chapter 22: the roots of creation

The peaceful aftermath of the battle with the Void Eater was short-lived. As Shen Tian stood in the midst of his wives and children, his mind remained sharp, his senses alert. The Eternal Sanctuary was still, but something lingered in the air—a subtle shift, like the murmur of something greater at play.

"Father," Xue'er said, her small hand clutching his arm. "Do you feel it?"

Shen Tian's gaze softened as he placed a hand on her head, but his eyes remained fixed on the horizon, where the rift had once been. "Yes," he replied quietly. "The void has been sealed for now, but its touch still lingers. This is not the end, only a chapter in a much larger story."

Shen Tian had transcended many limits on his journey, from the boundaries of mortal existence to the very edges of creation. Yet, even now, he could sense the ripples of something far older, far more intricate, beneath the surface of the universe. The forces at work were not merely threats—no, they were intricately tied to the very roots of reality itself.

His wives, standing with him, felt the weight of his words. They had walked beside him through every trial, every battle, and every transcendence. They had become more than companions—they were the very foundation of his existence, and the bonds they shared had become a vital part of the cosmic balance he protected.

"We need to investigate this further," Shen Tian said, his tone resolute. "There are answers hidden within the threads of creation, and it is time we uncover them."

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The Eternal Sanctuary transformed as Shen Tian willed it. The vast temple that had once been a symbol of his victories now became a base of research. With his wives at his side, Shen Tian created a network of profound talismans and formations that connected them to the ancient energies of the universe. They began to unravel the hidden layers of existence itself, seeking knowledge from the very fabric of creation.

As they studied the forces at play, Shen Tian felt a familiar presence behind him. Yue'er, his second wife, approached him, her usual calm demeanor now tinged with concern.

"Shen Tian," she began, her voice low but filled with purpose. "Do you truly believe this is a matter of creation itself? That the fabric of reality is being threatened not just by external forces, but by something even more primal?"

Shen Tian turned to face her, his expression solemn. "Yes," he replied. "This is not just an attack on us. This is an attack on everything—on the very structure of what exists. If we don't understand the true nature of these forces, the consequences could be far worse than we can imagine."

Yue'er nodded, her eyes narrowing in thought. "Then we must look beyond our own limitations. There are powers older than us, older than even the gods and the heavens. Perhaps, it is time to reach out to those who transcend even us."

Shen Tian understood her words. There were beings who existed beyond the boundaries of the mortal realms, creatures whose power and understanding surpassed even that of the ancient deities. These beings were the Primordials, entities that had existed since before time itself, their knowledge a key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe.

"We will seek them out," Shen Tian said, his voice steady. "But we must prepare. The Primordials are not beings to be taken lightly. Their power may be greater than anything we've faced before."

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The days passed in a blur of activity. Shen Tian and his wives worked tirelessly, using every available resource to seek the answers they needed. They found fragments of ancient texts, remnants of forgotten powers, and clues that led them deeper into the heart of the unknown.

But as they uncovered more, the more Shen Tian realized how small he still was in the grand tapestry of existence. The Void Eater had been but a symptom of a much larger illness, one that was rooted in the very beginning of time. The fabric of reality itself was fraying at the edges, and only by understanding the Primordials could they hope to heal it.

One evening, as the setting sun bathed the Sanctuary in a warm, golden light, Shen Tian stood before a massive crystal formation, a relic from an age long past. The crystal hummed with energy, its surface etched with ancient runes that resonated with the power of the universe itself.

"This is it," Shen Tian murmured to himself. "The key to unlocking the path to the Primordials."

His hand reached out, brushing against the surface of the crystal. As his energy flowed into it, the runes glowed with an ethereal light, and the air around them shimmered. A portal began to form, a swirling vortex of energy that stretched into infinity.

"Shen Tian," Lian'er called from behind him, her voice full of awe. "Where does this lead?"

Shen Tian turned to her, his expression filled with both determination and awe. "To the beginning of everything. The Primordials reside beyond the boundaries of time. We are about to cross into a place that exists beyond our comprehension."

He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the journey ahead. "Prepare yourselves. What lies beyond this portal is not a world we know, but a place where even the gods fear to tread. But together, we will face it."

The portal pulsed with light, and with a single step, Shen Tian crossed the threshold. His wives followed, their faces a mixture of excitement and trepidation. As they passed through the portal, the world around them dissolved, and they found themselves in a space unlike anything they had ever seen.

It was a place of boundless light and shadow, where the very concept of time seemed to unravel. There were no stars, no planets—only endless waves of energy, each one more ancient and mysterious than the last. The very air was thick with primordial power, a force so profound that even Shen Tian could feel the weight of it pressing against his soul.

"Welcome, Shen Tian, to the heart of creation."

The voice echoed through the vast expanse, an ancient sound that resonated with the power of the cosmos itself. From the shadows stepped a figure, its form shifting and changing, as if it were both everything and nothing at once.

Shen Tian and his wives stood firm, but deep within, he felt the enormity of what he was facing. This being, this Primordial, was unlike anything they had encountered. Its power was vast, but there was something more—an intelligence, a wisdom that transcended all comprehension.

"We seek your guidance," Shen Tian said, his voice steady but filled with awe. "The fabric of reality itself is at risk. We need to understand the forces that threaten us and how we can stop them."

The Primordial regarded him with a gaze that seemed to pierce through time itself. "You are brave, Shen Tian, but you are not yet ready. The forces that you face are not merely external. They are within you, within all things. To save your world, you must first understand the nature of creation itself."

Shen Tian's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The path to transcendence lay not in defeating enemies, but in understanding the very nature of existence.

"Then teach us," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "We are ready."

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End of Chapter 22