We stepped out of the space tunnel; before us spread a platform before the stairs, quiet as a stone shore. No more ink-black, narrow passage. Yes—this time we’d reached the deepest of the Soulless Sanctuary. Follow this stair to the end, and the secret buried here should surface like a moon from cloud.
The stair coiled like a dragon, twisting in a spiral. It rose and fell with frightening height. I peered down; the depth was a bottomless well, no end in sight. Reaching the bottom would take time, like wading a long river.
The Primordial Source aura here was thick as fog, almost half-solid like rain. Space shift or blink to the end wouldn’t work; the air itself held us like wet clay. We could walk freely only thanks to Shattered Light and Ice Illusion Moon—Origin Artifacts that drown out foreign Source like twin lanterns.
“Emperor, what’s our next step?” Lixue asked, her voice steady as frost.
A quiet weight settled on me, three gazes like snowflakes. After taking in the scene, Lixue spoke. Lingxiao and Lingsaki watched me too, their eyes bright as stars.
Uncertainty knotted in my chest like mist. “What’s down there is unknown, and peril stacks like storm clouds. Let’s rest first, get back to peak, and make our preparations.”
Worry flickered like a lantern. “We can wait here for Qianji Sister and Aunt Saintvoice. They might surface here in a while.”
Lixue nodded, calm as moonlight. “The Primordial Source is so thick here; something weighty must be hidden below. If we meet up with Qianji and the others, it’ll be far safer.”
Lingxiao’s brow pinched like a willow leaf. “Mhm, I’ll follow dear brother. But what if Qianji Sister and Aunt Saintvoice already went to the lowest level?”
Unease pricked like thorns. We had no trace of Qianji Sister or Aunt Saintvoice, and no promise they’d appear here.
Lingsaki’s voice was soft as spring water. “Let’s rest as Brother said. As for Qianji Sister and Aunt Saintvoice—give it half an hour. If they don’t show, we go. How’s that, Brother?”
Relief eased like a breathing tide. “Alright, we’ll go with that for now.”
I had no objection; patience pooled like a still pond. We’d wait half an hour and see. This kind of thing can’t be rushed.
...
Ten minutes drifted by like falling sand. Suddenly, the space rippled, a wave through glass. Then familiar figures flashed into view before us.
A bright rush of relief bloomed like sunrise. “Great—Emperor, Lingxiao, Lingsaki, you’re all alright!”
Before I could react, Qianji Sister swept me and my sisters into an embrace, warm as a quilt. Aunt Saintvoice piled in right after, laughter like windbells.
“Little Emperor, are you all okay?”
“Any injuries anywhere?”
Heartvoice and Celia Maya stepped up, concern bright as lantern flame.
Lixue answered first, calm as drifting snow. “We ran into a few snags on the way, but nothing truly dangerous. It went pretty smoothly.”
I wanted to speak; my sisters did too. But Qianji Sister and Aunt Saintvoice hugged us so tight, we just breathed and let it pass. Lixue had already voiced what we meant, clear as a bell.
“That’s good.” Aunt Saintvoice kneaded my hair like soft dough. “So the end lies below? It feels like danger crouches there.”
Her gaze went to the spiral stair, coiled like a shell. “Wansheng, Wanling, did you notice something? You’ve looked serious since a moment ago.”
“Mm, we can confirm there’s an Origin Realm presence at the very bottom. Beyond that, we sensed two familiar auras, like old smoke.”
Wanling picked up the thread, voice low as midnight water. “The two who slipped our grip on the Northern Abyss Continent. If they’re tied to the Origin Realm being here, the road gets thorny.”
Wansheng stayed steady, like a mountain in rain. “Don’t worry. Lixue and Emperor have Origin Artifacts. If that Origin Realm being has any sense, they won’t dare move against us.”
Celia Maya voiced the knot we all felt, sharp as a needle. “What if that Origin Realm being insists on shielding Molor and Wilsar?”
It’s true: for the sake of our Origin Artifacts, they might not press us. But in turn, we can’t touch them—a balance like two blades resting.
Wansheng’s tone was cool as shade. “We’ll decide then. We don’t yet know if that Origin Realm is foe or friend. For safety, we prepare fully.”
Wansheng paused, thought sparking like flint. He looked to me and Lixue. “Right—Emperor, Lixue, can you reach Sir Xino and FrostyLily Dream if danger strikes?”
Embarrassment crept like heat. “Uh… I never asked little Nuo how to reach her. I don’t think I can.”
“I see. What about you, Lixue?” His gaze was steady as a candle.
Lixue nodded, eyes clear as ice. “Yes. Ice Illusion Moon carries a thread of Origin Sword Qi my teacher left. She said—if I trigger it at a life-or-death brink, she’ll appear at my side.”
Aunt Saintvoice lit up, joy like fireworks. “Then what’s there to worry about? Let’s head down now! We can’t let Molor and Wilsar slip away this time.”
Hearing that, Aunt Saintvoice was brimming, impatience crackling like spring thunder.
Qianji Sister shook her head, calm as a cool stream. “Even so, we should be careful. FrostyLily Dream followed Xinuo Miss to deal with the Worldgate, and no news has returned. It likely won’t be as simple as we hope.”
Lingxiao sighed, chest tight like a tied knot. “Ugh—all this worrying feels stifling.”
Lingsaki’s tone was gentle as dusk. “Can’t be helped. As we are, standing against an Origin Realm is just not realistic.”
Unlike Lingxiao’s reluctance, Lingsaki agreed, her nod light as falling petals.
After a brief huddle, we made it unanimous. We’d rest ten minutes, prepare with care like sharpening blades, then head for the bottom.
“Hey… Maya, come here a sec.” Heartvoice’s whisper drifted like smoke.
“What is it, Xinyin?” Celia Maya leaned in, eyes bright as amber.
“This Soulless Sanctuary trip was the Dragon Realm’s idea, right? Dragon Kin sent two of us at Law Realm. Yet our presence feels thin, like fading ink.”
“I thought you had something heavy.” She chuckled, light as rain. “It’s normal. With Wansheng and Wanling at the Zenith of Law Realm, there’s little for us. And we know little of this place.”
“That’s true. The contrast is sharp, like sun to shade; I’m not used to it.”
“You’ll adapt. We’ll follow and back up Yugou Sage’s group, steady as a shadow.”
Curiosity tickled like a cat’s tail. Heartvoice and Celia Maya were whispering; I glanced over, wondering what wind they were chasing.
...
“Huh? Maybe there’s no need to rush over. Let’s watch the play first.” Somewhere in the Soulless Sanctuary, a girl’s whisper drifted, airy as a flute. “Didn’t expect to meet disciples of Teacher Xinuo and FrostyLily Dream here. Their talent is good—better than that Yugou Sage a thousand years ago, a river gone by. How far will they grow? I’m strangely eager.”
“And Wansheng and Wanling, those little ones, seem to be thriving like spring shoots. As for the new master of the Allsaints Spirit Staff—Law Realm at such a young age, not bad. And the one beside her… huh? Rare indeed—fluent in all schools of magic, a constellation in one hand. That gift’s scarce. The Mizumi Clan clearly didn’t waste the Central Continent’s resources.”
