The elder who chuckled at Feng Lieren's outburst stepped forward, his eyes, ancient and wise, holding the young prince's furious gaze without a hint of fear. "Prince Lieren," he began, his voice calm but firm, carrying an undeniable authority that gently settled the volatile air. "Your anger is understandable, given the losses. But understand this: the trial you just endured, the battle on the Chains of Calamity, was far more than just a test of strength."
He gestured to the vast, open space around them. "You stand in the Death Knights domain, within the Death Night Realm training zone. And the bridge you fought upon, the one your troops vanished from, is no ordinary structure. It is one of our most ancient and revered Eternal Arms, known as the Chains of Calamity."
A murmur rippled through the assembled geniuses. An Eternal Arm of such scale?
The beautiful middle-aged female, who had first welcomed them, continued, her voice holding a soothing quality that cut through the lingering tension. "The Chains of Calamity possesses a unique, time-eternal ability: it can restore people and things to a previous state. When you fought upon it, every life lost, every injury sustained, was recorded and held within its temporal flow. Think of it as a grand, cosmic reset button, but one with precise control."
She paused, letting the implication sink in. Feng Lieren's eyes widened, his anger momentarily forgotten, replaced by a flicker of hope.
"Those you believed lost," the elder resumed, a faint smile touching his lips, "your fallen comrades from the Emerald Sovereignty, and any others who perished on the Chains, are not truly gone. They are alive, held within the Chains of Calamity's temporal currents, undergoing restoration. The Chains operate with a cooldown timer, the duration of which is based on the amount of power and life-force it absorbs and restores in each circumstance."
He swept a hand across the sky, where the invisible threads of the Chains seemed to hum. "Those who fell earliest in the battle will soon awaken, fully healed and restored, and be teleported directly into this domain. The Chains ensures a perfect recovery, complete with their cultivation, memories, and even any insights they gained during the battle itself, potentially leading to minor breakthroughs upon awakening, as some of you have already experienced."
Feng Lieren stared, speechless for a moment, the fury draining from his face to be replaced by dawning relief. His demanding posture softened.
Xue Mor, sharing a glance with Shinryu and Shin Aoren, felt a profound sense of awe. This was beyond anything even the Phoenix Cry Empire could dream of. Shinryu, his mind already calculating the implications of such an Eternal Arm, nodded slowly.
"For now," the female elder concluded, her voice gentle, "while the Chains of Calamity completes its work, we invite all groups to take some time. Explore the outer rings of the Death Knights domain. You have much to discuss, and soon, your restored allies will join you."
Ling Chen, still observing from his elevated position, chuckled once more, his eyes twinkling. "Indeed. A trial of fire, followed by a time for reflection. The Great Reset calls for sharp minds and even sharper blades. Rest, prepare, and truly grasp the meaning of what you have achieved."
Echoes of Resurrection
The grand, open space they now occupied was immense, easily capable of holding armies. Colossal, obsidian monoliths dotted the landscape, their surfaces etched with faded runes that pulsed with faint energy. The air itself felt denser, richer with spiritual qi than anything they had experienced in the Mortal Realm, pulling at their meridians, urging spontaneous circulation. Pathways branched out like veins from this central plaza, leading into the vast, sprawling Death Knights domain.
The profound silence that followed the elders' explanation was heavier than any gravity field Shinryu could conjure. Feng Lieren, who moments before had been a whirlwind of righteous fury, stood frozen, his mouth slightly agape. The anger drained from his face, replaced by a complex mixture of shock, profound relief, and a dawning, almost humbling, understanding. He stared at the elders, then at the vast space, as if trying to reconcile the carnage he had witnessed with the miracle he had just been promised. To have his fallen warriors, especially those he considered lost forever, returned was an unexpected grace, even if the method was beyond his comprehension. A deep, shuddering breath escaped him, and he finally managed a single, choked word, "Alive...?"
Among the Phoenix Cry geniuses, a wave of collective awe washed over them. Shinryu, ever analytical, felt a shiver of excitement. An Eternal Arm capable of temporal restoration! The implications for cultivation, for the Great Reset, were staggering. This wasn't merely healing; it was a defiance of death itself, a true sign of power nearing divinity. Raikai, still slightly swaying from his own brutal fight, felt a surge of respect for the Death Knights. Their trial, brutal as it was, had a hidden purpose, a deeper layer of testing beyond mere survival.
Xue Mor joined them, her expression unreadable. "It's a terrifying gamble, but a powerful one. To be willing to sacrifice so much, even temporarily... it demands utter conviction from both sides. We were fortunate, Shinryu. Your choice to unleash your Death Arms when you did, and Raikai's swift victory, minimized our collective 'loss' on the Chains." She glanced towards the Emerald Sovereignty group, still huddled, a mix of relief and lingering resentment on their faces. They had clearly endured a prolonged, grinding battle, unable to find the swift decisive strike that Raikai and Shinryu delivered.
Feng Lieren, though relieved, still bore a hardened edge. He looked towards the other groups, particularly Raikai and Shinryu's, a flicker of envy in his eyes. His group's exhaustion and the sheer number of those awaiting restoration were stark reminders of their struggle. "This 'trial'," he muttered to his remaining lieutenants, his voice low, "it pushed us to breaking point... but they made it look easy."
"Indeed, Prince Lieren," the female elder confirmed gently, "they are. The earliest to fall will be the first to reappear, fully restored. You need only wait."
Suddenly, a brilliant flash erupted near the Emerald Sovereignty group. A few figures materialized, gasping, looking around in utter bewilderment. They were quickly followed by a steady stream of Emerald Sovereignty warriors, their bodies perfectly restored, some shaking their heads in disbelief, others already testing their renewed qi, a few even showing signs of cultivation breakthroughs as the elders had promised. The sight confirmed the impossible: the Chains of Calamity truly delivered.
As the reunions unfolded across the vast plaza, Ling Chen's voice echoed, drawing their attention. "The earliest awakened are here. You will continue to see your allies emerge as the Chains completes its cycle. For now, take advantage of the domain's resources. Follow the paths. Each leads to an area designed to refine your spirit, body, or qi. Consider this your preparatory phase. True challenges lie ahead."
Shin Guo, wiping sweat from his brow despite being fully recovered, grinned. "Finally, a chance to train without getting wiped out for good. Let's see what these 'Death Knights' have in store." Torra Yun, flexing his thick biceps, simply grunted in agreement, his eyes gleaming with anticipation for physical challenges.
Raikai looked at Shinryu, a silent agreement passing between them. Their journey to immortality in the Great Reset had just taken a bizarre, yet exhilarating, turn. The Death Night Realm beckoned, filled with mysteries and promises of true cultivation beyond the Mortal Realm's limits.