Ripples spread out, and even the surrounding area seemed to part ways to make way for him. Just as everyone was still reeling from the shock of his breakthrough, an aura pressed down from afar. The aura wasn't violent, but it was extremely heavy, as if the entire world had been compressed into one person. The surrounding disciples' expressions suddenly turned solemn, and they all stepped aside, bowing in unison, "Greetings, Grand Elder."
The newcomer was none other than Hua Jingyun, the eldest elder of the Hua Lineage. His immense power, emanating from the pinnacle of the True Annihilation Realm · Supreme, spread out imperceptibly as he strode in, his robes fluttering slightly in the wind. A hint of satisfaction flickered in his eyes. Upon seeing this, Hua Jingmeng immediately composed herself, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Uncle."
Hua Jingyun looked him up and down, his gaze like that of someone examining a newly formed object, then nodded gently. "Very good, Meng'er, you've succeeded." Hua Jingmeng's expression darkened slightly, his tone carrying just the right amount of humility, "Meng'er's success today is entirely thanks to my uncle's guidance."
Hua Jingyun didn't say anything more, but simply patted his shoulder, "Your cultivation level has reached a certain point, but your foundation still needs to be solidified. Follow me."
Hua Jingmeng responded, "Yes, Uncle." The two turned and left, and the surrounding disciples saw them off in unison, "Respectfully seeing off the Grand Elder—" The voices echoed outside the hall, but no one dared to look up directly at them.
Before long, the two had left the main hall area and entered the back mountain of the Hua Lineage along a quiet stone path. The Spiritual Qi here was not particularly strong, but there was an indescribable sense of tranquility surrounding them. A mountain breeze gently blew by, and the shadows of the trees in the forest swayed softly. The pace of time seemed to slow down here.
Deep in the mountains, a solitary grave stands silently. There are no grand tombstones to set it off, no intricate patterns to surround it; only a simple stone tablet stands, lingering with a few faint, persistent breaths of Fate Soul. That breath, though weak and ethereal, stubbornly lingers through the ages, quietly awaiting a long-awaited return.
Hua Jingyun stopped, his gaze falling on the grave. His voice was low and slow, "Ting'er, now Meng'er has also reached the Supreme. She hasn't let you down." Hua Jingmeng stood to the side, his previously calm expression wavering slightly, his eyes welling up with tears. He slowly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and whispered, "Sister... Meng'er hasn't disappointed you." His voice wasn't loud, but it was deeply suppressed, as if burying years of pent-up emotions into the earth.
After a brief silence, Hua Jingyun suddenly spoke, her tone regaining its calmness but carrying a hint of unyielding coldness, "Meng'er, I brought you here not just so you could comfort Ting'er."
He glanced sideways, his gaze landing on Hua Jingmeng. "You must remember, her revenge is yet to be taken." A cold glint flashed in Hua Jingmeng's eyes, her palms clenching involuntarily. "Meng'er dares not forget."
Hua Jingyun nodded, then his tone shifted slightly, "There's one more thing." He reached out and made a grasping motion in the air, a faint stream of information condensing in his palm, "A Fate-Reversing Epiphyllum has appeared in the Crystal Mountain Range."
Hua Jingmeng's breath hitched, and she jerked her head up as if struck by lightning. "The Fate-Reversing Epiphyllum Hua Jingmeng?" Her voice trembled with barely suppressed emotion. "That is... something rarely seen throughout the ages."
"The information is confirmed," Hua Jingyun said slowly. "You have just entered the realm of Supreme. Although your Fate Soul is formed, there are still gaps in your logic. The Fate-Reversing Epiphyllum can help you complete your foundation and may even allow you to glimpse the Gate of True Annihilation in one fell swoop."
He paused, his gaze darkening slightly, "But the Crystal Mountain Range are one of the forbidden zones of the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain, where the Primordial Beast Dao Divine Venerable resides, and the Chaos Source Beast Dihuang roams within."
After hearing this, Hua Jingmeng showed no sign of backing down. He slowly stood up, his gaze as firm as iron. "Uncle, no matter how dangerous it is, Meng'er will give it a try."
Hua Jingyun gazed at him, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes, and said, "Good, as expected of my Meng'er." Before he finished speaking, a three-inch-tall pagoda appeared in his palm as he raised his hand.
The moment the small tower appeared, the surrounding air instantly lost its stable foundation, the light shifted slightly, shadows became ethereal and blurred, and the outline of the stone path beneath one's feet trembled faintly. The world seemed to freeze for a moment before this power. He slowly handed the small tower to the other person, his tone firm. "In that case, take it."
Hua Jingmeng knelt down, accepted the gift with both hands, her expression more solemn than ever before. "Thank you for this treasure, Uncle."
The moment he touched the small tower, he felt his palm go empty, as if he were not holding a physical object, but some forgotten gap in the world. For a moment, he was in a daze, and even the thought of "what am I holding?" wavered slightly. He was startled and forcibly stabilized his mind, but the small tower remained quiet, as if it had never fluctuated at all.
Watching this scene, Hua Jingyun slowly spoke, "Go, Meng'er." Hua Jingmeng stood up, her eyes no longer showing hesitation.
"The Fate-Reversing Epiphyllum is not only an opportunity, but also a key to a higher level."
The mountains and forests grew increasingly silent, the wind slowly receding from the grave, leaving no trace of disturbance. Hua Jingyun's figure had long since disappeared at the end of the mountain path, leaving only a calm and empty sense of solitude that lingered quietly in the place for a long time.
Hua Jingmeng stood alone before the grave, his gaze fixed intently on the simple stone tablet. His fingers tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white, as if he were about to utter a vow from the depths of his heart. His eyes were fixed ahead. He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it pierced the surrounding silence, echoing clearly through the mountains and forests. "The Fate-Reversing Epiphyllum, I, Hua Jingmeng, will surely obtain it."
As he finished speaking, he took another step forward, bowed deeply, and strands of hair fell across his forehead, concealing the sharp glint in his eyes. "Sister, I will come back to comfort you after Meng'er obtains the Fate-Reversing Epiphyllum and enters the True Annihilation Realm."
As he finished speaking, his aura suddenly receded, and in the next instant, space Pre-Nonbeing of him. The crack wasn't violent, but it possessed a clean and sharp edge.
He stepped into it, and his figure vanished. The crack closed instantly, as if it had never existed. The back mountain returned to silence, leaving only the solitary grave standing quietly, as if waiting for the next gust of wind.
Meanwhile, in another distant realm, the Annihilation Continent of the Third Multidimensional Universe slowly unfolded. An extremely tranquil region lay nestled between mountains and starlight, where there were no fierce clashes of Spiritual Qi, nor any traces of battles among cultivators.
A faint, gentle aura permeated the space between heaven and earth. In the distance, the mountains rose and fell, like a sleeping giant lying down. Silvery-white light patterns flowed across the mountains, natural veins formed by the convergence of the earth's veins and the power of the stars, flickering slowly and rhythmically like breathing.
A clear river meanders down from the mountains, its surface as calm as a mirror, reflecting the countless stars in the night sky. The water doesn't shimmer, yet it appears exceptionally clean, washing away even the most distracting thoughts as you approach it. The grass on the banks is soft and green, and a gentle breeze causes the blades of grass to sway softly, making a delicate and gentle sound.
Qin Yu was lying on his back on the grass, his hands behind his head, his gaze piercing through the night to the vast starry sky. His breathing was steady, and his expression was unusually relaxed, as if he had temporarily detached himself from a series of life-and-death battles and killings.
Returning to the simplest state of "existence," Xiao Yue lay on her side beside him, her small body curled up in a ball. The divine beast meat she had just eaten still emitted a faint fragrance. She patted her stomach and couldn't help but let out a soft burp, the sound crisp yet tinged with a touch of laziness.
"Little Qinzi— " She turned to look at Qin Yu, her voice drawn out, as if she were hesitating about something, "Have you thought it through? Do you really want to go to that place?"
Qin Yu did not answer immediately, his gaze remaining fixed on the starry sky. The stars reflected in his eyes, transforming into intricate trajectories that slowly flowed across the heavens. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly, his tone calm, yet his words conveying unwavering certainty. "Ju Wanning belongs to the Ju Lineage, and the Ju Lineage and the Chi Lineage are both members of the same alliance. This connection will naturally influence my future cultivation path."
He tilted his head slightly, looking at the starlight reflected on the distant river, and lowered his voice, "Now, in the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain, the Hua Lineage, the Shangguan Lineage, the Ancient God Clan, and the Holy Clan have all become hostile towards me. With my own strength alone, it will ultimately be difficult to stabilize the situation in this domain."
Xiao Yue blinked, listening intently without interrupting.
Qin Yu let out a soft breath and continued, "Going to the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain is only a matter of time, but to truly step into that level, a stable support is essential. The Ju Lineage and the Chi Lineage are currently the two most stable connections."
He paused, a deeper glint in his eyes, "Helping her is actually paving the way for myself."
A night breeze blew, causing his hair to flutter slightly, and his voice grew even more steady, "As for the Crystal Mountain Range... regardless of whether the Fate-Reversing Epiphyllum exists, and regardless of whether we can obtain it, we must at least go and see it for ourselves."
He slowly sat up, his gaze completely withdrawing from the starry sky and settling on the silent mountains and rivers before him. His eyes had regained their sharpness. "Some roads, you only know what lies at the end by walking them."
Xiao Yue stared at him for a while, then suddenly chuckled softly, leaned back, and lay back down on the grass. "Alright, since you said so, let's go." She stretched, and a bluish-green light gently rippled around her. "Well, I've eaten my fill today, I'm going back to take a nap."
As night deepened, the river remained serene. Countless stars were reflected on the water, their brilliance intertwining with the Milky Way in the sky, weaving a boundless sea of light. Qin Yu stood alone amidst this tranquility, exuding an Anran and serene aura, concealing the dormant calm before an impending storm.