Old Bonds Unchanged · Reuniting in the Annihilation Hall

Qin Yu's gaze was steady as he looked at Zhou Yu and Yao Wanqing, his tone gentle yet authoritative:

"You two have worked hard too, go back and rest early. Leave the reconstruction work to the elders and senior members."

Zhou Yu and Yao Wanqing both nodded respectfully and bowed, saying, "Yes, Brother Qin Yu."

After the two left, Qin Yu's gaze immediately fell on the people beside him. He smiled slightly, his tone gentle:

"Ruishan, Qingwan, you two take Yan Yue, Zi Xue, Yunyi, and Extinguished Light to the inner palace to arrange their accommodations."

"I still need to meet with He Yanxiao and the others to handle some follow-up matters. I'll be back later."

After she finished speaking, Qian Ruishan and Mu Qingwan exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously. "Okay, leave it to us."

Then, Qian Ruishan turned around and gave Yan Yue a gentle smile, her tone carrying a hint of closeness and appreciation:

"Let's go, Sister Yan Yue, this way."

Yan Yue slightly taken aback, then nodded gently, glanced at Qin Yu with tender eyes, and followed the others into the inner hall.

Qin Yu slowly turned around, his gaze gradually calming, and stepped into another dimly lit corridor, heading towards where He Yanxiao and the others were, preparing to begin the next conversation that truly belonged to the controller.

In the northern part of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch, a dilapidated main hall is still under repair. This hall was originally the "Jingyuan Temple Dharma Hall," but now it is riddled with broken beams and pillars and cracks. Only the disciples who have remained here since the war are silently repairing the ruins.

Inside the hall, Ji Jiyan, He Yanxiao, Li Wenyan, Gou Chenshen, and Fu Chengzhao were each leading their own teams, mobilizing their disciples' magical power to stabilize the array's foundation and reshape the divine runes. Amidst the ruins, an indomitable force of order and reorganization emanated.

At that very moment, a familiar aura quietly descended.

"That is..."

He Yanxiao turned his head sharply, and sure enough, the figure appeared from the light, his robes fluttering slightly, his divine aura as deep as an abyss.

"Welcome, Realm Master!" He Yanxiao immediately bowed and greeted him, his voice loud and clear, filled with heartfelt respect.

Upon hearing this, the other four also turned around, almost instantly stopping their hand seals, and bowed their heads in unison.

Welcome, Realm Master!

All the disciples in the hall knelt down in unison, their expressions devout, their eyes filled with excitement and reverence.

That was the true Realm Master of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch, the most core being, the source of faith that all of them fought and protected.

Qin Yu walked slowly, his expression calm as he looked at the group of subordinates before him who had once been subdued by his own hands and were now silently protecting the Annihilation Abyss. A rare hint of approval and warmth appeared in his eyes.

He spoke softly:

"Thank you for your hard work, everyone."

Qin Yu in front of the ruined hall, his gaze sweeping over He Yanxiao and the other five people. His eyes were calm, yet they revealed an irresistible majesty.

"Ji Jiyan, He Yanxiao, Li Wenyan, Gou Chenshen, Fu Chengzhao —all of you, come with me."

The voice wasn't loud, but it struck like a heavy hammer blow to the heart.

The five dared not delay and replied in unison, "Yes, Realm Master."

Immediately, Qin Yu flicked his sleeve, and a large sliver of azure light streaked through the void as he swept away. The five others tacitly straightened their clothes, their expressions solemn, and quickly followed behind.

Without saying much, he turned and walked steadily toward an inner hall in the Annihilation Abyss Epoch that had just been renovated. The hall was built on a foundation of jade, and the walls still bore the mottled marks of battle, but the main pillars, the center of the hall, and the array base had been restored to their original state. Light poured down from the dome, flowing with the radiance of runes, clearly indicating that it had been rebuilt into a core area for confidential discussions.

As Qin Yu stepped into the hall, the entire hall trembled slightly as if sensing the aura of its Realm Master, its radiance subsided, and a barrier automatically rose.

After the five people stepped inside, the palace doors behind them closed silently, completely isolating them from outside perception.

At this moment, only Qin Yu and the other six remained in the hall, and a calm atmosphere permeated the air.

He Yanxiao stopped first and whispered, "The Realm Master has summoned you. What are your orders?"

Qin Yu stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over each of them, his expression unchanged, seemingly both investigating and preparing his next questions and arrangements.

The inner hall was silent, with azure light flowing across the walls. Qin Yu walked slowly to the main seat, raised his hand, and five beams of spiritual light automatically appeared before him, transforming into five round seats.

"Please have a seat, everyone."

Ji Jiyan, He Yanxiao, Li Wenyan, Gou Chenshen, Fu Chengzhao all sat down in turn, their postures as straight as pine trees, their brows furrowed with solemnity.

Qin Yu sat down, his gaze steady as he spoke:

"These past few days, the Annihilation Abyss Epoch has been beset by storms and attacks from external enemies. None of you have retreated a single step within your respective domains, and you have even fought to the point of injury several times. Qin Yu has seen and remembered your unwavering dedication to protecting others."

He paused slightly at this point, then said, word by word:

"But I must tell you, this attack was not an ordinary chaotic battle, nor was it a spontaneous uprising of some strange beasts—it was a long-planned scheme. Moreover, the force behind it did not only come from Source of Epochless, but also involved True Immortal Emperor lineages from other dimensions."

The expressions of everyone in the hall tightened. After exchanging glances for a moment, He Yanxiao stood up first and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting:

"The Realm Master disregarded past grievances and took us in, freeing us from the prison of the Abyss of Fate Abyss. Now, he has bestowed upon us Venerable Rank and imparted his teachings and skills to us."

"If the Realm Master hadn't Annihilation Abyss in time, we might not even have survived the damage to the Abyss."

"Though we five have a past, we swear to follow the Realm Master to the death, and Heaven and Earth bear witness."

The other four also stood up and bowed in unison:

"The Annihilation Abyss Epoch is our lifelong vow, the place where we redefine ourselves. Even if our souls are annihilated, we will protect it to the very end."

Qin Yu gazed at them, his expression silent yet solemn.

A moment later, he slowly extended his right hand. The Azure Ring in his sea of consciousness vibrated gently, and then five azure vortexes bloomed in his palm, like the source of stars. In an instant, they condensed into five pills that were a blend of cyan and gold. Star chains were wrapped around the pills, and they contained rules of cause and effect, as if a world was sleeping within them.

"This is the ' Realm Master - Annihilation Divine Pill' that I created using the power of the Azure Ring."

"Each one can help cultivators in the Annihilation Abyss Epoch break through a realm barrier, refine their Spirit Root and sea of consciousness, and achieve regeneration beyond their limits."

"This is granted to only the five of you, because you guarded the boundary with your lives and upheld the faith with your souls—this is my reward to you, and also the beginning of a greater responsibility."

The five people stared at the five divine pills, their expressions shaken. Some choked up slightly, some clenched their fists, and some had reddened eyes.

He Yanxiao looked up, his voice hoarse but resolute:

"The Realm Master trusts us... We swear by our Soul Seal that as long as the Annihilation Abyss, we will never betray this pill."

Qin Yu watched as the five people respectfully accepted the divine pills, his expression unchanged. He simply nodded slightly and calmly said:

"Go. The Annihilation Abyss Epoch is not yet peaceful. The area around the main hall still needs repair and cleanup. Continue to lead your men to repair and perfect the damaged parts. If there is any further disturbance, summon me immediately with the Azure Ring's decree."

"Yes, Your Majesty! I obey."

Ji Jiyan and the other four clasped their hands in a fist salute once more, accepted the order, and left. Before leaving the palace, He Yanxiao did not forget to look back at Qin Yu. In that glance, there was no longer any arrogance, only deep respect and a sense of keeping one's oath.

Once everyone had completely disappeared, the hall fell silent once more.

Qin Yu stood in front of the hall, gazing up at the lingering light of the Azure Barrier that had not yet completely dissipated in the air, his gaze slightly somber.

He said softly:

"The external enemy's situation is not yet resolved, and the internal troubles cannot be ignored either... However—"

He turned around, raised his right hand slightly, and a flash of blue light appeared between his fingers.

"It's time to go see those fellow Daoists."

His tone was calm, yet there was a subtle undercurrent of something about to unfold a crucial chapter.

A soft hum resonated in the void, the Azure Ring swirled, and azure light tore through the space ahead.

Qin Yu took a step forward, and his figure disappeared into the silent light that broke through the air.

Outside the Azure Wall Palace in the Annihilation Abyss Epoch, amidst the shattered ruins, the power of restoration slowly flows through the interplay of light. Guided by the array, the broken foundation of the palace is gradually being restored, and the once glorious Azure Wall main hall is slowly regaining its former glory.

Qin Yu arrived, stepping through the air, and stood outside the hall.

His gaze sharpened, and he spotted several familiar figures—

Yuchi Liuyan, clad in crimson armor, his sleeves already stained with dust, was still leading several disciples in setting up a protective barrier;

Ning Yao, dressed in snow-white robes, was comforting an injured disciple, her words gentle yet firm.

Xi He sat cross-legged on the broken stone steps, his hands forming a mudra to stabilize the foundation of the main pillar of the hall. Sweat streamed down his temples, but he never stopped.

Yan Guici stood atop the high platform, repairing the divine inscription altar in the center of the Qingyuan Palace, a glint of light flashing in his eyes;

Meanwhile, Cang Li —the once taciturn yet remarkably calm young man—was now wielding his sword, drawing formations, and guiding the reshaping of spatial laws.

This scene caused Qin Yu's eyes to flicker slightly.

He landed slowly.

"You guys... you really have all of you."

The voice was gentle, yet like a morning bell and evening drum, awakening a tremor in everyone's hearts.

Yuchi Liuyan was the first to look up, and then exclaimed in surprise, "Qin Yu?! You're back!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the other four people looked up almost simultaneously, first in surprise, then revealing intense excitement.

"It's Lord Qin Yu!" "He's back!"

Ning Yao gently covered her lips, her eyes slightly red. "We knew you would come back."

Yan Guici his hands and bowed slightly. "Although Qingyuan Palace is damaged, our hearts are not broken. We are willing to fight alongside you again, my lord."

Cang Li didn't speak, but simply stood even straighter, his eyes growing colder, as if expressing his unwavering loyalty through silence.

Qin Yu looked at each of them one by one, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"The Annihilation Abyss Epoch is fortunate to have you all."

He reached out and summoned the Azure Ring light, gently brushing it away—the azure light fell upon the group, instantly dispelling all fatigue and internal injuries, restoring their vitality like a tide, and making their souls more solid and powerful.

At this moment, a gentle breeze blows outside the Qingyuan Palace.

All five of them felt that they had truly been accepted by this world and by this true "Annihilation Abyss Realm Master".

Inside the dilapidated hall, the broken bricks and pillars bear the marks of a past battle, yet in the gentle light, they exude a sense of rebirth.

At that moment, a familiar figure slowly walked in through the palace gate.

"Elder Mo Yuan," Qin Yu said softly.

The man was Elder Mo Yuan, still dressed in a gray robe, his aura calm and his expression respectful. Upon seeing Qin Yu arrive, he immediately stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said in a voice full of reverence, "Realm Master."

Qin Yu stepped forward, smiled slightly, and raised his hand in a gesture of support, "No need for formalities, Elder Qin Yu Mo Yuan. It was you who introduced me to the Trial of the Fate-Inquiring Floating Realm. I owe a debt of gratitude to you for my achievements today."

Mo Yuan was slightly moved and said softly, "I only did what I was supposed to do. The one who truly defied fate is you, Lord Realm Master."

At this moment, Yuchi Liuyan, Ning Yao, Xi He, Yan Guici, and Cang Li also turned around and couldn't help but smile knowingly at the scene.

"Back then, we had just Annihilation Abyss Epoch to cultivate, and as soon as you arrived, you directly stirred up the fate of the entire Annihilation Abyss Epoch..." Yuchi Liuyan said with his usual boldness and laughter.

Ning Yao, dressed in plain clothes, said gently, "I never imagined that in just a few years, you would have become someone who shakes the entire Source of Epochless."

Qin Yu smiled faintly after hearing this, his eyes filled with composure and determination. "That's why we can't let the Annihilation Abyss Epoch suffer any more harm—we still need you."

Xi He nodded slightly. "The Realm Master has given us his orders; we will do our utmost."

Yan Guici and Cang Li said together, "We are willing to follow the Realm Master and fight again in the future."