After finishing his explanation, the old man with black pupils bowed deeply to Ye Feng, then turned and left the altar, his robes fluttering in the wind like the final page of a closed chapter.
Meanwhile, Lin Qingtan was still cultivating in the ravine, her body devouring the Nine Nether Cold Qi in silence. Ye Feng and the others waited patiently nearby.
Ling Qingzhu noticed Ye Feng's furrowed brows and spoke softly. "You seem worried. What's bothering you?"
Ye Feng replied with a faint sigh, "Something the old man said struck a chord with me."
"What did he say?" she asked.
"When you gain power, you also gain responsibility... That wasn't the first time I've heard those words. The former God of Chaos told me the same thing. But what is that responsibility? What exactly am I supposed to protect or uphold?"
He fell into deep thought, his voice trailing off.
In the Douluo Plane, Ye Feng had destroyed Tang San and rewritten the ascension system of the God Realm, ushering in a new order.
In the Doupo Plane, he had slain the plane's Son of Destiny and established his own Heavenly Palace.
He had gathered countless powerful women under his banner: Xiao Wu, Liu Erlong, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Bibi Dong, Poseidon, the Goddess of Life, the Goddess of Kindness, and even his betrothed cousin Ye Lingling.
In the battle of the planes, he claimed Ya Fei, Xiao Yixian, Zi Yan, Feng Qing'er, and Mu Qingluan.
In the Wu Dong Qian Kun plane, he hadn't killed Lin Dong, but instead took him as a disciple. Lin Qingtan had also joined his side.
Ye Feng had always acted according to his own desires.
"Is this... my responsibility as the God of Chaos?" he muttered to himself. "Or is it just me having fun?"
He didn't think that living according to his preferences could qualify as a form of divine duty.
So the question lingered—what was his true responsibility?
"Many people go through their entire lives without knowing why they exist," Ying Huanhuan suddenly said, her tone soft but meaningful. "Some only realize their purpose in the final moments. In my past life, I was the Ice Lord. If not for the great war between heaven and earth, I wouldn't have realized that protecting this world was my duty. Sometimes... your responsibility only becomes clear when it arrives."
Ye Feng looked at her. Her words pierced the fog in his heart.
She was right.
If he didn't know now, he would simply continue to act as he always had—until the moment came when he would have no choice but to answer that call.
Protect the world?
Ye Feng scoffed internally. This world no longer needed his protection.
Lin Dong now possessed Xiao Yan's golden finger. With his talent, he would no doubt ascend to the Ancestral Realm.
Lin Langtian had also seized a powerful opportunity that once belonged to Lin Dong in the original timeline. With his inherited luck, his own "Old Grandfather" Mu, and his talent, reaching the Ancestral Realm was all but inevitable.
Then there was Ling Qingzhu. She had communicated with the Supreme Being—the embryo of this plane itself. Under Ye Feng's guidance, she had cultivated the Chaos Art and transformed into a living Supreme Being.
His other disciples—Lin Qingtan, Wang Yan, Qin Shi, Huang Pujing, Wu Yun, and Chi Hao—were also growing rapidly. Each wielded dark silver weapons crafted by Ye Feng himself, treasures that could threaten even a Demon King once they stepped into the Reincarnation Realm.
In the original timeline, the Demon King had broken the seal and was slain by Lin Dong with the Ancestral Talisman. But now? Any one of Ye Feng's disciples could kill him.
Ye Feng smiled faintly. So no, protecting the Tianxuan Continent wasn't his responsibility.
Suddenly, a ripple of energy surged from the ravine.
Buzz!
Lin Qingtan, who had been meditating silently, opened her eyes. A powerful aura exploded from her body.
"Late stage of the Shengxuan Realm!" Ying Huanhuan exclaimed.
A piercing blue light flashed in Lin Qingtan's eyes. Cold, beautiful, and radiant—her gaze alone felt as if it could freeze the soul.
Just by absorbing the Nine Nether Cold Qi, Lin Qingtan had advanced to the late stage of Shengxuan Realm in one leap.
With their task at the altar complete, Ye Feng and his disciples departed.
"Master," someone asked, "where are we heading next?"
"The Creation Martial Monument," Ye Feng replied.
"Where is that?" another voice asked.
"I know," Ling Qingzhu spoke up. "It's the second greatest treasure within the Great Wilderness Ancient Monument. Many sects and experts come here specifically for it. Though it isn't a spiritual artifact, it's far more valuable in its own way. The monument was once used by ancient sects to teach martial arts. If someone meditates before it, they might inherit a powerful technique."
"What kind of technique?" Chi Hao asked curiously. "Is it better than the ones you've given us?"
Ye Feng smiled. "The martial arts I gave you will shine the brightest once you reach the Reincarnation Realm. Until then, you'll need something to bridge the gap. What you get from the monument depends on your fate and talent."
"Oh. Well, if Master says to get it, I'll get it." Chi Hao shrugged, obedient as ever.
Ling Qingzhu added, "It's not that simple. There are only ten seats in front of the monument where one can meditate. Those ten spots are what everyone is competing for. If you want a place, you'll need to fight for it."
Chi Hao scratched his head. "But there's ten of us exactly—Langtian, Second Senior Sister, Little Junior Sister, both Wang Yans, Qin Shi, Huang Pujing, Wu Yun, Qingtan, and me. No need to fight, right?"
They soon arrived at a wide, ancient square made entirely of blue stone. It spanned thousands of feet, carrying the weight of countless years. Figures from various forces had already gathered there.
In the center stood a raised stone platform. On it rested a massive, wordless stone monument—silent and towering.
An ancient, eternal aura radiated from it, rippling across the heavens, commanding reverence and awe.
"That's... the Creation Monument?" Lin Langtian muttered.
He couldn't help but stare. Currently, he was stuck learning transitional martial arts. Ye Feng had only taught him high-level techniques and had no interest in giving him anything average. The hope of obtaining a rare martial art that truly fit him... was irresistible.
"Master…" Ying Huanhuan whispered, glancing back with a playful pout.
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