The fusion between the Origin Sources proceeded more smoothly than Shi Yan had anticipated, made even easier by Audrey’s full cooperation.

Initially, Shi Yan was at a loss as to the exact method of fusion, suspecting some prerequisite condition might be necessary.

However, the moment Audrey transmitted the intention to actively cooperate, he instantly knew how the integration must occur! A powerful summons emanated from the depths of his soul! This soul seemed intent on reclaiming its missing limbs, sending forth intense, surging waves from its core! These waves transformed into iridescent, flowing ripples—vibrant and stunning—that swept through Audrey’s Sea of Consciousness.

It was as if countless hands were reaching out to grasp and absorb the very Origin Sources within Audrey’s primary soul!

This was the instinctive communion between Origin Source and Origin Source!

Before Shi Yan arrived, Audrey’s main soul had been tainted by the will of Huang. Across infinite space, Huang constantly tormented her via an imprint within her soul, often plunging her into hazy, nonsensical dreams that blurred the line between reality and illusion. During these torments, Huang had also sent forth a soul-call!

It was identical to the call Shi Yan was now sending!

Feeling the soul-call from Shi Yan, Audrey hesitated for a moment, fearing this was yet another illusory trick from Huang, designed to lure her into lowering her guard and willingly offering up her Origin Source.

In her confusion, she posed several questions to Shi Yan—questions only they had shared experiences concerning. Shi Yan answered each one, and the accuracy of his responses assured her that this summons came not from Huang, but truly from Shi Yan.

Audrey immediately abandoned her hesitation.

Streams of dazzling, polychromatic soul-light drifted out from her core soul. As soon as they left her, these streams rapidly flew toward the magnetic field of soul-ripples emitted by Shi Yan.

Upon entering that ripple field, the soul-lights transformed into bursts of five-colored flames—the Origin Flames—which danced brightly. Gradually, they twisted and intertwined with Shi Yan’s own soul.

Shi Yan experienced a sudden influx of knowledge, memories, and numerous visual scenes. With every Origin Flame that fused, he witnessed landscapes, acquired ancient memory symbols, vaguely grasped tales of the Primordial Era, and learned of the grievances and passions of the preceding age.

These were Huang’s memories!

Regrettably, even after this merger, the memories remained incomplete. Following the fusion of his Origin with Audrey’s, he possessed only two-fifths of Huang’s soul memory and knowledge; it was still partial.

“The Primordial Age, the destiny of living beings, the First Gate, the Key…”

Fragments of memory, obscure and difficult to comprehend, flowed through his mind. Through this memory integration, he suddenly realized that the Profound Art Talisman Pagoda was the key to the “Primordial Gate.” One could enter through that colossal tower, but what exactly the “Primordial Gate” was, and what lay within, remained unclear to him.

He continued to absorb the Origin Flames, gathering the amassed knowledge and memories. The Profound Art Talisman Pagoda hovered protectively above his soul, shielding him from any intrusion by malevolent spirits.

Soon, Audrey’s entire portion of the Origin Source was fully incorporated into his soul.

The Soul Refining Cauldron, which had settled in Audrey’s Origin World, ceased its attacks on Shi Yan following the disappearance of her Origin Source.

Without the Origin Source, Huang could no longer influence Audrey across space. Audrey gradually regained clarity and reasserted control over her body.

She pulled back the Soul Refining Cauldron, halting its offensive maneuvers to prevent them from disrupting Shi Yan’s fusion.

Within her Sea of Consciousness, Shi Yan’s soul shone like a blazing, brilliant sun, its radiant light illuminating her internal realm. She felt a miraculous sensation of being merged by Shi Yan.

For some unknown reason, Audrey felt profoundly relaxed, as if this moment brought her immense peace. Having lost her Origin Source, she did not decline; instead, she felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted, her spirit and soul appearing elevated, and even her physical form was now enveloped in a strange, subtle radiance.

Xuan He, Ming Hao, and the others had been deeply worried for Audrey, fearing her soul might dissipate entirely.

At this moment, intense life fluctuations emanated from Audrey’s body. Her physique shimmered with flowing light, as if her divine substance was being cleansed of impurities by some extraordinary power, undergoing a process of vital sublimation.

Adela’s eyes brightened, and her previously dim face was illuminated with vitality. “This child seems fine after all. It’s a pity she lost her Origin Source; I wonder if she can still reach such heights in the future, ah…”

She felt a pang of regret. She believed her daughter’s current achievements stemmed mainly from merging with the Origin Source of the Divine Marsh Continent. Now that the source had flowed into Shi Yan’s soul, while Audrey was unharmed, she had forfeited her Origin, potentially halting her future progress in cultivation.

“No, losing her Origin Source might not be a bad thing for her,” Dracula of the White Bone Clan shook his head, his eyes flashing with astonishment. “For those who possess Origin Sources, it can bring benefit, but it can also become a burden to growth. This child has lost hers, yet her spirit and soul have ascended. She has already experienced the profound mystery of the Primordial Soul; she may have stumbled into good fortune through disaster…”

Ming Hao asked suspiciously, uncertainty clouding his voice, “You mean… her cultivation level won’t be affected?”

“It seems her level might even advance further. Her soul’s Origin Source was like a tether restraining her growth. Now that she has broken free, she can soar.” Dracula looked deeply at Audrey, nodding silently. His voice was sincere: “Her cultivation has indeed improved, and her Profound Arts are purer. As long as her divine power remains abundant, she might reach even greater heights.”

Audrey had just entered the Immortal Realm. If Dracula was correct, her advancement meant she might break through to the Second Heaven of Immortality?

How could this be possible?

Not only Ming Hao found this hard to believe, but Xiluo, Mandice, and the others were also inwardly stunned, finding the situation utterly unbelievable.

“I find it difficult to explain clearly.”

Dracula addressed the group, speaking softly. “For some individuals, the soul fragments of Primordial Beings can act as the catalyst for growth—like Shi Yan, who possesses such a tenacious and extremely self-centered, powerful will. Such people are not constrained by anything; whatever they gain, they claim entirely, unafraid of outside influence.”

He then looked at Audrey. “Conversely, some people, by merging with a partial soul of a Primordial Being, carry a burden in their hearts, feeling as if a shadow perpetually looms over their minds, influencing them. They might even begin to doubt their own identity. Once this doubt takes root, they lack self-confidence, which in turn shackles their cultivation, binding them down…”

“Are you saying that for Audrey, that Origin Source of the Divine Marsh Continent… was actually a rope of restraint?” Ming Hao was astonished.

Dracula nodded.

The others looked contemplative, silently observing Audrey. Under their gazes, Audrey’s breathing stabilized, and her soul’s energy pulsed powerfully once more.

Layers of mystical luminescence radiated from her face and body; she seemed reborn, imparting an uncanny sense of a second life.

At that moment, Shi Yan’s soul withdrew from the corner of her eye and returned to his own mind.

Audrey naturally opened her eyes. Her bright pupils were like chilling shards of ice stone, and deep within them, countless minute soul-lines were visible, forming mysterious, intricate soul formations. These formations bore a striking resemblance to the runes on the Soul Refining Cauldron. It seemed that, from this moment on, she had truly gained mastery over the Cauldron.

“It feels like a stone in my heart has been moved away; I feel an indescribable ease and freedom.”

She smiled faintly. Her entire being was like a vibrant, icy flower, both beautiful and cold, her temperament significantly more refined. This striking change caught the attention of those familiar with her, prompting them to look at her anew.

“You… are you alright?” Adela asked, bewildered.

“I’m fine, I’m very well, truly well!” Audrey affirmed. After speaking, she cast a deep glance at Shi Yan, a hint of shyness coloring her cheeks, and lowered her head to murmur, “He did very well inside my mind; I endured no suffering at all. It was easy, and very natural…”

At these words, the onlookers’ expressions grew odd, and someone suddenly recalled the wondrous intimacy of soul-to-soul merging, leading to distinctly ambiguous expressions.

Mei Ji bit her lip, rolling her eyes at Shi Yan, genuinely suspecting he had engaged in some sort of illicit tryst within Audrey’s consciousness.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The vibrant light shield covering the surface of the continent was suddenly struck by a meteor shower. The shield scattered cascades of brilliant light, resembling shattered stars colliding and bursting forth.

Mandice and Xiluo looked up at the sky, their expressions immediately darkening. They spoke in unison, “Someone is actively attacking!”

“Who?” Mei Ji ground her teeth, her eyes flashing with icy malice. “Who dares strike out in the Void Turbulence Domain? Causing such a major disturbance here could lead to serious trouble!”

“I know who it is,” Shi Yan interjected suddenly. His expression was calm as he looked up at the void screen. “It’s Ziyao. Her true body used to reside in the Void Turbulence Domain. Upon realizing Huang’s awakening, she has returned to this area. She is far more familiar with the situation here than we are.”

“Why would she seek us out?” Xiluo’s face changed. “Is this her domain?”

“Impossible,” Dracula shook his head. “This is not a domain. There is no ambient celestial energy here, no environment conducive to cultivating any elemental beings. It cannot be a domain.”

His assurance brought a secret sigh of relief to the others. Engaging in battle within another’s domain was a grave taboo; victory was almost impossible.

If this were Ziyao’s domain, they would likely have no hope of escape. Even martial artists of Xiluo and Mandice’s caliber would face certain death when fighting a similarly ranked expert within their own domain.

A domain was a mystical realm forged by oneself, where the Domain Lord was the sole deity, capable of altering the laws of heaven and earth. Within their own domain, the Lord could do as they pleased!

“Let me see what she wants,” Shi Yan stood up, stepping into the void. With a single stride, he entered the deep reaches of the Nine Heavens, piercing through the light barrier of the Divine Grace Continent.

He settled amidst the clouds outside the Divine Grace Continent, gazing from afar at the massive meteors and the colossal forms of the twelve giant serpents beneath them, and bellowed, “What are you doing here?”

“My old adversary, have you found a new love and forgotten the old one?” Ziyao smiled charmingly. Seated upon a seven-colored, dazzling throne, she instantly appeared before him. After a mere glance, Ziyao’s eyes brightened. “Not bad. You’ve managed to integrate another fragment of its soul. Excellent. This way, unless it manages to kill you and refine you into itself, it can never fully recover!”