Refining the Mountains and Rivers

In the hall, the Old King Patriarch looked away. Although he was here, he still saw everything that Qin Yu did after he left.

His silence, his exhalation, the struggle in his eyes, as well as the firm step of his departure…all of this became that final straw that crushed all doubts.

The Old King Patriarch was now sure of his guess. Qin Yu was Qin Yu. He was the late King's reincarnation…but at the same time, he was also a chess piece whose fate was difficult to predict.

But the greater possibility was that no good fate should befall him…after all, he was a person that didn't even have a memory!

In a corner of the hall, a shadow wriggled and appeared. A respectful voice sounded out, "Patriarch, that one from the Ancient King's Lineage requests to meet you."

The Old King Patriarch waved his hand, "I understand."

This was as it should be. Since everyone was here, of course they had to sit down and have a talk.

After all, far too many accidents had occurred, so many that even old ghosts like them couldn't quietly sit back and fish while watching the situation change.

Qi Zhen should have become the new King, but he had perished…Qin Yu had replaced Cloud Mist and possessed the awakened royal bloodline…the great chess game was constantly changing, and these old fellows were no longer qualified to make a move.

Perhaps calmly waiting for the final result was the best choice for them.

Heaving a deep sign, the Old King Patriarch stood up. His body shook like a tree that would blow over at any moment. But as he stood straight, the entire hall started to shake and creak, as if it was withstanding a terrifying weight and would collapse soon.

Taking one step out, the Old King Patriarch vanished from sight. All that remained were the trembling wails still echoing in the hall.

…

No one knew what happened in secret, but the expected conflict between the Ancient King's Lineage and the Old King's Lineage didn't erupt. Like light winds and pale clouds, everything slowly faded away from sight.

Qi Zhen and Cloud Billow's deaths were quietly covered up. This certainly wasn't normal. But no one was in the mood to continue investigating the secrets between the two parties.

Because the Chosen Platform would soon arrive!

The top ten ranked groups that hunted the most nightmare beasts in the Nightmare Beast Territory all obtained the qualifications to enter the Chosen Platform. After they underwent the test from the ancestral land, the final three would earn the qualifications to enter the Nightmare Ancestral Land.

Although the nightmare beast hunt had been interrupted due to the sudden explosion of war between the Nightmare Clan and the Nightmare Beast Territory, the hunter rankings were still there.

The ten factions who won the top rankings all did their best to prepare and try their luck…the Ancient King's Lineage and Old King's Lineage had both lost their successors, and this might be the best chance for them.

If they succeeded, their entire families would rise with a single leap, becoming the rightful rulers of the entire Nightmare Clan. The harvest would be unimaginable.

…

"The Chosen Platform is a part of the ancestral land. After obtaining its approval, it will bring you into the space of the ancestral land. Besides that, there is no second way to enter." Cloud Boundless looked at Qin Yu, a dignified light in his eyes. "This is the last threshold placed before you. As long as you cross it, you will be the new Nightmare King!"

His expression was decisive and without hesitation.

Qin Yu had thoroughly awakened the royal bloodline. After entering the ancestral land he would immediately obtain its approval. The others that entered the ancestral land with him simply had no chance of resisting.

So in Cloud Boundless' opinion, the Chosen Platform was the final difficulty that the Old King's Lineage needed to face.

The Ancient King's Lineage would definitely try to figure out a way to prevent Qin Yu from obtaining approval. Because after ascending the Chosen Platform, he would no longer be able to hide his aura.

He had informed the Patriarch of this matter, but what left him puzzled was that the Patriarch didn't have much to say about it. The Patriarch simply waved his hand and dismissed the topic.

Perhaps the Patriarch had already made arrangements…but Cloud Boundless felt that he should be serious and warn Qin Yu about what might happen to avoid any possible accidents occurring.

"Mm, I understand." Qin Yu calmly nodded.

Cloud Boundless furrowed his eyebrows. He thought for a moment and said, "Did the Patriarch say something to you? If you can't tell me then there's no need to."

Qin Yu wryly smiled, somewhat guessing Cloud Boundless' meaning. But in truth, he felt no pressure in entering the ancestral land.

What he feared was what would happen afterwards!

Without a way to explain it nor wanting to, Qin Yu simply nodded, acknowledging that Cloud Boundless was right and he indeed couldn't say anything.

Cloud Boundless smiled. He knew that the Patriarch must have made preparations earlier. This was a key step in capturing the throne, so how could he not have done anything?

"Good, then I won't say anything else about that. This is the information collected on the Chosen Platform. If you have any questions or don't understand anything, then feel free to ask me."

Qin Yu received the demon crystal and said, "Can I go back and look at this? There is something else…" He began to speak but hesitated a little.

Cloud Boundless immediately understood. "Of course you can take it back. I can make time for you whenever you want. Just ask me if you don't understand anything."

Qin Yu expressed his thanks and left, then he returned to his dwelling without delay.

He said there was something else and there really was something else. After Qin Yu closed the door, he could clearly feel a subtle change in space.

He had felt this change from Qi Zhen's actions before, but it was a little different…he couldn't sense what the difference was, but without a doubt his connection to the outside world was isolated.

Space rippled and Thousandhonor Marquis stepped out. When Qin Yu looked at him, his eyes shifted.

Although the Thousandhonor Marquis he saw was visibly flawless, Qin Yu could still perceive a different…this wasn't the true Thousandhonor Marquis, but something close to a projection or avatar.

Could he be wary of the Old King Patriarch who had arrived? Besides this, Qin Yu couldn't think of any other possibility.

His thoughts turned and he bowed, "I greet Thousandhonor Marquis."

"There's no need to be so courteous." Thousandhonor Marquis lightly said, "Qi Zhen and you are equals, so you are the same as me."

Qin Yu stood up, "Then I will be rude. Thousandhonor Marquis, why did you come here today?"

There was no need to talk about how formidable Qi Zhen and Thousandhonor Marquis were. If it weren't for Qin Yu cooperating with them right now, he feared one of those two old freaks would have immediately attacked him.

After all, as an existence outside of the 'rules', they had to be very interested in Qin Yu's identity and origin.

Qin Yu believed that Qi Zhen and Thousandhonor Marquis fervently desired for him to destroy the ancestral land, but they would absolutely not care about whether he lived or died.

So Qin Yu felt dread towards these two powerful old freaks, but no respect.

Thousandhonor Marquis clearly did not care about this. He looked at Qin Yu and said, "I came here today to give this crystal nucleus to you."

As he spoke, he revealed a ring-like object. It was pitch black and forged from some unknown material.

"Remember, the crystal nucleus in this ring is prepared for contingencies. Do not act rashly." Thousandhonor Marquis solemnly reminded before handing the ring over.

Qin Yu nodded. "Don't worry, I understand the weight of this situation. I'm not the type to joke around with my life."

Thousandhonor Marquis looked up into the distance and subconsciously frowned. "It's about time for me to leave. Tell Qi Zhen that after entering the ancestral land, anything that happens afterwards is unrelated to me. This is all I can do."

As his voice fell he no longer spoke. His figure flickered and he fused into the spatial ripples, vanishing from sight.

Shua –

Within Qin Yu's senses, the power of distorted space disappeared with him.

Somewhere else in Bluetile Courtyard, there was another garden. Although it had been repaired, one could still see tiny cracks spread throughout the foundation.

The Old King Patriarch reclaimed his eyes. With a light 'pa', he set down his teacup.

The aura he felt just now was incomparably obscure. If he hadn't made earlier preparations he wouldn't have been able to catch it. But since he was paying attention to it, no matter how vague it was it would inevitably leave behind some traces.

He didn't try anything, but he would never mistake that feeling…sure enough, it was the work of the abyss' will…Qin Yu was still concealing some matters.

But this was unimportant. Even if Qin Yu was willing to speak about it, the Old King Patriarch didn't want to hear it.

When the abyss' will took action, anyone who slightly affected or was related to it had a chance of being sucked into the vortex and destroyed in the end.

He had constantly lived together with death since many years ago. But he still lived now, and without accident he would continue living on.

The Old King Patriarch wasn't afraid of death. Because the suffering and difficulty he underwent in order to survive had slowly whittled away the awe he felt towards death.

But he couldn't die. At least not before a new guardian was born in the Old King's Lineage. Until that happened, he had to live on.

So if Qin Yu was concealing something, he could continue concealing it.

He just used this incident to further confirm his identity…a chess piece of the abyss' will had fallen into this game…

Great changes were about to come!