Chapter 804

Night fell, and Central Heaven City was shrouded in an eerie stillness. Yun Qing stood by the window, gazing at the faint lights in the distance, her thoughts racing. Ever since she saw her father's phantom in the jade pendant, she always felt as if a pair of invisible eyes were watching her from the darkness.

"Girl, it's time to go." Tian Ji Zi's voice came from behind, interrupting her thoughts.

Yun Qing turned around and saw that her master had changed into a plain-colored robe today, with the coiled dragon staff hanging at his waist, his expression more solemn than usual.

"Where are we going?" Yun Qing instinctively gripped the jade pendant at her chest.

; a safe place.; The Heavenly Mechanism Master gave no further explanation, just waved his hand and laid a teleportation formation,; the Holy Heart Alliance has already locked onto this place, we must relocate immediately.;

"Are we supposed to go with the other two masters..."

"I've already told them, it's fine, little girl," the Heavenly Mechanism Master said with a faint smile.

Just as the formation was about to activate, Yun Qing suddenly felt her heart flutter. She jerked her head up and saw a blood‑colored silhouette flash past the window.

"Master, be careful!"

Almost simultaneously, the entire wall burst with a boom, and seven blood‑colored figures surged into the room like phantoms. The leader wielded a blood‑red long blade, its tip pointing straight at the Heavenly Mechanism Master's throat.

"Blood Shadow Seven Demons!" the Heavenly Mechanism Master snorted coldly, his Coiled Dragon Staff thudding heavily to the ground, and a golden light barrier instantly enveloped the master and disciple.

The blood‑red long blade struck the light barrier, emitting a harsh screech. The Heavenly Mechanism Master's complexion shifted slightly, clearly not expecting such a fierce attack.

"You old relic, hand over the Source Origin, or I'll spare your life!" the leader of the Blood Shadows sneered.

Yun Qing felt the Source Origin inside her suddenly stir, an unprecedented force surging through her meridians. To her surprise, she could discern each of the Blood Shadow Seven Demons' cultivation levels—three at the early Great Vehicle Stage, four at Dao Fusion Peak.

"Little girl, stand behind me!" the Heavenly Mechanism Master barked low, and his Coiled Dragon Staff suddenly transformed into a massive golden dragon that roared toward the Blood Shadow Seven Demons.

A fierce battle erupted within the cramped space. Yun Qing saw her master taking on seven opponents; although he was not yet outmatched, he was clearly strained. What unsettled her more was the sense of an even stronger presence rapidly approaching.

"Master, we..."

"Stop talking!" the Heavenly Mechanism Master suddenly bit his finger, drawing a blood sigil in the air, "Heaven and Earth boundless, the cosmos lends its method!"

The blood sigil exploded, turning into a sky‑filled golden light. Yun Qing felt her vision blur, and the next moment she found herself on an unfamiliar street.

"What is this..." Yun Qing looked around, realizing she was in the slums of a great city.

"For now we're safe," the Heavenly Mechanism Master's face turned pale, a strand of blood seeping from his mouth corner, "The Blood Shadow Seven Demons' 'Blood Curse Seal' truly lives up to its name; it almost broke my teleportation formation."

Yun Qing hurriedly supported the staggering master: "Are you injured?"

"It doesn't matter," the Heavenly Mechanism Master waved his hand, scanning the surroundings warily, "This is a secret outpost of the Grand Commerce Guild; we should first..."

Before the words finished, a black silhouette darted out from deep within the alley at astonishing speed. Yun Qing hadn't time to react before a chilling short sword pressed against her throat.

"Don't move," a hoarse voice whispered beside her, "Heavenly Mechanism Master, long time no see."

The Heavenly Mechanism Master's pupils contracted sharply: "Hei Huang Ya? You actually defected to the Holy Heart Alliance?"

The man known as Hei Huang Ya gave a sinister smile, "He who knows the times is a hero. Hand over the secret of the Source Origin, and I might consider sparing your bodies."

Yun Qing felt the Source Origin stir again within her, a strange power surging from the jade pendant. Suddenly inspired, she whispered an obscure incantation.

In an instant, the jade pendant erupted with a blinding flash; Hei Huang Ya let out a howl as his short sword clanged to the ground. Yun Qing seized the chance, breaking free and pulling the Heavenly Mechanism Master backward swiftly.

"How is that possible?!" Hei Huang Ya covered his eyes, his face full of disbelief, "The Source Origin actually recognized a master?"

The Heavenly Mechanism Master, equally shocked, looked at Yun Qing: "Little girl, you..."

"I don't know what's happening either," Yun Qing shook her head blankly, "It just... suddenly became clear."

Rapid footsteps echoed from afar, evidently the earlier commotion had attracted pursuers. The Heavenly Mechanism Master decided on the spot: "Run!"

Under the cover of night, master and disciple slipped through the tangled alleys. Yun Qing was surprised to find an inexplicable familiarity with this unfamiliar district, as if some unseen force were guiding her.

"Turn left ahead," she said instinctively.

The Heavenly Mechanism Master glanced at her in surprise, yet followed her direction. After a few twists, a dilapidated courtyard appeared.

"What is this..." the Heavenly Mechanism Master's expression shifted slightly.

Yun Qing pushed open the gate; weeds choked the courtyard, but in the center stood an unremarkable stone tablet. Compelled, she stepped to it and pressed the jade pendant into a hollow.

The tablet slowly slid aside, revealing a descending staircase.

"A hiding place..." the Heavenly Mechanism Master murmured.

But how did Yun Qing know that?

Even the Heavenly Mechanism Master didn't know that this secret contact point, long controlled by the Grand Commerce Guild, still housed such a place.

As soon as the two entered the secret passage, the tablet closed automatically. Almost simultaneously, several powerful divine senses swept from above, finding nothing.

The secret passage was deep and winding, its walls embedded with strange luminous minerals. Yun Qing led, each step feeling like treading on fragments of memory.

"I've been here before..." she whispered.

Have I?

Yun Qing covered her head, feeling that something was off.

The Heavenly Mechanism Master fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Little girl, what did you see in the jade pendant?"

Yun Qing's steps faltered slightly; after a hesitation she replied, "I saw my father's phantom; he said... the Source Origin is the key to unlocking the Dao Realm."

"What else did he say?" the Heavenly Mechanism Master's voice was somewhat urgent.

Yun Qing didn't convey her father's unfinished warning, merely shaking her head: "That's all."

At the end of the secret passage lay a circular stone chamber, a fist‑sized Crystal Sphere floating at its center, emitting a gentle glow. Yun Qing couldn't help but walk toward it; the moment her hand touched it, the entire chamber lit up like daylight.

Countless lights interwove in the air, forming a vast star map. Unlike the one in the jade pendant, this map marked many place names and symbols Yun Qing had never seen.

"The full Source Origin star map..." the Heavenly Mechanism Master said, voice trembling with excitement, "Legend says it records the complete map of the Dao Realm!"

Yun Qing stared at the star map, then suddenly pointed to an inconspicuous corner, "This is the entrance... I recognize this place."

The Heavenly Mechanism Master followed her finger, his complexion changing abruptly, "Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion? How could—"

The star map shows that the entrance to the Dao Realm is actually beneath the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion!

Just as the two were stunned, the stone chamber violently shook. The Crystal Sphere's light flickered erratically, and the star map began to warp.

"Bad, someone's forcibly breaking the formation!" the Heavenly Mechanism Master said gravely, "At least it's a Great Vehicle Stage master!"

Yun Qing felt the world spin wildly, the Source Origin inside her raging. In a daze, she seemed to hear a stranger's voice calling her name.

; Yunqing... come... come to me...