Chapter 642

A clamor arose at the Ford of Oblivion.

"How did he get up first?"

"He was clearly at the very end of the line."

"Could this be the secret method to board the Sky Returning Raft? But how could simply introducing common knowledge achieve something like this?"

The specters and soul cultivators all exclaimed...

The embers of the Floating City had not yet scattered, and the lingering scent of battle still permeated the world. After a brief silence, the starfield seemed to regain a delicate balance, yet an oppressive feeling never truly dissipated.

Luo Chen's figure had completely vanished into the Celestial Abyss, and the moment the World-Destroying Core was sealed, the entire universe seemed to tremble slightly. The woman in silver armor gazed into the depths of the void, her expression complex, as if deep in thought.

"Is he truly... not coming back?" Ares whispered, his voice tinged with reluctance and sorrow.

Yun Qing gently shook her head, tears welling in her eyes: "I don't know... but I do know that he would want us to keep moving forward."

Ling Xi stood beside them, her hands tightly clasped, the Creation Heart within her still pulsing with a faint glow. She could feel the presence of that power, as if it was still calling out to something.

"We must find a new way," Ling Xi suddenly stated, "We cannot let such a sacrifice happen again."

The woman in silver armor, hearing this, let her gaze rest on Ling Xi and slowly nodded: "You are right. But you are not yet able to control this power."

"I will learn," Ling Xi said firmly, "For Luo Chen, and for this world."

Just then, a strange ripple suddenly appeared in the distant starry sky. A blurry, luminous figure emerged from the void, like an afterimage, slowly coalescing before them.

"Who's there?!" Ares immediately adopted a combat stance, warily eyeing the figure.

The figure slowly opened its eyes, revealing a pair of eyes as deep as night. Its face was indistinct, as if veiled by a thin mist, yet its aura felt incredibly familiar.

"You... have finally arrived," the figure whispered, its voice sounding as if from the distant past.

"Who are you?" The woman in silver armor stepped forward, her gaze sharp.

The figure smiled faintly and slowly raised a hand, revealing an ancient rune in its palm, emitting a faint starlight.

"I am... the name you once forgot," it said, its form gradually becoming clearer, astonishingly revealing a figure strikingly similar to Luo Chen!

"Impossible!" Yun Qing exclaimed, "Luo Chen is already..."

"I haven't truly left," the figure softly said, "I have merely... entered a deeper level of existence."

Ling Xi's heart jolted. She felt a familiar pulsation – the power of the Creation Heart, but it was now resonating with the World-Destroying Core.

"Are you... a part of Luo Chen?" she asked tentatively.

"You could say that," the figure nodded. "I am the culmination of all causality, and a witness to destiny. My existence is to guard this world's last hope."

Ares frowned: "If you are a part of Luo Chen, can you tell us where the real Luo Chen went?"

"He... is traversing the long river of time," the figure slowly stated. "There lie truths we have yet to uncover, and the true origin of this world."

"The long river of time?" The woman in silver armor frowned deeply. "Are you saying he's still alive?"

"Yes," the figure nodded, "But he must complete this journey alone. Only when he finds the true answer can he return to us."

"What should we do then?" Yun Qing asked.

"Wait," the figure gazed into the distant starry sky. "And at the same time, search for the 'Key of Primordial Origin.' That is the key to unlocking the long river of time, and the only thing that can help Luo Chen return."

"Key of Primordial Origin?" Ling Xi murmured, repeating the words. "What is that?"

"It is a divine artifact left from the dawn of creation, hidden in the 'Land of No Light'," the figure explained. "That is the end of the world, and the source of chaos. Only there can you find the path to the long river of time."

"Land of No Light..." Ares gnashed his teeth. "That doesn't sound easy."

"Of course it won't be easy," the figure smiled faintly, "But this is your mission. Are you willing to accept this challenge?"

The five looked at each other. Although doubts still lingered in their hearts, there was no hesitation in their eyes.

"We are willing." Luo Chen's avatar nodded in satisfaction.

"Good." He gently waved his hand, and a beam of light sliced through the void, revealing a path leading to the unknown.

"Follow this path, and you will find the entrance to the Land of No Light," he said. "But before that, you need to mend your souls."

"What do you mean?" Yun Qing asked, puzzled.

"Your souls have been torn by battle. If not mended in time, you might not even be able to enter the Land of No Light," the figure pointed to each of their chests. "Go, find the 'Spring of Life.' It lies deep within the 'Tower of Stars'."

"The Tower of Stars?" Ling Xi frowned. "Wasn't that already destroyed?"

"As long as faith remains in your hearts, it will reappear," the figure said. With that, its form slowly faded, eventually transforming into specks of starlight and merging into the starry sky.

"It seems our journey isn't over yet," Ares said with a wry smile.

"Indeed," the woman in silver armor looked up at the sky, "But we have no other choice."

And so, the five embarked on a new journey, heading towards the Tower of Stars. Behind them, the Celestial Abyss remained suspended silently in the void, as if awaiting a certain moment.

Meanwhile, in the unknown long river of time, the true Luo Chen slowly opened his eyes. All around him was boundless darkness, with only a faint glimmer of light ahead, guiding his way forward.

"Is this... the end of time?" he murmured to himself, then stepped forward.

The story had only just begun.