The void of the Water Realm suddenly fell silent. The surging water and the lingering aftershocks of the rules slowly subsided, as if everything was awaiting some kind of "final judgment." At that very moment, a very fine crack quietly appeared deep within the void, and an invisible seal slowly emerged from it.
The seal had no outline, no luster, yet it seemed to encompass all boundaries. It would sometimes dissipate and sometimes solidify, like an unfinished existence gently embedded between heaven and earth. The rules of the surrounding Water Realm automatically gave way around it, as if even "flow" dared not touch that touch of "nothingness." It was the Mystic Void Non-Stillness Seal.
The two members of the Ancient God Clan looked up almost simultaneously, their eyes narrowing slightly with cold light as they locked their gazes on the mark floating in the void. Qin Yu and Su Qingyuan also remained motionless. The four pairs of eyes clashed in the air, the air seemed to be compressed to its Ultimate, and even the flow of water slowed down.
One of the Ancient God Clan experts spoke slowly, his voice low and cold. "I say, there's only one Mystic Void Non-Stillness Seal left. How are we four supposed to divide it?"
The other person suddenly burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the void, filled with undisguised contempt and oppression. "Hahaha, how else can we divide it? With our combined strength at the Mystic Void Realm · Middle Stage, do they think they can take it?"
The moment the laughter subsided, the space trembled slightly, and a silent pressure from a Mystic Void Realm · Middle Stage spread out, like an invisible hand slowly pressing down on Qin Yu and Su Qingyuan.
Su Qingyuan's brow furrowed slightly. She moved closer to Qin Yu, her voice low but clear. "What should we do, Young Master Qin? It will be quite difficult for the two of us to deal with them!!!"
Qin Yu's gaze remained fixed on the seal, as if all the fluctuations were irrelevant to him. He gently shook his head, his voice calm. "It's alright. We're only on the third level now, there are still three more. And there's only one seal left. We had another one on the sixth level when we were outside, but it will get more difficult as we go higher. So we absolutely cannot give up this one. As long as we join forces and can kill one of the two of them, I'm confident I can obtain this seal and give it to you."
Su Qingyuan was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She turned to look at Qin Yu, her voice unconsciously softening. "Give it to me? Young Master Qin, don't you need it? This seal is the task for this martial arts competition, isn't it? Don't you want to join Lineage?"
Qin Yu's gaze was indifferent, as if all of this was merely a matter of course. "I have never intended to join any Lineage; I'm only here to gain experience."
Su Qingyuan's expression changed slightly, and her tone became more urgent. "Young Master Qin, this is no joke. One wrong move and you could be wiped out. Countless tens of thousands of contestants have Annihilation trying to obtain this seal. Alas, with our strength, Young Master Qin, we are no match for them. We should just let them have it."
As soon as she finished speaking, the void suddenly trembled again without any warning or fluctuation of energy. Two fine cracks appeared simultaneously on both sides of the Mystic Void Non-Stillness Seal.
In the next instant, two jade boxes slowly materialized from the void.
The jade box is exquisitely crafted, its entire body resembling the warm, ancient jade formed by the sedimentation of time. The surface has no patterns, yet it faintly radiates a very thin layer of luster, as if every inch is reflecting some untouchable origin.
On the lid of the box, a very thin slit opened slightly, through which a faint ray of light shone. The light had no color, yet it made one's mind involuntarily tremble.
They hovered in the air, one on the left and one on the right, forming a three-point confrontation with the Xuan Mystic Void Non-Stillness Seal. At this moment, the entire space became completely silent.
The smiles of the two Ancient God Clan slowly froze Qin Yu's gaze. For the first time, his eyes narrowed slightly, and Su Qingyuan's breath hitched. No one spoke.
They all understood that this struggle was no longer as simple as just "a seal".
The void of the Water Realm had not yet regained its balance from the three-point standoff. The Mystic Void Non-Stillness Seal hung silently within, the two jade boxes swirling incessantly. The surrounding energy suppressed each other, even the water flowed stagnant, forming a thin, almost still curtain. At this very moment...
The Ancient God Clan's gaze suddenly turned cold, and in the next instant, he had vanished from his spot.
He didn't move, but he had already made his move, unleashing the Ancient God Divine Power - Realm Trace Severance, heading straight for Qin Yu.
Using the origin of the ancient gods as a guide, all the "boundary marks" upon which the target existence depends are manifested and severed. These boundary marks are the fundamental traces connecting existence to heaven and earth. Anything severed will detach its existence from the world, losing its foundation. This has absolute suppressive power over cultivators who exist by relying on the rules and dimensional structure of heaven and earth.
For beings based on cause and effect, space, and Fate Soul, directly sever their "foundation." For those below one's own level, a single strike can cause their existence to slip away, turning them into drifting, "unattached" afterimages.
In the void, countless minute, imperceptible cracks suddenly appeared. Each crack was not a spatial rift, but some kind of deeper "connecting line." These lines pierced through Qin Yu's body, extending into the endless void, as if nailing him to the world. The next instant, the Ancient God Clan expert raised his hand and clenched...
"Break." The cracked lines tightened simultaneously, as if the entire space had been instantly sliced off.
The water beneath Qin Yu's feet collapsed, and his figure shifted slightly for a moment, as if he had been gently detached from his original world.
"What are you doing? How dare you?" Su Qingyuan roared, her figure already moving, her Fate Soul force instantly coalescing. But before she could even make a move...
Qin Yu had already taken a step without any explosion or shock. He simply raised the Silent Origin Stainless Sword gently, and a wisp of Annihilation intent slowly flowed across the blade.
"What you severed was my connection with the world." "Then I will—erase the 'connection' itself."
The next instant—divine power vanished, the Source Stainless Sword, the Undefined Destruction Sword, fell without light or sound.
The countless "boundary cracks" that pierced through Qin Yu lost their meaning at this moment. The originally taut power of judgment suddenly loosened, as if it had lost its foundation of "why it exists", and directly faded and disappeared from the void.
The Ancient God Clan's hand trembled violently, and for a moment, the world before his eyes went blank as Qin Yu's figure "escaped" his divine lock.
Immediately afterward, an extremely thin sword mark landed in front of him. He retreated sharply, taking three steps back in the void, each step shattering a layer of the Water Realm's rule patterns.
When he stopped, he was unharmed, but he stood frozen in place, his pupils slightly contracted as he stared intently at Qin Yu.
His heart trembled as if struck by lightning. "How is this possible... He was clearly only at the Realm Breaking Realm · Supreme..." "He... could actually withstand my Realm Trace Severance..."
"Even... countered my supernatural logic..." He didn't move again, but he already understood that the person in front of him could not be judged by common sense.
At that very moment, Qin Yu made his move again, no longer holding back. The Silent Origin Stainless Sword resonated slightly, and its sword intent spread out in an instant.
The void began to sink, and the rules began to collapse. Divine power—Slaying the Dao: Annihilation Sword. The word "Slay" fell.
The entire space instantly fell into an unbearable oppression, as if all "logic of existence" had been pulled under the sword's edge. The void fluctuations around the Mystic Void Non-Stillness Seal collapsed for a moment, and the luster of the two jade boxes trembled slightly, as if they were also being pulled.
Before the sword even fell, heaven and earth seemed to shatter; the Ancient God Clan's expression changed drastically. "Retreat—!!" However, at that very moment—
Another figure blocked his way. The Ancient God Clan who had not yet made a move raised his hand. Divine Ability: Ancient God - Return to Origin World-Covering the Realm.
Using the origin of the ancient gods as the core, the "source of all external supernatural powers" is forcibly traced back and covered back to its original state, causing it to lose its edge and return to the beginning of Unborn.
For all supernatural powers "centered on severing," trace back to the source; for attacks on higher-level rules, directly weaken the "established" causality.
An attack can be forcibly dragged into a "not happened" state for a short period of time.
A very faint gray light screen slowly unfolded in his palm. The screen didn't expand, yet it seemed to cover the entire space. The Annihilation intent carried by Qin Yu's sword hesitated slightly the moment it touched the screen, and then—
The retreating sword intent did not disappear, but was pulled back to a state of "not yet landing," as if the entire space had regressed for a moment.
"Boom--!" The two forces converged in the middle without exploding, but a very strong backlash spread through the void.
The Ancient God Clan's figure swayed slightly, and a very fine crack appeared in his Fate Soul as he steadied himself.
His gaze turned completely serious. "I never expected..." "You're actually this strong?" "You're clearly just a cultivator at the Realm Breaking Realm, yet your supernatural abilities are so domineering."
Qin Yu sheathed his sword, his gaze indifferent. "Hmph. Don't think that just because you're of a higher cultivation level, your rules are stronger."
"How about we all go at it together?" "Let's see who gets wiped out first." The air froze instantly.
The Ancient God Clan expert who had been previously repelled darkened his expression, his killing intent erupting completely. "Brother, let's attack together and wipe out that brat! He's become arrogant!"
In the next instant, Su Qingyuan flashed and landed directly beside Qin Yu. Her Fate Soul force surged, her gaze was cold, and she showed no intention of retreating.
"Come." "Even if I give my all today—" "I won't let either of you leave alive." The four of them faced off, their auras exploding completely.
The four faced each other on the water's surface, the air eerily quiet.
The impulsive Ancient God Clan cultivator's eyes still burned with rage, a lingering killing intent flickering at his fingertips. His aura surged within him, his gaze fixed on Qin Yu, as if he were about to strike again. Just as he was about to unleash his aura...
Another Ancient God Clan cultivator suddenly lowered his voice, his tone deep and calm, carrying a clear restraint and warning. "Come back, don't be impulsive. This kid at the Realm Breaking Realm is no ordinary cultivator. I barely managed to block his sword strike by using my Profound Mystic Void Origin."
Otherwise, neither of us could withstand a direct strike from him. Furthermore, that woman is at the same cultivation level as us; if the two of them join forces, one of us will surely perish.
The impulsive cultivator's breath hitched, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed his aura, retreated slightly, and pressed himself back to his companion's side, whispering, "What should we do, brother?"
The more composed Ancient God Clan cultivator shifted his gaze, his previously solemn expression instantly vanishing, replaced by a slightly affected smile. He raised his hand in a gesture of respect, his tone suddenly softening and even becoming somewhat ingratiating. "Oh, no, no, no, fellow Daoists, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. My brother here is impulsive and spoke without thinking. I apologize on his behalf."
He spoke with extreme tact and even deliberately lowered his posture, "We all came here to compete for the opportunity and this seal. Now there are only four of us left, and there are still three levels of trials to be completed in this ancient book. I'm sure you two don't want to stop here. If we were to fight to the death now, wouldn't that be giving the later levels an advantage?"
Upon hearing these words, Su Qingyuan's eyes grew even colder. Her aura didn't diminish in the slightest; instead, it radiated outwards, like a long-hidden blade slowly being drawn from its sheath. She spoke coldly, her voice devoid of any politeness. "Enough with the nonsense, let's fight."
The Ancient God Clan cultivator's expression stiffened slightly, but he quickly recovered, his smile deepening as he spoke with a hint of helplessness and sincerity, "Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. I genuinely do not wish to start another fight. Aren't the four of us here precisely for that seal?"
As he said this, his gaze deliberately swept back and forth between the suspended mark and the jade box, then he sighed, "Alright then, I'll give this mark to the two of you."
The moment those words were spoken, even the impulsive cultivator was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting his companion to say such a thing. Qin Yu, however, slowly raised his gaze, his eyes landing directly on the other man's face. His expression remained unchanged, but his tone carried a hint of coldness. "Give it to us? You don't want it?"
The Ancient God Clan cultivator seemed somewhat flustered by the question, quickly waving his hand, his tone deliberately incoherent. "Oh dear, how could I not want to? It's just... it's just that if the two of us take this seal, it won't be easy to divide it. You see, what I said isn't quite right."
"This copy should have been fought for by the two of you. I misspoke, please don't take offense." As he said this, he even lightly patted his forehead, looking self-deprecating.
Qin Yu looked at him, then suddenly smiled softly. The smile lacked any warmth, instead carrying a calm that seemed to see through everything. "You're quite shrewd, trying to use this to make us fight so you can reap the benefits."
Su Qingyuan chimed in coldly, her gaze icy. "You want us to fight each other? You're seriously underestimating us."
The cultivator quickly waved his hand, his smile undiminished, but his tone became even more "sincere": "It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. I just felt that this seal was difficult to divide, so I let you decide. As for us... it's enough that we can save our lives." As he spoke, a deep calculation flashed in his eyes.
Qin Yu didn't look at him again, but instead glanced sideways. A whispered message quietly entered Su Qingyuan's mind, his tone calm yet extremely clear. "Senior Su, we won't take this seal; let them have it."
Su Qingyuan was slightly taken aback. Before she could speak, Qin Yu continued, "Since he wants to provoke us into a fight, why not do the opposite and let the two of them fight it out themselves? This situation will be more stable. We can just take the jade box. I assure you, I will get the last page of the seal for you."
Su Qingyuan was silent for a moment. Her gaze lingered on the two Ancient God Clan cultivators for a brief moment, then slowly shifted to the jade box on the left. At that moment, her Fate Soul stirred slightly, as if a very subtle resonance had formed between it and the jade box.
Her tone calmed down as she replied telepathically, "Young Master Qin, there's no need for this. I never intended to be so attached to this seal. On the contrary, the jade box on the left resonates somewhat with my Fate Soul. I'm just unwilling to let them profit so easily."
Qin Yu nodded slightly, his tone still calm. "Since that's the case, then let's go with the flow."
He turned back, his gaze returning to the two Ancient God Clan cultivators. His voice was calm yet carried an undeniable certainty. "Alright, we needn't argue any further. This seal is yours; you can decide for yourselves who takes it." He then shifted his gaze slightly to the two jade boxes, "And these two jade boxes are ours."
The impulsive cultivator's expression suddenly changed, and he almost blurted out, "No! How can you both want the jade box!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the cultivator beside him suddenly hissed, "Shut up." His tone was clearly authoritative, and the impulsive cultivator was startled, immediately falling silent, though his eyes still held resentment.
The composed cultivator's smile returned. He took a half-step forward, his tone almost humble. "Since this fellow Daoist is so generous, we two will not refuse any longer and will do as you say." As he spoke, his gaze swept back and forth between Qin Yu and Su Qingyuan for a moment, as if confirming something. "I will take the seal, and the jade box will belong to you two."
As he said this, his smile remained, but deep down his Fate Soul tightened slightly. It was a calmness that came after suppressing greed, and at the same time, a lingering calculation.
Above the water, the energy briefly returned to balance. The distance between the four remained unchanged, but the cause and effect had been subtly rewritten.