After the barrier collapsed, the light and mist over the spirit pool did not dissipate as usual; instead, it grew even denser. The pool water was no longer as beautiful as starlight, but gradually turned a strange purplish-black, as if countless sleeping eyes were slowly opening underwater.
The air suddenly turned cold and still, as if the temperature of the entire world had been stripped away. Even the breaths exhaled by Yunyi and Hong Xiuxiang instantly condensed into tiny ice crystals. The surrounding flower shadows and butterfly lights seemed to lose their spirit, stiffening and hovering in mid-air, as if forcibly frozen by some terrifying will.
Then, the water in the center of the spirit pool suddenly surged, silently yet violently, as if time itself had been torn open. Countless water droplets flowed upstream, condensing into vortexes in mid-air, and a deep rumble came from the depths of the vortexes, like billions of bones rubbing against each other in unison.
Qin Yu's brow furrowed, Azure Ring in his sea of consciousness vibrated slightly, emitting a cold warning tone. "Little Qinzi... is here."
As the sound faded, the world suddenly darkened, with only a wisp of Netherworld light emerging from the depths of the spirit pool. That light did not illuminate the darkness, but rather seemed to absorb all light sources, transforming them into a deathly, swallowing abyss.
The Eternal Silence Sovereign stood by the pool, its massive form bowing slightly. A faint, Annihilation light flickered in its eyes as it murmured:
"Master, this is my second brother's aura..."
The voice was heavy, as if carrying millions of years of repression and fear, causing even the heavens and earth to tremble.
Suddenly, a distorted phantom appeared above the Spirit Pool, seemingly possessing a pair of ancient, indefinable eyes that pierced through time and space, looking down upon the three and bringing an indescribable sense of oppression—as if any existence that fell into its field of vision had already been declared "unexistent."
The eerie light of the Spirit Pool suddenly burst open, as if a gap had been torn open in the entire Void Silent Spirit Pool in an instant. Deep within that gap, there was no space, no time, only a boiling chaos, where billions of shattered fragments of Dao principles floated like stars.
As a deep, soul-shaking roar resounded, the Primordial Dao-Extinguishing True Emperor slowly appeared.
Its form cannot be captured by conventional vision, as if it fills the entire world. What wraps around it is not flesh and blood, but a chaotic ball of light pieced together from countless broken chains of rules and fragments of light of laws, each fragment bearing the weight of the collapse of a universe.
On its body surface, one can vaguely see billions of "fragments of the Dao" constantly collapsing, regenerating, and then annihilating again, as if the Dao foundations of countless cultivators were devoured and turned into dust, eventually becoming its scales and armor.
Its pupils are like two bottomless Black Abyss, reflecting the "Eyes of Dao Extinction." Once its gaze falls upon you, all cultivation systems, realms, and skills seem to become meaningless, and anyone will instantly feel the despair of having their Dao foundation crushed and their power base completely reduced to zero.
The water in the spirit pool boiled upon its appearance, turning into countless surging fragments of light, which were eventually absorbed into its body. With this action, all the rules and runes in the world trembled, as if submitting to it.
The Eternal Silence Sovereign stood beside Qin Yu, his massive body bowing its head for the first time, his voice heavy as iron. "Master... this is my second brother— the Primordial Dao-Extinguishing True Emperor. He was born at the 'end of the Dao,' capable of crushing ten thousand Daos with a single thought, and destroying heaven and earth with a single glance."
In an instant, the void around Qin Yu shattered like glass, with countless rays of light surging within the cracks, each corresponding to a "realm system" destroyed by the Dao-Extinguishing Ripple. Hong Xiuxiang's breath hitched; her Only Book Realm Supreme cultivation, under the gaze of those "Eyes of Dao Extinction," trembled like never before, as if it might turn into scraps of paper and scatter at any moment.
Yunyi suddenly raised her eyes, an Annihilation Abyss light bursting from the depths of her dragon pupils, yet she also felt a pain as if her Fate Soul and the rules were being torn apart. She murmured softly, "This is... an existence that transcends all Daos..."
The surface of the Void Silent Spirit Pool had now frozen, reflecting countless collapsed Dao images and the Annihilation starry river like a mirror.
The Primordial Dao-Extinguishing True Emperor stood amidst the surging chaos of light and dust, its massive body seemingly filling the entire sky above the Spirit Pool. In its pupils, the "Eyes of Dao Extinction" gleamed with a chilling black light, coldly and mercilessly staring at Qin Yu and the other two, finally fixing its gaze on the Eternal Silence Sovereign.
Its voice was deep and resonant, like the sound of rust from the depths of the universe, causing ripples to spread throughout the entire spiritual pool.
"Brother, you've actually... been reduced to a mere human's soul beast?"
His voice was like a knife, carrying undisguised contempt and sneer. Every word was accompanied by the sound of laws shattering, as if declaring that this very fact was a disgrace.
The colossal celestial body of the Eternal Silence Sovereign trembled slightly. After a moment of silence, a dark, Annihilation light ignited in his eyes, and his voice was solemn and heavy:
"Second brother, this is our fate. Our master's power is far beyond our reach. He is different from us; he may truly be able to lead us out of this Realm of Primordial Echoes that has been imprisoned for billions of years."
Time Silence fell over the Spirit Pool, with only the endless sound of rules shattering in the world remaining.
The Primordial Dao-Extinguishing True Emperor let out a low, mocking laugh, filled with Ultimate contempt and arrogance. Its chaotic body trembled, and countless fragments of "Dao" transformed into streams of light, its voice radiating a chilling, all-encompassing ruthlessness.
"Get out? Haha, brother, have you forgotten who we are? We are the Ultimate beasts, born at the end, standing at the abyss. A human? Can he lead you out? Are you deceiving yourself, or have you utterly fallen!"
Its gaze suddenly fell on Qin Yu, carrying a contemptuous look as if judging its prey:
"Humans, you are nothing but ants, how dare you attempt to enslave Eternal Silence? How utterly laughable."
Deep within the Spirit Pool, fragments of Dao principles surged. The Primordial Dao-Extinguishing True Emperor slowly raised his "Eyes of Dao Extinction," their light like two endless Silent Abyss, gazing down upon Qin Yu and his companions, as well as the bowed Eternal Silence Sovereign. His voice was cold, carrying the lingering echo of crushing all rules, as if each word was accompanied by the reverberation of the collapse of ten thousand Daos:
"Brother, I never imagined you would... be reduced to a mere human's soul beast? You and I were once kings of the Limitless Final Abyss, wielding the power of the end, yet now you bow your head before the consciousness of a mortal? Is this your destiny?"
The Eternal Silence Sovereign's body trembled slightly, but his gaze remained unwavering. His voice was deep and resonant, like a silent echo from the depths of the Heavenly Abyss: "Second brother, you are wrong. This is not humiliation, but a turning point in fate. Our master's power is not merely strength, but a realm beyond our comprehension. He might... truly be able to lead us away from this Realm of Primordial Echoes, and return us to the Limitless Final Abyss."
The Primordial Dao-Extinguishing True Emperor let out a sneer, the sound wave shaking the entire Void Silent Spirit Pool, causing the water to flow backward. "Fate? Turning point? Haha! You've learned to fantasize too. We are the embodiment of Annihilation and the Dao of Annihilation, belonging to no one, much less to this so-called 'master'! You'd rather submit than stand shoulder to shoulder with me again? How pathetic!"
Qin Yu slowly stepped forward, the Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword held horizontally at his side, Azure Ring light pulsating between his brows, his aura imposing without anger. His voice was calm, yet it carried an unwavering will, like the sole judgment in the universe:
"Primordial Dao-Extinguishing True Emperor, you are mistaken. What I want is not to conquer you, but to lead you out of this prison. You and the Eternal Silence Sovereign are both transcendent beings, and should not be trapped in the Realm of Primordial Echoes, becoming the guardians of this desolate place. If you are willing, I hope you will stand shoulder to shoulder with my elder brother, instead of fighting me pointlessly here. If you insist on being my enemy, I will never back down. But if you are willing to travel with me, I will surely lead you back to the Limitless Final Abyss."
The sound of the water in the Spirit Pool suddenly stopped, and even the fragments of the collapsed Dao principles froze in mid-air, as if the world was holding its breath. The Eternal Silence Sovereign's low gaze held a trace of hope, while the Primordial Dao-Extinguishing True Emperor's Eyes of Dao Extinction flickered with complex light, a mixture of contempt and rage, as if it were fighting against its own pride and doubts.
Above the Void Silent Spirit Pool, countless fragments of Dao principles tumbled in the void, resembling a collapsing starry illusion. The dark, shimmering water and chaotic aura intertwined, making the scene even more oppressive. The figure of the Primordial Dao-Extinguishing True Emperor gradually enlarged in the void. Within the Primordial Light Orb, countless fragments of "Dao" shattered like burning flames, each resounding boom seemingly crushing the rules of heaven and earth. Its Eyes of Dao Extinction stared at the Eternal Silence Sovereign, its voice like a judgment, cold and heavy:
"Alright, enough with the nonsense. Brother, out of consideration for our past relationship, I hope you can turn back. We both originated from the Limitless Final Abyss, and were originally beings who stood shoulder to shoulder to defend against chaos. Now, are you willing to submit to mere humans? If you remain obstinate, don't blame your second brother for burning the boats..."
As soon as the words fell, a Dao-Extinguishing Ripple seemingly tearing apart countless rules, its roar echoing across the heavens. The water surface surged back into a giant, turbulent wave, reflecting countless shattered Dao images.
The Eternal Silence Sovereign roared in a deep, furious voice, unleashing an aura as Annihilation as a galaxy, which protected Qin Yu and the other two. He did not yield, his voice reverberating throughout the entire spirit pool:
"Second brother, you don't understand! This is the only path, not one of humiliation, but the Return Path!"
Qin Yu's eyes were deep, and the Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword in his hand trembled slightly. Azure Ring light flowed from between his brows, quietly intertwining with Yunyi's Silent Abyss Dragon Breath and Hong Xiuxiang's Sole Book Divine Radiance. He did not speak, but his actions showed his attitude—if the Primordial Dao-Extinguishing True Emperor really wanted to fight, he would not back down even a step.
At this moment, the atmosphere between heaven and earth was frozen to the extreme, like the last breath of silence before a great battle.
The Void Silent Spirit Pool suddenly fell silent. The next instant, the chaotic light cluster around the Primordial Dao-Extinguishing True Emperor suddenly exploded, and billions of shattered "Dao Runes" turned into light rain that scattered in all directions. Then, they were all swallowed up by its Eyes of Dao Extinction and condensed into an extremely black ripple. That ripple was silent, but it caused the entire world to collapse instantly.
" --Dao-Extinguishing Judgment."
As those four words were slowly uttered like a verdict, ripples spread out with a roar, instantly engulfing the radiance of the spirit pool. The water's surface, the void, and the starry river all turned gray and colorless. Qin Yu felt as if all the cultivation techniques, realms, laws, and even the trajectory of his Fate Soul within his body had been forcibly shattered at the same moment, as if his foundation had been uprooted, and he had utterly returned to "the Wudao."
Yunyi let out a low groan. Her dragon wings shattered in an instant, and the countless illusory soul butterflies burned and dissipated like paper. Even the Eyes of the Annihilation Abyss almost lost its luster. She staggered back, her face pale, but her eyes blazed with fury as she stared intently ahead.
Hong Xiuxiang was even more horrified. She felt that all the martial soul pages of "Spirit Brocade Book Realm" had turned to ash, and the soul ink flowing in the Brocade Ink Soul Brush had suddenly dried up, even the concept of words was stripped away. Blood spilled from the corner of her lips, and her figure was almost wiped away by the ripples of "Wudao", but she still gritted her teeth and supported her remaining soul breath, protecting herself behind Qin Yu.
Qin Yu shuddered violently, the sound of his chest bones cracking clearly rang out, but in his eyes, a fierce flame intertwined with the Azure Ring light and the Void Source Ripple appeared. Just as this wave of judgment was about to completely crush him, the void beneath his feet shattered with a deafening roar, and the Void Source Domain suddenly unfolded!
He roared, his voice shaking the heavens and earth:
"Cause and Effect Reshaping —open it up!"
The Void Source Ripple transformed into billions of light fragments, forcibly intercepting the Dao-Extinguishing Ripple. Light and shadow collided above the spiritual pool, creating countless destructive vortexes. With each ripple spreading outwards, it seemed to reassemble the severed "Dao," temporarily opening a path for the three to survive.
The sky was torn apart, the waterfall reversed, and the entire Void Silent Spirit Pool was transformed into a purgatory intertwined with destruction and reconstruction. Qin Yu gritted his teeth, the sword cry of the Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword resounded through heaven and earth, vowing to join forces with Yunyi and Hong Xiuxiang to suppress this absolute judgment!