The space of the Soul Mark Footprint slowly collapsed under the aftershocks of the "Sever the Cause, Preventing Birth" sword, and the shattered path floated in the void, like the ruins of the Soul Realm's memories.
Qin Yu sheathed his sword and returned to his sea of consciousness, never looking back.
The third gate to the soul lies ahead, ancient and silent, like the gate to a ruined palace that seals away countless souls.
Let's go.
He spoke softly, and the group stepped inside.
[Soul Well, Third Realm, Soul Cause Corridor]
Space suddenly distorted.
There was no path beneath my feet, and I could not distinguish between heaven and earth.
Only a series of floating soul staircases, spiraling outwards through the gray-white soul domain, like steps woven between the realms of life and death, leading to the very origin of the abyss of Fate Soul.
"This is..."
Ming Tong's expression hardened slightly. "The Soul Cause Corridor."
"In this realm, soul battles are not prioritized; rather, the trials of the essence of the Fate Soul are the foundation."
Zhou Yu looked around and noticed that with each step she took, a projection of her own memory would appear. She whispered:
"Here... we will see where our 'Fate Soul comes from'."
"Every connection to the soul presents a test."
Qian Ruishan stood still, and suddenly felt a familiar yet distant soul breath slowly awakening deep within her Fate Soul [Icy Cold Pierces the Realm].
That was the true source of Ming You's Fate Soul —a remnant of her will that had been sealed away during the final battle of the previous era, quietly responding to her presence deep within the corridor.
Yao Wanqing also noticed that her [Mystic Mirror Ice Soul] was trembling slightly, as if responding to some kind of mirrored summons in the corridor.
The group walked forward in silence, each step feeling as if the world were asking them a new question:
Why were you born?
Whose soul are you? And whose wish are you?
In the remaining battlefield of the second realm of the Soul Well, the Xuanyuan Tower Envoy stood at the edge of the collapsed Soul Mark Road, and with a flick of his sleeve, he sealed the Venerable Feng Yanxing, who was coughing up blood and whose soul was shattered, into the tower.
He gave a low, cold snort:
"You couldn't even withstand a single sword strike... I'll spare your life only because you're still of use."
He looked towards the Soul Gate and slowly crushed a Soul Crystal to send a message:
"The Third Realm... I will personally lead him down there." At that time, neither you, Qin Yu, nor any of them will escape death.
As for the others, they all silently followed the Xuanyuan Tower Envoy, Dun Kong, away.
Yuan Jin stood atop a floating soul stone, his robes fluttering, his eyes filled with a chilling light.
Instead of immediately following the crowd into the main corridor, he struck out a Crimson Abyss Soul Seal with his backhand, which fell into the void.
"The Third Realm, bound by souls and threads, since that's the case..."
"Then let their Fate Soul —their own very essence—collapse."
A wisp of crimson soul smoke merged into the corridor's veins, like poison seeping into the bloodstream, quietly awaiting the moment of breaking the deadlock.
He gave a cold laugh:
"Qian Ruishan, Qin Yu... your Fate Soul will ultimately be defeated by their own source."
The corridor was silent, with only footsteps echoing among the void soul stones, as if treading on the bones of time.
Each step is the starting point for the Fate Soul to reflect on itself.
Qian Ruishan walked quietly at the front.
Behind her was the [Icy Cold Pierces the Realm] Soul Domain, emanating icy blue soul energy. However, at this moment, she felt a soul energy that was extremely familiar yet did not belong to her quietly awakening.
That part came from the Ming You.
Suddenly, the Soul Rank beneath my feet trembled violently!
Her steps were forcibly deflected, and her entire body was sucked into the void by an invisible soul force. A corridor crack suddenly opened, bringing her into an independent space!
"Qian Ruishan!"
She's been caught up in the Soul Trial!
Just as Ming Tong was about to give chase, the edge of the corridor quickly closed, and an ancient soul language appeared in the void:
[The source of the Fate Soul is unstable; the verification of destiny begins.]
Only by shattering the 'Unchosen Soul' can one gain the power to rule.
At this moment, Qian Ruishan
She opened her eyes to a blood-red soul land before her, with the soul flag shattered in the distance and the world shrouded in darkness.
This is the final battle of the previous era.
Her heart trembled violently.
"This is the Ming You... the place where people died in battle?"
"Wrong..."
She looked up, and a sudden chill ran through her!
In the distance, a familiar yet unfamiliar figure slowly emerged.
Long, dark blue hair, armor draped over his shoulders, eyes like abysses, his face almost identical to hers—but colder, more ruthless, more like a merciless weapon.
That was—if Ming You hadn't died, hadn't offered her soul, but instead fallen into fate herself.
"I am you."
"It is also the Ming You."
The figure slowly raised its head, its voice hollow yet deep:
You don't deserve me.
You're just using me.
"You did not die in battle, so what right do you have to rule my Fate Soul?"
The next instant, "she" trembled, and an ice-blue spear appeared, pointing directly at Qian Ruishan's brow!
[Fate Remnant Body, Ming You]
Arrive!
Qian Ruishan's expression turned slightly cold, but she remained unmoved.
"You are not Ming You."
You are a part of her—but not her true will.
She raised her right hand, and a surge of cold air appeared, revealing an ice mirror.
[Soul Mirror Ice Wheel]!
Mirror Image Flash, reflecting the opponent's soul wave back!
However, the opponent didn't react at all, instantly shattering the Mirror Wheel with a punch and rushing over like lightning!
"You're too weak."
"Ming You exists, there is no need to borrow a human body."
"I am the one who truly belongs in this world."
The spear pierced through the air, its chill almost freezing Qian Ruishan herself!
"You are not her..."
She whispered, then closed her eyes.
The next instant, deep within his sea of consciousness, the Ming You slowly opened its eyes.
"I know who you are."
"You are the last thought I had before I died in battle, the hatred I refused to be forgotten in this icy land."
But now, I no longer belong to you.
"I choose... to become her Fate Soul."
In an instant, Qian Ruishan opened her eyes, and the frost instantly shattered!
[Silent Frost Shatters the Realm] Unleashed at full power!
The soul domain is frozen, space is collapsing!
Fate Ming You was devoured in a single blow, its Soul Rend!
Just before she shattered, her eyes trembled violently:
"You... you even killed me?"
Qian Ruishan looked back calmly:
"It wasn't me."
She chose me.
Boom!!
The entire trial of destiny has collapsed!
[Outside the Corridor]
Her soul shattered by the crack, Qian Ruishan stepped out once more, surrounded by icy breath, the Soul Seal between her brows becoming increasingly clear and stable.
Ming Tong was slightly surprised. "She... has completely taken control of the Ming You Soul."
Yao Wanqing said softly, "Her Fate Soul now... is the truly complete [Icy Cold Pierces the Realm]."
Qian Ruishan raised her eyes, her expression aloof, and strode forward.
"Soul, I have passed through."
"Next, who will take the test?"
The Third Realm: Silent and oppressive.
After Qian Ruishan successfully passed the "Fate Remnant Body" soul trial, it was Qin Yu's turn to step into the center of the main corridor.
Ming Tong was initially fearless and was about to observe how Qin Yu would activate his Fate Soul when—
Suddenly.
The corridor fell into absolute silence for several breaths.
No more guiding, no more projection, no more generation of the "Source of Fate Soul".
Qian Ruishan frowned slightly.
"... His Fate Soul cannot be identified?"
"It's not that it's unrecognizable."
Ming Ye's tone was clearly unease:
"Yes—this world cannot read his 'cause'."
Everyone was shocked.
That is the Soul Well, a "record of cause and effect" condensed from the consciousness of countless dead souls and the remnants of countless eras; it can reflect the trajectory of almost every existing Fate Soul.
Qin Yu, however, had no reason.
The Soul Cause Corridor seemed to hesitate.
The next instant, the entire corridor suddenly trembled!
Ancient soul-sealing seals appeared all around, rotating and overlapping, locking the space where Qin Yu was like a cage!
[Soul-binding system under construction...]
[This target lacks a traceable cause; attempt structural verification.]
[Constructing a self-mapping space to simulate the verification of its existence...]
"What's this..."
Ming Tong's expression suddenly darkened. "This realm is... actively trying to 'define Qin Yu's in reverse?!"
Boom!!
The Soul Locks Close!
Qin Yu was swept into a closed void, a domain like a shattered realm of consciousness!
[Qin Yu's Consciousness Realm - Emptiness]
Heaven and earth are like paper, and space is like ink.
He stood alone on a vast, gray, silent sea, surrounded by nothingness and silence, except for a series of inexplicable murmurs that drifted through the boundless depths of his consciousness.
"Who are you?"
Why are you here?
"Where did you come from? Why did you appear before Unborn?"
Why can no one trace the origin of your soul?
The voice was not hostile, but it carried a kind of structural anxiety, as if this realm itself could not bear "his" presence.
This isn't a test; it's the world's instinctive rejection of those who are different.
Qin Yu stood quietly.
His gaze was indifferent, unmoved, and he responded softly:
You want to trace my origins?
"But you... you were never truly me."
"My soul does not exist within your karma."
The words had barely left his mouth.
The entire sea of consciousness suddenly changed!
Cycle Nether starlight rose silently from behind him.
That was not the Fate Soul, but... the imprint of the ring.
Azure Ring - Silent Echoes
The ring wasn't activated, yet it caused the entire soul to tremble due to the space!
From the depths of the world, the "Soul, governed by the Laws of Construction," emitted a shattering sound!
The soul of the goal has already exceeded the Limit the Third Realm structure.
The lockdown has ended.
Release the "unsolvable layer" to terminate the tracing attempt.
Outside Corridor
Qin Yu's figure returned to the Soul Rank, his surroundings as still as ever, as if the "sealing process" had never happened.
Everyone saw the enormous blue wheel-like shadow that appeared behind him in that instant, seemingly piercing through the very origin of an era.
But ultimately, no one knew what Fate Soul it was, and no one knew that Azure Ring was Qin Yu and Qin Yu was Azure Ring.
Ming Tong took a deep breath and murmured softly:
"That's... Fate Soul?"
"No."
Ming Ye's voice trembled slightly:
That's no longer a soul.
That is existence's own 'self-positioning'.
Qin Yu simply raised his eyes and continued walking forward, without offering a single explanation.
Because he knew those voices hadn't stopped.
Deep within the true corridor, awaits him the trial of fragments of the Silent Origin Relic.
As the corridor deepened and the light grew dimmer, it felt as if the steps beneath one's feet were no longer staircases made of soul stones, but rather a path of cause and effect devoured by countless lingering soul shadows.
In the distance, streaks of floating soul patterns broke and reassembled deep within space, writhing rhythmically.
Ming Tong stopped and said softly:
"The corridor has begun to deform."
"This means... something is about to appear."
Her gaze was deep, fixed on the center in the distance—
A surge of soul energy is slowly rising, as if the very source of Fate Soul is being deeply shaken, seemingly giving birth to the manifestation of some ancient being.
Just as the group continued on their way, a sudden change occurred!
"Um...?"
Yao Wanqing suddenly trembled, her eyes flickered, and her face turned pale in an instant.
Cracks suddenly appeared on the Soul Rank beneath her feet, and a wisp of pitch-black Soul Silk silently spread out and quietly wrapped around her ankle.
"Wanqing--!"
Zhou Yu exclaimed in surprise, and was about to approach when she saw that the soul threads were like a soul curse, breaking at the slightest touch, and even invading her sea of consciousness!
Almost simultaneously, Ming Ye also suddenly clutched his forehead, his soul wracked with pain, and a blurry blood shadow appeared on the Soul Seal between his brows!
"Someone is... altering the trajectory of my soul..."
"Who... is rewriting the choices I never made...?"
Both of them were hit!
Ming Tong's expression changed drastically. She suddenly looked towards a corner of the void and shouted in a cold voice:
"Yuan Jin! What kind of formation did you set up?!"
The space shifted.
Yuan Jin's figure emerged from the void, a sinister sneer playing on his lips. A scarlet array plate appeared in his palm, with nine Crimson Abyss Divine Runes intertwined and swirling around it, and a drop of blood soul bead at its center.
"This is the price you pay for stepping into the Third Realm."
"Soul-Devouring Cause Formation —using souls as seeds, causes as a net, and the orbit of Fate Soul as bait, it devours your origin."
His cold gaze swept over Yao Wanqing and Ming Ye:
"The two of them, one with a nascent Fate Soul and the other with an unstable consciousness, are most suitable to serve as blood offerings within the formation."
"And if you dare to break through the formation—"
He clenched his fist!
"Click!!"
Yao Wanqing's soul trembled instantly, almost disintegrating her soul body. Ming Ye even knelt down, blood seeping from his forehead, his soul strands flying everywhere!
"Stop!!"
Zhou Yu roared, and lightning erupted instantly. The thunder roared like ten thousand beasts shaking the sky as he charged forward, trying to slash at the array plate!
Yuan Jin sneered:
"Cut her off, and she'll be completely dead."
Zhou Yu's body stiffened, and he forcibly withdrew his hand, his heart burning with rage!
Qin Yu finally slowly raised his eyes, and deep within his gaze, a wisp of black sword intent faintly appeared.
He hasn't made a move yet.
But suddenly, an extremely ancient and deep crackling sound echoed through the heavens and earth.
It was as if a crack had appeared in the epoch.
Everyone looked up at the same time!
At the deepest part of the corridor ahead, a vortex of gold and black suddenly appeared, like the convergence of countless epochal souls, slowly condensing into a fragment no bigger than a thumb, on which the "Silence" Soul Pattern appeared.
Ming Tong murmured incoherently:
"That's... the aura of the Silent Origin Relic..."
Yuan Jin's expression also changed drastically. "No... it shouldn't have shown itself so early--!"
But the most shocked person was not him, not Ming Tong, but --
Qin Yu.
His heart skipped a beat.
The Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword within his body had never been drawn, yet at that moment—
The sword trembled violently!
There was no will to fight—only a sense of shared purpose.
That Silent Origin Fragment seemed to "recognize" something.
That thing was the World- World Extinguisher Divine Sword, Origin Destroyer, which Qin Yu possessed.
At that moment, a thought, unspoken by anyone, surged in everyone's mind:
"This sword... has an unspeakable connection with the Silent Origin Relic?"
Qin Yu, on the other hand, gazed quietly at the fragments, his eyes indifferent.
"In the end... it still happened."
"You're not looking for me."
"The part of you that should have been part of me, I myself... severed long ago."
The pressure of souls surged like a tide, the array marks formed a prison-like barrier.
Yao Wanqing's consciousness trembled violently as it was torn apart. Her Soul Seal twisted violently, and her Fate Soul [Mystic Mirror Ice Soul] seemed to be devoured by countless illusory images, crumbling and altering inch by inch.
She could barely see the world anymore; her soul was as if it had fallen into a broken lake, torn apart and erased by the ripples.
"Who I am..."
"No, I am..."
"No, I am you, I am the person you don't want to be..."
Her consciousness began to deny itself, falling into a terrifying state of "soul being devoured."
--This is precisely the most fatal aspect of the Soul-Devouring Cause Formation:
It's not about destroying you, but about using your own karma to construct a "false soul" and replace you!
On the other side, Ming Ye roared in pain, kneeling on the Soul Rank, his soul body constantly peeling away.
A series of "future destinies" that he had never experienced were imposed upon him.
For a moment, he even saw the shadow of his own soul, the one that had betrayed his sect and personally sent Ming Tong into enemy hands!
"No--!! I could never do such a thing!!"
"Get out of my mind!!"
With a roar, he bit off the tip of his tongue, blood splattering into his mind, but the "illusory self" became even clearer, seemingly nourished by his despair!
Yuan Jin stood in the center of the array plate, expressionless, coldly watching the two struggle in pain.
This is just the beginning.
"When their souls are completely misaligned, what you call 'prodigies of Fate Soul's are nothing but empty shells."
"You will be powerless to resist the struggle for the Silent Origin."
He increased the pressure in his palm!
The light of the Soul Array surged!
But the next instant, a clear, icy voice pierced the heavens and earth.
"You just said... we are powerless against Silent Origin?"
"Then you might need to rethink the meaning of the word 'force'."
In an instant.
A dark sword light descended from the sky!
World Extinguisher Divine Sword - Origin Destroyer
--Unsheathed!!
The void collapsed, and the soul array misaligned!
Before the sword even hit the ground, the nine soul meridians surrounding the array plate had already been completely severed!
Qin Yu did not speak, but his sword had already moved.
He strode through the void, his steps slow, yet his gaze was like that of a judge executing an executioner, devoid of joy or sorrow.
"Soul-Devouring Cause Formation, taking the forged cause to forge the person."
No matter how realistic your construction is... it can't withstand my sword strike, which will eradicate the 'cause' from the world.
The sword tip is lightly pointed.
[Origin Destroyer Divine Technique - Second Form - Sever the Cause, Preventing Birth]
Cut!
Suddenly, the soul array let out a shrill cry, like a skinned soul beast exploding deep within its core!
Yuan Jin roared in anger, forcefully reversing the seal on the Soul Seal!
His pupils contracted violently as he stared at Qin Yu's sword, the Origin Destroyer, which was still unstained by blood but whose sword intent was overwhelming!
"This sword... it actually shook the Silent Origin Fragment just now?!"
"Impossible... How could this sword... resonate with the Silent Origin Relic?!"
But before he could finish speaking, another strange phenomenon occurred!
The newly formed Silent Origin Fragment in the distance trembled violently!
At the same time--
Ming Tong's expression changed, and she clutched her chest.
Within her body, the previously Silent Origin Fragment of the Origin of Silent Void suddenly erupted with a soul-scorching radiance!
Two fragments--
They face each other from afar.
A whisper that seemed to transcend eras echoed through the space:
"The Return to One... will rise again."
"The beginning of destruction... is also the master of silence."
"It cannot be explained, it cannot be believed... it can only be responded to."
Silent Origin Fragment Resonate!
They seemed to have originated from the same source and diverged, but now, due to the existence of the Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword, they have begun to reconnect.
Yuan Jin's expression changed drastically, and he murmured incoherently:
"How is this possible... Silent Origin Relic should not possess the will to 'actively identify' themselves... Who exactly are you... What about your sword—"
Before he could finish speaking, Qin Yu had already taken a step forward, his long hair moving without wind, and Origin Destroyer slowly pointed diagonally.
Now is not the time for you to ask me.
"I'm asking you--"
"Which part of you would like to remain?"
Yuan Jin felt a jolt in his soul, and suppressing his fear, he transformed into a crimson lightning shadow and fled!
He understood—
If it had been a moment later, the sword would have struck not just as hard as "severing the cause."
Instead, it is "discontinuation of the calendar".
As the soul array collapsed, Yao Wanqing and Ming Ye simultaneously recovered from their pain, collapsing onto the soul staircase, panting heavily, their soul consciousness still trembling.
There are two Silent Origin Fragment.
A limp object, slowly rotating, seemed to await its true "owner."
The other one quietly sank into Ming Tong's palm, Anran returning to her soul consciousness, no longer moving, yet seemingly guided by a new destiny.
Qin Yu stood at the center of everything, remaining silent.
He lowered his head and looked at the shadow of the word "Ji" that quietly appeared on the ridge of the Origin-Destroying Divine Sword.
Uncut items.
But it had already broken through the boundaries.