The frozen universe remained silent.
Countless galaxies hung motionless throughout the endless void.
Even time itself seemed unwilling to flow.
The cosmic chamber had transformed into something beyond reality.
Beyond laws.
Beyond existence.
Protector Yi's crimson eyes slowly moved away from Tian Wuchen and settled upon the frozen figure of Lin Shuan.
The young cultivator stood completely motionless.
Unaware.
Unhearing.
Unable to perceive the conversation unfolding beyond his comprehension.
Beside him, Han Qing Li remained suspended within stillness itself.
The stars no longer revolved.
The galaxies no longer expanded.
Everything had stopped.
Everything except the two ancient beings facing one another.
Tian Wuchen stared at Protector Yi.
For the first time since awakening within the Dragon Pendant—
he felt uncertainty.
The kind of uncertainty that only appeared when facing someone whose origins could not be measured.
Someone who seemed to stand outside ordinary history.
Outside ordinary cultivation.
Outside ordinary logic.
The Golden Dragon Emperor finally spoke.
"Can you tell me..."
His golden eyes narrowed.
"...how you know my father?"
Silence followed.
For a brief moment—
something changed inside Protector Yi's eyes.
A ripple.
A memory.
A sorrow hidden beneath countless years.
Then she answered.
Quietly.
"He was merely killed by the clan we fought against for countless ages."
Tian Wuchen froze.
The words were simple.
Yet they struck him harder than any attack.
His father.
The being he had once viewed as invincible.
The existence who had stood above countless worlds.
The man who had guided him.
Protected him.
Taught him.
Even after millions of years—
the wound still remained.
No matter how powerful one became—
some scars never disappeared.
For a moment—
the Dragon Emperor's eyes dimmed.
The pain of a son.
The loneliness of a survivor.
The grief of someone who had outlived everything familiar.
But Tian Wuchen quickly regained control.
His expression hardened.
"If my father truly died..."
His voice became lower.
"Then who killed him?"
"And after his death..."
"How did the Supreme Races continue existing?"
The question echoed throughout the frozen cosmos.
Protector Yi remained silent.
A strange emotion appeared within her crimson eyes.
Pain.
Melancholy.
Expectation.
Regret.
Countless emotions hidden beneath countless years.
Then—
she finally spoke.
And her voice echoed throughout the cosmic chamber like an ancient hymn.
"Even after so many ages have passed..."
"Our era has not completely disappeared."
Tian Wuchen remained silent.
Protector Yi's gaze returned to Lin Shuan.
As though everything somehow revolved around him.
"The world believes that the Ancient Ages are dead."
"The old powers have become dust."
"History has buried every secret."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
A mysterious smile.
A smile carrying stories older than stars.
"But they are wrong."
Her crimson robes fluttered beneath the light of distant galaxies.
"Many ancient monsters still exist among us."
The surrounding stars seemed to dim.
Tian Wuchen's golden pupils contracted.
Protector Yi slowly raised her hand.
As though reaching toward memories hidden within the depths of eternity.
"Some sleep beneath forgotten worlds."
"Some wander through endless dimensions."
"Some hide behind the masks of ordinary lives."
"And some..."
Her gaze deepened.
"...have silently watched millions of years pass without ever revealing themselves."
The Golden Dragon Emperor became unusually serious.
Because he understood exactly what she meant.
Ancient Existences.
Beings who should no longer exist.
Beings whose continued survival defied reason.
Beings capable of shaking entire universes.
Protector Yi's expression grew distant.
Almost nostalgic.
"As long as they remain silent..."
"History forgets them."
"As long as they do not interfere..."
"The younger generations never learn they exist."
Then she looked directly at Tian Wuchen.
Her crimson eyes reflected countless stars.
"But never forget one thing, Golden Dragon Emperor."
"The Ancient Age has never truly ended."
"It is merely sleeping."
BOOM.
An invisible pressure spread throughout the frozen cosmos.
For an instant—
it felt as though countless unseen eyes had opened somewhere beyond reality.
Watching.
Observing.
Waiting.
Even Tian Wuchen felt a chill.
A rare feeling.
One he had not experienced for countless years.
The Dragon Emperor folded his arms.
His expression became grave.
"For someone who says such things..."
He paused.
Then asked softly.
"How many of them have you actually met?"
Protector Yi smiled.
A mysterious smile.
An unfathomable smile.
A smile containing secrets older than the stars themselves.
Then she answered.
"An even more terrifying question..."
Her crimson eyes reflected endless galaxies.
"...would be how many of them have already noticed him."
Her gaze returned to Lin Shuan.
The frozen young man stood quietly beneath the stars.
Unaware that ancient beings were discussing his fate.
And for the first time—
a slight chill ran through Tian Wuchen's heart.
He immediately understood what Protector Yi meant.
If Lin Shuan had truly encountered the existence known only as "The Emperor"...
If he truly carried traces of ancient mysteries...
Then it was possible.
Possible that certain terrifying beings had already begun paying attention.
Tian Wuchen's expression darkened.
"What exactly do you mean?"
Protector Yi looked at Lin Shuan for a long moment.
Then she spoke quietly.
"Lin Shuan requires greater protection than ever before."
Her voice contained unusual seriousness.
"I wish to remain beside him."
A trace of unwillingness appeared in her eyes.
"But I cannot."
"There are things I must do."
"There are places I must watch."
"There are enemies who cannot be allowed to notice me."
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"So I can only protect him from afar."
Then—
her eyes turned toward Tian Wuchen.
And for the first time—
they contained authority.
The authority of someone accustomed to commanding even ancient rulers.
"But you are his master."
"Therefore the responsibility belongs to you."
"You must protect him."
"In every possible way."
The pressure within her voice caused even Tian Wuchen's expression to shift slightly.
Protector Yi continued.
"I do not wish to disappoint my elder sister."
The words carried deep emotion.
Something precious.
Something irreplaceable.
Tian Wuchen looked at her carefully.
Then looked at Lin Shuan.
Many thoughts flashed through his mind.
This mysterious girl.
This impossible existence.
This person who seemed capable of seeing through history itself.
Her purpose was surprisingly simple.
Protect Lin Shuan.
Everything she had done pointed toward that single objective.
Yet—
why?
Why would someone like her care so much?
The Dragon Emperor sighed inwardly.
Lin Shuan.
You truly have a frightening talent.
Not only for attracting trouble.
But also for attracting beings that should not exist.
Tian Wuchen finally nodded.
"Very well."
A trace of guilt appeared in his eyes.
"I have already brought him enough trouble."
"I will correct my mistakes."
The Dragon Emperor's expression softened slightly.
Then suddenly—
a thought appeared.
Something buried within ancient memories.
Something he had heard long ago.
His gaze sharpened.
"If you truly come from my father's era..."
"Then you should know about them."
Protector Yi's expression changed slightly.
"Them?"
Tian Wuchen nodded.
"The Four Great Rulers."
The moment those words appeared—
Protector Yi froze.
Only for an instant.
Yet Tian Wuchen noticed.
A strange emotion flashed through her eyes.
Shock.
Nostalgia.
Sadness.
"The Four..."
She whispered.
A long silence followed.
Then she smiled faintly.
"They ruled for millions of years."
"The heavens trembled beneath their authority."
"The cosmos bowed before their existence."
Her voice became distant.
"But even the greatest ruler remains temporary."
"Everything eventually reaches its end."
Tian Wuchen inhaled sharply.
Then asked the question he truly wanted answered.
"When the Great War of the Four Rulers occurred..."
His golden eyes fixed upon her.
"...were you there?"
The moment those words left his mouth—
Protector Yi became silent.
Very silent.
The galaxies reflected within her eyes seemed to tremble.
As though ancient memories had resurfaced.
Memories she had not wished to recall.
"The Great War..."
She whispered.
A trace of pain appeared on her face.
For the first time—
the seemingly invincible girl looked fragile.
Lonely.
Heartbroken.
"That war..."
Her voice became softer.
"...brought nothing except destruction."
The frozen universe seemed darker.
"Heaven collapsed."
"Countless worlds were erased."
"Ancient civilizations disappeared overnight."
"Even great existences who once stood near the Supreme Throne..."
Her eyes dimmed.
"...were reduced to dust."
Tian Wuchen's heart shook violently.
Because he had heard those stories before.
Long ago.
Within the ancient records of the Lin Clan.
Back when he had traveled alongside Lin Xin Jian.
Back when he still searched for forgotten truths.
Yet hearing it from someone who had seemingly witnessed it personally...
Was completely different.
The reality felt overwhelming.
The Dragon Emperor suddenly realized something.
He did not want to continue this topic.
Not because he feared the answer.
But because some truths were too heavy.
Too terrifying.
Too ancient.
So he remained silent.
After a long moment—
he looked toward Lin Shuan again.
Then spoke quietly.
"Thank you for telling me these things."
Protector Yi nodded.
But Tian Wuchen's next words surprised her.
"I only want what is best for my disciple."
The atmosphere suddenly changed.
Protector Yi blinked.
Then—
for the first time—
the mysterious girl appeared embarrassed.
A faint blush appeared on her face.
Very faint.
Yet unmistakable.
As though she instantly understood what Tian Wuchen was implying.
Her gaze lowered slightly.
Then she glared at him.
A trace of annoyance appearing in her crimson eyes.
"No wonder things keep becoming strange."
She folded her arms.
"So the master is exactly like the disciple."
Tian Wuchen froze.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
The Dragon Emperor suddenly sensed danger.
An ancient instinct screamed inside his mind.
Retreat.
Immediately.
Without hesitation—
golden light erupted around his body.
WHOOSH!
His enormous dragon form instantly dissolved into countless streams of golden radiance.
Protector Yi's expression darkened.
"Tian Wuchen."
The Dragon Emperor nearly jumped.
"Goodbye."
WHOOSH!
The golden light shot directly back toward the Dragon Pendant.
In less than a breath—
he completely disappeared.
Returning to the pendant wrapped around Lin Shuan's wrist.
Protector Yi stared for several seconds.
Then snorted softly.
Only afterward did the pressure around her gradually disappear.
The frozen universe trembled.
CRACK.
CRACK.
CRACK.
Time began moving again.
The stars resumed revolving.
The galaxies resumed expanding.
The cosmic chamber returned to life.
Everything returned to normal.
As though nothing had happened.
Lin Shuan's body suddenly trembled.
His frozen consciousness resumed functioning.
Han Qing Li blinked.
Confusion appeared on her face.
For some reason—
she felt as though an immeasurable amount of time had passed.
Yet at the same time—
it seemed as though only a single instant had gone by.
Neither of them realized that an ancient conversation had just occurred beyond their perception.
Lin Shuan rubbed his forehead.
The pain from recalling the Emperor still lingered.
Meanwhile—
Protector Yi had already regained her usual calm expression.
The blush had vanished.
The annoyance had vanished.
The mysterious Empire Protector stood quietly beneath the galaxies once more.
As though she had never moved.
Never spoken.
Never revealed anything.
Yet deep within her crimson eyes—
a trace of determination remained.
A determination neither Lin Shuan nor Han Qing Li could see.
No matter what ancient secrets surrounded him.
No matter what terrifying existence had already noticed him.
No matter what storms awaited in the future.
She would ensure that Lin Shuan survived long enough to face them.
Even if the sleeping age itself eventually awakened.