Beneath the Soul-Executing Altar, a blood-red wind swirled, and dark clouds rose in layers.
The [Fate Soul Level Screening Device] still executes its "soul judgment" without a trace of emotion, like a cold-blooded blade of Epoch Origin, filtering, devouring, and erasing one after another transdimensional True Immortal emperor-level existence.
Tens of thousands of people were present, yet only five have passed so far.
Just as Ning Hao stepped down the stairs and the crowd fell into a subdued silence once more—
--"boom!"
The western sky above the altar suddenly trembled!
Above the sky, a phantom formed from blue-gold annihilation light tore through the layers of dimensions and descended from a distant epoch above the main city, silencing the entire city abruptly!
Two figures slowly stepped out from the spatial rift.
The former was clad in a blue robe with soul patterns, exuding an ancient aura, and seemed to possess an air of "heavenly guidance"; his steps were calm, and with each step he took, the laws of the void automatically gave way.
This person was none other than a Sage Realm Upper Stage being!
The latter was dressed in a golden robe with celestial patterns, his soul consciousness surged like a pillar of thunder, and beams of celestial laws swirled around him. If it weren't for the suppression of the Nightmare Rules here, his aura alone could shatter the Ten Directions Soul Domain!
--Great Luo Golden Immortal - Peak Threshold!
Everyone was instantly terrified and moved.
Those True Immortal Great Emperor and Heavenly Emperor who came from beyond dimensions all made way, consciously clearing a path for them, and dared not show the slightest disrespect.
Even the once arrogant Soul Emperor, the Source Pattern War Lord, and the son of the Dragon Consciousness Remnant Clan all became solemn and lowered their heads in silence.
"Even Sage Realm have arrived... and they're not native Saints of this realm, they're Transdimensional Saints..."
"And there are even Great Luo Golden Immortal, those at the level... they don't even need to undergo trials, so why are they participating?"
At this moment, among this group of people, a figure stood silently outside the crowd, observing quietly.
He was Qin Yu, who was disguised as "Qin Ning".
His expression was calm, his gaze profound, as he quietly observed the aura, soul core fluctuations, and Fate Soul circulation structure of the two top experts.
"Even Sage Realm have come to this place..."
"This time, the Nightmare God Clan is recruiting... more than just disciples."
"If these people are 'logic-embedded,' they can even serve as the embodiment of the Nightmare God."
At this moment, the blue-robed saint took the lead on the stage. He did not make any movement, but simply opened his eyes and instructed the ritual pillar to analyze his Fate Soul on its own.
Buzz--!
The screening device vibrated violently for three breaths, then instantly lit up with a purple-gold light, displaying:
[Fate Soul Level: Level 6 - Annihilation Origin Form of Annihilation Logic]
The entire hall was deathly silent!
Even the old man in purple robes on the high platform nodded slightly, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
The sage nodded slowly, said nothing, and stepped down from the platform.
Then, the Great Luo Golden Immortal stepped under the pillar, lightly touched his forehead with his palm, and a "Chronicle of Consciousness" seal rose up, instantly resonating with the screening instrument!
Only half a breath--
[Fate Soul Level: Upper Tier 5 - Complete World Structure]
The golden-robed Grand Luo withdrew his hand, his expression indifferent. He didn't even glance at the crowd before walking straight off the stage.
Tens of thousands of cultivators fell silent.
Qin Yu silently memorized the two men's characteristics, knowing that they were definitely not just "entering the palace to seek pills."
At this moment, a giant monument beneath the screening device automatically updated:
Current number of people who have passed: 6
Number: 112 · Sage Cangyou
Number: 149 · Golden Immortal Xuanluo
Number: 186 · Ning Hao True Immortal
Number: 209 · True Emperor Yuance
Number: 233 · Soul Practitioner Xingjin
Number: 241 · Pei Yuantu
The memorial notice was hung high, with six names shining brightly; the rest... were all dead, wounded, or banished.
And the number 472, "Qin Ning" --
Still quietly waiting for the moment to take the stage.
Beneath the Soul-Executing Altar, a cold wind howled, and spiritual energy dissipated like sand.
The [Fate Soul Level Screening Device] continues its ruthless "selection," like a deleting stroke in the Book of Origin Heaven, erasing, eliminating, and tearing apart countless cross-dimensional souls one by one.
Each explosion of the soul would cause concentric rings of annihilating light to twist and turn dozens of meters away.
As the numbering continued, seven more cultivators took to the stage.
In:
The three Fate Soul levels barely met the requirements; they passed.
One Fate Soul became unbalanced, and their consciousness backfired, instantly turning them into bones.
The three were decapitated by the screening device because their Fate Soul level was insufficient.
As yet another cultivator's corpse fell, the atmosphere shifted completely from excitement to extreme oppression and fear.
Some people began to back away, some quietly turned around, and others walked directly to the edge of the altar and bowed to the sky.
"This junior is of mediocre talent and dares not try again. I wish to leave my Fate Soul as a guide, and return another day."
But the purple-robed elder didn't even glance at them, only responding indifferently:
"Those who withdraw will no longer be granted any Nightmare Contracts."
"If he returns without authorization, he will be executed."
The atmosphere turned completely frigid.
At this moment, on the left side of the crowd, Ning Hao slowly approached Qin Yu, his tone low and solemn:
Did you feel it?
"The screening equipment has gradually increased its reading depth."
"That person's soul only stirred for half a breath, yet the entire secondary soul track was forcibly torn open..."
Qin Yu nodded quietly, without saying anything more.
Ning Hao lowered his voice, his words suddenly carrying a hint of trust:
Neither you nor I are ordinary people.
"If we fall into a nightmare, I, Ning Hao, will stand as your shield—though I am not supreme, I will never be enslaved by anyone before the Initial Yuan Realm."
Qin Yu's eyes flickered slightly, and he said calmly:
"If we truly reach the primordial stage, then the Nightmare God Clan should really be worried."
Ning Hao was taken aback, then smiled.
Meanwhile, on a floating staircase at the left end of the Soul-Executing Altar.
An elderly man, dressed in a silver-feathered robe and with vertical pupils, sat quietly, his gaze sweeping over the entire crowd without moving.
He was one of the "observers" for this round of preliminary assessments by the Nightmare God Clan:
Silver-Winged Soul Observer Yu Xu
Cultivation Level: Primordial Void Realm -Supreme
However, because it bears the authority to observe the soul domain of the Nightmare God Temple, its soul consciousness is strengthened by the "main soul array core", which allows it to transcend the Consciousness Realm and explore the structure of the Fate Soul.
Just as his divine sense swept over the number "472" above Qin Yu's head, he suddenly frowned slightly.
"Um?"
He narrowed his eyes, and a beam of silver light shot out from his vertical pupils, gently sweeping across Qin Yu's body.
But--
Qin Yu's three layers of disguise structure—the "Azure Ring Annihilation Lock," the "Silent Yuan Soul Wall," and the "Annihilation Fate Consciousness Chain Mirror"—had long been operating in perfect harmony. Once external soul consciousness interference was detected, it would automatically project a perfect illusion of "Late Stage True Immortal Emperor - Original Soul Structure."
Silver-Winged Soul Observer Yu Xu's gaze sharpened for three breaths before finally withdrawing his divine sense, muttering:
"This child's aura is stable, and his Fate Soul has returned to normal."
"But why... do I feel a divine pressure that even a Sage Realm couldn't exert..."
"... Could it be a hidden disciple of some historical figure?"
He dared not probe further, for in the internal rules of the Nightmare God Clan, it was forbidden to forcibly invade the soul consciousness of a test subject unless one was a "target of enemy lock".
"Alright, let's continue observing."
He turned his head and continued to look at the 280th cultivator under the ceremonial pillar.
Qin Ning, number 472, remained standing in the arena, seemingly just an ordinary True Immortal Emperor, quietly waiting.
No one knew that his real name was Qin Yu.
An existence that even the final high priest of the Nightmare God Clan might avoid.
Before the [Fate Soul Level Screening Device], the person numbered 472 was finally called by name.
"Qin Ning, from the Immortal Antiquity Era, True Immortal Emperor Upper Rank—Ascending the Stage."
As the steps rippled with life-giving light, a pale golden figure slowly stepped beneath the Soul-Sacrificing Pillar.
At that moment, all eyes on the entire Soul-Executing Altar converged on it.
Many cultivators had questions:
"The Immortal Antiquity Era? Isn't that one of the remnants of an era that has long since been severed and destroyed?"
"This Epoch Origin... actually still has True Immortal Emperor alive?"
Ning Hao looked at Qin Yu, a slight smile playing on his lips, but for some reason, he felt a chill run down his spine.
Qin Yu remained silent, his expression gentle, but the light deep within his eyes was as cold and Ultimate as an eternal night Annihilation Sea.
He stood still, neither releasing his soul power nor activating his naming consciousness.
He was merely--
Standing there.
--boom!!
The next second!
An unprecedented surge of soul runes erupted within the Fate Soul Level Screening Device!
The entire pillar trembled violently, the originally evenly flowing life trajectory runes became violently disordered, and countless consciousness circuits were directly devoured in reverse, emitting a piercing shriek that tore apart the soul!
"Zzzzz--Crack!!"
Three of the seventy-six layers of life-pattern chains on the outer layer of the pillar were directly broken!
The sky trembled, and a storm of light surged forth!
All the spirit mirror pagodas on the observation platforms were shattered, including the life consciousness monitoring steles at all four locations, which collapsed completely in a short period of time!
High above the altar, all the Nightmare God Clan's observers and Soul Messengers rose to their feet in horror!
On an obsidian altar at the eastern end of the sacrificial altar, an old man wearing a heavy robe of withered gold, with snake-like hair and beard, and gray obsidian soul wheels in his eyes suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes showing extreme shock!
"Who?!"
"This person is merely True Immortal Emperor, yet he managed to shatter the triple Life Lock Seal Array with just the fluctuations of his Fate Soul?"
"Such soul power is comparable to that of a high-level Saint, or even..."
Before his voice had even faded, a crack appeared in his sea of consciousness!
This person was none other than one of the high-ranking elders of the Nightmare God Clan.
The Ninth Chief Soul Elder Annihilation Abyss Soul Refining Hall, Wang Chi
Realm: Intermediate Stage of the No Consciousness Realm!
At this moment, he was actually injured in his sea of consciousness by the Fate Soul aura of a "True Immortal Emperor"!
His expression changed drastically, and he abruptly turned to look at Yu Xu, the Silver-Winged Soul Observer below the observation platform:
"You just examined this person?"
Yu Xu's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he gave a bitter laugh and whispered:
"Your subordinate has examined it... It is indeed the soul structure of True Immortal Emperor, with a complete record and a stable destiny trajectory."
Wang Chi smashed the black and gold soul chair in front of him with a punch, and roared angrily:
"Nonsense! His soul pressure... actually shattered my Consciousness Realm! This person is either the master of the Epoch in disguise or the remnant soul of the Logic Source!"
"... A thorough check is necessary before proceeding to the second round!"
However--
Just as he was about to give the order—
Suddenly, silence fell over the space above the Fate Soul pillar!
A restrained power, like the receding tide, quietly surged from Qin Yu's body, instantly pulling back all the overflowing soul pressure.
The ceremonial pillar dimmed, the chains were restored, and a judgment of fate finally appeared:
Fate Soul Level: Level 5 · Annihilation Abyss Hidden Lattice Physique · Eligible for Assessment
At this moment, all the Nightmare God Clan were stunned.
"He actually... managed to suppress her?"
"What was that just now? It almost caused the main unit to explode..."
Qin Yu slowly opened his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if nothing had ever happened, and nodded gently towards the void:
"Elders, my Fate Soul has become unstable; please forgive me."
He turned slightly and walked down the steps.
He left no word.
Behind him, on the Fate Soul -Binding Pillar, the current number of people who had passed through quietly changed to:
7 people
Number: 472 · Qin Ning · Annihilation Abyss Hidden Lattice Physique
Elder Wang Chi on the observation platform remained silent for a long time, his gaze fixed on Qin Yu's retreating figure, muttering to himself:
"Annihilation Abyss... Hidden Grid?"
"... I remember this word; I think I've seen it in the 'Forbidden Source Soul-Observing Diagram'..."
"But isn't that... a mark only found on that great realm that should have been annihilated long ago...?"