"Those who aren't named should depart immediately..." Li Suo's holy voice rang out, ethereal and commanding, as if echoing from the heavens themselves. Her words rippled across the stunned assembly like a divine wind, breaking the chains of awe and hesitation that bound their limbs. Though countless questions burned behind their eyes, none dared to speak. Instead, they lowered their heads in solemn reverence and retreated in silence, leaving behind only the few whose names had been spoken.
Those who remained could only exchange confused glances, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. The most bewildered among them were the two Divine Children of the Moon and Star Divine Kingdoms—young, proud, yet still far from the pinnacle of power. At the mere realm of Divine Extinction, they stood out like saplings among towering ancient trees. Beside them, the Grand Elder of the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom—whose cultivation had already reached the peak of the Divine Limited Realm—watched in composed silence, while the rest... were all Gods.
Understanding the unspoken tension and puzzled thoughts within their hearts, Mo Su gently raised his hand.
And in an instant, the world shifted.
The ground they once stood in vanished, and they reappeared within a vast, ancient hall. It was a place many of them recognized—the same hallowed gathering hall where the Pure Land Meeting had first convened, where all the Divine Kingdoms had come together under one roof. But unlike before, when Mo Su himself had occupied the divine throne at the heart of the chamber, now, that central seat belonged to Yun Che.
And beside Yun Che, two more thrones shimmered into existence—summoned by Mo Su's will—with elegant grace, perfectly positioned to seat the two women who now stood by Yun Che's side.
---------
Soon after, a wave of disbelief swept through the Abyss—a storm of whispers that grew into cries of shock and awe, spreading like wildfire across every Divine Kingdom and dark corner of the realm. The news was so staggering, so utterly unfathomable, that those who first heard it instinctively questioned their own senses.
"What... WHAT DID YOU SAY?!!!"
"ARE YOU SURE THIS IS TRUE?!"
"WHATTTTTTTT!!!"
Shouts of disbelief rang out like thunder, echoing endlessly across the Abyss. Cultivators dropped their jade slips in stunned silence, Elders rose from meditation in alarm, and even ancient beings found themselves frozen mid-thought. The revelation struck harder than any divine tribulation—beyond logic, beyond belief.
The news was this:
Yun Che—the so-called Fog Monarch, the enigmatic outsider who had shaken the foundations of the Abyss with every step—and Mo Su, the Abyssal Monarch, the sovereign feared and revered by all, whose very presence was law...
They did not battle to the death. Neither fell. No throne was shattered. Instead… the two would join hands.
From bitter conflict was born an alliance that no one, not even the most ancient of seers, could have predicted. The Fog Monarch and the Abyssal Monarch… would now lead as one.
And together—they would guide the people of the Abyss...
To the outside world. To the Eternal Pure Land. And the time? Seven days from now!
The people of the Abyss had barely recovered from their shock before they were swept into a whirlwind of urgency. There was no time to question, no time to hesitate. They moved as if roused from a deep slumber by a divine call.
For those who lived in the farthest reaches of the Abyss, too distant to hear the call in time, the response was no less immediate. The mighty Pure Land Guards and the awe-inspiring Abyssal Knight Commanders—all at the peak of the Divine Limited Realm—moved without rest. Unleashing the full extent of their speed, they became bolts of divine will, crossing mountains, voids, and domains, gathering every last living being across the Abyss and escorting them back with their own hands.
Of course, the message that had spread was carefully crafted.
True enough in its essence, but many details were veiled—omitted, altered slightly—to preserve the dignity of the Abyssal Monarch. It did not matter. The truth within was enough.
For those who served under the Abyssal Monarch, loyalty had never meant the absence of desire. Even after passing the Trial of the Heart, not all had hearts free from ambition. Not all walked for honor alone. Yet now… in this moment, with the path to a true world laid out before them—one free of the cursed Abyssal Dust, a world where their descendants could finally breathe without fear—all other thoughts were cast aside.
And with unwavering resolve, they poured their souls into their duty.
Wholeheartedly. Unquestioningly. Completely.
Within just a few short hours, the initial wave of shock gave way to uncontainable joy and trembling excitement that surged like a rising tide across the Abyss. The despair that had hung over the realm for countless eras was now being swept away, replaced by the light of hope for a future beyond dust and ruin.
Cries of disbelief turned into laughter. Tears of sorrow became tears of gratitude. And soon, the entire Abyss was alive with motion.
From the deepest caverns to the highest floating isles, people began packing their belongings—some with trembling hands, others with hearts pounding in disbelief. It didn't matter how meager or grand their possessions were; to them, everything now had value, because they would carry it into a new world.
Under the coordination of the Abyssal Knights and the Pure Land Guards, migration began in earnest. The skies shimmered with cultivators flying in groups, families riding on spiritual beasts, and caravans forming along ancient paths, all converging toward the nearest pickup locations designated by the guardians.
For the first time in ages, the Abyss was no longer cloaked in silence and dread.
It was alive. Alive with purpose. Alive with dreams.
----------
Somewhere within the boundless vast expanse of the starry skies...
"Hmm..." Two voices rang out—one ancient and weathered, the other youthful and clear. Their tones echoed softly atop an ancient ship adrift in the void. Though time had left its scars upon its frame—weathered wood, rusted chains, fractured runes—it still radiated a power so boundless, so immeasurable, that even the laws of the universe seemed to bend in its presence.
The ship surged forward through the endless void, cutting across the cosmos with terrifying speed. In the span of a single breath, it had crossed billions of miles, its passage silent yet absolute.
And then, as the murmurs of the two voices faded into the winds of space... the ship stopped.
As if the entire expanse had frozen for it alone.
From deep within the vessel, two figures stirred. Eyes slowly opened—ancient, profound eyes that had seen the birth and collapse of countless stars. From the stern, a youth stepped forward, his gaze sharp yet filled with quiet reverence. He turned to the old man at the prow, his eyes silently asking for confirmation.
The old man met his gaze... and nodded.
Without words, they both turned their eyes toward the distant reaches of the void—where something, or someone, had stirred the currents of fate itself.
From deep within the ancient ship—within the boundless worlds and dimensions folded into its interior—two women, each bearing a beauty that transcended mortal understanding, gazed at one another in silent acknowledgment. Their eyes then turned toward the man before them, who now sat with his eyes already open, his gaze piercing through layers of space as if he were staring at something far beyond sight.
"What is it, fellow Daoists?" the man asked calmly, his voice resonating not just within the chamber, but echoing outward through the folds of space, reaching far beyond the world contained within the ship.
A moment passed, and the youthful voice responded with a faint flicker of intrigue.
"I sensed something... a Dao. It's similar to mine."
The ancient voice followed soon after, its cadence deep and timeless.
"It resembles my Dao as well..."
Then came the shift—the change in tone, so swift and dismissive that it painted a stark contrast to the interest just moments prior.
"But it's pretty... weak..." the youth muttered, the initial flicker of curiosity in his tone fading into disinterest as easily as one extinguishes a candle. With a bored exhale, he closed his eyes once more, as if the matter no longer warranted his attention.
Watching him, the old man let out a soft sigh, not of contempt but of quiet understanding... and then, he too closed his eyes, allowing silence to once again settle over the ship.
It was true—the faint fluctuation they sensed had indeed stirred their attention, if only for a moment. But just as the youthful voice had declared, it was far too weak… insignificant, even. Not worth a second glance. And so, with disinterest reclaiming the silence, the ancient ship resumed its course, gliding forward once more through the endless sea of stars.
"Hmm..." Within the boundless inner worlds of the ship, the man who had spoken earlier remained thoughtful, his eyes reflecting the swirling galaxies beyond. Then, just as the ship surged ahead once more through the vast expanse, a sudden ripple tore through the air.
A single slip of paper shot out from the ship's hull.
It tore through space itself, leaving behind trails of profound light, speeding toward the same distant point in the void—toward the source of that fleeting, "weak" presence that had caught the eyes of both the ancient and the youth.
"What is it, Elder Brother Fang Mu?" one of the women asked, her brows gently furrowing as she noticed the slip vanish into the stars.
"Just in case, hahaha... I couldn't miss this chance... hahaha." The man let out a light, carefree laugh, his smile playful yet faintly sinister.
The woman who had asked could only blink in confusion, scratching her head slightly. But the other woman, who had remained silent, merely smiled knowingly. She said nothing… for she had seen that smile too many times.
And every time it appeared, someone, somewhere, was about to have a very bad day.
The Promissory Slip had been cast.
Whether the fish would take the bait... or whether fate and destiny would answer this silent call... no one could say. But Xu Qing turned her eyes toward her husband one last time, watching the devious smile on his face.
And with a soft sigh in her heart...
She pitied whoever had just become his first "victim" in this vast expanse.
---------
RUMBLEEEEEEEEE!!!
BOOOOOMMMMM!!!!
The heavens cracked apart as thunder roared and lightning tore savagely across the skies. But this was no show of dominance. It was fear.
The laws of the world groaned—bent, broken, and finally crushed under the weight of something far beyond their comprehension. The very fabric of the realm trembled, shuddering like a beast cowering before death.
"RUNNNN!!!!"
"GET AWAY!!!"
"UGHHHHHH!!!"
Agonized screams and panicked shouts erupted from all directions. Mortals scattered like ants, fleeing in terror. Cultivators soared through the air, desperate to escape the calamity descending upon them. But it was useless.
It didn't matter whether one could walk on air or tear mountains asunder—with power came nothing before what loomed above. All of them were too weak. Too slow. Too insignificant.
Blood sprayed into the skies. Bodies turned to mist. Cries turned into silence.
And though the beings within the skies had suppressed their power… it was still too much. Far, far too much for the heavenly laws of this fragile world to contain. Their presence alone unraveled balance. Their footsteps rewrote fate.
BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!
With a single, deafening roar, the entire star realm exploded into oblivion. There was no crater left behind. No floating debris. Not even stardust remained.
Only void.
And the beings responsible for this unholy destruction?
They didn't even glance back.
They were already moving—already on their way toward the next planet.
--------
Northern Divine Region — Soul Stealing Realm.
"Your Majesty... the lower realms of the Three Divine Regions... have all been erased..."
"Your Majesty... we've just received word—most of the upper realms have already been destroyed..."
"Your Majesty..."
"Your Majesty..."
One by one, the reports came—cold, merciless, unrelenting. Each word was like a blade, cutting deeper into the silence that hung over the grand dark palace.
Seated atop her throne, the figure draped in obsidian robes sat motionless, yet the helplessness within her heart surged like a storm beneath still waters. She was Chi Wuyao—the Devil Empress.
She was at her wit's end.
The calamity that had descended upon the Primordial Chaos… it was too vast, too monstrous. No matter where she looked—south, east, or west—there was only death. Entire realms reduced to ash. Skies shattered. Star realms swallowed whole.
The beings that had emerged from beyond the boundary of the known world… they were not something that anyone in the God Realm could contend against. Not even them, the beings whom stood at the pinnacle of the God Realm can do anything about it.
And as the grim reports continued to pour in like endless waves crashing against a broken dam, Chi Wuyao could only sit there—surrounded by her trembling subordinates, all of whom could do nothing but listen… and despair.
"It seems... they've finally finished toying with us..."Beside Chi Wuyao, Mu Xuanyin's voice drifted out—soft, almost a whisper, yet heavy with helplessness.
That single sentence, quiet as it was, fell like a death knell upon the room.
It added yet another weight to the suffocating despair already pressing down on everyone present. For some time now, ever since those unfathomable beings descended upon the God Realm, they had brought nothing but chaos and devastation. And yet… with the overwhelming power they wielded, they could have easily crushed everything—every realm, every sect, every living being—in mere moments.
But they didn't.
Instead, they had taken their time.
As if following some twisted directive to inflict as much suffering as possible, they roamed freely, leaving trails of despair and terror in their wake. It was a nightmare that seemed unending. And despite the agony, that delay—however cruel—had become a sliver of hope. A foolish, fragile hope that perhaps… just perhaps, these beings wouldn't destroy everything.
But now… that hope had been shattered.
Completely.
And though all of them—Chi Wuyao, Mu Xuanyin, the leaders and powers of the God Realm—had already braced themselves for this day… when it truly arrived, when reality could no longer be denied...
Accepting it was far harder than they had imagined.
And just as the heavy air of helplessness thickened in the hall, another urgent report came crashing through the stillness—one that jolted everyone to their feet.
"Your Majesty! Divine Consort Caizhi has disappeared from her resting palace!"
"What... WHAT DID YOU SAY?!!"
The moment the words were spoken, a wave of shock swept across the room. Eyes widened, breaths caught—and in the next instant, the silence gave way to sighs of bitter understanding. Though stunned, deep down… they all knew.
"She barely escaped the first time... why would she return there again!"Frustration exploded in Mu Xuanyin's voice as her aura surged. Her figure blurred, transforming into a streak of cold, crystalline snowlight as she shot into the sky without another word.
"I'll come with you."Beside her, black mist pulsed outward, and in the blink of an eye, Chi Wuyao appeared at her side—her presence as dark and commanding as ever.
"The first time, they allowed it. They let her go because they were merely toying with us. That's the only reason she escaped."Mu Xuanyin's voice was sharp, cold, and laced with dread.
"If she goes again this time... she'll only be walking to her death!"
Chi Wuyao was silent for a breath, her gaze deep and heavy, before she finally spoke, her voice filled with helpless sorrow.
"But... can you truly blame her for trying?"
And with that, the two powerful women vanished into the distant sky—leaving only silence in their wake.
Both women knew exactly where Caizhi had gone.
After all, it had been some time since the beings from beyond the Primordial Chaos first descended into this realm—and now, their identities, their terrifying power, and even the names of their leaders were no longer shrouded in mystery. To the topmost figures of the God Realm, their threat was no longer a question—it was a grim, inescapable truth.
And perhaps because of that clarity… Caizhi, despite her previous failed attempt that nearly cost her life, had chosen to go again.
This time, with even greater determination.
"I miss him so much..."Suddenly, as the two women flew at full speed across the darkened skies of the Northern Divine Region, Mu Xuanyin's voice whispered out—low, trembling, almost like a prayer.
Within her heart, her mind, and the very depths of her soul, the image of Yun Che emerged—his face, his voice, his presence—etched into every fiber of her being.
This journey they now took… would most likely be their last.
So if it were to end… then let the last memory to remain in her heart, in her dying breath, be of him.
"Perhaps... it was the best thing that ever happened... that he entered the Abyss," Chi Wuyao murmured, her voice laced with pain hidden beneath a calm veil.
"......"
A long silence passed.
"Maybe..." Mu Xuanyin finally responded, her voice quiet and distant.
And as the two Divine women soared forward, they pierced through the final veil of shadow—leaving behind the world of darkness that was the Northern Divine Region.
What awaited them ahead...
Was the beginning of the end.