"Indeed." Yuan Zhanxiao nodded emphatically, his voice utterly cold. "The leader, dressed in a golden robe, and his two companions stopped our people, forcibly demanding the spoils of the secret realm. Chen Yong refused to yield, even at the cost of his life, and the two sides immediately engaged in battle."
"The enemy deployed the 'Annihilation Ten Thousand Swords Formation,' locking down all directions and cutting off all escape routes. In this desperate situation, Chen Yong made a decisive decision, ordering Zhao Qinglan to take the storage bag containing the ancient box and break through to return first, while he led five clansmen to stay behind and cover their retreat."
The main hall fell into a sudden silence.
"The six of them poured out their own life essence, combined their strength to activate the 'Primordial Mirror,' forcibly detonating the power of this supreme treasure and unleashing the Ultimate strike of the 'Primordial Chaos Original Edict.'" Yuan Zhanxiao's voice was filled with undisguised sorrow.
"This strike shattered the 'Annihilation Ten Thousand Swords Formation,' instantly killing two True Annihilation Realm · Peak cultivators from the Primordial Dao Clan. The golden-robed leader, relying on a supreme defensive technique, narrowly escaped death, but was also severely injured and fled in panic."
Golden robes, Primordial Dao Clan, True Annihilation Realm · Peak, severely injured, escapes.
Clues rapidly intertwined and confirmed in Qin Yu's mind, subtly aligning with the ambush in the Azure Wood Divine Forest.
"But the cost of this battle was extremely high." Yuan Zhanxiao lowered his eyes and said in a deep voice, "All six members of Chen Yong's clan perished as martyrs. The priceless treasure 'Primordial Mirror' also completely collapsed and vanished into nothingness after the Ultimate blow."
"Later, Zhao Qinglan narrowly escaped death and successfully brought the ancient box back to her clan, handing it over to her subordinates. Upon learning the whole story, her subordinates immediately ordered: 'From now on, whenever cultivators of the Annihilation God Clan encounter members of the Primordial Dao Clan, if the opportunity allows, they must not show mercy.'"
Qin Yu stared silently at the ancient box, a chill settling in his heart.
"At that time, Master was competing in the Lineage Martial Arts Tournament. I originally intended to present this box as a congratulatory gift upon Master's return victorious." Yuan Zhanxiao raised his eyes, his gaze filled with respect and regret. "Unexpectedly, Master went into seclusion after the competition and has remained there for three years. I carefully sealed this item and have kept it safe until now."
He solemnly held up the ancient box with both hands, presenting it high. "Now that the master has emerged victorious, this item should be returned to its rightful owner, to be decided by the master."
Qin Yu raised his hand and slowly took the ancient box. It was slightly cool to the touch and felt heavy to the bone. This heaviness did not come from the object itself, but from the dust and depth of countless ages and the burning lives of six clansmen who had sacrificed themselves.
The Fate Soul Zhiwei touched the surface of the box before being blocked by a deep and boundless barrier. The ancient silver-black patterns flowed slowly, neither rejecting nor welcoming, neither born nor dying, forming its own domain, making it impossible for ordinary probes to reach its core secrets.
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness." Qin Yu murmured softly, neither rushing to force it open nor using brute force to probe it.
With a slight thought, a wisp of black light rippled between his brows. The ancient box instantly left his palm and was steadily incorporated into the Boundless Realm Domain of the "Annihilation Devil Pupil - Final Spirit Core," sealed away in a secluded void, isolated from all refining power and external interference, and carefully treasured. After putting away the ancient box, Qin Yu raised his eyes and looked down at the two people below.
Three years have passed, and the shattered clan has been rebuilt. Fifty million clan members live in peace and prosperity, the territory is stable, a strong elite has been formed, and resources are abundant. What is even more remarkable is that Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu have kept in mind the blood feud of their clansmen and have carefully protected the relics of the martyrs without the slightest negligence.
Qin Yu's eyes revealed undisguised approval. "You two have worked hard." Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu straightened up slightly, their hearts filled with warmth. The prosperity of their clan was an achievement, and the master's approval was the highest honor.
Qin Yu slowly rose from his jade throne, his robes flowing gracefully, his posture upright and composed. He walked slowly down the stone steps, stopping in front of the two men.
"I am very satisfied with what you have done over the past three years." A simple word of approval is worth more than a thousand praises. Yuan Zhanxiao's face lit up with joy, and Yuan Xuangu's solemn expression also relaxed completely.
Qin Yu did not return to the throne. Instead, he turned and walked straight towards the main entrance of the hall, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable determination. "Let's go. You two will come with me on this trip."
Without the slightest hesitation, and without asking where they were going or why, the two bowed in unison and obeyed, "Yes, sir."
As soon as he finished speaking, the two followed closely behind, respectfully accompanying him. The three figures, one in front and two behind, steadily moved forward along the wide palace path, and in an instant, they passed through the magnificent palace gate and headed towards the vast world outside the Annihilation God Clan.
Outside the central main hall of the Annihilation God Clan, a magnificent heavenly gate spans the sea of clouds, with hundreds of silver-white ancient steps extending downwards, and the Great Dao patterns on both sides flowing slowly along the giant pillars. Qin Yu walked at the forefront, with Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu on his left and right, respectively, a few steps behind, never overtaking him.
Along the way, occasionally, disciples of the Annihilation God Clan would catch a glimpse of Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu from afar, and they would immediately stop and pay their respects. However, when they saw that the clan leader and the supreme elder, who usually held the highest status, were following behind a young man with such respect, their eyes would inevitably flash with surprise and doubt, but no one dared to step forward and ask.
The three traveled out of the Annihilation God Clan. Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu never once asked Qin Yu where he was going. To them, this question was irrelevant.
The Soul Thrall is deeply rooted in the very essence of their Fate Soul, but after countless years, their submission has long since transcended the constraints of the Soul Seal. It is Qin Yu who has given them the opportunity to rebuild the Annihilation God Clan, allowing this ancient race, which has endured so much turmoil, to re-establish its foundation.
They had also witnessed Qin Yu break through numerous shackles to reach his current level. Even if the Soul Seal deep within his Fate Soul were completely erased, as long as Qin Yu was still Qin Yu, Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu would still follow him without hesitation.
Qin Yu suddenly stopped. The two of them stopped as well.
Qin Yu turned around, the relaxed demeanor from his earlier chatter within the clan vanishing, replaced by a solemn and serious expression, his gaze calm yet earnest. "Now, I'll take you somewhere first."
Yuan Zhanxiao bowed slightly. "Master, please give your orders." The words "Holy Clan" were uttered, and both Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu's eyes flickered simultaneously.
Qin Yu continued, "From this day forward, the Annihilation God Clan and the Holy Clan must stand shoulder to shoulder. We will unite as one against a common enemy." A surge of emotion welled up within Yuan Zhanxiao. Yuan Xuangu also instantly grasped the profound meaning behind it.
They had long heard of the Holy Clan. Now, Qin Yu personally led the two to the Holy Clan, stating that the two clans would fight side by side in the future. The weight behind his words was already obvious. Their master had probably already brought the Holy Clan under his command.
The two exchanged a glance, said nothing, and then bowed in unison. "We obey our master's command!" Their voices were firm, without the slightest hesitation. Qin Yu nodded slightly. "Go." The three figures vanished into thin air in an instant.
... Not long after, a vast and boundless territory slowly came into view at the distant horizon. Qin Yu slowed down first, and Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu also stopped.
When the two looked up and saw the scene before them, even though they had just come from the magnificent Annihilation God Clan, a look of surprise still appeared in their eyes.
The Holy Clan. In just three years, this place has undergone earth-shattering changes. In terms of the grandeur of their territory and the vastness of their domain, they have even surpassed the current Annihilation God Clan.
The outermost edge of the landscape stretches as far as the eye can see, a vast expanse of mountains and rivers. Countless lakes and rivers are scattered among the mountains, and ancient forests extend along the mountain ranges. Clan cities, cultivation palaces, and settlements are scattered throughout. Although they are far apart, they are connected by long bridges and ancient roads that traverse the sky and earth, forming a well-connected network.
The further one goes into the center, the higher the terrain rises. Vast seas of clouds surge out from the deep valleys, and countless silver palaces are built above them. Some stand against the mountains and cliffs, some hang on precipices, and some are colossal structures that span two peaks thousands of miles apart.
A white jade arch bridge, thousands of feet long, pierces through the clouds, connecting various mountain regions. Below the bridge lies a bottomless canyon. Dozens of giant waterfalls cascade down from the heights, sunlight spilling down and splashing up a sky full of silver light; the water falls into the lower valleys, converging into a long river, flowing turbulently towards the outer borders of the Holy Clan.
This was only the outer layer of the scene; Qin Yu and his companions continued to peer deeper into the clouds. A magnificent, colossal holy city slowly revealed itself from the sea of clouds.
The silver-white city wall stretches out along the natural contours of the land, extending to the left and right until it disappears into the horizon. At intervals along the high part of the wall, a spire rises, its top inlaid with azure crystals, their faint glow flowing and connecting with the adjacent towers, weaving the entire outer city wall into a unified whole.
At the very center of the city, a colossal gate a thousand feet high pierces through the city wall. Behind the gate is a wide and terrifying central avenue that stretches from the city gate, through the outer city, the inner city, the lakes and the sea of clouds, all the way to the very heart of the Holy Clan.
Countless cultivators traversed the Great Road, their densely packed figures stretching as far as the city's heart when viewed from above. Yuan Zhanxiao's gaze narrowed slightly. "This Holy Clan..." Before he could finish speaking, Yuan Xuangu had already grasped his meaning. Vast, truly vast.
If the Annihilation God Clan has already broken free from the constraints of ordinary sects and evolved into a vast Lineage territory, then the Holy Clan before us is already showing the beginnings of a vast and civilized territory.
The entire territory is not just a single main city. Hundreds of cities of varying sizes radiate outwards from the central holy city. Interspersed among the cities are lakes, rivers, mountains, cultivation grounds, and vast resource territories. High in the sky, layers of suspended palaces are hidden in the sea of clouds; several towering peaks have been transformed into cultivation holy sites, with palaces atop them piercing the heavens and dozens of independent building complexes encircling their waists.
The sight of the central holy city is even more breathtaking. This place can no longer be measured by ordinary standards. Above the first city, there is a second layer; above the second layer, there is an even higher suspended territory. Vast expanses of silver-white buildings spread upwards at different heights, with giant sky bridges crisscrossing and connecting, layer upon layer, stretching all the way into the depths of the sea of clouds.
At the highest point, an ancient and magnificent main palace stands in the very center of heaven and earth. It sits atop the highest sacred mountain in the entire Holy Clan territory, the mountain itself now completely covered by countless silver-white buildings.
Towers rise steadily from the foot of the mountain to the summit, becoming increasingly magnificent with each ascent. Eventually, more than ten towers, piercing the sky, surround the central palace, their spires shimmering with a soft golden and blue glow.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds and poured down with a thunderous roar. The entire central holy city was enveloped in a magnificent curtain of light.
Beyond the Holy City, an even more vast world still belongs to the Holy Clan. Lakes lie as still as mirrors, long rivers traverse the plains, and countless subordinate cities expand outwards along the waterways. From the high altitude where Qin Yu and his companions currently stand, it is difficult to see the true boundaries of the Holy Clan's territory at a glance.
Qin Yu's gaze slowly swept across the entire landscape. Three years ago, he only gave Ye Ting one instruction: to ascend to the position of patriarch of the Holy Clan within three years. Now, having come here in person, he realized that Ye Ting's answer was far more than just "becoming the patriarch." The Holy Clan had grown completely powerful.
Only now did Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu fully understand why Qin Yu had stated that the Holy Clan and the Annihilation God Clan were fighting side by side. The race before them already possessed the qualifications to be on par with them.
The three did not linger. Qin Yu strode forward, with Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu following closely behind. In the blink of an eye, the three crossed the outer mountains and gradually approached the core restricted area of the Holy Clan.