Cause Annihilation Decided · Fate Oaths on the Same Path

Just as the trial array of the Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel fell completely silent, five slowly condensing rainbow patterns of cause and effect rose from the core of the Mirror Wheel.

Those are the marks of judgment representing "successful technologists".

[Qin Yu]'s Fate Cause Master Seal broke through the false judgment, [Wang Long] used the Heavenly Emanation Fate Pressure Wheel the chain of reverse structure, [Yunyi] used the Three-Soul Dragon Pupils to force back the illusory image of soul consciousness, [Ji Chen] transformed the technique of Shatter Cause reflection into a closed loop of structure technique, and [Chu Linyou] used the move "Era Severance Returning Inscription" to reorganize the past causes in the name of severing circumstances.

The five people stood on the Mirror Wheel at the same time, and behind each of them appeared a faint "residual image of the cause", as if the deepest ideas of their souls had been awakened again at this moment.

Suddenly, the Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel emitted a low, piercing sound.

In the next instant, five dark blue mirror marks emerged from the earth's veins, like chains, like locks, like vows, like destiny!

"Qin Yu, wait--!" Yunyi had just spoken when an irresistible vortex of cause and effect suddenly unfolded from the depths of the Mirror Wheel!

No time to react--

All five were simultaneously sucked into the Heart of the Mirror Wheel.

The void transforms into light, and all things return to their mirror-like form.

Everyone else was blasted ten feet away, as if the whole world had been ripped away in an instant.

The Mirror Wheel rotated, casting five beams of light across the sky. From this moment on, five soul imprints began to enter—

[Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel: Trial of Inner Realm Reflection]

"That's... the Final Judgment mechanism!" Gui Ming Luo said solemnly.

"They will face the deepest 'unresolved cause' in their entire careers of constructing techniques," Ji Chen murmured. "This is the final blockade of the Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel; if they don't pass through, they will never be able to get out."

Heng Yan whispered, "We are powerless to do anything; we can only wait."

Everyone stared at the endlessly spinning Mirror Wheel, which seemed like a bottomless cycle, and could only wait—

We await the five figures reflected in the depths of cause and effect, wondering if they can break free from their "truest selves."

The moment Chu Linyou stepped into the Mirror Wheel Realm, the world suddenly turned gray.

Silent judges surrounded her from all sides, clad in the black robes of the [Boundless Realm Primordial Hall], their eyes vacant, holding chains of judgment. They whispered incantations around her:

"You are not a successor of the broken era." "You have used the name of my temple to commit fraud."

"Confess, you traitor."

As the Mirror Realm collapsed and reconstructed, what appeared before her eyes was herself, wearing the uniform of the Boundless Realm Primordial Hall, her hands covered in blood, the destruction of the Era Severance Primordial Hall's imprint.

This isn't me!

She gritted her teeth, trying to summon her innate skill seal, but her soul was frozen, and the broken legacy could not respond.

⸻

Technical Counter-Examination: Identity Debt

The Mirror Realm Builder is a wisp of self-awareness within the "Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel"—it regards all practitioners with "impure constructive skills and identities" as "untrustworthy false constructers."

Therefore, Mirror Wheel required her to complete the sole trial condition:

"Defeat all those who judge me, awaken my own source."

She knew this was her final judgment as a true disciple of the Era Severance Primordial Hall. If she lost, she would be regarded as an "eternal pseudo-constructor," losing the legitimacy of her construction techniques, and her cultivation would collapse and be extinguished.

The first judge pounced, unleashing the "Era Severance Construct Judgment Chain," the chain of technique coiling around the soul core like a gray snake.

Chu Linyou forcibly activated the power of his half-crippled Soul Seal, unleashing the [Era Severance Returning Breath Form], which shattered the soul chain.

Her voice trembled, but her eyes showed no fear. "I am not a pseudo-constructor."

The second, the third... the judges arrived one after another, all phantoms of her strongest former fellow disciples. She had cultivated in the Era Severance Primordial Hall for a thousand years; she knew every move intimately, but this familiarity made the battle even more brutal.

--She is fighting against her past "self".

Her soul power was exhausted, and she knelt for a moment, blood flowing from her mouth.

But at that moment, the image of her Era Severance Primordial Hall, appeared in her eyes; he had patted her shoulder and said:

"You will be the first seal of the Broken Era, the future master."

She bit her fingertip, using the last bit of her soul to carve the severance mark on her palm—[True Seal: Severance of the Core].

Ultimate Release: Reconstruction and Reincarnation

At the instant the Mirror Realm was destroyed, Chu Linyou shouted:

"You who judge me, listen carefully! My name is Chu Linyou, son of the Era Severance Primordial Hall!"

The broken seal ascended into the sky, the black chains shattered, and the sound of severing eras echoed in the void:

[Successfully identified as the main seal of the Broken Chronicle; accusations of fabrication withdrawn; certified as a legitimate lineage]

The Mirror Wheel trembled, and a beam of pure white light descended from the sky, enveloping her soul. She stood up, her robes now completely renewed.

--It was the robe bearing the inscription "Broken Records and Seals: The First Seal of the Master" that symbolized her identity finally being truly acknowledged.

⸻The Final Act of the Trial

When she left the Mirror Realm, her figure shone with a faint glow; her past weariness and scars had transformed into baptism and sharpness.

At this moment, a flash of light appeared on the mirrors of all observers outside, and a brief commentary appeared above:

[Construction Technique & Source: Real][Identity Verification: Unique in Main Story][Trial Passed]

When she stood beneath the Mirror Wheel once more, she was no longer the girl who needed to be recognized, but the true master of the Seal of the Era, who held the reins of her own Fate-Cause in her own hands.

The moment Ji Chen stepped into the Mirror Wheel, the mirror surface reversed, and heaven and earth transformed into a space interwoven with shattered mirrors.

Countless floating mirrors, like cracked fragments of time, reflected the image of "what he once wanted to become."

--He saw himself as the Lord of the Shattered Cause Eternal Hall;

He saw himself standing atop countless piles of bones, smiling as he faced the judgment of the court.

He saw Ling Wan'er say with a gentle smile, "You are ultimately not him."

All the mirrors whispered in unison, "You are incomplete. You want to be someone else's shadow."

You are going against yourself.

He had never realized so clearly:

He craved power and recognition, yet he was trapped in Qin Yu's shadow.

⸻Core Mechanism: Self-Dividing Interrogation

The challenge Ji Chen faces is not an external enemy, but rather—himself.

"You are Ji Chen. You are also the Ji Chen who wants to replace Qin Yu."

"You are a legitimate disciple, but also the loser who was never seen by Ling Wan'er."

What the Mirror Wheel releases is not an enemy, but rather "his own possibilities and failed versions".

Each of them possessed the same martial soul skill chain as him, and even some forbidden techniques that he had "thought about but never used," and they all attacked together.

⸻The Battle of Shatter Cause: The Collapse of Soul Consciousness

For the first time, Ji Chen was defeated by the "ideal Ji Chen" he had envisioned.

--That was a version that had already defeated Qin Yu and obtained all the glory.

It said coldly, "You're not even qualified to be an enemy."

"You're nothing more than a foil in Ling Wan'er's words."

His soul was tearing apart. The life imprint of the Shattered Cause Eternal Hall began to fluctuate.

The Mirror Wheel begins recording: [Constructive state: Unstable]

[Target's Soul Consciousness Rift Worsens - Technique Chain Breakage Threshold]

Self-acknowledgment

Ji Chen lay on the shattered mirror, covered in blood.

He gritted his teeth and forced a bitter smile, saying self-deprecatingly, "So I've been running away from myself all along."

"I... am not Qin Yu."

"I am not the person Wan'er wants, nor am I the future Lord of Shatter Cause Palace."

"But I am Ji Chen, the Ji Chen who risked his life to sneak away from Lü Tan, just to risk his life once more."

Upon hearing this, the Mirror Realm momentarily froze.

He slowly reached out and pressed his hand against the source core of the Shatter Cause Martial Soul on his chest—

I will no longer reflect upon others. My Fate-Cause, from this day forward, is my own.

He detonated his Shatter Cause eternal soul, releasing true soul consciousness fluctuations, turning into fragments to rebuild his own beliefs.

Ultimate Breakthrough: Constructing My True Self

Amidst the shattered ruins of the Mirror Realm, Ji Chen rose to his feet, clad in a broken mirror battle robe, his soul reassembled.

He whispered, "If I am the crack, then I will be the light within it."

The Mirror Wheel's external structure manifests: [Structure Technique & Source: Reconstruction Complete][Soul Assessment: True Self is Unique][Trial Passed]

He stepped out of the Mirror Wheel's boundary, his gaze clear and bright, no longer filled with confusion.

The moment Wang Long stepped into the Mirror Wheel, the surrounding world completely collapsed, and a black and gold five-fold wheel appeared in the void, as if the world was created solely to suppress him.

This is no other place than the ancestral records of the Fate Abyss Weight-Bearing Clan.

The spirits of millions of fallen warriors appeared on the vast battlefield, each figure roaring at him:

"You are not Wang Jun!" "You are not worthy of the glory that weighs on your lineage!"

If you retreat even one more step, you will be forever condemned to the abyss of your clan!

He saw himself fall behind his elder brother Wang Jun, saw himself repeatedly unable to hold off the enemy and retreating, saw himself...

They never truly shouldered the weight of their destiny.

[Core Mechanism: Bloodline Suppression Judgment]

The Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel simulates the illusory realm of Wang Long's ancestral imprint.

Rule 1: The ancestral soul continuously strengthens the suppression domain, testing whether Wang Long can maintain his willpower under the ever-increasing "life pressure";

Rule Two: The Mirror Wheel simulates Wang Jun's shadow and engages him in direct combat. If defeated, the soul reconstruction fails, and the Fate Soul power is permanently lost.

Rule 3: Attempts to escape or excessive reliance on external forces (such as Qin Yu and Yunyi) will be judged as "failure to transfer fate pressure".

⸻[War of the Realm Splitting: The Lone Battle of the Mandate Bearer]

When Wang Long faced "Wang Jun's Shadow"—a simulated form of the Annihilation Dawn Realm's Supreme —the sheer weight of its soul power nearly caused the Mirror Realm to collapse completely.

The illusory figure of Wang Jun looked at him coldly:

"You are not my successor." "You don't have the guts to die a dignified death."

In each clash, Wang Long was violently forced back, his life-threatening wheels riddled with cracks.

Mirror Wheel Assessment: [Approaching the Limit of Pressure - Soul Seal About to Break]

⸻[Sudden Outbreak - Fate Not for Others]

Wang Long knelt within the Realm Splitting, coughing up blood incessantly. He gritted his teeth and growled:

"... I never imagined becoming Wang Jun!"

"I just... want to stand before you, without bowing my head anymore."

"I am not your shadow, nor a substitute for the Fate Clan."

He slowly raised the Wheel of Life-Suppressing Force—no longer an imitation, but a self-forged seal of suppression!

The five-fold wheel seal was reforged into a six-fold seal in his hands, and with each heavy pressure he blocked, his soul consciousness reignited.

My life is precious; I don't pass it on to anyone, but only for whom I will guard it!

[Ultimate Pass - Fate Shakes the Heavens]

He stood up again, facing the ancestral soul and Wang Jun's shadow, and unleashed the [Life Suppression - Abyss Lock Seal], directly blasting the phantom into a shattered abyss.

The Mirror Wheel begins to shatter, and the recorded judgment emerges:

[Construction Chain: Autonomous Bearing Passed][Imprinted Soul Consciousness Level: Upgraded - Breakthrough Limit][Trial Passed]

As Wang Long stepped out of the Mirror Wheel, a dark soul flame ignited on his forehead, symbolizing that he had truly possessed the burden of his own destiny.

The moment Yunyi stepped into the Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel, the world transformed into Silent Abyss, and three soul shadows slowly emerged from the black, purple, and gold dragon scales respectively.

Black Abyss Dragon Soul: Destructive nature, it once devoured all reason;

Purple-Gold Dragon Soul: Proud and independent, it has never acknowledged a master;

Radiant Gold Dragon Soul: Divinity above all else, rejecting an ordinary destiny.

She had merged with them, but never fully gained their recognition.

At this moment, the three souls asked in unison, "Why do you fight? For yourself, or for your master?"

Is your existence an illusion, or reality?

"If Qin Yu is not here, would you still be qualified to be a fighter?"

[Core Mechanism: Three Souls Recognizing Master and Making Judgments]

The Mirror Wheel constructs the "Three-Soul Cause-Tracing Illusory Domain," and the trial rules are as follows:

Rule 1: Each soul shadow will transform into a hostile entity, attempting to tear Yunyi's consciousness apart. If the consciousness is severed, the attempt will fail completely.

Rule Two: If one relies on the "Contract Master's" willpower to suppress the three souls, it will be considered a disqualification.

Rule Three: You must conquer the three souls separately with your own will and recombine them to create the "Original Soul Seal";

This is a true battle of one's own origins, not one guided by a master.

[Battle of the Illusory Abyss: Soul Master vs. Soul]

Three soul dragons appeared out of nowhere, sealing off all her escape routes:

The Black Abyss Dragon spat out the "Cognizance Soul Annihilation Poison," causing her immense pain;

The Purple-Gold Dragon raised its tail, forming chains that sealed off all her soul skills.

Radiant Gold Dragon watched the battle coldly; if she fell, he would unleash "Radiant Flame Annihilation Judgment," ending her life instantly.

She forced herself to stand, muttering to herself, "I'm not fighting for anyone. I am Yunyi, the true owner of the Soul of the Illusory Dragon."

"The master is important, but I am me."

[Breakthrough Point - Three Souls Reflecting the Master]

She spread her dragon wings and summoned the complete dragon shadow array, her words resonating deep within her Soul Sea:

"Black Abyss, those who have acknowledged me as their master must not devour their source again."

"Even those with unwavering resolve, like those adorned in purple and gold, must have their hearts protected."

"Radiant Gold, the divine being above, now descends into my consciousness."

The three souls trembled, and the three layers of ripples in the sea of consciousness shook simultaneously, as if a true soul domain Annihilation Abyss.

Finally, the three dragons bowed their heads, circled behind her, and condensed into a shining, golden dragon-patterned Soul Seal, illuminating the entire illusionary realm.

[Ultimate Pass - Three Souls Return to Their Master]

Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel Judgment:

[Ego Construction: Successful] [Three Souls Returning to Master Rate: Perfect] [Soul Consciousness Resistance Level: Exceptional Construction]

[Trial passed]

As she stepped out of the Mirror Wheel, the phantom images of three souls appeared behind her, as if three beams of dragon light were converging to establish her destiny.

She smiled gently, as playful as ever, but there was no longer any doubt that it was an illusion.

The moment Qin Yu stepped into the Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel, the surrounding scenery transformed into an abyss of utter desolation.

Countless images of "construction failures" emerged from the void:

The possibility of him being annihilated by the enemy;

The hypothetical scenario of the Azure Ring shattering and the soul consciousness collapsing;

A future Yan Yue unaware, Yunyi Annihilation;

The illusion of self-constructed techniques reversing backlash and Causality Severance.

This is the [Final Construct Collapse Mirror Realm] constructed by the "future construct failure aggregate".

The Mirror Wheel emitted Silent Void voice of judgment:

All your victories are based on the intertwined structures of fate.

If all of this is a fabrication, would you still dare to step into the 'only' cause?

[Core Mechanism: The Unique Cause Construction Trial]

Rule 1: If any doubt arises regarding the "logic of its own existence," the Mirror Wheel will immediately strip the "construction rights."

Rule Two: Before entering the mirror core, one must restate one's "propositional origin"—that is, [Why do I exist?];

Rule 3: Finally, one must use the "Soul Consciousness Master Seal" to inscribe a closed loop of three logical relationships: one's destiny Fate-Cause, destiny skill, and destiny core, thus achieving a unique logic.

Any deviation will trigger self-destruction.

⸻[Mirror Collapse Illusion Realm: Technique Construction Ends]

In the illusion, even Qin Yu's most steadfast skill was "pseudo-constructed":

"Abyss Explosion Ring Activation - Fate Resolution Singularity" was rewritten as: "A technique of self-destruction";

"Sever the Cause, Preventing Birth" is projected as. "The world's cause and effect sever you, preventing rebirth."

Even Azure Ring split her gaze, stating her judgment. "You are not the Source Lord."

At that moment, Qin Yu's sea of consciousness began to waver for the first time.

He closed his eyes quietly, clenched his right fist, and slowly said, "My propositions were never given to me by anyone."

"My existence is something that can still be written upon, even amidst all negation."

"I am— the Fate Constructor cannot be rewritten."

The next instant, the [Fate Cause Master Seal] automatically appeared within his body!

[Reverse Rewriting and Reconstruction: Fate Ring Activation]

He initiated the reconstruction process using the three forms of [Fate Cause Master Seal] as the axis:

The Master Book, Cause Severing Name," describes a process of erasing all "failed propositions" reflected in the mirror.

Fate Ring - Linked-Stage Judgment: Reject all the constructs of the illusory future;

Final Chapter: Fate-Severing Question - Using one's own life skills to question the Mirror Realm.

If you truly know the future, why am I still able to write the present?

Upon hearing this, the Mirror Realm trembled, and countless failed constructions shattered and turned to ashes.

[Ultimate Pass - Proposition Closed Loop Established]

The Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel slowly judges:

[Unique construct logic: Loop closure holds]

[Proposition Stability: Source Logic Level]

[Soul Consciousness Strength: Surpassing the Trial Limit]

[The only one who passed - confirmed]

This time, it's not just about "passing".

He was identified by the Mirror Wheel as a "future construct legitimizer," that is—

[Can guide others through logical reasoning]

⸻[Appearance outside the mirror]

The moment Qin Yu stepped out of the Mirror Wheel, Azure Ring remained silent, but a faint blue light appeared behind Qin Yu's shoulder, as if silently signaling to the Mirror Wheel:

"This person wrote my name."

The others dared not speak for a moment, but understood:

This is the only person in this Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel who reversed their own cause and effect.

At the moment the five people's trial came to an end, the Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel suddenly surged with light.

The next instant, "Ji Chen", "Chu Linyou", "Wang Long", "Yunyi" and "Qin Yu" were teleported out from their respective realms of reflection.

Before everyone could fully recover, the Mirror Wheel, which had been quietly suspended in the air, began to tremble and hum on its own, emitting strange booming sounds like a broken and reconnecting logic chain, as if the eye of heaven was adjusting itself.

The light shone down.

The entire Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel suddenly began to rotate slowly, and six layers of mirror rings unfolded simultaneously. One layer reflected the future, one layer reflected the false structure, one layer reflected the main soul, one layer reflected the life technique, one layer reflected the breaking cause, and the last layer slowly aimed at -- Qin Yu.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel slowly descended from the sky, and the most core "Cause-Cause Heart-Linking Mirror Ring" extended several runes like chains of cause and effect, actively connecting to Qin Yu's logical center in his sea of consciousness.

"Thump--"

A bell-like echo reverberated throughout the entire Land of Cause Observation.

That is the only audible symphony triggered when the source logic fully recognizes the host.

Countless images emerged in Qin Yu's sea of consciousness, being "observed," "deduced," "constructed," and "denied." Finally, a round, silver-white wheel slowly appeared deep within his soul core, adjacent to the "Fate Cause Master Seal."

[Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel - Bearer of God - Certification Established]

[Authorization: Unique Future Master Structure · Causal Recognition · Technological Chain Through Cause]

[Subsequent abilities will evolve on their own as the host grows.]

The entire Mirror Wheel slowly merged behind Qin Yu, leaving only a single arc deep within the mirror's core, quietly hidden in his soul consciousness.

The crowd was still speechless with shock from the scene of such a logical determination of cause and effect and sovereignty.

At this moment, Wang Long slowly stepped forward and, without saying a word, solemnly took out the two sacred objects that he had kept for a long time from his soul ring:

[Remnant Construct Soul Crystal - Construct Abyss Fragmented Page][Origin Cause Root Seal - Silent Construct Cause Core]

The two items, one on his left and one on his right, each emitted a different hue of spiritual light in his palm.

The former is like a fleeting shadow, the latter like the reconstruction of the original cause.

Wang Long bowed slightly, his gaze calm and composed.

"Qin Yu, these belong to you... they should be returned to you."

Qin Yu reached out and took it. The three objects merged and resonated, creating a closed-loop empathy that transcended the three causes and effects. It was as if the Ultimate starting point of the entire "battle for possessions" had finally fallen into place.

At this moment, the three sacred artifacts of the Lost Realm are in the hands of one person.

Everyone already understood that the winner of the second round was no longer in doubt.

Although the aftermath of the battle had subsided, the causal fluctuations released by the "Cause-Observing Mirror Wheel" continued to linger in the air.

At that moment, everyone spontaneously sat down, closed their eyes, and regulated their breathing.

The starlight dappled the crowd, and a gentle breeze swept through the shattered mirror-like landscape, bringing tranquility and comfort.

Wang Long sat on a piece of broken rock and murmured, "We... we really did it."

Heng Yan wiped the still-dry blood from the corner of his mouth. "The sky trembled then, and I couldn't even stand up... I knew then that you had succeeded."

Luo Qingluan raised her eyes and looked at Qin Yu and Yunyi: "That kind of oppressive soul resonance... we could feel it even from the Land of Cause Observation. That's a power that no one can simulate."

Gui Ming Luo's voice was deep, yet it couldn't hide his admiration. "I always thought you were below the Annihilation Lord Realm because your cultivation level wasn't high enough... but now I understand, it's because your cultivation level isn't worthy of you."

Chu Linyou spoke calmly, yet a rare glint of emotion flickered in her eyes. "That azure light... I still don't know what it is. But I do know that if it wasn't the true protagonist of this world, then this world should have been rebuilt long ago."

Ji Chen nodded slightly. "I've read many records about the fusion of Fate Soul, but for you and her to cross thousands of miles to achieve the resonance of the third Fate Soul... can only be called a miracle."

--

Qin Yu looked at everyone quietly and slowly said, "The Key of Annihilation Judgment is hers."

"At that moment, it was Yan Yue herself... who, from the distant Eternal Evolution Realm Hall, responded to our awakening in the name of her soul."

"That's not just fusion, but the awakening of her Fate Soul, the true return of her third soul [Recognition Annihilation Final Realm - Severed Dawn Sealing Wheel]."

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

Wang Long looked up at Qin Yu, his expression earnest and frank. "She didn't come here in person, but her will—has arrived."

"You did it... something we couldn't do."

Qin Yu nodded slightly, his eyes shining with a deep, unfathomable light.

"In this battle, we didn't win the fight, but rather—the recognition of our existence."

A gentle breeze stirred. Everyone was immersed in a brief moment of tranquility.

This period of rest is not just about recovery, but also a baptism of true acceptance of the name "Qin Yu".

They all knew that from that moment on, this team would no longer be just "cooperative."

Rather, it is a system of bonds that allows people to share a destiny in the Annihilation Realm.

The night was deep, and the afterglow faded quietly from the shattered surface of the Gouye mirror. The post-war wind carried a slight chill, but it could not dispel the warmth in everyone's hearts after the ordeal.

Wang Long sat by the campfire, a rare smile on his face. He took out a bottle of spirit fruit wine he always kept with him and handed it to Chu Linyou: "I didn't dare drink it before, afraid of dying drunk—but today, is it alright?"

Chu Linyou took the wine pot and chuckled softly, "You're quite the worldly-wise fellow."

Heng Yan was leaning against a broken rock, demonstrating to Gui Ming Luo a soul skill he had used to break structures during their fight against the Falsehood-Severing Envoy. Gui Ming Luo frowned slightly, shaking his head as he listened. "Too reckless. Don't use that kind of move in front of me next time."

"Hey? You..." Heng Yan was about to retort when he saw Luo Qingluan wiping the bloodstains on his shoulder with a piece of velvet cloth, and he immediately shut up.

"Qingluan, you..." Heng Yan said softly.

"Shut up and rest." Qingluan's tone was calm, but his touch was unexpectedly gentle.

Ji Chen sat not far away, remaining silent until he suddenly spoke:

"Each of us... has come too far."

"But I never expected that I would make true companions willing to share life and death with you during this life-or-death competition."

Everyone fell silent, but a warmth quietly crept into their eyes.

Qin Yu sat by the firelight, Yunyi quietly leaning against him, holding a small roasted fruit she had baked in her hands, blinking at him. "Qin Yu, aren't we... kind of amazing now?"

"It's still early," Qin Yu replied calmly, but turned his head slightly, a smile in his eyes.

"You smiled!" Yunyi looked at him with surprise and delight. "You just smiled, didn't you?"

Qin Yu lowered his head and continued to clear away the remaining energy fluctuations from the Azure Ring in his hand, without responding.

"Tch, trying to be cool again." Yunyi pouted, but gently moved even closer.

Everything flowed silently under the cover of night.

The firelight cast dappled reflections in everyone's eyes—representing mutual trust, peace, and the glimmer of hope for mutual reliance after surviving near-death experiences.

That night, there were no enemies, no deadly traps, and no framing.

Yes, it was just one genuine moment of sleeping together with fellow travelers.