Origin Full Strands, City Lord Bestows Token to Start New Chapter

The wind whipped gravel past my feet. I stood still, the golden line on my palm slowly fading. Ye Qingwan hadn't moved, standing beside me, her gaze still fixed on the red light that had reignited deep within the secret passage.

I closed my eyes.

Deep within my Sea of Consciousness, the tenth strand of Heaven-Slaying Origin quietly merged into my Dantian. It was like a drop of water falling into a deep pool, silent and traceless, yet stirring up a thousand layers of hidden currents. My Pseudo-Primordial Body trembled slightly, the power flowing through my meridians more solid and weighty than ever before. The System's thoughts surfaced like a receding tide: Ten strands complete, the Heaven-Slaying Dao Foundation can be condensed. The timing is up to the host to choose.

I didn't keep my eyes closed for long.

Breaking through wasn't happening now. Yan Jiuxiao's men had just left, and although Ji Hantian had been subdued, his gasping breaths still echoed in my ears. That malice wouldn't end just like that. If I were to trigger celestial phenomena now, I'd be thrust into the spotlight. After hiding for three years, this little while longer wouldn't matter.

When I opened my eyes again, the wind had stopped.

Footsteps approached from a distance, steady and powerful. The sound of boots crushing rubble was exceptionally clear. Yan Jiuxiao had returned, his official robes unchanged, the City Lord's seal at his waist gleaming coldly in the setting sun. He stopped three steps away from me, his gaze sweeping over my face before landing on the wooden sword in my hand.

"You're more inscrutable than I imagined," he said.

I didn't reply.

He wasn't annoyed. He took a token from his sleeve, entirely black, with the patterns of the Northern Wasteland's mountains carved along the edges. A blood-red jade core was embedded in the center – the City Lord Token.

"Take it," he handed it over. "The Blood Demon Sect won't be quiet in the coming days. You crippled Ji Hantian, which is tantamount to slapping their face. They will come."

I stared at the token, not reaching for it.

"City Lord Yan gives it so readily, aren't you afraid I'll use it to command your troops? To open your vaults? Or even... to gain the upper hand over you?"

He chuckled, but his eyes didn't change. "If you truly had the ability, I'd accept it. This Northern Wasteland has never been held by mere titles, but by strength. You haven't revealed your full capabilities yet, but I can see it – you're waiting."

I was silent for a moment before finally reaching out and taking it.

The instant my fingertips touched the token, a faint golden light flashed and vanished from my palm, as if resonating with some power within me. The City Lord Token vibrated slightly, and the blood-red jade core seemed to swirl with light for a moment before returning to stillness.

I tucked it into my robes, placing it close to my chest.

Yan Jiuxiao watched my action and nodded. "The Primordial Ruins are about to open, you can feel it too, right?"

I raised my eyes to the northern horizon.

Dark clouds churned there, layered like an ancient curtain descending. Vaguely, a phantom-like giant bell floated within, its outline blurred, yet exuding a heart-palpitating pressure. It was a sign of the loosening of heaven and earth rules, the prelude to the resurgence of an ancient Forbidden Ground.

"It's not just me," I said. "The entire Northern Wasteland is in turmoil. The Blood Demon Sect is rushing to act because they know time is running out. Once the ruins open, old debts will have to be settled one by one."

Yan Jiuxiao's expression turned serious.

He knew what I was talking about. The conspiracy three years ago wasn't just aimed at me. The night my Dao Bone shattered, it wasn't just me who awakened the System; something else... was also waking up.

"You plan to go in?" he asked.

"Of course," my voice was light, but it struck like an iron nail into stone. "There are things inside that I need. And... debts that need to be repaid."

He said nothing more, just gave me a deep look before turning to leave. This time, he didn't have a procession or guards following. He walked alone through the ruins, his figure quickly disappearing at the end of the training ground.

The wind picked up again.

It was only then that Ye Qingwan spoke. "That red light just now... it's still flashing."

I nodded. "Someone is lighting a lamp inside."

"Aren't you worried?"

"Worrying is useless," I looked at her. "But since it dares to light up, it means it doesn't want to hide. The truly terrifying thing isn't an enemy revealing themselves, but when you think they're dead, only to find out they're still alive and have been watching you all along."

She pursed her lips, not arguing.

The black token in her Treasure Pouch grew slightly warm. She didn't take it out, merely pressing it lightly with her finger.

Just then, a commotion arose from outside the crowd.

Afu squeezed through, clutching a bulging money bag. Dust clung to his face, his hair was a mess, and he yelled as he ran, "Young Master! Young Master! I snatched three Spirit Coins! That's enough for half a bottle of Essence Restoration Pills! When are we going to the Black Market? I heard they got a new batch of Poison Amulets, and you can even enter a lottery for a beautiful woman's scroll painting!"

Ye Qingwan frowned and kicked him.

"Heal!" she said coldly. "Do you still remember whose subordinate you are?"

"Ouch!" Afu yelped, falling to the ground. The money bag scattered, and a few Spirit Coins rolled out, spinning on the ground for a few moments before stopping. He clutched his calf, wailing, "Miss! I'm planning for the Young Master's future! Don't always kick my vital areas!"

I ignored them.

My gaze remained fixed on the northern horizon. The phantom image of the ancient bell grew clearer, and patterns of broken chains began to appear around its edges, as if something was breaking free from its restraints. At the same time, the Heaven-Slaying Origin within my body also began to flow slowly. The ten strands gathered, like rivers converging into an abyss, waiting only for a command to break through the shackles and condense into a Dao Foundation.

But I wasn't in a hurry.

True powerhouses could even wait to break through.

Afu got up, rubbing his leg, and sidled up to me, whispering, "Young Master, are we really going to the Primordial Ruins? I heard several old monsters in the Tribulation Stage died in there, and even their bones were gnawed clean."

I looked down at him. "Who said I was taking you?"

He blinked. "But... but I'm your only accountant!"

"Then practice your handwriting first," I said lightly. "The IOU you wrote last time was almost mistaken for a curse scroll and burned."

He sheepishly retreated.

Ye Qingwan walked over, standing on my other side, her voice lowered. "If you go, I go too."

"I know," I said. "But this time is different. There are things in the ruins that cannot be resisted solely by Bloodline. You need to prepare."

"I've already prepared," she raised her hand, and a wisp of crimson flame appeared in her palm. It wasn't blazing, but it carried an ancient rhythm. "It's urging me."

I looked at the ball of fire and suddenly said, "Once we enter the ruins, don't respond to any summons lightly. Especially... ones that sound like bird calls."

She paused, "How did you know?"

I didn't answer.

Qing Ming had said that the cry of the Blood Phoenix could awaken slumbering Chaos and also attract Void Beasts that devour time. That cry wasn't an invitation, it was a trial.

In the distance, the last ray of sunset sank below the mountain ridge.

I reached out and placed my hand on my chest. The City Lord Token was warm against my heart. The Heaven-Slaying Origin flowed quietly through my meridians, awaiting an opportunity, a storm.

Afu was still muttering, "Young Master, are you really not going to the Black Market? If we miss today, we'll have to wait half a month for the next one..."

Ye Qingwan was about to step forward again.

I raised my hand to stop her and looked at Afu, "We'll set off at dawn tomorrow."

"Where to?!" His eyes lit up.

"The Primordial Ruins," I said. "If you want to live, shut up and keep up."

He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck from the distant sky, hitting the phantom image of the ancient bell. A hum vibrated through the sky, and though it was formless, it made everyone's eardrums ache and the ground beneath their feet tremble slightly.

The bell had rung.

I gripped my wooden sword and turned to face north.

The wind hit my face, carrying the scent of scorched earth and rusted iron.

The City Lord Token grew hot in my embrace, the Heaven-Slaying Origin surged through my bloodline. Ahead lay the forbidden ground about to open; behind me, an unfinished mess yet to be cleared.

I took my first step.