Sworn to Annihilation · No Return to Source Allowed

Deep within the Desolate Annihilation Secret Realm, in a secluded space, Azure Ring's voice echoed once more in Qin Yu's sea of consciousness, carrying an incomparably solemn and heavy resonance. That voice was not mere words, but a "source sound" flowing from the deepest paradox of the universe's origin, as if every word was accompanied by the collapse and rebirth of galaxies, the distortion and reset of spacetime.

Azure Ring spoke slowly, as if recounting her own epic existence:

"At the moment of my birth, within my endless cycle—the metaphysical source of the universe—all realms and existences arise as projections of myself. When the abyss of the Black Gold Ring devours the impurities of the void, a 'golden radiance' unfolds. That is the purest light of the Dao Source, the perfect essence born from the ring's cycle."

As Azure Ring narrated, the world before Qin Yu seemed to transform into a chaotic, deep-space illusion. Black Gold Ring stretched across the void, its rotation intertwining with the Black Abyss and golden radiance. A golden sphere of light rose from the ring's center, initially faint, but expanding continuously after absorbing endless ring power, its surface displaying countless illusions: stars arising from nothingness and then dissipating into radiance, the birth and death of all things in the universe reflected like quicksand.

As the core of the sphere of light gradually solidified, the outline of a phantom immortal slowly took shape: he wore a vacuum crown and a flowing Origin Robe, with golden-blue Dao patterns running across the robe. Each Dao pattern seemed to be the brushstroke of the origin of the universe, writing the Supreme perfection of "Dao".

Azure Ring's voice was deep and cold. "That is the prototype of the Source Dao Supreme Return Emperor. It was not created, but 'awakened' from my golden radiance, as the 'perfect embodiment of the Dao,' wielding the All-Returning Realm of Supreme. It transforms the golden radiance into boundless perfection, returning all birth and death, coming and going, to the source."

The scene suddenly exploded, Qin Yu seemed to see a golden-blue empire being built in the surrounding shadow: countless legions of light surged out from the vortex of the Dao Source, holding the Blade of Return to Origin, their runes flashing like pages of a narrative book. That was the Supreme Return to Source Legion, the embodiment of the will of the Source Dao Supreme Return Emperor.

Azure Ring's voice suddenly turned cold, filled with hatred and desolation. "At the moment it reached its complete perfection, it launched a backlash against me... It released 'Supreme Dao Fusion - Return to Endless Realm.' That was its most terrifying power."

In an instant, a devastating scene flashed through Qin Yu's mind: a golden halo spread from the Source Dao Supreme Return Emperor, the timeline was flipped like pages, the causal chain was twisted, and the narrative itself was rewritten. Countless possibilities and memories fell in the light, transforming into chapters of the "Returned Path." The future, the past, and even the "possibilities of narration" themselves were forcibly erased.

"Want to write my name? The name arises from the Way, it has already returned to inexhaustible, its narrative Beginningless."

It was a declaration, so cold it was suffocating.

"The Supreme, and all things return to it."

"Thoughts, boundaries, and narratives all originate from a source and ultimately return to perfection."

"Only the higher path can break through to the source; all others are the eternal Tao."

Azure Ring's voice was heavy with grief, trembling like never before. "It used this power to utterly Annihilation me. My ring shattered, my power fragmented into source light reactions. At that moment, all my will, remnants, fragments, molecules, and dark matter were annihilated into nothingness. But... I did not completely disappear. My Non-Existence will, in the process of disintegration and rebirth, re-condensed, and finally transformed into you— Qin Yu. You are my final continuation, the 'transformation' of all my remaining will."

At this moment, Azure Ring's voice was no longer just a calm narration, but carried an overwhelming hatred and obsession that could not be concealed.

"Qin Yu, you are me... and also the bearer of my vengeance. My deepest grudge will be avenged!"

The heavens and earth suddenly trembled, and it seemed as if countless fragmented shouts and primordial sounds echoed from the depths of Qin Yu's sea of consciousness, surrounding Azure Ring's vow, causing Qin Yu's heart and soul to ache in waves.

The silhouette of Source Dao Supreme Return Emperor gradually became clear in Qin Yu's sea of consciousness.

The appearance of the Source Dao Supreme Return Emperor is like an invisible yet omnipresent phantom of the Origin Stream.

The main body is a semi-transparent tai chi-shaped vortex, with an eternally rotating, endless source at its center (symbolizing the origin of the Tao).

Gold and silver Dao patterns flowed along the edge of the vortex, representing the perfect cycle of existence and non-existence, birth and death. Its "body" was not a fixed form.

Instead, it changes according to the challenger's perception: to mortals, it is like a majestic mountain range of the Source Dao, with countless phantoms of birth and death appearing and disappearing at its peak;

To a higher being, it transforms into an infinitely expanding source, devouring all frameworks. The entire entity radiates a soft yet oppressive golden light, and Daoist runes (such as "Tao," "Return," and "Source") frequently appear on its surface. These runes move like living beings.

Symbolizing a dynamic balance of perfection. Faceless and eyeless, yet with countless "eyes" of light, peering into the essence of the challenger, conveying a silent judgment of "having returned to Supreme".

Azure Ring's hatred was now burning directly on Qin Yu.

Qin Yu, just now... I felt it.

Her tone was unlike her usual coldness; instead, it carried an extremely rare solemnity and pressure, as if forcibly shoving the presence of "hostility" into Qin Yu's heart. What followed was a suffocating hallucination—

The void tore open, revealing a vast and solemn legion arrayed in perfect formation.

Azure Ring spoke slowly, her voice carrying a trembling, ancient memory:

"That is its first army— the Dao Shadow Soldier. A basic combat unit, yet it has already surpassed the Limit of most of the strongest beings in the temples."

The images became increasingly clear in Qin Yu's mind. The illusory battle figures, each about two meters tall, had slender and perfectly streamlined bodies. Their heads had no facial features, only a burning golden-blue "Dao Flame," like an inextinguishable, perfect origin. Their bodies were composed of semi-transparent energy streams, with runes flowing across their surfaces like a sea of stars—"Dao," "Return," "Source"—each flash bringing a suffocating sense of philosophical oppression.

Their armor was as thin as gauze, with gold and silver interwoven like liquid metal covering their entire bodies, radiating a flowing, ethereal light, yet making no sound. Each Dao Shadow Soldier wielded a "Origin-Returning Blade"—a sharp blade formed from invisible streams of light, each swing accompanied by a deep Dao chant, like the trembling of the deepest rhythm of the universe.

As they moved, golden ribbons trailed behind them. What appeared in those ribbons were not simple afterimages, but illusions of the birth and death of stars and the cycle of life, as if their very existence was the manifestation of the "cycle of the Tao." When the slashes fell, golden-blue ripples spread out, and the targets hit were instantly "reverted" to particles, merging into the legion's energy field and becoming part of this perfect unity.

Azure Ring's voice grew increasingly cold and sharp. "They are immortal. When injured, their bodies dissipate into a stream of energy, only to reunite in the Supreme realm the next moment. That is the eternal cycle of the Dao, which can only be broken by truly transcendent power."

A chill crept up Qin Yu's back. He could almost hear the echoes of the illusory warriors marching in unison, like a surging tide, making his heart tremble.

Azure Ring paused briefly before continuing with the most crucial part, "They appeared right where we fought before. Do you understand what that means? At that moment, my presence was exposed. Although it only absorbed half of my power and couldn't pinpoint my exact location, it could still sense my remaining existence. It kept searching for me, trying to completely devour me."

At this moment, Qin Yu sensed an unprecedented tension deep within Azure Ring's voice; her words pierced his mind like steel needles.

"When the Heavenly Emanation Treasure Realm unleashed its Blue Ring state at its Limit last time, I sensed that it had completed its evolution and created its own legion. The Dao Shadow Soldier were just the first echelon... Its pursuit has never ceased. Just now... it was because you released the Silent Realm Returns to the Beginning - Fate's Existence Completely Covers All that their aftershocks were captured. Thus, its first army has finally appeared for the first time."

Qin Yu's heart trembled heavily. The illusions flashing before his eyes gradually solidified into an oppressive fact—the image of countless Dao Shadow Soldier arrayed in neat formation was not merely an illusion, but a real reflection of a future threat.

Azure Ring's last words were low and cold, filled with an uncontrollable killing intent and determination:

"Qin Yu, remember this: from this moment on, we are being watched. My vengeance... your vengeance... has been reignited."

A deep, resonant chant seemed to emanate from the air, as if the legion were traversing endless void, closing in.

The void between heaven and earth seemed to freeze, Azure Ring's words struck Qin Yu's heart like a heavy hammer.

He remained silent for a long time, his gaze deep as if looking into an endless abyss of chaos, before finally speaking slowly, his voice low and solemn, carrying an undeniable worry. "... What do we do now? With my current cultivation level, I'm no match for it at all."

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding air seemed to grow even colder. Hong Xiuxiang was standing to the side, glanced at him. Although she hadn't heard Azure Ring's voice, she could sense an unprecedented heaviness in Qin Yu's expression.

Within Qin Yu's sea of consciousness, Azure Ring's figure slowly emerged, her azure radiance now exuding solemnity and coldness. Her voice, each word carrying the unwavering resolve and ruthlessness inherited from ancient times, spoke with profound clarity.

"Right now, it... can't fully locate me, much less know—that I am you, and you are me."

As these words fell, Qin Yu's heart trembled, as if the world itself shook.

Azure Ring continued, her tone low but firm. "What it senses is only the fluctuation of my remaining will, not your true essence, Qin Yu. As long as we hide carefully, it won't find you immediately. But remember, this time is limited; it will keep closing in."

An Azure Ring light surged within Qin Yu's sea of consciousness, like a flowing galaxy. Qinghuan's voice gradually grew as resonant as metal. "Therefore, our only goal is to exert all our strength to improve our cultivation. Whether it's you or me, we must break through again and again in the shortest possible time. Only when I fully awaken and return to my final Black Gold Ring form will it be possible to completely Annihilation it—to completely erase it."

As these words were spoken, the heavens and earth seemed to resonate with a profound echo. Qin Yu's heartbeat overlapped with Azure Ring's voice, booming like a war drum, shaking his blood and soul.

Qin Yu clenched his fists tightly, blood seeping from his palms. He took a deep breath, raised his head, and his eyes were no longer filled with the confusion and bewilderment of before, but with a burning flame.

"... I see."

Silence reigned all around, broken only by the thunderous roar of his heart and Azure Ring's resounding vow, which seemed to echo endlessly in the boundless void:

"Only the complete return of the Black Gold Ring can annihilate everything!"

Hong Xiuxiang watched Qin Yu silently. She had never seen him show such an expression before—his brows were furrowed, and the depth in his eyes seemed to bear the weight of the entire universe. The radiance of the Azure Ring gradually faded, and Qin Yu's consciousness returned to reality. His gaze regained its clarity, but it still carried a lingering chilling aura.

Hong Xiuxiang's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Senior Brother Qin... do you know something?"

Her tone was tentative, tinged with worry, and her eyes, clear as a spring, peered into Qin Yu's, trying to uncover the secrets in his heart.

Qin Yu paused slightly, then gently shook his head, refraining from revealing Azure Ring's true identity and the terrifying truth. His voice was steady yet cautious. "I just... sensed an extremely dangerous presence approaching. That oppressive aura is no ordinary opponent; we must be even more careful."

Hong Xiuxiang gazed at him, wanting to ask more, but when she saw the calm and resolute light in Qin Yu's eyes, she swallowed her words. She nodded gently. "I understand."

The surroundings remained the deathly stillness of the Desolate Annihilation Secret Realm, shrouded in a gray mist that seemed poised to unleash unpredictable and terrifying beings at any moment. Qin Yu's gaze was deep as he stared at the boundless mist in the distance, his heart clenching into a fist.

Azure Ring is right... We must be faster, we must be stronger. Otherwise, once we are completely locked on, there will be no way out.

Qin Yu stood alone at the edge of a desolate, misty wasteland, his gaze as deep as a bottomless well, unmoved even by the slightest tremor in the void. Yet, a storm raged within him.

Azure Ring's words still echoed in his ears— the Dao Shadow Soldier had appeared, and the gaze of the Source Dao Supreme Return Emperor had pierced through the endless void, beginning its search...

That was an absolute threat that transcended all realms. Qin Yu knew very well that once he was captured by those Dao Shadow Soldiers, once his existence was relocked by the Source Dao Supreme Return Emperor, what awaited him would not be a simple death, but a complete deletion and merging—his will, Fate Soul, cause and effect, every trace of his existence would be swallowed up in that endless cycle, becoming the offspring of the ring, with no self, no future.

Thinking of this, names flashed through Qin Yu's mind:

Qian Ruishan, those firm yet gentle eyes;

Mu Qingwan, the figure who once fought alongside me;

Yan Yue, that existence that is inextricably intertwined with her own Fate Soul.

If they are devoured, everything they have will be destroyed because of them.

Qin Yu slowly closed his eyes, a cold yet resolute vow forming in his mind:

"I must not fall into its hands. Even the slightest trace of cause and effect being captured would mean the Annihilation of everyone and all beliefs along with me. I must be Ultimate cautious and leave no loophole."

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze now devoid of any hesitation, instead revealing a chilling coldness.

"At the same time, I must be faster... stronger! Regardless of the cost or the method, I must accelerate my cultivation. Only when the Azure Ring is fully awakened, and the power of the Black Gold Ring returns, will I be qualified to contend with the Source Dao Supreme Return Emperor. Otherwise, it will all be empty talk."

At this moment, Qin Yu's aura did not surge, yet he gave Hong Xiuxiang an indescribable sense of oppression. His figure in the mist was like a divine sword yet to be drawn, its sharpness not yet revealed, but enough to make the heavens and earth tremble.

Hong Xiuxiang gazed at him quietly, feeling a moment of disorientation, as if she were seeing the depth and aloofness of the man before her for the first time.

In this Desolate Annihilation Secret Realm and boundless wasteland, Qin Yu's will had been completely tempered into iron.