Inside the main hall, the cold blue moonlight poured down through the layers of crystal walls of the dome, transforming into straight beams of light that divided the entire space into a regular yet oppressive geometric pattern. Chi Boqian sat high above, his gaze slowly sweeping over the crowd below. His voice was unhurried, yet it resonated with a heavy, resonant force in every inch of space, "You all heard those loud bangs just now, didn't you?"
As his words fell, the light net atop the hall's dome trembled slightly, as if in response. He raised his hand slightly, pointing to the distant void, "It is the Salt Desert, that bronze gate that has been silent for centuries, forcibly blasted open." Upon hearing this, the gazes of all the elders below sharpened, and the Fate Soul fluctuations in the air instantly tightened like a bowstring. "What that gate opening signifies is self-evident."
His voice suddenly deepened, "The Hua Lineage and the Shangguan Lineage will not stand idly by, and everyone in the entire Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain who has heard the news will surely flock here." His gaze, sharp as a knife, slowly pressed down, "The things within the sect must not fall into their hands."
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly plummeted, as if an invisible pressure was bearing down on everyone 'Fate Soul. "I have reached a consensus with the Ju Lineage. This competition will no longer be a war between a single clan."
He lightly tapped his finger, and a simplified outline of the Salt Desert space appeared in the void. "Led by Chi Ninghua, accompanied by one hundred Mystic Void Realm · Middle Stage elders, depart immediately." His voice trailed off, and he said no more, simply waving his sleeve. "Go and prepare."
As soon as the words fell, the elders on both sides of the main hall stood up in unison. Their robes trembled and the space distorted slightly. One after another, the figures disappeared from their original spots, as if they were folded and sent away by this space itself. In just a few breaths, the main hall, which was originally full of people, was now empty, with only three figures remaining quietly.
Chi Boqian slowly withdrew his gaze, and the oppressive aura that had enveloped the entire hall dissipated. His expression was no longer as imposing as before, but instead showed a hint of gentleness. He looked at Qin Yu and said in a steady tone, "Young friend Qin." This address was not high, but it carried a warm meaning that reached straight to the Fate Soul. "May I ask which realm you come from, young friend?"
Qin Yu stood below, his robes still bearing the lingering scent of battle. He slightly cupped his hands, his voice steady yet neither servile nor arrogant, "Reporting to the Clan Chief, this junior comes from the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer." The air seemed to pause slightly at these words, even Chi Xiyue's gaze shifted slightly to the side. A flicker of barely concealed surprise crossed Chi Boqian's eyes, before he nodded gently, "Middle level..."
He repeated in a low voice, a certain thought surging deep in his eyes, "To be able to make it all the way from the middle level to here, and to be able to wipe out a sect when you were only at the Mystic Void Realm Initial Stage, young friend, you are indeed extraordinary."
His tone was no longer merely polite, but genuinely carried a hint of scrutiny and approval. "Then, young friend, did you ever participate in the inter-tribal martial arts competitions?" Qin Yu paused slightly, a memory flashing through his mind, before calmly replying, "Yes, I did." His gaze remained unwavering, but his voice was indifferent. "Unfortunately, I was unlucky and didn't achieve a ranking."
After these words, the hall fell silent for a moment. Chi Xiyue's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile, while Chi Boqian slowly looked at Qin Yu, a meaningful glint in his eyes. He did not ask any further questions, but simply nodded, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest of his chair, one tap after another, as if he were weighing some unspoken decision.
He then spoke slowly, his tone returning to calm and composed. "Luck, sometimes, is also a part of strength."
His gaze settled on Qin Yu again, and he said, enunciating each word clearly, "However, young friend's 'luck' has obviously not truly begun yet."
The air fell into a deathly silence, so quiet you could hear the faint tremor of your soul.
It seems that some deeper, more fundamental thread of cause and effect silently unfolded and quietly entwined in the void after these words were spoken.
The light in the main hall subsided, the previous chill and oppressive aura had faded, leaving only a subtle, tentative exchange between the three. Qin Yu stood below, his robes still bearing the lingering sharpness of the battle. He looked up at Chi Boqian on the high seat and Chi Xiyue to his side, his voice not loud, but resonating clearly throughout the hall, "I wonder why Senior has summoned me here?" As his words fell, the slowly flowing light patterns in the hall paused slightly, as if even this space itself was awaiting an answer.
Chi Xiyue did not respond immediately. Her gaze fell on Qin Yu, sweeping over him inch by inch from his brow to his aura and the fluctuations of his Fate Soul. Her scrutiny was not hostile, but it carried an extremely strong insight, as if she wanted to see through him completely, inside and out. Only then did she speak slowly, her voice calm but carrying an undeniable certainty, "Young friend Qin, just now my clan's Tongyue transmitted a message to me."
She turned slightly, her sleeve creating a subtle ripple in the air. "She said... she seemed to have seen you somewhere before." Upon hearing this, Qin Yu's gaze flickered, but Chi Xiyue continued, "You just mentioned you're from the middle level, so things are easy to deduce."
Her tone grew slightly more forceful. "Tongyue once suppressed a true dragon in the middle level and left a wisp of her divine consciousness to guard that area, to watch over future generations." She looked at Qin Yu, her gaze sharpening further. "If she recognized you, then there's only one possibility—you once entered that dragon domain." She paused slightly. "And... you obtained the inheritance she left behind."
The atmosphere in the hall tightened slightly. Qin Yu stood there, his expression unchanged, but he already knew the answer in his heart. He did not deny it, but calmly replied, "Indeed." His voice was steady and natural, "This junior once encountered a divine dragon in the middle level, and indeed obtained some inheritance from it."
He paused slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes, "However, I'm not entirely sure about that senior's identity... whether she is indeed the senior Chi Tongyue you two mentioned needs further confirmation."
As these words fell, a deeper meaning crept into Chi Boqian's previously gentle expression. He lightly tapped his fingers on the armrest, and an extremely subtle ripple spread throughout the hall, as if verifying some unseen cause and effect. He slowly spoke, "Oh?" His voice was soft, yet it caused the space to tremble slightly. "So, it seems that young friend Qin and Elder Tongyue of my clan have an unexplained connection."
His gaze was fixed on Qin Yu, as if he were looking at a chess piece whose value had not yet been fully revealed, or as if he were examining a destiny yet to unfold. "To be able to bear her legacy... you are indeed extraordinary."
Chi Xiyue had already withdrawn her sharp gaze, her tone softening yet becoming more direct, "Since that's the case, then there's no need for further speculation." She took a step forward, her robes swaying gently, naturally parting the space to make way for her, "Young Master Qin, you are both Unfettered Guest Heaven's Venerable of the Boundless Realm Divine Sect and personally destroyed the Realm Breaking Heavenly Sect, so your stance is now aligned with my Chi Lineage's."
Her tone was calm, yet carried a clear direction, "As allies, there's no need for concealment." She turned slightly to look at Qin Yu, "Why don't I take you to see Elder Tongyue?" Her voice trailed off, "If you are truly the one she has chosen, then your relationship with the Chi Lineage will no longer be as simple as that of allies."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu's gaze sharpened slightly, already understanding the other party's intentions. He didn't resist, but instead smiled inwardly, "This Chi Lineage... they're quick enough to drag him into their scheme so soon."
The thought flashed through his mind, but his expression returned to calm. He cupped his hands slightly, "Since Senior has made this arrangement, then this junior will naturally comply." His tone was gentle. "This is also a good opportunity to confirm that senior's identity." He raised his head slightly, his gaze calm and profound. "Other matters can be discussed later, shall we?"
Chi Boqian nodded slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes. "Alright." He said no more, but looked at Chi Xiyue. "Xiyue, take him there." His tone was simple, but carried an unquestionable authority.
Chi Xiyue bowed slightly, "Yes." Then she turned to Qin Yu, her tone regaining its initial composure, "Young Master Qin, please." She gently raised her hand, and the space in front of her slowly cracked open like the surface of water, silently revealing a passage leading to the depths of the clan's territory.
Without hesitation, Qin Yu stepped forward, and the two figures were swallowed up by space in the next instant.
The hall fell silent once more, leaving only Chi Boqian seated alone on the high seat. His gaze slowly fell upon the still-open spatial rift, and he tapped his fingertip lightly, muttering to himself, "Middle level... Tongyue's inheritance... and that Fate Soul aura..." A glint flashed in his eyes, "Interesting."
Night had fallen, and the space deep within the Chi Family Lineage's territory began to slowly close in. The layers of palaces on the outer perimeter gradually faded into a semi-transparent state, while the further one went in, the clearer the order between heaven and earth became, as if all the chaotic causes and effects and noise had been stripped away.
Only the purest origin and laws remained, operating quietly. Chi Xiyue led Qin Yu through several long corridors with folded spaces. With each step, the ground beneath their feet would ripple with subtle light patterns. These patterns were not formations, but rather a kind of "origin recognition" feedback. Only those allowed to enter this place would not be directly rejected by this space.
Further ahead, the world suddenly opened up, and a palace standing alone in the void slowly appeared.
The palace wasn't grand, yet it possessed an indescribable majesty and solemnity. Its overall appearance was a simple, ancient jade color. The palace was devoid of any superfluous carvings, except for dragon patterns of varying depths spiraling upwards from the base. These dragon patterns were not carved...
Like a living creature, it slowly roamed the surface, occasionally raising its head, sometimes lingering. Each movement caused the entire palace space to tremble gently, as if some ancient dragon origin was sealed within it.
Above the palace, a pale golden dragon-shaped halo slowly floated. Inside the halo was not light, but a solidified "dragon breath domain". Within it, countless dragon shadows could be vaguely seen intertwining and rising and falling. Each shadow carried a different aura, some ancient, some violent, and some calm. But all the auras eventually converged into an extremely pure dragon primordial source, suppressing the entire area.
Before the palace gate, there were no guards, no array, yet no one dared to take a single step closer, for the space itself was a restriction.
Chi Xiyue stopped and turned slightly to the side. "We've arrived."
Qin Yu's gaze fell upon the palace, Fate Soul trembled slightly for a moment. He did not speak, but quietly felt the familiar yet more profound aura.
The next moment—a figure stood before the hall; it was a woman.
She wore a plain-colored robe, her hair hanging down gently, and her aura was Ultimate peaceful. There was no pressure at all, yet the entire space naturally quieted down, as if she herself was the "origin" of this area, and everything revolved around her.
Chi Xiyue bowed slightly, "Tongyue." Chi Tongyue also bowed gently, "Tongyue greets Senior Sister."
Chi Xiyue nodded calmly, "I've brought the person." Without pausing, she turned and left, the space behind her gently closing in, completely isolating her from the outside world.
Only Qin Yu and Chi Tongyue remained, and the air grew still.
Qin Yu gazed at the figure before him, a barely concealed tremor flickering in his eyes. Deep within his memory, the image of the aged woman gradually merged with the person before him. He murmured to himself, "Could it be... that old woman from back then... Chi Tongyue?"
In that instant, Chi Tongyue looked at him, her gaze gentle yet carrying a faint smile. "Young man," she said softly, "Don't you really remember me?"
The sound seemed to pluck a string from the deepest recesses of memory.
Qin Yu didn't hesitate any longer. He cupped his hands slightly and said solemnly, "Senior, I have always remembered." He raised his head, his gaze frank, "I just didn't dare to confirm it rashly just now."
Chi Xiyue stood aside, taking in everything.
Her expression was no longer calm and sharp, but instead held a rare gentleness and relief. This emotion wasn't outwardly displayed, yet it was clearly visible in her slightly upturned eyes. She glanced at Qin Yu, then at Chi Tongyue, nodded gently, and said softly, "Well, now that you've recognized each other, why don't you two have a good chat?"
This sentence, without any superfluous embellishment, seemed to formally return a long-buried cause and effect. After speaking, she did not linger; with a slight movement of her robes, she turned and left.
Chi Tongyue smiled gently, a smile without any sharpness, but with a gentleness and composure that came with the passage of time. She did not ask any further questions, but slowly took a step closer, her gaze falling on Qin Yu. From his aura to his Fate Soul, and then to the extremely subtle dragon path fluctuation within his body, everything was clearly visible in her eyes.
She nodded. "That's right." The word was very soft, yet it seemed to confirm some extremely important cause and effect.
She spoke slowly, "When my divine sense first encountered you, you were merely at the Silent Mystery Realm." Her tone was calm, yet tinged with a hint of reminiscence. "It was only through the power of the Stillness Chaos Return-to-Origin Pearl that you were able to reach a higher level." Her gaze sharpened slightly as she looked at Qin Yu. "And now, in just a few decades, you have already reached the Mystic Void Realm Initial Stage."
She shook her head slightly, a hint of genuine surprise in her voice, "This speed is something I didn't even anticipate."
Qin Yu did not argue, but simply bowed his head slightly, "Senior is too kind. This junior merely had a stroke of luck."
Chi Tongyue looked at him, her gaze gentle, but she didn't delve any deeper. Instead, she softly asked, "What about the dragon?"
Qin Yu was taken aback, then replied, "Tangyi is seriously injured." He said earnestly, "I've already sent her to a safe place where she's being cared for by a friend. She won't be able to travel with me for the time being."
Upon hearing this, Chi Tongyue nodded gently, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes. "In that case, so be it." Her gaze drifted slightly into the distance, as if recalling something. "Back then, I observed that its nature was pure and kind. Although it was a true dragon, it lacked the nature of killing, which is why I didn't take action to destroy it." Her tone was calm. "Perhaps its encounter with you was simply a matter of cause and effect."
She looked at Qin Yu again, a hint of meaning creeping into her eyes, "The fact that you were able to bring it this far also proves—your meeting with her wasn't accidental."