Astral Orbit Anomalies, a Distant Gaze, and a New Dimension of Balance
The astrology observation deck of Heaven Dou City was several times more bustling than usual.
On the bronze-cast armillary sphere, the trajectories of the stars were shifting at a speed visible to the naked eye. The originally constant Polaris unexpectedly flickered with a faint purple radiance, echoing from afar with the stars above the Broken Mountains. Tang San stood before the armillary sphere, the Spacetime Crystal in his hand growing slightly warm and generating a subtle resonance with the Star Orbit's anomalies.
"This is not a natural change in the astral orbits." The veteran scholar in charge of astrological observation stroked his beard with heavily furrowed brows, pointing at the abnormal region on the star chart. "Look here, the ladle of the Big Dipper should point east, but now it leans toward the northwest. That is the direction of the Far North Ice Plains. And look here, the light of the Southern Cross is fading, replaced by this newly appeared nebula whose position happens to correspond to the Broken Mountains."
Lin Ye's Golden Crow Fire danced on his fingertips as he gazed at the starry sky. "The Golden Crow perceives that the energy fluctuations of these stars are very strange. They carry a Chaos breath similar to the Spacetime Crystal, yet even more... ancient."
"Ancient?" Tang San looked up toward the newly appeared nebula. The nebula presented a vortex-like shape with a profound darkness at its center, while its edges emitted seven-colored light that vaguely echoed the breath of the Chaos Azure Lotus. "You mean they come from the Primordial Plane?"
"Not certain, but they are definitely not stars of this continent." Lin Ye shook his head. "It's more like... they were forcibly 'dragged' over by some power."
Xiao Wu crossed her arms and gazed at the starry sky, her eyes filled with worry. "Could it be related to those shadows? Is the power of the other timeline still affecting us?"
Tang San did not answer immediately, instead placing the Spacetime Crystal in the center of the armillary sphere. The moment the crystal touched the armillary sphere, the abnormal region on the star chart suddenly lit up, forming an invisible pillar of light with the purple radiance and nebula in the starry sky. Within the pillar of light, countless tiny light spots flowed, resembling fragments of stars or dust of time.
"They are establishing a connection." Tang San's voice carried a hint of solemnity. "The trajectories of the stars were forcibly altered in order to construct a new energy channel-one more stable than the spatial rift Li Mo opened, and also much more... massive."
Dai Mubai walked to his side, the Netherworld Thrust slicing through the air and leaving behind a black trace. "Who is playing tricks behind the scenes? Is it 'us' from another timeline, or... an even more terrifying existence?"
This question plunged the astrology observation deck into silence. Even Li Mo was merely a chess piece; then to what terrifying degree must the existence manipulating the astral trajectories be?
Just at that moment, the Spacetime Crystal suddenly projected a blurry image-that was a vast starry sky where countless stars were arranged like chess pieces. A figure wearing ancient, plain robes stood in the center of the starry sky with his face concealed by a hood, and one could only see him holding a scepter embedded with seven-colored gems in his hand. With a single tap of the scepter, a star burst apart violently.
The image flashed and vanished, and the crystal returned to calm as though nothing had ever happened.
"Who was that?" Oscar's voice carried a tremor. "Was he... destroying stars?"
Tang San's heartbeat accelerated abruptly. The breath of the robed figure in the image was both familiar and unfamiliar-what was familiar was that power of intertwined Chaos and order, originating from the same source as the Chaos Azure Lotus; what was unfamiliar was that detachment overlooking everything, as though the birth and destruction of stars were merely done casually.
"He is laying out a scheme." Tang San said in a deep voice. "Changing the Star Orbit is not the purpose, and constructing the channel is not the purpose either. He is... weighing the value of this world."
"Weighing value?" Tai Long scratched his head. "What does that mean?"
"Just like how we evaluate the threat of the Chaos Mark," Tang San explained. "He is observing whether we can guard the balance and maintain ourselves within the torrent of Chaos of the Primordial Plane. If we fail, this world might easily be wiped out just like the stars in the image."
This conclusion sent a chill down everyone's spines. They had never imagined that their guardianship concerned not only the continent, but even the "value of existence" of the world.
"Then what should we do?" Xiao Wu's voice carried a trace of imperceptible tremor.
Tang San looked toward his companions, every face carrying solemnity yet no retreat. He took a deep breath and gripped the Spacetime Crystal tightly. "Continue guarding. No matter who is manipulating things behind the scenes, and no matter how many stars are watching, what we can do is hold the balance before us and protect the life on this continent."
His gaze returned to the star chart. "The Star Orbit's change takes time, and the new channel will not take shape immediately. We still have a chance. The Far North Ice Plains and the Broken Mountains are the two endpoints of the energy connection; we must reinforce the defenses there while finding a method to sever the Star Orbit's connection."
"I'll go to the Far North Ice Plains." Dai Mubai volunteered. "The spatial energy within my body can sense the fluctuations of the channel, and perhaps I can find a way to reinforce the seal."
"Tai Long and I are going to the Broken Mountains," Lin Ye said. "The Golden Crow Fire can purify Chaos energy and at least delay the expansion of the nebula."
"I'll stay in Heaven Dou City to coordinate the power of the council while studying the star chart to look for the weaknesses of the Star Orbit." Oscar patted his chest. "My sausages can provide continuous energy support and ensure everyone doesn't run out of supplies!"
Xiao Wu walked to Tang San's side with a steadfast gaze. "I'll go with you."
Tang San nodded, revealing a faint smile toward everyone. "Act with caution and maintain communication. No matter what situation you encounter, remember-what we are guarding is not an abstract balance, but living people, every single life worth being cherished."
Everyone split up to act, leaving only Tang San and Xiao Wu on the astrology observation deck. Moonlight spilled through the skylight onto the armillary sphere, reflecting the figures of the two.
"Do you think we can win?" Xiao Wu asked softly, a trace of bewilderment in her tone. Facing an existence capable of manipulating stars, their power seemed laughably minuscule.
Tang San held her hand, the warmth of his palm transmitting firm power. "I don't know. But I know that giving up means certain defeat. Do you still remember when we were at Nuoding Academy? Back then we were merely two ordinary Soul Masters, yet we dared to oppose the influence of Spirit Hall. The present us are much stronger than back then, and we have so many companions; we have no reason to back down."
Recalling all the bits and pieces of the past, Xiao Wu couldn't help smiling. "Back then you always liked putting on a cool act. You clearly cared about me a lot, but you always kept a stubborn mouth."
"Did I?" Tang San scratched his head, a trace of embarrassed flush appearing on his face.
The two smiled at each other, and the solemn atmosphere of the astrology observation deck dissipated by a lot.
Just at that moment, the Spacetime Crystal lit up once more. This time it did not project an image, but instead transmitted an ancient utterance, as though traversing countless light-years with the echoing vicissitudes of time:
"The wielder of balance shall understand the principle of Chaos. Guarding the balance of a single realm is lesser accomplishment; comprehending the symbiosis of myriad realms is the true Great Dao..."
The utterance faded, and the crystal returned to calm.
Tang San chewed on these words, a flash of enlightenment crossing his eyes. "He isn't threatening us; he is... guiding us?"
"Guiding us to what?" Xiao Wu asked.
"Guiding us to transcend the balance of a single realm and understand symbiosis on a higher dimension." Tang San looked toward the starry sky, where the newly appeared nebula seemed to have grown somewhat gentler. "The Chaos of the Primordial Plane is not the enemy, and possibilities from other timelines are not threats either. True balance is perhaps embracing all of this, allowing different worlds and different possibilities to coexist harmoniously rather than mutually destroying one another."
He thought of the exotic plants and herbs nourished by the Chaos energy, and of the Chaos Mark coexisting with the ley lines, and suddenly understood something. "We were too obsessed with 'guarding' before, yet forgot 'accepting'. Just as light and darkness require balance, order and Chaos likewise require symbiosis."
Xiao Wu nodded in half-understanding. "Then what should we do now?"
"Do what we ought to do." Tang San gripped her hand tightly. "Reinforce the defenses, study the Star Orbit, and at the same time... try to understand the energy of that nebula. Perhaps we don't need to sever the connection, but rather find a way to coexist with it."
Outside the astrology observation deck, the lights of Heaven Dou City resembled glittering stars, echoing the stars of the sky in a brilliant display. Tang San knew that the new challenge had already arrived. This time, what they faced was no longer some specific enemy, but the ultimate proposition regarding balance-how to find this world's rightful place within the vast universe and coexist harmoniously with all possible existences.
This was difficult, and might even require paying a huge price. But as long as the companions by his side remained, and as long as the conviction of guardianship remained, he was willing to give it a try.
Deep within the starry sky, that figure wearing ancient, plain robes looked at the crystal ball in his hand, which reflected the figures of Tang San and Xiao Wu. He slowly raised his head, a flash of gratified light crossing his eyes beneath the hood.
"Finally... someone is beginning to understand."
The Star Orbit's anomalies continued, but this time, there seemed to be a hint of anticipation within them—a yearning for new birth. The path of guardianship belonging to Tang San and his companions had already extended to a broader dimension, and their story would likewise write a new chapter under the witness of the stars.