87: The abyss descends, the sword shatters and returns to silence.

The moment that profound darkness erupted from the Mourner of the Departed's palm, the world seemed to be muted.

All sounds—the clang of battle, explosions, screams—vanished completely.

In their place was a sense of “nihility” that froze the Soul.

The darkness spread rapidly from the Mourner of the Departed's palm, and wherever it passed, space, like a pencil drawing erased by a rubber, returned inch by inch to absolute “nothingness.”

No light, no matter, no Spiritual Qi, no Law... only pure, all-consuming “Annihilation.”

“What... what the Hell is that?!”

Jin Wanxiang, having just cleaved a Dark Kin, stared in horror at the rapidly expanding dark area.

He saw several Nascent Soul Cultivators who couldn't dodge in time grazed by the edge of the darkness. Before they could even scream, their entire beings—Physical Body, Divine Soul, Magic Treasure, and even traces of their existence—completely vanished as if they had never existed!

It wasn't death.

It was “Annihilation.”

As if the Dao itself had utterly erased them from this world!

“Retreat! Retreat quickly!!!”

Mo Yuan roared hoarsely, and the allied army frantically fell back.

But the darkness spread too quickly.

In a blink of an eye, it had covered a radius of ten li, and was still expanding at an exponential rate!

And Lu Qingxuan was right at the center of this “Abyss of Annihilation”!

“Brother Qingxuan—!!!”

Behind her, Su Linger sensed this scene through her Dao Seal, her mind trembling violently, almost wanting to rush out of the Hall of Rebirth regardless of the consequences.

But she forcefully suppressed the impulse.

Because she knew that rushing out now would not only be unhelpful but might also disrupt Lu Qingxuan's plan.

“ancient god corpse... true spirit fire seed...” Su Linger's gaze was resolute as she looked at the colossal gray corpse before her, “Since you want the aura of darkness... then I shall give it to you!”

She formed a hand seal, the Zixiao Reincarnation Seal between her brows glowed intensely, and she fully activated the purification array, forcibly stripping and amplifying the dark imprint of the ten thousand ruins within the contaminated true spirit fire seed!

At the same time, she used her Purple Firmament Reincarnation Body as a bridge, casting this fluctuation far towards the northern battlefield, towards the direction of the Mourner of the Departed!

---

Battlefield.

In the center of the Abyss of Annihilation.

Lu Qingxuan hovered in absolute Void Realm.

Surrounded by pitch-black darkness, even the concepts of time and space were blurred and disintegrated here.

The Reincarnation sword in his hand, its light of Reincarnation rapidly dimmed, and fine cracks began to appear on the sword body—a sign of erosion by the Law of Annihilation.

“Annihilation... one of the authorities of the ten thousand ruins.” Lu Qingxuan's eyes were calm, not flustered.

[Detected 'Law of Annihilation (Chaos?)' erosion]

[Current erosion progress: 17%...29%...41%...]

[Warning: If erosion progress exceeds 50%, the Physical Body and Divine Soul will begin irreversible disintegration!]

System prompts flashed urgently.

Lu Qingxuan could feel that the Chaos Qi around him was constantly being “erased,” and even the defense of the Chaos God-Demon Body was slowly disintegrating before this pure “Annihilation.”

This was the terror of an Apostle in the Middle Stage of Undergoing Tribulation, who also wielded some of the ten thousand ruins' authority.

If not for his Heaven-Defying Foundation and the protection of Chaos Law, any ordinary Peak Body Integration Cultivator would have long ago been annihilated into nothingness.

“Lu Qingxuan...”

The Mourner of the Departed's voice came from the depths of the darkness, carrying a condescending indifference:

“Under Annihilation, all things are equal.”

“No matter how peerless your talent, no matter how Heaven-Defying your Opportunity... in the end, you are but a speck of dust in this endless Void Realm.”

“Accept your fate.”

The darkness began to contract and compress inward.

The erosion progress instantly soared to 58%!

Lu Qingxuan felt a tearing pain in his skin, and his Divine Soul felt as if it were being pulled by countless hands, trying to drag him into eternal slumber.

But in his eyes, a glimmer of realization flashed.

“Annihilation... erasing all existence...”

“But what if existence itself... is 'Chaos'?”

Chaos is the beginning of all things, and also the end of all things.

Annihilation can erase “ordered” existence, but for Chaos, which is inherently “disordered” and inherently between “being” and “non-being”... perhaps it is not a natural enemy.

But rather... another form of “coexistence”!

“So that's it...”

Lu Qingxuan suddenly smiled.

He let go of his hand.

Crack.

The chaos reincarnation sword completely shattered, turning into countless specks of light, swallowed by the darkness.

But around Lu Qingxuan, the Chaos Qi, which had been suppressed and eroded, underwent a qualitative change at this moment!

It was no longer resisting Annihilation.

Instead... it began to “integrate” into Annihilation!

“You... what are you doing?!” The Mourner of the Departed's voice showed surprise for the first time.

“I'm thinking...” Lu Qingxuan spread his arms, allowing the darkness to engulf him, his voice as calm as ever:

“Since your Annihilation is to return everything to 'nothingness'...”

“Then I shall use 'Chaos' to show you... what true 'existence within nothingness' is.”

Boom—!

Within him, all Chaos-related terms—Chaos Law, Chaos God-Demon Body, Chaos Myriad Transformation Divine Art... at this moment, completely resonated and merged!

[Chaos Law] new characteristic “Chaos Guixu,” actively triggered!

A miniature, constantly rotating Chaos black hole emerged from Lu Qingxuan's Dantian, beginning to frantically devour the surrounding Annihilation darkness!

Not resistance.

It was consumption! It was refinement! It was using the “disorder” of Chaos to encompass and transform the “nihility” of Annihilation!

“Impossible! Annihilation is the authority of the ten thousand ruins! How can you devour it?!” The Mourner of the Departed roared, his ghostly green Soul fire flickering wildly, fully activating the Abyss of Annihilation, attempting to erase Lu Qingxuan along with that bizarre black hole.

But it was too late.

Just as Lu Qingxuan used Chaos Guixu to directly confront the Abyss of Annihilation—

A faint but incredibly pure, strange fluctuation, mixed with Zixiao thunder and Reincarnation power, traveled through space and precisely injected into Lu Qingxuan's Sea of Consciousness!

It was the “ancient god remnant soul fragment” sent by Su Linger, purified and stripped of its contaminating imprint!

This wisp of remnant thought contained the ancient god's ultimate comprehension of “Chaos” and “Reincarnation” from its lifetime, and even a trace of instinctive, deeply ingrained hatred and Battle Intent towards the “ten thousand ruins”!

“Ancient god... remnant thought?”

Lu Qingxuan was slightly startled, then enlightenment struck him.

He released his Divine Soul, allowing this wisp of remnant thought to merge into his own Chaos Law.

Buzz—!

The Chaos Law began to undergo a transcendent transformation!

The originally hazy Chaos Qi gradually took on a vast, ancient gray color—that was the “chaos origin source Color” belonging to the ancient god!

And the Chaos Guixu in his Dantian, bolstered by the ancient god's remnant thought, instantly expanded tenfold, its speed of devouring the Annihilation darkness soaring a hundredfold!

The [Chaos Law (Chaos)] entry flickered violently, and finally... shattered and reorganized!

[Chaos Law] advanced to [Chaos Ancient God Dao Law (Chaos · Elementary)]!

[New Characteristics:]

First, Ancient God Battle Intent: Damage increased by 300% and defense increased by 200% against the “ten thousand ruins” and all dark derivative units.

Second, Chaos Creation: Can, to a certain extent, spontaneously create temporary matter, energy, and even low-level Laws out of Chaos Qi.

Third, Guixu Dominator: Guixu devouring and refining efficiency increased by 500%, can temporarily create a “Chaos Guixu Domain.”

The moment the System prompts flashed by.

Lu Qingxuan suddenly opened his eyes!

In his eyes, the Chaos Guixu rotated in his left eye, the Ring of Reincarnation bloomed in his right, and in the deepest part of his pupils, a vast, ancient god's battle fire blazed fiercely!

“Mourner of the Departed...”

He slowly spoke, his voice no longer calm, but carrying a majesty as if from the dawn of Chaos:

“Your Annihilation... I return it to you.”

He raised his hand, his five fingers loosely clasped.

The Chaos Guixu in his Dantian suddenly expanded, transforming into a gray-black vortex over a hundred zhang in diameter, spewing forth in reverse!

What spewed forth was no longer Chaos Qi, but... a Chaos Guixu storm, refined and reorganized by the Chaos Guixu, mixed with the ancient god's Battle Intent!

Wherever the storm passed, the Annihilation darkness disintegrated and dissolved inch by inch, as if encountering its nemesis!

“No—!!!”

The Mourner of the Departed let out a piercing shriek, his withered body trembled violently for the first time, and his ghostly green Soul fire flickered madly, attempting to retract the Abyss of Annihilation.

But the Chaos Guixu storm was faster!

Rumble—!!!

The gray-black storm, like a giant Chaos Dragon, fiercely slammed into the core of the Abyss of Annihilation—the Origin of Darkness in the Mourner of the Departed's palm!

Crack!

A crisp sound like shattering glass.

That profound darkness exploded in response!

“Pfft—!”

The Mourner of the Departed was struck by lightning, spitting out a large mouthful of viscous black blood exuding a decaying aura from under his black robe, his entire aura instantly weakened by more than thirty percent!

The Abyss of Annihilation was forcibly broken!

The darkness receded like a tide, revealing the clear sky once more—though still shrouded by the outer dark firmament, at least this battlefield temporarily regained its light.

The entire scene was silent.

Everyone fighting, whether the allied army or the Dark Kin, involuntarily stopped and looked towards that area.

They saw Lu Qingxuan hovering in the air, surrounded by a vast aura of the Chaos Ancient God, his aura many times stronger than before!

And that arrogant Undergoing Tribulation Apostle was now spitting black blood, his aura chaotic, and his ghostly green Soul fire had dimmed somewhat!

“The Holy Lord... broke a Divine Ability of Undergoing Tribulation?!” Jin Wanxiang's voice trembled.

“More than just breaking it... it's crushing it!” Mo Yuan's eyes were filled with shock.

The Disciples of Grand Void Holy Land erupted in earth-shattering cheers:

“Holy Lord is invincible!”

“Kill! Kill all these dark scum!”

Morale instantly soared to its Peak!

Conversely, the Dark Kin side fell into panic.

Even Lord Mourner of the Departed was severely injured... could they still win?

“You... you actually fused with the ancient god remnant soul fragment?!” The Mourner of the Departed clutched his chest, his Soul fire staring intently at Lu Qingxuan, his voice filled with disbelief, “No... the ancient god true spirit has been corrupted, the remnant thought must contain the ten thousand ruins' imprint... how could you purify it?!”

Lu Qingxuan did not answer.

He slowly raised his right hand, and the Chaos Ancient God Qi gathered in his palm, gradually condensing into a brand new longsword.

The sword was four feet three inches long, entirely of a vast gray-white color, with Chaos Dao patterns and ancient god's battle fire flowing on its surface, and a subtle Reincarnation mark running from hilt to tip along its spine.

[Chaos Ancient God Sword] (Temporary)

[Grade: Chaos · Pseudo-Immortal Artifact (One-time use)]

[Characteristics: Ancient God Void Cleave, Chaos Law Break, Reincarnation Soul Sever]

He gripped the sword, its tip pointing remotely at the Mourner of the Departed.

“Go ask your questions in Hell.”

As his voice fell.

The sword was drawn.

No fancy Moves, no earth-shattering momentum.

Just a simple... direct thrust.

But the moment this sword was thrust out—

Time seemed to freeze.

Space was easily torn open by the sword's edge, revealing the pitch-black Void Realm behind it.

Wherever the sword passed, Chaos Qi and ancient god's Battle Intent merged, transforming into a gray-white sword rainbow, whose might... made all the Body Integration Cultivators present feel a fatal threat of death!

The Mourner of the Departed's pupils constricted sharply.

He felt that... this sword contained not just the power of Chaos and the ancient god.

But also a trace of... the true meaning of “Void Cleave,” specifically countering the “ten thousand ruins”!

“You want to kill me?!”

He shrieked, his withered hands frantically formed seals, and monstrous black Qi erupted around him, condensing into nine black shields inscribed with ten thousand ruins runes in front of him!

“ten thousand ruins Nine-Layered Shield · Defense!!”

The shields stacked layer upon layer, exuding an indestructible dark Dao rhyme.

However—

Hiss.

The gray-white sword rainbow, like a hot knife through butter, penetrated the first shield without any obstruction.

Then the second, the third... until the ninth!

The Nine-Layered ten thousand ruins Shield was like paper in front of the Chaos Ancient God Sword!

The sword rainbow's momentum was undiminished, and in the Mourner of the Departed's utterly horrified gaze, it pierced through his chest!

“Urgh ah—!!!”

A bloodcurdling scream echoed across the battlefield.

The Mourner of the Departed looked down at the bowl-sized, transparent hole in his chest, its edges flowing with Chaos Qi and ancient god's battle fire.

In the hole, there was no blood, only constantly dissipating Darkness Origin, and... rapidly dimming ghostly green Soul fire.

“You... you actually dare...”

He struggled to look up, staring fixedly at Lu Qingxuan, his Soul fire filled with venom and unwillingness.

“Master... will not let you go...”

“The ten thousand ruins... will eventually... descend...”

His voice grew weaker and weaker.

Finally, the Soul fire completely extinguished.

His withered body, like a weathered sand sculpture, disintegrated inch by inch, turning into a sky full of black ash, scattering in the wind.

One of the seven Apostles of Void Abyss, the Mourner of the Departed, a Middle Stage Undergoing Tribulation Cultivator... had fallen!

[Successfully killed 'Abyss Apostle · Mourner of the Departed (Middle Stage of Undergoing Tribulation)']

[Stripped: Death Law Fragment (Gold) x9, Decay Domain Origin (Gold) x1, Soul Fire Core (Gold) x1, Abyss Blessing Imprint (Chaos?) x1, Ten Thousand Ruins Resonance Mark (Special) x1]

[Obtained: Middle Stage Undergoing Tribulation Divine Soul Essence x1 (Pure)]

[Chaos Ancient God Dao Law comprehension deepened...]

System prompts flashed wildly.

Lu Qingxuan sheathed his sword, his gaze sweeping over the remaining two demon generals and demon spirits, and the terrified Dark Kin.

“Leave no one.”

He spoke lightly.

The next moment.

The allied army, like a mountain collapse and a tsunami, surged towards the fleeing dark army!

The slaughter officially began.

Lu Qingxuan, however, turned and looked towards the Hall of Rebirth, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

The ancient god true spirit was contaminated... the imprint of the ten thousand ruins... this water was deeper than he had imagined.