The sky continued to shower down Rain of Azure Radiance, like an eternal, ceaseless waterfall of life, gently yet profoundly falling upon every inch of the shattered Annihilation Abyss Epoch land. As the rain shimmered, subtle fluctuations even stirred in the air, like thousands of clear springs slowly cleansing this world that had once been torn apart.
Beneath the azure light, Qin Yu stood atop a broken peak torn in two, his gaze sweeping down upon the ruined temple complex of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch. His hands were clasped behind his back, Azure Ring hovering and slowly rotating, its radiance subtly intertwined with pale blue specks, as if an era were revolving within the ring, or as if billions of years had risen and fallen behind him. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly resonated throughout the entire realm.
"Everyone, the Rain of Azure Radiance will continue to fall, enough to repair your sea of consciousness, your Fate Soul, and your spiritual veins. The most urgent task now is to reconstruct the Annihilation Abyss and rebuild the Heavenly Palace."
He slowly turned around and looked in all directions. There were the figures of thousands of survivors from the Annihilation Abyss Epoch, some still wounded, some with their clothes stained with blood, some standing with their arms around each other, and some sitting with their swords in hand. They were all survivors who had experienced life and death in this catastrophe. Every pair of eyes was bloodshot, yet they were unwavering.
"The days ahead will be difficult. But as long as I, Qin Yu, am still here, the Annihilation Abyss Epoch will never perish."
He extended his right palm, a pale golden Origin Rune gleaming in his palm, and slowly slapped it into the core of the earth. In an instant, the earth veins of the entire Annihilation Abyss Epoch were awakened. Rumbling tremors came from the ground, and one by one, the remnants of array patterns of the long-collapsed temple ruins lit up, and the broken runes gradually regained their spirituality under the nourishment of the green rain.
"Thank you all for your hard work."
As Qin Yu finished speaking, the entire Annihilation Abyss Epoch trembled.
This time, it was no longer the roar of war tearing things apart, but the echo of rekindled hope. Disciples, elders, formation masters, soul forgers, and even those who had transformed into divine pills from various races rose up and silently walked toward the ruins, gazing at the not-yet-completely-closed crack in the sky.
Some lifted the broken stone pillars and used their remaining soul power to rebuild the components;
Some gathered spiritual light in their palms to redraw the protective barrier for the collapsed divine tower;
Some carried the damaged base back to its original position, tears welling in their eyes, and repeatedly activated it...
The four surviving Annihilation Radiance Physique moved silently, their wounded bodies entering the core remnants of the magic array to reshape the core operating mechanism of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch.
Qian Ruishan and Mu Qingwan, bathed in the afterglow of the rain, set up an ice barrier in front of the shattered palace to help stabilize the altar and the Soul Spring; Zhou Yu summoned back the Nether Glaze Soul Luan and used the vibration of the Law of Ten Thousand Sounds to awaken the memory echoes of the collapsed temple, and the buried ancient temples trembled and reappeared.
Yao Wanqing, leading the remaining three Dark Beings of the No Consciousness Realm, under the command of Annihilation Crown Emperor An, reset the Heavenly Soul Seal at the bottom of the Divine Realm Rift, constructing a defensive barrier to prevent the remaining hostility from infiltrating again.
The earth continued to tremble, the sound of the remnants of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch awakening. The Rain of Azure Radiance, like the cleansing of the heavens, flowed between the broken boundary patterns, and every crack in the temples that had been destroyed by war was now gently covered by the light.
Qin Yu atop the peak of the Cycle Order, the Ring Master Soul Diagram slowly unfolding in his sea of consciousness. As the Azure Ring rotated, strands of azure-gold light fell from his palm like silk threads, penetrating the core soul domain of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch beneath his feet.
"The Epoch Sequence Core, activated."
He whispered, and unfolded a main realm seal constructed from the Annihilation Heart Seal in his palm, instantly merging into the deepest part of the earth's veins.
Boom!!
The next instant, the most crucial node of the entire Annihilation Abyss Epoch — the Heart of the Main Hall— was awakened with a roar.
From millions of feet underground, a long-lost sacrificial stele slowly rose, its inscriptions bearing the primordial laws of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch spanning billions of years. At this moment, it reappeared. At the cracks in the stele, Azure Ring light threads slowly wrapped and reconstructed, as if performing a Fate Soul -repairing technique, gradually restoring and emitting the original primordial breath of the "Annihilation Abyss Realm Master Core".
Qin Yu closed his eyes, and the Book of Fate Law: The Realm Severing Origin Brush gently opened in his sea of consciousness. The second seal of the Azure Ring —the "Epoch Sequence Origin-Restoration Diagram"—spun out behind him, writing patterns and reversing the chronology of fate. Many erased fragments of the chronology were being re-copied line by line.
"... First, reconstruct the [Annihilation Abyss Main Hall]."
Within the Azure Ring, a thick, azure beam of light suddenly shot into the sky, then fell from the heavens, crashing into the center of the ruins of the [Annihilation Abyss Main Hall], which had been reduced to broken foundations and piles!
With a deep, resonant sound like the first cry of the world, the main hall, which had been in ruins, and its thirty-six broken divine pillars rose one by one from the ground under the infusion of azure light. The boundary runes engraved on each pillar glowed with a ghostly light the moment they were revived, and their tops received the Rain of Azure Radiance, like sacred pillars receiving divine mandate.
Around the Heart of the Main Hall, the eight branch palaces also simultaneously lit up with light:
In the [Mystic Ice Soul Hall], Qian Ruishan condensed the wings of the Soul Butterfly, transforming them into seven-colored streams of light to repair the ice-patterned magic seals one by one;
Outside the [Spirit Frost Illusion Palace], Mu Qingwan set up a triple Cold Mirror Barrier to guide the chaotic soul power overflowing from the ruins back into its proper place;
In the [Thunder Soul Divine Pillar Terrace], Zhou Yu summoned Azure Thunder Lightning Hunter, which shook out nine thunder seals at the top of the sky, infusing the patterns of the Dharma Hall with thunder soul to stabilize the spiritual pillar of the sky;
Beneath the [Annihilation Radiance Sacred Palace], Yao Wanqing stood before the last remaining soul array, manipulating the remaining four Annihilation Radiance Physique to draw new Fate Soul tracks stroke by stroke on the destroyed Silence Array patterns.
Meanwhile, more palaces are being restored:
[Divine Array Canon Court] Reforges the Twelve-Layer Soul Array Foundation;
[Soul Pact Spirit Domain] Reconnects to the Consciousness Sea Tower Vein;
[Ten Thousand Shadows Battle Hall] restores the statues of divine generals and the Xuanbing Refining Pool;
[Consciousness Abyss Heavenly Office] once again initiates the memory rebirth ritual, summoning fallen souls back to the main core.
The entire timeline of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch gradually awakens at this moment, like the heartbeat of the world, and at the core of this heartbeat is the Epoch Sequence Core, which Qin Yu reconstructs stroke by stroke.
"The Epoch Sequence Core... restarting the seventh order."
As his words fell, a crystal shaped like an Azure Ring appeared in the center of the entire Annihilation Abyss Epoch void. That was the "Epoch Sequence Core - Seventh Realm Seal", the core Fate Soul seal exclusively controlled by Qin Yu. It rotated around the entire main hall, awakening all the logical connections of the palaces and forming a complete Great Realm Soul Network.
At this moment, the Annihilation Abyss Epoch once again became a logical entity capable of "existing," a shattered universe reconstructed once more within the azure light.
--The Annihilation Abyss Epoch, not yet dead!
--Qin Yu, return to the Lord!
--Azure Ring, seal the boundary!
Countless beams of soul light soared into the sky, intertwining with the azure rain, and converging to form the true celestial canopy of the "Annihilation Abyss Epoch".
And this is only the beginning of the reconstruction...
The following morning, the Rain of Azure Radiance continued unabated, like the last gentle wisp of divine light unwilling to dissipate. It was no longer dazzling, but softly sprinkled over every palace, every divine pillar, and every inch of the broken yet reborn boundary patterns throughout the Annihilation Abyss Epoch, as if continuing to write the warmth of hope for this land of rebirth.
The Annihilation Abyss Epoch Master – atop the Soul Throne of the Annihilation Lord – once again opens the celestial veil today. The magnificent halo of the main realm descends from the void, forming a protective aura of myriad rays. The center of the main hall is grand and expansive, with the Soul Abyss Divine Pillars carved from azure crystals arranged in eight directions, and the Nine Heavens Throne floating on the dome, reflecting Qin Yu's supreme status.
On the main seat, Qin Yu sat upright in the center, clad in the Qingyi of the Annihilation Lord. His brows were calm, and his aura was authoritative yet not angry, with his soul ring slowly rotating behind him. On his left and right sides sat Qian Ruishan and Mu Qingwan, respectively. Both women had changed into brand-new clothes, and although their faces still showed a slight weariness, they could not hide the peace and affection in their eyes.
Qian Ruishan gazed quietly at Qin Yu, her phoenix eyes still brimming with the choked sobs from yesterday's life-or-death struggle. Mu Qingwan gently held Qin Yu's sleeve, her eyes clear and resolute. The two women beside Qin Yu at this moment were no longer just the wives of the Soul Master, but also the guardian saintesses of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch.
Below the main hall, twelve Divine Rank were stacked in a row, each for the elders and war lords to sit on. At the very front, Xuancang Shenying, clad in a somber blue battle robe, was as still as an abyss; Grand Venerable Mingxu held Soul Seal, his divine sense roaming throughout the main hall; Ling Jingxi, draped in a mirror-soul veil, appeared to be sitting or standing, her eyes fixed on Qin Yu, her expression solemn; Zhou Yu sat with a sword in his arms, his gaze sharp and his expression lightning-fast; Yao Wanqing stood sideways, the Annihilation Dawn pattern encircling her shoulders, her calm aura concealing an undercurrent of power.
In the very last row, there sat Yao Zhiyan, her face as fair as jade and her clothes as white as a star. She sat beside Hunyuan, not uttering a word. Her long hair fell down, as if she had become part of the eternal mountains and rivers. She was silent, still, and undisturbed, yet she drew the attention of heaven and earth.
Further back, the elders of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch, Realm Master, soul array masters, divine contract holders, soul beast tamers, and others were all seated in orderly rows, their expressions solemn, their gazes all focused on the throne of the Annihilation Lord.
At this moment, the main hall was silent. Only the low chimes of the Boundary Spirit Bell echoed among the sacrificial lamps, their lingering sound not fading away.
Qin Yu's gaze swept across the entire main hall, his voice low and authoritative:
"This time, the True Word Extremity Hall— [Fate Que Hall], [Fate Cause Spirit Tower], [Law God Origin Court], [Epoch Book Sealing Abyss], Eternal Consciousness Evolution Clan, Ink Spirit Annihilation Clan, Dream Lock Palace, and Returning Consciousness Clan —have joined forces to launch a full-scale siege against my Annihilation Abyss Epoch."
"This battle... though won."
He paused, his gaze darkening slightly, looking towards the distant divine peaks outside the palace, at the palaces that were still not fully restored, at the names of those who had fallen while guarding the boundary, at the souls that had not yet returned...
"But the cost was heavy."
As the words fell, everyone in the hall wore solemn expressions. The stone in front of the main hall, inscribed with the names of the more than 10,000 Annihilation Abyss soldiers and disciples who died in battle yesterday, was slowly revealed. The names were imprinted on the stone without missing a single word, the light faint yet awe-inspiring.
Qian Ruishan lowered her head, her fingers lightly wiping the corner of her sleeve, her expression trembling slightly; Mu Qingwan looked at the inscription on the monument, tears welling up in her eyes; Zhou Yu clenched her fist, blue lightning dancing in her palm; Yao Wanqing Xuancang's eyes darkened, and she silently lowered her head; Xuan Cang Shenying's eyes showed a trace of mourning, and the Grand Venerable Mingxu gently closed his eyes, silently mourning the soul sacrifice; while Yao Zhiyan remained seated, silent, but her eyes were as deep as frost on a snowfield.
Qin Yu continued:
"The reason I have gathered you all here today is to determine the course of events."
"First, in the name of the Annihilation Lord, I will swear a blood oath that anyone who attacks my Annihilation Abyss Epoch will be repaid a hundredfold."
"Secondly, erect Epoch Soul Stele to commemorate the names of all the soldiers and to offer sacrifices to all the heroes. From this day forward, every ten years Annihilation Abyss Epoch Memorial Ceremony, this stele will serve as the place of swearing oaths."
"Third, reconstruct the [Annihilation Abyss Heavenly Alliance], incorporating all the divine soul schools, battle formations, and soul spirit sects from this era into the Heavenly Alliance system. I will be its master, with Annihilation Crown Emperor An and All Daos Lost as deputy Soul Masters, Ruishan and Wan'er jointly in charge of all internal affairs and coordination, and the rest as regional masters."
"The Annihilation Abyss is immortal."
"The soul lamp will never be extinguished."
We swear to protect this realm, this soul, this life.
He slowly rose to his feet, and Azure Ring appeared behind him. The Rain of Azure Radiance that had not yet ceased in the sky condensed into a huge blue holy halo as he raised his hand, hanging above the hall and illuminating all spirits and souls.
Everyone stood up, placed their right fist against their chest, and shouted in unison:
"We swear to guard the Annihilation Abyss, to protect our Annihilation Lord, even unto death!"
At this moment, the entire Annihilation Abyss Epoch Master Return to the Abyss and voices Return to One, as if the oath of the gods had been re-established in the mortal realm.
And so began the real reconstruction era in the post-war period.