The starlight was silent when Qin Yu's voice suddenly came from Azure Ring, carrying a chilling aura:
"Little Qinzi, the mysterious powerhouse that Xiuxiang mentioned is very likely the Yuanliu Source Flow Guardian, the elite legion of Source Dao Supreme Return Emperor. This is an elite unit personally trained by Supreme Return Emperor, directly under his command, and only obeying his orders. When we were in the Realm of Primordial Echoes, they may not have noticed the anomaly in the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer, so they didn't launch a full-scale attack, only taking away the Dao Shadow Soldier. If that's the case... their reappearance is definitely not accidental."
A star-shaped mark flashed between Qin Yu's brows, his eyes as deep as an abyss. "Source Flow Guardian..." His voice was like the striking of metal, carrying a chilling aura. He gently turned his gaze to Hong Xiuxiang, a hint of worry surfacing in his eyes, "Xiuxiang, are your master and the Divine Palace... well?"
Hong Xiuxiang lowered her delicate eyebrows, but her voice remained firm. "Yes, Master and Dawn Cloud First Hall didn't suffer too many casualties in that calamity, only the main hall and the Spirit Realm were severely damaged. Master said that this calamity has completely shaken the Source of Epochless · Middle Layer. Many enemies who were originally lurking in the void, and even some sects with ulterior motives, want to take advantage of this chaos to break the deadlock. The Source of Epochless · Middle Layer is no longer the peaceful place it once was."
She raised her eyes, her gaze clear and resolute, and looked directly at Qin Yu: "Therefore, Senior Brother Qin, I must return. I will stand guard with Master at the Divine Palace, rebuild our foundation, protect the Dawn Cloud First Hall, and resist any external invasion. This is my responsibility, and my vow."
Qin Yu remained silent for a moment, his gaze towards Hong Xiuxiang gentle yet unwavering. He could feel the persistence and protectiveness in her heart.
At that moment, the atmosphere between the three suddenly became quiet, with only the sound of the wind sweeping across the sky and earth, bringing a silent solemnity.
As dusk fell, the sky resembled a silent starry curtain, with faint light scattered among the mountains and rivers, illuminating the figures of Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang standing side by side. Yunyi quietly stepped back a few paces, wisely refraining from disturbing them, leaving the two to face each other in silence.
Hong Xiuxiang's eyes were sparkling, the soft light reflecting the resolute look between Qin Yu's brows. She gently raised her hand, her fingertips brushing against Qin Yu's sleeve, her voice as gentle as the night breeze, yet trembling slightly. "Senior Brother Qin, this time when I leave, I'm not afraid, I'm just reluctant... The days in the Realm of Primordial Echoes made me realize that I shouldn't rely solely on you to protect me. If I can't stand beside you, the burden on your shoulders will be too heavy."
Her voice choked slightly, tears welled up in her eyes, but she tried hard to hold them back.
Qin Yu gazed at her, a complex mix of emotions welling up within him. He slowly reached out and pulled Hong Xiuxiang into his arms, gently stroking her soft, dark hair. His voice was low and firm. "Xiuxiang, don't force yourself. Your presence by my side is my greatest comfort. But now that you have your own beliefs, I am even more gratified. Whether you go to protect the temple or guard the heavens and earth, I will wait for your safe return."
Hong Xiuxiang finally couldn't hold back her tears, which rolled down her cheeks and soaked Qin Yu's clothes. She whispered, "Senior Brother Qin... you must promise me that no matter what enemies we encounter, you will not bear everything alone. When everything calms down, I will come back and stand by your side once again."
Qin Yu lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "I promise you."
The night breeze rustled through the grass and trees, as if heaven and earth were witnessing this tender vow.
Hong Xiuxiang reluctantly let go of her hand, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of reluctance and determination. Finally, she turned gently, her figure gradually disappearing into the distant starlight.
Qin Yu stood still, gazing intently in the direction the figure had disappeared until the night completely swallowed her up, before slowly withdrawing her gaze.
Yunyi stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and smiled playfully, yet with a hint of seriousness. "Little Qinzi, don't worry, she'll be back soon. She's Hong Xiuxiang, not a petal that can be easily scattered."
Qin Yu smiled calmly and nodded.
The night sky was as black as ink, and the starlight of billions of stars was swallowed up by the silent void, leaving only the figures of Qin Yu and Yunyi standing in the world. The sound of the wind around them seemed to have also faded into silence, and only the conversation between the two was low and sincere.
Qin Yu slowly raised his eyes, his gaze as deep as a Black Abyss holding billions of stars. His tone was steady yet carried a heavy, oppressive weight. "Yunyi, regarding the Phantom Demon Army, there's one thing you must know... They are not some independent Devil Race, but an army under the command of the Source Dao Supreme Return Emperor. The Supreme Return Emperor is deeply connected to my past... I will tell you all of this at the appropriate time."
He paused, then his voice became even more resolute. "But not now. I must immediately go into seclusion to completely refine the Primordial Limitless Pill. Only then will I have the strength to face an even deeper storm. Once I have successfully refined it, I will return to the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall... Yunyi, many things happened while you were unconscious. I will tell you about them slowly when I have the chance in the future."
Yunyi listened quietly, her eyes gleaming with Star Abyss- like light. Her playful expression vanished, replaced by a serious gaze fixed on Qin Yu. Her voice was soft yet incredibly resolute. "Yes... don't worry, no matter what happens, I will protect you. Even if it costs me my soul and my life, I will never let you be alone."
As soon as she finished speaking, she transformed into countless streams of azure light, like billions of butterfly wings merging into the starry sky, and finally slowly sank into Qin Yu's brow, returning to his sea of consciousness.
Qin Yu's gaze sharpened, his robes fluttering in the wind. He didn't linger any longer; his figure transformed into a streak of Annihilation light, instantly dissolving into the depths of the void and vanishing without a trace.
The world returned to deathly silence, with only the starlight slowly twinkling, as if witnessing the stillness before a storm that was about to sweep across the entire Source of Epochless.
Deep in the void, Qin Yu's figure suddenly solidified, and he slowly landed in an ancient Realm Splitting. This place seemed to have been abandoned by time for billions of years, and the world was deathly silent, yet within this silence, a mysterious aura that could not be profaned was being nurtured.
All around were suspended rock layers and fractured spatial fragments, as if mountains and earth had been stripped away and were floating above an endless sea of stars. Each fragment was engraved with unknown patterns, seemingly traces left by ancient beings, exuding an aura of annihilation and nascent life. The air was filled with the swirling flow of the Limitless Evolving True Flow, which, like a thin mist, entwined between the spatial cracks, carrying a slight tremor, as if the whole world was softly chanting.
At the deepest part of the fault, a solitary peak floats in the void, its top split by a huge chasm of silent light, like a rift in the heart of the realm. Within the chasm flows the black glow of Annihilation and the white light of the primordial source, the two extreme forces intertwined, radiating a pressure powerful enough to awe everything.
Qin Yu atop a solitary peak, his robes billowing without wind, his long hair dancing wildly in the spatial turbulence. His aura was calm and profound, and Azure Ring between his brows rippled slightly, as if shielding its master from all external interference.
He raised his hand and waved it, causing the void to tremble violently. A "seclusion barrier" woven from the ripples of the Silent Origin and the Void Source Ripple slowly unfolded. Countless halos of light spread out from his body, eventually converging into a giant dome constructed of starlight, completely sealing off this Realm Splitting. All external auras were instantly isolated, leaving only the rhythm of Annihilation and the Void Source echoing in the space.
Qin Yu's gaze shifted to his palm.
There, silently floated a pill radiating chaotic light— the Primordial Limitless Pill.
Its body resembled a miniature universe, its surface shimmering with black and white light. Sometimes it would shatter into countless tiny stars, only to return to perfection in the next instant. Each transformation seemed to depict the destruction and rebirth of a world. Its aura was as vast as the breath of the Primordial; even a mere wisp of it was enough to cause the entire Source of Epochless · Middle Layer to tremble.
Qin Yu slowly exhaled, his voice deep and firm, echoing in the Space Silence, Realm Splitting:
"This place Silent Source Ring, filled with the Limitless Evolving True Flow, and protected by the Azure Evolution Core. This is the only opportunity for me to refine this pill."
As he finished speaking, he sat cross-legged, the Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword lying horizontally before him, its blade dripping with countless strands of Annihilation light, echoing the rift in the void. The Azure Ring between his brows radiated brilliant azure light, merging with the surrounding sealed barrier to form absolute protection.
At that very moment, Qin Yu slowly lifted the Primordial Limitless Pill with both hands. The pill trembled slightly, as if sensing its destined abode, and emitted endless light, illuminating the entire Realm Splitting.
In the silence, the breath of heaven and earth suddenly stopped.
At the summit of the solitary Realm Splitting, time seems to freeze in that moment.
Suddenly, the Primordial Limitless Pill that Qin Yu held in his hands exploded with a silent flame. It was not a flame, but the primordial light stream from the collapse of billions of galaxies and the beginning of the universe. Black and white intertwined, like the two polar torrents of day and night, and in an instant, it burst forth with waves that blotted out the sky.
Boom--!
The entire Realm Splitting was submerged in an instant. The void shattered into trillions of light mirrors, reflecting the chaotic starlight emanating from the Dan body. A torrent of energy surged through space, like a supernova explosion, pushing the solitary peak where Qin Yu was located into an ocean of light.
Qin Yu closed his eyes and focused his mind, his body remaining unmoved amidst the torrent. As the Primordial Limitless Pill transformed into a vast and boundless power that surged into his sea of consciousness, meridians, and soul source, a sound wave as if billions of thunderbolts were simultaneously striking his body resounded. His bones vibrated, his blood boiled, and his tendons transformed into endless strands of light, as if every inch of his meridians was being reforged.
"Nine-Wheel True Evolution —Open!"
A deep groan erupted from Qin Yu's chest.
In an instant, nine star rings appeared behind him, each resembling a complete universe. The first ring was like the initial crack of chaos, filled with black and white light and mist; the second ring burned with raging fire, illuminating the sky; the third ring was filled with countless stars, their countless trajectories intertwined; the fourth ring was annihilating with silent light, even freezing time; the fifth ring flickered with chains of cause and effect, intertwined like a net; the sixth ring dripped with the blood of stars, staining the void red; the seventh ring transformed into the roar of a giant whale, shattering all phenomena; the eighth ring flowed with the seal of order, swallowing heaven and earth; the ninth ring was the most profound, the entire Dharma wheel transparent and invisible, yet each flicker caused the void to collapse and regenerate.
With all nine wheels activated, Qin Yu's body was propelled onto a stage that seemed to transcend dimensions.
The moment the Dan energy surged, the Nine Wheels Dharma Simultaneously activated, like a cosmic engine operating at full power. Galaxyes were drawn away, the void was compressed, and all the Limitless Evolving True Flow converged into the center of the nine rotating wheels, forming an energy black hole powerful enough to tear apart dimensions. Qin Yu's figure was entrenched in that energy core, like a master controlling the lifeline of the universe.
Boom boom boom boom boom--
The violent energy surges relentlessly battered the sealed barrier, shattering the outer starlight curtain inch by inch only to be reshaped by the Azure Ring. The entire Realm Splitting roared incessantly, as if trillions of lightning bolts were striking down, and the exploding light and shadow ignited the dark void into daylight.
The power of the pill surged like a tsunami, and the nine wheels were like a divine furnace. At this moment, Qin Yu transformed into the heart of the furnace that bore the weight of all worlds. Every breath he took affected the rise and fall of the galaxy, and every heartbeat shook the very foundation of the entire Realm Splitting.
The Primordial Limitless Pill is being refined, transforming into endless Primordial Power that surges into Qin Yu's flesh and blood, soul source, and Fate Soul foundation.
Just as the Nine-Wheel True Evolution Dharma Wheel began to rotate, a cyan light suddenly emanated from between Qin Yu's brows.
"Buzz--"
That was the Azure Ring, which flew out from the sea of consciousness and transformed into an endless blue sea of light, with billions of overlapping ring shadows, as if locking the entire world into a ring screen. With each pulsation of the ring screen, the void collapsed and reassembled, as if rewriting the beginning of the world.
At the same time, deep within Qin Yu's sea of consciousness, an extremely ancient mark suddenly appeared.
That is [Heavenly Cause Judgment Sequence - Six Severances Seal].
The six marks floated above his sea of consciousness, arranged in a ring, each mark covered with ancient and undecipherable runes.
The first seal, [Fate Cause Sealing Mirror - Logic Abyss Core], is like a shattered mirror, reflecting countless chains of cause and effect, which are frozen in time.
The second seal [Master Book Seal Severance - Naming Reconstruction] transforms into an ancient scroll; as the pages turn, the names of all things turn to ashes.
The third seal, [Orbital Collapse Lock and Chain Annihilation], manifests dark golden chains that tear through the void and sever all trajectories of existence.
The fourth seal, [Final Order Interrogation - World Silent Judgment], features a dark red crack extending from nothingness, with the echoing of bells, as if it were a judgment questioning the necessity of the entire world.
The fifth seal [Abyssal Rotation Profiling - Forced World Enforcement], the Dark Purple Abyss Platform emerges, rewriting the logic of the enemy's existence in one stroke.
The sixth seal, [Star Structure Returning Ring - Source Cause Severance], depicts billions of stars outlining a ring array. As the Returning Ring collapses, the source cause is completely frozen.
The Six Severances Seal and the Nine-Wheel Dharma Wheel intertwined in the void, one bright and one dark, one ring and one seal, and began to resonate.
Boom!!!
Within Qin Yu's sea of consciousness, the nine wheels transformed into nine layers of star rings, Six Severances Seal resembled six paths of Annihilation divine seals. They converged above Qin Yu's sea of consciousness, transforming into a heaven-reaching [Primordial Void Source Furnace]. The elixir power within the furnace was refined, unleashing billions of rays of light that swept across the entire sea of consciousness, burning away the old Fate Soul patterns and reforging a new foundation for existence.
At this moment, the Azure Ring emitted a Kong Ling, low hum, and the sound waves transformed into countless azure light ribbons, drawing the Six Severances Seal runes and the Nine-Wheel Dharma Wheel into fusion.
"Boom--!"
Qin Yu's sea of consciousness instantly transformed into an ocean of light. The Azure Ring resembled the outline of the sky, the Six Severances Seal were like the order of judgment, and the Nine Wheels were like a stellar engine. The radiance emanating from the fusion of these three elements pierced through the endless void, illuminating the dimensional boundary of the Source of Epochless.
Outside, the void at the summit of the Realm Splitting suddenly ripped open, and billions of bolts of lightning and bursts of light fell from the sky, as if paying tribute to Qin Yu's sublimation at this moment.
Qin Yu slowly opened his eyes.
In his eyes, the shadows of nine stars overlapped with the Six Severances Seal, and the Azure Ring shimmered with a silent light, reflecting a majesty that completely transcended mortal reason. Every glance he cast seemed to rewrite the rules of the universe on their own, and the underlying logic of cause and effect, time, and existence surrounded him, flowing as if according to his will.