Stepping into the Endless · Vowing to Chase the Heavens

Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang exchanged a glance, their hearts already in sync. Qin Yu slowly reached out, a blue light flashing between his brows, and the third fragment of the map emerged from his sea of consciousness, transforming into an ancient phantom scroll, surrounded by azure-gold life-source radiance. At the same time, Hong Xiuxiang also took out the first fragment of the map, the scroll surrounded by a dreamlike, ethereal aura of the book realm, as if her martial spirit resonated with it. Immediately afterward, the second fragment of the map, which had floated out of the stele forest, also took flight on its own, transforming into countless shattered starlight-like rays of light, facing the fragments in their hands from afar.

Three fragments of a painting hung in mid-air, and in an instant, the heavens and earth shook violently!

The entire Stele Forest suddenly fell into an eerie silence, as if all light had been drawn away, leaving only the radiance of the three ancient scrolls in the world in an instant. Then, a deep, resonant sound, seemingly spanning eternity, echoed in the void, like the heart of the universe beating.

The three fragments of the map began to converge in mid-air, their inscriptions and engravings floating up and transforming into a myriad of starlight. Each inscription was like an ancient rule spanning billions of years, twisting cause and effect and time and space, weaving into a vortex of light that transcended all logic. Countless ancient steles in the Stele Forest trembled simultaneously, and the runes on their surfaces flew up and merged into the light stream of the three fragments of the map.

In an instant, a dazzling divine light burst forth from the fragments of the painting!

A radiant light shot into the sky, the Milky Way hung upside down, and billions of stardust cascaded down from the heavens like a waterfall, enveloping the entire world in this wondrous spectacle. In the void, an ancient and indistinct phantom realm appeared, an unknown realm that spanned the heavens and encompassed countless civilizations, a place that even Gods and Devils dared not look directly at.

Finally, the three fragments of the map completely merged, and the scroll slowly unfurled, radiating a profound brilliance that seemed to pierce the universe. The map was no longer just broken lines, but a complete and flawless scroll. At the center of the scroll emerged six ancient and mysterious characters—

The Realm of Primordial Echoes

As soon as these six characters appeared, the entire forest of steles roared, as if heaven and earth bowed in worship. The heavens and earth echoed, the ancient steles shattered, the forest of steles turned into dust, and all the scenes vanished, leaving only this complete map suspended in the void, proclaiming its supremacy and uniqueness.

Hong Xiuxiang stared, holding her breath, her eyes gleaming. She whispered, "This is... the true form of the second fragment... no, this is already the complete ancient map..."

Qin Yu reached out and took the map. The moment his palm touched it, a tremendous tremor shook the depths of his consciousness. He felt as if he had touched a source that even "cause and effect" could not define. Only one thought remained in his mind: The Realm of Primordial Echoes has appeared in the world.

Just as the three fragments of the map completely merged into a complete ancient map, the void trembled as if Annihilation starry sea had exploded, and an irresistible suction force suddenly erupted. Before Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang could react, they were swallowed up by the radiance emanating from the ancient map. Their bodies were as light as feathers, yet they seemed to be bearing the weight of countless worlds, and were pulled into it in an instant.

The surrounding sky suddenly spun upside down, and the deafening roar of billions of narratives collapsing and reforming simultaneously filled the air.

When the two opened their eyes, they found themselves in a world they had never seen before.

The Realm of Primordial Echoes.

This place doesn't seem like a specific space; it's more like a realm where existence and Non-Existence overlap.

Before me stretched an endless galaxy, but the stars were not static; rather, they contracted and expanded like breathing, each movement accompanied by the pulsation of the entire world, as if all things were the heartbeat of this echoing expanse. Countless fragmented remnants of civilizations floated in the void: a magnificent ancient city hung upside down in the sky, its lights still shining brightly; a towering divine stele floated in the chaotic sea, its inscription constantly rewriting and dissipating; and a colossal tree shadow extended beyond nothingness, its branches reflecting endless cycles of history.

The earth is a flowing sea of light, formed by countless shattered rules and chains of cause and effect. What you step on is not solid matter, but a "narrative origin" constructed of light and texture. With each step, ripples spread out, transforming into countless ancient scenes: the Gods and Devils and demons, the rise of civilizations, the past glory and decline of the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer, as if the world's own memories are echoing.

In the distance, several colossal stone gates stand majestically between heaven and earth, each inscribed with indescribable ancient symbols. These symbols themselves are constantly collapsing and reshaping, as if resisting a forgotten fate. Between these gates float bridges woven from light and dust, upon which flow the whispers of countless souls. These voices converge and transform into a strange celestial melody, as if the universe itself is singing its own narrative.

The sky is not simply the firmament, but an endless vortex—within which a complete universe is being born and dying in a cycle of reincarnation, and the history of countless worlds is constantly collapsing into fragments. Each collapse produces an "echo," causing the entire world to surge with brilliance.

Hong Xiuxiang stared intently, her voice trembling slightly. "This... is the core world of the complete ancient map... even more..."

Qin Yu's eyes were deep, and his Fate Soul and the Azure Ring in his sea of consciousness vibrated simultaneously. He could clearly feel that this "Realm of Primordial Echoes" was not only the destination of the map, but also the entrance to a higher-dimensional narrative. Everything here was not an illusion—it was the embodiment of the deepest narrative echo in the universe.

In the depths of endless starlight in the distance, a pillar of light slowly rises. Within the pillar of light, it seems to be sealing some supreme being, or perhaps—the next true opportunity they are searching for.

The entire world resounded with a deep, far-reaching rumble, as if billions of civilizations were shouting at the same time:

"The primordial voice, echoing eternally."

Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang were still in shock and had not spoken when suddenly a wisp of green light slowly emerged from between Qin Yu's eyebrows.

Azure Ring appear.

Her figure moved through this magnificent world, her azure glow intertwining with the ripples of the Realm of Primordial Echoes, reflecting countless illusions: on one side, the image of the beginning of the universe and the Chaos's First Birth; on the other, the final afterimage of billions of civilizations burned to ashes. Light and destruction constantly intertwined in her aura, making her even more mysterious at this moment.

She gazed at the inverted ancient city, the crumbling monument of civilization, and the stars that twinkled like breaths all around her, a rare look of surprise flashing deep in her eyes. Her voice rang out softly, "The Realm of Primordial Echoes... I had heard its legends before, thinking it was just a remnant of the Annihilation Era... I never imagined it would actually exist here."

She slightly raised her hand, and azure light surged at her fingertips, reflecting the churning "undercurrent of cause and effect" beneath the earth and the "narrative fire" within the vortex of the sky. She sighed softly, "This is not a simple world, but a completely independent one—a world with its own cycle and self-generated narrative. It harbors countless opportunities and treasures, and may even contain inheritances beyond our comprehension."

She then turned her head to look at Qin Yu, a glint of light flashing in her blue eyes, and a playful smile appeared on her lips, "Little Qinzi, I didn't expect you to actually get in this time... You're really making me look at you in a new light."

Her voice held a mixture of amazement and a hint of humor, yet it couldn't conceal the solemnity in her heart. Because she understood better than anyone the weight this world represented.

The Realm of Primordial Echoes is not as simple as a "map".

It is—the true narrative echo within the origin.

The Azure Ring light surrounding Qinghuan rippled like water, illuminating the entire Realm of Primordial Echoes. She raised her hand, her fingertips lightly touching the void, and instantly countless illusions appeared before Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang: a deep, azure sea, spreading out from the chaotic void, with countless luminous butterflies floating on its surface, each seemingly carrying the narrative cause and effect of a world, its wings fluttering gently, causing countless stars to tremble.

She spoke softly, her tone unusually serious and excited. "Little Qinzi, this is no ordinary place of opportunity. In the Realm of Primordial Echoes, there might truly be the legendary [Silent Abyss Butterfly Sea]... If we can find the Silent Origin Soul Butterfly and obtain its tears, I can help Yunyi awaken completely ahead of schedule."

Qin Yu was jolted, his eyes narrowed sharply, and his heart felt as if it had been struck by an invisible force.

Since the battle in the Heavenly Emanation Treasure Realm, Yunyi and Minguang were severely injured in that bloody battle. Yunyi's soul source was almost destroyed, and now she can only sleep under the ancient tree in the depths of his sea of consciousness. The image of her lying quietly under the protection of the branches and leaves has haunted Qin Yu's dreams countless times, and the pain and guilt in his heart cannot be dispelled.

At the time, Azure Ring calmly told him, "To repair their soul source, you must awaken the power of the Blue Ring."

However, the awakening of the Blue Ring remains a distant future.

At this moment, Azure Ring's voice rang out again, carrying a gentle yet profound tone. "The Tears of the Silent Origin Soul Butterfly are a treasure beyond the ordinary. They can dissolve Annihilation and nothingness, guiding a dying soul back to the origin of life. If we obtain it, Yunyi will not have to wait for my Blue Ring to awaken before she can open her eyes again."

Qin Yu's eyes widened in shock, his throat bobbed slightly, and after a long pause, he uttered a few words in a low, hoarse but resolute voice. "I must find it."

The image in my heart resurfaced--

The dragon maiden who once accompanied him now soars high in the chaotic sky, protecting him through countless life-or-death situations.

The figure who had been severely injured and fell in the Heavenly Emanation Treasure Realm was still desperately trying to shield him from a fatal blow.

His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging, an unshakeable obsession burning within him:

"Yunyi... I will never let you remain in your slumber! Even if it means shattering this Realm of Primordial Echoes, I will bring you back!"

Azure Ring glanced at him sideways, a slight sigh flashing in her eyes, but in the end she only chuckled softly, her voice gentle and playful. "Little Qinzi, you've finally shown that familiar look in your eyes again... In that case, go and search. This world will eventually be stirred up by your footsteps."

Qin Yu remained silent for a moment, the oppressive weight in his heart surging up again. He looked up at Azure Ring and asked in a low voice:

"If... we find the [Tear of the Silent Origin Soul Butterfly] to awaken Yunyi, then... will Extinguished Light also be able to return?"

The radiance that had been flowing around Azure Ring paused slightly. She gazed at Qin Yu, her eyes deeper than usual, and slowly shook her head, her voice carrying a rare heaviness:

"Extinguished Light... not for now."

Qin Yu's heart tightened, and his fingertips clenched slightly. Azure Ring continued:

"Extinguished Light is different from Yunyi. Her essence is [Void Desert - Final Light Plunderer], and also [Annihilation Light Dimension Severance - Master of Unshining Final Radiance]."

She embodies the Limit end and annihilation of light, and her slumber is not merely a result of severe injury. In that battle, she overdrawn the energy of the ultimate light source and suffered the backlash from the collapse of the causal ultimate domain. This is not a shattering of the body or energy, but a kind of extinguishing dormancy on the Outer Layer of Logic.

Azure Ring raised her hand, and a picture of light and annihilation appeared in the void, as if the brilliance collapsed into a black hole, and then the last cold ray of light was reflected from the black hole before finally going out completely.

Her voice was like a whisper, yet it possessed a power that pierced the soul.

"To bring her back... we must reconstruct her 'Final Radiance Essence,' repair the broken Annihilation Chain, and reignite her [Radiance Domain Total Annihilation] core."

As Azure Ring finished speaking, the phantom images of four supreme treasures appeared in the void, carrying an aura that suppressed the heavens and earth:

1. The Final Light Ember Core – The sole core containing the "end of light and rebirth," symbolizing the foundation for the revival of the body of Extinguished Light.

2. Annihilation Star Sea Essence – The essence of annihilation extracted from countless destroyed star fields, used to reshape her annihilation-bearing capacity.

3. Time Endpoint Dust – Dust that exists only at the end of time, capable of repairing the damaged logical timeline at the "end."

4. Space Limit Rift Crystal – The only crystal that stabilizes the spatial Limit boundary, used to balance the spatial cracks left by the Extinguished Light in the "final glow field".

Azure Ring sighed softly, a cyan light flickering gently in her eyes. "If she can gather all four, she will have a sliver of hope... Until then, she can only remain in slumber. Qin Yu, this path is a hundred times more dangerous than awakening Yunyi; it might even require confronting the deepest taboo of the Source of Epochless."

Qin Yu's heart churned like thunder, yet his eyes grew ever more resolute. He murmured to himself, as if making a vow:

"No matter how difficult it is... even if there's no way Return Path, I will wake them all up."

Azure Ring looked at him quietly, without saying anything more.

Hong Xiuxiang stood quietly to one side. Although she couldn't understand what Azure Ring meant by the extremely profound "Final Light Ember Core" and "Annihilation Star Sea Essence," she could tell that the two beings named Yunyi and Extinguished Light were extremely important to Qin Yu.

A dull ache throbbed in her heart as she imagined that person, wounded, unconscious, or even falling into a deep sleep for Qin Yu.

Hong Xiuxiang quietly walked to Qin Yu's side, raising her eyes to gaze at his profile. Her eyes held suppressed pain, yet also a burning determination. She bit her lip slightly, her voice gentle yet firm:

"Senior Brother Qin... you don't have to bear this alone. Even if I don't understand who they are, or where the path you're walking leads, I can feel the weight and determination in your heart. You are their support... and I want to walk with you on this journey."

Qin Yu turned to look at her, his gaze trembling slightly. In that instant, he seemed to see behind Hong Xiuxiang, the fading light reflecting off the endless forest of steles—this woman, without asking for the truth or seeking explanations, was willing to protect him with her steadfastness and tenderness.

He sighed softly to himself, slowly reaching out to place his hand on Hong Xiuxiang's slender shoulder, his voice low and solemn as a vow:

"Okay. Let's walk together."

Hong Xiuxiang's eyes reddened slightly, but she revealed a bright smile, as if she had finally waited for these words.

Immediately, Azure Ring's figure faded away, transforming into a beam of azure light that circled Qin Yu's brow before disappearing again.

The two looked up at the boundless wonder of the Realm of Primordial Echoes: countless galaxies intertwined like flowing stars, and the distant void resembled a huge ancient scroll, slowly turning its pages, each page's vibration causing the heavens and earth to roar.

Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and their figures rose into the air together. Their green robes and red clothes intertwined in the brilliance of the Star River Realm, like two streams of light shooting straight into the sky.

Their figures gradually disappeared into the depths of the Realm of Primordial Echoes, and thus began a vast, epic journey.