In the Firmament Vault Heavenly City, twilight fell like a golden sea, the boundary light spread across the land, and a thousand streaks of rosy clouds sank into the very soul of the earth.
Qin Yu sat cross-legged in the Returning Seal Pavilion's meditation room, his knees crossed, the boundary seal in his hand flowing.
The power of the boundary seal slowly emerged between the boundary seals.
A series of boundary-marking halos, each engraved with different patterns, seemed to float in his palm; each mark corresponded to a profound "journey of life and death."
Five hundred points, from "Origin Abyss Judgment and Enforcement".
One hundred points, from the initial test of the Soul Tower.
One hundred and fifty points, a bloody battle from the Soul-Hunting Sinful Grounds.
Total Realm Merit Points: 750.
He watched quietly as the "Realm Seal Merit Disc" slowly returned to his body.
Although it seemed extraordinary, even enough to cause a stir among the outer disciples of the Thousand Realms Sect, these were never his goals.
He lowered his gaze slightly, looking at the rubbings of the stele on the side of the pavilion wall—the "Soul Stele Inscription Record".
Each of the top ten positions on the Soul Stele represents the strongest outer sect combat power in the entire sect, and is also the starting point for the younger generation of the entire Spirit Firmament Great Realm to truly step into the "World War".
He murmured softly:
"Soul Monument Rank 10 - Sang Yan... Boundary Merit Points: 7066."
"Ninth place - Cang Ke, Realm Merit Points: 7090."
"Eighth: Mu Qingzhen, Boundary Merit Points: 7109."
"Fifth... Shang Kui, Boundary Merit Points: 7252."
He gently stroked the tattered boundary marker, feeling the chilling killing intent emanating from its patterns.
"The gap is still too large."
"Besides... it's simply not fast enough to accept tasks one by one."
Qin Yu took a deep breath, a thoughtful expression appearing between his brows.
He knew he had to find a way to leapfrog through the Realm Merit Points; otherwise, reaching the tenth level of the Soul Stele would be nothing but empty talk.
Just as he was lost in thought, a very faint, yet seemingly emanating sound from beyond dimensions, gently blossomed in his ears.
Qin Yu.
The voice was like moonlight mixed in with the wind, clear and ethereal, yet it precisely locked onto his consciousness and will.
He suddenly opened his eyes. Nothing around him seemed to have changed, but a silver-blue boundary pattern sound emerged from the depths of his consciousness, like starlight traversing countless worlds.
"This is... Ling Jingxi's voice transmission?"
Between the boundary patterns, an invisible melody directly entered his consciousness platform:
[Ten days from now, the gate to 'Realm Hidden Valley' will open. If you still wish to go, please bring the boundary seal and enter with me.]
[This sound is the 'Thousand Realms Void Sound,' a secret technique of the Spirit Firmament. It can penetrate the seal of the Soul Realm and cross dimensional spaces, and can only be used by those at the Realm Lord Realm and above.]
His expression hardened.
"Her telepathic transmission... was not even hindered by the laws of space and time."
"This is the power of Realm Lord Realm Perfection? Truly extraordinary."
However, he quickly smiled faintly.
"It seems she really is quite interested in me."
⸻
Qian Ruishan's Return
Three days later, at the East Pavilion of the Soul Tower.
Qin Yu was Pursuit of the Unseen beside the Soul Tower when he suddenly sensed a slight movement in the array, and a figure in moon-colored robes stepped lightly into the tower.
She was still dressed in the same snow-white woven robe, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, her expression indifferent yet exuding an invisible aura of power.
"Qian Ruishan."
Qin Yu stood up and bowed.
Qian Ruishan raised her hand to stop him, and sat cross-legged directly opposite him, her gaze calm but carrying an unspoken scrutiny.
After a moment, she finally spoke:
"Are you planning to break into the top ten of the Soul Stele?"
Qin Yu nodded.
She said, "Do you know... it's not just a matter of accumulating Realm Merit Points?"
"The top ten on the Soul Stele are not ordinary fighters. They are 'candidate World Envoys' trained by their sects, possessing the support of Realm Master bloodlines, soul core modifications, sealed-rank weapons, and some even possessing remnants of Realm God inheritance."
"Especially— Shang Kui."
She paused, her tone icy. "He is not alone; behind him is the 'Shangyou Noble Family'."
Qin Yu asked in a deep voice, "... What is that?"
Qian Ruishan uttered a few words:
"The Realm Soul Noble Clans, one of the Seven Clans."
"The only being in the entire Spirit Firmament Great Realm who can truly make Realm Master avoid him."
"If you were to truly face him... even in a battle for the Soul Stele, it would be far from a fair contest."
Qin Yu fell silent.
Qian Ruishan did not try to persuade him to back down, but continued:
"However—I know you're not the kind of person who backs down."
"So, I have something to tell you."
She slowly rose, her sleeves fluttering, revealing a golden-red hand seal:
"Besides the Hall of the Myriad Phenomena Mission Hall, there is another place within the sect called the 'Realm Calamity Tower'."
"Each successful mission there rewards you with over a thousand Realm Merit Points."
"But—all missions are strictly forbidden and involve life and death."
"Only those whose cultivation has reached the True Soul Realm Second Stage or above are qualified to receive the order."
She stared intently at Qin Yu:
"If you want to quickly Realm Breaking... improving your cultivation level is your only way."
Qin Yu's gaze was calm. After a few moments of contemplation, he suddenly said:
"Thank you."
As Qian Ruishan turned around, her expression remained cold and stern, but before leaving the Soul Tower, she left behind a faint remark:
"If one day you truly ascend this monument and enter its spirit, I will wait for you on the 'Path of the Heavenly Chasm'."
"Because that's where our real battlefield is."