The moment you step into the Taotie Myriad Worlds Remains Hall, it's as if you've stepped from reality into a dreamlike realm reforged from the remnants of the universe.
The dome inside the hall is tens of thousands of feet high. The entire ceiling is not made of stone, but a semi-transparent crystal wall layer, through which one can directly see the flowing sea of clouds outside and the starlight of the crystal dome in the distance.
Deep within the celestial dome lies a slowly rotating star ring, within which flow tiny specks of light, like the rekindling of cosmic remnants after being swallowed up, forming an eternally rotating star map on the palace ceiling.
The surrounding pillars are carved from the spines of giant star beasts, the naturally formed curves of the bone patterns gleaming with a soft luster. Each pillar has a miniature fragment of a world suspended on it, rotating slowly like a lantern. The ground is paved with tempered crystal dome fragments; stepping on them will cause a brief aurora to appear before dissipating.
The air was filled with a very faint, chaotic aroma, not from spices, but from the lingering scent of cooked cosmic remnants.
"Mr. Ye, welcome, welcome." A gentle voice rang out. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman walking slowly towards them.
She wore a long dress interwoven with dark gold and deep blue, the hem flowing like a galaxy, creating a faint glow with every step. Her hair was jet black, like a waterfall, with a tiny crystal fragment tucked between her strands, reflecting light. Her face was exquisite and noble, her eyes smiling, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority. Her aura was restrained, yet it hinted at a depth beyond the realm of Realm Breaking.
She was no ordinary servant; rather, she was one of the core elements of this grand palace.
Ye Wuhen smiled and said, "Boss lady, is our pre-booked private room ready?"
The woman nodded and chuckled, "Yes, yes, it's all ready. Come, come, please go to the third floor."
The group stepped onto the floating staircase.
The staircase is made of light patterns; when you step on it, starlight patterns briefly bloom under your feet. The third floor is not an enclosed space, but a semi-suspended circular structure surrounded by huge crystal walls and floor-to-ceiling windows.
The door to the private room opened, and a purer, more luminous aura wafted out.
The private room was large enough to accommodate a banquet for thousands of people, but it was only prepared for a few dozen of them.
At the center is a long table crafted from the wreckage of a starship, its surface resembling a deep blue night sky with twinkling starlight. The surrounding walls are adorned with slowly rotating cosmic illusions depicting the birth of civilizations, the changing of eras, and the collapse of star seas.
The view outside the window is unobstructed.
Below lies the entire three-dimensional city of Returning Light Heavenly City, with meandering rivers of light, interwoven floating bridges, and the Afterglow Wheel slowly rotating in the distance. Further beyond, the deep dark sea of the Skeleton Star Sea stands in stark contrast to the city's prosperity.
Blue Ring Xiao Yue floated gently before the window, its sapphire-like pupils reflecting the brilliance of the entire city.
"This place... is outrageous." Everyone took their seats, and the dishes began to be served one after another.
The first dish – the World Creation Singularity Soup.
A transparent crystal bowl holds a chaotic liquid, its surface slowly rotating. With each gentle stir, the birth and death process of a complete universe unfolds within the bowl. The broth is not an ordinary liquid, but rather an extremely concentrated Chaos Origin.
The second step – crystal-clear crisps.
Thin, translucent crystal fragments were piled up like a mountain, next to a bowl of bone marrow oil gleaming with a silvery-white light. The waiter demonstrated, lightly dipping a crispy piece into the oil before taking a bite. Instantly, an aurora appeared in mid-air, accompanied by a resonance of divine consciousness.
The third dish – Star Sea Dragon Spine Roast.
The ancient god's spine from the Giant Beast Cemetery, baked with a special flame, has a dark golden sheen on its surface.
The fourth step – entropy tide sedimentation and crystal evaporation.
Frozen fragments from the core of the Big Bang in the Destruction Labyrinth were steamed into translucent crystal blocks.
Dishes came one after another. Each one seemed to be devouring the "final chapter" of a universe.
Qin Yu picked up the menu. The next moment, his gaze froze slightly.
The menu is not an ordinary paper booklet, but a semi-transparent crystal plate that reveals a complete introduction and prices with a light touch.
"World Creation Singularity Soup: Five Hundred Limitless Resonance Crystal"
"Crystal Wall Chips: Three Hundred Limitless Resonance Crystal."
"Starry Sea Dragon Spine Burn: Eight Hundred Limitless Resonance Crystal"
"Feast of the Last Flames of the Temple of the End: Two Hundred Limitless Resonance Crystal"
Below is a smaller note: It can be exchanged using Energy Crystals, God-Level Resonance Crystal, Annihilation Starlight Crystal, or equivalent value.
Exchange Rate -- 1 God-Level Resonance Crystal = 100 Limitless Resonance Crystal = 10,000 Energy Crystals = 1,000,000 Annihilation Starlight Crystal
Qin Yu's pupils contracted slightly. The currency at the Source of Epochless · Upper Layer was actually Limitless Resonance Crystal.
And the price... is Ultimate ridiculous.
This meal, if converted into energy crystals, would be enough to bankrupt a mid-to-top-tier sect.
Blue Ring leaned closer for a look, then her eyes widened immediately. "Little Qinzi... do you suddenly feel like you're really poor?"
Qin Yu gently put down the menu and smiled calmly. "A little, indeed."
Ye Wuhen laughed heartily, "Don't worry, don't worry, it's my treat today." "Come on, don't look at the price, look at the taste."
Everyone raised their glasses. Outside the window, the Afterglow Wheel slowly turned. Beneath its radiance, undercurrents seemed to be quietly gathering.
Inside the private room, light flowed and the galaxy illusion slowly rotated on the dome. The World Creation Singularity Soup was gently stirred, and the illusion of the universe's birth and death bloomed one after another in the bowl. When the crystal-clear crisps entered the mouth, the aurora flashed in everyone's consciousness, and the aroma of Starry Sea Dragon Spine filled the entire room.
The members of the Boundless Realm Divine Sect had long since let loose, and laughter filled the air as their cups clinked together.
Ye Wuhen picked up his wine glass, the liquid shimmering with a faint starlight; it was a precious brew made from a blend of Reflection Water and Star Sea Spirit Wine. His gaze was sincere, and his smile was hearty.
"Come on, Brother Qin, let me toast you!"
"Your attack today directly Annihilation Xiao Potian, a Severed Thought Realm · Advanced Stage. It truly shocked me."
The glasses were raised, and everyone echoed. Qin Yu smiled slightly and raised his glass in return, "Just lucky."
Gu Linfeng, however, persisted, his face beaming with excitement. "A fluke? Brother Qin, that finger strike of yours was absolutely earth-shattering! I didn't even have time to react before Xiao Potian was gone."
"Come, come, let me toast you too." The glasses clinked again.
Blue Ring Xiao Yue sat at the table next to a small plate, looking at everyone with a smug expression, as if she was proud of Qin Yu.
As the drinks intensified, the atmosphere became increasingly relaxed.
Qin Yu put down his wine glass and asked calmly, "Senior Ye, may I ask who from the Chi Lineage we are escorting today?"
"And why did the Realm Breaking Heavenly Sect dare to rob the Chi Lineage's goods?"
Ye Wuhen didn't mince words, taking a small sip of wine. "Oh, it's nothing earth-shattering."
"It's a batch of precious elixirs from the Chi Lineage, and a few diluted sacred treasures." "That's considered regular circulating resources."
His gaze turned cold, but his tone remained calm. "As for the Realm Breaking Heavenly Sect... it's nothing but a lackey of the Shangguan Lineage."
"Specifically targeting the interception of some of the goods transferred by the Chi Lineage."
Gu Linfeng added, "The Shangguan Lineage and the Chi Lineage have been secretly vying for power in the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain for many years, and the Realm Breaking Heavenly Sect is merely a weapon in the open."
He turned to Qin Yu, his tone relaxed. "Brother Qin, don't worry. Although the Realm Breaking Heavenly Sect has the Shangguan Lineage backing it up, the Chi Lineage is no pushover either."
"There will be no future troubles arising from today's events."
Ye Wuhen suddenly put down his wine glass and looked intently at Qin Yu.
"Brother Qin," he said, "You're new here, why don't you join my Boundless Realm Divine Sect?"
"Although you're only at the Severed Thought Realm · Middle Stage right now..." He smiled.
"But I dare say, with Brother Qin's talent, you definitely have a chance to stand out in the Lineage election a hundred days from now."
"At that time—" "then you can enter the Chi Lineage."
Qin Yu's eyes flickered slightly. "Lineage election?" "May I ask, Senior Ye, what is this Lineage election?"
Gu Linfeng explained, "Oh, Brother Qin, this Lineage election is a grand competition involving disciples from various sects and God Clan races across the five multidimensional universes of the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain."
"The goal is to join the Chi Lineage, the Ju Lineage, the Shangguan Lineage, and the Hua Lineage."
"At that time, the deacons of the Lineage will personally come to make the selection." "The top ten winners will be accepted as disciples by the Lineage."
Qin Yu pondered for a moment, "Wouldn't that mean a lot of people would participate?"
Ye Wuhen nodded: "Indeed, a great many." "Each election gathers the most promising cultivators from the five multidimensional universes."
"His cultivation level is basically between the Severed Thought Realm · Middle Stage and the Realm Breaking Realm · Supreme."
And ultimately—"only the top ten will be selected."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became subtly quiet for a moment.
The top ten were selected from five multidimensional universes.
Blue Ring Xiao Yue quietly leaned close to Qin Yu's ear and whispered, "Little Qinzi, this sounds pretty exciting."
Outside the window Afterglow Wheel slowly rotated, casting its glow. Qin Yu's expression remained unchanged, but a faint hint of contemplation flickered in his eyes.
As the banquet progressed and the wine flowed, the Afterglow Wheel the window, making the entire Returning Light Heavenly City appear solemn and distant under the starlight.
Ye Wuhen put down his wine glass, his expression gradually becoming serious. "Since we're on the topic of Lineage elections, let me explain in detail."
His gaze was steady, and his voice was low and slow. "The internal structure of the Lineage is actually not complicated."
"From bottom to top -- Lineage disciples, deacons, elders, clan head, and supreme elders."
"The hierarchy is clear, yet extremely strict." Gu Linfeng nodded in agreement.
Ye Wuhen continued, "However—" "Don't think that the Lineage represent the pinnacle of the Source of Epochless · Upper Layer."
"Even within the first region of the upper levels Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain, they are merely considered a low-level Lineage among the upper echelons."
His tone was calm, but not in a derogatory way; he was simply stating a fact. "Most of the elders are still at the True Annihilation Realm."
Only three elders have entered the Eternal Silence Realm.
"The Chi Lineage's Chi Huaping and Chi Tongyue." "The Hua Lineage's Hua Qingyan."
"As for the other elders, none of them have broken through the Eternal Silence." Blue Ring gently swayed the hem of her star-studded skirt, listening quietly.
Ye Wuhen looked up at the Afterglow Wheel outside the window. "Above that are the Clan Chief and the Supreme Elder."
"Most clan leaders are at the Wuji Realm." "Only the Supreme Elder has reached the cross-regional Void Emanation Realm."
"But that's only the Supreme Elder." "The rest are all below Kong Yan."
Qin Yu's expression remained unchanged. But he understood. Void Emanation Realm
That was the true watershed between the second and first regions.
Ye Wuhen sighed softly. "It seems like there's only one level separating these realms, but in reality, they're worlds apart, especially after the Severed Thought Realm."
His gaze darkened slightly. "Severed Thought Realm, where all thoughts and intentions are severed, and Thought Has No Root. Consciousness ceases, and thoughts do not arise. Transcending all realms of reasoning."
"That is the Ultimate state of mind." "Only the Void of Thought Severance can bear boundless Annihilation."
"One can progress from the Severed Thought Realm · Initial Stage all the way to the Supreme, and then step into the Realm Breaking Realm Initial Stage."
That wasn't 'improvement' at all; it was utterly shattering oneself.
Gu Linfeng added, "Many cultivators stagnate for ten thousand years at the Severed Thought Realm · Middle Stage."
"Further up, there are countless examples of things that have remained unmoved for millions of years."
Ye Wuhen slowly said, "To step into the Realm Breaking Realm, one must cause the Boundary Collapse. Dimensions must be shattered. All tangible rules and intangible laws will be destroyed."
"But what is that 'boundary'?" "It's your perception of the world, your anchoring of existence, your default understanding of cause and effect and laws."
"If you don't truly destroy them," then "Realm Breaking" is just empty talk.
He looked at Qin Yu. "You are at the Severed Thought Realm · Middle Stage. You must already have a taste of the difficulty of the Absolute Thoughtlessness Realm."
"That state of complete severance of thought and intention, if not handled carefully, will leave one forever stuck in 'emptiness,' unable to be reconstituted."
"Not to mention going any further to 'break through'." "The higher you go after the Absolute Thoughtlessness, the more difficult it becomes." "Many cultivators have been in the Absolute Thoughtlessness stage for tens of millions of years, yet they have failed to truly break through to the Realm Breaking."
"Because it's no longer about accumulating cultivation points, but rather a reconstruction of the existing structure."
Blue Ring said softly, "That's not cultivation, that's rebirth."
Ye Wuhen nodded. "That's exactly right." He looked at Qin Yu, his tone solemn. "The Lineage election may seem like just a martial arts contest."
"In reality, it's about letting the Lineage choose those who are 'qualified to continue on this path'."
"After the Severed Thought Realm, talent, willpower, Dao heart, and the ability to bear causality are all indispensable."
"Otherwise, no matter how many resources you are given, you will only stagnate at a certain level for the rest of your life."
The Afterglow Wheel outside the window flickered slightly. The atmosphere in the private room was no longer relaxed.
Qin Yu remained calm, but he knew that every word Ye Wuhen said was true.