In a distant, unknown expanse of void, a vast spatial continent floated within a protective spatial barrier.
At the heart of this continent stood a massive character “魂” (Hun), and an ancient stone gate—like a remnant from a primordial era—towered imposingly, exuding a wild and ancient aura.
Within a magnificent ancient hall, a colossal monument stood tall, radiating a mysterious aura.
“You mean the Hun Clan Protector that was sent out was unilaterally released by his designated Hun Child, and this was conveyed through the Soul Spirit Jade?”
“Yes. The Soul-Seeking Stele now only displays Hun Yu’s name, nothing else. Moreover, the termination message returned via the Soul Spirit Jade was acknowledged by the stele, and the Hun Clan Protector received no damage or punishment.”
“Patriarch, how do you view this matter?”
From the head seat, a youthful voice responded, “I’ve already been informed. Hun Yu provided a reason for dissolving the protector contract. It’s impossible that a Hun Clan descendant is as useless and incapable as he claimed. There must have been some kind of twist in this situation—but we don’t know what it is.”
“Should we dispatch someone to retrieve Hun Yu and bring him back to the clan? Perhaps we could use the opportunity to investigate the full story?”
The person seated at the head waved his hand and said, “No need for now. The northwest region is barren wilderness with no hostile forces and no dominant sects. It poses no major threat to him at this point. Besides, he grew up there. His cultivation is surely low, and he must lack resources. Rushing to bring him back now would do more harm than good.”
“Patriarch, but we can’t leave him completely unattended. Though the northwest lacks powerful enemies, that doesn’t mean it’s without danger. And now that the protector has returned early, there’s no one by his side to guard him. I fear that—”
The Patriarch on the throne said, “Immediately assign a new Hun Clan Protector, bring ample resources, and take over the matter. All of you here refuse to acknowledge who Hun Yu truly is. I will use my divine foresight to deduce the truth during my next retreat. When the truth is revealed, think carefully about the consequences.”
Everyone present looked at one another. A chill surged in their hearts upon hearing this. They frantically combed through past events in their minds, fearing they had overlooked something critical.
“Enough, that’s all for now! Go tend to your—hmm?”
At that moment, the towering Heaven Soul Stele beside them suddenly burst with a deep cyan glow, illuminating the entire hall in blue-green light. The previously pitch-black hall now resembled an endless ocean of cyan.
Everyone turned sharply toward the stele and saw its surface, once calm, now gleaming with brilliant light. The engraved names on it trembled and rippled uncontrollably.
“What’s happening? The Heaven Soul Stele was forged from an imperial artifact by our ancestors when founding the Hun Clan. It’s stood for hundreds of thousands of years and has never reacted like this.”
“It holds my name, freely roaming across the heavens. The Heaven Soul Stele records our clan’s top talents and powerhouses over hundreds of thousands of years. Even the last slot is reserved for a once-in-a-millennium genius. It has never malfunctioned… so why does it look like it’s trembling in fear right now?”
The Patriarch’s brows furrowed deeply. He raised his hand toward the stele, attempting to stop its trembling and suppress the anomaly.
Everyone was utterly shocked. This was the Patriarch—one of the most powerful figures on the entire Sky Dome Continent. His slightest move could shake heaven and earth, and yet the Heaven Soul Stele had just repelled him?
If word of this spread, the entire continent would be thrown into a frenzy.
As they stared in stunned disbelief, the Heaven Soul Stele finally ceased its trembling. The overwhelming cyan light contracted instantly, transforming into a line of glowing blue-green text:
Hun Yu, 18 years old, Chaos Blue Lotus Body.
As soon as these words appeared, they leapt upward from the surface of the stele, climbing rapidly past hundreds of names in just a few breaths.
If any of those names were mentioned outside, they could trigger endless slaughter and chaos, for each one belonged to an absolute powerhouse of the Hun Clan.
“This—”
“Impossible! Hun Yu has already surpassed Saint Son Hun Yu of the Soul Jade Lineage… and he’s still rising—”
Bang!
One Elder, too agitated to control himself, slammed the table and stood up.
Another Elder gripped his beard, so stunned that he unknowingly yanked off a large tuft without noticing any pain. His eyes were glued to the stele, fixed on the name still shooting upward at terrifying speed.
One more man began breathing heavily, as if his eyeballs were about to embed into the monument, unable to contain his excitement.
“Divine Son Hun Luo… Divine Son Hun Tian… he surpassed both of them? What kind of talent is this!?”
“Heaven blesses our Hun Clan! A third Divine Son has been born!”
While everyone was still reeling, Hun Yu’s name leapt upward once again—this time suppressing a radiant golden name.
“Em—Emperor’s Son!? Even… he was pushed down?”
“What kind of body is the Chaos Blue Lotus Body? How could it be so heaven-defying…?”
In the room, the only person who remained seated was the Patriarch. Yet even he stared fixedly at Hun Yu’s name. His face remained emotionless, but the fire burning in his eyes was impossible to hide.
“Look! It’s still rising—”
“How is this possible!? Still climbing! Those names above belong to our clan’s greatest legends—even the Elders!”
“So what? That stele doesn’t just judge strength—it prioritizes talent ratings!”
“He… he… he…”
Even the Patriarch couldn’t stay seated anymore. He finally revealed a joyous expression. Hun Yu’s rank had already surpassed his, and it still hadn’t stopped—it was continuing to climb aggressively.
And the speed hadn’t slowed. The force behind it was still immense, proving that Hun Yu’s potential had yet to reach its peak. Whether he could reach the very top remained uncertain.
Everyone held their breath, watching with anticipation. Suddenly, a new anomaly struck.
Boom—!
The blazing cyan name suddenly exploded on the stele, scattering into countless specks of blue-green light and vanishing entirely.
“What’s going on? What just happened?”
“Why did it explode!? Why did it explode!?”
“This can’t be! Did something happen to Hun Yu? Who did this!?”
“Who!? Whoever it is—I’ll bathe the entire Sky Dome Continent in blood!”
“Was it one of those other clans? Bastards! Courting death!”
“Patriarch—!”
The Patriarch’s face turned pale. His robes fluttered despite no wind. A terrifying aura erupted from his body, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent. That overwhelming determination shook the heavens themselves.