261: The guidance of severing thoughts, the traces of returning to tranquility
The "broken thought" fragment in his palm felt cold to the touch. The wisp of "absolute darkness" within it no longer felt threatening to Ye Chen's perception; instead, it was like a lighthouse in the dark night, forming a strange resonance with his Chaos Law and the demon seal on his chest. It was no longer an external object; it felt more like an extension of his own body, a special "sense."
Ye Chen closed his eyes and sank his consciousness into the "broken thought" fragment. In an instant, the world he "saw" became completely different.
It was no longer the mountains of skeletons and forests of ruined weapons seen by the naked eye, but a more essential scene composed of countless energy flows and trajectories of Law. The inert Devilish Qi permeating the air appeared as dark gray mist, the undying Battle Intent manifested as tough, flickering threads of gold or red, and the endless skeletons and divine weapons beneath his feet radiated residual spiritual light of varying strength and attributes.
Deep within this complex energy landscape, a tiny, faint, dark thread extended from the "broken thought" fragment. This thread was not a physical entity, but a form of guidance on the level of Law. It pierced through layers of skeletons and chaotic energy fields, winding its way toward a deeper, hidden area of the Valley of Buried Soldiers, obscured by massive energy turbulence.
That was the direction guided by "broken thought," the place where the long-lost "source core of silence" might be located!
"Found it!" Ye Chen opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing and disappearing. He pointed to the direction where the dark thread extended and said to Qing Lin and Elder Mu Huan, "In that direction, where the energy turbulence is exceptionally violent."
Qing Lin looked in the direction he pointed, a trace of solemnity flashing in her emerald eyes: "That is the core forbidden area of the 'Valley of Buried Soldiers.' Rumor has it that it is the center point of the final collision of the ancient battlefield. The spatial structure is extremely fragile, the Law is chaotic, and space-time rifts often appear. It is extremely dangerous. Our clan records state that many Seniors of past generations attempted to explore deep inside, but none returned."
Elder Mu Huan also looked worried: "Lord Ye Chen, your injuries have not healed, and your state is unstable. Entering the forbidden area now, I fear..."
Ye Chen looked down at the dark gray mark on his chest, feeling the "hunger" that had become slightly more active due to the activation of the "broken thought" fragment, and shook his head: "Time waits for no one. The balance in my body needs energy to be maintained. Although the Abyssal Lord has temporarily retreated, it is probably only a matter of time before his true body descends. I must find the source core fragment as soon as possible to have a glimmer of hope and the capital to contend with him."
He paused and looked at Qing Lin: "Great Priestess, the Forest Realm has just stabilized and needs you to preside over it. I can go to this exploration alone."
"No!" Qing Lin refused decisively. "Fellow Daoist has the grace of rebuilding our Forest Realm, how can I let you take risks alone? Moreover, the environment of that forbidden area is special. Although my Wood Spirit Clan is not good at frontal assaults, our perception of life energy and adaptation to the natural environment may be able to help Fellow Daoist."
She turned to Mu Huan: "Elder, you take most of the Green Vine Guards back to the Forest Realm to assist in repairs and be vigilant of external movements. I will go with Fellow Daoist Ye Chen."
"Great Priestess!" Mu Huan said anxiously, "Your Divine Soul injury has not healed, how can you enter a dangerous place again?"
"My mind is made up." Qing Lin's tone was calm but carried unquestionable firmness. "Besides, the ancient tree of life and the Pool of Origin share the same source. If that 'source core of silence' is really related to Senior Yu, I might be able to get closer with the aura of the ancient tree."
Ye Chen looked at Qing Lin's resolute expression, knowing that persuasion was useless. A hint of warmth welled up in his heart, and he bowed solemnly: "In that case, I will trouble you, Great Priestess."
With the plan decided, the two did not delay. Although Elder Mu Huan was worried, he could only obey orders. After leading the Green Vine Guards to reinforce the outer concealment Formation, he quickly withdrew and returned to the Emerald Forest Realm.
Ye Chen and Qing Lin followed the guidance of the "broken thought" fragment and ventured deep into the most dangerous core forbidden area of the Valley of Buried Soldiers.
The deeper they went, the worse the environment became. The piles of skeletons under their feet were higher, and many bones showed a glazed texture, obviously formed by being instantly vaporized by extremely high energy and then cooled. There were also more and more broken divine weapon remains, some of which occasionally burst out with out-of-control energy arcs or cold killing intent, requiring careful avoidance.
The energy turbulence permeating the air was like invisible blades, cutting everything. Qing Lin supported a life barrier, the emerald brilliance swaying in the chaotic energy storm like a lonely boat in a storm. Ye Chen urged his Chaos Qi to protect his body, and the gray airflow resolved and devoured the incoming turbulence one by one, slightly alleviating the "hunger" of the mark on his chest.
The dark thread guided by the "broken thought" fragment remained clear in such a chaotic environment, stubbornly pointing to an area ahead shrouded in twisted light and shadow.
There, space seemed like a shattered mirror, presenting countless irregular cracks and faults. Visible, colorful space-time turbulence danced wantonly like ribbons, making a heart-palpitating hissing sound. Deeper inside, a huge vortex like a black hole could be faintly seen slowly rotating, devouring all light and energy around it.
"That's it." Ye Chen stopped, his expression extremely solemn. The danger level of that area far exceeded his estimate. Just standing on the edge, he felt that his own Law seemed to be interfered with, and the operation of the chaos minor world in his body appeared to have a moment of sluggishness.
Qing Lin's face was also a bit pale. She felt the warning intention from the ancient tree of life. That area was filled with extreme "silence" and "end" meanings, which were incompatible with the Law of life.
The "broken thought" fragment vibrated slightly in Ye Chen's palm, and the induction was unprecedentedly strong. The end of the dark thread was submerged in the black hole vortex deep in the space-time turbulence!
"The source core of silence... is very likely inside that vortex." Ye Chen said in a deep voice.
Qing Lin frowned: "That space-time structure is extremely unstable. Forcing entry, I fear..."
Before she finished speaking, a mutation occurred!
Seemingly sensing the aura of the "broken thought" fragment, the black hole vortex suddenly accelerated its rotation! A terrifying suction force suddenly came, and at the same time, in the center of the vortex, a tiny but seemingly capable-of-ending-everything dark gray beam shot toward the "broken thought" fragment in Ye Chen's hand, as if crossing space-time!
No! The target was not just the fragment! The beam contained the pure Law of "return to silence," as if it wanted to drag him along with the fragment into eternal end!
Ye Chen's pupils shrank, wanting to dodge, but found that the surrounding space had been locked by that terrifying suction force, and he could not move! The demon seal on his chest transmitted a violent burning pain, as if it had been strongly attracted and stimulated by the power of the same source!
"Careful!" Qing Lin exclaimed, and without hesitation, she urged all her life Origin, and the emerald brilliance turned into a huge vine shield, blocking in front of Ye Chen!
"Chi—!"
The dark gray beam hit the vine shield. There was no earth-shattering explosion. The vine shield containing majestic vitality actually withered, withered at a speed visible to the naked eye, and finally turned into fly ash! The momentum of the beam was slightly reduced, but it still carried an invincible meaning of end, shooting toward Ye Chen!
Seeing that Ye Chen was about to be hit by the beam of return to silence—
He gritted his teeth fiercely, not only did not retreat, but poured all his Chaos power, together with the mutated balance power in the demon seal on his chest, into the "broken thought" fragment in his hand!
"If you want guidance, I will give you guidance! You want return to silence, I will see if your return to silence is stronger, or my Chaos is more 'accommodating'!"
The "broken thought" fragment's dark light flourished, and that wisp of "absolute darkness" erupted violently. It was no longer a thin thread, but turned into a solid dark sword shadow that seemed to be able to devour light, facing the incoming beam of return to silence!
There was no sound, no dissipation of light.
Two forces representing "end" and "nothingness" on different levels collided, merged, and devoured each other silently in the chaotic space-time!
Ye Chen groaned, feeling that his Divine Soul and Physical Body were about to be torn apart in the clash of these two extreme forces. He held the "broken thought" fragment tightly, using it as a bridge, crazily operating the Chaos Law, trying to understand, accommodate, and even... control this power from the "source core of silence"!
This was a dangerous contest, and also a once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity!