Entering the Forbidden Covert Operation Alone
Yun Qiusheng's gaze lingered on Qin Yu for a moment, not as a scrutiny, but more as a confirmation across eras. He nodded slightly, his voice even gentler and more sincere than before, "Young Master Qin, on behalf of the entire Chaos First Palace, I sincerely thank you. Last time, you brought back our palace's long-lost sacred artifact, the 'Saint Transformation Star Codex,' from the Saint Transformation Divine Domain. That was not a simple achievement, but rather the continuation of an unbroken line of inheritance for our palace." As his words fell, the ancient chaotic markings in the hall seemed to light up slightly at the same time, then quickly returned to silence, as if responding to this newly reconnected cause and effect.
Qin Yu rose, his attitude remaining restrained and respectful. "Ancestor, you flatter me. As the only guest elder of the Chaos First Palace, this is simply my duty, and I have no intention of taking credit." His tone was calm, without a trace of perfunctoriness, but rather conveyed a genuine sense of composure. A hint of approval flashed in Yun Qiusheng's eyes, and he smiled gently. "Not arrogant or impatient, not taking credit yet not belittling yourself—this temperament is even more precious than cultivation. At the age of twenty, reaching the Void Emanation Realm · Supreme, one can certainly be considered a peerless genius even in the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer."
Silence fell over the hall. Yun Yanwan and Yun Yanxi sat quietly to his side, even their breathing deliberately slowed, for fear of interrupting this crucial conversation. Yun Qiusheng gently raised his hand, gesturing for Qin Yu to sit down again, then his tone changed, becoming serious, "Regarding the Black Sea, I don't want to give you an answer yet. Today, I want to hear your opinion first. There are no elders to instruct you here, nor are there any restrictions based on your stance; please speak freely."
Qin Yu paused briefly before speaking, his tone unhurried yet each word hitting the nail on the head, "Ancestor, I believe you already know the origin of the Annihilation Realm-Breaking Pearl and its repair method, and you are also aware of the consequences once repaired. It will not just be a disaster for the Void Obliteration Domain, but a taboo that could shake the entire Source of Epochless · Middle Layer." As he said this, he raised his gaze to meet Yun Qiusheng's eyes, showing neither retreat nor sharpness, only an Ultimate level of rational clarity.
Yun Qiusheng remained silent for a moment, as if recalling an extremely distant history, before slowly sighing, "Alas... you are right. The Annihilation Realm-Breaking Pearl, also known as the 'Thought Severance Void Pearl,' should never have been touched by this era. Regardless of why it was damaged in the first place, its reappearance now is destined to be no accident." His voice was low, yet carried an unavoidable weight, "For a being at the Severed Thought Realm to attempt to use it to step into the Realm Breaking, what does that mean? You and I both know very well."
The air within the hall seemed to grow heavy, even the flow of time slowed to a crawl. Yun Yanwan and Yun Yanxi remained silent, but their expressions had changed, shifting from initial caution to a complex mix of hidden fear and resolute determination. Yun Qiusheng continued, his tone no longer avoiding the realities, "It's not a simple breakthrough, but a restoration process that sacrifices the entire Void Obliteration Domain, and even the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer. Restoring the Annihilation Realm-Breaking Pearl means inevitable slaughter, devouring, and plundering of high-level origins. Once activated, a bloodbath will be unavoidable."
Qin Yu listened quietly, without interrupting. He knew that this silence was itself an acknowledgment of the cruel reality. Yun Qiusheng's gaze deepened. "That's why I say, this is fate. It's not that you or I chose it, but that it came to this era." He closed his eyes briefly, then quickly opened them again, his eyes now devoid of hesitation. "But fate is not insurmountable. Even if the ending is predetermined, someone always has to stand up and try to stop it."
At this moment, Yun Yanwan finally couldn't help but speak, her voice low but filled with urgency, "Ancestor, then... do you have any specific plans for the future?" Yun Yanxi also looked at Yun Qiusheng with a solemn expression, clearly the decision made at this moment would directly determine the future fate of the Chaos First Palace and even all the other palaces.
Yun Qiusheng nodded slowly, his fingertips tracing a line in front of him. The previously dormant chaotic markings in the hall lit up, intertwining into an extremely complex yet restrained pattern. His voice followed, deep and resolute, "The deployment is naturally in place. But before it truly unfolds, there are a few things I need to confirm with you, Qin Yu, alone." He looked at Qin Yu, his gaze no longer merely that of an elder scrutinizing him, but also that of a fellow traveler. "What you will hear next will not just be the decisions of the Chaos First Palace, but a matter of life and death for the entire Source of Epochless · Middle Layer."
Inside the inner hall, chaotic patterns slowly rotated on the dome, like an ancient bell repeatedly rubbed by time, deep and resonant. Yun Qiusheng raised his hand, his fingertips not touching anything physical, yet drawing an extremely fine gray-white line in the void. As soon as that line appeared, the surrounding space instinctively receded an inch, as if even "existence" itself was avoiding its sharpness. His voice followed, not loud, but causing everyone present to simultaneously feel a chill—this was the first bottom line of the anti-repair, and also the only bottom line that could not be compromised: the Annihilation Realm-Breaking Pearl must absolutely not be allowed to complete the "Void Emanation Realm Activation".
He spoke extremely slowly, each word seeming to have been pressed into the depths of chaos and then retrieved. "The repair of the Annihilation Realm-Breaking Pearl is not linear, nor is it a matter of quantity that can be achieved through greed. It has an insurmountable 'key point,' which is the first recognized Void Emanation Realm · High Stage Origin. Once this step is completed, the bead will no longer be an incomplete object, but will enter a 'self-repairing state.' The subsequent Silent Profundity, Chaotic, and Stainless Origins are only a matter of time." Yun Qiusheng's gaze narrowed slightly, and the light in the hall dimmed by a third. "Therefore, our primary goal is not to confront it head-on, not to kill the Thought Severance Devouring Emperor, nor to eradicate the Calamity Beasts, but—to cut off this path before any Void Emanation Realm expert is sacrificed, devoured, or completely absorbed."
Yun Yanwan and Yun Yanxi exchanged a glance, their breathing becoming heavy simultaneously. They both understood what this meant. This was not just a defense, but a covert battle where time had to be of the essence. If they were even a step slower, the situation would completely spiral out of control. Qin Yu listened quietly, his expression more focused than anyone else's, because he knew better than anyone else present that once that bottom line was crossed, there would be no turning back.
Yun Qiusheng didn't stop. He gently pressed his finger down, and the gray-white line in the void suddenly expanded, transforming into a blurry and dark image. It wasn't a complete picture, but rather a forcibly extracted "outline of the result." In the center of the image was the figure of the Thought Severance Devouring Emperor, a figure that made one's consciousness instinctively collapse. However, deep within its outline, a highly discordant blank space was faintly visible. That blank space wasn't a lack of power, but a "logical gap," like a dead knot forcibly embedded in the whole. Yun Qiusheng's voice then lowered, "This is its weakness."
Qin Yu's gaze sharpened instantly. He realized almost immediately what the blank space meant. It wasn't a difference in cultivation level, nor a lack of supernatural power, but an inherent flaw brought about by the very nature of the Thought Severance Devouring Emperor's existence. Yun Qiusheng continued, "The Thought Severance Devouring Emperor is born from the Abyss of Thought Extinction. It has no thoughts, no consciousness. Its power comes from the denial of all 'things that can be thought of,' but precisely because of this, it cannot truly handle 'non-hostile intervention.'" He slowly looked at Qin Yu, his tone becoming more serious than ever before, "All deductions, killing intent, and plans aimed at it will be devoured before they take shape. However, once an action is not aimed at confrontation, but rather at 'destroying the conditions for repair,' its Severed Thought Domain will experience a temporary blind spot."
In that instant, the hall was eerily quiet, even the sound of the chaotic patterns turning seemed to disappear. Qin Yu's heartbeat became incredibly clear at that moment. He had vaguely realized what this so-called window of opportunity meant. It was not a battle, but a near-suicidal infiltration. It was to complete something that seemed insignificant, yet was enough to determine life and death, in the core area where all the calamities, the Divine Phoenix, the Yin puppet, and the will of Absolute Thoughtlessness thought intertwined.
Yun Qiusheng gave no one room to escape. He looked directly at Qin Yu and slowly said, "This area is extremely short and dangerous, and can only be completed by one person. Any large-scale operation will be considered a 'thoughtful enemy' by the Thought Severance Devouring Emperor. Only a single, non-aggressive, and non-confrontational intervention has a chance of success." As he said this, his gaze no longer held probing, but only confirmation. "The Chaos First Palace will activate a forbidden-level secret network. This network Bugui the command of any palace, receives no support, and is not recorded in any causal register. Once activated, the executor will bear the consequences of their actions, and the sect will not recognize their whereabouts or be able to handle the aftermath."
The air in the hall seemed to have been completely sucked out. Yun Yanwan and Yun Yanxi stood up simultaneously, but remained silent. They already understood what was about to happen. Yun Qiusheng slowly stood up, layers of chaotic aura unfolding behind him, but instead of pressing down on Qin Yu, it seemed to be making way for him. "Qin Yu, the core executor of this covert operation, I choose you." His voice was no longer low, but carried a weight of almost entrustment. "Not because of your cultivation level, but because you have seen the unknown world, faced the Thought Severance Devouring Emperor of Annihilation, and understood the repair logic of the Annihilation Realm-Breaking Pearl. More importantly—when facing certain death, you can still maintain the clarity of 'not thinking of killing'."
Qin Yu didn't respond immediately. He slowly rose, his gaze calm, devoid of any boiling blood or hesitation. At that moment, he understood more clearly than ever before that this wasn't a choice, but a path that had already been laid out before him. Yun Qiusheng looked at him and added, "This mission isn't about killing, it's not about stopping everything, but rather—to destroy the possibility of the Thought Severance Devouring Emperor completing the first step of its repair before it realizes it. Even if it's just a delay, it's enough to buy time for all the palaces in the Void Obliteration Domain."
Entering Stillness the hall, and the chaotic patterns slowly receded, as if something had been quietly decided but not yet announced. Qin Yu stood there, without any grand ambitions in his heart, only a clear and cold understanding—next, he would step alone into a dark path where almost no one could return alive.
Inside the inner hall, the chaotic energy had not yet dissipated. Qin Yu stood in the tranquil light and shadow, and after listening to Yun Qiusheng's words, he stepped forward without hesitation, bowed, and spoke in a low but exceptionally steady voice, as if he had already rehearsed it countless times in his mind. "This junior will do his utmost and will never fail the ancestor's expectations." The moment his voice fell, the logical outline deep between his brows trembled slightly, and an invisible yet extremely clear mark lit up at the very bottom of his sea of consciousness, only to completely disappear in the next instant. It was neither power nor restriction, but a "right of absence" tacitly approved by the entire Chaos First Palace —from this moment on, his whereabouts would not be recorded, traced, or included in any causal ledger. Even if he completely disappeared in a certain area, the sect would not and could not inquire about his whereabouts.
The Forbidden Covert Operation officially began silently.
Yun Qiusheng waved his hand, and a thin crack quietly appeared in the previously sealed chaotic barrier deep within the inner hall. Within the crack was not space, but a nearly blank Gray Domain, devoid of direction and time flow, like a passage deliberately ripped from the world's structure. Yun Qiusheng looked at Qin Yu, his tone no longer authoritative, but instead carrying a rare solemnity, "This is the entrance to the first core risk zone. It's not a battlefield, but the 'Leading Edge Zone' for repairing logic. Remember, you're not going to destroy anything conspicuous, but to prevent certain things that should have happened... from ever happening." Qin Yu nodded, asking no further questions. The moment he stepped into the Gray Domain, his entire presence seemed to be gently smoothed out; his aura, causality, and destiny converged simultaneously, as if he had retreated from the world's gaze, leaving only a blank space imperceptible to anyone.
The passageway closed, and the inner sanctuary was sealed off once more.
Yun Qiusheng then turned around, his gaze falling on Hall Master Yun Yanwan and Vice Hall Master Yun Yanxi. His tone regained the calm and decisiveness befitting an ancestor, "Next, it's your turn." His voice echoed in the hall, each word like an iron nail driven into the foundation of chaos, "Immediately activate the full-scale defense deployment. All elders of this hall Silent Mystery Realm · Supreme will form forward defense teams, stationed in designated areas to guard Void Obliteration Domain. Their mission is singular—protect all disciples from the initial stage to the Supreme of the Void Emanation Realm · Initial Stage."
Yun Yanwan solemn, and she immediately replied, "I will obey the Ancestor's orders." Yun Qiusheng continued, his speech slow but leaving no room for negotiation, "The Void Emanation Realm is the first key to repairing the Annihilation Realm-Breaking Pearl. Any Void Emanation Realm disciple could become a target. We must not allow them to act alone, nor can we allow them to expose their complete origins outside the restricted area. If any demonic beasts are found to be approaching abnormally, elders are allowed to Annihilation the target first, without regard to the consequences." As these words fell, a chill seemed to rise in the air, a signal that they had truly entered a life-or-death situation.
He paused, his gaze deepening. "As for me..." Yun Qiusheng raised his head, as if looking beyond the palace walls to the distant sky of the Void Obliteration Domain, "I will immediately meet with the ancestors of the Silent Nothingness Divine Hall and the Lotus Immortal Hall. The three palaces, all at the Stainless Realm, will join forces to form a hunting command team. There is only one target—those three Stainless Realm · Middle Stage Three Nether Yin Puppets." His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable killing intent. "They are the most stable external support for the Thought Severance Devouring Emperor. As long as they remain, the Thought Severance Devouring Emperor will always have the leeway to plan and repair the process. This link must be completely severed."
Yun Yanxi took a deep breath and whispered, "With the Ancestor personally taking action, the Three Nether Yin Puppets will surely be destroyed." Yun Qiusheng merely shook his head slightly, "Don't underestimate them. They are not ordinary puppets, but beings repeatedly anchored by the Absolute Thoughtlessness Logic. This battle will not be easy." He paused for a moment, his gaze unconsciously sweeping towards the direction where Qin Yu had disappeared, and added in a low voice, "And what truly determines victory or defeat is never on the front lines."
The inner palace fell silent once more, but beneath this silence, the entire Chaos First Palace was quietly accelerating its operation. Hidden and overt threads were unfolding simultaneously, and an invisible net covering the Void Obliteration Domain began to slowly tighten. At the deepest part of this net, Qin Yu was stepping alone into a region where even names were not allowed to exist, to accomplish something that, if failed, would be beyond redemption.