The early dawn broke over the lands near the Veil Expanse, casting a golden hue upon fields that had not seen sunlight for weeks. The black clouds of abyssal influence had begun to recede, and the spiritual qi slowly returned to its natural rhythm. Yet, despite the brighter skies, a heavy pressure lingered—like a storm that had passed, only to leave silence too loud to ignore.
In the distance, the temporary encampment of the Qingxuan Alliance was abuzz with activity. Healers worked tirelessly to mend the wounded, array masters reinforced wards, and scouts began sweeping the surroundings for remaining abyssal residue. The defeat of the Bonehorn Saint was a monumental victory, but it was clear that the true war had just begun.
Deep within the soul-forged chamber of the command hall, Li Yi opened his eyes.
The glow of Chaos Qi danced like wildfire across his skin, forming invisible ripples that made space gently hum around him. He had stabilized his Heaven Ascension Realm — Peak Stage, and every breath now cultivated Dao threads in his meridians like they were threads of fate.
But Li Yi felt something deeper—some kind of whisper in his blood, as though the victory over the Bonehorn Saint had awakened something dormant.
> "The world itself is shifting," he murmured.
A knock came on the jade door. Lan Qing'er's voice followed.
"Li Yi, the elders want to speak with you."
He stood up, his black robes gently trailing behind like flowing ink. His sword hovered silently beside him, and the Chaos Flame receded into his dantian with ease. He was stronger now. But it wasn't enough. Not yet.
---
Qingxuan Sect — Skybound Pavilion
The elders of the Qingxuan Alliance had gathered in the highest hall, a circular pavilion that floated among the clouds. Ten ancient stone seats surrounded a single celestial brazier, and within it, a heavenly flame flickered with translucent blue light. The sect master, Wen Yaozi, stood with hands behind his back, staring into the flame.
Li Yi stepped in, followed closely by Lan Qing'er and Xue Lian.
The air tensed slightly.
"Li Yi," said Elder Wen without turning. "Do you know what you've done?"
Li Yi remained calm. "I've removed a cancer from this world."
Some of the elders exchanged glances—some impressed, others concerned.
"It's not that simple," said Elder Mingyu. "The Bonehorn Saint was not merely a force of destruction. He was a key node. One of the Abyss's locked chains. His death has accelerated the awakening of what lies beneath."
Elder Ru nodded grimly. "The Abyss has a heart, sealed in the depths of the Void Hollows. The Bonehorn Saint was one of its keepers. With his fall, the seals grow unstable."
"And there's more," added Elder Yun. "We received a message from the Upper Realm. A ripple of Chaos has been detected not just in our realm, but across dozens of lower worlds."
Everyone turned to Li Yi.
Wen Yaozi's eyes pierced through him. "The Chaos Bloodline. It's no longer dormant."
Lan Qing'er's lips parted slightly. She looked at Li Yi with a flicker of worry.
Elder Mingyu's tone turned sharp. "Do you understand the significance of what flows in your veins?"
Li Yi's voice was steady. "I was born with it. I've accepted it. Whether others approve or fear it is irrelevant to me."
The elders quieted. Wen Yaozi spoke again. "We believe the seal to the Upper Realm is weakening. But that is not necessarily good news."
"Why not?" Xue Lian asked.
"Because the God Realm may descend."
A beat passed in silence.
Elder Ru elaborated. "They blocked the path not just to protect the Lower Realms, but to protect themselves. If the Abyss finds a way through—if even a sliver of it reaches the God Realm—the ancient war reignites at full strength."
Wen Yaozi turned to Li Yi. "They may come. Some to watch. Some to guide. And some… to kill."
---
Later That Day — Starfire Training Grounds
Li Yi stood alone within the Qingxuan Sect's most sacred training field. The ground was covered in divine runes, and a constant flow of star essence bathed the land like gentle snow. Time here was three times faster than in the outer world, and every second of cultivation felt like a minute.
He unsheathed his sword.
> "Chaos Flame Blade—First Form: Crater Bloom."
The swing was simple, but the air fractured in a lotus pattern. Chaos fire erupted into spiraling flames, disintegrating a formation dummy layered in Earth Saint-level armor.
Li Yi didn't stop.
Again.
And again.
With each strike, he refined his will. Not just to fight—but to ascend. Every time he pushed his body further, the veins in his arms shimmered like golden constellations. His Chaos Core began to vibrate irregularly, absorbing not only energy but laws.
Then it happened.
The stars above him aligned slightly.
A crackling sound came from his core.
And Li Yi fell into a trance.
---
Spiritual Vision — The Primordial Womb
He was no longer on the training field.
Instead, he stood in a vast black void surrounded by immense rivers of energy—golden, silver, red, and blue—all spiraling into a cosmic womb suspended in the abyss.
A voice whispered from the darkness.
> "Chaos is not born. It is seeded."
Li Yi watched as a spark—his spark—emerged in the middle of the womb.
The rivers began converging toward it. Laws of space, time, creation, and destruction began merging into his essence.
> "You must not only master Chaos," the voice continued. "You must become the storm."
Li Yi extended his hand.
The spark entered his palm.
Everything exploded in light.
---
Heavenly Bridge — Reality
Li Yi's body hovered a meter above the ground, wrapped in layers of Chaos Qi that had begun forming spiral runes across his skin.
He opened his eyes.
> Divine Foundation Realm — Early Stage.
A realm where divine laws could be bent. Where a cultivator's soul formed a "Dao Embryo" capable of creating laws, not just obeying them.
Li Yi's gaze flickered with starfire.
> He had broken through.
---
Meanwhile — Li Family, Upper Realm
In the heart of the Upper Realm, a colossal floating continent shaped like a celestial dragon buzzed with unrest. On one of its spiraling towers, the elders of the main Li family had gathered.
An elder wearing a robe of thousands of silk threads raised his head. His eyes flashed with divine insight.
> "The seed has awakened."
Another elder spoke, "The Chaos Bloodline… has reached Divine Foundation in a lower realm? Impossible."
But the patriarch stood still. A middle-aged man with long silver hair and eyes like burning stars.
"It is not impossible. He is her son."
The elders fell silent.
> "Send someone to the Xuan Realm," the patriarch said.
"Who?"
A smile flickered across the patriarch's lips.
> "His cousin. Let blood meet blood."
---
Closing Scene — A Faint Melody
That night, Li Yi sat by the cliffs again. The stars had changed. Not just their light, but their orientation. It was as if they were watching.
Xue Lian sat beside him, silent.
After a long pause, she said, "You've changed."
"So have you," he replied with a rare smile.
From afar, the wind carried a faint melody.
An ancient song.
A warning of trials yet to come.
---
End of Chapter 38