The Ring and the Dragon's First Meeting · Fate Souls Vie for Supremacy

Boom--

As soon as those four words were uttered, his sea of consciousness erupted with endless ripples. Countless images suddenly surged into Qin Yu's mind: back in the Heavenly Emanation Treasure Realm, Yunyi used her dragon body to protect him and Extinguished Light, letting the myriad worlds of thunder and lightning shatter her dragon bones and annihilate her flesh and blood; her breath grew weaker and weaker, yet she still refused to close her eyes.

Now, I open my eyes again.

"I... I'm finally back." Yunyi softly, her voice like a song of return after countless calamities, filled with indescribable tenderness.

Qin Yu's eyes welled up with tears, and he could barely control the trembling in his heart. He murmured, "You've always protected me... Now, it's my turn to protect you."

Azure Ring trembled slightly deep within her consciousness, but did not interrupt. She simply sighed softly, "Little Qinzi, at this moment, you are finally half complete."

The next moment--

Yunyi's massive body transformed into a stream of dark blue light, slowly shrinking into Qin Yu's chest and condensing into a dark dragon Soul Seal, which floated above his heart and resonated with his soul. Qin Yu felt that with each heartbeat, his soul overlapped with Yunyi's dragon roar.

I will always be by your side.

Yunyi softly, her voice like a dream.

Deep within the sea of consciousness, with that earth-shattering dragon roar, the enormous body of the Nether Dragon fully unfolded.

Yunyi's dragon body was tens of thousands of feet long, winding between the sea of consciousness and the starry sea, like a celestial river woven from the abyss. Its entire body of dragon scales shone with a light that was a mixture of dark blue and silver white. Beneath each scale, it seemed to carry an Annihilation universe, shimmering with endless light of destruction and rebirth.

Her eyes were as deep as Silent Abyss of stars, with two dark blue flames burning within them, carrying both an oppressive sense of annihilation and an extreme tenderness. Anyone who gazed into them felt as if they were drawn in, witnessing the life and death of billions of stars, and the collapse and reorganization of time and cause and effect.

The dragon wings that unfolded behind him were incredibly wide. With each stretch, the sky above his sea of consciousness was torn apart and then healed, with billions of starlight and annihilating black flames intertwining to form a waterfall of light that cascaded down. The edges of the dragon wings were engraved with ancient Annihilation Origin patterns, like remnants of ancient laws.

Her dragon horns were long and slender, with silver-blue lightning flowing between them, each ray of lightning carrying the remnant of the law of annihilation. An ancient Soul Seal was embedded at the base of the dragon horns, seemingly recording the remnants of her bloody battle for Qin Yu in the Heavenly Emanation Treasure Realm.

Beneath the dragon scales on her chest, there was once a massive crack, now healed thanks to the nourishment of the Tear of the Silent Origin Soul Butterfly. It was a wound she sustained while protecting Qin Yu, which has now transformed into a gleaming, dark blue dragon Soul Seal.

The most breathtaking moment was when she awoke, her entire dragon body was enveloped by a deep blue starry river, and billions of petals in the flower sea illusion scattered and melted into light on her scales, as if the earth and the starry sky were bowing down to this "Silent Origin Dragon".

Yunyi lowered her massive dragon head, her deep blue eyes gazing gently at Qin Yu, her voice low and tender. "My lord... you have finally awakened me."

At this moment, Qin Yu looked at the dark dragon before him, a dragon powerful enough to shake the universe, yet felt an endless warmth and peace welling up in his heart.

Hong Xiuxiang stood beside him, her eyes flashing with a complex light. It was the first time she had truly witnessed the bond between Qin Yu and Yunyi, and she felt a sense of shock, awe, and a touch of indescribable bitterness. But then, she raised her eyes, her expression resolute: no matter how many protectors Qin Yu had, she would walk with him to the end.

As the dragon's roar gradually subsided, the enormous body of the dark dragon slowly shrank within the sea of light in Qin Yu's consciousness. Its wings, like the flowing light of the Milky Way, folded and coalesced. In an instant, billions of dark blue starlight and butterfly feathers falling from the sea of flowers converged into a waterfall of light, slowly transforming before Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang's eyes.

Amidst the luminous mist, a slender, graceful figure slowly emerged.

Her waist was slender and graceful, her posture like a moon fairy from the heavens. Her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, adorned with several delicate flowers. Each petal seemed to have been born from the fluttering of butterfly wings, landing lightly on her hair, yet lingering there.

She was draped in a semi-transparent light gauze, covered by a thin, azure robe, which swirled around her like water and clouds. With each step, the gauze robe fluttered in the wind, and the flowing light, like a galaxy, cascaded down from her body to the ground, turning into faint streaks of light.

Her skin was as radiant as the rising sun, possessing an unblemished purity. Her eyes were as still as a deep lake, yet deep within them reflected the light and shadow of the Ji Hai Star River, as if they could encompass all things in the world. The Annihilation Abyss Star Mark floating between her brows was like a talisman at the beginning of a destiny, slowly pulsating, carrying a timeless and mysterious pressure.

She slowly raised her eyes, her gaze falling on Qin Yu. A hint of tenderness and surprise flashed in her deep blue eyes. In that instant, all the brilliance seemed to pale in comparison to her gaze.

As she stepped out, the wind lifted the hem of her dress, the sheer fabric billowing gently, revealing glimpses of her long, delicate legs. She wore pale blue embroidered stockings with silver trim, upon which faint butterfly-shaped Soul Seal appeared, pulsating with her soul's breath, as if singing a song of resonance that belonged only to her and Qin Yu.

It was a beauty that defied description—neither god, nor dragon, nor human, yet harmonizing the Ultimate forms of all three into one. She was not the creation of any race, but a unique illusion that transcended all racial concepts.

Qin Yu's heart skipped a beat. He had fantasized countless times about Yunyi's awakening, but he had never imagined that she would stand before him again in such a beautiful and breathtaking manner.

Yunyi parted her lips slightly, her voice trembling slightly, yet it was like Kong Ling dragon's roar intertwined with earthly whispers:

"Qin Yu... I'm back."

At this moment, Qin Yu's eyes trembled slightly, and the weight that had been dormant in his heart for so long finally surged up as a scalding heat.

Qin Yu's breath almost froze at this moment. He looked at the woman who was slowly walking towards him, and the name that had been sealed in his heart for a long time seemed to echo in his blood. That was his Fate Soul Beast that had stood by him in his most lonely moments, and the one he had risked his life to protect countless times.

He instinctively reached out his hand, his movements slow and even trembling slightly—as if afraid that this scene was just an illusion, vanishing at the slightest touch.

But Yunyi smiled slightly at that moment, a gentle light flashing in her deep blue eyes. She took the initiative to extend her slender hand, her fingertips gently intertwining with Qin Yu's palm.

Boom--

The moment their fingertips touched, the entire Realm of Primordial Echoes trembled violently!

Countless azure butterfly shadows soared into the sky from the depths of the sea of flowers, and billions of spiritual flowers swirled in the wind, like a long river flowing backward. The Azure Evolution Core within Qin Yu's body resonated with the Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword, and a radiant light burst forth from his Soul Sea. At this moment, Yunyi's dragon soul shadow and human form merged, and a massive phantom of a dark dragon rose from behind her, the dragon's roar and the butterfly dance intertwining to create an unparalleled spectacle.

Azure Ring's image also appeared in Qin Yu's sea of consciousness, her voice trembling slightly. "Little Qinzi... she is no longer just your soul beast. From this moment on, her Fate Soul is completely in harmony with yours... she is your other half."

Qin Yu's chest heaved, his blood surging. He could feel that Yunyi's soul was no longer separated from his own; their soul rhythms were completely synchronized, as if the same heart was beating.

"Qin Yu..." Yunyi called softly, her fingertips tightening slightly, a trembling smile appearing on her face, "Even if we face annihilation, I still wish to live and die with you."

At that moment, Qin Yu's eyes finally welled up with tears. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I swear, no matter how dark the future may be... I will protect you forever."

As the vow was uttered, the resonance of heaven and earth erupted completely, and countless butterfly shadows converged into a gigantic azure ring, encircling the two above their heads. It was the final resonance between their Fate Soul and their very essence.

We will never be apart in this life; our Fate Soul are one!

Qin Yu and Yunyi's palms touched, and countless butterfly shadows soared into the sky, shaking the heavens and earth. The illusory blue dragon soul roared and tumbled behind Yunyi, its wings covering the sky and the sun, while her human figure was slender and beautiful, her clothes fluttering like water and clouds, as if she were blooming a peerless flower alone in the chaotic world.

Hong Xiuxiang froze on the spot. She had seen countless women and had always believed that among the disciples of the Dawn Cloud First Hall, her appearance and temperament were second to none. But when Yunyi stood before her, stepping on butterfly light, she was speechless.

Her flowing blue dress seemed to be woven from a galaxy of light, the sheer fabric highlighting her fair skin like the glow of dawn. Her hair was adorned with ethereal flowers and butterfly wings, as if the very essence of heaven and earth had embellished her. In particular, her deep blue dragon eyes, like an abyss or a sea of stars, quietly reflected Qin Yu's shadow, making it impossible for anyone to look directly at her.

Hong Xiuxiang's heart trembled suddenly, and her cheeks involuntarily flushed red. She had never seen such a appearance that transcended race and aesthetics—neither dragon, nor god, nor mortal, but the Ultimate harmony of the three. In that instant, she felt a sense of shame, shock, and astonishment, as if she herself, standing between heaven and earth, was an insignificant bystander.

What shook her even more was the perfect harmony that Qin Yu and Yunyi displayed at this moment. She clearly saw their souls merging in the heavens and earth, and Azure Ring's aura vibrating and responding in her sea of consciousness, forming an unprecedented resonance. It was a bond that no one could break through—a shared destiny, preordained from the very beginning to the Fate Soul.

Hong Xiuxiang's lips tightened slightly, and her fingertips even curled involuntarily. A complex mix of emotions surged within her: shock, envy, and loss, yet also a hint of relief. Because she finally understood who those "unspeakable relatives" Qin Yu spoke of truly were.

The moment the giant ring surrounded by butterfly shadows solidified, a thought suddenly flashed through Hong Xiuxiang's mind:

It turns out that she was the one whose Fate Soul was one with Qin Yu's.

Despite her complex emotions, she slowly raised her head and forced a smile. She knew clearly that the strength and the bond before her were the very source of Qin Yu's courage to resist the darkness and move forward without fear.

As the butterflies dispersed, the sea of flowers and the world seemed to freeze in an instant. Yunyi slowly turned around, her azure dragon eyes, like starlight from an ancient abyss, gently landing on Hong Xiuxiang.

Hong Xiuxiang's heart tightened suddenly. Being stared at by those eyes felt as if all her pretense and forbearance had been seen through in an instant. She instinctively wanted to take a half step back, but at that moment she stood still, her fingertips clenching lightly, trying to keep herself calm.

Qin Yu noticed the exchange of auras between the two and broke the silence first, his voice gentle. "Xiuxiang, she is my Fate Soul Shared Pact beast, and also my most important partner— Yunyi. Today she has finally awakened."

Upon hearing this, Yunyi spoke slowly, her voice Kong Ling yet gentle, with a hint of hoarseness from just waking up, yet still clear as a deep pool. "You are... the one who has always been by Little Qinzi's side?"

Hong Xiuxiang was taken aback, not expecting Yunyi's first question to be about her. Her eyes trembled slightly, then she nodded, her voice a little tight. "Um... my name is Hong Xiuxiang, a disciple of the Dawn Cloud First Hall. Along the way, thanks to Qin Yu... he's practically my companion."

Yunyi gazed at her silently for a moment, then suddenly revealed a very faint smile, a smile like a sea of flowers in bloom, yet carrying the tranquility of the deep sea. "You've been with him until today... I should thank you."

Hong Xiuxiang was taken aback, a pang of sadness welling up inside her. She hadn't expected this woman, so beautiful she seemed otherworldly, to speak to her in such a calm and sincere tone. She quickly waved her hand, her voice urgent, "No... no need to thank me, I just did what I could."

Seeing this, Qin Yu felt a warmth in his heart. He reached out and gently patted the air between the two, smiling, "I'm relieved that you can talk like this."

However, at this moment, both Hong Xiuxiang and Yunyi were slightly stunned. One was Fate Soul contract formed from the dragon soul, and the other was a confidante who fought side by side with her. For the first time, their eyes met, and an indescribable complex atmosphere silently rose in the air.

Yunyi spoke, her voice soft yet firm. "Xiuxiang, don't worry. I will protect Little Qinzi and won't let him face the darkness alone."

Hong Xiuxiang bit her lower lip lightly, stared into Yunyi's eyes, and after a moment slowly nodded. "I will not leave him either."

Their first conversation, like a silent promise made amidst a sea of flowers and the soul of a dragon, was like a promise made without words.

As the wind in the sea of flowers gradually stilled, Qin Yu's tense heart finally eased slightly. In this brief moment of tranquility, a vortex of azure light suddenly rippled deep within his sea of consciousness, as if the entire world had been cleaved apart by some kind of ring-shaped stream of light. Then, a slender figure slowly emerged from the void.

Azure Ring appeared—her long, azure hair flowed like the ocean, her robes fluttered lightly, and a faint azure light surrounded her, as if fragments of a folded world were rising and falling with her. The moment she appeared, the butterflies in the entire sea of flowers trembled, and the very essence of heaven and earth seemed to turn its head toward her.

Yunyi was stunned, a look of shock and disbelief flashing in her azure dragon eyes. She instinctively suppressed her spiritual energy, staring intently at Azure Ring, even her voice carrying a hint of the ancient dragon soul's tremor. "You... you actually have a physical form? No, you're not a mortal... you are...??"

Azure Ring smiled slightly, playfully raising her chin, as if she had already anticipated this reaction. "Little Youlong, you just woke up, and you're already this scared? I'm not some kind of monster. Look, your Little Qinzi is perfectly fine, isn't he?"

The word "Little Ghost Dragon" startled Yunyi. Her azure dragon eyes narrowed slightly. Standing in a girlish posture, she stared at Azure Ring, scrutinizing her from head to toe. She raised an eyebrow, half curious and half wary, and couldn't help but playfully retort, "Little Qinzi...? Hmph, so you call him that too. Then who are you, able to leave his sea of consciousness at will?"

Azure Ring blinked gently, and a halo of azure light rippled outwards with her movement, as if playfully revealing her identity. "Who am I? I am Little Qinzi's 'Azure Ring.' A component of his Fate Soul, and also his most inseparable part. What, you're not convinced?"

Yunyi froze for a moment, then surprisingly revealed a girlish smile, a hint of stubbornness flashing in her azure dragon eyes. "Hmph... that's perfect. I am his Fate Soul beast, and you are his Fate Soul ring imprint... it seems we'll have to see who can protect him better in the future."

Azure Ring giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Want to have a competition? Sure, but don't cry. Little Qinzi is mine."

"Yours?" Yunyi's voice faltered slightly, and the aura of her dragon soul quietly dissipated. Although it carried no hostility, it did carry the innate pressure of a dragon soul.

Qin Yu's forehead twitched slightly. He couldn't help but reach up to rub his forehead, and said with a wry smile, "Alright, alright, you two—one just woke up, the other manifested—are already trying to outdo each other? Do you only feel at ease when I'm stuck in the middle?"

Hong Xiuxiang watched in astonishment, a complex expression of amusement and exasperation appearing in her eyes. She hadn't expected these two to start bickering on their very first meeting, and the atmosphere wasn't tense as she had imagined; instead, it had a strangely playful quality.

All around the sea of flowers, countless butterflies danced in the wind, as if playing music for this scene, transforming the original oppressive and mysterious atmosphere into a subtle and warm one.