Chapter 547 477: Me, It's Me!

Then, everything returned to silence. The brilliance of the Celestial Emperor's Sword gradually withdrew, becoming dim once again. That wisp of lingering thought also completely dissipated, turning into the most fundamental Daoist Intent and merging into Qi Yun's Primordial Dao.

Qi Yun slowly opened his eyes. The colorful light flowing in them was even more profound and vast than before. He could feel that his connection with this Heaven and Earth was much tighter than before. Every inch of land, every river, and every mountain in the Profound Yellow Origin Realm was connected to his bloodline.

Was this the final gift left by His Majesty? It was not power, nor Divine Techniques, but a responsibility, a guardianship.

"Thank you, Senior," he said, bowing deeply toward the silent Celestial Emperor's Sword.

Dead silence filled the hall. The sword did not respond, and that figure did not react in any way, but Qi Yun knew they heard him. They were always there. He straightened up, turned around, and walked out of the Black Tortoise Sect.

Outside the hall, the long street remained quiet. However, the row upon row of Marketplaces, mansions, and pavilions began to turn transparent and illusory at an extremely slow pace. This ancient city, sealed in dust for eons, had completed its mission and could now dissipate peacefully and with relief.

"Let's go," Qi Yun said to the Mountain and River Cauldron.

The Mountain and River Cauldron let out a low hum. Its nine divine dragons raised their heads simultaneously, their roars echoing in this gradually dissipating void. The sound carried the sorrow of eons, the relief of liberation, and a trace of anticipation for the future.

Qi Yun said no more. A Nine-Colored Auspicious Cloud manifested beneath his feet, carrying him and the Mountain and River Cauldron as they sped toward the East, toward the Profound Yellow Origin Realm. Behind them, the majestic ancient city grew smaller and further away. The plaque on the city gate with the words "Chang'an" was also growing blurry and dim bit by bit. Eventually, it turned into a tiny speck of light and vanished into the deep darkness like a falling star.

Eternal Chang'an met its end here.

Above the Auspicious Cloud, from within the Mountain and River Cauldron, Cai Shen finally couldn't help but speak. "Qi the Kid, His Majesty's words... what do you plan to do?"

"Plan to do about what?" Qi Yun replied indifferently.

"Protecting Profound Yellow. You promised His Majesty."

Qi Yun didn't answer immediately. He stood at the head of the cloud with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering as he looked at the gradually brightening light ahead. Then, a smile slowly curled at the corners of his mouth. That smile was not tragic, nor was it heavy. It was a smile that belonged to Qi Yun, one that Cai Shen was incredibly familiar with. It was just like the smile he wore back then above the West Sea, facing the World Honored One's avatar alone with just a sword. It was just like the smile he wore in the All Marvelous Heaven, when he personally carved the word "Primordial."

"Protecting Profound Yellow?" he repeated in a low voice. The colorful light in his eyes surged before slowly settling into an unfathomable, bottomless darkness. Within that darkness lay the domineering aura of Commanding All Skills, as well as the absolute resolve of supreme arrogance. "His Majesty is His Majesty, and I am me."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at the ever-approaching Profound Yellow land ahead, his voice calm but filled with an unquestionable certainty. "He chose his path, and I choose mine."

Cai Shen was taken aback. "Then you are..."

Qi Yun did not answer, allowing the astral winds to blow his robes as he gazed at the Heaven and Earth about to welcome his return.

Protect? He was never some protector. He had claimed the power of the Golden Tang Dynasty. He had accepted His Majesty's Sword Dao. But how he would walk this path and where it would lead was up to him to decide.

The Dao Kings wanted to destroy Profound Yellow? Shen Yi wanted to reap the harvest? The World Honored One wanted to settle old scores?

Fine. Bring it on.

He, Qi Yun, would play along until the very end.

The Auspicious Cloud accelerated, transforming into a Flowing Light that tore through the sky, carrying him and the Mountain and River Cauldron toward Profound Yellow, toward that unfinished chess game.

The daylight gradually brightened, and the clouds surged.

The Profound Yellow Origin Realm was already right before his eyes.