As the sun dipped low, its afterglow spilled over the mountain peaks of the Thousand Realms Sect, staining the clouds on the horizon crimson. The flames of war had just subsided, and the air still carried the scorching scent of lingering soul energy. Ling Jingxi slowly turned around. Behind her lay the silent battlefield where the three Ancient Clan had perished, a landscape of corpses and blood, chilling to the bone by the wind. Yet she, like a celestial goddess, left behind only a sharp yet gentle glance as her robes fluttered in the wind.
She looked at Qin Yu, her eyes showing neither indifference nor pity, but a calm yet firm trust.
"Your path is long," she whispered, "But if anyone stands in your way, I will clear away all the thorns for you."
She didn't look back, but rode the wind away, leaving only her lingering voice echoing throughout the sect, etched in the hearts of all the disciples. The entire sect was silent, and even the elders exchanged bewildered glances. They were utterly shocked: that was the number two figure in the Heavenly Cosmos Auction House, a being at the pinnacle of the Realm Master level!
The day after the great battle ended, the outer mountain square of the Thousand Realms Sect was packed with people. Forces, Rogue Cultivator, and Lineage disciples from all over the Spirit Firmament Great Realm flocked there—not to challenge, but to seek refuge.
"The Thousand Realms Sect has such spirit, annihilating three races in one battle, producing a new generation of geniuses!" Many Rogue Cultivator exclaimed.
Within the sect, the discussions among the disciples were even more boisterous:
"Did you know that Qin Yu actually blocked Feng Jingyuan's final attack? That's an ancestor at the Silent Source Realm Second Stage!"
"And that woman... Ling Jingxi, what exactly is her identity?"
The sect's Soul Stele trembled once more, and the top ten list was updated. Qin Yu's name shone brightly, firmly occupying second place, while the first place still belonged to Qian Ruishan, who possessed a dual soul.
The Thousand Realms Sect's reputation was at its zenith, forcing all the major sects in the Spirit Firmament Great Realm to re-evaluate this force, which was originally only ranked as a "middle sect".
Inside the sect's main hall, several core members gathered together.
Qian Xuancang sat in the main seat, with Ming Yuan, Qian Ruishan, Ming Ye, Zhou Yu, Yao Wanqing all in attendance. Sunlight streamed down from the ceiling, casting solemn shadows before them.
"Although we won this battle, we also exposed too many things," Ming Yuan said in a deep voice.
Qian Xuancang looked at Qin Yu, then turned to Qian Ruishan, his eyes gentle yet meaningful.
"Shan'er, you already have him in your heart, right?"
Qian Ruishan nodded gently, without any attempt to hide her feelings, her face showing an unprecedented firmness. "He is the one I have chosen."
"Alright." Qian Xuancang slowly rose and took out a golden jade slip. "Your dual-soul physique has reached its limit in the sect; staying any longer would be a waste. You, Qin Yu, Zhou Yu, and Wanqing, will go with Ming Yuan to the Nether Firmament Underworld Sect. Go, for your future."
At this moment, the course of fate was quietly reversed.
Night fell, the stars shone brightly, and somewhere behind the sect's mountain, Qin Yu and Qian Ruishan sat side by side by a stream, the murmuring water reflecting their intertwined shadows.
"Are you scared?" Qin Yu asked.
"I'm afraid," Qian Ruishan said, gazing at the starry sky, "But I'm even more afraid that you'll leave too quickly, leaving me behind."
Qin Yu took her hand and said gently, "I never intended to go it alone."
Under the starry sky, the two gazed deeply into each other's eyes, their souls drawing closer. At that moment, there was no tension, no sectarian conflict, only each other.
--The road ahead will be traversed hand in hand by them.
The night was deep, the sky was as black as ink, and the stars were obscured by a faint barrier of light.
Sect Master Qian Xuancang stood alone atop the Soul Tower, his figure tall and silent, his long robe billowing in the wind, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if he could foresee a thousand calamities to come.
Qin Yu climbed the tower alone, step by step, without making a sound.
"You've come." Qian Xuancang didn't turn around, his tone calm.
"Yes." Qin Yu cupped his hands in greeting, but a strange feeling crept into his heart. Qian Xuancang's words today were definitely not ordinary.
After a moment of silence, Qian Xuancang turned around, a complex look in his eyes. "Qian Ruishan is my daughter, but if you truly want to protect her, you should know that your future enemies are not only the Shang Lineage and the Soul Hunting Army, nor are they limited to this Spirit Firmament Realm."
"I know," Qin Yu replied calmly, his gaze resolute.
Qian Xuancang looked at him and slowly said, "The Thousand Realms Sect cannot protect you for long, nor can it hold you back for long... Although the Nether Firmament Underworld Sect is strange and mysterious, the Ming Yuan is trustworthy. You can temporarily avoid the storms there and continue your cultivation, or in the future, you can truly become a 'Realm Guide'."
He paused for a moment, then handed Qin Yu a gray-gold jade slip that rippled with soul power. "If one day you need to leave the Spirit Firmament Realm, this jade slip will guide you to the true Source Realm."
Qin Yu accepted the jade slip and bowed deeply. "Disciple, I will remember this."
The next morning, dawn broke.
At the Thousand Realms Sect Plaza, Qian Ruishan, Zhou Yu, Yao Wanqing, Ming Ye, and Ming Yuan were all ready to depart. Many inner disciples gathered to see them off, their eyes filled with reluctance and respect.
Ming Yuan stood in front, solemn and aloof. Qin Yu walked to the end of the square, where Qian Ruishan was quietly waiting for him.
"Are we really leaving?" Qian Ruishan's voice was slightly lowered, and her eyes revealed reluctance.
"This is our starting point, but not our final destination." Qin Yu gently took her hand, their fingertips touching, like electricity flowing between them.
"I heard from my father... that you never truly used your mysterious power during the battle to protect the sect."
Qin Yu chuckled, "Because I know that she will come before I truly reach a dead end."
She repaid the favor she owed me in that battle, but I'm just a friend to her. Shan'er, you are the brightest light in my heart.
Qian Ruishan's eyes trembled. At that moment, she finally understood that she had already engraved this boy deep in her heart and soul.
As night fell, the two slowly walked under an old banyan tree, where starlight dappled the ground.
Qian Ruishan suddenly asked softly, "What would happen if we weren't cultivators, but just ordinary people, and we met in this world?"
"I will still hold your hand," Qin Yu replied softly, "But there won't be so much killing and bloodshed then."
Qian Ruishan lowered her head, then gently leaned against his shoulder. A night breeze blew by, and she whispered, "Then... would you be willing to kiss me once?"
Qin Yu turned his head and gently kissed her in front of her eyes.
This kiss was like the meeting of stars in the night sky, and all was silent.
Not far away, Zhou Yu, carrying a large bag, turned to look at Yao Wanqing with a bitter expression. "Do you think... I should kiss her too?"
Yao Wanqing rolled her eyes at him. "You should throw that package away first."
The moonlight was deep and the stars were scattered like water.
Outside the Spirit Stream Valley on the western side of the road to the Nether Firmament Underworld Sect, on a quiet set of steps, two figures sat side by side. A mountain breeze blew by, causing Qian Ruishan's black hair to flutter slightly. She turned her head to look at Qin Yu beside her, her eyes filled with a soft light, quietly waiting for him to speak.
Qin Yu remained silent for a long time before finally speaking softly:
"Ruishan, I want to tell you something."
Qian Ruishan turned her head gracefully and smiled gently, "Yes, I'm listening."
Qin Yu gazed at the fading crescent moon on the horizon, a rare solemnity creeping into his expression. "My destiny did not begin in this Spirit Firmament Great Realm."
"I have two other extremely important women—"
"One is in the Divine Abyss Realm, Mu Qingwan; the other is on the Great Yan Continent, she is my true mother, named Qin Yu."
After those words were spoken, the mountain breeze seemed to subside slightly, and all was quiet.
He continued, "Mu Qingwan is a companion I met on another journey. We went through life and death together, and she is a part of my heart. As for Qin Yu... I have never been able to truly reunite with her since birth. Now she is waiting for me on the Great Yan Continent, waiting for me to return in glory."
Qian Ruishan did not answer immediately, but instead looked down at the silver Soul Seal on her palm, a trace left when her soul origin first made a pact with Qin Yu.
After a long silence, she spoke softly:
"Yu, I'm not surprised."
"I always knew that your path would not end in this realm; you belong to a much wider world."
She turned to face Qin Yu directly, her expression sincere:
"If you have me in your heart, I have no regrets. If one day Mu Qingwan returns, I also want to get to know her properly. I believe that the one you love will not be an ordinary person from this mortal world."
"I want to see her, and I also want to go see Qin Yu together, to see your roots, to see where your original soul fire resides."
Qin Yu was stunned, looking at the woman who had been quietly waiting by his side. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he reached out to gently pull her into his arms.
Thank you, Ruishan.
You are the most indispensable part of my life.
Starlight poured down, showering the two of them.
That night, they embraced silently, yet their hearts were in perfect harmony; a thousand words were contained within that silent embrace.
And atop the distant mountains, a barely perceptible glimmer flickered in the air, as if recording this unforgettable moment.
At the summit of a certain main peak, the night was deep.
Ling Jingxi stood before the cliff, draped in a white silk robe, gazing at the fading silver moon and the distant blue starlight in the night sky. That was the valley where Qin Yu and Qian Ruishan had been.
The wind was gentle, yet it couldn't dispel the faint ripples in her eyes.
She held a pale purple jade cup in her hand, within which a shimmering spring of spiritual energy rippled, neither moving nor overflowing, reflecting the outline of Qin Yu's soul—she had not used any secret techniques to spy on him, but rather sensed it through her mind.
"So you really are going to leave after all."
She murmured softly, her voice low, yet it sounded like she was asking herself a question.
After that battle to protect her sect, she single-handedly fought against ten thousand, annihilating three clans and shocking the entire world, transforming into a goddess-like Realm Master overlooking all living beings. But at this moment, even she could not suppress the deep-seated emotions in her heart, gently sinking into the lake called "Qin Yu," causing ripples to spread.
"The Nether Firmament Underworld Sect... is indeed more suitable for you to continue becoming stronger."
She sighed softly, her eyes sparkling.
She was once the second most powerful figure in the Heavenly Cosmos Auction House, her name alone enough to shake the eight realms. She once thought that her path was destined to be lonely and isolated.
It wasn't until that day, when Qin Yu stormed into the Soul Sealing Soul Stele Platform and faced countless enemies alone, that she realized that even she would eventually be brought to a halt by some "accident".
"Qian Ruishan... is a good girl."
Ling Jingxi withdrew her gaze and chuckled softly.
"Her soul resonates with yours, her perseverance echoes yours. As for me, I am destined to be merely a fellow traveler on your path, someone who once shared that resonance."
She gently tilted the jade cup, and the spiritual spring water inside spilled into the void, transforming into streaks of silver light that dissipated into the heavens with the wind.
"Qin Yu..."
"If one day, you truly stand at the very top of the Soul Realm, if you finally reach the ends of the earth—"
She paused slightly, gazing at the rising star in the sky, a faint light shining in her eyes:
"Please, don't forget, there was a woman named Ling Jingxi who once fought a world-shattering battle for you, and who once drank alone in the dead of night, drunk for you."
A breeze begins to rise, and the hem of her skirt flutters.
She turned around, her robes brushing lightly against the rocks, leaving no trace, yet leaving behind an unforgettable, serene and beautiful silhouette between heaven and earth.
After that night, Ling Jingxi never reappeared at the Thousand Realms Sect.
But everyone knows: she didn't truly leave, she just—
"She's preserving that story in her own way."
Author's words