The Gray-White Bookless Hall · Graveyard of Narratives

The interior of the Annihilation Ancient Divine Palace instantly shocked everyone.

The moment you step through the palace gates, it's as if you've traversed millions of years of time, and a breathtaking view unfolds before you. Here, there is no simple palace layout, but a magnificent world that transcends time and space—the palace itself is a universe in itself.

High above, countless shattered stars floated in the dome, each burning with a purple-gold flame, like ancient, undying lamps of the Dao Source, casting vast shadows. The palace walls were not made of stone, but of "Ancient Annihilation Steles" inscribed with billions of runes. The runes flowed like a tide, sometimes shining, sometimes dimming, as if breathing. Each rune contained the dual will of annihilation and rebirth, as if telling the oldest secrets of the Source of Epochless.

The ground beneath your feet is not solid stone bricks, but countless gray-white bones solidified. Each "brick" is engraved with the spirit of a lost era, radiating a cold and eerie light. Stepping on it, you can clearly feel a chilling tremor, as if the lingering thoughts of those ancient beings are still whispering.

In the center is an endless corridor, flanked by towering stone statues, all incarnations of unknown ancient gods: some wielding celestial swords, others carrying galaxies on their backs, and still others gazing down upon all living beings with faceless forms. The pupils of these statues are not carved, but rather inlaid with real fragments of the universe, occasionally flickering as if they were alive, staring at the intruders.

Further away, ninety-nine grand halls lay layer upon layer, interwoven like palaces in a starry river, connected by floating "bone bridges." Each hall exuded an aura completely isolated from the outside world, as if each were its own little world, sealing away different opportunities and terrors. Occasionally, glints of light could be seen shining from some of the halls, as if treasures were breathing, attracting the attention of all cultivators.

Ancient bells echoed continuously in the space, deep and solemn, as if reminding all intruders: this is not a place of chance, but a judgment ground of antiquity.

At this moment, Hong Xiuxiang and the women of the Dawn Cloud First Hall held their breath, not daring to say a word, their eyes cautiously scanning their surroundings. Even Elder Liu Mei, from their group, had an extremely solemn expression.

Qin Yu gazed silently at the ninety-nine grand halls in the distance, a sharp and composed glint in his eyes. While the other disciples were completely captivated by the "spectacle and treasure" before them, he remained calm, subtly sensing the hidden danger lurking in the area.

The interior of the Annihilation Ancient Divine Palace is not merely a treasure trove, but a living forbidden zone.

The ninety-nine halls do not share a unified style; rather, they seem to symbolize various segments of the Source of Epochless from its birth to its decline, with each hall forming its own world.

The first hall, closest to the center, is entirely black, as if it were built from the fragments of countless collapsed stars. The runes engraved above the gate flicker with the afterglow of World Extinguisher. It is called the [Annihilation Soul Hall]. What emanates from the hall is not an aura, but a whisper that makes one's soul tremble. Those who approach will hear the sound of their own death, as if their Fate Soul is written in advance here.

The second hall floats in mid-air, pieced together from countless flowing fragments of stars. The hall's outline is sometimes clear, sometimes distorted, as if alternating between existence and nothingness. Named the [Void Abyss Hall], it contains the energy of causal reversal. Legend has it that those who enter it will experience a thousand births and deaths in an instant, and if their will is not firm enough, they will be completely reduced to a phantom.

The third hall rises like an endless ancient stele, towering into the sky. Countless characters are inscribed on its surface, but none can be deciphered, as if they were taboos carved by ancient gods in the language of annihilation. The hall is named the [Forbidden Book Hall]. Once you step inside, all your memories will be transformed into words and imprinted on the stele's walls, and the slightest carelessness will strip you of your self.

Continuing to gaze into the distance, ninety-nine palaces emerge one after another, each existing in an incredible way:

Some of the main halls are suspended above inverted waterfalls, which are not water, but rather flowing particles of time;

Some grand halls are buried in a vast wasteland of white bones, the palaces and bone mountains becoming one, as if the guardians of the halls are the heroic spirits of countless races that have long since died;

Some of the grand halls floated in the center of the purple sea of lightning, their doors tightly shut, yet lightning relentlessly bombarded the walls, each boom bringing with it a destructive force.

The deepest, ninety-ninth hall was completely shrouded in a layer of chaotic mist, its outline invisible. The space in that area constantly collapsed and reassembled, sometimes revealing the shadows of three halls, sometimes just a pitch-black void. All cultivators who merely glanced at it felt excruciating pain in their eyes and their sea of consciousness shatter.

Among the crowd, disciples from different temples gleamed with greed, whispering amongst themselves:

These palaces must hold unparalleled opportunities!

"If one could obtain its inheritance, it would be enough to sweep through the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer!"

"Even the most ordinary hall is far superior to the most precious treasures in our temple!"

Hong Xiuxiang stood beside Qin Yu, her eyes showing shock, but even more so calmness and vigilance. She whispered, "Senior Brother Qin, this place... is probably more dangerous than we imagined."

Qin Yu nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the ninety-nine halls, a chill already rising in his heart. What others saw were treasures and inheritances; but what he saw were countless lives lost here, blood and souls.

The Ninety-Nine Palaces are not a gift, but an endless trial and selection process.

The Ninety-Nine Palaces of the Annihilation Ancient Divine Palace are as silent as tombs, yet radiate boundless light. The palaces float in the void, seemingly selecting those who come with an invisible force.

At this moment, Elder Liu Mei of the Dawn Cloud First Hall swept her gaze around like water, a restrained light flashing in her eyes, and slowly said, "Follow me."

At her command, Hong Xiuxiang and the female disciples of the Dawn Cloud First Hall immediately concealed their auras. Their robes fluttered like colorful clouds, and the group neatly parted the void, flying towards a temple that resembled flowing crystal. The temple was like a solidified celestial river, its outer walls shimmering with countless iridescent colors. It seemed that every point of light was the dream of millions of women, resonating with the unique aura of the Dawn Cloud First Hall. This temple seemed to have been created just for them.

"Miss Hong, let's go with the elder." Qin Yu turned to look at her and nodded slightly. Hong Xiuxiang's gaze lingered on Qin Yu. Although she was reluctant, she finally nodded. She knew that this place was fraught with danger, and if she could follow the sect elder, her chances of survival would be greater.

As they flew further away, their figures disappeared before the gates of the Dreamcolor Flow Hall. A faint buzzing sound echoed in the void, as the palace was testing the qualifications of those who entered.

On the other side, Qin Yu's figure pierced the sky alone.

He did not follow any faction, nor did he approach the direction of other disciples. His divine sense had already captured a unique palace: it stood silently above the chaotic vortex, the palace had no physical form, and its entire body was a gray-white phantom, as if countless unwritten histories were piled up. The palace door was tightly closed, yet it constantly exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression.

This is the [Bookless Hall].

Above the palace gate, there are no inscriptions or carvings, only a blank stele, as if waiting for someone to Fate Book.

"This palace... does not possess the aura of any God Clan." Qin Yu's gaze was profound, and the Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword in his sea of consciousness trembled slightly, as if it had sensed some kind of resonance.

Disciples from other forces nearby also noticed the hall, but as soon as they approached, they would instinctively feel a chill, and even their breathing would become labored. Only Qin Yu remained steadfast in his resolve, and his figure flew towards the gray-white phantom hall without the slightest hesitation.

Guided by their elders, the female disciples of the Dawn Cloud First Hall worked together towards the Hall of Dream Colors, where their energies aligned.

Qin Yu, however, embarked on a solitary journey, flying towards the "Blank Palace" that no one dared to touch.

All eyes were drawn to these two completely different actions, and discussions arose immediately.

"Has he gone mad? There's no connection between the two realms in that hall; going in is certain death!"

"That's the [Bookless Hall]... It's said that no one has ever set foot inside!"

"Someone actually dared to venture into that hall alone..."

The shouts from the void included both amazement and sneers. But Qin Yu's eyes remained sharp as swords, unwavering in the slightest.

Led by Elder Liu Mei, the female disciples of the Dawn Cloud First Hall arrived at the Hall of Dream Colors, which shimmered like crystal. A misty haze enveloped the palace, creating an ethereal scene reminiscent of a fairyland where a woman's emotions were concentrated.

Elder Liu Mei extended her slender finger and brushed across the void. Suddenly, countless illusory scrolls of spiritual books surged up from the palace gates, crashing down like waves. Amidst the flowing colorful light, the martial souls within each disciple of the Dawn Cloud First Hall resonated, and a pale pink soul mark lit up on their chests.

"Whoosh--" The palace doors trembled slightly, then slowly opened, as if gently welcoming their master back.

Seeing this, Hong Xiuxiang felt a sense of relief, but before entering the main hall, she glanced back at Qin Yu. Her eyes held a complex mix of gratitude and hidden worry. Elder Liu Mei noticed her pause and said softly, "Xiang'er, don't overthink it. He has his own path to walk."

Hong Xiuxiang lightly bit her lower lip, and finally stepped into the palace gate with the tide of light. Her figure merged into the dreamlike realm and disappeared along with the disciples of her sect.

Meanwhile, Qin Yu stood alone before the gray-white phantom of the [Bookless Hall].

The main hall was plain and unadorned, entirely gray and white, as if forgotten by time. There was no colorful light, no welcoming presence, only endless deathly silence. The empty stele above the hall's entrance exuded an aura of indifference, like a pair of unseen eyes coldly watching over the souls of those who approached.

Just as Qin Yu was a hundred feet away from the palace gate, the entire space suddenly trembled!

"Boom--"

Suddenly, billions of gray-white pages appeared around the Bookless Hall, each page filled with ancient destinies and unfinished narratives. They tumbled and collided in the void, producing a sound like the tolling of ancient bells.

A low, questioning voice echoes from within the pages, as if the very source of the narrative is posing a question:

"Can you be written about?"

Can you be defined?

"Can you exist within the narrative?"

As the sound echoed, the pages of the book transformed into a gray-white hurricane, suddenly sweeping towards Qin Yu. Each page aimed to pull him into the "preordained destiny," forcibly weaving him into some kind of predetermined ending.

Qin Yu's expression was cold and stern as he gently stroked his sea of consciousness. In an instant, the Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword hummed, unleashing a chilling black light from the depths of his sea of consciousness. Its sword intent seemed to sever the narrative logic of the entire world!

"Buzz--"

The storm of pages in the Bookless Hall suddenly stopped as the sword light approached, like a story that had been forcibly interrupted and could no longer be turned.

A tiny crack appeared on the empty stele above the palace gate, as if in response to Qin Yu's resistance.

The crowd, seeing this from afar, were all horrified.

"He actually... withstood the test of the Bookless Hall?"

"That blank inscription was meant to pull him into a predetermined destiny... He was able to shatter the narrative with his sword!"

"Who exactly is this kid...?"

As the Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword shattered the storm of pages, the gray-white Bookless Hall trembled in deathly silence.

"Click--click--click..."

The cracks on the empty stele above the temple gate continued to extend, and strands of gray-white light emanated from the cracks. The light was not like energy, but rather like countless abandoned words and narrative fragments, turning into ethereal mist and dust, spreading in all directions.

The next moment--

Boom!

The palace doors suddenly burst open, as if shattering countless layers of narrative barriers.

Behind the door was not an ordinary hall, but an endless gray-white world of books!

Countless towering gray monuments stood, stretching like a mountain range. Each monument was covered with billions of characters; these characters were silent, yet they could directly shake one's consciousness, shattering one's mind. Above, endless gray scrolls floated, shining like stars in all directions. Each page turned tore through the void, revealing fragments of the past, present, and future.

Stars burned out, all races were destroyed, time was fractured, and cause and effect were overturned...

Every scene seems to warn intruders: this is the Ultimate graveyard of narratives, where the endings of all existence will be rewritten and swallowed up.

A gray wind howled, and the pages of the book fell like a torrential rain. The gray-white pebbles on the ground seemed not to be stones, but the names of countless annihilated beings, engraved behind the Monument of Nothingness and turned to dust. Taking a step was like stepping on the remains of countless "failed pasts".

Qin Yu stood outside the palace gate, gazing at this world with eyes as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

The disciples of Hong Xiuxiang and Dawn Cloud First Hall, witnessing this scene from afar, all gasped in shock. Elder Liu Mei's expression also changed drastically, and she whispered:

"The Bookless Hall... a legendary forbidden zone that even the Annihilation Dawn Realm · Peak dares not enter lightly. It tests not strength, but the very essence of narrative itself."

Hong Xiuxiang's heart trembled violently, her beautiful eyes fixed on Qin Yu. She understood that if it were her, she would have been swallowed up into nothingness in the storm just now. But Qin Yu simply stood still, severing the order of fate with his sword, forcefully opening the gate to this deadly realm.

Within the gray and white world of books, a deep, ancient voice slowly resounded:

"Intruder... if you wish to proceed, you must sign this agreement, inscribe my name, or be buried on this monument."

As the sound spread, millions of empty steles in the depths of the gray-white book world trembled in unison, as if waiting for a new "name" to be engraved.