Chapter 1320: Three Days

After the Light Gate, it was not the solemn hallways or gloomy underworld one expected, but a tranquil corridor bathed in a hazy glow.

The walls on both sides of the corridor were not solid; they were composed of countless slowly rotating, appearing and disappearing Reincarnation runes, which emitted a soft yet majestic light, illuminating a massive portal at the far end that seemed both hidden and revealed. Beneath the feet was a black jade floor smooth as a mirror, reflecting the runes' light and shadow; walking on it felt as if treading the river of time. The air was filled with a strange scent of sandalwood mixed with ancient paper, serene and solemn, yet bearing an undeniable pressure of order.

Bai You walked ahead, steps unhurried, his moon‑white robe spotless under the rune light. He did not look back, and his voice came calmly:

"This is the 'Guiding Corridor', the necessary path to the Hall's outer jurisdiction. The Reincarnation token in your hand is the passage credential."

Yan Buji followed silently, feeling the pure and vast Reincarnation law surrounding him. The structure of the law here was extremely stable, far beyond anything outside; his Chaos Force was restrained by an invisible binding, as if entering a supreme domain's jurisdiction. His caution grew; the foundation of the Hall of the Departed was indeed unfathomable.

Passing through the corridor, the view suddenly opened.

It was not a grand palace, but a huge platform seemingly floating in void. On the platform, buildings of ancient simple style and varied designs were arranged orderly—pavilions, towers, halls, corridors, even small bridges with flowing water and dry‑rock gardens—appearing as if the architectural styles of countless realms across ages had converged here. Each structure was shrouded in a faint Reincarnation aura, linked by jade stone paths.

On the platform, some Hall of the Departed personnel dressed similarly to Bai You but with slightly different colors or patterns walked quietly; their aura was restrained, movements silent, communication mostly through telepathic voice; the whole platform seemed orderly yet exuded a cold sense of alienation.

In the sky, there were no sun, moon, or stars, only countless fine Reincarnation runes flowing slowly like sand grains of a galaxy, emitting a steady gentle radiance that illuminated this strange region.

"This place is the 'Reincarnation Inn'," Bai You introduced, "It receives outside visitors and serves as a temporary rest and external affairs handling hall for Hall personnel. You may settle here for now."

He led Yan Buji to a standalone two‑story pavilion with a quiet courtyard. The pavilion was based on black jade, topped with blue tiles, its style simple yet weighty.

"This 'Quiet Contemplation Pavilion' shall serve as your temporary residence. Inside are a Quiet Chamber, an Elixir Room, and a complete set of Spirit‑Gathering (Nether Death Qi‑Gathering) arrays. You may rest and recover here; no one will disturb you." Bai You handed over a black jade plaque engraved with the character "Quiet", "This is your building‑restriction and permission talisman for invoking the Nether Death Qi of this place."

Yan Buji took the jade plaque, scanned with his mind, confirming its authenticity. The Hall of the Departed's surface etiquette was flawless, the courtesy thorough, leaving no fault to find.

"Regarding the cooperation…," Yan Buji began.

Bai You smiled faintly and interrupted, "No rush. You are new here; first become familiar with the environment and restore your vitality. In three days someone will come to negotiate with you in detail. In the meantime you may move freely within the Inn, but please do not trespass into areas marked 'Forbidden' or unaccompanied, lest unnecessary misunderstandings arise."

Finishing, he bowed, "I, Bai, still have official duties and cannot linger. Should you have any ordinary needs, you may summon an Inn attendant with the jade plaque. Farewell."

As his words fell, Bai You's figure dissolved like ink merging into water, vanishing silently without a trace of spatial disturbance.

Yan Buji stood before the Quiet Contemplation Pavilion, gazing at the exquisite yet cold dwelling, then looking over the orderly yet unknown Reincarnation Inn, his eyes deep.

"House arrest? Or observation?"

He did not trust the Hall of the Departed to be so kind merely for "cooperation". They must have ulterior motives—perhaps to study the nature of his "variable", perhaps to use him against other forces (such as the Asura clan), or perhaps… related to what he brought back from the Return Origin.

He pushed open the pavilion's door and entered. The interior was simple and elegant; the Nether Death Qi was indeed dense and pure, far surpassing the outside. He inspected every corner carefully, confirming no obvious surveillance seals—or rather, with his current ability, he could not detect any higher‑grade monitoring the Hall might have set.

He sat cross‑legged on the cushion at the center of the Quiet Chamber, not immediately entering meditation. A strand of gray‑with‑blue Chaos Death Qi from his body resurfaced, and he attempted a subtle contact and perception with the Inn's ubiquitous Reincarnation law.

"Hum—"

At the moment the Chaos Death Qi touched the Reincarnation law, a peculiar resonance and repulsion co‑existed. His Chaos, fundamentally inclusive and Evolutionary, even containing "nothing", while the Reincarnation law maintained a specific cyclical "order". The two seemed opposed at their roots.

Yet strangely, the blue radiance he had obtained from the Silence Extinction's Azure Lotus faintly resonated with this Reincarnation law. It was as if that Azure Lotus born in the Return Origin, with its balance of life and death and connection of existence and non‑existence, coincided with some essence of the Reincarnation.

"Reincarnation… departure…," Yan Buji mused, "perhaps my Chaos Path's next Evolution should fall here."

He ceased resisting the surroundings, instead willingly loosening a thread of his mind to comprehend and analyze the Reincarnation order permeating every corner of the Inn. Simultaneously, he silently digested and integrated the portion of the ancient god inheritance he obtained from the Return Origin's Sea Eye, especially the profound principle of seeking balance and transformation amid extreme opposition.

Time passed in silence.

During that time, an Inn attendant in formal robes delivered some Nether‑realm specific spirit fruits and soul drinks, courteous, eyes unwavering, set them down and left without a word of idle chatter.

Yan Buji also tried walking out of the Quiet Contemplation Pavilion, moving within the Inn's permitted area. He saw visitors of other races, some oddly shaped, some with strong aura, but they kept distance and rarely interacted. The whole Inn resembled a massive precise machine, operating step by step, filled with a suffocating sense of "order".

The third day, the appointed time approached.

Yan Buji stood at the second‑floor window of the Quiet Contemplation Pavilion, looking out at the eternally flowing rune "sky"; his internal Chaos Force had recovered to its peak, even surpassing its former state, and he had gained a rudimentary understanding of the Reincarnation law.