Picking Up Attributes In Martial World

Chapter 204: The Void

Ye Jun was mildly surprised hearing that. The quiet resonance of the vault seemed to freeze as his mind automatically drifted back to the fragmented prophetic dream he had witnessed months ago.

In that memory of an apocalyptic sky, he hadn’t just seen space cracking, he had watched a colossal Titan, an absolute manifestation of primordial power, tearing its way out from a boundless, pitch-black void.

Curious, he fixed his gaze on the Matriarch. "How did the world even come to be then? Is there a vast void completely surrounding our reality beyond the physical borders?"

Song Yanyan leaned slightly against the stone table, her expression distant as she looked toward the ancient scrolls. "To be completely honest, I still don’t know how everything truly began. But our ancestors’ notes confirm one thing, there exists a deep, boundless void beyond the physical borders of our world, operating under entirely alien rules. It is a presence so powerful that it can directly affect and corrupt the very Heavenly Dao itself."

She turned back to face them, her voice dropping into a solemn whisper. "That is why I say it is the death of the physical world. The Heavenly Dao itself simply cannot die; nothing in existence or non-existence possesses the structural concept to kill it. But it *can* be fundamentally changed and rewritten by something operating on its own macro-cosmic level. And whatever that thing is, it lays waiting in the darkness of that vast void."

She sighed softly, shaking her head. "I have no clue what that entity truly is. This is all just my assumption based on the scattered clues left behind in the ancestral records. But I also believe that the entities our Seven Monarchs battled during the ancient eras weren’t just random beasts, they were the direct extensions of that thing lurking in the darkness."

Song Liangxue listened intently, her brow furrowed. "And the Convergence is the bridge?"

"Precisely, dear," Song Yanyan nodded. "Under normal cycles, there is a powerful structural barrier separating the Void from our physical reality. But during the timeline of the Convergence, that barrier thins down to almost nothing. That is the true definition of the Convergence—it is the direct, coordinated attack of the void, driven by a cosmic hunger to consume every single shred of our existence and pull it into the vacuum."

Seeing the heavy, complex look settling into both of their faces, Song Yanyan suddenly blinked, her serious demeanor instantly collapsing. She waved her hand casually, the dangerous pressure of a Ruler Realm master vanishing from the room as she reverted back to her sweet, lively mood.

"Well! I’ve already dropped far too much heavy information on the two of you today," she chuckled brightly, tapping the ledger. "You have my permission to read through all of these scrolls and ancestral logs later when you’ve rested. For now, you should just clear your minds and recover from the journey."

Song Liangxue and Ye Jun nodded in agreement, the dense weight of the cosmic revelation settling into a quiet corner of their thoughts. But before they turned back toward the hidden staircase, Song Liangxue stepped closer to her mother, her expression shifting into a different kind of concern.

"Mother, since we are discussing hidden variables... we need to talk about our companion," Song Liangxue said, her voice quiet. "We need to talk about Young Master Rong and whatever connection he holds to the southern clans."

Song Yanyan waved her hand dismissively with a knowing smile. "Oh, you mean that little friend of yours? I already know ’he’ is a girl, and that she’s currently moving around in an incredibly advanced disguise. I must admit, I was quite impressed by it. Despite being a Ruler Realm cultivator myself, the structural layout of her disguise almost fooled my perception when we first met at the city gates."

But then, her smile faded slightly, replaced by a touch of genuine worry. "But something is wrong with her. The anchoring of her soul structure feels erratic."

Ye Jun’s eyes narrowed slightly, a spark of genuine worry flaring in his chest. "Is it dangerous for her to stay here?"

"Don’t worry too much yet," Song Yanyan reassured, gently patting his arm. "I’m actually planning to send a direct message to your grandfather, Liangxue. He has spent centuries analyzing the Soul and can judge the true depth of her situation much better than I can. For now, just focus on resting. We can talk more about her specific condition later, once your grandfather arrives at the palace. It can wait until then."

With the discussion settled, Song Yanyan guided them back toward the frost-marble mirror. Her fingers traced the reverse pattern, and the heavy stone wall slid back into place with a dull click, sealing the Absolute Forbidden Vault once more from the rest of the world.

They ascended the dark staircase, the pale blue torches extinguishing behind them one by one until they stepped back into the luxurious warmth of Song Liangxue’s personal courtyard. The midnight mist was still drifting softly outside the jade-paneled windows, cloaking the white-marble pillars in a quiet silver light.

Song Yanyan walked them to the inner chambers, a mischievous, teasing glint instantly returning to her eyes as she looked at the two of them standing hand-in-hand.

"Alright, you two rascals. I’ll leave you alone to enjoy your evening," she chuckled sweetly, leaning in to whisper near Liangxue’s ear just loud enough for Ye Jun to hear. "Though, of course, I know you won’t be doing anything truly adventurous tonight. My daughter’s Innate Physique is far too volatile for any early fireworks before the proper ceremony."

"Mother!" Song Liangxue’s face flushed a brilliant red, her regal composure shattering completely as she practically pushed her mother toward the outer courtyard doors.

Song Yanyan simply laughed, her dark silk robes swirling gracefully as she stepped out into the corridor, leaving the two of them alone in the quiet luxury of the room.

Ye Jun let out a slow, amused breath, rubbing his chin as he looked at his blushing fiancée. ’Grown-up women in the North are truly something else,’ he thought, a light smile breaking across his face.

A short while later, a soft, careful knock vibrated against the side window. Ye Jun walked over and unlatched the wooden frame. Meihui, still draped in the elegant, fur-lined cloaks of Young Master Rong, effortlessly glided into the room like a shadow, her hand fan tightly clenched.

She looked around the room cautiously, her gaze landing on Song Liangxue. "Is it completely safe here? The guards outside..."

"Everything is secure, Meihui," Song Liangxue assured, her voice returning to its calm, steady tone as she walked over. "My courtyard has a separate array system. No one can spy on us here."

Hearing the confirmation, Meihui let out a heavy sigh of pure relief. She reached up to her collar, manipulating a hidden node in her clothing. With a soft, shimmering ripple of Qi, the illusory, sharp features of the arrogant young master dissolved entirely, revealing her true, breathtakingly beautiful face. Her soft, vibrant eyes looked at them with a mix of exhaustion and quiet affection.

The three of them had a massive pile of questions and answers waiting between them—the mysteries of the vault, the impending danger of the Heretics, and the erratic restriction lingering inside Meihui’s soul structure. There were so many logical, heavy things they needed to talk about.

But as they stood together in the soft, amber glow of the palace lanterns, looking at each other’s tired faces after months of non-stop survival and grueling tribulations, the need for complex explanations completely faded.

Song Liangxue was the first to move. Stepping forward with a rare, bold determination, she reached out and pulled Ye Jun down by his collar, her lips meeting his in a sudden, passionate kiss that drove away the lingering chill of the underground vault.

Ye Jun’s eyes glistened with a deep warmth. Accepting her initiative, his bold, dominant nature completely took over. He wrapped his strong arms around her waist, deepening the kiss with an unyielding, possessive intensity that made Liangxue’s breath catch in her throat. Turning his focus slightly, his hand gently reached out to pull a thoroughly blushing, shy Meihui into the embrace as well.

Meihui’s heart shattered wildly against her ribs, her usual proud facade melting completely into a soft, quiet compliance as Ye Jun’s lips captured hers, pressing against her with a deep, passionate warmth that made her knees turn weak.

The frantic, chaotic weight of the entire universe didn’t matter inside the locked doors of the courtyard.

After a long, breathless moment, they finally parted, their breathing rhythmic and synchronized in the quiet room. Ye Jun smiled softly, guiding both of them toward the large, plush sandalwood bed lined with soft fur blankets.

Dropping their heavy outer cloaks, the three of them crawled beneath the thick, warm covers, wrapping their limbs around each other in a tight, protective embrace.

Cuddled closely together against the gentle, quiet chill of the northern night, they closed their eyes, letting the rhythmic warmth of their shared Qi lull their minds into a deep, dreamless sleep.