In the Radiant Heaven Imperial Capital, amidst the shimmering light of countless phenomena, the Source Light Flowing Abyss Restaurant, nestled amidst layers of glazed palaces, exudes the aroma of wine and the graceful figures of jade figures flitting about. Inside the golden steps and jade hall, Qin Yu sits quietly on a crystal-patterned dining table, with Azure Ring sitting beside him, her Qingyi robes reflecting the light, her eyes sparkling like stars, like a celestial child with divine eyes. A pot of Flaming Honey Wine warms his lips and teeth, when suddenly a soft voice comes from the next table.
"I saw you weren't alone at the Radiant Abyss Fate Splendor Hall a few days ago, why are you here alone today?"
The voice Wenwan as the wind, clear as jade, and carried a hint of a soft laugh.
He remained expressionless, smiled faintly, and said, "Oh, they are my senior brothers and sisters. They brought me to the Radiant Heaven Imperial Capital for the first time a few days ago."
Hong Xiuxiang nodded and gave a soft "hmm," her tone gentle. "Oh... you're a disciple of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall, right? Judging from your attire, you should be an inner disciple."
Qin Yu nodded readily. "Yes, that's right. Miss Hong is from the Dawn Cloud First Hall, right? My senior sister told me that the other day."
A slight smile played on Hong Xiuxiang's lips as she said, "Yes, our Dawn Cloud First Hall only has female disciples; we don't have a single male disciple... That's what makes our Dawn Cloud First Hall unique."
Qin Yu calmly placed the Flame Honey Wine down, his gaze serene yet hinting at a probing intent. He smiled and said, "I've only met Miss Hong once, and that was at the auction. I wonder why you're approaching me now..."
Hong Xiuxiang smiled slyly, picked up the glass cup beside her, took a small sip, and said, "Young master, you flatter me. I simply noticed the petite woman in Qingyi beside you... Shengshi is lovely and lively, so I wanted to get to know her."
Qin Yu's gaze softened, and he gently turned to look at Azure Ring. He saw her holding a wine cup, sipping it with relish, her eyes filled with a satisfied smile, a trace of amber wine still clinging to her lips, as lively as a little animal stealing honey. He turned back, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said gently:
"My name is Qin Yu, and this is my partner, named Qingyi."
Their eyes met, a subtle exchange silently falling beneath the Starlight Palace...
Qin Yu's thoughts shifted slightly, his gaze sweeping over Azure Ring. She was currently holding a small glass cup in her hands, her face flushed as she muttered, "This wine is even better than the last jar." He couldn't help but chuckle, thinking to himself:
"Petite... Hahaha... She is indeed petite and delicate. After transforming into human form, she looks so adorable that you want to pat her head. But... if anyone were to truly anger her, she would probably Annihilation them instantly, leaving no possibility of their existence."
Just then, Hong Xiuxiang, sitting opposite, lightly flicked her sleeves and looked over with a smile, but there was a hint of solemnity in her eyes.
"Young Master Qin is indeed extraordinary, worthy of being an inner disciple personally recruited by the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall." She parted her lips slightly, then changed the subject. "I actually have something to ask you, Young Master Qin, would you be willing to listen?"
Qin Yu remained calm and gestured for her to speak, saying, "Please speak, Miss Hong."
Hong Xiuxiang smiled slightly, a hint of scrutiny, yet also certainty, flashing in her eyes. "Did Young Master Young Master Qin notice the three people with golden shadows who walked in from outside just now?"
Her tone lowered slightly, "These three appear calm on the surface, but they are actually of extraordinary origin. A few days ago, I personally witnessed them conducting an extremely secret transaction with an elder of the Soul-Devouring Demon Sect in a secluded room in the backyard of Star Radiance Market. Although I dared not get too close, the soul aura displayed by that elder was exactly the same as the secret technique of the Soul-Devouring Demon Sect that I had seen in the ancient books."
Qin Yu's eyes narrowed, his heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface, only raising an eyebrow slightly as he said, "Miss Hong seems to be very perceptive about these kinds of things."
Hong Xiuxiang took a small sip of wine and replied slowly, "Young Master Qin's mission to the Exterminate the Soul-Devouring Devil Palace has become a legend within the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall. To be able to complete such an almost impossible task alone... to be honest, I admire him very much."
She paused slightly, then chuckled softly, "But... I wonder if Young Master Qin is curious as to how I know all this?"
Qin Yu's gaze swept over her like a sword, but his tone remained calm. "I do have some doubts. Miss Hong, you are not a disciple of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall, so how do you know about the mission I accepted and the inside story of its completion?"
Hong Xiuxiang remained calm, gently tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear with her delicate hand. "This... Young Master Qin need not worry too much. Although I am a disciple of the Dawn Cloud First Hall, I have a close friend of many years who is now a core disciple of your esteemed hall. From her, I naturally learned of Young Master Qin's exploits... You single-handedly fought against the three major branches, the Annihilation Nether Soul Venerable, and even escaped from the Soul-Devouring Devil Palace; it is truly admirable."
Her eyes flickered slightly, she paused, and then added softly, "Of course, if Young Master Qin minds, Hong Xiuxiang will immediately keep quiet."
Qin Yu did not respond immediately, but simply gazed at the other person calmly, a sharp glint and vigilance flashing deep in his eyes.
At this moment, the Source Light Flowing Abyss Restaurant was as bustling as ever, with thousands of starlight-studded lights illuminating the myriad lives of people. Amidst this clamor, a wisp of red shadow from the Dawn Cloud First Hall had quietly drawn a thread into a deeper vortex...
Qin Yu frowned slightly, his gaze darkened, and his tone was calm yet tinged with inquiry:
"Could it be that Miss Hong wants to investigate those three people from Jin Huigaoying?"
Hong Xiuxiang's eyes lit up, and a look of admiration appeared on her face. "Young Master Qin is indeed exceptionally intelligent; your words hit the nail on the head."
She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice to reveal an undeniable caution and vigilance. "Indeed, I do suspect they have something to do with each other... From my observation, those three come from a hidden mortal city in the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer. Their location isn't even registered in the Epoch Origin's records, yet powerful figures have been frequently seen entering and leaving in the past few months, indicating a turbulent undercurrent."
Her gaze was deep, and she exhaled softly. "And my bolder speculation is that they may have long been secretly colluding with the Soul-Devouring Demon Sect. They offered that mortal main city to one of the elders of the Soul-Devouring Palace as a Soul Foundation in exchange for the secret techniques passed down by the Soul-Devouring Demon Sect."
At this point, Hong Xiuxiang paused, then added in a low voice, "It is said that such a secret technique is extremely rare, completely different from the Soul Arts we commonly see. It belongs to a Limit bizarre path—it can 'strip' another person's soul consciousness, cause and effect, and logic, and transform them into one's own use."
"And this is only the surface..."
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and her voice grew even colder. "It is said that this secret technique can Soul Transformation consciousness several times over in a short period of time, and greatly accelerate the absorption speed of the Limitless Evolving True Flow. Although the effect is ultimately not as good as the real Limitless Resonance Crystal, this method of 'self-superimposed Spiritual Sense's can almost be used to pile up one's soul power realm... If it falls into the hands of an ambitious person, the consequences will be unimaginable."
Qin Yu's expression remained unchanged, but a cold glint quietly appeared in his eyes.
"The stripping and transformation of soul consciousness, causality, and logic..." he murmured, "If such a method truly exists, once it takes shape, its essence is already close to altering the soul's destiny... This is no ordinary technique, but rather touches the boundary of Soul Annihilation- level secret art."
Hong Xiuxiang nodded gently, her tone becoming earnest. "Young Master Qin, I haven't told anyone about this. Firstly, there's no conclusive evidence yet; secondly... if Young Master Qin hadn't independently completed the task of eradicating the Soul-Devouring Sect, I wouldn't have dared to speak of it rashly."
"So, I just want to ask one question—if there's an opportunity to find out their true intentions... would Young Master Qin be willing to cooperate with me?"
Her gaze was sincere, carrying a hint of trusting inquiry, while the surrounding noise of the restaurant seemed to fade away at that moment.
On the table, the amber light of the honey-infused liquor flowed slowly, illuminating a ripple of fate, yet to be revealed, as the two gazed at each other...
Qin Yu gazed quietly into Hong Xiuxiang's clear, untainted eyes, yet a turbulent feeling stirred within him.
"This Miss Hong doesn't seem to be spouting nonsense," he thought to himself. "When I faced the Soul-Devouring Demon Sect Master head-on at the Unshining Cliff, I did indeed sense an extremely strange power that distorted soul consciousness... That power seemed capable of tearing apart an individual's Spiritual Sense structure and forcibly reconstructing the trajectory of their Fate Soul. If what she says is true, the Demon Sect has actually passed on such bizarre secret techniques to outsiders—that hidden mid-level mortal settlement in the main city... it has probably already become a living testing ground."
Thinking of this, a chill crept into Qin Yu's eyes.
"If this method falls into the hands of evildoers, the entire Source of Epochless · Middle Layer, and even those children who have not yet embarked on the path of cultivation, will become the cheapest sacrifices."
He sighed softly, raised his eyes, and calmly spoke:
"Since Miss Hong treats me with such sincerity and thinks so highly of me, then Qin Yu will not refuse. If such evil and wicked magic truly exists, I am willing to work with you to eliminate this scourge and rid the people of this scourge."
Hong Xiuxiang's eyes lit up, she chuckled softly, and nodded slightly:
"Then on behalf of those ordinary people who are still struggling in the shadows, I would like to thank Young Master Qin for his sense of justice."
She immediately suppressed her smile, her tone becoming cautious. "However... those three are no ordinary people. One of them seems to have practiced the Soul Concealment and Cause Sealing Secret Art, which allows him to shield himself from causal deduction. If we act forcefully, it would easily alert them. Right now, the most important thing is to finalize the plan... Young Master Qin, if you don't mind, could you come with me to leave this place first, and we can discuss this in detail at my residence?"
She finished speaking, her voice not loud, but carrying an aura of composure and confidence.
Qin Yu nodded slightly, about to respond, when he turned his head and saw Azure Ring, who was eating with a satisfied expression, patting her slightly bulging belly, with a trace of golden honey still on the corner of her mouth, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons.
Qin Yu smiled inwardly, then turned his gaze to her, casting a gentle yet clear look – retreat.
Azure Ring immediately understood. Her cheeks puffed out, and with a smirk, she transformed into a streak of azure light, silently entering Qin Yu's sea of consciousness and disappearing without a trace.
Qin Yu then turned around and said calmly, "Please."
With a gentle smile, Hong Xiuxiang turned around, her clothes fluttering, like a wisp of crimson cloud drifting through the crowd.
Avoiding the bustling noise of the guests, the two quietly left the Source Light Flowing Abyss Restaurant, deliberately avoiding the crowds, and walked further and further away, heading straight for the Dawn Cloud First Hall's residence on the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer.
At that moment, no one noticed that inconspicuous cultivators at a table in the corner were watching the two depart, their expressions cold and stern, a deep, Soul Annihilation flickering in their eyes...
The setting sun casts its rays, making the evening glow resemble flowing gold.
Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang traversed the bustling streets of Radiant Heaven Imperial Capital, finally arriving at the deepest corner of the capital. There were no noisy crowds or imposing guards there, but rather a tranquil fairyland that transcended the mortal world— Dawn Cloud First Hall.
The Dawn Cloud First Hall, named after the Heavenly Emanation, is said to be the place where the first rays of dawn condensed in the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer. Every brick and stone in the palace contains the radiance of nature, and every petal of flower shadow carries the original wish of the gods.
Upon entering the mountain gate, an arched bridge spans the emerald waters. Water cascades down from beneath the gilded shimmering gate, transforming into a crystalline waterfall that plunges into the azure pool below, creating sparkling, star-like splashes. Beside the bridge, two ancient cherry trees are in full bloom, their petals falling like snowflakes onto the water's surface without dispersing, naturally floating on the pool and forming a circular pattern.
At the end of the bridge stands an intricately carved, domed temple built of divine jade, with nine pillars supporting the sky, entwined with vines, their gold and green hues intertwined; the dome's arch is carved with totems of thousands of divine birds, and at this moment, dozens of white-feathered spirit doves take flight, dancing in the sky and golden light, reflecting a dazzling array of flames.
Sunlight streamed through the floating, luminous round windows into the plaza in front of the palace, transforming into dappled patterns that spread across the ground. These patterns formed a regular array, resembling the imprints of the laws of heaven and earth, seemingly capable of invoking some hidden rules to operate here.
Further inside, a jade platform, like a cloud staircase, winds its way up to a crystal palace suspended in mid-air. The palace is surrounded by colorful clouds, gently supported by auspicious clouds, resembling a celestial kingdom. The entire palace floats in the air, yet it is not unstable at all. Instead, it seems as if heaven and earth have yielded to it, and the dimensions have become curved as a result.
A sea of flowers surged in from both sides, with pink, purple, soft gold, and silver-blue plants blooming in a variety of colors, seemingly belonging to different seasons and worlds, yet coexisting and thriving together. Fairy butterflies and bees among the flowers danced slowly, born from the light, their bodies faintly emanating an almost invisible spiritual aura.
Qin Yu on the arched bridge at the palace gate, gazing into the distance, his eyes narrowing slightly.
This place is neither a palace for ordinary people nor a sect; it has become its own "goddess's domain"—gentle yet solemn, dreamlike yet austere.
"Young Master Qin, please." Hong Xiuxiang softly, her robes flowing like clouds. Her figure in this dazzling place seemed like a ray of light that had always existed here.
Qin Yu nodded slightly, but his mind was already on guard.
Within the Dawn Cloud First Hall, though beauty abounds and wonders are found at every turn, the more dreamlike and perfect it is, the more... its power lies hidden.