Hunting Shadows Alone · The First Battle Draws Near

Qin Yu stood with his hands behind his back in front of the counter, his voice calm:

"I'd like to ask, what's the price of this Annihilation Contemplation Locking Seal Core?"

Upon hearing this, the boss's eyes flashed with a shrewd light, then a smile spread across his face as he respectfully replied:

"Hehe, young friend, you certainly know your stuff. The Annihilation Contemplation Locking Seal Core is one of my shop's most prized possessions. It can forcibly manifest the existence of the Severed Observation Realm, which is 'unobservable and unmeasurable,' onto the causal level, stripping it of its advantage of 'Nonexistence Form.' Against the Phantom Demonic Spirit, this is a deadly nemesis."

He paused, lowered his voice, and his gaze became somewhat solemn:

"The price is one hundred million Annihilation Starlight Crystal, or -- ten Ember of the Ruins of Return."

Qin Yu frowned slightly. "The Ember of the Ruins of Return?"

The boss flipped his hand, and a small ball of golden-blue light appeared, like a shattered star. Within the light, the phantom of the rising and falling of stars was faintly visible, and a deep Dao chant seemed to come from the Nine Nether, causing the surrounding people to tremble.

"The Ember of the Ruins of Return are the only trace left after the Phantom Demonic Spirit was Annihilation," the shopkeeper said solemnly.

"It serves as both proof and currency. Currently, all the major temples and clans in the middle ranks use it as a form of exchange. Ten Ember of the Ruins of Return can be exchanged for a supreme treasure, or directly valued at one hundred million Annihilation Starlight Crystal."

The surrounding guests were talking amongst themselves:

"As expected, the Phantom Demonic Spirit are terrifying; even the Annihilation Dawn Realm perished. Bringing back an Ember of the Ruins of Return means they truly have the ability to Annihilation them!"

"Hmph, this stuff is even more precious than Annihilation Starlight Crystal now. Whoever can collect ten can exchange them for a logic component worth an astronomical sum!"

"It's a pity that there are very few people who can Annihilation the Phantom Demonic Spirit."

Azure Ring whispered in Qin Yu's mind:

"The Annihilation Contemplation Locking Seal Core... this is exactly the key asset that your Annihilation Phantom Demonic Spirit needs most."

Qin Yu's expression remained calm, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Qin Yu's gaze fell on the Ember of the Ruins of Return Nothingness floating in mid-air.

It was a cluster of golden-blue light, floating silently, yet it seemed as if an endless galaxy was compressed within it. The light flickered, pulsating like breathing; with each contraction, the surrounding space gently collapsed; with each expansion, it was as if the fates of billions of living beings were being reborn in an instant.

In the center of the shimmering light, there is a broken Daoist rune embedded. The remaining word "Gui" is looming, and the surface is covered with fine cracks. Dark energy seeps between the cracks, like blood beating, and a low Daoist chant comes from it, buzzing and vibrating, reaching the sea of consciousness, as if questioning the viewer:

"Return to nothingness, or return to the origin?"

Surrounding the glimmer of light are layers of faint, illusory cycles of reincarnation. Stars within these cycles constantly collapse, ignite, Annihilation, and regenerate, with the rotation of billions of lives intertwining in an instant. Some seem to see their own shadows grow from infancy to old age and then vanish in a flash; others seem to witness countless civilizations rise and fall, ultimately turning into a speck of light that merges into the Ember of the Ruins of Return.

That sense of oppression wasn't the power of a sharp blade, but the solemnity of Ultimate order. It reminded every observer that Annihilation was not the end, but another kind of belonging.

Qin Yu's heart sank, as he felt himself being drawn into this illusion. In his sea of consciousness, the Nine-Wheel True Evolution Dharma Wheel also trembled slightly, as if responding to the call of this scorched light.

Azure Ring's voice resounded in his mind, calm yet tinged with solemnity:

"This is the only remaining evidence after the Phantom Demonic Spirit were truly Annihilation. It seems insignificant, yet it embodies all of their 'Dao Flame Essence.' This thing... can even trigger a causal shock at the Origin Level at certain crucial moments."

Qin Yu stretched out his finger and slowly touched the Ember of the Ruins of Return.

The moment he touched it, he felt a coolness in his palm, as if he were pressing against a cloud of mist that was both real and ethereal, yet hard runes were running across the lines of his hand. The runes flashed slightly, and a ring-shaped ripple spread out, creating a brief illusion of a starry river in the air before dissipating.

Qin Yu withdrew his hand, his eyes deep, and murmured softly:

"The proof of the Dao Shadow Soldier of the Dao of Annihilation... is indeed extraordinary."

Qin Yu stared for a moment before finally withdrawing his gaze. With a flick of his finger, a wisp of dark light emerged from between his brows, and he slowly opened the Azure Evolution Core.

Within the core lay an Annihilation world, a self-contained universe, with countless points of light floating in the void like stars. With a thought, Qin Yu conjured a miniature crystal core. The core was crystal-like, yet within it condensed a radiance like a vast sea of stars. It contained the crystalline reserves of an entire hundred million Annihilation Radiance Forbidden Star, its light flowing heavily, as weighty as the Great Dao.

The crystal core slowly floated above the palm, refracting nine-colored light, illuminating the entire shop and quieting it down. Even the shop owner couldn't help but look at it with amazement and awe.

"This is..." The boss hurriedly bent down, his eyes burning with desire.

Qin Yu spoke indifferently, his words as sharp as gold:

"One hundred million Annihilation Radiance Forbidden Star. Is that enough?"

The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly, his voice trembling with barely suppressed excitement. "Enough! Of course it's enough! Young friend, you truly are a man of great spirit."

As he spoke, he solemnly held up a core object— the Annihilation Contemplation Locking Seal Core —with both hands, its entire body grayish-white and entwined with runes. This crystal core resembled a pitch-black pupil, its surface covered with countless tiny chains of logic. Each pulse was accompanied by a tremor in the space. If someone looked directly at it, they would feel their soul being stripped away, forcibly manifested on the level of cause and effect, and could no longer hide.

Qin Yu reached out and took it, probing it with his divine sense. In an instant, he felt waves surging in the depths of his sea of consciousness, as if a cold and ruthless "eye" had opened, capable of piercing through all "unobservable" disguises.

"Good."

He nodded slightly, flicked his sleeve, and stored the crystal core into the Azure Evolution Core. The whole movement was swift and composed, without the slightest hesitation.

The boss was about to say something more, but Qin Yu had already slowly turned around. With a flicker of his Qingyi, an unshakeable power emanated from him.

He pushed open the shop door, and sunlight streamed in, illuminating his slightly aloof profile. His pace was unhurried as he walked through the bustling crowd and disappeared into the clamor of the city.

He didn't turn around.

Because he knew very well that from this moment on, the Phantom Demonic Spirit in the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer would be completely Annihilation in his hands, one by one.

The streets remained bustling, a cacophony of shouts and footsteps. Qin Yu, now disguised and draped in a greyish-blue robe, stood alone amidst the crowd, moving slowly forward. Suddenly, he paused, a flicker of emotion crossing his eyes.

Ahead, a group of people walked slowly towards them. Leading the group was a figure he knew all too well— Chi Ning.

She was still dressed in white, but the innocent smile of the past was gone from her face, replaced by a cold and heavy look in her eyes. The lightheartedness in her brows had been replaced by gloom, like a plum blossom stubbornly standing tall in the wind and snow. Beside her was her master, Meng Qing, a female elder with a cold demeanor, shrouded in a faint pressure. Behind them followed more than ten inner disciples, each with a cautious expression, even hinting at a murderous intent.

Chi Ning slightly raised her head, gazing into the distance, as if trying to conceal the emptiness in her heart. Since the moment the Desolate Annihilation Secret Realm closed, Qin Yu had never appeared again. She could not accept the fact that "he has disappeared," but there was no way to search for him. As time passed, she could only bury her sorrow deep in her heart and hone her vulnerability into a sharp edge.

Now, the Dao Shadow Soldier roam freely, and the slaughter by the Phantom Demonic Spirit has plunged the entire Source of Epochless · Middle Layer into fear. As a disciple of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall, she has no way out and must stand shoulder to shoulder with her master and throw herself into the battle against the Annihilation Demonic Spirit.

The crowd surged past, but Qin Yu stood there quietly, his gaze piercing through the hustle and bustle, landing on Chi Ning's figure. At that moment, a storm of emotions surged within him, but he ultimately suppressed it silently.

His fingertips trembled slightly, but he only murmured to himself:

"Junior sisters... I have no choice but to do this for your safety. Not only are the Dao Shadow Soldier rampaging, but Chen Chao and the Chen Clan are also secretly plotting against us. If I reveal my identity, it will inevitably implicate you."

I must hide my identity and wear the mask of Mo Chen, so that even if I stand in front of you, you won't recognize me.

"When I one day Annihilation all of this, when I possess the power to suppress the Chen Clan and obliterate the Phantom Demonic Spirit... I will no longer need to hide."

Beneath his grey robe, his fists slowly clenched, his knuckles turning white, and a fleeting, annihilating cold light flashed deep within his eyes.

He didn't step forward, nor did he call her name; he simply let Chi Ning walk away with Meng Qing and the other disciples. The wind at the street corner ruffled his long robes, and it also stirred the heavy vow in his chest.

As Chi Ning and his group walked further away, their white robes and those of the temple disciples fluttered like snowflakes in the sunlight. Just then, Meng Qing, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped half a step.

Her brow twitched slightly, as if her Spiritual Sense had been stirred by some undercurrent. Her cold gaze slowly returned, sharp as a sword, sweeping across the bustling crowd.

The street suddenly seemed to be covered in ice and snow, and fell silent for a few moments.

Her gaze seemed to pierce through the crowd, landing directly on Qin Yu in his gray robe. At that moment, Qin Yu's heart tightened, as if a cold blade was hanging over his head.

Azure Ring whispered in his mind, "Be careful, her spiritual sense is extremely strong. If you show the slightest fluctuation, she will see through you."

Qin Yu's eyes were dark, but his expression remained unchanged, still resembling Mo Chen. He let the crowd scatter him, even slightly lowering his head, like an ordinary passerby.

Master Meng Qing's gaze lingered for a few moments, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes, but in the end, she slowly withdrew her gaze.

She thought to herself, "Is it just my imagination? Why does the aura from just now seem somewhat familiar...? No, it can't be."

She turned and continued walking, her robes fluttering in the wind, leading Chi Ning and the disciples away at the end of the street.

Qin Yu watched them walk further and further away, his eyes flashing with suppressed pain and determination. At that moment, he understood—the distance between him and them was not just the barrier of a street, but a cause and effect and destiny powerful enough to devour everything.

He took a deep breath and muttered to himself:

"Junior sister... one day, I will stand before you with honor and let all your scheming and hostility turn to ashes."

The wind blew again from the street corner, causing Qin Yu's gray robe to flutter wildly. His figure gradually blended into the crowd, leaving behind only his silently burning determination.

The bustling Radiant Heaven Imperial Capital gradually faded into the distance, the noise of the streets and the clamor of the marketplace left behind, replaced by a secluded path. Dust swirled, stone steps were mottled, and in the distance lay dark, looming mountains and a gloomy sky.

His gray robe fluttered in the wind, and his steps were steady and resolute.

Within her sea of consciousness, Azure Ring's voice softly rang out, tinged with a hint of solemnity:

"Qin Yu... are you really going to start? The Dao Shadow Soldier are different from our past enemies; they are the Army of Return to Origin. If we act rashly, every battle will be accompanied by the certain death of our enemies."

Qin Yu's eyes were cold, and his tone was low but firm:

"Their existence is because of me. Since that's the case, I will wipe them out one by one. Whether they are Phantom Demonic Spirit or Dao Shadow Soldier, as long as I live, I will not let them continue to wreak Source of Epochless."

A cold wind suddenly swept across the sky, and the distant mountains seemed to grow even more somber. Dark clouds rolled across the horizon, like countless lurking beasts.

Qin Yu stood on the mountain path, quietly sensing the surrounding energy, his palm slowly stroking the Annihilation Contemplation Locking Seal Core in his sleeve.

"Since this is their only means of manifestation... then from this moment on, I will hunt them down."

As soon as he finished speaking, a faint golden-blue fluctuation, like a deep war drum, emanated from the depths of the void, striking his sea of consciousness. It was the aura of Dao Shadow Soldier.

Qin Yu's eyes suddenly narrowed, and his aura changed abruptly, with black flames and starlight flickering within his body.

He took a step forward, and his figure vanished into the void.

The first battle to hunt down the Phantom Demonic Spirit is about to begin.