Hao Yuanzun's gaze was calm and unwavering as he stood amidst the Stainless Stillness Light, as if all the phenomena of heaven and earth were mere illusions before him.
He spoke slowly, his voice Kong Ling and vast, yet it resonated in everyone's hearts like a judgment of the laws of the universe:
"Over the past year, many changes have occurred within the temple. However, the rise and fall of worldly affairs, and the ebb and flow of cause and effect, are all natural occurrences."
The Light of Stainlessness trembled slightly, and the rules of the Floating Cosmos Battle Mirror flowed once more, as if with his words, billions of causal relationships were being recalibrated.
"Qin Yu, since you have returned from the desolate wilderness, you have already crossed the threshold of life and death and re-established your destiny. From now on, Vice Hall Master Zhang Qiang will explain everything to you one by one."
The voice paused for a moment, then fell like a sigh from beyond the heavens, flat and indifferent, yet carrying an irresistible weight:
"Alright... it's good to be back."
As the words fell, the Stainless Stillness Light receded once more, and the blurry, unrecognizable figure slowly retreated into the Stainless Sky, and the world returned to silence.
Zhang Qiang bowed deeply, his voice respectful. "I will obey the ancestor's command."
Qin Yu also bowed, his voice steady. "Disciple obeys."
When the two looked up, Hao Yuanzun's figure had completely disappeared, leaving only a Stainless radiance deep in the sky, illuminating the chaotic gate.
Zhang Qiang took a deep breath, his eyes still filled with awe and emotion. He turned around and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
"Let's go, Qin Yu. The Ancestor has entrusted us with this matter; I will explain the rest to you in detail."
Qin Yu clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes."
The two bowed respectfully at the same time, then stepped back and withdrew from the Silent Abyss Chaos Forbidden Domain.
As the giant gate slowly closed behind them, the Chaos Stele Cluster once again Entering Stillness, with only the countless primordial characters still faintly flickering, as if the scene from just moments ago had never happened.
Only in the depths of Qin Yu's heart did the phrase "It's good that you're back" echo like a brand for a long time.
Stepping out of the Silent Abyss Chaos Forbidden Domain, Zhang Qiang and Qin Yu walked side by side, their footsteps echoing in the magnificent temple corridor. Ancient steles stood on both sides, each engraved with patterns that shimmered with the aura of annihilation and rebirth, like silent witnesses.
Zhang Qiang's expression was solemn as he slowly spoke:
"A year ago, when you disappeared, the Phantom Demon Army suddenly launched a massive invasion, besieging the entire Source of Epochless · Middle Layer. In that battle, rivers of blood flowed, and countless souls were shattered. If it weren't for the combined efforts of the Ancestor and the elders to sever the Void Abyss passage, the Holy Temple would probably no longer exist today."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu felt a surge of emotion, but he remained calm and bowed respectfully, saying, "This disciple... is fortunate to have survived, otherwise it would have been even more difficult to face the Ancestor."
Zhang Qiang's gaze darkened, and he continued:
"Your Annihilation Abyss Star Palace was given to someone else after your disappearance. Since that's the case, I will arrange a new palace for you."
With a flick of his sleeve, a crystal token shimmering with starlight appeared, displaying four characters inscribed within its radiance:
The Radiant Cosmos Star Hall.
"This palace was originally located in the core star region and was never bestowed upon you. Now, it belongs to you. Take it. Go back to the palace and cleanse yourself first—you must be exhausted after a year away."
Qin Yu respectfully accepted it with both hands, bowed his head, and said in a deep voice:
"Thank you for your kindness, Vice Hall Master. I will obey your orders."
As soon as he finished speaking, his body trembled, and a blue light suddenly burst forth from behind him. He transformed into a streak of annihilating blue light, vanished into the void, and headed towards the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall.
At the end of the corridor, only Zhang Qiang remained, standing with his hands behind his back, watching the figure disappear into the distance.
He remained silent for a long time, his expression complex, before finally letting out a soft sigh, his voice low and carrying a hint of relief:
"Alas... this child is no ordinary person. Fortunately, that scoundrel Chen Chao failed to Annihilation him. If he had truly died in the Desolate Annihilation Secret Realm, that would have been the greatest loss for our Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall."
As the wind rises, the patterns on the steles on both sides of the corridor tremble slightly, as if leaving a silent echo for this statement.
Qin Yu's escape light tore through the void, its azure rays trailing behind, transforming into a long rainbow like a shooting star, finally stopping abruptly before the dome of a magnificent holy domain.
The world before him was completely different from the Annihilation Abyss Star Palace in his memory.
The Radiant Cosmos Star Hall stands silently at the heart of the City of Billions of Glorious Light.
The palaces were majestic, their domes shimmering like stars. The entire holy city was illuminated by countless sparks in the night, as if the Milky Way had been suspended upside down on earth. Surrounding the city, a huge waterfall cascaded down from the sky, its light flowing straight down like billions of blue galaxies crashing into the abyss.
Below the waterfall lies a vast expanse of water. Floating in the water is a huge circular array plate, engraved with ancient star patterns. At its center stands a tower of light, radiating a deep blue glow that resonates with the Limitless Evolving True Flow. As the array patterns flicker, it seems as if countless destinies are intertwined within it, making the entire Radiant Cosmos Star Hall appear to be suspended above the river of fate.
Along both sides of the waterfall, magnificent corridors and buildings stand side by side, nestled between the mountains, like a hollowed-out galaxy etched into the sky. On the streets, the lights and footsteps of the disciples weave a flowing galaxy, and under the radiant light, everything is solemn and prosperous.
Qin Yu raised his gaze again and saw another scene further away:
The mountains were cleaved in two, waterfalls cascaded down, and the water flowed into a long river that flowed through the city. On both banks stood magnificent palace complexes, golden domes soared into the clouds, flowers and trees flourished, buildings were built around the waterways, and boats dotted the waterways, as if the most perfect painting of heaven and earth had come to life.
Deep within the city, above the highest palace, dark clouds, like a curtain, were torn open by a huge circular hole. Within the hole, a vast galaxy of stars shone through the dark dome, as if the heavens had split open, showering this region with a rain of light.
All of these elements combine to create the unique and magnificent spectacle of the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall.
Qin Yu in the void, his robes fluttering, his gaze calm.
This is his palace.
The token in his hand trembled slightly in the radiance, and the protective array outside the palace immediately sensed it. The water in the center of the waterfall suddenly split open, and a staircase formed by radiance slowly rose, leading directly to the main gate of the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall.
He concealed his aura, moved swiftly, and stepped onto the light staircase. With each step, the azure light and water light merged, as if resonating with the rhythm of heaven and earth.
As he walked to the temple gate, his figure was reflected in the millions of sparks of light splashing from the waterfall, as if he had become the only figure in the silent light.
At this moment, countless disciples in the city looked on from afar, their eyes filled with shock and whispers:
"Is that... Senior Brother Qin Yu, who just returned?"
"The Radiant Cosmos Star Hall... actually bestowed it upon him directly!"
However, Qin Yu remained unmoved, standing quietly in front of the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall, his clothes fluttering in the wind, like a lone figure returning from the desolate wilderness, finally possessing his own sacred temple at this moment.
Holding the token, Qin Yu watched as the radiant staircase extended, leading him into the gates of the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall.
The palace gates suddenly burst open.
In an instant, an extremely powerful spiritual aura rushed towards them. It was not just simple spiritual power, but the convergence of the Limitless Evolving True Flow within a special formation. Each wisp of aura was like the primordial embers of a star's annihilation, pure and profound, carrying a pressure that made one's soul tremble.
The hall was magnificent, with a high dome that seemed to reflect the night sky. The sky was not a solid object, but a starry illusion that formed its own world, with billions of stars revolving around it and ancient runes appearing from time to time. It seemed that the secret method of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall was projecting the star realm here.
In the center of the main hall is a deep blue spiritual spring pool. Water from the waterfall cascading from the ceiling flows into it, and the splashing light spots are no longer water droplets, but pure energy crystals. The moment they land, they are absorbed by the inscriptions on the ground and transformed into a new cycle.
Around the Spirit Spring Pool, twelve crystal pillars float, each completely transparent, with the five core elements of the Limitless Evolving True Flow flowing within them:
The Origin Void Substance and like mist.
Karmic Dust, like stars.
The Limitless Radiance flashed like thunder.
Dark Evolving Undercurrent currents, deep and unfathomable,
Logic Fragments transformed into billions of points of light.
The fluids flow alternately within the crystal column, as if sealing the very source of the universe.
As Qin Yu stepped into the hall, his footsteps lightly touched the ground, causing the patterns to light up and layers of runes to spread outwards, confirming his identity and the aura of his token. Moments later, the entire array and energy of the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall completely submitted to him.
"Call..."
Qin Yu slowly exhaled.
The spiritual energy permeating the air was a hundred times denser than outside. He simply stood there quietly, and he felt the Azure Ring deep within his sea of consciousness vibrating gently, as if it were actively absorbing this energy.
He looked up at the dome and saw the waterfall of light descending, transforming into chains of energy in mid-air, channeling spiritual energy into the Star Palace. The starry night sky outside the waterfall echoed the illusory figures within the palace, making the entire Radiant Cosmos Star Hall seem like a "starry spirit gathering furnace" embedded between heaven and earth.
He walked forward and stepped into the Lingquan Pool.
The spring water was crystal clear, yet its depths were unfathomable. The reflection in the water was not his face, but the phantoms of countless ancient battlefields and the collapse of worlds. Each frame was like a memory of the Limitless Evolving True Flow, recording the destruction and rebirth of countless eras.
Qin Yu narrowed his eyes slightly and muttered to himself:
"The Radiant Cosmos Star Hall... is truly impressive."
He reached into the spring, and in an instant, his arm was enveloped in Limitless Radiance. Azure patterns rose along his meridians, and his entire being was filled with a vast and incomparable energy.
The Fate Soul Crystal Core within his body, the Azure Evolution Core, trembled gently, and a wisp of dark light flickered between his brows, as if responding to the spiritual energy of the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall.
At this moment, he felt as if he had truly found his own sacred place.
To countless disciples outside, the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall symbolizes glory and status; but in Qin Yu's heart, it is a quiet sanctuary that belongs only to him after he returned to the Holy Temple.
He slowly closed his eyes, letting his spiritual energy flow into his body. His robes billowed in the still air, and his figure seemed to overlap with the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall, becoming the master of this star palace.
The spiritual spring shimmered with light, and the waterfall cascaded down like a celestial river, immersing the entire space of the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall in a blue and gold interwoven light.
Qin Yu sat cross-legged, his robes draped over his shoulders, his fingers forming hand seals. The Fate Soul Crystal Core, Azure Evolution Core, deep within his sea of consciousness, trembled gently in rhythm with his breathing. The Limitless Evolving True Flow surged from the spring water, transforming into streams of starlight that flowed into his meridians.
Beneath his skin, faint blue runes appeared, resonating with the Azure Ring, as if his entire body had transformed into an Annihilation star realm.
As spiritual energy surged into his body, Qin Yu felt every inch of his bones and muscles being reforged, and his consciousness and soul being cleansed until they were crystal clear.
However, even in this tranquil setting, his mind was not completely at peace.
As the light flowed to his brow, his gaze trembled slightly, and from the depths of his heart, familiar faces emerged.
Chi Ning —those eyes, cool yet tender, once held fast to her convictions.
Shen Yuzhi – a woman with a spirit and soul, calm and intelligent, who never backs down in the face of crisis.
Luo Huan —a comrade-in-arms with a fiery temper, who once fought alongside him under the Radiant Seal Abyss-Splitting Claw.
Mu Xun – with his Mystic Flame Silent Fire Wheel burning across the heavens and earth, his figure is always the first to charge forward.
Du Linglin – Yin Radiance Cold Blade, cold and sharp as frost, yet always silently protecting everything.
Mo Zhiyan – a wise man Fate-Weaving Seven Mirrors, whose every word pierces the heart.
Wang Yuan – that mysterious yet trustworthy companion, with whom he entrusted his life to another on the brink of death.
These people were not only his comrades-in-arms, but also his true concern at the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall.
Qin Yu slowly closed his eyes, whispering to himself:
"After cleansing my mind and body, the first thing I did... was to see them."
The waterfall roared, as if in response to his vow.
Bathed in the light of the spiritual spring, his face was cold and resolute, as if he were not only washing away the dust of a year's battles, but also returning to his waiting companions with a brand new look.
He took a deep breath, letting his spiritual energy once again cleanse his meridians. The azure light within his body intertwined with the fluctuations of Annihilation, and a ring of Azure Ring and shadow quietly trembled in his sea of consciousness.
This night's cleansing is not only a reshaping of the body and spiritual cultivation, but also a preparation for returning to one's true self.
When dawn breaks, he will surely step out of the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall to find that group of people who belong to him.