Chapter 544: Never Dare Forget!

Seeing the unabashed doubt and shock on Ye Wuque's face, the Mind Imprint Light Shadow seemed to emit an extremely faint, almost inaudible chuckle.

"Young one, you seem quite surprised?" Light Shadow's voice carried a hint of understanding, "Hehe, it wouldn't hurt to tell you."

Its tone became nostalgic and distant:

"My name has long been buried by the ages... but Ao Kun and I are truly life-and-death comrades!"

"We have known each other since childhood. He was the undisputed top of the young generation of the Golden Emperor Dragon Clan at that time, unrivaled in dominance, surpassing his peers; I was the core prodigy of the Fate-Stepping Imperial Unicorn Clan, wielding fate and glimpsing heavenly secrets. We were kindred spirits, sharpening each other, and also the best rivals and brothers."

Light Shadow's tone carried a faint warmth, as if returning to those passionate, fiery years:

"We roamed together, adventured together, faced strong foes together, and shared insights together. Later, around the same time, thanks to our supreme talent and destiny, we both broke through, attaining the Empire Beast Position, and each reached the Great Achievement Realm, becoming the pillars and pride of our respective clans."

"Later still..." Light Shadow's voice grew solemn and reverent, "We set higher aspirations for the road ahead, yearning for the legendary ultimate truth. So, after arranging our clan affairs, we promised each other to boldly step onto that road full of unknowns and dangers—the No Return Path! We hope that at its end we may find the chance to break through to a higher realm, glimpsing the ultimate mystery of Tiandao."

When it came to stepping onto the No Return Path together, Light Shadow's voice abruptly halted, offering no further account of their experiences on the path.

Ye Wuque fell silent.

He understood that Senior Ao Kun and the Treading Fate Imperial Qilin before him, this pair of life-and-death brothers, must have encountered some extremely terrifying, unimaginable calamity or enemy on the No Return Path, leading to their mutual downfall.

One was buried on the No Return Path, the other left only a Mind Imprint and skeletal remains here.

No wonder, merely confirming the Causality with Ao Kun, this Treading Fate Imperial Qilin senior trusted him so completely.

It is absolute trust that transcends life and death, surpasses race!

It carries the brotherly affection and recognition onto the person recognized by the brother!

"Of course," Light Shadow's tone shifted, becoming solemn and full of praise again, "I would decisively choose to pass the inheritance to you, not merely because of Ao Kun."

Its gaze seemed to perceive everything about Ye Wuque:

"You yourself are dazzling enough! So young, yet your cultivation is solid, your foundation deep enough to astonish!"

"Even more rare is that your will is as steadfast as divine metal, your Dark Heart crystal clear, and when facing my overwhelming pressure and Fate Rejection, you can reach within a Hundred Zhang. This temperament, perseverance, and potential, even if placed in the era of Ao Kun and me in our youth, would be exceedingly rare, the very top tier!"

Light Shadow's voice suddenly rose, bearing an indescribable expectation and weight:

"From you, I see a possibility! A potential and destiny to shoulder the great mission of combating the Inauspicious and guarding Zhutian!"

"Therefore, I hope," Light Shadow's voice, like an oath, echoed in the Stone Hall, "you can uphold my will, bear Ao Kun's and my expectations, carry my inheritance, diligently cultivate, and keep growing stronger!"

"Someday in the future, if you become strong enough, you must step onto that No Return Path! Venture into the unfathomable depths! Face... fight... and end the source of everything!"

Its meaning could not be clearer—hoping Ye Wuque will inherit their will, continue to campaign on the No Return Path, fulfill their unfinished deeds, and confront the horror that caused their downfall!

Ye Wuque listened to this heavy and sincere entrustment, and a surge of hot blood and responsibility rose in his chest.

He naturally did not refuse, because this was precisely what his future destiny required him to do!

Pursuing the footsteps of emptiness, unveiling the truth of the No Return Path, confronting the unknown Darkness and Inauspicious, guarding the peace of Zhutian Wanjie...

He had already chosen this road!

Ye Wuque took a deep breath, suppressing the surging Qi and emotions.

His expression was solemn, his gaze as steadfast as a rock.

In the next instant, a thought sparked, and a halberd of pure golden brilliance, wreathed in Chaos Dragon Qi and exuding a blade that could cut through all sharpness and supreme authority, materialized in his hand!

It was his appointed weapon—Great Dragon Halberd!

"Clang—!"

Ye Wuque thrust his arm with force, slamming the immensely heavy halberd, as if it could crush stars, diagonally into the hard jade stone ground beneath his feet!

The halberd blade pierced the jade stone, the shaft trembled slightly, emitting a clear, solemn Dragon Chant, as if proclaiming the owner's unshakable resolve!

Then, Ye Wuque slightly bowed his hands, facing the pale golden Mind Imprint Light Shadow, and with a decisive, resonant, voice that seemed capable of piercing Eternal Time and Space, solemnly declared:

"The senior's trust, I, junior Ye Wuque, shall never dare forget!"

"Given time, when my cultivation is sufficient, I will wield the halberd in battle, plunge into that Darkness abyss! Subdue the Inauspicious, and guard the myriad spirits of Zhutian!"

"This resolve, Heaven and Earth may witness, Sun and Moon shall attest!"

His voice was not loud, yet it contained an unbreakable belief and a forward‑marching determination, echoing for a long time in this ancient Cave.

The Mind Imprint Light Shadow was clearly deeply moved by Ye Wuque's sudden action and that iron‑like steadfast oath!

Light Shadow rippled slightly, as if its emotions surged dramatically.

And when its gaze fell upon the Great Dragon Halberd, diagonally planted in the ground by Ye Wuque, its golden light gleaming and Dragon Qi swirling—

"What is this...?!"

Light Shadow shuddered sharply, emitting an incredulous low exclamation!

"Great Dragon Halberd! This is... the Hùn Dùn Lóng Zhǔ's appointed weapon—Great Dragon Halberd?!"

Light Shadow's voice carried obvious shock and amazement, even a hint of excitement!

"Human youngster... you... you are the current master of the Great Dragon Halberd! A descendant of the Hùn Dùn Lóng Zhǔ?!"

"What kind of being is the Hùn Dùn Lóng Zhǔ?"

He is a supreme being in Human history, a prodigy of astonishing talent and celestial combat power, who once wielded the Great Dragon Halberd to sweep across the heavens and awe the myriad realms. His deeds and fame are widely revered even among the Empire Beast Clan.

Light Shadow clearly possessed deep knowledge of the Great Dragon Halberd's origins.

It knows well that this halberd once followed that legendary Hùn Dùn Lóng Zhǔ, battling across Zhutian, slaying countless strong foes, even penetrating the unimaginable depths of the Inauspicious Clan, establishing glorious war merits, and making an indelible great contribution to guarding Zhutian!

The Great Dragon Halberd itself has already become a symbol, a spiritual inheritance!

And being chosen by the Great Dragon Halberd and recognizing a master, the profound meaning is self‑evident!

It is not merely a recognition of strength, but also a transmission and alignment of will, destiny, and mission!

A being approved by the Great Dragon Halberd is naturally linked to the great deeds of guarding Zhutian and combating Darkness!

"Hahaha!!" After the brief shock, the Mind Imprint Light Shadow suddenly burst into a hearty, liberating laugh as if shedding an Eternal burden!

"Good! Good! Good!!" It said three 'good' in a row, its laughter filled with immense satisfaction, joy, and anticipation!

"Heaven's will! Indeed it is Heaven's will! You are precisely the one most fit to receive my inheritance! No! You are the destined one!"

Light Shadow's voice was unable to contain its excitement.

With Ao Kun's approval, the Great Dragon Halberd's recognition of its master, and your own peerless talent and steadfast Dark Heart… Hahaha! Today I truly have no regrets! My inheritance, handed to your hands, will never gather dust! In the future, Zhutian may once again shine because of you!

It seemed to see from Ye Wuque a hope light that was clearer and brighter than before!

After the hearty laugh, Guangying no longer hesitated a moment. It raised its vague arm and lightly tapped Ye Wuque's brow.

Swoosh—!

A stream of pale‑gold light, refined to the utmost, as if containing a miniature Fate River and countless Fate Runes swirling, shot from Guangying's fingertip and instantly vanished into Ye Wuque's brow!

Ye Wuque's body trembled slightly, and he instantly felt a boundless, unfathomably profound torrent of information and pure energy surge into his sea of consciousness and body!