core shattered," the boy said, his face flushed. "The brothers have all agreed that from now on, you're our leader. Wherever you point, we'll fight!"
The other young men behind them chimed in, "That's right! Boss Xiao Yan!"
Xiao Yan was a little embarrassed by their calls, and the First Elder chuckled from the side, "Alright, don't scare your Brother Xiao Yan. He needs to rest and recuperate right now. He'll have to wait until he's fully recovered before he can formally become an apprentice."
Everyone then left, laughing and joking, not forgetting to pile the various tonics they had brought onto the table before leaving, which quickly became a small mountain. A Yao stood on tiptoe to help organize them, muttering, "This one is for replenishing qi and blood," and "That one can strengthen muscles and bones," like a little housekeeper.
Once the hall had quieted down, the Grand Elder slowly spoke, " The Annihilation Origin Core shattered, but the ' Origin of Decay ' it left behind didn't completely disappear; it merely scattered into the cracks of the heavens." He handed the jade slip in his hand to Xiao Yan, "This is a record left by the pioneers, saying that this kind of origin, like a seed, will take root when it encounters suitable soil."
Xiao Yan took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense. Sure enough, it contained scattered information about the Origin of Decay —it turned out that from the beginning of creation, this power had been born alongside the Power of Order, like light and shadow.
"So, similar crises might occur again in the future?"
"Yes." The Grand Elder nodded. "But you don't need to worry." He pointed out the window. "Look at those young people, and A Yao and the others. That's hope. What our generation can't stop, there will always be successors who can take up the baton."
Xiao Yan looked out the window. The sun was shining brightly, and the young people were practicing a new formation in the square, the sound of weapons clashing crisply and loudly. A Yao had run out at some point and was now standing on tiptoe, correcting a young cultivator's sword-holding posture, looking quite serious.
He gripped the Order Token tightly, its warmth spreading from his fingertips to his heart. Yes, there is no such thing as a permanent solution; it's just that generation after generation shoulders the responsibility and passes on hope to future generations.
He smiled to himself and fastened the token to his waist. What did three months of rest matter? Once he was fully recovered, he still wanted to watch these young people grow, accompany A Yao to pick the Spirit Rhinoceros Fruit, and... spread the flame of order even further.
The wind Stargazing Hall carries the fragrance of the Tree of Life, gently brushing past as if to say: The road ahead is long, take your time.