The final area saw the Qilin Venerable engaging in a fierce battle with a demigod from the Dark Dynasty. From the outset, the demigod found themselves at a disadvantage.
Although the Qilin Venerable was also a demigod, its combat power was overwhelmingly strong, akin to a true god. A single lightning strike, aimed at the Dark Dynasty's demigod, tore through the void, creating a terrifying spatial storm that nearly ripped the opponent apart.
"Truly the guardian deity of the Ziwei Academy!" the Dark Dynasty's demigod declared with a solemn expression. The opponent was too powerful; they were simply not on the same level.
"Why do you not leave the Canglan Continent? With your strength, you could ascend!" the Dark Dynasty's demigod asked the Qilin Venerable, utterly perplexed.
"Does my ascension have anything to do with you? I like staying here, is that not allowed!"
The Qilin Venerable stood proudly in the void, its divine might boundless. Three-colored divine light emanated from its body, each beam infused with a terrifying flow of energy.
Another beam of cyan light appeared, forming a sharp blade of wind that relentlessly pursued the Dark Dynasty's demigod. The latter summoned a dark armor, struggling to fend off the assault.
From the sea, several streams of water erupted, transforming into pillars that slammed into the Dark Dynasty's demigod, blasting them into the energy storm. Then, that demigod was annihilated.
The Qilin Venerable's strength was immense, dispatching a demigod in mere moves. It was the guardian deity of the Ziwei Academy, a true divine beast!
"Qilin Venerable, should we go in and bring Zhou Yan out?" Wang Yixian and Feng Jiutian approached the Qilin.
"Let me see."
The Qilin's body shimmered with three-colored divine light, transforming into an Eye of Reincarnation, capable of peering into the future and piercing illusions.
Neither of them expected the Qilin Venerable to use such an ability. This power was not to be wielded lightly, and they were baffled as to why the Qilin would employ it.
Within the Eye of Reincarnation, a solitary, proud figure stood on a battlefield. A single person with a single sword, facing countless demon gods, with no one behind them but themselves.
What immense spirit! To dare contend against ten thousand demon gods alone!
What magnificent bearing! To make ten thousand demon gods hesitate to advance.
There, a landscape of mountains of corpses and seas of blood unfolded, filled with endless slaughter. Yet, this figure stood alone and proud. The demon gods before them dared not take a step forward, seemingly out of awe, fear, and dread.
As if sensing something, the figure suddenly looked back. The Qilin Venerable's expression was shocked upon seeing this person, and then all vision ceased.
That figure, those eyes, that expression, that imperial majesty like that of a Heavenly Emperor, were deeply etched into the Qilin's mind.
"Let us leave," the Qilin Venerable suddenly said.
"Ah?" Wang Yixian and Feng Jiutian were taken aback, not expecting the Qilin Venerable to utter such words.
"Is he alright?" they asked, filled with curiosity.
"I don't know," the Qilin Venerable replied. "He won't die. I saw a silhouette..."
The Qilin Venerable trailed off, unsure how to explain. It didn't know if it had witnessed the past or the future, as the space here was chaotic. Or perhaps, it was not its future, but a scene from someone who had been here before.
However, the Qilin could sense that Zhou Yan would not die here; this was certainly not his end.
"A silhouette, was it Zhou Yan's silhouette?" the two inquired.
"I don't know. Perhaps. Perhaps not. I can only sense that the lad will not die here," the Qilin Venerable stated.
"No way, even you cannot foresee Zhou Yan's fate?" Feng Jiutian asked, intrigued.
"Zhou Yan bears the title 'Number One Under Heaven' (Tian Xia Di Yi). Only one person in the entire Canglan can possess it, essentially gathering the continent's fortune. It's normal that I cannot see through it," the Qilin Venerable explained.
"Venerable, do we have many enemies in the Divine Realm on our Canglan Continent?" Feng Jiutian suddenly asked.
"Why do you ask?" the Qilin inquired curiously.
"I'm just wondering why these people are going to such lengths to kill Zhou Yan on the Canglan Continent. What exactly does Zhou Yan's 'Number One Under Heaven' title signify that makes them so fearful?"
Feng Jiutian wasn't entirely clear on this. So many demigods, so many factions, all focused on killing Zhou Yan – it seemed illogical.
"Perhaps they fear the future," the Qilin Venerable mused, seemingly grasping a reason. Zhou Yan was not strong now, but no one knew to what heights he might grow in the future.
"Is Zhou Yan the reincarnation of a deity?" Feng Jiutian asked.
"The reincarnation of a deity?" The Qilin fell silent after hearing this. Then, it said, "Perhaps. From the moment I first saw him, I felt his soul was special. It is extremely pure and unique, not like that of an ordinary person."
"No matter who he is, we just need to know he is a member of our Ziwei Academy," the Qilin declared.
"Naturally. Zhou Yan's talent is well-known. It is our failure to protect him properly that led him into such a dangerous place," Wang Yixian, as a member of the Ziwei Academy, was genuinely concerned for Zhou Yan.
"Heh, perhaps it was fated in the grand scheme of things. Even without them, who knows if Zhou Yan wouldn't have come here on his own."
The Qilin Venerable smiled. Every extraordinary individual seems to have unknown circumstances and different destinies to fulfill.
"Let's go."
The Qilin Venerable, Wang Yixian, and Feng Jiutian left the area and emerged outside. The Qilin then turned to Feng Yu and said, "We should return."
"What about Zhou Yan?" Feng Yu asked.
"I don't know. However, we can announce that Zhou Yan is dead," the Qilin Venerable replied.
"Ah! Announce Zhou Yan's death? This, this, this... Alright." Seeing the Qilin's composure, Feng Yu suddenly understood this was a measure to protect Zhou Yan.
"Will others believe this?" Feng Yu asked.
"Whether they believe it or not, if they have the ability to enter the deep sea core and explore, then let them. We don't need to linger here. Let everyone else leave too."
With that, the Qilin Venerable departed directly.
"Yes." Feng Yu acted according to the Qilin Venerable's instructions.
Subsequently, Feng Yu returned to the Shenlong Kingdom's fleet.
Following this, the Shenlong Kingdom's rescue fleet withdrew entirely from the deep sea, and news spread that Zhou Yan, having ventured into the deep sea core, had perished.
Although the news came as a shock, no one had seen Zhou Yan emerge from the deep sea, and the people from the Shenlong Kingdom had indeed departed.
Information from various directions confirmed that the Shenlong Kingdom's personnel had failed to rescue Zhou Yan, and he remained within the deep sea core.
Zhou Yan was truly dead!
He had perished in the deep sea core.
The entire world was in an uproar!
The news was too sudden, too shocking. The Number One Under Heaven had truly died.
It was a great tragedy.
However, many still refused to believe Zhou Yan was dead and continued their investigations.