Radiant Cosmos Star Hall, the spiritual spring is crystal clear, and waterfalls cascade down. The entire palace is enveloped in the radiance of the Limitless Evolving True Flow, as if breathing in harmony with the starry sky.
Qin Yu and Chi Ning walked into the inner hall side by side, and the gate slowly closed behind them, isolating them from all outside gazes and noise.
A sudden stillness descended upon the surroundings, broken only by the gentle murmur of the spring water.
Unable to suppress the surging emotions within her any longer, Chi Ning gently turned around, her eyes still wet with tears, her voice trembling and urgent:
"Qin Yu... tell me, where have you been this past year? What... have you been through?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it pierced Qin Yu's heart like a sharp sword. It carried a urgency tinged with the trembling fear of losing him again, and an unwavering determination to know the truth.
Qin Yu remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the Starlight Illusory Realm on the palace ceiling, and he sighed inwardly.
How could he say that?
The true encounters within the Desolate Annihilation Secret Realm are too numerous to recount. The power of the Azure Ring, the fusion with the Annihilation Demon Flame, the rebirths amidst countless deadly predicaments... if these were revealed, they would inevitably arouse endless suspicion.
Moreover, even the progenitor Hao Yuanzun did not fully reveal his secrets.
He slowly raised his eyes to look at Chi Ning, a gentle glint in his eyes, yet his expression remained calm.
"Chi Ning... In the Panic Annihilation Secret Realm, I almost Bugui."
His tone was low, yet extremely calm. "Chen Chao, Chen Po's uncle, began his scheme before I even entered. I was besieged and nearly killed, but I managed to escape by sheer luck. However, when the secret realm collapsed, I was swept into an... extremely mysterious illusion."
Chi Ning's breathing quickened, and her fingertips involuntarily clenched her sleeves.
Qin Yu gently shook his head, his voice softening. "There, time stood still, and life and death were indistinguishable. I don't know how much time passed, or even if I could ever return. I only managed to find my way out little by little, relying on a sliver of determination."
As he said this, his eyes darkened slightly, many unspeakable truths flashing through his mind, but he ultimately concluded with just one sentence:
"It wasn't until recently that I finally broke free of the illusion and returned here."
Chi Ning stared at him blankly, tears welling up in her eyes once again, but she bit her lip to hold them back.
"Do you know... I thought you really... would never come back."
Her voice trembled slightly, as if whispering, yet it sounded like weeping blood.
Qin Yu gazed at her quietly, a tenderness flashing in his eyes, and slowly reached out to wipe away the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Silly girl."
His voice was gentle, yet as firm as a mountain. "I will not die... and I will not let you grieve for me."
Tears streamed down Chi Ning's face as she threw herself into his arms, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
Qin Yu gently embraced her, his gaze fixed on the starlight waterfall, while he murmured to himself:
Some secrets, I can only bear alone in the end.
Radiant Cosmos Star Hall, the spiritual spring was crystal clear, and the waterfall cascaded down like a starry river. Qin Yu and Chi Ning sat facing each other amidst the radiance, their breathing gradually calming down.
He asked softly, "Chi Ning, what happened during the year I was away from the Temple?"
Chi Ning lowered her eyelashes, her fingertips unconsciously tightening around the hem of her clothes, her voice low but trembling with suppressed emotion:
"Qin Yu... you don't know, during the time you were away, the Phantom Demon Army... suddenly appeared in the middle level."
Her voice echoed in the empty hall, as if carrying the whispers of countless departed souls.
"They swept across the land, their dark clouds obscuring the light of the entire Source of Epochless · Middle Layer. The main hall, the city walls, and countless spirit islands were engulfed in flames overnight... For months, we fought a bloody battle."
She raised her head, tears trembling in her eyes. "Those two traitors, Chen Chao and Chen Po, also Annihilation in that great battle. Perhaps it was retribution... karma ultimately swallowed them up."
At this point, she tried to hold back her tears, but her voice trembled uncontrollably, her chest heaved, and tears finally welled up in her eyes.
"Only..."
She bit her lower lip, her voice choked with sobs, almost breaking. "Shen Yuzhi... Luo Huan... Mu Xun... Du Linglin... Mo Zhiyan... and Senior Brother Wang Yuan..."
She struggled to utter each name from her throat.
"They... all sacrificed themselves in that great battle... to protect the Temple, to protect us..."
"They... all sacrificed..."
She finally couldn't hold back any longer, tears streaming down her face, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably, her sobs suppressed yet shaking the entire Radiant Cosmos Star Hall.
Qin Yu was jolted, his heart felt as if it were being torn apart by countless sharp blades, and he stood there stunned.
A sudden glint of pain and rage ignited in his eyes, and his fist slowly clenched, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
At this moment, he didn't even dare to confirm Chi Ning's words—because those names were all companions he had walked side by side with and entrusted with life and death!
Under the starlight cascading down his back, his figure stood frozen like a stone, while his soul seemed to have fallen into an endless, blood-red abyss.
Tears streamed down Chi Ning's face, soaking her clothes. Her voice trembled and broke as she said, "They... all for the Temple... all for us..."
She couldn't say anything more, and buried her face in Qin Yu's chest, her sobs low and heartbreaking, more so than any roar.
Qin Yu listened quietly, his entire body frozen under the starlight.
His heart felt as if it were being torn apart by a thousand knives; each name that fell was like a sharp blade slashing into his soul.
Shen Yuzhi – calm as still water, yet always standing at the forefront of the team in the most dangerous moments.
Luo Huan – arrogant and fearless, his laughter filled with fiery passion, yet ultimately he consumed himself.
Mu Xun – calm and resolute, never backing down.
Du Linglin – taciturn, yet fiercely protective of his friends.
Mo Zhiyan – Cold-hearted as a mirror, his Fate-Weaving Seven Mirrors whose brilliance has not faded, yet ultimately returns to nothingness.
Wang Yuan – always carrying a secret, yet standing shoulder to shoulder with him in the most crucial battle.
All of this was annihilated in that great battle.
Qin Yu closed his eyes, his breathing heavy, his fingertips trembling slightly, and finally slowly reached out his hands to gently embrace Chi Ning.
"That's enough..."
His voice was deep, yet filled with unwavering determination.
"Chi Ning, stop talking."
He gently stroked her trembling shoulders, his eyes filled with pain, which he forcefully suppressed, not letting it erupt at that moment.
"They... did not sacrifice themselves in vain."
Qin Yu raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the dome of the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall, fixed on the Stainless galaxy, his voice so cold it seemed to cleave the void:
"The Phantom Demon Army... I will pursue this cause and effect."
The Azure Ring vibrated gently deep between his brows, and a wisp of blue light appeared, responding to the vow in his heart.
"What they owe... we'll take it back."
The Starlight Waterfall roared, as if heaven and earth were responding to his vow.
In his arms, Chi Ning's sobs gradually subsided, though tears continued to fall, but she finally found a sense of comfort in the warmth of his chest.
Her soul knew—no matter how difficult the future might be, Qin Yu would not stop.
At this moment, the silent night sky of the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall is destined to witness a new vow.
Radiant Cosmos Star Hall, the waterfall of light cascaded down like a silver river, and the sound of the spiritual spring echoed.
Chi Ning's eyes were red from crying, her tears still wet, but her trembling gradually subsided against Qin Yu's chest.
Qin Yu lowered his head and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his voice tender. "It's alright, don't cry. The tears you've shed for them are enough. Those who are alive must keep going."
Chi Ning gasped, nodded, her voice still trembling slightly, but she tried to calm herself. "Mmm..."
Seeing that she was gradually calming down, Qin Yu sighed softly and then asked gently, "How is your master Meng Qing...?"
Chi Ning raised her hand to wipe away the remaining tears, a hint of respect flashing in her eyes, and replied softly, "Master is alright. She also made great contributions in that battle and is currently in seclusion to recuperate."
Qin Yu nodded, feeling a slight weight lifted from his heart, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"That's good."
He turned to look at Chi Ning, his eyes now scrutinizing her, his tone softening slightly. "It's been a year since we last met, and your cultivation has improved considerably. You... should be close to reaching the threshold of the Logic Realm Realm by now, right?"
Chi Ning paused slightly, then lowered her head, a hint of shyness mixed with pride in her eyes. "Yes. I've been cultivating relentlessly this past year. If I don't become stronger... I'm afraid I'll never catch up with you again."
At this point, her eyes trembled slightly. She looked up at him, a forced smile appearing on her lips, "But Senior Brother Qin is truly amazing. It's been a year since we last met, and you've actually... reached the Logic Realm Realm Ultimate."
As she finished speaking, the tears in her eyes were finally washed away by the starlight, replaced by a heartfelt sense of relief.
The atmosphere inside the hall was no longer as heavy as before.
The spring water rippled gently, and the starlight from the waterfall cast dappled light between them, softly reflecting their shadows on the ground, weaving together a peaceful and warm picture.
The pain of being reunited after a long separation has not completely subsided, but this conversation brings some comfort and peace.
Radiant Cosmos Star Hall, a hazy glow spread out, and the atmosphere gradually softened.
Suddenly, a glint flashed between Qin Yu's brows, and a ray of spiritual light, like ripples on water, leaped out from his sea of consciousness.
A young girl's figure appeared out of thin air. Her clothes were light and graceful, her eyes were bright as stars, and a playful smile played on her lips. That smile was mischievous and lively, like a fairy flower blooming in the night.
"Phew—finally I can breathe!"
With her hands behind her back, she turned slightly, her eyes, as lively as a deer's, landing on Chi Ning. She blinked and looked him over with a grin.
"Sister, are you Chi Ning? I've heard Qin Yu mention you before." Qin Yu was startled. "When did I ever mention this brat to you?"
The voice was light and cheerful, with a hint of playful provocation, but without malice; rather, it sounded more like unrestrained frolicking.
Chi Ning was startled and instinctively took a half step back, her eyes trembling slightly.
She witnessed the girl leap out of Qin Yu's sea of consciousness—it was no ordinary soul, but an existence closely related to Qin Yu's Fate Soul!
"This..."
She was stunned for a moment, staring at the smiling, playful and lively girl, her heart filled with shock.
Yunyi, however, completely ignored her surprise and rushed to Qin Yu's side, looking up at him with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling. "Qin Yu, you really didn't lie to me! This older sister is so beautiful!"
Her tone was tinged with a hint of slyness, and her crisp voice echoed in the starlight, instantly brightening the previously somewhat somber atmosphere.
Chi Ning's heart pounded slightly as she stared blankly at the playful and lively girl before her, momentarily at a loss for words.
Radiant Cosmos Star Hall, light flowed and the sound of spiritual springs rang out.
Chi Ning was still recovering from her emotions when she suddenly saw the playful girl jump out of Qin Yu's sea of consciousness. She was slightly shocked, and a strong look of surprise flashed in her eyes.
Qin Yu was momentarily embarrassed. He coughed lightly, rubbed his forehead, and said with a hint of helplessness:
"Chi Ning, this... this is the person whose Fate Soul, Yunyi Yi is—"
Before the words were even finished, the playful girl had already spoken first, blinking her eyes with a grin and opening her mouth in a clear, loud voice, as if afraid no one would hear her:
"Sister Chi Ning, let me introduce myself! I am— Little Qinzi's Fate Soul Beast!"
She stood with her hands on her hips, her chest slightly puffed out, and her eyebrows curved into a smile, as if she were showing off her most remarkable status.
My name is: [Annihilation Abyss Triad - Illusory Dragon Lord - Yunyi]
As soon as she spoke, the dome of the Radiant Cosmos Star Hall trembled slightly, as if even the starlight waterfall resonated with her name.
Not yet satisfied, she continued in a sweet voice:
"And another thing! My Second Soul fragment—[Annihilation Abyss: Black Consciousness Covers the Abyss Lord]!"
As she spoke, a black dragon phantom suddenly appeared in the void behind her. Its head was raised high, its scales were as dark as night, and its eyes were like an abyss that devoured light and darkness, making people tremble in their souls.
Chi Ning's pupils contracted slightly, her heart tightened suddenly, and she could hardly believe what she was seeing.
Yunyi, however, stuck out her tongue like a little girl showing off a new toy, and added with a smile:
"My true form—its origin is quite special. It was initially formed from Qin Yu's soul consciousness, woven from the spirit of the Soul of the Illusory Dragon Silent Origin, and then awakened three extreme soul energies within the Source of Epochless, finally fusing into a complete form."
As she spoke, she gestured with her small hands, as playful as a young girl, yet at the same time she opened her mouth, an immense pressure surged around her, causing even the array patterns in the inner hall to flicker slightly.
"Simply put, I am Source of Epochless's only illusory soul dragon body! After the three elements are united, I am an existence at the Annihilation Abyss level!"
After saying that, she suddenly grabbed Qin Yu's arm, looked at Chi Ning with a bright smile, and said, "The master is Little Qinzi! Isn't that amazing?"
Chi Ning stood there, stunned, speechless for a long time.
On one side was Qin Yu's embarrassed and helpless expression, and on the other side was a playful girl whose terrifying soul power could not be suppressed.
At that moment, she felt as if her soul had been struck by countless bolts of lightning—shocked, confused, and even somewhat panicked.