Extinguish the Source · Sever Causation, No Birth

The moment they passed through the Mirror Soul Gate and stepped into the second realm.

The world suddenly changed.

The originally chaotic mist of the Soul Well gradually became clear underfoot, forming a narrow and boundless dark Soul Path. The Soul Path was not real land, but a walkway that seemed to be pieced together from "fragments of Soul Seal" and "remnants of fate," floating in the air with abysses on both sides.

"This is..." Ming Tong said solemnly, "The Realm Constructed by Destiny."

"With each step you take, you awaken the 'choices' of fate that you abandoned deep within your soul, projecting them as 'soul traces,' which then transform into 'enemy shadows' to obstruct your path."

Qin Yu calmly surveyed his surroundings.

The long path of soul marks beneath their feet was slowly extending, and a blurry mirror-like mist appeared in front of each of them.

In the mist, there are cities, forests, battlefields, and lonely graves... all representing the "untraveled paths" that each person's heart least wants to face.

Yao Wanqing murmured softly, "I saw myself... what if I hadn't chosen to cultivate, but instead stayed in the snowy north to practice medicine?"

Zhou Yu said in a deep voice, "I saw... me if I hadn't awakened my Thunder Soul, but instead was trapped in a useless meridian, even my father would have abandoned me."

Ming Kong suddenly stopped, veins bulging on his forehead, and he gritted his teeth in a low voice. "It showed me... the moment when I would betray the Ming Clan and plead with the Soul Ming Clan..."

It's not an illusion.

"It is the real 'possible you'."

Qian Ruishan also slowly stopped, a scene that she didn't want to admit but was crystal clear appeared before her eyes—

A self who never met Qin Yu, never left the Thousand Realms Sect, and spent his days cultivating until death, his soul devoid of emotion.

She gazed silently, her face expressionless.

Then he raised his hand and shattered the scene with a single palm strike.

I am not her.

The soul imprint responded to her will—the soul path before her immediately became clear, and the first soul shadow disintegrated before it could take shape.

Qin Yu remained motionless.

Before him, there was no reflection, no divergence of fate.

A blank page.

Ming Tong slowly turned her gaze to him, her voice low and deep:

"You... don't have another version of yourself that you could potentially become?"

Qin Yu said calmly:

"No."

"I never 'choose who' to be'."

"I am the world, and I was chosen to be the world."

As everyone was still in shock, they suddenly heard a low hum from the Soul Well.

A soul mark simultaneously appeared beneath each person's feet, and the spirit of the Soul Well whispered like a referee:

[Those who traverse the Long Path of Soul Marks will be able to reach the Third Soul Realm.]

Those who attempt to turn back will be devoured by fate's substitute.

As soon as the words were spoken, the Soul Trace Footprint Long Path officially began.

In the distant void, a fading image of destiny slowly took shape, its body wreathed in soul flames, and stepped before the first trial participant.

Yao Wanqing.

The afterimage in front of her was her self before her "awakened Fate Soul," the self who willingly allowed herself to be oppressed to death by fate.

Soul Trace Footprint Long Path, a cold, icy soul shadow quietly coalesced.

That was the lingering shadow of Yao Wanqing's fate—wearing a tattered medical robe, her eyes numb, standing on a snowy cliff, devoid of light and thought, as if she herself might fall into the abyss at any moment.

"This is..." she murmured, gazing at the other side, "If I hadn't left the mountain that year, if I hadn't met him that night..."

"I guess I've always been this kind of person."

The ghostly figure raised its head, looked at her, its eyes vacant, and suddenly whispered:

"You're living too hard... Get out of my way..."

Yao Wanqing's pupils contracted slightly. The voice came from the depths of her own soul, so real that it made her tremble!

With a single step, the void shattered, and an icy spike-like claw formed from the "Unchosen Soul" instantly struck!

Ming Tong was about to make a move, but Qin Yu stopped her with a raised palm.

"This is her own path."

Yao Wanqing watched the incoming attack without dodging or retreating.

"I am... no longer her."

"I am who I am now."

"I exist for myself, and I will not bow to any fate."

Before the words were even finished, a clear, icy soul suddenly erupted from the depths of his heart!

Boom--!

A Soul Seal, as if carved from ice crystal, suddenly appeared between her brows!

[Fate Soul - Mystic Mirror Ice Soul]!

In an instant, the Soul Trace Footprint Long Path caused the world to change color!

Countless tiny ice crystals spread out from beneath her feet, like frost spreading across the river of time, freezing the attacks of her "old self".

She slowly raised her hand, and a Soul Mirror appeared before her palm, its cold light flashing.

[Mirror Breath Cold Abyss]!

The ice mirror trembled, reflecting the "Soul Shadow of Destiny" as a phantom image, which then shattered instantly!

The afterimage struggled to retreat, but was slashed down by a flying snow-like soul blade.

[Condense Consciousness, Sever the Realm]!

Boom!

Her own "past" was completely obliterated by this blow.

The surrounding temperature plummeted, and the chill lingered on the long road. Yao Wanqing stood alone in the center of her soul domain, her gaze resolute.

Zhou Yu looked at her, her expression complex, and whispered:

"So you... had been suppressing this soul all along."

Yao Wanqing turned her head, a hint of unspoken meaning in her eyes, but a slight smile played on her lips:

"There's no need to pressurize anymore."

"Because I finally want to fight for myself."

As soon as she finished speaking, the path of soul marks beneath her feet began to extend automatically.

She passed.

The people around remained silent, some admiring, others respectful.

Qin Yu's gaze flickered slightly, and he said softly, "Her Fate Soul is complete; she has forged her own path of soul cultivation."

"From this moment on, she will possess the instinct to rewrite her destiny."

Above the Soul Well, the wind whips up and the clouds split.

A spatial rift suddenly tore open, and three powerful figures strode in!

Venerable Feng Yanxing, had a cold expression, his soul robes billowed, and lightning patterns surged in his eyes.

He glanced at the remaining soul chains at the well's opening and sneered, "The seal hasn't closed yet; they haven't entered the third realm..."

Xuanyuan Tower Envoy slowly rotated the tower bead in his hand and said calmly:

"If we can intervene during the second trial, we might be able to keep them busy and prevent them from advancing further."

Yuan Jin chuckled, his eyes sharp as blades. "That's right. Interrupting their soul mark trial... is to destabilize their Fate Soul."

"Then, when we strike... none of them will escape."

The three people looked at each other, and their bodies trembled.

Soul Well, a true threat is closing in.

After Yao Wanqing shattered the lingering shadow of fate and stabilized her Fate Soul [Mystic Mirror Ice Soul], everyone finally felt a little relieved, and the long path of their soul traces gradually stabilized.

However, just before the third gate of the soul opened—

The world has changed.

From the depths of space, a tearing, ferocious roar suddenly resounded!

"Boom--!!"

A massive abyss of souls was forcibly torn open from the barrier of the Soul Well, and several oppressive soul forces of the Realm Lord Realm swept across the entire Second Realm without warning!

Qin Yu suddenly raised his head, his gaze icy, and uttered in a low voice:

"They're here."

In the next instant, three extremely powerful figures stepped out of the void and stood at the end of the long road, their souls pressing down on the heavens!

The leader, clad in a crimson flame robe, unleashed a torrent of lightning with a flick of his wrist—it was none other than:

Venerable Feng Yanxing - Realm Master!

Following that, a young man in a silver-white cloak, his long hair like blades, his blood and soul surging around him, his crimson eyes fixed on Qian Ruishan, smiled coldly:

Young Clan Master of the Crimson Abyss Divine Clan, Yuan Jin, Realm Lord Third Stage!

Finally, a gaunt man in black robes, holding a floating tower, exuded a deep, dark aura, each step accompanied by subtle shattering of space.

Realm Sealing Tower - Xuanyuan Tower Envoy - Realm Lord Third Stage.

"... They really are a group of promising talents."

Venerable Feng Yanxing, chuckled softly, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping over the crowd, pausing for a moment on Qin Yu in particular.

"However... you ultimately won't be able to take the contents of this Soul Well with you."

Before he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and six soul cultivator disciples shot out from behind him, lining up on both sides of the Soul Path and forcibly setting up a sealing formation!

"Make your move!"

Battle erupts!

Before Yao Wanqing could even regain her footing, a Thunder Soul disciple instantly closed in and unleashed a horizontal slash with his soul claw!

"Get out of here!"

She roared, unleashing her Fate Soul once more, [Mirror Breath Cold Abyss] slashing three soul needles in quick succession, reflecting the opponent's Soul Arts!

"You are not a remnant of a soul, nor are you worthy of my apology."

With a roar of soul power, the opponent was instantly frozen!

On the other side, Zhou Yu's body was already surging with lightning flames as he met one of Feng Yan's personal disciples. The two's lightning Soul Arts techniques collided in the sky, shattering a ten-zhang soul path!

Ming Kong and Ming Ye faced their enemies separately, while Ming Tong's gaze sharpened, and with a flash, she met the Xuanyuan Tower Envoy!

"The Tower Envoy is the mortal enemy of my Ming Clan; you must not touch him."

He belongs to me.

The two Realm Lord Realm Peak unleashed a Soul Pressure Tide directly within the Soul Well!

The Soul Trace Footprint Realm began to violently tremble, and the long path crumbled inch by inch!

Qian Ruishan was also about to make a move when she suddenly felt a tremor in her heart.

She sensed a blood spirit locking onto her!

"You're the one I've been looking for."

Yuan Jin approached step by step, a crimson abyss soul ring appearing beneath his feet, his voice chilling:

"Qian Ruishan... no matter who you are, you must die now."

"My ancestral spirit gave me a message—you, and that thing within you, are the future calamity."

Qian Ruishan's gaze was icy, and she remained motionless, yet a sense of Ming You quietly surfaced deep within her consciousness.

"Let me."

Boom!

The Icy Cold Pierces the Realm soul, unleashed at full power!

[Cold Realm Initial Lock] freezes space, [Frozen Domain Soul Dissection] accompanies a lightning-fast attack on Yuan Jin's body!

Yuan Jin's expression changed slightly. He condensed the Twin Soul Sword Shadows to block, but was almost penetrated into his body by the cold air!

"Hmph... that's interesting."

He sneered and began to unleash his Fate Soul skill!

Qin Yu, however, remained completely still throughout.

He simply stood quietly at the starting point of the Path of Soul Marks, calmly observing the entire battle.

Venerable Feng Yanxing, suddenly burst into laughter:

"What, aren't you going to make a move?"

"Or are you afraid? Afraid that if all three of us arrive together, your so-called 'Sole Master of the Soul Path' will be nothing but an empty title?"

Everyone was slightly surprised upon hearing this, and their gazes all turned to Qin Yu.

Qin Yu slowly raised his eyes, his tone still calm, but tinged with disappointment:

"I originally intended to leave you there until the Third Realm before dealing with you."

"But now it seems even the second floor is too noisy."

He gently raised his right hand; the azure light remained still, yet the surrounding soul paths suddenly collapsed!

At that moment, Venerable Feng Yanxing's expression changed drastically!

"What did he do?! The rules of the Soul Realm are... reverting?!"

But it was too late.

The image of the Azure Ring slowly emerged in Qin Yu's sea of consciousness, carrying an irresistible, silent will, like the source of judgment from the convergence of countless ages of destiny!

He uttered a single sentence calmly:

"Don't leave."

Venerable Feng Yanxing shattered the Soul Path with a single step, lightning flames coiling around his arms, roaring across the heavens and earth. Realm Lord Realm First Stage Peak, he had roamed the Three Realms for many years; how could he ever be looked down upon by a junior?

"You won't move? Then don't blame me for using my Thunder Soul God-Rending Slash to strike you first!!"

With a furious roar, he unleashed both palms, Lightning Domain Roar that transformed into a divine Thunder Soul Divine Slash, its furious howl carrying the power of a celestial soul's shockwave, aimed directly at Qin Yu's face!

Yao Wanqing's expression changed drastically. "Qin Yu, be careful!"

But Qin Yu remained unmoved.

Until—the lightning strike got close, and the fluctuation of soul power was already close to the hem of his clothes.

He finally raised his hand.

It's not Soul Seal.

It's not Azure Ring.

Instead, it's a sword.

That black sword that once made the Shadow Soul Tree want to flee and caused the five elders of the Ming Clan to lose control of their souls.

The World Extinguisher Divine Sword - Origin Destroyer.

The black mist was like silk, and the sword hilt gleamed with a cold, dark light. In that instant, the entire Soul Well seemed to stop beating, and even time itself seemed to fall silent for a moment.

He slowly drew his sword; the blade was blunt and gleamless, yet it seemed to sever all language and logic.

The Origin Destroyer has appeared in the world.

Venerable Feng Yanxing's pupils dilated in shock. "What... is this?!"

There was no time to think.

Qin Yu held the Origin Destroyer in his hand, pointed lightly, and whispered as if in judgment:

"Sever the Void in a Single Thought."

At that moment, all was silent.

The Thunder Soul Divine Slash, before Qin Yu, was like a nascent illusion, broken before it could be slashed, shattered before it could fall.

Immediately following, a faint black streak silently swept across Venerable Feng Yanxing's sea of consciousness!

"Cough!!"

His body was sent flying hundreds of feet away with a crash, the lightning and flames shattered, and his soul was in turmoil!

"Cough cough cough--"

Venerable Feng Yanxing knelt on both knees, spitting out three streams of black blood. His face was as pale as paper, and bloodstains covered his chest. His soul was struggling frantically on the verge of collapse!

"What kind of sword is this?!"

He gritted his teeth and roared, his expression filled with extreme fear!

"This is not a weapon—this is... this is a 'Existence Denial'!!!"

Deep within his soul, it was as if a thousand selves were screaming simultaneously, "You Does Not Exist! You Does Not Exist!!"

At that moment, at the far end of the battlefield, the Xuanyuan Tower Envoy's gaze suddenly sharpened.

"... wrong."

"Feng Yan is going to lose."

With a flick of his right hand, a jet-black medicinal pill flew out from his sleeve. Three layers of reversal-soul array patterns appeared around the pill, indicating it was a secret refinement item from the Realm Sealing Tower.

The Soul Embryo of the Realm - Nirvana God Limit Breaking Pill.

"Swallow it."

Before Feng Yan could react, the divine pill arrived from afar and burst into his mouth!

"Boom--!!!"

In an instant, the world changed color!

The Soul Well trembled, and the Great Dao was thrown into imbalance!

Centered on Feng Yan, a storm of soul power in silver and gold instantly exploded!

His soul Soul Sea was boiling, and the power of his pills surged into his sea of consciousness, forcibly tearing apart the barrier of his Soul Realm!

The bones made a "crackling" sound, five new rings of soul patterns appeared, lightning and flames were reborn, and the Chaos Thunder Pearl spun in the palm of the hand!

"Realm Lord Realm Third Stage... I... I've broken through!!!"

Venerable Feng Yanxing roared to the sky, his eyes turning into lightning and fire, and his body was surrounded by Lightning Prison that twisted the entire Soul Mark Path!

Everyone was horrified!

Ming Tong roared, "He... forcibly stepped into the third tier?!"

The ice pattern between Qian Ruishan's brows exploded, and the fluctuations of her soul domain were unconsciously suppressed by half a step!

Both Ming Ye and Ming Kong instinctively took a step back, their souls wracked with pain!

Feng Yan stood up, his black blood still wet, but his eyes were filled with absolute arrogance and killing intent.

He licked his lips, fixed his gaze on Qin Yu, and growled in a low voice:

"Kid—now it's my turn to get serious."

"I'll remember that sword strike you delivered."

"But today, I will tear your life, soul and all, to shreds."

Soul pressure boiled, and lightning and flames Realm Collapse.

Venerable Feng Yanxing stepped out, his soul energy surging like a raging torrent, and five thunder god soul shadows suddenly appeared behind him, like the endless cycle of tribulations!

His gaze locked onto Qin Yu, a cold grin spreading across his face. In a flash, he Soul Rend Well and closed in instantly!

"You sever my mere thoughts with a single sword strike!"

"I will then use— Ten Thousand Thunderbolts Annihilate the Soul!"

With a furious roar, he joined his palms together, and the Thunder Dao Soul Light transformed into a ten-zhang Thunder Domain Sealing Tower, which crashed down with a deafening roar!

This move actually imitates the "Realm Tower Sealing and Suppression Art" of the Xuanyuan Tower Envoy, combined with the Thunder Soul's true form, integrating offense and defense, and exuding overwhelming killing intent!

Qin Yu's long hair fluttered, his expression remained unchanged, he took a light half step, and held the Origin Destroyer horizontally in his hand, the sword trembling slightly.

He didn't rush to unleash a second strike, but instead murmured a sentence in a low voice:

"Since you're not afraid of death, let me see for myself... whether your soul is truly worth destroying."

He blocked with his sword, the edge of the Origin Destroyer Sword was not visible, but it left a void crack in front of the tower!

Boom!

The thunderbolt collided head-on with Feng Yan, whose eyes widened in shock, thinking he had succeeded, but—

"Why... is it not broken?"

"Is the power of your sword's 'Sever Thought' still... continuing?!"

"You don't only have one move!?"

Qin Yu raised his eyes indifferently:

"I haven't used the second move because you're not worthy."

The lightning tower began to crumble, and lightning surged backward!

Feng Yan roared repeatedly, gathering his lightning fist once more, and unleashed a Soul Explosion Lightning Ring that swept across the area!

Qin Yu remained motionless, his sleeves slightly unfurled, as he braced himself to receive the blow!

"Boom--"

The raging thunderbolt struck his soul, but it didn't force him to retreat even an inch.

Ming Ye was shocked. "This is no longer just soul resistance... there's absolutely no room for an enemy soul to land inside his body!"

However, Venerable Feng Yanxing became increasingly frenzied in battle, his sea of consciousness surging, his soul pearl trembling wildly, and his soul power surging soaring as he stepped into the "Half-Chaos Soul God" state, forcibly closing in once again!

On the other side, Yuan Jin's face was cold, and he crossed two crimson soul light blades in his hands, approaching Qian Ruishan step by step.

"Ming You... now that you have possessed another, you should no longer live."

His arms trembled, forcibly awakening the [Crimson Abyss Divine Blood] within him. Blood patterns appeared in his pupils, blood and soul merged, and he summoned one of the most terrifying divine arts in his clan:

Abyss Slash Soul Technique: Blood Radiance Descends!

A crimson-gold meteor-like soul blade shot out from between his fingers!

Qian Ruishan's eyes were icy cold. Instead of retreating, she took a step forward, and the Frost Domain was released with a roar!

[Silent Frost Shatters the Realm]!!

She froze the heavens and earth, and solidified the soul realm, forcibly locking the opponent's soul blade into the spatial layer!

"You're not the first person to kill her."

"And it's not someone who can kill her."

Yuan Jin was enraged, blood gushing from both arms. "Then I'll take you down with me!"

The two unleashed their full soul power, a mixture of crimson and icy blue, causing space to distort wildly!

A third party, Ming Tong, and the Xuanyuan Tower Envoy have already broken up the battlefield!

As expected of the core figure of the Realm Sealing Tower, Xuanyuan Tower Envoy constantly changed the structure of a floating Soul Tower. Every move he made was like a change in the laws of the realm, and even Ming Tong had to temporarily avoid his sharp edge!

"You five are treating the Soul Well as a trial? Then you shall die in this trial."

Ming Tong's eyes were cold and sharp, and for the first time, the edge of the Soul Flag behind her appeared as a phantom.

"Trial or calamity."

"If you dare to obstruct my sect—I will annihilate your sect's soul."

Two top-tier soul cultivators clashed fiercely, and the second realm of the Soul Well immediately spiraled out of control!

The Soul Path shattered, the terrain collapsed, and space distorted. Twisted soul traces and shadows appeared all around, and even the Soul Well itself began to lose its balance!

Qin Yu frowned slightly; the Origin Destroyer Sword remained sheathed.

He looked at Venerable Feng Yanxing was charging forward like a thunderbolt to deliver another blow, and said softly:

"It seems you won't understand unless I tell you to be quiet."

"Then... the next sword."

His gaze sharpened slightly, and he raised his sword once more.

Thunder roared, and the Soul Prison shattered.

Venerable Feng Yanxing arrived through the air, clad in a lightning-patterned battle robe. His soul power, having just broken through to the Realm Lord Third Stage, was still raging, and every step he took seemed to shatter the entire Soul Well Realm.

"Qin Yu!! Weren't you arrogant and invincible? Now, facing my Lightning Prison Divine Flame, you still dare not dodge or retreat?!"

As he roared in anger, lightning in his palm condensed into the Lightning Prison Soul Rend Wheel, and a ring of lightning blade slammed out, slashing straight at Qin Yu's sea of consciousness!

"You only gained your foothold by relying on that strange black sword—now that I've reached the Realm Lord Third Stage, I will suppress even that sword of yours!!"

He roared wildly, his momentum unstoppable.

And Qin Yu finally made a move.

He stood at the center of the shattered Soul Path, amidst the chaotic dance of lightning and shadows, he gently raised his hand and slowly lifted the silent black sword high once more.

That is the Origin Destroyer.

It was entirely black, the sword seemingly not of this world, with only wisps of dark purple, like starlight, floating slightly on the blade.

His gaze was calm, and his voice, though soft, was like a declaration of law:

You're saying I only survived because of this sword?

You're wrong.

"The reason I wield this sword is because..."

"Only it can coordinate with me to unleash this second sword strike."

[The Sever the Cause, Preventing Birth].

In an instant, the world fell into deathly silence.

It's not that the thunder has stopped, but rather that the phenomenon of "thunder" itself has become ineffective.

It wasn't that the attack was blocked, but rather that the "reason for the attack's existence" was completely erased.

Just as Venerable Feng Yanxing was about to unleash his Soul Wheel, he suddenly froze, his pupils dilating violently!

"... Why... am I unable to gather my soul?"

"Where did my soul fire come from? Why do I... possess the Thunder Soul?"

A barrage of questions exploded in his mind!

His "reasons" are being stripped away!

The Soul Pearl shattered, divine sense broke, and talent, cultivation, memories, origins... all the logic supporting the existence of "Venerable Feng Yanxing" was crumbling!

He stood frozen in place, his soul power gushing out wildly, and lightning and flames surging backward!

"Aaaaaaah--!!"

He clutched his head and roared in fury, his mind exploding, blood gushing from his mouth and nose!

"Who... who am I... why do I cultivate the path of thunder? Why... why did I become the Venerable Punisher?!"

With a single sword strike, cause and effect were severed!

He is not dead, but he--

They no longer have the right to exist within this chain of spiritual practice!

The Xuanyuan Tower Envoy's expression changed drastically, and he roared angrily, "Feng Yan —close your mind! Preserve your soul!! If you continue to recall, you will completely become a 'Causeless One'!!"

Feng Yan forcibly bit his tongue to activate the remnant soul seal and stabilize his consciousness.

He trembled violently, knelt on one knee, his soul-clothing torn to shreds, his hands gripping the ground tightly, his face covered in blood.

He lost.

--Defeated by that sword, and also by the power of severing cause and effect that should never have existed in this world.

Qin Yu slowly sheathed the Origin Destroyer, his voice calm:

"Your life is spared."

I won't kill you.

"Because you are no longer... an enemy with a 'cause of existence'."

Feng Yan roared in agony, too weak to even glance at him, left only with mad regret and a shattered self.

This scene was awe-inspiring.

Ming Tong frowned. "This sword... is not a weapon."

Zhou Yu swallowed hard. "Yes... Judgment of Cause and Effect."

The Xuanyuan Tower Envoy stared intently at Qin Yu, a genuine sense of apprehension and fear appearing in his eyes for the first time.

Yuan Jin's offensive movements also froze for a moment.

Qian Ruishan merely turned her gaze slightly, looking at him with unyielding iciness:

"If you take another step forward..."

"His sword... in its third move, it will fall."

Yuan Jin's expression turned cold, and he gripped his blade without moving.

Qin Yu didn't glance at Feng Yan again, turning instead to look at the third Soul Gate that was about to open.

Let's go.

Their time is up.