Parting on the Silent Path · A Lone Journey Through the Annihilation Wasteland

The sky Abyss of No Thought was completely torn apart at this moment.

The eighth floor of the Ancient Logic God-Cultivation Tower, which had been as silent as death, suddenly erupted with Stainless purple-gold light. The entire tower, like a celestial body reversing time, suddenly spun in the heavens and earth. The annihilated energy surged into a pillar of light ten thousand feet tall, shooting straight into the sky from the center of the tower, tearing apart the sky of the Void Obliteration Domain and illuminating the entire void. Within that light, countless runes rolled, seemingly rewriting the order of heaven and earth, or like billions of "definitions of existence" collapsing and being reshaped at the same time.

The cultivators gathered around the ancient tower exclaimed in surprise, all their eyes turning to the radiant core.

"The eighth level... the eighth level has been activated!"

"My God! In the previous era, even the Annihilation Dawn Realm were stuck at the seventh level, yet today someone has actually managed to trigger the eighth level of the array!"

"Lord Liuyuan, who has reached the Liu Yuan of the Severed Observation Realm · Supreme, truly lives up to his reputation!"

"The Abyss of No Thought is about to be stirred up again—if he can truly pass the eighth level, the entire landscape of the Void Obliteration Domain may be rewritten!"

At this moment, all the discussion and amazement revolved around one name— Liu Yuan.

A fanatical light ignited in the eyes of the disciples from the Asura Immortal Hall, and several elders from the Lotus Immortal Hall also showed expressions of astonishment. Even a few Abyss Flowers from the Abyss Realm in the Rogue Cultivator unconsciously murmured, "Liu Yuan... truly the closest among us to Annihilation Dawn."

Amidst the deafening clamor, no one noticed that a figure quietly emerged from the teleportation array beneath the ancient tower.

That's Qin Yu.

He slowly descended from the light, his robes half-tattered, and faint traces of the Silent Origin pattern still lingered between his brows. His aura was so concealed that it was almost transparent; if one did not look closely, others would not even be able to detect his presence.

The annihilated dust still flowed beneath his feet, as if the entire earth was trembling slightly in anticipation of his return.

But the crowd's gaze did not linger on him for even a moment.

When they saw him, they assumed he was yet another loser rejected and teleported out of the tower. Someone glanced at him, shook their head, and muttered, "Looks like another unlucky fellow has been ejected from the tower... Sigh, the seventh floor and beyond are not for mortals."

"Sigh, he was teleported out after the light array had only been lit for a few moments. What a pity."

"Never mind him, look up at the tower—the light on the eighth floor is getting brighter and brighter! Lord Liu Yuan is about to break the record!"

Their voices overlapped, like an endless tide completely engulfing Qin Yu.

Qin Yu raised his head, his gaze piercing through the crowd, looking towards the towering ancient tower that seemed to pierce the clouds. The light from the eighth floor was reflected in his pupils as silent flames, a mixture of annihilation and stillness.

His expression was calm, with a barely perceptible smile playing at the corners of his lips.

The image of the Azure Ring swirled in his mind, whispering softly:

"It seems they really believe that Liu Yuan caused the commotion."

Qin Yu smiled slightly, his tone so calm it was almost Space Silence.

"Let them think that way then."

It dispersed with the wind, like a ripple Entering Stillness void.

He turned around, his steps steady and light, his aura still almost transparently restrained. Yet, the invisible pressure echoed silently with each step, as if even the void itself was forced to tremble.

At the other end of the crowd, in front of the Lotus Immortal Hall's residence, a gentle voice came from afar.

"Young Master Qin, this way, we're this way—"

The voice carried a hint of urgency, and also a subtle joy.

Qin Yu looked in the direction of the sound and saw Ning Qingyao, dressed in a light purple dress, standing under the spiritual light. Her clothes fluttered gently, and her eyes sparkled with sincere concern. Beside her, Luo Shuangyue stood quietly, her long hair slightly swaying, her eyes as clear as mirrors and as cold as ice, but deep within them rose an unconcealable shock and complexity.

Qin Yu nodded slightly and walked over slowly.

The surrounding area was still noisy and bustling, but between the three of them, there seemed to be a silent barrier, isolating them from all the noise from the outside world.

Ning Qingyao stepped forward and asked softly:

"Young Master Qin, are you alright? We just saw the tower shining brightly and thought..."

Qin Yu smiled faintly, his voice gentle.

"It's alright, it's just that the pressure from the array inside the tower was too strong, which drained some of my soul power."

Luo Shuangyue had already approached. Her gaze lingered on Qin Yu for a moment before gently lowering. Her expression contained both respect and a hint of undisguised amazement.

She certainly knew the truth of the matter.

The anomaly on the eighth floor could not have been caused by Liu Yuan. When she was on the seventh floor, she felt that pressure of Annihilation penetrate her soul directly. That was not the "Resonance of the Silent Realm" that could be triggered by the Severed Observation Realm · Supreme, but the Annihilation Origin Tremor that could only be triggered by an existence that had broken through the limits of destiny.

She tilted her head slightly and nodded gently to Qin Yu.

"Young Master Qin, it's already quite an achievement that you managed to get out safely."

Although she spoke calmly, her thoughts were already churning inside.

Only Book Realm · Intermediate Stage. Passed the seventh level and stepped into the eighth level...

Even cultivators of his level are stopped at the logical threshold of the "Final Abyss of Concepts," yet he... managed to endure until the Annihilation Abyss Returns to Silence.

She knew all too well what that meant.

If this were to become known, he would no longer be just a genius disciple of the Eternal Extreme Sacred Hall, but would immediately become the focus of contention among the major forces of the Abyss of No Thought, and even the entire Void Obliteration Domain.

Her expression hardened slightly, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

"Those people outside the tower probably really believe that the turmoil was caused by Liu Yuan..."

Qin Yu responded with a half-smile:

"That's perfect, saves me the trouble."

Luo Shuangyue nodded slightly and replied in a calm voice:

"You did the right thing. Right now, the outside world is still speculating, and Liu Yuan is probably happy to be misunderstood. But—once he knows that you have successfully passed the seventh level of the test and opened the eighth level, he will probably come to find you."

"It's alright. If he really wants to come again, I don't mind waiting for him to come and ask in person."

His tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of composure.

Ning Qingyao listened from the side, slightly taken aback. She had never seen anyone remain so calm when mentioning a peak expert of the Severed Observation Realm · Supreme. That understated confidence inspired more awe than any arrogance.

At this moment, Luo Shuangyue suddenly turned her head and looked around at the bustling cultivators.

Their gazes remained fixed on the white curtain of light high above, their reverence, excitement, and fervor all stemming from Liu Yuan.

Her eyes flickered slightly, and she whispered to Qin Yu again:

"Don't move too fast yet. The barrier fluctuations in this area haven't stabilized yet, and outside forces might arrive soon."

Qin Yu nodded slightly, and the Azure Ring on his back emitted a very low hum, as if in response.

The three of them slowly left the noisy crowd and walked towards a quiet staircase shrouded in mist in the distance.

At that moment, the setting sun shone on Qin Yu's profile, his gaze calm and serene, as if he had long since seen through the hustle and bustle of the world.

High above, the radiance of the eighth level of the Ancient Logic God-Cultivation Tower continues to burn.

Countless cultivators gazed up at the ancient tower, discussing, marveling at, and worshipping the name "Liu Yuan".

But no one knows--

The true ruler of that Tower of Annihilation

It has quietly faded into the distance.

In the mortal world, silence returns.

The heavens and earth suddenly trembled.

It was a roar like Xingyun, erupting from the Ancient Logic God-Cultivation Tower. The air currents of the entire Void Obliteration Domain were stirred up at that moment, swirling into millions of annihilation light tornadoes that shot straight into the sky.

What followed was a blinding golden light—a light that seemed to be unable to be contained even in the void, refracting countless fragmented images of time, each ray of light seemingly telling the secret history of the ancient pagoda over hundreds of millions of years.

All eyes in the crowd turned to the top of the tower.

Golden light crashed down, and a figure slowly stepped out from the sea of light.

The man wore a dark gold robe with sleeves that flowed like fire. The moment his foot landed, the rhythm of the void was forced into chaos, as if the cause and effect of heaven and earth were paused. A silent aura emanated from him, neither violent nor peaceful, yet it instilled an instinctive tremor in the hearts of all who approached him.

--Liu Yuan.

Countless disciples cheered at that moment, their shouts like a tidal wave.

"It's Liu Yuan!"

"As expected of the pinnacle of the Severed Observation Realm · Supreme!"

"He can even activate the eighth level; he is truly the number one person in the Void Obliteration Domain!"

fervent cheers erupted continuously, the spiritual array surrounding the ancient pagoda trembled, and the echoes reverberated throughout the heavens and earth.

However, while everyone saw the powerful figure in the golden robe amidst the radiance, they failed to notice that a pair of dark, unfathomable eyes were silently scanning the crowd.

Liu Yuan's expression remained unchanged.

He stood before the tower, the radiance flowing behind him, his expression unchanged, but his gaze was cold and devoid of warmth. That gaze was like a probe, sweeping through the depths of countless cultivators' souls, calm, silent, and precise.

He looked down at the foot of the ancient tower, his gaze slowly sweeping over each of the gathered forces and disciples.

The Asura Immortal Hall, the Phoenix and Luan Immortal Hall, the Abyss Flowers, the Rogue Cultivator, and the distant guests from various divine palaces... all passed by one by one.

He didn't speak, nor did he show any expression.

They simply observed quietly, as if confirming something or searching for something.

The clamor came in waves, but everyone who got close to him could feel that beneath the calm of that golden light lay a chilling sense of oppression.

Luo Shuangyue gazed at the golden light from afar and said in a very low voice:

He's looking for someone.

Qin Yu's expression remained unchanged, but a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

"Let him find it."

The tone was so light it was almost devoid of emotion, as if stating something trivial.

Ning Qingyao glanced somewhat uneasily at the expert at the Severed Observation Realm surrounded by a crowd not far away, and asked softly:

What... is he looking for? Is he looking for you?

"If he can really find it, then that's quite an achievement for him."

The wind swept through the towers, scattering the golden dust that remained on the ground.

Liu Yuan remained standing in the same spot.

He did not respond to anyone's greetings, nor did he bask in the reverent shouts; he simply stood quietly, his hands behind his back, expressionless.

His gaze solidified into an invisible line in the void, piercing through the crowd without any fluctuation.

A moment later, he looked away and turned to leave.

The long robe swept to the ground without making a sound.

At that moment, the golden light faded, and the ancient pagoda returned to silence.

The clamorous crowd continued to cheer for him, but no one noticed that deep within the crowd, a young man in black robes slowly raised his head, his gaze calm and serene, watching the departing figure.

The wind swept by again, and the golden radiance of the Void Obliteration Domain completely dissipated. Silence returned.

The rosy glow of the sky gradually faded, and the Ancient Logic God-Cultivation Tower still stood majestically in the deep sky of the Void Obliteration Domain. The tower was entwined with two streams of light, pale gold and dark silver, as if silently murmuring the ancient order belonging to the Source of Epochless. The wind fell from the top of the tower, like the sigh of time, sweeping past the shattered dust and the figures of cultivators illuminated by the afterglow.

After experiencing the radiant tremors of the seventh and eighth layers, this world finally returned to calm. Cultivators from all directions, disciples of various halls, and Rogue Cultivator packed their belongings, their gazes still occasionally drifting back to the ancient tower standing in the wind—a gaze filled with awe, resentment, and a profound silence born of shock.

The celestial winds swept through the Void Obliteration Domain, causing spiritual dust to shimmer like quicksand.

Someone whispered, "This tower is indeed beyond human capability... The array light on the eighth floor will probably never reappear in thousands of years."

Some sighed, "Those who came out alive are incredibly lucky."

Many more people, filled with apprehension and awe, slowly departed, disappearing into the gray-gold horizon.

The area in front of the tower gradually Space Silence.

At this moment, Qin Yu stood with his hands behind his back, quietly gazing at the magnificent ancient tower. The tower's radiance reflected in his eyes, casting a faint sense of solitude. His expression was calm, devoid of joy or lingering attachment, only a deep-seated resolve.

Luo Shuangyue and Ning Qingyao walked to his side, their clothes fluttering in the wind, carrying a faint fragrance of flowers and spiritual energy.

Luo Shuangyue's expression turned slightly solemn. Before she could speak, he had already turned away, his tone gentle yet leaving no room for hesitation:

"Miss Luo, Miss Ning, I will not explore with you. I have always preferred to travel alone. This Annihilation Wasteland land is fraught with danger, and I do not wish to implicate you. Farewell."

His words were soft, yet as decisive as the swiftness of a sword cutting through the wind.

Ning Qingyao paused slightly, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes. She said softly:

"Young Master Qin, are you really not going to continue exploring with us? This... the Annihilation Wasteland Border is not yet stable; if you go alone..."

Before she could finish speaking, Luo Shuangyue had already raised her hand and gently placed it on her shoulder, her expression calm but her eyes deep.

She already knew it in her heart.

This person is no ordinary individual.

The path he embarked on was destined to be lonely.

That path leads to the deepest level of the Source of Epochless, all the way to that Ultimate realm that no one can reach.

She knew in her heart that it wasn't that he didn't trust them, but rather that he didn't want anyone to be caught up in the catastrophe that was tied to his fate.

Luo Shuangyue sighed softly, raising her eyes to look at the figure in black robes, her tone gentle yet tinged with respect:

"Very well, since Young Master Qin prefers to travel alone, we will not try to persuade him any further."

As she spoke, she flipped her slender hand, revealing a pale white jade token in her palm.

The token was as smooth and warm as jade, its entire surface as round as the moon, with a lotus flower carved in the center. A faint white light flowed from the heart of the flower, rippling like waves. Ancient seal script inscriptions surrounded the token, exuding a sacred and peaceful aura—it was the exclusive token of the disciples of the Lotus Immortal Hall.

Luo Shuangyue smiled slightly and handed over the token:

"Young Master Qin, it is quite an extraordinary encounter for the three of us to have met in this Annihilation Wasteland Border. Moreover, you once rescued Guo Qingyao and us. This is a token from our Lotus Immortal Hall. If one day you wish to ascend to the Annihilation Upper Heavenly Domain, you can use this token to travel to the Lotus Immortal Hall. At that time, Yao-mei and I will personally welcome you."

Ning Qingyao nodded solemnly and added softly:

"This decree is extraordinary; with it, one can travel to the three regions surrounding my palace. May you have a safe journey, young master."

Qin Yu took the token, his fingertips lightly touching the lotus pattern. A white light trembled slightly, and a gentle aura flowed into his palm.

He slightly cupped his hands in greeting, his gaze gentle, his tone composed and grateful:

"Thank you both for your kindness. If the opportunity arises, I, Qin, will certainly visit you at the Lotus Immortal Hall to renew our connection."

Having said that, he put the token into his sleeve, flicked his clothes, and moved slightly in the spiritual mist.

The wind rises.

Dust and sand were swirled up and scattered like broken gold in the light.

With his back to the ancient tower, to the crowd, to the dust and noise, Qin Yu walked unhurriedly toward the vast, Annihilation Wasteland.

He did not turn back.

As dusk settled in the distance, the howling wind faded into the distance, leaving only the low murmur of the ancient pagoda and the faint glow of the Lotus Token between heaven and earth.

Ning Qingyao watched the figure gradually disappear into the distance, her voice as soft as a sigh:

"Is he really... going to walk that road alone?"

Luo Shuangyue gazed at her silently, a hint of respect flickering in her eyes, along with a sense of unspeakable premonition.

That was his destiny, his fate. We cannot follow his path.

The wind rose again, and the world fell silent.

In the distant golden light, the Ancient Logic God-Cultivation Tower slowly extinguished its last glimmer of light.

And that young man in black robes—

We have already entered the boundless Annihilation Wasteland.

Alone, heading towards the Annihilation Abyss,

Go take that route--

The path that belongs to him alone.