On the high platform, the Chi Lineage's presiding official, with a slight flick of his long sleeves, spoke in a voice as resounding as a bell throughout the entire Stele Forest Imperial City, "It is now announced that the three who have obtained the Mystic Void Non-Stillness Seal will begin choosing their respective Lineage tokens."
The moment the words fell, the space in the center of the square slowly distorted, and ancient auras emerged from the depths of the void. Four tokens then appeared, suspended in mid-air, arranged in four directions.
On the far left, a blue-gold token floats quietly. The whole token is made of ancient sapphire, with fine gold patterns inlaid around the edges, just like the meridians of mountains and rivers flowing through it. In the center of the token is an ancient seal character "Ju", which is thick and steady. Each stroke seems to carry the accumulation of eternity. A shadow of the mountains faintly appears around the token, and the heavy aura spreads, making people involuntarily concentrate. That is the Ju family token.
Next to it, a token of light gold and dark black slowly rotates. The texture of the token is like the condensation of stars, with extremely fine light patterns flowing on the surface, like countless star trails running slowly on it. The word "Chi" in the center is looming, as if it will disappear into nothingness at any time. This token does not release pressure, but it makes people feel an unfathomable tolerance and control, and the energy is invisible. It is the Chi family token.
Further to the right, a token intertwined with blood and dark gold stands in the air. The token has sharp edges, as sharp as a blade, and a complex pattern is engraved on it. The pattern is like a spreading weird pattern, with a strong sense of erosion. The word "flower" in the center glows with a faint dark red light, as if blood will drip at any time, and the surrounding atmosphere is cold and weird. That is the token of the Hua Family.
On the far right, a pure white jade-like token floats quietly, its surface spotless and without any superfluous decorations. Only in the center is an extremely simple ancient seal script character "Shangguan" that slowly flows, the characters changing like wind, clouds, and water. A faint spatial fluctuation appears around the token, as if all rules can be rewritten in front of it. That is the Shangguan Lineage token.
The four tokens, each occupying a different area, exuded an aura that mingled with the surroundings, and the entire square fell silent once more.
Moreover, the representatives of the three great families— Ju Lineage, Hua Lineage, and Shangguan Lineage— had already stood behind their respective tokens, their auras calm and their gazes deep, as if waiting for their prey to choose its allegiance.
The Chi Lineage's host's voice rang out again, "After choosing a token, you will become a disciple of that Lineage, enjoying all its resources and protection. Your family members can also be settled into the family." He glanced at the three people, "Sixty breaths are allotted. Choose immediately when the time is up."
Su Qingyuan stood in the center of the square, the Mystic Void Non-Stillness Seal in her palm still retaining a faint chill from the depths of the Endless Abyss. Her gaze slowly swept over the four floating Lineage tokens, but she did not make a choice immediately. Instead, she silently turned her gaze to Shen Qingchen not far away.
That face was almost identical to the image Qin Yu had projected into her consciousness with his Fate Soul before their Realm of Fire; even the restrained yet resolute air between his brows was perfectly matched. A slight stirring in her heart told her she hadn't mistaken him for someone else. So, she gently concealed her Fate Soul, and a faint, extremely subtle transmission of sound silently pierced through the crowd, entering Shen Qingchen's consciousness.
The voice was gentle and clear, without any unnecessary probing, only a solemn tone carrying a sense of entrustment. "Young Master Shen, Young Master Qin Yu asked me to inform you that he is safe and sound inside, but he still wishes to continue his training in the Endless Abyss. This Mystic Void Non-Stillness Seal in my hand was also a gift from him personally. He asked me to tell you that he hopes you will join the Chi Lineage, and I will also choose the Chi Lineage. After he emerges from the abyss, he will come to the Chi Lineage to join us."
Shen Qingchen had been forcibly suppressing his anxiety, his gaze fixed on the teleportation array in the center of the plaza, as if Qin Yu would emerge from it if he kept a closer eye on it. But the moment Su Qingyuan's voice transmission entered his mind, he trembled slightly, his fingers clenched tightly in his sleeves, and even his breathing faltered for a moment.
He didn't immediately look up at Su Qingyuan, as if afraid that any unnecessary movement would expose the emotions that had suddenly surged in his mind. After two breaths, he slowly turned his gaze and met Su Qingyuan's eyes for a moment. His eyes first showed surprise, followed by an almost irrepressible sense of relief, as if a huge rock that had been pressing on his heart for a whole month had finally been lifted off his chest.
He echoed in an equally low voice, his tone still carrying a lingering tremor. "Miss Su... you said Brother Qin is alright?" His voice was very low, as if he were afraid of disturbing others. He paused for a moment before continuing, "This Mystic Void Non-Stillness Seal of mine was obtained with Brother Qin's help. Since you know Brother Qin and have conveyed his message, then I need not hesitate any longer." At this point, his gaze finally settled, as if he had made a decision that should have been made long ago, "I also choose the Chi Lineage."
Su Qingyuan was slightly startled upon hearing this. She had only known that Qin Yu had given her his seal, but she hadn't expected that even the first Mystic Void Non-Stillness Seal was obtained by Qin Yu for someone else in the abyss.
For a fleeting moment, a complex emotion flashed across her eyes—surprise mixed with a touch of emotion she herself hadn't considered. However, she quickly suppressed this emotion and didn't ask another question. She knew very well that Qin Yu had told her he had no interest in joining the Lineage, so she simply responded softly, her tone returning calm as she transmitted her thoughts. "Alright, let's go to the Chi Lineage first. We can discuss other matters after we've settled in."
Just as their brief but decisive conversation ended, the sixty-breath period in the plaza came to a close. The Chi Lineage's host slowly raised his hand, his gaze sweeping over the three people standing in the center of the plaza. His steady and resonant voice immediately drowned out the murmurs of the crowd, "The time limit has expired. Please choose your Lineage tokens."
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the entire square tensed. Four tokens floated in mid-air, each with a different light, like four completely different destinies lying before the three. Feng Qingyuan was the first to step forward. His expression remained calm, as if he had already thought about the answer countless times in his heart. When he reached the pure white jade-like Shangguan Lineage token with its ethereal Kong Ling, he did not even pause for a moment, but raised his hand and grasped it in his palm.
After he emerged, he received the care of the Shangguan Lineage's medicinal pills. His injuries and Fate Soul had both benefited from their kindness, and he remembered this cause and effect clearly. Therefore, he made his choice decisively at this moment without the slightest hesitation. When the Shangguan Lineage token fell into his hand, the white flowing patterns on the token's surface lit up for a moment, as if silently acknowledging his belonging.
On the other side, Shen Qingchen and Su Qingyuan stepped forward almost simultaneously, walking side by side with unhurried pace and expressions of composure. The Chi Lineage's token, a blend of pale gold and deep black, hung silently in mid-air, its aura profound and unfathomable, restrained yet sharp, seemingly capable of encompassing all things without being visible.
Shen Qingchen raised his hand, and Su Qingyuan also stretched out her hand at the same moment. Their fingertips touched the Chi Lineage token at the same time. The token trembled slightly and then split into two extremely thin streams of light, which fell into their palms respectively.
In that instant, a murmur of astonishment and discussion arose among the onlookers. Clearly, no one had expected that two of the three who obtained the seals in this martial arts tournament would simultaneously join the Chi Lineage. Chi Boqian on the high platform's eyes lit up slightly. Although he did not reveal much emotion, a faint hint of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.
Seeing that all three tokens had been claimed, the host from the Chi Lineage immediately straightened his long sleeves, and his voice once again resounded throughout the entire square, calm yet carrying the authoritative air of announcing the outcome. "The tokens have been chosen. This Stele Forest Imperial City Grand Martial Competition has now come to a successful conclusion."
He paused, his gaze falling on the three of them, before turning to Shen Qingchen and Su Qingyuan. His expression softened considerably, becoming quite polite. "Disciples, please follow me. I will take you to collect your Lineage robes and identity documents."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingchen and Su Qingyuan both bowed slightly towards the high platform, their attitude respectful yet measured, before slowly leaving under the guidance of the host. On the other side, Feng Qingyuan had also been invited over by the Shangguan Lineage's leader and left the square with them.
Just before Su Qingyuan turned to leave, her gaze lingered lightly on the portal to the Endless Abyss. There were no words in that glance, yet it seemed as if she had left behind an unfinished wait there as well.
On the plaza, the crowd slowly receded like a tide. The previously booming clamor quickly subsided within a few dozen breaths, leaving only the whispers and footsteps of Rogue Cultivator echoing between the empty stone platforms. The enormous screen suspended high in the sky completely collapsed after the last glimmer of light faded, turning into countless tiny specks of light that dissipated into the depths of the heavens.
The Endless Abyss barrier that had once swallowed tens of thousands vanished without a trace at the same moment, as if it had never existed, leaving only a chillingly clean void. Hua Jingmeng stood there, his gaze fixed on the Emptiness area, his knuckles slightly clenched, a shadow of gloom and resentment flashing in his eyes, as if he were still pondering some possibility.
After a long while, he let out a soft breath, his voice barely audible. "So be it..." At that moment, it seemed as if he had made some kind of surrender, or as if he had temporarily suppressed some murderous intent deeper into his heart. Then he turned and left, and the crowd completely dispersed at that moment, and the square returned to its usual desolation and vastness.
On the other side, Su Qingyuan and Shen Qingchen walked side by side, following the host from the Chi Lineage as they slowly left the square. Their footsteps traversed the ancient roads and floating bridges of the Stele Forest Imperial City. The further they went, the heavier the atmosphere between heaven and earth became. An indescribable ancient pressure slowly spread in the air, as if they had stepped into the core territory of a true ancient clan.
The view suddenly opened up, revealing a colossal divine realm beyond description, stretching across the sea of clouds. Countless palaces, interwoven with gold and silver, unfolded layer upon layer, like a single, sculpted world, with magnificent archways spanning the heavens.
It was as if the heavens and earth themselves had been bent into a portal. Inside the portal was an imperial city built of rules and radiance. Starlight flowed above the dome, and endless steps and long paths crisscrossed the ground. Every stone step was engraved with ancient Dao patterns, and every step felt as if one was stepping on time and destiny.
Looking deeper, thousands upon thousands of colossal pillars pierced the sky like pillars of heaven, each entwined with flowing, regular patterns of light, as if bearing the weight of the entire world. Between these pillars, countless bridges and floating paths intertwined, resembling a life net covering the entire divine realm. Cultivators came and went in dense crowds, like flowing stars, their numbers beyond counting.
It was a true "ethnic group," not a sect or a power, but a colossal system capable of supporting the survival and cultivation of hundreds of millions of cultivators. Standing within it, Su Qingyuan truly felt the profound foundation of the Lineage for the first time. Her breath hitched slightly, and an undisguised shock appeared in her eyes. Shen Qingchen also fell silent. He had originally thought that the temples he had seen were grand enough, but now he realized that everything he had seen was only the tip of the iceberg.
The Chi Lineage host did not stop, but simply said, "This is the main domain of the Chi Lineage." His tone was calm, yet it carried an invisible aura of power, as if this world was inherently so vast.
A moment later, he led the two through several palace gates and floating bridges to an area where the atmosphere was noticeably gentler. Here, there was less oppressive aura and more order and tranquility. Rows of neatly arranged palaces floated in mid-air, each radiating a faint golden light. The aura of the newly recruited disciples lingered in front of their doors, as if awaiting the arrival of their new owners.
He stopped and turned to look at the two, his expression returning to its initial calm and composed demeanor. "This is the Hall of New Disciples. After you go in, someone will guide you to receive your Lineage robes and complete the surname-changing ceremony." He nodded slightly, a hint of barely perceptible approval in his tone, "From this day forward, you are members of the Chi Lineage."
Su Qingyuan and Shen Qingchen simultaneously cupped their hands in greeting, their voices lowering slightly in unison, conveying the proper courtesy and respect. "Thank you, senior."
As soon as they finished speaking, they looked at each other without saying a word, yet it was as if they saw the same answer in each other's eyes—they both knew that taking this step meant that their destinies had embarked on a new journey.
Then, they stepped forward simultaneously and slowly entered the hall for newly recruited disciples. The hall doors closed silently behind them, and as light and shadow shifted, a new chapter quietly began.