Qin Yu lightly twisted his feet in the air and caught up with the disciple. His pace was not fast, but he always maintained a just-right distance from the disciple of the Asura Immortal Hall, neither appearing abrupt nor giving the other party any sense of being "watched". His aura was extremely well concealed, like a causal footnote that the world defaults to ignoring, which would only be noticed when deliberately revealed.
"Fellow Daoist—Fellow Daoist," Qin Yu said gently, with a hint of sincerity, "Wait a moment, wait a moment. May I ask why you are in such a hurry?"
The direct disciple of the Asura Immortal Hall paused, glanced back at Qin Yu, his eyes still lingering with fear and wariness. His voice was low and restrained. "There are some things you'd better not know. Go your own way."
His tone was cold, clearly indicating he didn't want any further entanglement.
Qin Yu showed no displeasure whatsoever. Instead, he chuckled lightly, his tone softening as if in casual conversation. "Fellow Daoist, we two come from the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall in the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer, and this is our first time setting foot in the Void Obliteration Domain. We know nothing about the rules, forces, forbidden zones, or temples here. To be honest, we are both curious and somewhat at a loss."
The Asura disciple's brow twitched almost imperceptibly, but he did not interrupt.
Qin Yu continued, "My companions and I are eager to find a place in the Void Obliteration Domain. If we could join a top-tier divine temple, that would be the best outcome. Our encounter with you just now must be fate. If you would be willing to offer some guidance, explaining the structure of the Void Obliteration Domain and how to choose a divine temple, I am willing to offer a million Annihilation Starlight Crystal as a token of my gratitude."
The moment the words fell, the eyes of the direct disciple of the Asura Immortal Hall visibly brightened, as if they had been gently ignited by something.
Millions of Annihilation Starlight Crystal.
The number quickly swirled in his mind. Even as direct descendants of the Asura Immortal Hall, they could only be allocated tens of thousands of resources each month. The real bulk of their income came from missions, conquests, and battle merits. These two people in front of him seemed ordinary, yet they immediately asked for a million Annihilation Starlight Crystal without even trying to bargain—in his eyes, they were practically "fat sheep."
He sneered inwardly: new to the Void Obliteration Domain, ignorant of the rules, yet dares to carry so many Annihilation Starlight Crystal... either they have a real background, or they've lived too long and haven't been beaten down by reality yet. Either way, it doesn't stop him from making a quick buck first.
The wariness on the Asura disciple's face gradually faded, revealing a thoughtful expression. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly spoke, "Since you insist, fellow Daoist... then I will briefly explain the situation of this Void Obliteration Domain, as well as the whereabouts of the major temples."
Qin Yu immediately cupped his hands in greeting, his expression sincere and perfectly measured. "Then thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist."
Wan He stood quietly beside him, not saying a word from beginning to end. Her gaze lingered on the Asura disciple for a moment before quickly shifting away, as if she had already seen through some causal relationships that had not yet surfaced.
Unbeknownst to the direct disciple of the Asura Immortal Hall, the "fat sheep who has just entered the Void Obliteration Domain" in his eyes was quietly taking his every move and every emotional fluctuation into its mind for deduction.
This "guidance" was not just a simple transaction from the very beginning.
The void surged like a tide, and the world of the Void Obliteration Domain slowly unfolded beneath the three of them. As the direct disciple of the Asura Immortal Hall moved forward, he dissected the skeleton of this world layer by layer in an almost "instructive" tone. His voice was deep and steady, as if he were reciting laws that he had long since memorized, yet he inadvertently concealed his sharpness in every word.
"The true order of the Void Obliteration Domain not in its borders, but in its forbidden zones." As he said this, his gaze swept across the layers of dark, ethereal sky in the distance, where countless unwritten worlds seemed to rise and fall. "The five great temples, on the surface, each govern a region, but in reality, they are more like 'gatekeepers,' responsible for keeping anything that shouldn't exist outside their respective domains."
He raised his hand and gestured, and five different auras briefly appeared in the void before quickly disappearing.
"The Asura Immortal Hall, presiding over killing and clearing; all that is marked as an 'out-of-control variable' will ultimately be ended by us. The Fallen Dawn Divine Hall leans towards annihilation and decay; they don't kill, they let the world die on its own. The Silent Nothingness Divine Hall... you'd better pretend it Does Not Exist, because by the time you realize it, it's often too late."
As he said this, he paused almost imperceptibly for a moment, as if he were avoiding a certain name, or as if he were testing whether Qin Yu would show any unusual reaction.
"The Heavenly Emanation Limitless Hall excels at predicting the future and choosing the 'optimal solution.' They appear neutral, but are actually the most dangerous. As for the Chaos First Palace— " he let out a soft breath, "It's one of the oldest forces in the Void Obliteration Domain, existing even before the chaos was divided. Even if the five great temples joined forces, they wouldn't dare to easily touch it. However, their methods are extremely despicable and insidious."
Qin Yu remained calm throughout, only nodding occasionally, as if listening attentively, or perhaps treating these words as insignificant background noise. The Asura disciple frowned secretly and continued to increase his bets.
"What has truly caused unrest in the Void Obliteration Domain recently is not the power struggle between the temples, but the recent disturbances in the forbidden zones." His voice lowered slightly. "The Nine-Headed Calamity Beast has been confirmed to have appeared. It is no ordinary beast, but an Epoch-level era-level eraslayer. Wherever it appears, it signifies that certain old rules are about to be torn apart."
As he said this, a genuine sense of apprehension flashed in his eyes. "Just recently, a calamity-inducing monster appeared in the deep sea. Several Chaos Realm experts didn't even have a chance to escape and were instantly Annihilation. That kind of being is beyond the scope of 'battle'."
These words, like a nail, gently pierced the depths of Qin Yu's consciousness, leaving behind an unseen premonition. Wan He's gaze sharpened slightly, but she remained silent.
Seeing that Qin Yu remained unmoved, the Asura disciple felt a growing irritation, and at the same time became even more certain of one thing—this person before him either possessed extremely deep inner strength or had no concept of danger whatsoever. Either way, to him, he was "worth taking action against."
He changed the subject, asking casually, "Speaking of which, having come from the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall, do you two have a specific temple you wish to serve? The Void Obliteration Domain is not like the middle-level worlds; choosing the wrong path may leave you with no chance to regret it."
Qin Yu chuckled softly, his tone gentle yet ambiguous. "It's not decided yet. I also don't know the relationships between the various temples, which is why I'm asking for your advice, fellow Daoist. After all, one should be cautious when making decisions."
This answer neither revealed his stance nor gave any flaws. The Asura disciple sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he put on an "I understand" expression.
"That's true, being cautious is a good thing." He said, subtly changing direction and leading Qin Yu and Wan He towards an area with chaotic causal fluctuations. "There's an old fault line ahead. Although it's not a forbidden zone, its rules are incomplete, and external perception is extremely weak. This is a good opportunity to avoid the recent patrols and the aura of demonic beasts. I'll slowly explain to you the true 'entry methods' of the various temples."
The moment he uttered those words, the murderous intent in his heart finally took full shape.
--Once you step into that fault line, the cause and effect of the outside world will be obscured. At that time, a million Annihilation Starlight Crystal will be a piece of cake. As for these two people... whether they are missing or "accidentally perished" is something that happens every day in the Void Obliteration Domain.
He had already begun to plan how to cleanly and efficiently end things without alerting other forces.
In the void ahead, deep within that seemingly calm area, a barely perceptible flow of logic was quietly trembling, like some much larger storm brewing silently.
The void flowed slowly, and the tides of cause and effect beneath his feet subtly shifted like an underground river. Qin Yu seemed to be taking casual steps, yet he always maintained a perfect distance from the Asura disciple. He turned his head to look at the other party, his tone calm and gentle, as if he were genuinely seeking guidance from a "senior".
"Fellow Daoist just mentioned the Asura Immortal Hall, which piques my curiosity," Qin Yu said calmly. "The name Asura sounds ominous, yet you claim to advocate for clearing the field and maintaining order. I wonder what the true style of this palace is? As for the Chaos First Palace and the Silent Nothingness Divine Hall... from your descriptions, they seem exceptionally powerful, but—"
Before he could finish speaking, the Asura disciple suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him, his tone carrying a hint of impatience, which he quickly suppressed and transformed into a "meaningful" manner.
"Fellow Daoist, you'd better not delve too deeply into these two matters." He sneered, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes. "The Chaos First Palace, on the surface, claims to be the orthodox lineage of Chaos, but in reality, it acts dirty and is most adept at treachery and backstabbing. Many cultivators, despite their considerable cultivation, have died mysteriously. As for the Silent Nothingness Divine Hall— "
He paused, his tone turning icy. "That's utterly lawless. They bully the weak, readily wiping out people's existence, disregarding even the most basic order. They're nothing but a despicable force cloaked in the guise of the Great Dao. If it weren't for their deep foundation, they should have been wiped out of the Void Obliteration Domain long ago."
He abruptly changed the subject, his expression suddenly becoming solemn and confident, "On the other hand, the Asura Immortal Hall, while clearing the area, does not kill indiscriminately. It executes those who deserve to be executed and purges those who have broken the order. The disciples of the palace act with integrity and have kind hearts. It is truly a perfect divine palace that exists for the stability of the Void Obliteration Domain."
Having said that, he gestured forward, "Let's go, fellow Daoist, this stretch of road is safer. Once we enter a stable area, I'll tell you all about the Asura Immortal Hall's foundation and opportunities, and perhaps... I can even offer you direct introductions."
The moment he turned around, a tremor ran through the depths of the void.
The invisible threads of cause and effect began to shift, and the logic that had flowed naturally was forcibly folded at this moment. The area in front seemed calm, but it was like the pages of a book that had been emptied, with all the "paths" and "destination" slowly closing. The sense of time was stretched out, the boundaries of space became blurred, and all perception of the outside world seemed to be isolated by a thick gray curtain.
Causal gap.
The deadly trap was now truly set in motion.
The moment the Asura disciple stepped into the fault line, a chill ran through him. He clearly sensed that no third party would be watching from here. As long as he acted later, everything could be attributed to the "fault line mutation."
But just as his thoughts were about to shift, Qin Yu's steps faltered slightly.
It wasn't hesitation, but rather an extremely subtle form of "confirmation."
He didn't look up, didn't look at the Asura disciple, and didn't even change the rhythm of his breathing. It was just that a higher-level logical component within his body quietly shifted.
In his eyes, cause and effect are no longer lines, but structures that can be disassembled, reassembled, and replaced.
He had clearly sensed the not-so-cleverly hidden malice—greed, murderous intent, and a preconceived notion that he was a "resource." But Qin Yu did not expose it; instead, he stepped into the depths of the fault line, like a chess piece that had voluntarily entered the game.
Just as the causal break was completely closed, a thought subtly shifted in Qin Yu's mind, and his own causal logic quietly reversed.
It wasn't a counterattack, but a setup.
He gently placed an invisible "causal anchor" at the deepest part of the fault line, creating a subtle overlap with the destiny of that Asura disciple. All the killing intent, schemes, and greed directed at him had already been quietly marked with a "path of reversal" before they even erupted.
The trap has been set. But this time, it remains to be seen who is truly standing outside the game.