The next morning, Star Abyss Palace remained quiet.
The Annihilation Radiance light high in the sky was slowly sinking, like a golden waterfall of mist falling on the golden soul pillar on the palace roof. A thin mist swirled around the spiritual platform. From afar, the entire Star Abyss Palace seemed to have been born from the void, floating Anran on the sea of Fate Soul.
Suddenly, a stream of sound surged from the void, carrying extremely clear ripples of Spiritual Sense:
"All disciples of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall, Qin Yu, listen to my command! Assemble immediately at the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall Square. All inner disciples are required to attend. The elders will issue the missions."
That was the unique "Spirit Edict Voice Transmission by the elders of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall, which was irresistible and could not be delayed.
Just as Qin Yu slowly opened his eyes from his cultivation, several familiar auras approached from the outer hall.
"Haha, I knew he must be in seclusion cultivating. He just entered yesterday and already got a mission."
With a soft laugh, a figure in white descended from outside the palace; it was none other than Luo Huan, known for his wit and cheerfulness, from the Annihilation Star Hall.
Before he could finish speaking, several figures landed one after another.
Dressed in a purple jade cloud robe, Chi Ning stood at the forefront, her expression gentle. Her gaze swept lightly across the palace gate, and she said softly:
"Junior Brother Qin, we've come to pick you up and take you to the plaza. The Temple Elder personally sent a telepathic message; he must be announcing something important."
Then Shen Yuzhi stepped forward gracefully, as Wenwan as ever. "Junior Brother Qin didn't leave the palace last night, so we guessed you were still in seclusion. Fortunately, you've already emerged from seclusion, otherwise you would have been called out by the Holy Temple."
Then the four male disciples who landed also appeared one after another.
Mu Xun, still dressed in a blue robe, exuded a calm and collected aura, his hands behind his back as he smiled, "This summons is probably related to the circulation authority of the Fate Pillar Hall, or perhaps... there's some deeper arrangement."
Du Linglin was not good with words, but simply said in a low voice, "Whatever it is, just obey."
Mo Zhiyan, still exuding a refined and scholarly air, smiled gently, "Whatever the matter, there must be a cause and effect behind Hengji's summons. Our group of disciples—we've probably already reached a higher 'narrative frontier'."
Qin Yu nodded slightly and stepped out of the palace. His eyes were clear, his aura was calm and steady, and he was completely still. The Azure Ring in his sea of consciousness turned gently, as if it was also quietly sensing the changes and rhythms of the outside world.
He bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you all for the invitation. Since the elder has summoned me, I will not delay any longer."
"Let's go." Chi Ning nodded gently.
The group of seven left Star Abyss Palace under the morning light, took off on the light, and flew towards the core square of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall.
Hundreds of figures had already silently gathered in the square.
Unbeknownst to many, a crucial event affecting the entire inner sect hierarchy has already begun.
The seven people rode the light through the Annihilation Star Domain, their life paths extending like a silver star bridge, reflecting spiritual light wherever they went.
Before long, a vast and boundless divine realm plaza suddenly appeared before their eyes.
The core square of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall.
That was a central gathering place called the "Fate Soul Myriad Phenomena Altar," where all the disciples, elders, and even the pillars of each hall of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall would gather only on extremely important occasions.
The entire plaza appears to be constructed from countless fragments of Fate Soul. Its surface is neither stone nor jade, but a translucent "Fate Pattern Spirit Crystal." Beneath every inch flows the annihilation silver life stream and the evolutionary true patterns. Stepping onto it feels as if one is standing at the very heart of the universe.
At the four corners of the plaza stand twelve towering Soul Pillars, all personally sealed by the Eternal Extreme Progenitor. Each pillar is adorned with the Annihilation Radiance Realm Flag, fluttering in the wind, symbolizing the will of the twelve divine temples of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall.
Now, the entire square is packed with people!
Disciples from different inner sects of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall had already gathered here, densely packed yet orderly. Each figure exuded a powerful soul aura of the Annihilation Source Realm or even the No Consciousness Realm. The entire space was filled with countless chains of causal light and spiritual energy, as if a storm of Fate Soul tremors could be triggered at any moment.
In this vast arena, those with low cultivation levels dared not speak loudly; only a very few dared to exchange ideas and discuss within their respective areas. Most remained silent and focused, their gazes occasionally drifting towards the center of the plaza—
A Fate Soul Divine Altar composed of Annihilation Radiance gold patterns floats in the center of the square, with a "Eternal Extreme Dharma Seal" hanging above it, its light vast and suppressing the entire temple's destiny.
With each breath, it emitted a deep, abyss-like "Resonance of Fate", causing all cultivators' consciousness to tremble slightly, forcing them to calm their minds.
At that moment, seven figures descended from the sky and landed in the inner area of the Annihilation Star Hall, attracting the attention of many disciples.
"It's Luo Huan and the others—and that new inner disciple. I heard they were personally bestowed with crystal cores by the founder?"
"It's him... Qin Yu, right? He even completely closed the Star Abyss Palace a few days ago. Could this gathering be related to him?"
Though the whispers were soft, they still carried on the wind.
Qin Yu remained calm, but when he looked up at the Fate Soul Divine Altar, a slight thought crossed his mind.
A destiny-revealing event is slowly unfolding.
Just as all the disciples' eyes were focused on the central Fate Soul Divine Altar, a powerful pressure descended like a curtain from the sky, and the entire square fell silent instantly, even the rhythm of the Fate Soul seemed to freeze for half a breath.
That oppressive aura was neither angry nor warlike, yet it possessed absolute authority, seemingly capable of penetrating all consciousness, forcing people to suppress all their thoughts.
In the void, a golden divine figure slowly emerged, walking step by step through the air. Life patterns appeared on his feet, and round after round of life orbit arrays rotated around him, like layers of records unfolding.
He was an elder dressed in a dark gold soul robe, around seventy years old, with white eyebrows like a waterfall. Behind him emerged a massive celestial disc that suppressed time and space, upon which countless life lights shone, seemingly capable of calculating the birth and death of all spirits.
He was one of the Command Masters of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall:
Elder Yan Ce.
This person is ranked at the Supreme Silent Mystery Realm and is one of the most important authorities in the Hengji Inner Sect disciple system, responsible for the promotion, punishment, and registration and evaluation of all disciples' Fate Soul sequences.
Yan Ce stood firmly on the Fate Soul Divine Altar, looked around, and slowly spoke, his voice steady and each word like a resounding bell:
"Disciples."
"I have summoned you here today not because of the crisis at the Temple, nor because of the shaking of the Pillar of Life, but for a... extremely important matter."
He paused, and the thousands of disciples in the square instantly fell silent, not daring to even breathe too loudly.
Yan Ce continued:
"Over the past few days, our Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall has launched a 'Battle Mirror Selection' for the geniuses of all races in various regions of the Source of Epochless, especially in the middle and outer clan groups."
"A total of one hundred new disciples were accepted this time."
"Among them, ninety new outer disciples have been sent to their respective initial-level spirit halls to receive the Evolving True Flow baptism and inscription restoration."
"And the remaining ten—"
His gaze shifted, instantly landing on Qin Yu and several other newly recruited inner disciples not far away:
"He is the one chosen to enter the inner sect of my Hengji Sect."
A murmur of commotion instantly spread among the outer disciples.
"So they are the newly promoted inner disciples..."
"I heard that Qin Yu was personally granted a crystal by the Ancestor to guide him here..."
"Didn't Senior Sister Chi Ning bring them along too? It seems these people... are not simple."
Yan Ce remained calm and composed, speaking in a steady tone:
"You have cultivated, fought, and grown in the outer perimeter of the Source of Epochless, and now you have stepped into the middle area and entered the inner gate of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall— "
"This means that from now on, there will be no turning back for your every word and action."
"The rules of Hengji are not open to question."
"In true order, strength is not an end in itself, but a responsibility."
As he finished speaking, his gaze swept over all the newly recruited disciples like a celestial lantern illuminating their souls, and his tone deepened slightly:
"You were once fighters; now—you will become rule enforcers."
"I stand here today to explain to you the true rules of the 'Source of Epochless - Middle World' from the moment you step into this square."
After he finished speaking, the atmosphere became even more solemn.
Starlight trembled slightly between the Annihilation Radiance Soul Pillars, Evolving True Flow swirled like a tide around the plaza, faintly outlining some kind of unknown "Destiny Orbit Rule Locking Array".
Meanwhile, Elder Yan Ce, atop the Fate Soul Divine Altar, silently observed the hundred-odd young faces below, especially the ten rising stars who had been brought into the inner sect.
Among them, Qin Yu stood calmly in the wind, while Azure Ring was immersed in his sea of consciousness. All his auras were hidden and inconspicuous, like the deepest ray of light in the starry sea.
And they are about to embark on a journey to face the true rules of the Source of Epochless.
On the Fate Soul Divine Altar, Elder Yan Ce stood on the Golden Radiance Platform, with the Heavenly Disc of Life Laws slowly rotating behind him, its radiance stretching like a river of clouds, demonstrating his supreme authority.
His gaze swept over the sea of disciples, and he spoke in a deep voice, each word like a sacred law, each sentence like a seal:
"Now that you have entered the inner gate of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall, you must understand the six core rules of this temple. Those who violate them will be exterminated and their souls destroyed, without exception!"
The square fell silent instantly. All the disciples' minds trembled slightly as they were forced to concentrate and listen intently.
With a light flick of his right hand, Yan Ce conjured six golden magic patterns in the void, which reflected in the sky in sequence:
"First: All disciples of this temple are not allowed to fight privately."
"If you harbor grudges or desire to fight, you must go to the [Duel Floating Platform] belonging to the Annihilation Star Hall, where an elder will preside over an oath and you will sign a life-or-death soul crystal. You may then engage in a life-or-death duel, but you are strictly forbidden from harboring any murderous intent outside the palace!"
"Anyone who violates this rule, regardless of the reason, will have their soul and body stripped away!"
At the edge of the square, a young man who had just entered the Annihilation Source Realm changed his expression slightly, swallowing the words he was about to say. The surrounding crowd also held their breath—they knew very well that "signing for the Life and Death Soul Crystal" was no child's play.
"Secondly: Within the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall, there are numerous Cultivation Art Hall, artifact storage halls, array classics pavilions, and alchemy platforms."
Outer disciples need to accumulate quest points to enter.
"However, inner disciples and core disciples may freely enter, study, borrow, and practice."
"This is the greatest foundation that this hall bestows upon mid-level cultivators, and it is also the true ladder for you to advance Realm Breaking."
Upon hearing this, Luo Huan raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly, "It seems I can finally step into the artifact arsenal I've coveted for so many years."
Qin Yu, however, remained unmoved, his mind subtly contemplating the "Destiny Artifact: Annihilation Brush Divine Diagram".
Elder Yan Ce his sleeve, and the third Annihilation Gold Rune appeared, his tone growing increasingly heavy:
Third: The Rules of the Limitless Evolving True Flow.
"As you all know, this is a unique Origin Framework energy found only in the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer, permeating the logic of the universe."
"Though it is the power of a saint, it is also a tide of soul destruction."
His tone was slightly deep, but an overwhelming pressure suddenly surged forth:
"Those below the Chaos Realm, without protective factors, will inevitably suffer a collapse of their destiny, annihilation of their sea of consciousness, and failure to reconstruct their soul if they absorb more than three strands of these factors in a single day."
Those below the Stainless Realm must be extremely cautious.
Below the plaza, some disciples couldn't help but gasp softly.
"Only three strands... I greedily tried five strands yesterday. If it weren't for the self-locking array, I'm afraid I would already be..."
"This Evolving True Flow... it's not just dangerous, it's the poison of the gods!"
"Article Four - Limitless Resonance Crystal."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Ce his finger, and a spinning hexagonal crystal phantom slowly appeared in the sky.
The crystal was as black as night, its outer edge refracting the rainbow of the universe and the silver light of stars. Inside, there were light patterns like a galaxy flowing, sometimes contracting and sometimes expanding, as if it were vibrating the essence of space at a faint frequency.
"This crystal is called the [Limitless Resonance Crystal]."
"Born from the Source of Epochless in the middle-level deep domain, it contains true flow resonance factors, which can increase a cultivator's upper limit of true flow absorption by three times."
Each crystal is for single use only.
"Those who merge with the sea of consciousness will experience no backlash or soul-destroying danger when the true flow permeates their body."
"However—if one's will is not firm, there is a risk of backlash and collapse."
Qin Yu's gaze sharpened, Azure Ring murmured in her sea of consciousness:
"This thing is... interesting."
Yan Ce added:
"A single person can fuse up to ten at the same time, which allows them to absorb up to thirty times the original amount."
"Therefore, the Limitless Resonance Crystal is one of the most precious consumable resources in the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer, and core disciples of the inner sect all use it as the cornerstone of their souls and lives."
"If you obtain the complete crystal, you can exchange it for a hundred top-tier cultivation techniques and ten soul weapons."
Even if it's just a fragment—it's priceless.
A fifth golden magic rune reappeared in the void:
Fifth: Resonance Crystal Fragment.
"This substance represents the fragmented form of a complete crystal; ten fragments combine to form one crystal."
"However—the synthesis ceremony must be performed in the middle layer area, guided by the protection of the Evolving True Flow Main Array."
Those with weak will and unstable souls will inevitably suffer the backlash from the fragments.
Therefore, although collecting is easy, synthesizing is perilous, and only one in ten thousand succeeds.
Yan Ce a deep breath, his voice booming like a bell, resounding throughout the entire venue:
"Sixth, and most fundamental rule."
"Outer disciples are required to collect [one Resonance Crystal Fragment] each month for this hall to gather and forge the Fate Soul Array Tower."
"Inner disciples and core disciples -- not mandatory."
"But you will participate in deeper levels of exploration, combat, and logical deduction."
"Every journey carries both opportunity and destruction."
"This is the price you pay—and also the starting point of your true growth."
As soon as he finished speaking, the six golden runes suddenly converged, like six stars returning to their positions, imprinting themselves on the top of the entire Fate Soul Divine Altar.
Elder Yan Ce's figure hovered high, his expression solemn, his gaze sweeping over the crowd one last time:
"The rules are hereby established and shall take effect."
"Everyone, remember this."
Below the square, thousands of disciples bowed in unison.
"I will obey Elder Yan Ce's orders!"
The sea of consciousness trembled, the orbit of destiny resonated, and amidst the vast starlight, the true sequence laws of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall had fully taken effect.
Qin Yu's gaze, however, had already turned towards the distant depths of space—
The Source of Epochless, Deep Within the Middle Layer, A Place Where True Flows Drift.