The scenes changed in an instant.
At the end of nothingness, an Ultimate ancient and simple seal slowly emerged. There were no runes, array patterns, or Wudao traces on the seal, only an extremely simple primordial star mark running through it, bearing the unchanging power of confinement for eternity.
The next instant, a ray of clear starlight descended, obscuring all the scenes, and the ancient picture vanished completely.
Qin Yu was jolted back to his senses, a deep shock lingering in his eyes.
At this moment, he fully understood that the Star Wancai Key and the Wanyan Ancient Clan had an inextricable and eternally intertwined Fate-Cause. This supreme treasure that transcended all things was most likely the Ultimate source of the Wanyan Ancient Clan.
Qin Yu composed himself, bowed slightly, and said solemnly, "Senior, rest assured, I agree to this. I am willing to go to the Ancient Clan's slumbering forbidden land in your stead to try and break the seal. If I can retrieve the Ancient Clan's original inheritance, I will return it intact."
He paused briefly, then added logically and tactfully, "However, the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain Grand Competition is imminent, and the Chi Lineage is currently facing numerous crises and undercurrents. Internal traitors have not been eliminated, and external enemies surround them. This matter can only be addressed after the Grand Competition concludes and the Chi Lineage is stable."
Upon hearing this, a faint smile slowly spread across Wanyan's face.
This smile, so faint and subtle, held a sense of relief and contentment that transcended countless years; it was the emotion of finally finding someone worthy of hope after a long period of silence.
"Good, good, good." The three "good"s fully expressed the excitement in my heart.
"The Chi Lineage was right about you, and so was I." Wanyan nodded slightly, his eyes full of approval. "You possess a supreme treasure and bear the weight of ancient karma, yet your Dao heart remains clear, neither arrogant nor impatient. You know how to assess the situation and act responsibly. This alone is enough."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wanyan raised his finger and lightly tapped the void, and boom—
The entire Wanyan String Realm trembled slightly, and the countless interwoven "If" strings slowly diverged and retreated to both sides, leaving a void in the center.
An ancient and exquisite scroll slowly emerged from the endless void.
This painting is devoid of gold, jade, bamboo, wood, or silk; it seems to have been condensed from the pure essence of time, transcending all objects and materials in the world. On the scroll, countless fine silver patterns flow and transform incessantly, instantly becoming a vast starry sky, an ancient desolate land, and an ethereal ancient road, without fixed form, state, or trajectory.
Qin Yu probed with his divine sense and instantly sensed the vast and boundless torrent of cause and effect. This was not an ordinary map recording location, but a future Dao map inscribed with uncertain destiny and bearing the path yet to be traversed.
Wanyan flicked his finger, and the ancient map soared through the air, steadily flying towards Qin Yu. "This is the Wanyan Ancient Map."
"It records the fortuitous paths of the Ancient Clan's slumbering forbidden land, yet it has no fixed location. That forbidden land exists beyond all possibilities, beyond the order of time, beyond heaven and earth. Only when you truly set foot in a nearby territory, when cause and effect resonate, will the ancient map reveal the only path that leads there."
Qin Yu reached out and took the ancient map. The scroll felt slightly cool to the touch and instantly transformed into a fine Dao seal, silently merging into his storage space and lying dormant.
Immediately afterwards, another object appeared in Wanyan's palm.
A crystal-clear, dust-free transparent jade bead floats quietly, with a slender string rotating within it, a miniature version of the Wanyan String Realm, encompassing countless paths of evolution.
"Keep this safe." "The Wanyan Life-Protection Pearl." Wanyan's voice was solemn. "It contains a wisp of my Source Dao seal, bearing the Ultimate protection of my Wanyan Great Dao. In the future, if you encounter a certain death or an insurmountable danger, simply activate your own Fate Soul power and inject it into it. I can transcend endless time and space, severing countless causal ties, and temporarily descend once to shield you from death."
Qin Yu was greatly shocked. This was the original mark of the Source Dao Ultimate Beast Huang, a supreme protection capable of suppressing eternity and transcending dimensions. Its value was vast and immeasurable.
Wanyan remained calm and composed. "You went to the Forbidden Land of Eternity for me to settle the ancient karma of our Ancient Clan. This entrustment and friendship deserve such a repayment."
Qin Yu gazed at the jade bead in his palm, his mind calm, and bowed respectfully: "Thank you for your generous gift, Senior." "Go."
Wanyan smiled and waved, his eyes full of expectation. "The current competition is a trial of cause and effect that you must face. When you have settled down and returned, I will impart to you the complete original divine power inheritance of the Wanyan Ancient Clan."
As the words fell, the myriad strings that had been frozen around began to flow again, countless "what ifs" were re-evolved, Wanyan String Realm returned to its former glory.
In Qin Yu's palm, the Star Wancai Key floated quietly, its starlight restrained, gentle and silent.
Within the Wanyan String Realm, countless "if" strings flowed gently, shimmering with an ethereal and uncertain glow.
Standing in this world constructed of infinite possibilities, Qin Yu gazed quietly at the Source Dao Ultimate Beast Huang, who had slumbered for countless epochs. A profound respect for the Wanyan Ancient Clan grew in his heart.
Wanyan did not try to stop him, but simply gazed silently at Qin Yu, his voice slowly rising. "Qin Yu, this departure means you will face the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain Grand Competition. Regarding this grand event..."
Qin Yu paused abruptly, raising his eyes to wait. Wanyan's gaze deepened slightly. "I have glimpsed many unusual signs within the Wanyan Great Dao. This grand competition will definitely not be as peaceful and simple as it appears on the surface."
As the words fell, the several strings supporting the path ahead slowly dimmed, their vitality fading. "A force lingers outside, Bugui the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain."
Qin Yu's expression suddenly hardened.
"That aura was extremely distant, its source pointing directly to the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain. It was deeply hidden, deliberately concealing all traces, trying to avoid my perception. But the Dao of Wanyan is all-pervasive, and I can clearly sense that countless possibilities for the future are being secretly manipulated and twisted by an invisible hand."
A chill crept into Qin Yu's eyes. To him at this moment, the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain symbolized a vast power at a higher level than the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain.
Wanyan slowly spoke, revealing the key point. "The clan leader informed me of Hua Yin's matter beforehand, and in my view, it is merely one link in the whole game. It is true that this person's ambition is boundless, but it is difficult for a mere cultivator at the Eternal Silence Realm · Supreme to stir up such a monstrous storm in the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain. Behind him, there are deeper and more distant causes and effects."
Qin Yu pondered silently for a moment, then slowly nodded. "This junior has remembered."
Wanyan's gaze fell upon him, and he spoke earnestly, "Qin Yu, although you have already reached the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage, the truly deadly danger never lies in the level of your cultivation, but rather in those hidden entities lurking behind layers of karma, never revealing their forms. You must be extremely vigilant, especially against the Hua Lineage. Their secret schemes..."
At this point, Wanyan stopped speaking. Even his Wanyan Deduction could not reveal the whole truth.
Qin Yu bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your guidance, senior. I will be cautious in every step." Wanyan nodded gently.
Qin Yu immediately turned around and walked towards the outside of the Wanyan String Realm. The Star Wancai Key quietly lay dormant deep within his sea of consciousness, its starlight contained and not leaking out in the slightest.
Wanyan gazed at the receding figure for a long time, until it disappeared at the end of the interwoven strings, before whispering to himself, the sound fading into the boundless void.
"Among countless possibilities of rise and fall, your arrival may be the only answer that cannot be predicted or predetermined."
... Outside the forbidden area of Chi Lineage land, Chi Boqian had been waiting for a long time. He stood with his hands behind his back. Although he was the head of the clan, he had restrained all the majesty of the clan leader at this moment, and there was a bit of anxiety that was hard to suppress between his brows. When the spatial ripples gently rippled and Qin Yu's figure stepped out of the void, Chi Boqian immediately stepped forward to meet him.
"Fellow Daoist Qin, you've finally emerged. Have you finished your conversation with Senior Wanyan?" Qin Yu looked at him and nodded gently. "Yes, we've finished."
Chi Boqian was filled with curiosity, but he quickly suppressed his distracting thoughts. He knew perfectly well that the reasons behind Wanyan's private audience were vast and unpredictable, and were not something he could casually inquire about.
He simply replied calmly, "It's good that nothing happened." Qin Yu looked up towards the direction of the Chi Lineage's main city in the distance. "Clan leader, let's set off. It's time to put our plan to find the traitor into action."
Chi Boqian's expression instantly turned serious. "Alright." The two did not linger and left the ancestral land together, speeding towards the core palace of the Chi Lineage.
Just after Qin Yu and Chi Boqian left, in the deepest forbidden area of the ancestral land, Chi Lanyue still sat cross-legged in meditation, her long, snow-white hair cascading down her body like clouds, her body showing no fluctuation of Source Power. Only her eyes seemed to be able to see through the ages.
After a long silence, she slowly opened her eyes, all the doubts that had lingered in her heart completely dissipating. "This child is indeed extraordinary."
She murmured softly, her voice echoing in the empty hall, "With the cultivation of the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage, Source Dao Ultimate Beast Huang, Wanyan, her state of mind remained stable from beginning to end, neither arrogant nor impatient, calm and undisturbed. With such a foundation of Fate Soul and such a steadfast Dao heart, it is no wonder that Senior Wanyan took the initiative to form a karmic bond with her."
As soon as she finished speaking, she closed her eyes again, and the entire forbidden area returned to its ancient silence. Meanwhile, inside Chi Ninghua's palace...
Qin Yu returned alone, stepping through the air. The night quietly enveloped the palace where Chi Ninghua was, the lights inside still shining brightly, casting soft rays of light all around.
Chi Ninghua had been quietly waiting in the hall. When she saw Qin Yu walk in slowly, she rose and went to greet him.
Her gaze was gentle; she glanced at Qin Yu briefly before looking away, never asking about the Wanyan or the Forbidden Land of the Ancestral Grounds. She knew perfectly well that being able to meet the Source Dao Ultimate Beast Huang alone must involve the deepest secrets of the Chi Lineage. Since Qin Yu hadn't brought it up, she naturally wouldn't ask any further questions.
Chi Ninghua said softly, "Young Master Qin, Senior Sister Xiyue and Elder Tongyue have just preliminarily selected two candidates from within the clan. Now, they are just waiting for the clan leader to return to the main hall before reporting to him and making a final decision."
Qin Yu nodded slightly, his expression calm. "Once the candidate is finalized, we will take action immediately tomorrow." He looked out at the deep night outside the hall, his tone calm yet revealing an undeniable firmness.
"This matter cannot be delayed any longer." "Hua Yin is currently unaware that during the great battle, I had already captured complete footage of him colluding with the Ancient God Clan. But we must thoroughly root out the traitor hidden within the Chi Lineage before the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain Grand Competition begins."
"Otherwise, once the competition officially begins and all forces Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain, with the Hua Lineage coordinating internally and externally, Chi Lineage and Ju Lineage will be placed in a very passive position."
Chi Ninghua's expression immediately turned serious, and she nodded gently. "Young Master Qin, rest assured. Our clan disciples will fully cooperate with this plan."
Qin Yu responded softly, but his gaze remained fixed on the distance. He knew very well that starting tomorrow, the real contest would no longer be an open conflict, but a silent hunt hidden within the Chi Lineage. Once that traitor stepped into their trap, there would be no way out.