High-level martial arts: Contract cashback, invincible starting from the Zerg.

The old man's voice was like an old bronze bell worn by wind and sand, each word carrying a heavy weight.

He stretched out his withered fingers and gently brushed them against a branch that was gradually dying beside him. A tender green bud slowly sprouted from the tip of his finger.

"Twelve thousand years..."

Limestone began to mutter to itself, its eyes seemingly piercing through the barriers of time, seeing a civilization long since vanished into the dust of history.

"Back then, when the Shadow Eclipse entered the Absolute Sub-World, the entire Absolute Sub-World civilization was collapsing. Someone needed to volunteer to become a 'Guardian' to monitor the Shadow Eclipse Lord, and at the same time, to buy time for the Absolute Sub-World civilization to rise again."

Gray Rock looked at Chen Feng, but the faint smile on his lips seemed to hide endless bitterness.

"I stepped forward with my people. At that time, I thought I was a hero. I thought my sacrifice would ensure the continuation of civilization, and that everyone would be grateful for our dedication and contributions."

"We endured the gnawing of the Shadow Erosion in this forest, day after day, year after year, decade after decade. I kept telling myself to wait, that they would come back to take us away sooner or later."

Chen Feng's expression gradually turned serious: "And the result?"

"Five thousand years have passed. Although the Jueya civilization has been growing stronger, one day they chose to destroy themselves. Their answer to me was: Rather than live on with the fire polluted by the Shadow Erosion, it is better to let the Jueya civilization disappear cleanly."

The old man's voice began to tremble, and his cloudy eyes seemed to be filled with tears.

"...All my pain, all my sacrifices, all my perseverance, became a joke at that moment."

"So you distorted the Trial of Order and Civilization," Chen Feng said softly. "You turned the creed of 'violence begets violence' into a trial where 'you can decide the outcome,' just to see if anyone would still choose to protect in endless despair."

"Yes." Gray Rock nodded regretfully.

"As one of the many ancient ruins of the Jueya civilization, I have seen too many people who are only interested in profit. They are either killed by their own shadows or beg for mercy on their knees. They keep saying that they want to protect something, but in the face of true despair, they can't even protect themselves."

"Until you appeared."

Gray Rock's gaze returned to Chen Feng.

"Even though you were severely injured by the Shadow Corrosion energy, you still stood in front of that child. You didn't choose to die in battle, nor did you choose to surrender; you chose... understanding."

Chen Feng scratched his head a little embarrassedly.

His expression was calm yet incredibly sincere.

"I've just been through the same thing as you. I know that when we have people we want to protect, we have no other choice."

"Now I understand," Gray Rock said with a smile.

At this moment, Xiao Ning was tightly holding the injured Star Velvet Beast, carefully wiping its wounds with the corner of her clothes. The Star Velvet Beast also let out a soft whimper and nuzzled Xiao Ning's cheek with its little head.

Chen Feng pointed to the Star Velvet Beast that was snuggling in Xiao Ning's arms.

"Although the Jueya civilization has been wiped out, what you protected has not disappeared. You left behind the Star Velvet Beasts, the Green Sandalwood, and this forest... You endured twelve thousand years of suffering to preserve the last vestige of warmth in the Jueya civilization... That is enough."

Gray Rock nodded, and a hint of warmth seemed to appear in his eyes as he looked at Xiao Ning and the Star Velvet Beast.

Just then, Xiao Ning, carrying the Star Velvet Beast, walked up to Gray Rock. She tilted her little face up and handed Gray Rock a crystal-clear spirit fruit in her hand: "Here, have this. Eating a sweet fruit will make you feel less sad."

Gray Rock was stunned.

He looked into Xiao Ning's clear, bright eyes, his withered fingers trembling, yet he dared not reach out.

"Why are you crying?" Xiao Ning frowned. "Do you need me to treat you, Grandpa?"

At that moment, Gray Rock's nerves, which had been taut for twelve thousand years, completely collapsed. He knelt down, carefully took the spirit crystal fruit, and then said kindly, "Thank you, child."

Then, Gray Rock stood up and looked at Chen Feng.

However, at this moment, his eyes held an unprecedented calm.

"Congratulations, you have passed the trial of the realm of ordered civilization."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire forest began to undergo a dramatic transformation.

The shadowy black mist that had been lingering in the air receded like a tide.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The long-dead trees sprouted tender green buds, colorful wildflowers grew on the ground, and the clear chirping of birds could be heard in the distance.

A green light flew from the depths of the forest and transformed into the figure of Qingtan.

He looked at the transformed forest before him, then at the gray rock, his eyes filled with surprise and excitement: "Gray Rock, you've finally..."

"Sorry to keep you waiting, old friend," Gray Rock said to Green Sandalwood with a smile.

Immediately afterward, Gray Rock gently waved his right hand, and a rhombus-shaped crystal radiating golden light slowly floated in front of Chen Feng: "This is the core of the Order Civilization Imprint, and also the inheritance of the Absolute Sub-Civilization. It can help you control the power of order, and also help you purify the Shadow Erosion energy in your body. I believe it will be helpful for you to defeat the third Azure Horse Lantern Demon."

Chen Feng received the Core of Order, and a gentle yet powerful force instantly surged into his body.

"Thank you," Chen Feng said.

"I'm the one who should be saying thank you." Gray Rock looked up at the sky, sunlight shining on his face, dispelling all the gloom. "Twelve thousand years have passed, it's time for me to rest."

After he finished speaking, his body began to turn into specks of golden light, just like Chen Feng in his golden armor before, and slowly dissipated into the air.

"Gray Rock!" Qing Tan reached out, trying to grab him, but she was still a step too late.

"Qingtan, if it weren't for the Shadow Erosion energy, I might not exist anymore."

Amidst the countless golden specks of light dancing in the air, Gray Rock's final voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, carrying an unprecedented sense of ease.

"You've worked hard for these past twelve thousand years. I'm being selfish, but I hope that you can protect this forest for me and preserve the last spark of the Jueya civilization."

"And you, Chen Feng." The light spot in Gray Rock's sea of ​​consciousness turned towards Chen Feng. "The power of order lies not in conquest, but in balance. Shadow Erosion is not absolute darkness, and light is not the only answer... Thank you for your answer."

As the last glimmer of golden light merged into the warm sunlight, the final sound of the gray rock echoed gently and peacefully through the forest.

Sunlight bathed the entire Spirit Beast Forest, and a gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers and grasses.

Holding the Star-Eyed Beast, Xiao Ning looked at the golden specks of light dancing in the sky and whispered, "Daddy, where did Gray Rock go?"

Chen Feng solemnly reached out and patted Xiao Ning's head, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"He went to a place where there was no pain, no loneliness."