Annihilation Abyss as the Realm, One's Own Fate as the Source

Eternal Evolution Realm Hall, Fourth Period Residence Area Fate Book Court.

A pale purple breeze rustled through the trees, and the Destiny Stone Ring outside the courtyard slowly turned, as if sensing the returning souls of the five people.

Yan Yue, Yunyi, Zi Xue, and Extinguished Light stood quietly in front of the courtyard, while Qin Yu looked up at the familiar sky.

A faint yet familiar fluctuation of soul energy suddenly came from afar. It was a calm and constant logical pull, like an unresolved destiny actively approaching.

The next breath--

Shu Xunyan's figure quietly appeared outside the courtyard gate.

She was still wearing that nameless judgment robe, the "ring within a ring" pattern on her chest slowly rotating. Three soul rings were embedded in her silver-gray eyes: the Chronicle of Epoch Battle, the Observation Component, and the Undetermined Fate Bar, all of which were now floating with a familiar glow.

She neither bowed nor spoke, but stared directly at Qin Yu, her eyes narrowing slightly for a moment—

"You... you really finished."

Her voice was deep and steady, as if confirming, or as if validating, a "tactical miracle" that was extremely difficult to achieve in the world of warfare.

She took a step forward. "The Annihilation Heaven Overarching Realm... is indeed closed."

"The Lord of Fate-Traces has returned to his rightful place." "And you—have returned unharmed."

As she finished speaking, she let out a soft breath, as if the immense pressure of the conflict that she had endured for so long was finally released.

Yan Yue nodded slightly. "We're back. It's all over now."

At this moment, a faint golden light gently appeared behind Qin Yu, which was the Annihilation Gold Star Radiance Mark — Shu Xunyan noticed it immediately.

She whispered, "What is that?"

Qin Yu looked at him and calmly replied:

"A gift that Annihilation Heaven Overarching Realm, the final judgment technique of the Void Divine Tree."

Shu Xunyan's eyes widened in surprise. He remained silent for a few moments, then suddenly chuckled softly.

"You are now... no longer someone that any 'logical rehearsal' can simulate."

"The pages of fate can no longer hold a single line for you."

His expression turned serious, and he said solemnly:

"The Palace Master ordered me to come and check on your status immediately, and also to report to you on the next phase of frontline combat intelligence."

Qin Yu nodded slightly. "Speak."

Just as Shu Xunyan finished speaking, her gaze suddenly shifted and fell on a strange girl standing quietly beside Qin Yu.

The woman wore a light, shimmering dress, and her eyes seemed to hold a quiet, star-like light that flowed slowly. Although she stood still, her aura was perfectly integrated with Qin Yu's, as if she had always existed within his destiny chart.

Shu Xunyan frowned slightly, a hint of doubt appearing in his eyes, and said tentatively:

"Who is this...?"

She harbored no hostility; it was simply that, as a third-tier assessor of the Eternal Evolution Realm Hall, she was exceptionally adept at detecting fluctuations in life structures. And the "Soul Consciousness Anchoring Echo" that the woman had just displayed was exactly the same as that of Yunyi when she first appeared.

Qin Yu remained calm and slowly explained:

"She is Extinguished Light —my other Fate Soul Beast."

"Just like Yunyi."

Shu Xunyan was taken aback upon hearing this, then a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes, and he nodded slightly.

"I see..."

She looked at Extinguished Light with a slight smile, then glanced at Qin Yu, and sighed softly:

"Since it's your Fate Soul Beast, then there's no need for you to undergo the temple's assessment."

"This is a long-standing legal precedent in our Eternal Evolution Realm Hall — the Soul Master's authority and Bugui external judgment."

Her tone was gentle, but her words subtly revealed a tacit acceptance of Qin Yu's "special identity."

Extinguished Light glanced at her, seemingly understanding but not quite, and took only half a step closer to Qin Yu without saying a word. However, the faint light around her, tempered by starlight, had already answered everything on her behalf.

Shu Xunyan's voice was calm and clear, like a lifeline flowing through the morning mist.

There are two things I need to tell you immediately.

She turned and looked towards the corridor of destiny stones outside the courtyard, where the palace pattern, like Annihilation Abyss, was swaying in the wind, as if foreshadowing a new trajectory of destiny.

"First, Wang Long."

She paused slightly, a hint of a smile and satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

"During the time you were in the Annihilation Heaven Overarching Realm, he completed all the challenges for the beginner-level disciples of the Epoch Source Grand Tournament, ultimately winning first place."

Yan Yue was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then nodded. "As expected of Wang Long."

Shu Xunyan continued, "He has been in seclusion in the Source Cause Trial Realm these past few days, adjusting his Fate Pressure Chain layer in preparation for the next general election that the Temple is about to launch."

"The core assessment battle for novice disciples to advance to temple guards will be held in five days at the 'Eternal Abyss Fate Platform'."

Her gaze swept over Qin Yu and the others. "You've just returned, so you have some time to adjust. This competition is not simple, especially for those of you who have experienced combat in the Annihilation Realm. You'll be directly competing for the high-ranking guard preliminary qualification."

At this moment, Shu Xunyan's eyebrows twitched slightly, as if she had remembered something, and she said softly:

"There's one more thing."

She took half a step closer to Qin Yu, her gaze softening slightly.

"Source Venerable Tong Ning, I am aware of your return."

"She asked me to tell you—after you've finished your meditation, please come to the 'Nether Balance Realm Observation Palace' for a chat."

She has something to say to you in person.

Qin Yu's expression tightened slightly, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes, and he nodded gently.

Yan Yue's eyes flashed. "That Source Venerable... why would he suddenly seek you out?"

Zi Xue whispered, "Perhaps it's related to the Annihilation Heaven Overarching Realm..."

Extinguished Light hovered lightly beside him, saying nothing, but the starlight around him subtly sensed the pull of some kind of causal relationship within his destiny.

Yunyi, however, kept her eyes fixed on Qin Yu, as if she had already foreseen that his return from this trip would not bring him peace.

After Shu Xunyan finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent for a moment.

A moment later, Qin Yu slowly turned around and looked at the four people standing side by side with him— Yan Yue, Yunyi, Zi Xue, and Extinguished Light.

Those eyes held a profound depth born from having walked side-by-side into the Annihilation Heaven Overarching Realm and endured the baptism of life and death. Even now, having returned Anran, with the remnants of war still lingering, in Qin Yu's eyes, their gazes were no longer simply those of Soul Pact —but rather those of beings whose destinies were intertwined, willing to write their life seals together.

He smiled gently, his voice soft yet firm, as if offering a concluding remark after every bloody battle's silence:

You've all had a really tough time these past few days.

"In the battle that Annihilation Heaven Overarching Realm, we traversed the Star Abyss, shattered the Dead Sea, Annihilation the Soul Realm together. Our survival is a miracle, a testament to our collective strength."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Yan Yue's silence, Yunyi's gaze, Zi Xue's Anran, and Extinguished Light's radiance.

"Now, we're finally back." "You all need to rest well and recharge."

"After I finish meeting with Source Venerable Tong Ning, we will participate in the temple guard assessment together."

As he spoke, he gently raised his hand, his fingertips transforming into a gentle soul light, and touched the foreheads of the four people, as if engraving some kind of agreement.

"In this battle, we will still fight side by side." Yan Yue responded softly, "Mm."

Yunyi simply nodded, but gently took Qin Yu's hand.

Zi Xue smiled, but a quiet weariness still lingered in the corners of her eyes.

Extinguished Light stood quietly, the soft starlight dancing lightly at her fingertips, as if responding to the words, "We're back."

Qingfeng wafted through the courtyard, and the rings on the destiny stone slowly rotated, just like the trajectory of a return journey, gradually leading into a new chapter of destiny.

As night deepened, Ji Hui shone faintly atop the Eternal Evolution Realm Hall.

After seeing everyone off and returning to their palace to rest, Qin Yu did not linger. With a turn of his foot, his figure merged into the void—he did not say goodbye, but only told them with his eyes: This journey is merely to seek new beginnings.

His figure pierced the still night like a streak of light, heading straight for the Nether Abyss Western Region.

That place is the deepest part of the Eternal Evolution Realm Hall, the Nether Balance Realm Observation Palace.

⸻

This place name, among the senior disciples of Yongyan, seemed to be something that could never be spoken of.

It is neither a temple nor a battlefield, it has no temple stele, no seal, yet it is called "the place to observe the future, the realm to lock in destiny."

At this moment, Realm Observation Palace, a woman was sitting alone in front of the Myriad Knowledge Mirror Ring.

She wore a simple white dress, her black hair fell loosely, and a faint blue mark extended from her ear to her shoulder, like a winding Fate-Cause.

Her eyes were half-closed, as if observing a thousand lifelines, but her divine sense already knew—

He has arrived.

She is one of the true "main veins of origin consciousness" in the Eternal Evolution Realm:

--Tong Ning · Source Venerable.

She never revealed herself lightly, nor spoke lightly, but after the opening of the Epoch Battle and the anomalies in Annihilation, she finally took the initiative to request an audience with that boy who could no longer be defined.

The instant Qin Yu stepped onto the Netherworld Stairs, all phenomena before the Realm Observation Palace fell silent, the mist gathered, and the palace gates opened by themselves.

Qin Yu entered slowly, his footsteps echoing clearly in the Kong Ling hall.

On the opposite high platform, the figure finally slowly opened its eyes.

She gazed silently at Qin Yu, her lips slightly parted, and softly uttered the first words of their meeting:

"You... you're finally back."

Nether Balance Realm Observation Palace, all was quiet.

Qin Yu slowly walked to the center of the hall, his gaze steady and respectful. Facing the figure who had been waiting patiently, he solemnly bowed, cupped his hands in a deep bow, and said in a low voice:

"Thanks to... the blessings of Source Venerable Tong Ning, we have returned safely from this journey that Annihilation Heaven Overarching Realm."

As he spoke, he took out the divine artifact that had once been bestowed upon him from his bosom—

A Soul Fate Divine Stone that shimmers with golden patterns and the faint glow of Fate Soul.

"This is the divine stone you bestowed upon me. Now that my mission is complete, I wish to return it."

He offered it with both hands, his gesture completely unpretentious and full of respect.

In the hall, Tong Ning slowly rose, not reaching out to take it, but gazing at his soul aura, which was no longer definable as it once was. A slight smile played on her lips, and her eyes shone with a gentle light like a reflection in the abyss.

She said softly, "You're still as polite as ever, child."

She descended the high steps, her white robes billowing like the wind. Her gaze was no longer as imposing as that of the Source Venerable, but instead carried a hint of warmth and trust.

"But—from now on, you no longer need to call me 'Source Venerable'."

She looked steadily at Qin Yu, her tone gentle yet resolute:

You can simply call me... Tong Ning.

She gently lifted his hand and pushed the Soul Fate Divine Stone back.

"As for this divine stone, you may keep it."

"Your soul and destiny have long since transcended the boundaries I could foresee. This object is no longer a token I gave you, but rather... a record of your past lives."

A testament to the path of war.

Her voice was as gentle as light, yet every word she uttered was unconventional.

Qin Yu was taken aback, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded slightly, putting the divine stone back into his pocket.

At this moment, a faint light flickered in the palace, and a true "convergence of destiny" quietly unfolded.

Tong Ning reached out and gently guided a beam of azure soul light, which slowly rotated from her fingertips, condensing into a semi-circular star-patterned seat.

She chuckled softly, "Sit down. Today, we will not speak of the temple, nor of your command."

Qin Yu nodded slightly, sat down in response, his robes falling gracefully, his aura of Annihilation Abyss solid and still, like a star falling on still water.

There was no one else in the hall. The Realm Observation Palace seemed to fall into a kind of "suspended observation" silence, with only her and him, their souls intertwined, their cause and effect flowing.

At this moment, Tong Ning narrowed her gaze slightly, as if considering for a moment, before finally asking:

"I ask you—from which realm did you come to this Source of Epochless?"

Her voice was not loud, yet it seemed as if a lifeline was drawn from the myriad streams of destiny and gently landed on Qin Yu's very essence.

She wasn't questioning, but rather... confirming. And Qin Yu didn't hesitate at all.

He raised his eyes and answered frankly, "I come from the Annihilation Abyss Epoch."

"That is the world I built with my own hands, the natal realm where I wrote the beginning of my soul's consciousness."

"The Annihilation Abyss Epoch... is a great realm I established myself."

The moment the words fell, all the life seals of the Nether Balance Realm Observation Palace seemed to tremble almost imperceptibly for a second.

Deep within Tong Ning's eyes, it seemed as if some kind of sealed "observation node" was reflected.

She remained silent for a long time. After a while, an indescribable complexity surfaced in her eyes—a mixture of surprise and a sense of certainty that her long-held suspicions had been confirmed.

She murmured to herself, "The Annihilation Abyss... so it was a destiny domain you wrote yourself."

She looked at Qin Yu and suddenly chuckled, a chuckle that carried no contempt but rather a deep respect.

"No wonder." "No wonder you were able to return alive from the Annihilation Heaven Overarching Realm."

"No wonder you were able to support that divine tree that 'shouldn't exist within this era.'"

"No wonder you can even control that girl with the Light of Annihilation Abyss beside you..."

A glint flashed in her eyes, as if she had found the source of answers to all those "miracles that could not be explained by logic" in the past at this moment.

She murmured again, "Because you weren't chosen to enter the Source of Epochless at all—"

"You are... someone who never existed in my destiny."