Before long, Qin Yu's speed gradually slowed down, and in the vast world ahead, an incomparably enormous territory began to emerge from layers of clouds and the radiance of the Great Dao.
Qin Yu stopped. He stood at a very high place, looking down. Even with his composure, a clear look of surprise still flashed across his eyes when he truly saw the scene before him.
Three years, just three years. This place is already vastly different from what he remembered. At first glance, it is hard to associate the "Annihilation God Clan" with the Ancient God Clan of yesteryear.
The outermost edge is a vast, desolate territory stretching to the horizon. Mighty mountain ranges and deep valleys intertwine, and wide waterways meander through the mountains. In the distance, the sea of clouds piles up in countless layers, and ancient vegetation covers the valleys, cliffs, and lakes. But what is truly awe-inspiring is the tribal land itself, built upon this land.
A colossal, ring-shaped city of astonishing size sits amidst the mountains.
The city walls are extremely high. They are constructed entirely of silver-white ancient stone and dark gold divine materials. Giant pillars extend along the walls to both sides, eventually disappearing into the distant horizon with the mountain's contours. Each pillar is engraved with ancient Dao patterns unique to the Annihilation God Clan. The patterns are not intense, but they resonate with the very origin of the entire world.
Behind the city walls, one colossal palace after another rose from the ground. They were not haphazardly piled up, but rose layer by layer from the outer perimeter to the center. Long bridges spanned the peaks, and ancient roads traversed the valleys. Vast clusters of buildings stretched along both sides of the rivers and lakes, where countless members of the Annihilation God Clan moved about. Training grounds, meditation palaces, library halls, and clan residences were separated from each other, yet connected by a network of ancient, crisscrossing corridors.
Further in, the sky and earth begin to rise noticeably. A magnificent, awe-inspiring circular celestial corridor stretches across the entire central territory. Below the corridor are towering valleys. Vast waterfalls cascade down from the heights.
Whoosh--
Silvery water flows through layers of mist on the main road, plunging into the crisscrossing network of rivers at the bottom of the valley. Countless ancient palaces are built against the mountain, some even hanging directly between the cliff and the clouds. Huge archways connect the upper and lower levels of heaven and earth, and long bridges emerge from inside the archways, extending into the palace complex deeper inside.
This place has already reached the scale befitting a truly great clan.
Moreover— Qin Yu's gaze gradually turned serious. The biggest change wasn't in the architecture, but in the atmosphere.
Even though the Ancient God Clan of that time possessed their own foundation, the forces in their respective territories remained distinct. Mountains were mountains, palaces were palaces, cultivators were cultivators, and Dao patterns were Dao patterns.
Now, the entire Annihilation God Clan has undergone a completely different transformation. Beneath every mountain peak, every waterfall, every ancient path, and even every palace, there are faintly interconnected, extremely subtle sources of the Great Dao. These sources converge from the outside inwards, eventually forming a vast network covering the entire clan's territory.
Qin Yu continued to gaze deeper into the distance. The next moment, the true core of the Annihilation God Clan appeared in his sight.
Above the sea of clouds, an Ultimate city sits high. The city walls, interwoven with silver and dark gold, stretch across the sky and earth, with several giant city gates standing on the outermost edge. The avenues in front of the gates are wide enough to accommodate tens of thousands of cultivators passing by at the same time. Towering towers rise continuously along the city walls, and deep blue clan flags hang from the top of the towers, fluttering in the long winds of the high sky.
In the very center of the city, a colossal main palace, so immense it overshadowed all the surrounding buildings, soared into the clouds. Layer upon layer, countless palaces and towers surrounded the central palace, stacking upwards. At the very top, several spires even pierced through the clouds, pointing directly to the heavens. Sunlight streamed down from above, bathing the entire central palace in a faint golden glow.
Even more astonishing sights awaited above. Beyond the central sky of the Annihilation God Clan, a vast sea of stars stretched across the heavens. Countless stars moved slowly along different trajectories, and large nebulae, stardust, and the radiance of the Great Dao intersected with each other, making the entire clan's land seem to bear the weight of another vast universe.
One after another, starlight descended from the sky, but did not crash to the earth. After entering the territory of the Annihilation God Clan, it gradually dispersed and merged into the various Great Dao Sources.
Qin Yu stood high in the sky for a long time, a hint of satisfaction finally appearing in his eyes. "Not bad." Those two simple words were enough to express his assessment.
Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu have clearly not been idle in these three years. The Annihilation God Clan's current strength is far greater than it was three years ago.
Qin Yu made no attempt to conceal his arrival. He continued forward, taking a single step, and his figure had already entered the territory of the Annihilation God Clan.
... Meanwhile, in the central main palace of the Annihilation God Clan, inside the patriarch's hall, Yuan Zhanxiao was handling clan affairs. Several jade tablets were placed on the large desk, and several clan stewards had just left the hall. Yuan Zhanxiao was about to check the next clan matter when, without warning, a very familiar pull came from the depths of his Fate Soul.
His movements froze instantly. The next moment, Yuan Zhanxiao abruptly looked up. His previously composed eyes widened suddenly. This aura... there was no mistake. The deepest connection between the Soul Thrall and its master's Fate Soul was so strong that he didn't need to confirm anything further.
Yuan Zhanxiao abruptly stood up. "Master?!" His voice even carried a hint of barely suppressed excitement. He no longer cared about the jade tablets in front of him. "Master has arrived!"
Three years. Qin Yu, who had been absent for three whole years, had finally returned— Yuan Zhanxiao immediately took out his communication jade pendant and sent his Fate Soul directly into it. "Yuan Xuangu!" "Master has returned!"
... At almost the same time, deeper within the Annihilation God Clan, atop a cluster of peaks, stood an ancient palace, even more magnificent than the main hall of an ordinary clan.
Inside the hall, an old man who had been sitting cross-legged on a high platform suddenly opened his eyes the moment the telepathic message arrived. "Master..." Yuan Xuangu.
He suddenly stood up. The space in front of him instantly rippled open. The next moment, he had vanished from the hall.
On the outskirts of the Annihilation God Clan, Qin Yu had just crossed an ancient celestial bridge spanning a sea of clouds. Suddenly, two ripples appeared simultaneously in the space ahead. Buzz—
Two figures appeared almost simultaneously— Yuan Xuangu Yuan Zhanxiao. The moment they appeared, they spotted Qin Yu standing not far away. The instant they saw Qin Yu clearly, their expressions changed at the same time.
Qin Yu three years ago was completely different from Qin Yu today. Although Qin Yu had deeply concealed the aura of the Eternal Silence Realm · Supreme, the two of them, as his Soul Thrall, felt the changes from the root of his Fate Soul far more clearly than others.
The master has broken through, and has reached the Eternal Silence Realm · Supreme. Yuan Zhanxiao's eyes immediately shone with intense joy. Yuan Xuangu's aged face also showed excitement.
Without any hesitation, without even exchanging a word of pleasantries, the two landed with a thud, both knees heavily on the ground. Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu bowed deeply in worship.
Regardless of their current status within the Annihilation God Clan, and no matter how much the Annihilation God Clan has grown in the past three years, neither of them displayed the arrogance befitting a clan leader or a powerful figure before Qin Yu. Their gazes were lowered, their Fate Soul submissive. That respect emanated from the deepest recesses of their being.
"Welcome, Master!" two voices rang out simultaneously.
Qin Yu stood before the two men. His gaze slowly shifted from Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu, then passed over them, and looked at the magnificent clan land behind him, which was completely different from what it had been three years ago.
Palaces stretch across the mountains. Sky corridors pierce through the sea of clouds. Waterfalls cascade down between giant archways. Further away, the central palace rises straight into the sky, and streams of the Great Dao flow slowly along the entire territory of the Annihilation God Clan.
Watching all this, Qin Yu's eyes filled with growing satisfaction. At least for the past three years, Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu had not disappointed him.
Qin Yu withdrew his gaze and raised his hand. "Get up." "Yes, Master." The two slowly rose. Qin Yu did not linger outside. "Let's go. We'll talk inside."
As soon as he finished speaking, he strode towards the central hall deep within the Annihilation God Clan's territory.
Yuan Zhanxiao immediately stepped aside, and Yuan Xuangu did the same. Only after Qin Yu passed between them did the two turn around, slightly behind on the left and right, respectfully following.
Three figures walked along the magnificent ancient road that ran through the central territory of the Annihilation God Clan, heading deeper into the area. At the forefront, Qin Yu slowly walked towards the clan's main hall, which stood at the end of the sea of clouds and mountain peaks.