Entrusting a Lasting Bond · Parting Draws Near

The night was deep, and the Milky Way shone brightly.

In the southwest corner of the White Cloud Sect, amidst swirling clouds and mist, a newly built palace stands atop a cluster of peaks. Its four corners are covered with silver tiles, the floor is paved with jade and glazed tiles, and spiritual light condenses on the walls, forming a protective barrier of spiritual energy. This palace is named Lingxiao Palace, personally bestowed by the sect leader Xiao Yinshan, as a congratulatory gift for the marriage of Yang Zheng and Zhao Xinyu. Its grandeur is almost second only to the Heavenly Ultimate Cloud Residence.

Inside Lingxiao Palace, the main hall was softly lit, and wisps of incense smoke rose from the sandalwood incense burner, their fragrance gently permeating the moonlit night.

Yang Zheng, dressed in a black robe, stood tall and straight, sitting with Zhao Xinyu in the inner hall, playing a game of Bohun chess and chatting softly.

Zhao Xinyu wore a light purple palace dress, with tassels and jade butterflies adorning her temples. Her Wenwan demeanor exuded a rare ease, and her eyes, which once held a sharp edge, now held only tenderness.

Suddenly, the barrier around the outer hall trembled slightly.

The two were startled, and then in the next instant, that familiar soul aura crossed the formation and arrived.

"It's Qin Yu!" Yang Zheng's eyes lit up, and he immediately got up and walked out of the palace gate.

Under the night sky, bathed in moonlight, a figure stepped out from the clouds.

The young man, dressed in black robes, exuded a serene aura, yet the moment he stepped into the Lingxiao Palace, he seemed to bring peace and stability to the entire sect.

"Brother Yu!" Yang Zheng called out first, his voice filled with barely suppressed laughter and excitement.

Zhao Xinyu also stood up. "Brother Yu, you're here!"

Qin Yu walked slowly to the two of them, his gaze sweeping over them. He looked at the undisguised happiness in Zhao Xinyu's eyes, and at the calm composure in Yang Zheng's brows, a glint of youthful impetuosity long gone. A slight smile played on his lips.

"It seems that Lingxiao Palace is very suitable for you."

Yang Zheng smiled and said, "You've come at the perfect time. The moonlight is beautiful tonight. Why don't you stay for a drink?"

Zhao Xinyu smiled sweetly and said, "I've already prepared your favorite Lingming wine, just waiting for you to arrive."

Qin Yu nodded slightly and stepped into the palace. Under the glow of the soul lamp, the figures of the three, reunited after a long separation, slowly disappeared into the warm palace light.

After several rounds of drinks, the moon was high in the sky, and the Lingxiao Palace was filled with the gentle fragrance of incense and candles, creating a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.

Qin Yu gently downed the spirit tea in his cup, the casualness in his eyes finally replaced by composure. He set down the cup, looked up at Yang Zheng and Zhao Xinyu sitting opposite him, and said slowly but with great clarity:

"My most important purpose in returning to the Great Yan Continent this time is..."

He paused for a moment, then slowly continued:

"I've come to visit my mother, to see you two, and to check on the situation of the entire White Cloud Sect."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xinyu's eyes reddened slightly, and she nodded gently; while Yang Zheng's expression was solemn, his back straightened instinctively, and he listened attentively.

Qin Yu continued, "In these past few years, you have supported the White Cloud Sect, making it the true ruler of Taiyan. Sect Master Xiao also mentioned to me that the entire Great Yan Continent is now unified, Luo Chuan has been destroyed, and the chaos of the Zhao Clan has long since dissipated. Now that the sect is stable and the hundred races are silent, it can indeed be considered a time of Taiyan."

As he spoke, a thoughtful look flickered in his eyes.

"But that's precisely why we can't let our guard down."

Yang Zheng said in a deep voice, "You mean, there are still variables?"

Qin Yu nodded. "The myriad realms are never at peace. Although Taiyan is stable, it is only relative. Many larger forces are secretly eyeing the Spirit Firmament, and even the lifeblood of the great realm beneath our feet. When the next upheaval comes, they may very well choose Taiyan as their first entrance."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xinyu asked nervously, "So what are you going to do next...?"

Qin Yu calmly said, "I will soon set off for the Divine Abyss Continent to fight my old enemies, and then return to the Spirit Firmament Great Realm. I must quickly integrate the Azure Ring with all the power within me in order to truly prepare for the next round of turmoil."

As he spoke, his expression was calm, yet he unconsciously exuded an aura of intimidation that made people afraid to look him in the eye.

At that moment, Yang Zheng suddenly smiled, raised his glass, and said, "Don't worry, Brother Yu, Xinyu Yu and I are here, along with Sect Master Xiao. Even if the winds of change rise again someday, as long as I, Yang Zheng, am still here, the White Cloud Sect will never fall."

Zhao Xinyu nodded gently. "We will protect Auntie and wait for your triumphant return."

Looking at the two old friends before him, Qin Yu finally revealed a gentle smile in his eyes and raised his cup:

"Then let us drink this cup, for the Taiyan, and for our future reunion."

Three glasses clinked together, the wine rich and fragrant.

Everything seemed Anran and serene, but Qin Ning knew in his heart that the curtain of an endless storm had already been quietly drawn.

Qin Yu gently set down the cup in his hand, slightly raised his body, and his expression suddenly turned solemn. He slowly raised his right hand, causing a slight tremor in the air.

An ancient black light emerged from behind him, and a pitch-black spear, as dark as the Ming Yuan, slowly descended from the void. The spear exuded a chilling aura, as if endless gray mist was wrapped around it, with wisps of green light appearing and disappearing, as if it were devouring everything, causing even the space itself to tremble.

That was indeed the Black Bone War Spear.

Qin Yu placed his right hand on the spear shaft, turned his gaze to Yang Zheng, his expression extremely solemn, and said in a low voice:

"Yang Zheng, you should be very familiar with this."

Yang Zheng stood up, his expression turning solemn. Looking at the Black Bone War Spear that he had fought alongside countless times on the battlefield and witnessed its power, a deep respect appeared in his eyes.

Qin Yu said slowly:

"This is the first weapon I truly wielded on the Great Yan Continent as I embarked on my cultivation journey. It is the life imprint I have accumulated since the Initial Stage of the Realm Awareness Realm, and the vessel of my Innate Martial Soul for slaying enemies and breaking their souls."

His voice paused slightly, then turned low and deep:

"But now, I have embarked on the path of the Spirit Firmament, the Azure Ring has awakened, the Origin Destroyer has appeared, and I have finally found my own—the weapon of destiny."

He slowly raised the Black Bone War Spear, pointing it into the void:

"It has completed its mission, and today, I formally entrust it to you."

Yang Zheng was shocked. "Brother Yu, you mean...?"

Qin Yu nodded and said in a deep voice, "You are my brother, the person I trust most. The Black Bone War Spear has now fused with the core of the Ten Forms of the Gray Ring combat technique, and with the Azure Ring aura I infused into it in the Spirit Firmament Great Realm, its power is already extraordinary."

He paused, then gently clenched his right palm. With a low "boom," five ancient patterns interwoven with gray and blue light appeared on the Black Bone War Spear, each pattern seemingly capable of scorching through space.

"The Black Bone War Spear has five combat techniques."

"Each move is a technique capable of slaying enemies and destroying realms. If you can master it skillfully, you will be able to sweep across the entire Great Yan Continent."

He twitched his fingers slightly, and a wisp of spiritual energy cracked open in the air:

[Part One] Ring Spear - World-Slaying Slash

It pierces straight through the Realm Breaking, destroying all spatial barriers.

[Part Two] Ring Spear - Silent Severing Abyss

A single spear can sever the cycle of life and death, plunging the enemy into Eternal Abyss.

[Part Three] Ring Spear - Heaven-Extinguishing Ash

The power of the Gray Ring scorches the heavens and earth, and can burn away the True Soul of a hundred realms.

[Part Four] Ring Spear - Sever Causality, Return to Silence

It can trace all the causes and effects of an enemy's past lives, severing their Spiritual Sense at its "origin."

[Fifth] -- Ultimate Move: Ring Spear - Final Abyss Silent Realm

The black spear completely merged with the core essence of the Gray Ring and Azure Ring, achieving Ultimate divine transformation.

It penetrated the source of the Law of Annihilation, plunging the "realm" itself into the abyss;

--When this technique is unleashed, all directions are annihilated, and countless ages crumble, leaving only the spear's intent to endure.

The entire hall seemed to be stunned by those last words in that instant. An Ultimate will of Annihilation seemed to come from the depths of the void, freezing the air and making it impossible to breathe.

Yang Zheng took the Black Bone War Spear with a trembling voice. The moment the spear landed in his palm, a low "hiss" sounded, and he felt countless "battlefield memories" surging into his body in an instant.

Qin Yu gazed at him, his eyes revealing calm trust.

"The war in Taiyan may not end here. If an enemy comes in the future, you will hold this spear, and I, Qin Yu, will still be by your side."

Yang Zheng lowered his knees slightly, bowed solemnly, clasped his hands, and said in a deep voice:

"Brother, I will remember this Yang Zheng for the rest of my life. If there is another day of bloody battle, I, Yang Zheng, wielding the Black Bone sword, will surely slay a million enemies."

Qin Yu smiled calmly and reached out to help him up.

At this moment, the two young comrades-in-arms, after years of tempering and life-or-death trials, completed the "transfer of weapons" of destiny.

Black Bone War Spear - New Master Named.

After formally handing over the Black Bone War Spear to Yang Zheng, the atmosphere inside the palace gradually quieted down. Qin Yu filled the last cup of light wine in his hand, tilted his head back slightly, and drank it all in one gulp. However, his eyes were looking at the stars in the distant night sky, as if he could already see the endless Spirit Firmament sky.

After a long silence, he spoke in a low voice:

"In three days—I will leave Taiyan, head to Divine Abyss, and return to Spirit Firmament once more."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xinyu paused, gently put down her wine glass, and her eyes immediately reddened.

Qin Yu slowly looked at her and Yang Zheng, his tone calm but full of profound meaning:

"This journey will involve the deeper causal and destiny threads of the Spirit Firmament Source Realm. Regardless of whether I return or not, the Great Yan Continent must Anran."

"And Mother..."

He paused, his gaze incredibly gentle:

"She has worked so hard all these years. I am where I am today because she led me out of that dark forest. She was willing to take a huge risk to give me a surname and a warm home."

"Now I am about to embark on another journey—I entrust her to your care."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Zhao Xinyu bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. She quickly stepped forward, solemnly grasped Qin Yu's sleeve, and choked out:

"Brother Yu... don't worry."

"Auntie, that is my and Yang Zheng's mother. From this day forward, no matter where we are, no matter life or death, my husband and I... will take good care of her and protect her."

"If she shows even the slightest sorrow, it is our fault as husband and wife!"

Yang Zheng also stood up solemnly, clenched his fist, and spoke firmly:

"If Brother Yu is not here, and the White Cloud Sect, I, Yang Zheng, will bear the brunt; if Auntie feels even the slightest unease, I, Yang Zheng, will protect her with my life."

Qin Yu looked at them, his eyes filled with tenderness, a faint light seeming to shimmer in them. He nodded gently, his voice low and soft as the night breeze:

"Okay, I believe you."

"I have no worries now that I'm entrusting my mother to you." The three raised their glasses again and drank them down in one gulp.

Outside, the moonlight fell like frost, casting a soft silver glow on the stone steps of the courtyard in front of the palace, reflecting the deep affection in their hearts.

This night was perhaps the most serene and poignant moment in the three people's shared memories.