The Three Alliances Gather: Undercurrents Clash

The Nether Firmament Underworld Sect, at the foot of Thousand Souls Peak.

Above the magnificent and solemn sect's Soul Staircase, the Nether Soul Heavenly Boat stood suspended in mid-air, like a Netherworld Blade in the abyss, silently lying across the Soul Sea clouds. The twelve Soul Pillars around the ship slowly rotated, the Netherworld Fire blazing, and the shadows of soul beasts that appeared and disappeared sometimes bared their fangs and roared, sometimes whispered and murmured, like the breath of the Netherworld.

"Have you heard? Qin Yu is one of the disciples who entered the Silent Sorrow Ancient Soul Forest for the trials this time!"

"He is the chosen Soul Master to activate the Black Gold Three Souls Formation Tower... It is said that even the Sect Master, Grand Venerable Mingxu, pays special attention to him."

"That's not all. That Miss Qian Ruishan... Rumor has it that she awakened an ancient soul that doesn't belong to this world within the Nether Blood Soul Refining Pool... Her Second Soul is probably about to awaken!"

"And then there's Ming Ye, Yao Wanqing, Zhou Yu... Everyone who entered the Silent Sorrow Ancient Soul Forest this time was a true disciple of the Thousand Realms Sect. They're probably all after that 'Fragment of the Silent Origin Relic'!"

On both sides of the steps, the disciples whispered among themselves, all watching the figures of the few people who boarded the celestial ship. Their eyes held both awe and barely concealed fear.

At this moment, Qin Yu, dressed in Qingyi, walked unhurriedly to the bow of the Heavenly Boat, followed closely by Qian Ruishan, Zhou Yu, Yao Wanqing, Ming Ye, Ming Kong, and others. The soul array on the boat hummed softly, and beams of dark light emerged from beneath their feet, guiding everyone into the boat one by one.

The moment Qin Yu stepped into the core of the Soul Ship, the entire Nether Soul Heavenly Boat trembled slightly, as if responding to some distant command...

The members of the sect were all shaken. It was an indescribable pressure and majesty, as if an ancient Soul Master god was secretly watching this expedition.

The Nether Soul Heavenly Boat traversed the Spirit Firmament Yin Realm and entered the Sinking Soul Basin.

A gentle breeze wafted atop the celestial vessel, beyond which stretched an endless Soul Sea and rugged mountains of soul bones. Vast streams of silent souls swept past, occasionally a single ancient soul drifting past the vessel's side. At a glance, it seemed as if billions of spirits were softly chanting. The world was shrouded in darkness, the distant sky filled with the afterimages of soul beasts and the remnants of ancient soul arrays, like a desolate painting where death and mystery intertwined.

"Ahead lies the outer edge of the Silent Sorrow Ancient Soul Forest, which is the trial ground we are about to enter."

Ming Kong pointed forward, his tone calm.

Ming Ye said, "As far as I know, this trip involves more than just sect members. Sect Grand Venerable Mingxu and Elder Ming Yuan mentioned that deep within the Silent Sorrow Ancient Soul Forest... a 'Silent Origin Soul Tomb' sealed a thousand years ago might be opened, an area that even the Supreme Ancestor Youqiong has never fully explored."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu nodded slightly, a profound meaning appearing in his eyes. He could sense a faint fluctuation deep within the Azure Ring, which was gradually awakening as the ship approached—but still, no one could detect it.

A wisp of soul wind brushed past the boat, and a low cry of an ancient beast echoed from afar—the roar of the Phantom Giant Ape, said to dwell beyond the Three Abysses of the Ancient Forest, a descendant of the Silent Origin Spirit Beast. The celestial boat trembled slightly, and the soul array automatically expanded, transforming into several soul-patterned barriers that concealed the auras of the group.

-

Inside the Sky Ship at night, in a quiet chamber called the "Soul Hall".

Qin Yu and Qian Ruishan sat side by side. Only a dim lamp burned in the hall, its dark light reflecting on their faces and casting faint shadows.

"You are very calm." Qian Ruishan suddenly looked at him, her beautiful eyes rippled slightly.

"The Nether Soul Heavenly Boat should be the most mysterious and oppressive place in the Netherworld, but you seem... to have long since lost your fear."

Qin Yu remained silent for a few moments, his gaze fixed on the slowly flowing Soul Sea in the distance. "I've walked paths darker than this, but today I am not alone."

Qian Ruishan looked at him, then suddenly smiled, "Me too."

The atmosphere softened in an instant. She leaned gently against his shoulder, whispering as if in a dream:

You once promised me that we would one day witness the changing world together. Now this boat is about to enter the Silent Sorrow Ancient Soul Forest, and we don't know what the future holds... But I believe that even if countless calamities befall us, we will stand side by side.

Qin Yu gently stroked her hair, his gaze deep. "If you fall, I will slaughter the entire world for you; if I disappear, you will guard this Soul Sea for me."

Once the words are spoken, the vow is made.

At that very moment, a barely perceptible Azure Ring appeared on the azure ring in Qin Yu's sea of consciousness... but no one noticed.

Far outside the hall, Ming Ye stood atop the steps of the Soul Boat, silently gazing at the outer edge of the Soul Forest, his expression complex.

The Northern Border of the Spirit Firmament Great Realm, surrounded by the Ancient Soul Mountain.

The Nether Soul Heavenly Boat, like a flying Kun from the abyss, traversed the wind and split the sky, crossing nearly half of the Void Sea, and finally came to a slow stop above a quiet ancient domain. It was a dense forest completely enveloped by soul energy and ancient aura. From a distance, the trees were hundreds of feet tall, and the branches and leaves seemed to have floating gray-blue soul patterns, as if they were formed by the condensation of ten thousand soul shadows.

The Silent Sorrow Ancient Soul Forest lay sprawled beneath their feet, cold and desolate like a desolate tomb, moving even without wind.

The boat descended slowly, and the steps came into view.

The disciples of the Nether Firmament Underworld Sect emerged in a throng, with Ming Ye leading the way. His gaze was fixed on the area below as he murmured, "The soul pressure here... is even stranger than the rumors suggest." A bronze talisman in his hand trembled slightly; it was a [Soul Suppressing Talisman Seal] specially forged by the sect for this trip, and it was now slightly warm.

"This is the remnant formation that has been sealed for a thousand years reviving," Ming Tong said in a deep voice. The elders behind him all looked solemn, and Ming Kong even bowed respectfully. "Everyone, this place is no longer the third-tier trial area, but the Return to Truth Land... Anyone who enters here must risk their life for a clear conscience."

On the celestial boat, the sect disciples gazed at the dense forest below, shrouded in gray spirits, and couldn't help but discuss among themselves:

"I've heard that not only our sect is going this time, but those powerful clans have also sent their prodigies to seize the relics..."

"Look over there—that's the Thunder Abyss Battle Banner of the Thunder Prison Mystic Gate, and the Soulfire Boat Shadow of the Divine Flame Radiant Realm!"

"Even the Realm Sealing Tower has appeared, along with that group of Soul Fiends from the Nether Devouring Hall. Could it be that this time they're really going to compete for a 'Silent Origin Candidate'?"

"I've heard that several ancient monsters sealed away from the Ancient Clan have also joined the expedition... This is probably no ordinary trial."

Qin Yu at the very front of the boat ladder, his footsteps lightly touching the ground, the faint sound of soul energy flowing in his ears.

Zhou Yu, Yao Wanqing, and Qian Ruishan stood side by side. Qian Ruishan, in particular, had her soul energy vibrate behind her the moment she stepped into this place, and her two Soul Seal resonated with each other. Although she had not fully awakened, she had already become the focus of attention for all the races.

Just as the prodigies of various forces were entering the border of the ancient forest, a dark wind swept across the eastern sky. The sound of the wind was like a sharp blade cutting through the soul. Everyone looked up and saw a dark blue spirit boat flying across the sky. The words "Wind Soul Killing Formation" were engraved on the boat. It was none other than the Wind Extinction God Clan.

The ship's stern flags fluttered in the wind, and the person in the head seat was clad in black and silver armor, with a cold, iron-like face and murderous intent in his eyes.

This person is none other than Wind Extinction God Clan, the leader of the Venerable Feng Yanxing Clan this time Realm Lord Realm First Stage Peak and has a distinguished record of killing three sect leaders in the past.

Behind him stood a young man clad in a dark gray robe, his expression cold. His gaze swept over Qin Yu and the others, a mocking glint appearing in his eyes. He sneered in a low voice, "This is the brat who could alarm Lord 'Feng Jingyuan' of the clan last time? Nothing special."

The Wind Clan disciple beside him immediately echoed:

"I heard he survived because women protected him."

"Even the people from Heavenly Cosmos Auction House are backing him up? In the end, they're just after the spirit pet."

"The Nether Soul Heavenly Boat? Ha, it seems the Nether Firmament Underworld Sect is truly desperate, only betting their fortunes on a mere True Soul Realm brat."

Venerable Feng Yanxing, remained silent, his gaze fixed on Qin Yu's direction, sharp as a blade, as he spoke in a low, deep voice:

"I was absent from that battle... This time, I will surely slay them."

⸻

Almost simultaneously, from the west side of the ancient forest, a soul pressure as heavy as a mountain spread out.

The Realm Sealing Tower team appeared—a floating Mystic Seal Tower slowly descended, with Soul-Sealing Chains floating beneath it, exuding a chilling aura.

The leader, an old man in black robes, was the "Xuanyuan Tower Envoy", Realm Lord Realm Third Stage, with a face like an ancient rock and cracks in his Soul Seal around his eyes. Behind him were four "Realm Binders" carrying heavy chains that sealed the tower, their auras strange.

The Xuanyuan Tower Envoy stared at Qin Yu, his brows furrowed—his soul sense probes still couldn't detect any abnormal soul waves on Qin Yu's body. Even with his ability to detect the power of the third realm of the Soul Realm, he couldn't see through Qin Yu's "source" at all.

A dark glint flashed in his eyes, and he whispered:

"The Soul Tower remains unmoved... Could it truly be the 'Child of the Origin Soul'?"

But then he immediately let out a cold snort:

"Hmph... No matter how strange your soul source is, it is still just True Soul. If you dare to step into the forbidden area of Soul Forest, I have my own way to suppress you."

A young man in white robes among the disciples of the Realm Sealing Tower sneered:

"The Nether Firmament Underworld Sect actually places its hopes on such a mortal being; they might as well abandon the sect and surrender."

⸻ In the southern cliffs, the Crimson Abyss Divine Clan's army descended from the sky.

The crimson divine ship traversed the air with interwoven fiery patterns, the entire ship resembling a crystal formed from blazing fire. Leading the ship was a red-haired youth with eyes as bright as the sun, clad in crimson scale divine armor; he was none other than the young patriarch of the Crimson Abyss Divine Clan, "Yuan Jin".

Yuan Jin stared in Qian Ruishan's direction, a strange light flashing in his eyes, before he let out a cold laugh:

"I originally intended to seize that 'Soul Flame Body' myself, but now, she's indulging in this Qin Yu's schemes... might as well eliminate her along with him."

A disciple of the Crimson Abyss Clan jokingly remarked:

"I remember Shang Kui said the same thing... and in the end, even the soul chain was Annihilation."

Yuan Jin snorted coldly, glanced at Qin Yu in the distance, and whispered:

"Shang Kui nothing but trash. If I, Yuan Jin, make a move, he will surely have no chance of survival."

⸻Amid the discussions, Qin Yu remained calm, though a glint of light flickered in his eyes.

He gazed at the desolate woods, and a silent murmur rang in his heart:

"Deep within the Soul Forest... I'd like to see who will die here first."

Behind him, Qian Ruishan stood very close, as if she had already noticed the gaze of the Feng Clan members, but she remained calm and showed no fear in her eyes.

Ming Ye, Yao Wanqing, and Zhou Yu remained unmoved, while only Ming Kong sighed softly:

"A battle for the Soul Forest, a fight to the death, has begun with deadly intent."

As the killing intent surged between the Wind Extinction God Clan, the Realm Sealing Tower, and the Crimson Abyss Divine Clan, two spirit boats from the Frosty Clouds of the North descended upon the outer perimeter of the Silent Sorrow Ancient Soul Forest like divine lights piercing the sky.

It was indeed the reinforcements from the Thunder Prison Mystic Gate and the Divine Flame Radiant Realm.

The Thunder Prison Mystic Gate Ship roared with thunderous sounds, its hull inscribed with the three characters "Thunder Suppressing Soul Well." Chains of lightning swirled around its front, with bolts of electricity occasionally leaping through the void, as if the Thunder God were roaming.

The Divine Flame Radiant Realm Ship is made of flames, with three flame star patterns hanging on its top, reflecting the battle patterns of fire souls. The entire ship is burning with holy flames, which, despite their scorching heat, exude an aura of order and awe-inspiring power.

The two boats landed side by side and came to a steady stop thirty feet away from the area where the Nether Firmament Underworld Sect disciples were located. Then, the leaders of the two sects led their teams to land on the ground.

The leader, a heroic man wearing a crimson Daoist robe with the "Flame Nether" mark between his brows, was none other than the current Realm Master of the Divine Flame Radiant Realm— Venerable Yanyou, whose cultivation was at the Realm Lord Realm Fifth Stage Perfection!

His gaze was gentle. He stepped forward first, bowed respectfully to Ming Tong, who stood before him in her dark robes, and spoke solemnly:

"After that battle a century ago, the Divine Flame Radiant Realm has always remembered the help they received. Today, in this trial, our race is willing to join forces."

Ming Tong bowed slightly in return, his expression remaining calm, yet his manners were impeccable.

"The noble code of conduct, passed down for millennia, is deeply ingrained in our clan. Today's test is a test in which we strive to overcome all difficulties."

Venerable Yanyou smiled slightly, then stepped aside. The five Divine Flame prodigies behind him all bowed to Ming Tong, Qin Yu, and the others.

"Yan Sheng, Yan Ling, Yan Ce of the Divine Flame Radiant Realm pay their respects to their fellow disciples of the Underworld Sect."

During this time, a young man saw Qian Ruishan and let out a soft exclamation, his eyes revealing a strange light, as if he had sensed something, but he did not say anything further.

⸻

Immediately afterward, a tall figure emerged from the Thunder Prison Mystic Gate Sect, his aura booming like thunder, his body crackling with lightning. With a single step, the void rippled like waves.

Lei Wuyuan, the newly appointed sect leader of the Thunder Prison Mystic Thunder Prison Mystic Gate and the personal disciple of Elder Tingjin, Realm Lord Realm Fourth Stage!

He had a cheerful expression and greeted Ming Tong with a cupped-hand salute and a smile:

"Ming Tong, I have long heard of your single-handed battle against three soul beasts within the sealing formation. Seeing it today, I, Lei, am truly impressed."

A faint smile appeared on Ming Tong's slightly frosty face:

"The Lei family's virtue and wisdom have been passed down for a thousand years. Today, as we journey together, I hope Brother Lei will offer his guidance and support."

Lei Wuyuan laughed heartily, pointing to the several Lei Clan youths behind him:

"These lads are leaving their clan for the first time. If they have caused any trouble, we hope the Underworld Sect will forgive them."

Then, he turned to Qin Yu and Qian Ruishan, his face sincere, and bowed with clasped hands in greeting:

"So you two are the masters of the last Great War of the Thousand Realms? I am Lei Wuyuan. This trial, I will face it alone!"

Qin Yu returned the bow, his gaze calm and resolute.

"On the path of trials, we must be allies."

Qian Ruishan nodded slightly, her gaze meeting Lei Wuyuan's for a fleeting moment before turning to the disciples of Shenyan to exchange pleasantries.

"The Divine Flame Clan once said that the Flame Soul can nourish the living soul; now that I see it, it is indeed extraordinary."

The disciples of both clans were taken aback upon hearing this, then both laughed:

"The Thousand Fairy has discerning eyes; the Flame Soul is willing to assist and fight!"