Qin Yu gently stroked the black-gold token in his palm with his fingertips. The original patterns of the Chi Lineage, which lay dormant deep within the token, flickered and flowed along the veins of his palm, faintly echoing the aura of the Great Dao throughout the entire clan territory.
The grand feast at the Myriad Pools Heavenly Palace was drawing to a close. The surroundings were still brightly lit, and the laughter of the clansmen lingered. The joy of winning the championship overnight had not yet dissipated, but the faint smile in Qin Yu's eyes had quietly disappeared.
He lowered his eyes in deep thought, his mind already detached from the noisy celebration and returning to the Ultimate battle where he had just survived a near-death experience.
Today, Hua Jingmeng's revealed strength has already surpassed the world's preconceived notions of him. The Vast Sea Dao-Burying Sword was unsheathed to break through the enemy's momentum, the Vast Annihilation God-Burying Banner suppressed the Life Silence Return to the Ruins, was the ultimate Great Dao of Annihilation, pressing him down layer by layer, forcing him to unleash the fifth form of the Silent Origin Stainless Sword - the Undefined Destruction Sword - in order to break the deadlock and turn the tide.
Each move was a secret, hard-to-find inheritance that even the most talented geniuses could never find in their entire lives, yet all of them were gathered in Hua Jingmeng's body. What made Qin Yu even more wary was the few elusive and unusual expressions on Nangong Xingyun throughout the entire competition.
This judge from the Nangong Lineage of the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain, Void Emanation Realm, was deep and composed, never showing his emotions. He remained impartial and just throughout the entire process, concealing his true feelings flawlessly. However, Qin Yu, having traversed countless life-or-death situations, had honed his perception of human nature, killing intent, and the entanglements of interests to an Ultimate.
From the moment Hua Jingmeng revealed her forbidden trump cards one after another, to the final collapse of her Fate Soul, the sharp drop in her cultivation, and her fainting and falling off the stage, Nangong Xingyun's speed in saving her, his solemnity in protecting her Fate Soul, and his decisiveness in taking out the top-level repair elixir—every detail far exceeded the level of consideration and attention a referee should have for the participating prodigies.
The implications are far from simple.
Qin Yu slowly closed his five fingers, firmly holding the black gold token in his palm. His eyes reflected both genuine gratitude for Chi Boqian's kindness and trust, and a calm composure that had deepened with the experience of the great battle.
"Senior, I plan to proceed to the Life Source Pool shortly." He looked up at Chi Boqian, his voice calm, frank, and straightforward, without any beating around the bush. "However, Hua Yin is definitely plotting something. During the martial arts competition, I noticed that referee Nangong Xingyun's attitude towards Hua Jingmeng was unusual."
Before he could finish speaking, a large, warm hand gently landed on his shoulder.
Chi Boqian raised his hand and pressed it down. The warmth in his eyes, which had just been tinged with the atmosphere of the banquet, instantly faded, replaced by a solemn and dignified expression that had endured countless ages. His back straightened slightly, and the long-accumulated majesty of the clan leader quietly settled around him.
How could he not know the subtle anomalies that Qin Yu could perceive? He knew far more and deeper about the intricate connections and entanglements within the domain than Qin Yu did. "Your perception is correct."
Chi Boqian made no attempt to conceal anything, nor did he offer any perfunctory words of comfort. He simply raised his eyes and glanced around. The remaining clansmen were all immersed in the afterglow of the banquet, and no one approached. Only then did he withdraw his gaze and look directly at Qin Yu, his expression becoming even more solemn.
"Now that you have fully entered the core conflict of the Lineage, there are some secrets that I no longer need to hide from you. Today, I will tell you everything." Qin Yu stood quietly listening, remaining silent.
"The Source of Epochless · Upper Layer is vast and boundless, far surpassing the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain you have seen," Chi Boqian said slowly, his words profound and revealing the grandeur of the domain.
"The Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain where you and I reside is merely the outermost first domain, with the shallowest foundation of strength among the three domains. Above it is the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain, and above that, the Supreme Stillness Domain, which truly stands at the top."
"The three regions are clearly hierarchical, each with a top-tier family in charge. They appear to be independent of each other, but in reality, they are deeply intertwined, with interests entangled for thousands of years."
He raised the wine cup in front of him, his fingertips pausing slightly. He didn't drink, but just stared at the slightly moving liquid in the cup, his eyes growing increasingly deep.
"Everyone says that the Lineage the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain can maintain their top position because our four families have ancient traditions, produce many powerful figures, and possess profound resources. This is true, but it only scratches the surface."
"The Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain has a long history. Clans and lineages older than our four families, and even more mysterious traditions, have not disappeared. Yet, through millions of years of change and transformation, it is ultimately the Chi, Ju, Hua, and Shangguan families that have stood firm, firmly occupying the pinnacle of the domain."
Qin Yu's gaze narrowed slightly as he awaited what was to come. Chi Boqian gently placed his wine cup on the table, the soft sound breaking the surrounding hustle and bustle. "It's because all four of our families have powerful backers in the middle."
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding air suddenly fell silent. "The power that truly stabilizes the structure of the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain and determines the status of the Lineage originates from the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain." Chi Boqian spoke clearly, naming the four top-tier families.
"Nalan, Xuanyuan, Murong, Nangong." A glint flashed in Qin Yu's eyes, and his heart surged. Nalan! He instantly recalled the secret words Nalan Yanqing had whispered when the grand event ended—"You are very similar to the person my dear friend mentioned in his longing."
The doubts that were buried deep in my heart back then are now surging up again.
Unaware of the slight shift in his emotions, Chi Boqian continued slowly, "My Chi Lineage is backed by the Nalan Noble Lineage, Ju Lineage is affiliated with the Xuanyuan Noble Lineage. As for the remaining Hua and Shangguan families, they correspond to the Nangong and Murong clans."
"The struggle between the four families in the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain may seem like a contest of victory and defeat for the local aristocratic families, but in reality, every move involves the covert checks and balances of the four top powers in the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain. This is the nature of the millennia-long conflict."
At this moment, Qin Yu suddenly understood, and countless fragmented images from the martial arts arena flashed through his mind: Nangong Xingyun treated all the other geniuses equally and fairly, but Hua Jingmeng's every display of her trump card and every transformation in a desperate situation caused a very faint change in his eyes.
In the instant Hua Jingmeng was critically injured and on the verge of death, her cultivation collapsing, Nangong Xingyun immediately took action, sparing no expense to expend the essence of his most precious treasure to forcibly protect her Fate Soul foundation. Every anomaly has its root cause. "You should understand Nangong Xingyun's bias now," Chi Boqian said in a deep voice.
Qin Yu nodded slowly, his voice firm: "Because behind the Hua Lineage is the Nangong Noble Lineage." "Exactly." Chi Boqian nodded in response, but his brows furrowed slightly, his expression becoming more complex. "Besides that, there's another crucial point." "Hua Jingmeng."
This person used to be arrogant and extravagant, seemingly possessing only the empty title of a scion of a noble family, with no real cultivation or foundation. He was always overshadowed by the other geniuses of the Hua Lineage and was never the focus of attention for any faction.
But after this battle, all pretense has been shattered. "He was hiding it too well." Chi Boqian looked at Qin Yu, his tone solemn.
"In that battle, the inheritance, divine weapon, and desperate methods he displayed were enough to overturn all forces' perceptions of him. Now his reputation has soared, even overshadowing Hua Xizhi, the orthodox prodigy of the Hua Lineage. For the Nangong Noble Lineage, such a suddenly rising and unfathomable junior deserves to be re-evaluated and nurtured with all their might."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu's expression grew even calmer, showing no trace of underestimation or arrogance.
Only by personally entering the fray and fighting bloodily can one know how dangerous that duel was. He won the battle, but he never underestimated his opponent. Although Hua Jingmeng fell to the True Annihilation Realm · Initial Stage, his Fate Soul was severely injured, and his foundation was damaged, his foundation was still intact, and he had the support of the Hua Lineage and the Nangong Noble Lineage behind him.
As long as he is alive, he will always be a major threat. Seeing that he still maintained awe and caution after a great victory, Chi Boqian couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration in his eyes. He became famous at a young age but was not arrogant, and he remained calm after reaching the top in one battle. This temperament far surpasses his unparalleled talent.
"Your concern about Hua Yin taking action is not unfounded," Chi Boqian said in a slightly cool voice, carrying an undeniable firmness.
"You seized the leadership of the Hua Lineage and severely injured Hua Jingmeng. Hua Yin is filled with both hatred and fear. However, this is the Chi Lineage. With me here, if he is of sound mind, he would never dare to act recklessly here."
These words, though lacking any overwhelming pressure or sharp killing intent, carried the unwavering resolve of a clan leader guarding their ancestral land. Qin Yu's mind calmed slightly, and he nodded solemnly. "I understand."
He stopped dwelling on past conflicts, lowered his eyes to look at the token in his palm, pondered for a moment, and spoke again. "Senior, I will enter the Life Source Pool for seclusion tonight."
"In this great battle, my Fate Soul essence was severely depleted. Although I forcibly suppressed the injuries, the Three Burials of the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner invaded my soul, the Annihilation of the Life Silence Return to the Ruins returned to nothingness eroded my roots, and finally, forcibly activating the Undefined Destruction Sword overdrawn my foundation. Many wounds accumulated deep within my Fate Soul and have never truly healed."
His tone was calm and objective, neither exaggerating his injuries nor avoiding potential dangers, clearly demonstrating his understanding of his own condition. "More importantly, I gained a great deal from this battle." Qin Yu's eyes deepened as he reviewed the layers of transformation he had undergone in the entire life-or-death battle.
The Three Myriad Spirits Burial Banner: the Daoist baptism of the three burials to prove one's heart; the sudden enlightenment of returning to the Silent Origin Return to Truth amidst despair; the Ultimate opposition of Absolute Pre-Stillness crushing the Void Source · Dream Stillness; the profound evolution of the Nine-Wheel True Evolution Dharma Wheel; and the final sword breaking through all laws to the Realm of Definition...
Countless precious insights, all buried deep within my Fate Soul, have not settled, have not taken root.
The battle between life and death is the easiest time to gain enlightenment, but it is also the easiest time to become superficial. The profound secrets gained by breaking through the impasse with instinct and competing with one's Dao heart can only be transformed into one's own and settled into the true foundation of the Dao by reviewing and comprehending them in the Ultimate tranquility.
"I wish to borrow the essence of the Life Source Pool to heal the wounds of my Fate Soul, and at the same time, thoroughly digest the insights gained from this battle, thus seizing the opportunity to break through to the Eternal Silence Realm · Middle Stage." Qin Yu raised his eyes, his expression earnest and serious. "This time, upon entering the pool, I may go into seclusion for a period of time."
Chi Boqian listened quietly to everything, remaining silent for a long time. After a moment, genuine appreciation and satisfaction welled up in his eyes.
Tonight, the hall is filled with joy and thousands sing praises. Ordinary geniuses would have long been intoxicated by fame and glory. But Qin Yu, even as he reaches the pinnacle and the whole nation celebrates, remains clear-headed and self-possessed, not coveting extravagance, but focusing on consolidating his foundation, repairing hidden dangers, and striving for further progress.
Such a Daoist heart is a rare find. "Excellent." Chi Boqian slowly rose, brushed the dust off his clothes, and smiled gently once more. "Your state of mind surpasses countless opportunities. The Life Source Pool is most suitable for your current state of injury and enlightenment. There's no need to wait until tomorrow; entering the pool tonight is the perfect time."
Qin Yu then stood up, and Chi Boqian turned and strode towards the outside of the Myriad Pools Heavenly Palace. "Follow me." Qin Yu was slightly taken aback. He had thought that he only needed to find a location or have a clansman lead the way, but he did not expect that Chi Boqian would personally see him off.
Chi Boqian seemed to see through his thoughts, turned his head to look back, and spoke naturally and calmly.
"The back mountain is protected by many ancient clan restrictions. Since this is your first time there, you are not yet familiar with the rules. Although your token can be used, the Life Source Pool is the core and most important place of my Chi Lineage, and we cannot tolerate any mistakes." "I will personally guide you." These simple words conveyed his complete trust and high regard for you.
Qin Yu felt a warmth in his heart and no longer declined. He gripped the black-gold token in his hand and quickly followed in his footsteps. They stepped out of the Myriad Pools Heavenly Palace side by side. As they approached the palace gate, he turned and bowed solemnly. "Thank you, senior." Chi Boqian did not turn around, but simply raised his hand and waved gently, his steps still steady.
The two passed through the majestic palace gates, behind them still ablaze with lights and filled with the sounds of feasting and conversation, the merriment of the night still lingering. But before them, the noise suddenly vanished, and ancient palaces, built against the mountain, stretched out in a staggered fashion, leading deep into the clan's territory.
As the deep night fell upon the mountains, the distant peaks of the back mountains were hidden in darkness. Only wisps of ancient, primordial Source Dao flowed slowly among the mountains, Netherworld and timeless.