Above the Myriad Worlds Graveyard, the gray-blue desolate domain spread out by the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner still stretches across the nine heavens, with billions of desolate intents surging into an endless tide, encircling the final arena.
But what now silenced the heavens and earth was no longer the ominous banner passed down from the ancient Stillness Dynasty, but the newly born Silent Origin Star Sea behind Qin Yu. Countless gray-blue light spots flowed and swirled around his Fate Soul, while the Nine-Wheel True Evolution Dharma Wheel floated at the bottom of the Star Sea.
Those selves, wills, memories, and traces of the Tao that should have been stripped away and buried in Eternal Silence are slowly re-condensing along a Dao Path that no one has ever trodden before, returning from silence to the source, and from the source to the truth.
As the words "The Fifth Form of Void Source Truth Command - Returning to Truth from the Silent Origin Return to Truth" slowly landed on Qin Yu's lips, the entire Myriad Worlds Graveyard fell into a deathly silence for several breaths. Millions of cultivators on the periphery raised their heads in unison, and the expressions on their faces, which had been shocked when they first saw Qin Yu withstand the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner, completely transformed into undisguised horror.
Many powerful figures at the Eternal Silence Realm even forgot to conceal their life Fate Soul fluctuations. Some gripped the railing of the stands so tightly that their knuckles turned bluish-white; others stared wide-eyed, their lips moving several times, but unable to utter a single word; several elders from powerful upper-class forces looked at each other, their eyes filled with astonishment and doubt.
They saw things more clearly than the younger cultivators. Breaking through to a higher realm in battle could be attributed to accumulating experience before unleashing it, and comprehending new techniques in the face of life and death was not unique in the world. However, Qin Yu's actions had already surpassed the boundaries of both.
He stood amidst the ancient divine weapons that could annihilate his own Fate Soul, and deciphering the unfinished path of the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner. Using the deadly traps laid by his opponent as stepping stones, he evolved a brand-new supernatural power unique to himself in the life-and-death struggle.
Almost simultaneously, an undercurrent of tension arose in the viewing areas of the Lineage.
The usually tense expressions of the Chi Lineage elders suddenly changed drastically. An old man with white hair suddenly stood up, his wide sleeves fluttering in the wind as his uncontrolled energy dissipated.
He stared intently at the streaks of light behind Qin Yu, formed from the re-emerging gray-blue aura. His aged face trembled slightly, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a voice. "He... he comprehended his own Dao by borrowing the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner from the Hua Jingmeng?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the breathing of the many disciples of the Chi Lineage beside him suddenly quickened, and their gazes toward Qin Yu were filled with almost burning respect. Chi Boqian sat upright in the head seat, his usually calm eyes constantly flashing with sharp light. Unlike the elders behind him, he did not lose his composure. Only his five fingers on the armrest slowly closed.
His gaze shifted from Qin Yu to the Vast Annihilation God-Burying Banner, then back to Qin Yu. The deep respect he already held for Qin Yu grew even more solemn at this moment. He could clearly see that Qin Yu had neither stolen the Dao of the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner nor imitated Hua Jingmeng's supernatural powers.
He had personally endured the three burials, reaching the depths of the Silent Origin after the stripping away of divinity. At the place where Hua Jingmeng had stopped, he took another step forward. It was this one step that created a heart-stopping chasm between the two of them in terms of their comprehension, Dao heart, and vision.
In stark contrast to the shock at the Chi Lineage, the atmosphere at the Hua Lineage's viewing platform was as cold as an abyss. The elders who had previously been so arrogant and confident that Qin Yu would be defeated once the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner appeared were now all stiff and cold-faced. They opened their mouths to speak, but could no longer utter a single sarcastic remark.
Hua Yin sat upright in his seat, his brows furrowed with gloom, his gaze fixed on the arena from beginning to end. He knew better than anyone the weight of the Vast Annihilation God-Burying Banner, and it was precisely because he understood the terrifying nature of this banner that the scene before him sent a chill down his spine.
Hua Nongrui sat firmly in the position of clan leader, her face still showing little joy or anger. However, her usually calm eyes narrowed slightly for the first time. When her gaze swept over the Silent Origin Star Sea behind Qin Yu, a faint but real sense of solemnity flashed in her eyes.
Neither the Shangguan Lineage nor the Ju Lineage remained as composed as before. Even the prodigies like Shangguan Anyu and Ju Mohan, who had personally experienced several rounds of fierce battles, remained silent. Ju Gongchen's Fate Soul injuries had not yet healed, and there was still a faint trace of blood on the corner of his lips. He raised his eyes and gazed at the vast sea of stars, his expression slowly darkening.
He had personally experienced the terrifying power of Hua Jingmeng's methods, and therefore understood best why Qin Yu's actions today were so astonishing—the killing move that Hua Jingmeng used to destroy her opponent had instead become a stepping stone for Qin Yu's enlightenment.
The four judges of the Void Emanation Realm were also in turmoil. Nalan Yanqing, whose usually dignified and peaceful face was tinged with genuine surprise for the first time, stared intently at the gray-blue light spots that had gathered around Qin Yu, and remained silent for a long time.
Xuanyuan Canglan's admiration was now completely undisguised. He leaned forward slightly, his entire focus on the center of the arena. Murong Yunche's brows furrowed even more. He never expected that the junior whom Nangong Xingyun once regarded as a clown would force Hua Jingmeng after another in the finals, and even comprehend a new profound mystery within the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner.
Only Nangong Xingyun remained seated, but the faint hint of contempt he once held had vanished. His gaze swept over the Silent Origin Star Sea behind Qin Yu, layers of gloom settling in his eyes, and his hand, resting on his knee, slowly clenched. He knew that Hua Jingmeng could no longer regard this young man before her as someone she could crush at will.
But what truly resonated with the Great Dao was the Four Source Dao Ultimate Beast Huang, hanging high above the dome of the Myriad Worlds Graveyard.
Since the start of the Grand Competition, they have witnessed countless astonishing supernatural powers, and have also seen Qin Yu analyze, dismantle, and even reverse others' paths time and time again. But when the Silent Origin Return to Truth truly took shape and appeared in the world, for the first time, the four ancient beings focused all their attention on Qin Yu alone.
Above the heavens, four ancient auras, accumulated over countless ages, trembled slightly in unison, and with a resounding boom, all the myriad paths of heaven and earth resonated and vibrated. Wanyan's giant eyes, which had been half-closed, suddenly opened completely.
This was one of the few times it had lost its composure since the beginning of time. In its ancient eyes, which had witnessed the birth and death of the Great Dao, intricate and profound primordial patterns flowed on their own. Its massive, mountain-like beast body leaned forward slightly, firmly locking the Silent Origin Star Sea below.
The other three beasts beside him noticed his strange behavior, but Wanyan paid no attention to it. His gaze followed the three burials that Qin Yu had just experienced: the first burial broke his attachment to self, the second burial broke his attachment to the law, and the third burial broke his attachment to the enemy.
When all the external appearances that could be stripped away were buried, Qin Yu did not arrive at complete Annihilation, but at the Silent Origin that contained all things returning to stillness. What shook Wanyan even more was that Qin Yu did not stop there.
He continued forward, returning to stillness, towards truth. A deep, resonant roar rolled from Wanyan's throat, rippling and vibrating through the surrounding void. It gazed at Qin Yu for a long time, its ancient voice slowly echoing through the heavens. "Good lad, Qin Yu..."
With just five words, the gazes of the other three beasts all turned to Wanyan, while Wanyan's gaze remained fixed on the arena.
"The way of the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner ends with the stripping away and returning to Silent Origin; it stops at the source of stillness. All those who have carried the banner throughout history have believed that returning to stillness is the end. Therefore, they only know how to bury, not how to return; they only know how to restore all spirits to their origin, but no one has ever asked what should happen after the restoration."
The primordial patterns in its eyes grew ever brighter. "Qin Yu asked this question for them today." "And found the answer." Wanyan raised his head, his ancient and majestic beastly face revealing undisguised amazement.
"He completed the path after Annihilation." Upon hearing this, the three beasts, Mystic Deconstruction, Jiheng, Suhuang, all underwent a change in their minds.
Jiheng remained silent for a moment, his serene eyes, etched with the wisdom of countless ages, falling upon Qin Yu, and slowly spoke, "After Annihilation, one can still return to the true self... Thus, the end in the eyes of the world is no longer the true end."
A deep, solemn look appeared in Suhuang's eyes. "If it only affects oneself, he can use the Silent Origin to rebuild his Fate Soul. If this technique is further developed in the future, it could be used to see others..."
The words abruptly stopped, and Mystic Deconstruction, who was standing to the side, had already begun his deduction.
Mystic Deconstruction's pupils suddenly changed, countless intricate and ancient Dao patterns spreading out from the depths of his eyes. The three burials Qin Yu had experienced, the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner stripped away its divinity, the divinity returning to the Silent Origin, the Silent Origin bearing the primordial source.
Qin Yu used himself as a bridge to complete the re-condensation... Scene after scene unfolded, disassembled, and reassembled repeatedly in its eyes. Gradually, the faint interest in its eyes turned into solemnity, and after a long while, it fell into a long silence.
"The fifth form should not yet be truly perfected." Mystic Deconstruction finally spoke, Wanyan turned his head to look at it.