“What do you mean?”

Chen Qingyuan was stunned for a long time, his face filled with astonishment that he couldn’t shake off.

The girl in front of him was named Xiao Ling, the spirit of this palace, who had existed in the world for many years.

Listening to Xiao Ling’s words, it seemed she had known Chen Qingyuan from many years ago.

“Sir, you must have many questions in your heart. You will understand everything in due time.”

Xiao Ling walked barefoot from the sea, standing in front of Chen Qingyuan with utmost courtesy.

“You… know me?”

Chen Qingyuan’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. The girl and the environment felt both unfamiliar and familiar to him.

“Yes.” Xiao Ling smiled faintly, her voice ethereal.

“Can you explain in detail?”

Chen Qingyuan’s heart was a mix of emotions as he pressed on.

“There are some things even Xiao Ling doesn’t understand and dares not speak of. In short, when you reach the heights, all your questions will be answered.”

Perhaps the passage of time was too long, making Xiao Ling temporarily forget. Or maybe she feared saying too much would affect Chen Qingyuan’s life trajectory in this lifetime.

Without resolving his inner doubts, Chen Qingyuan felt a deep itch in his heart.

He lowered his head and fell silent.

After a long while, Xiao Ling broke the silence softly, “Sir, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Chen Qingyuan snapped back to reality, suppressing his inner thoughts.

Seeing Chen Qingyuan’s somewhat distracted appearance, Xiao Ling knew her sudden appearance had indeed been abrupt. She apologized sincerely, “Sir, I’m sorry for troubling you.”

“No need to be so polite.”

Being addressed so respectfully by a spirit that had lived for countless years, even Chen Qingyuan’s thick skin couldn’t withstand it.

According to the spirit, she had known him many years ago. If everything before him wasn’t an illusion or some kind of test, then did he have an unknown origin?

Could it be that he was once very powerful, capable of experiencing multiple reincarnations?

Is it possible?

Chen Qingyuan fell into deep thought.

There was another explanation, one that Chen Qingyuan found most believable at the moment.

That everything before him was an illusion, a test left by an ancient powerful figure.

This seemed more reasonable. The more Chen Qingyuan thought about it, the more he felt this possibility was highly likely.

Gradually, Chen Qingyuan stopped overthinking and decided to see where this illusion would lead.

“Sir, your gaze has changed. Do you not believe what Xiao Ling said?”

An artifact spirit that had lived through endless years, once following an ancient powerful figure to conquer the world, could see through Chen Qingyuan’s change in mindset with a single glance.

“Very well, this will help relieve the pressure on Sir.”

Xiao Ling did not clarify, instead, she followed Chen Qingyuan’s line of thought, accompanying him in the act.

Having figured it out, Xiao Ling felt much more relaxed.

“Miss, what is this place?”

Chen Qingyuan glanced around, seeing an endless ocean, and asked.

“This is the place where the laws evolve.”

Xiao Ling replied.

In other words, everything here was not real but an illusion presented through Dao techniques.

“Why am I here?”

Chen Qingyuan asked again.

“Fate.”

A vague and elusive answer.

“How do I leave?”

Chen Qingyuan kept his gaze fixed on Xiao Ling.

“Soon.” Xiao Ling smiled faintly.

“Thank you.”

Chen Qingyuan expressed his gratitude, still puzzled.

If this was an illusion, would it let him leave so easily?

And what was the test within this illusion?

To prevent Chen Qingyuan from overthinking, Xiao Ling selected dozens of fortunate ones from the hundreds of Heaven’s Pride who entered the palace, bringing them to similar spatial nodes, creating illusions as a form of test.

If someone could see through the illusion, it would greatly benefit their soul and cultivation level.

Once Chen Qingyuan left, he would hear that many others had similar experiences, and he wouldn’t be confused anymore.

In the following period, Chen Qingyuan did nothing but sit on a stone bench, sipping tea or meditating.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when a light and ethereal melody drifted into his ears, making him feel very peaceful, unconsciously lowering his guard and enjoying the floating sensation.

Subsequently, Chen Qingyuan’s state became very strange, as if his soul had traveled to another world, surrounded by mist, with gentle law forces entwining his body.

Xiao Ling stood to the side, watching the meditating Chen Qingyuan, maintaining absolute silence.

Unconsciously, Xiao Ling thought of a scene from many years ago.

Calculating carefully, it had been about three hundred thousand years!

On that day, a man in black came here, giving Xiao Ling the first impression of coldness.

The man in black stood outside the palace, hands behind his back, his abyss-like eyes seeming to see through everything: “Xiang Qiyou, despite a lifetime of effort, you couldn’t break the shackles of the Great Dao. How lamentable. If Heaven granted another thousand years, perhaps you could have succeeded.”

Xiang Qiyou was the name of this ancient powerful figure.

“Dao Friend, where do you come from?”

Such a powerful presence arriving made Xiao Ling feel as if facing a great enemy.

“From afar.”

The man in black replied coldly.

“Where are you heading?”

Xiao Ling asked again.

“To the end of the Great Dao.”

The man in black answered.

“There is no road ahead, Dao Friend should stop here!”

Hearing this answer, Xiao Ling shook her head and said.

“No road? Then I’ll carve one out.” The man in black said bluntly, “I came here to contact the will left in the world by Quasi-Emperor Qiyou, hoping to gain some experience from his failures.”

“Please come in.” Xiao Ling thought for a moment and invited the man in black.

Pouring tea and having a conversation.

Xiao Ling understood the ambition of the man in black, similar to her master Xiang Qiyou, wanting to break the shackles of the Great Dao and reopen the sealed path.

There were no emperors in the world, this was the current law of the Great Dao, unbreakable.

Anyone who tried to break this rule would face the judgment of the Great Dao, becoming an enemy of Heaven and Earth.

Xiang Qiyou, once invincible in an era, failed multiple times due to the obstruction of the Great Dao, ending up scarred and desolate in his later years.

During that period, the man in black stayed in the ancient palace, discussing Dao with the remnant will of Xiang Qiyou, listening to the melody filled with endless sorrow.

After a long time, the man in black decided to leave.

Xiao Ling saw him off, bowing and saluting: “I hope you can accomplish what my master couldn’t, fulfilling his wish.”

The man in black left.

Years later, although Xiao Ling couldn’t leave this space, she could deduce an answer through the law fluctuations of the changing world. That gentleman, like her master, failed.

Playing a sorrowful tune, it was a farewell for the gentleman.

Thus, Xiao Ling fell into slumber, not knowing how much time had passed.

Until a few days ago, Xiao Ling suddenly sensed the law fluctuations of a certain token and immediately checked. This token was left by the man in black, symbolizing a promise with Xiao Ling.

If the man in black succeeded, it would fulfill Xiang Qiyou’s lifelong wish. Thus, the man in black could let Xiao Ling, as a spirit, leave this space and see the bustling world outside.

The token fluctuated, so Xiao Ling opened the entrance to this ancient realm and waited quietly.

It really is… him!

Observing in secret, when she saw Chen Qingyuan’s face, Xiao Ling was extremely excited, seeing hope.