Azure Ring Splits the Realm, a New Journey into the Spirit Firmament
A chilling wind howled through the deep, decaying forest.
Qin Yu sped along following the overwhelming demonic aura, the mountains and rivers beneath his feet turning into phantoms. The deeper he went into the "Realm Soul Annihilation Forest," the thinner the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth became, replaced by an overwhelming aura of death and eerie soul energy. Gray mist surged like a tide, and the sky seemed to be covered by a blood-red veil, plunging the entire space into an extremely oppressive darkness.
Finally, after traversing continuous mountain ranges and fractured canyons, Qin Yu stopped above an incredibly massive rift. The rift was bottomless, seemingly leading to hell, with gray-black demonic flames constantly erupting from it, reflecting the blood-red swirling sky.
Deep within the rift valley, Qin Yu clearly witnessed a chilling scene—
Countless Demonic Spirit converged into a tide, their bodies overlapping, roaring, and struggling, yet all kneeling before a massive vortex at the center of the rift. Within the vortex, crimson soul light continuously surged, like the Fate Soul of cultivators being devoured, transforming into offerings to nourish that gloomy abyss.
Above the vortex stood an altar pieced together from bones and remains. The altar was a hundred feet tall, its surface covered with densely packed demonic runes, each one shimmering with a purplish-black evil light, like a curse from the heavens.
This is the true lair of the Demonic Spirit!
Qin Yu's heart trembled violently, and his eyes turned icy cold. A month ago, in the battle at the Northern Dark Abyss Valley, he used the power of the Gray Ring to Annihilation hundreds of thousands of Demonic Spirit and their commanders. He thought that the Central State Great Yan Continent had returned to peace, but he never expected that the true Demonic Spirit mother nest was actually hidden beneath the "Realm Soul Annihilation Forest"!
"No wonder some people said that the Demonic Spirit leader who devoured the Soul Crystal Core never showed up... So, their roots are here!" Qin Yu thought to himself, the Black Bone War Spear humming and trembling, as if sensing the aura of a sea of blood and a mountain of corpses.
At this time--
Boom!!!
The altar trembled violently, drawing in endless gray mist. The vortex exploded, and a colossal demonic shadow covering the rift slowly rose. Its form was entirely condensed from dead souls and black flames, with six pairs of withered bone wings on its back that blotted out the sky when spread. Its eyes were hollow and deep, burning with dark purple flames.
It slowly lowered its head, gazing at Qin Yu, its voice echoing like hell. "... Mortal, you slaughtered my people, destroyed my kin, and now you dare to step into this place alone? This is where you will die."
Qin Yu stood suspended in mid-air, his robes billowing in the wind. His eyes were cold and sharp, Black Bone War Spear in his hand pointed directly at the altar. He spoke in a low voice, "Death? Today, I'll see if your so-called demon's lair can withstand the Gray Ring."
Deep within the rift valley, a chilling wind howls, and demonic flames rage.
When the massive figure of the Demonic Spirit leader rose completely from the bone altar, the entire world seemed to be plunged into boundless oppression. Its current cultivation level was already at the mid-stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm. The laws of heaven and earth trembled around it, its six pairs of bone wings unfolded, tearing through the void, the space behind it continued to collapse, and the blood-red gale transformed into a death storm that swept across the eight wastelands.
Qin Yu in mid-air, his long hair dancing wildly and his black robe fluttering. Although his aura had broken through to the initial stage of the Mystic Understanding Realm, and the Spiritual Qi within his body surged like a tide, he was still like an ant facing the heavens before such a being.
The Demonic Spirit leader's deep voice echoed between heaven and earth, as if millions of souls were wailing simultaneously:
"Profound Understanding of the Profound Realm, how dare you desecrate my lair? Mortal, you have slain my legion and destroyed my brothers; today, you shall perish here!"
As the roar subsided, it raised a gigantic claw covered in black mist. In that instant, the light of heaven and earth was completely extinguished, space was directly compressed and distorted, and hundreds of feet of void were torn into a vortex. A Soul-Devouring Black Flame poured down from its claw, as if turning the entire sky into a purgatory.
Boundless black flames rolled down, forming a destructive domain covering several miles. Countless grinning faces emerged from the flames, howling in agony, as if they could directly burn the Fate Soul and true spirit of cultivators. That was the true spirit law fire of the Spirit Transformation Realm; anyone who touched it would have their soul scattered!
Qin Yu's gaze sharpened, and he thought to himself, "Middle Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm... truly beyond imagination! This kind of power is enough to annihilate the entire sect!"
He did not back down. With the Black Bone War Spear in hand, its tip burst forth with a soaring gray-black spiritual light. He fully activated the Mystic Origin Wind-Wielding Art, his figure becoming a blur in the wind, forcefully cutting a gash from the edge of the black flame vortex, narrowly avoiding the most fatal destructive force.
Boom!!!
The air above was instantly ignited into ashes by the black flames, and countless dark seas of fire instantly formed above the entire rift valley. The sound of the void cracking was like the roar of ten thousand thunderbolts. Qin Yu was thrown hundreds of feet away by the aftershocks, his chest heaving, a sweet taste in his throat, and blood spilled out.
"Cough... How terrifying, is this the power of the Middle Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm?" Qin Yu's eyes were cold, but his grip on the spear became even more resolute.
Upon seeing this, the Demonic Spirit leader let out a savage laugh that shattered the void, "Hahaha... Mortal, you are no match for me! Today, you are doomed!"
Immediately, the second wave of attacks was poised to launch, and the laws of heaven and earth around it were completely boiling.
The aura of the Demonic Spirit Lord pressed down like a tsunami, its second attack fully formed. It opened its massive, black maw, and eerie blue flames erupted from its throat, transforming into a black torrent woven from countless grotesque faces, roaring towards Qin Yu. That was a true spirit killing move from the mid-stage of the Nascent Spirit Transformation Realm — the Tide of Soul Devouring. Once swallowed, even the soul would be dragged into an endless nightmare and utterly annihilated.
Qin Yu's expression changed drastically. The Gray Ring within his body vibrated violently in his sea of consciousness, releasing a boundless gray light that enveloped his entire body. He let out a low shout:
"Gray Ring - Shadow Bind!"
Instantly, Qin Yu's shadow stretched long, and countless gray chains shot into the sky from the earth's veins and the void, as if trying to forcibly lock up the massive true form of the Demonic Spirit Commander. As the gray light flashed, cracks appeared throughout the world, and space trembled from the collision of the chains!
However, the Demonic Spirit Lord merely roared, and the black flames emanating from his body shattered half of the chains, while the remaining chains broke inch by inch in the struggle. Qin Yu felt a tightness in his chest and nearly fell into the air.
"Damn it... even Shadow Bind can only delay it for a moment!"
The Demonic Spirit Lord sneered and slammed his hands down. The entire world seemed to be plunged into a blood-red furnace, with black flames and spatial rifts crashing down together. Qin Yu had no choice but to activate the Gray Ring once more.
"Gray Ring - Fallen Mist!"
An endless gray mist suddenly rose, separating heaven and earth. Dark currents churned within the mist, and phantoms appeared, seemingly capable of swallowing everything in their path. A torrent of black flames rushed into the Fallen Mist, emitting a piercing shriek, as if countless souls were struggling. But after a moment, the black flames still forcefully tore through the mist, crushing their way out and crashing towards Qin Yu.
Qin Yu's eyes narrowed, and he gritted his teeth, swinging the Black Bone War Spear once more, using the power of the Gray Ring to unleash his Ultimate attack:
"Gray Ring - Silent Spear!"
The gray light condensed, transforming into an enormous gray spear, its tip radiating a destructive intent capable of tearing apart Fate Soul. The spear collided with the torrent of black flames in mid-air. With a deafening roar, the heavens and earth were shattered, creating a chasm ten thousand feet deep!
Qin Yu was thrown back by the aftershock, blood gushing from his chest, his face pale. He was utterly shocked:
"The power of the Gray Ring... it can barely hold on! This Demonic Spirit leader is several times more terrifying than Luo Chuan's Soul Crystal Core power! If it were even a fraction stronger, I wouldn't be able to withstand it..."
In mid-air, the Demonic Spirit leader coldly surveyed the scene, his eyes filled with mockery and cruelty:
"Mortal, you have actually managed to block my attacks three times, which is indeed beyond expectation... but, you have reached your Limit!"
It spread its arms, preparing to unleash the even more terrifying third move: the Realm-Destroying True Soul Tribulation.
The Demonic Spirit Lord suddenly spread his arms wide, and jet-black blood flames condensed in the void into a vast Soul Sea. The sea surged and reflected the hideous faces of billions of dead souls, who screamed and howled madly, forming a "Realm-Destroying True Soul Tribulation" powerful enough to melt the heavens and the earth. Once this power descended, the entire Realm Soul Annihilation Forest and even the land within a hundred miles would be turned into a dead zone!
Qin Yu swayed, his blood surging, the wound on his chest had not yet healed, and his spiritual energy was completely exhausted. At this moment, his sea of consciousness suddenly trembled.
Gray Ring
The massive, deep gray ring in his sea of consciousness suddenly trembled, releasing countless gray patterns, like endless chains, tightly binding Qin Yu's Fate Soul and fighting spirit. A cold, ruthless whisper came from the depths of the Gray Ring:
"Soul Erosion!"
Boom--!
Qin Yu's eyes instantly turned deep gray, and the entire sky completely dimmed. The Gray Ring hovered above the sky, then suddenly erupted, transforming into a colossal gray vortex that swallowed the heavens and destroyed the earth, completely covering the dark sky. Within the vortex, ten gray shadows flickered: Nether Blade, Fallen Earth, Dark Tide, Soul Rend Fallen Mist, Silent Spear, Silent Spear, Shadow Bind, Fallen Light, Soul Withering, Void Devouring... Ten powers merged at the same moment, converging into a destructive gray storm.
"Boom--!"
Countless chains descended from the void, binding the massive true form of the Demonic Spirit leader; at the same time, gray mist surged into its body, tearing apart its Fate Soul, and dim light exploded within it, causing the true spirit to instantly lose control and let out a terrifying scream.
"--Aaaaaah!!!"
The Demonic Spirit leader's body twisted wildly, black flames bursting out as if sliced by countless blades, and the countless withered hands on its back began to crumble inch by inch, turning into ashes. Its enormous soul power was gradually eroded and swallowed up in the vortex of the Gray Ring.
Qin Yu trembled violently, coughing up blood. His meridians were almost ruptured inch by inch, and his soul felt as if it were about to be torn apart by the backlash. But he gritted his teeth and roared:
"Blow it up!"
Boom--!
The Gray Ring erupted completely, the vortex collapsed, and an unparalleled gray shockwave swept across the entire sky, shattering the massive body of the Demonic Spirit Commander! Countless fragments turned into black ash, and even the true spirit within its body was forcibly extracted and torn into nothingness.
But... it didn't really die.
As the light faded and the world returned to its original color, the mangled body of the Demonic Spirit Commander staggered into existence in the distance. Half of its body had been completely crushed, and its phantom spirit trembled precariously. Fear and rage flickered in its eyes as it growled:
"You... a mere mortal, yet you've inflicted such a severe injury on me! But... you still can't kill me!"
Qin Yu was kneeling on one knee, his breathing disordered, the Gray Ring slowly retracting into his sea of consciousness, and he was almost completely exhausted.
He looked up at the ravaged Demonic Spirit leader, his eyes gleaming with an incomparably cold light:
"Soul Erosion... can only severely injure you... but next time, I will utterly annihilate you."
The Demonic Spirit Commander, its body torn apart by the Gray Ring's "Soul Erosion," had gone mad. It roared to the sky, its voice shaking the heavens and earth, and countless dark red blood flames suddenly burst from its chest—its Limit form of burning its life essence! The terrifying demonic flames transformed into a pitch-black blood shadow giant, stretching out tens of thousands of arms, rushing straight at Qin Yu, wanting to perish together with him!
Qin Yu was covered in blood, kneeling on one knee, his divine sense almost shattered. Just as the demonic shadows blotted out the sky, the Gray Ring deep within his sea of consciousness suddenly trembled violently!
--boom!
The Gray Ring suddenly burst forth with dazzling cyan light, the light pouring down like a celestial river from the heavens, illuminating the entire Realm Soul Annihilation Forest into a sea of blue! The once lifeless world suddenly burst into life, all the trees swayed, and the mountains and rivers roared, as if responding to this absolute presence.
Qin Yu's eyes widened in surprise as he watched in astonishment as the Gray Ring gradually faded, slowly being covered by a cyan halo. The destructive aura, like gray mist, actually sublimated into an incomparably pure, Annihilation sharpness within the cyan light.
Gray Ring transform, Azure Ring emerge!
Within his sea of consciousness, an extremely chilling roar exploded, "Soul Erosion - Azure Edge Annihilation!"
The sky was suddenly torn apart!
The Azure Ring hovered above Qin Yu's head, spinning as it merged with the ten destructive properties of the Gray Ring's "Soul Erosion." The gray vortex transformed into the azure divine ring, its violent corrosive force sweeping down, countless gray chains and dark currents piercing through the heavens and earth, firmly locking the massive body of the Demonic Spirit Commander!
At the same time, the Azure Ring Center suddenly displayed an absolute brilliance—
Azure Ring ·One Style: Spirit Edge Piercing the Realm!
That sharp edge was neither like the light of a sword nor the light of a spear, but a "slash of the origin of cognition" sharper than any light or blade. Heaven and earth seemed to be split in two, and even time and space were divided in two.
--boom!!!
The Demonic Spirit leader roared madly, its tens of thousands of arms desperately resisting, but the undercurrent of the Gray Ring's "Soul Erosion" had already corrupted its true spirit, causing its power to become completely chaotic! Faced with the Ultimate sharpness of the azure light, all its resistance turned to nothingness.
A deafening roar, as if tearing the heavens and earth apart, resounded—
Qingfeng descended from the sky, cleaving the massive, sky-covering body of the Demonic Spirit Commander, along with the Blood Shadow Giant formed from its burning essence blood, in two!
Its true spirit shattered completely under this attack, turning into countless black fragments that were swallowed up by the Soul Erosion azure vortex, Wuhen!
Heaven and earth are silent. All demons are still.
The demonic energy that stretched for hundreds of thousands of miles vanished in an instant with this single strike.
Qin Yu stood in mid-air, the Azure Ring hovering behind him, its radiance shining like the sun and moon, overlooking the vast earth, as if he were the sole judge who controlled life and death.
At this moment, the Demonic Spirit Commander—a true Spirit Transformation Realm expert—was utterly Annihilation!
The aftershocks of Annihilation had not yet completely dissipated, and the void rifts left by that slash still permeated the entire Realm Soul Annihilation Forest. The Azure Ring hovered above Qin Yu's head, and suddenly began to slowly rotate. Countless azure rays fell like a galaxy, transforming into a boundless waterfall that completely enveloped Qin Yu's figure.
The light of the Azure Ring, unlike the Annihilation of the Gray Ring, appears clearer and sharper, as if it has condensed the original order of heaven and earth into pure energy, violent yet precise.
Qin Yu's body trembled slightly within the light screen. He felt his dantian expand dramatically, his sea of consciousness surge like a raging storm, and his spiritual power was instantly infused with countless cyan lights, surging wildly!
--boom!!!
His aura instantly broke through the shackles of the Middle Stage of the Mystic Understanding Realm, and a powerful energy fluctuation spread out, causing the surrounding mountains to crack inch by inch!
The next moment, the light of true spirit shone between his brows, and his Fate Soul resonated powerfully with the meridians of heaven and earth. He stepped into the Initial Entry into the True Spirit Realm!
But the light from the Azure Ring did not stop; it continued to flow in continuously!
--Boom!!!
The sky shattered, and countless rays of light transformed into storms that surged into his body. His true spirit was completely sublimated, intertwined with the laws, connected with destiny, and he stepped into the Major Completion of the True Spirit Realm!
But the breakthrough was not over yet. The Azure Ring, like an ancient and eternal life source core, poured its deepest power into his body. Qin Yu roared to the sky, his body almost bursting from the energy, his bones shattering and then being rebuilt in the azure light.
"Ah--!!"
With a final roar, his divine sense exploded, transforming into overwhelming divine power that covered dozens of miles of heaven and earth!
Spirit Transformation Realm - Initial Stage!
The laws danced at his fingertips, and his Fate Soul began to resonate with cause and effect. The power of the Azure Ring continued to propel him forward, and every inch of his body was burning and being rebuilt.
His vital energy surged wildly once again!
--boom!!!
The sky darkened completely, and then a surge of azure light erupted, illuminating the entire Realm Soul Annihilation Forest.
Qin Yu's true spirit broke through completely, his divine sense covering a hundred miles, and the chain of cause and effect and the timeline emerged like lines under his perception.
Spirit Transformation Realm - Great Perfection!!!
At this moment, his aura was like that of a celestial being descending to earth. The cause and effect, laws, space, and time of heaven and earth all rippled around him and submitted to him.
The aftershocks of the breakthrough still echoed through the heavens and earth. The Azure Ring hung high in the sky, its power overwhelming. Qin Yu looked up at the azure halo, which resembled an eternal galaxy, and was deeply shocked.
"This... it actually propelled me directly to the Great Completion of the Spirit Transformation Realm..."
His chest heaved violently, and an incredulous look appeared in his eyes. The realm that cultivators of all generations had to cultivate for ten thousand years and accumulate countless opportunities to reach was now being forcibly pushed aside by Azure Ring in an instant. This heaven-defying miracle even gave him a sense of unreality.
However, Azure Ring did not find peace thereafter.
Boom--!
The entire sky suddenly twisted, as if torn apart by some great force that transcended the rules of the world. The Azure Ring released a vast and boundless azure light, and a vortex-like void passage suddenly opened in the depths of the sky, deep and endless, leading directly to the unknowable abyss of time and space.
Immediately afterwards, ripples of Azure Ring spread out from the vortex, like guiding runes, gently landing on Qin Yu's brow, conveying a silent call:
Come, enter here, and your destiny will unfold a new chapter.
Qin Yu's heart clenched. He realized that this was not an illusion, but rather Azure Ring's true will guiding him.
But he gripped the Black Bone War Spear tightly with both hands, took a deep breath, and a resolute look flashed in his eyes:
No... I can't just leave like this.
His consciousness trembled like thunder as he gazed at the void passage that emitted light, and said in a low but unwavering voice:
"Azure Ring, wait for me. There are still unresolved matters on the Great Yan Continent. The White Cloud Sect needs me, Wan'er, Xinyu, and Yang Zheng all need me. Let me settle all worldly ties before I step into that unknown space and time with you, okay?"
The moment the words fell, the enormous Azure Ring, which seemed capable of swallowing the world, actually trembled slightly.
Within the void passage, the previously surging azure light gradually subsided, as if it had understood Qin Yu's intentions.
Boom--
The passage slowly closed, and the sky returned to calm. The Azure Ring released a final gentle ripple, like a silent promise, before transforming into countless streams of azure light that converged into a beam of light that slowly fell into Qin Yu's brow, sinking completely into the depths of his sea of consciousness.
At that moment, the world returned to silence, leaving Qin Yu standing alone in the center of the world, his heart still pounding with turmoil.
He slowly raised his hand to his chest and murmured to himself:
"Azure Ring... thank you for giving me time."
The azure light in the sky completely dissipated, and the world gradually returned to calm. Qin Yu suppressed the surging spiritual energy within him and slowly stepped down, his steps Steady as a Mountain. At this moment, his eyes were still deep, yet they carried a hint of gentleness.
In the blink of an eye, he had traveled thousands of miles and returned to the gates of the White Cloud Sect. Outside the main hall, the people who had already gathered all turned their heads.
Yang Zheng was the first to rush out, his eyes slightly red, his voice filled with suppressed excitement:
"He's back! Brother Yu is back!"
Zhao Xinyu followed closely behind, her eyes glistening with tears as she watched Qin Yu's figure. Her heart trembled violently, and though she smiled, her voice trembled as she said:
"Senior Brother Qin... is finally back."
Mu Qingwan was also present. She stood quietly at the edge of the square, her clothes fluttering gently. At that moment, she could no longer conceal the deep affection in her eyes and softly called out:
"Qin Yu..."
At the entrance of the main hall, Xiao Yinshan, the sect leader of the White Cloud Sect, and the elders were already waiting. Seeing Qin Yu return safely, Xiao Yinshan's eyes flashed deeply, and he finally relaxed his burden, proclaiming loudly:
"Good, good! Qin Yu, your safe return is the greatest blessing for our White Cloud Sect!"
The entire square fell silent. All the disciples stared at the young man who had repeatedly turned the tide of the chaotic world single-handedly. Qin Yu slowly raised his hand, his eyes sweeping around. Looking at the extremely concerned eyes of Zhao Xinyu, Yang Zheng, and Mu Qingwan, a long-lost smile slowly appeared on his lips.
As Qin Yu and the others entered the magnificent main hall of the White Cloud Sect, the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth still trembled because of him. Only then did Zhao Xinyu, Yang Zheng, Mu Qingwan, and several elders truly see the flow of his aura. In an instant, the entire place fell into a deathly silence.
"This... this is..." An elder's eyes widened in shock, his pupils shrinking sharply.
Zhao Xinyu covered her rosy lips, her voice trembling, "Senior Brother Qin... he's already... at the Great Completion of the Spirit Transformation Realm..."
Yang Zheng stood there dumbfounded for a long time before suddenly slapping his thigh, his voice hoarse with shock. "Holy crap! Brother Yu, you... you actually directly stepped into the Great Completion of the Spirit Transformation Realm?! How is this possible! It's only been a short time!"
Mu Qingwan's heart trembled, her eyes filled with awe and deep affection. She breathed softly, almost to herself, "So... you've already reached such heights..."
Even Sect Master Xiao Yinshan abruptly stood up, gazing intently at Qin Yu. For the first time, a flicker of emotion appeared in his unfathomable eyes. "Spirit Transformation Realm... Great Completion... Such cultivation is rare, perhaps only one in a thousand years on the Great Yan Continent."
Qin Yu remained calm, merely smiling faintly as he slowly raised his hand, "Let's return to the main hall first, and I will tell you everything."
--
A moment later, deep within the main hall, candlelight flickered, casting interplay of light and shadow. Qin Yu stood atop the central jade steps, recounting in detail his experiences in the "Realm Soul Annihilation Forest," the coercion of the Demonic Spirit Commander, the awakening of Azure Ring, and the secrets of the spatial rift.
As the words fell, everyone was struck dumb, unable to recover for a long time.
"No wonder... no wonder you were able to slay that Demonic Spirit leader..." an elder murmured.
"So, without our knowledge, you carried such a destiny..." Zhao Xinyu were filled with tears, her heart aching, yet she felt incredibly proud.
Yang Zheng's eyes lit up, and he was almost trembling with excitement. "Brother Yu! Are you True God descended to earth? This is simply defying the heavens!"
Mu Qingwan gazed quietly at Qin Yu, her eyes filled with shock, worry, and above all, deep reluctance.
Qin Yu looked around, finally took a deep breath, and solemnly looked at Xiao Yinshan: "Sect Master Xiao, I am about to leave the Great Yan Continent for a higher level of world. But before I leave, there is something I need to entrust to you."
Xiao Yinshan immediately stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and solemnly said, "Qin Yu, please speak freely. Between us, anything is possible. The White Cloud Sect will follow your arrangements."
Qin Yu's eyes dimmed, but remained resolute. "My mother, Qin Yu, is still in the Northern Cold Lands of the Great Yan Continent. She has sacrificed so much for me in her life, and I cannot allow her to suffer even the slightest grievance now. After I leave, I request that the Sect Master bring her to the White Cloud Sect, place her in the safest palace, and take good care of her."
Xiao Yinshan nodded deeply, his voice resounding. "You can rest assured about that. Young Master Qin, even if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have certainly sent someone to greet you. Your mother is the most honored guest of our White Cloud Sect! From this day forward, the entire White Cloud Sect will protect her, and no one shall dare to offend her in the slightest!"
The main hall Ji Ran. All the elders rose and clasped their hands in greeting. "We humbly obey the Sect Master's command!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu finally felt the heavy burden that had been weighing on his heart for so long lifted. His eyes moistened slightly, and his voice was low but filled with relief. "Thank you, Sect Master, and thank you, Elders."
As night fell, on the Heavenly Star Terrace, the highest point of the White Cloud Sect, stars cascaded down, their silvery light like a waterfall. The four stood side by side, Qingfeng caressing their faces, their presence serene and peaceful.
Qin Yu stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the endless sky in the distance, a thousand words unspoken in his heart. Zhao Xinyu gently walked to his side, her eyes filled with complex emotions and reluctance. "Senior Brother Qin, are you really... leaving?"
Qin Yu turned his head, his eyes gentle, and reached out to stroke her hair. "Xinyu, I also want to stay by your side, but the world is wider, and I must keep going. Only in this way can I have the strength to protect you in the future."
Zhao Xinyu bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, but finally nodded. "I understand... but I'm afraid I won't be able to see you again."
Qin Yu took a deep breath, his voice gentle as water. "No matter where I am, you will always be in my heart. When I stand at a higher position, one day I will come back and take you away from this world."
Yang Zheng stood to the side, his fists clenched tightly, his eyes reddening, but he forced a smile, his voice hoarse. "Brother Yu, go in peace! We're brothers, even if we're separated by the heavens and the stars, I'll fight tooth and nail to catch up with you. Even if it takes my whole life, I'll stand shoulder to shoulder with you!"
Looking at Yang Zheng, Qin Yu felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He raised his hand and patted Yang Zheng on the shoulder. "Yang Zheng Qin Yu, having a brother like you is the greatest honor of my life. I believe you can do it."
Yang Zheng grinned, tears streaming down his face. "It's a deal then! When you come back, I, Yang Zheng, will definitely not be the person I am now! Xinyu and I will take care of Auntie wholeheartedly. Don't worry."
Finally, Mu Qingwan slowly stepped forward, her eyes meeting Qin Yu's. After a long silence, she spoke, her voice trembling slightly. "Qin Yu, I won't stop you. Because I know you're destined to go further in life. But... you must promise me that no matter what lies ahead, you must come back alive."
Qin Yu's heart skipped a beat. Looking at the woman before him who had sacrificed so much for him, he slowly reached out and pulled her into his arms, whispering, "Qingwan, as long as I'm here, I will definitely come back. Wait for me."
Mu Qingwan closed her eyes, tears silently streaming down her face, and nodded gently.
Under the starry sky, the four of them stood quietly together, as if trying to imprint this warmth into each other's souls. The wind howled, and the world was silent, but their hearts had never been so close.
Qin Yu silently made a vow in his heart: even if the Heavenly Dao blocks him, even if all worlds Annihilation, he will return alive.
The next morning, as the sun rose, the White Cloud Sect's mountain gate was bathed in golden light. All the sect members, whether outer or inner disciples, stood in neat rows on the plaza. Dozens of elders stood solemnly, with Sect Master Xiao Yinshan himself standing at the very front, his expression grave.
Qin Yu, dressed in black and carrying Black Bone War Spear on his back, slowly walked out of the palace. Every step he took Steady as a Mountain, yet it stirred up feelings of reluctance and awe in everyone's hearts. Zhao Xinyu, Yang Zheng, and Mu Qingwan walked alongside him, their eyes filled with reluctance. The disciples whispered, "Respectfully seeing off Senior Brother Qin!" The voices gradually gathered into a deafening roar that reverberated throughout the entire White Cloud Sect.
Xiao Yinshan stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Young Master Qin, I hope you will take good care of yourself on your journey. The White Cloud Sect is proud of you!" The other elders also respectfully saw him off in unison. The entire sect was united in spirit, and the farewell was as powerful as a surging tide.
At that very moment--
Qin Yu's sea of consciousness suddenly trembled, and a cyan light burst forth, as if igniting the sky. In an instant, an Azure Ring shot out from between Qin Yu's eyebrows and soared into the heavens.
The Azure Ring unfolded with billions of feet of radiance, and as it rotated, space tore apart layer by layer, forming an azure gate that led straight to the endless void. Its light cascaded down like a waterfall, illuminating the entire White Cloud Sect as if a divine palace had descended upon the world. The sky roared and the mountains trembled, as if heaven and earth were making way for this moment.
Countless disciples stared in disbelief, witnessing the Azure Ring, like a sovereign, dispel demonic barriers with its azure light, causing spatial ripples to spread layer by layer, resembling the Ultimate flow of the Milky Way.
The light curtain distorted, the void shattered, and layers of space cracked open like mirrors, forming a long river of time and space leading to an unknown land.
The azure light surged like waves, giving rise to countless ancient runes that floated in the air, seemingly welcoming the lone traveler.
The enormous cyan ripples made Qin Yu's figure appear like a god, his back view exuding both arrogance and unwavering determination.
Zhao Xinyu glistened with tears as she bit her lip and murmured softly, "Senior Brother Qin..."
Yang Zheng clenched his fists, his voice hoarse. "Brother Yu, wait for me! I will definitely catch up with you!"
Mu Qingwan's tears finally fell, but she forced back her sorrow and whispered, "Remember your promise to me, you must come back..."
Qin Yu turned to look at the three of them, his expression gentle, and bowed deeply. "Wait for me."
The Azure Ring emitted a roar, and the azure light suddenly engulfed Qin Yu's figure. His body was slowly drawn into the void river, his back gradually blurring, yet appearing all the more resolute and majestic.
Finally, the Azure Ring trembled, the gate to the boundary suddenly closed, and the world returned to calm. Only the remaining azure light lingered in the sky for a long time, as if announcing to the world: Qin Yu has embarked on a path that no one has ever walked before.