The sun rose high in the sky, casting golden light over a vast field of grass. Bushes and trees swayed gently in the wind, and not far away stood a massive cave, its entrance sealed shut by a heavy stone door.
Huan Xin smiled faintly, adjusting the brim of his hat as he glanced back.
"That was a very good deal, Supreme Elder. I hope we can still—"
"No hard feelings," the Supreme Elder interrupted flatly. "But can you just go? I have more important matters to attend to."
Huan Xin scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Oh… alright then. I'll be going."
He turned around—and his body dissolved into a shadow, slipping across the ground in a zigzag pattern before vanishing into the horizon.
The Supreme Elder let out a deep sigh.
"Was it truly a good idea… giving him the key to our secret realm?"
He looked up at the sky, his expression heavy.
"I have to preserve it… no matter what."
…
Mingyin stood before a swirling vortex, its presence bending space itself. He smiled, his eyes gleaming.
"This is… the Soul Energy Path."
His voice echoed with shock.
For a brief moment, excitement flashed across his face—but just as quickly, his expression returned to its usual cold, unreadable state. He coughed lightly, straightening his posture.
Mr. Spirit pointed toward the vortex.
It moved unnaturally, space twisting around it in eerie silence.
Mingyin frowned.
"Whatever action I take… could be fatal."
He glanced at her.
"You wouldn't easily hand over the Yang Yong Sphere. Who would sacrifice their own benefit for someone else?"
He sighed.
"Moreover… I'm not even sure I can succeed."
Countless years.
Countless failures.
Even reality itself seemed to mock him.
Mingyin… a man who had regressed endlessly, yet still remained trapped in the mortal world. His chances of awakening were slim—painfully slim.
"Fate…" he murmured with a faint smile. "My greatest enemy."
His gaze sharpened.
"Let them laugh. Fate, reality, even the heavens… The next step I take will shake existence itself."
He whispered:
"Something beyond existence… the unexisting."
Mr. Spirit opened her mouth to speak—
—but suddenly, her pupils shrank to the size of needles.
Her vision blurred.
Mingyin, without hesitation, raised his hand… and bit down on his finger.
Ding.
It was torn off.
Blood splashed into the air as sweat poured down his face—but he didn't scream.
Even Mr. Spirit felt the phantom pain.
Slowly, calmly, Mingyin tossed the severed finger into the vortex.
It was instantly swallowed.
Mr. Spirit froze.
"How did you know…?" she whispered. "That this is the Sphere of Yong?"
The Sphere of Yong.
A hidden opportunity capable of transforming a Soul Core into a blessed state.
It granted knowledge, power… and a far greater chance of reaching the peak.
Soul Core ranks determined one's strength:
Red.
Purple.
Yellow.
Grey.
Green.
Pink.
White.
Indigo.
Violet.
Eleventh—Silver.
Twelfth—Gold.
Mingyin said nothing.
He simply waited.
Behind him, Mr. Spirit bit her nail, her anger barely contained. But when their eyes met—
She froze.
His gaze was no longer human.
It was empty.
Endless.
Like staring into the void itself.
Her body trembled.
Wasn't his eyes brown before…?
Mingyin turned away, his expression filled with disdain.
In the end… she's useless.
He glanced back again.
"Are you scheming something?"
"N-No!" Mr. Spirit jolted.
Mingyin smiled faintly.
"Oh? I thought you wanted me to put my head into the vortex… so I'd die."
Her face stiffened.
"How did you—"
She stopped herself.
"Young man… don't misunderstand. I have no ill intentions. I simply wanted you to use the Yang Yong Sphere so I could focus on more important matters."
Mingyin nodded slowly.
"I see."
Then he sneered.
She has nothing left in this realm.
Rather than let me obtain it… she'd rather die with me.
He narrowed his eyes at the vortex.
Even after countless regressions… I still don't understand everything here.
He exhaled.
Should I kill her?
But then—
If I fail to awaken… how will I leave this realm?
I need six cores. They're not here. And I can't control the Jade Palace.
He clicked his tongue.
Killing her… isn't worth it.
His gaze softened slightly.
Killing is flawed… yet I kill.
A hypocrite.
He let out a quiet breath.
"I am Mingyin… trapped in the threads of fate."
His eyes returned to normal.
Behind him, Mr. Spirit clenched her fists.
…
Elsewhere—
Renewal pushed open the temple doors.
Before him lay a massive crater in the grassy field. Smoke still lingered in the air.
He flew toward it, frowning as he saw torn, burned bodies scattered within.
Without emotion, he carried them out of the realm and discarded them far away before returning.
Back at the gathering, cultivators sat cross-legged.
Some looked terrified.
Others whispered in groups, their expressions tense.
But the moment they saw Renewal—
Fear deepened.
Something about him was different.
His hair… was now long and white.
Even the Woman of Peace was shocked.
Renewal was about to speak—
—but suddenly, his gaze froze.
The shadows beneath them… were moving.
Zigzagging.
Then—
They rose.
Taking human form.
Huan Xin.
Renewal lifted his hand to attack—
—but Yao Ming stepped in front of him.
"Boss," he said calmly.
Rainbow-colored energy flooded the area, spreading like water. Even the immortals were stunned.
Someone shouted:
"Isn't that the Second Supreme Elder of the Region Continent?! What are you doing here?!"
Huan Xin smiled, holding the tip of his hat.
"I'm looking for the Dragon Warrior."
He said lightly as he look up
It seem even the legend renewal has awaken