437: Chapter 437 Leaving the Primordial Secret Realm

Above the ruins core, the dome of flowing Chaos suddenly split to both sides.

The outlines of two closed stone doors, about two zhang high, slowly emerged within the light.

One door was pure white, emitting peaceful and stable spatial fluctuations.

The other door was pitch black, faintly exuding a heart-palpitating aura of deathly silence.

One Door of Life, one Door of Death.

And only those who were "Seal-Holders" possessed the qualification to enter.

In other words, both Ye Tian and Li Xuanxiao were qualified to "choose" which door to enter.

The result of that choice offered only one chance; choosing wrongly might mean eternal damnation.

The air froze.

Li Xuanxiao's hand was already pressed against his sword hilt, his gaze as cold as a blade. He stared at the seal of flowing Chaos before Ye Tian's palm, then looked back at the white sword seal before his own.

The two doors of life and death hovered above, the rules cruel and clear.

Ye Tian also tightened his grip on the jingji sword, Chaos True Essence surging silently through his Meridians.

The final "Choice" of the ruins core completely tore apart their brief and fragile partnership.

Now, either one would be imprisoned forever, or... only one could become the true "Seal-Holder."

How could one become the sole "Seal-Holder"?

The rules did not say.

But both men knew the answer in their hearts.

Just as the killing intent was about to erupt—

Buzz!

The ruins core itself, that transparent polyhedron, suddenly vibrated again!

This time, the vibration was more violent than any before.

Under their startled gazes, the scenes of Laws flickering in and out within the polyhedron suddenly accelerated their flow, then split into two torrents!

One was a scene of destruction where countless sword lights slashed through the firmament and everything returned to the ruins; it surged toward the white sword seal before Li Xuanxiao.

The other was a vast scene of the dawn of Chaos, the rotation of the Five Elements, and the birth and death of all phenomena; it surged toward the Chaos seal before Ye Tian.

The two torrents were not attacks, but the most fundamental Law information and Legacy imprints!

"This is..." Li Xuanxiao's pupils shrank, and the hand pressing his sword subconsciously loosened slightly.

Ye Tian was also shaken. The stream of information pouring into the Chaos seal pointed directly to the Origin of the Great Dao.

The various mysteries regarding the evolution of Chaos and the mutual generation and overcoming of the Five Elements caused him to become instantly immersed, nearly forgetting the confrontation at hand.

The grand consciousness of the ruins core spoke for the last time, carrying an indifference and distance that suggested a mission completed:

"Authentication passed. Legacy bestowed."

"The Dao has no hierarchy; seals have their specializations."

"Holding this Legacy seal makes one a nominal disciple of the ruins core."

"The doors of life and death are both pathways.

One door leads to the outside world; one door connects to the Abyss of Ruins.

Those who enter the Abyss of Ruins may borrow the power of the ruins core to escape this Realm, yet there are unpredictable dangers."

"Within ten breaths, make your choice.

If the time passes without a choice, both doors will dissipate, and you shall be imprisoned here forever."

The consciousness faded, and the massive flow of information stopped.

The light of the seals before their palms flared brilliantly, and their forms changed.

A pitch-black crack that severed everything appeared at the center of Li Xuanxiao's white sword seal, giving the entire seal a piercing killing intent that could destroy all Laws.

In his mind, a general outline titled the "Juetian Sword Chapter" appeared, along with Legacy energy containing destructive Sword Intent.

Within the Chaos-gray center of Ye Tian's Chaos seal, five continuously rotating light spots faintly emerged, corresponding to the Five Elements.

What poured into his mind was an introductory chapter titled the "Chaos Derivation Art," as well as expositions on the essence of Chaos and the Foundation of the Five Elements, also accompanied by a surge of Chaos Origin energy.

This Legacy complemented the parts of the Chaos Thunder Emperor Sword Scripture that focused solely on offense and lacked fundamental evolution, pointing out a deeper direction for his path of Chaos.

The two men opened their eyes almost simultaneously and looked at each other, shock still lingering in their gazes.

This sudden Legacy far exceeded any treasure they had obtained previously.

More importantly, the final words of the ruins core had changed the meaning of the "Doors of Life and Death"!

"One door to the outside, one door to the Abyss of Ruins..."

Li Xuanxiao quickly digested the information, his eyes flickering:

"In other words, both doors are actually paths to leave?

It's just that the path through the Abyss of Ruins has unknown risks?"

"It seems so."

Ye Tian understood as well. The tension in his heart loosened slightly, but his vigilance did not decrease:

"Life and death perhaps do not refer to our personal survival, but to two different exits.

The door to the outside is stable, while the door to the Abyss of Ruins is perilous.

But regardless, we both have the qualification to leave; we no longer need to fight to the death over a single slot."

"Not necessarily."

Li Xuanxiao said coldly, "The ruins core only said Seal-Holders have the right to choose a door; it didn't say it's forbidden to snatch another's seal.

If I take your seal, I can calmly choose the stable door to the outside.

I could leave you to walk that dangerous path of the Abyss of Ruins, or... leave you here forever."

"You can try."

Ye Tian held the jingji sword across his chest, gray Sword Qi flickering: "Having received the Legacy, you and I are at a new starting point.

But if you want to snatch my seal, you'll have to see if you have the ability to do so within ten breaths."

Ten breaths!

Li Xuanxiao's gaze shifted violently.

Snatching it carried extremely high risks.

Although Ye Tian was injured, he had received a Legacy, his current state was unknown, and that Chaos True Essence seemed to have a restraining effect on his Sword Intent.

He did not have absolute certainty that he could decide life and death and seize the seal within such a short time.

Moreover, while the Abyss of Ruins was dangerous, the ruins core had explicitly stated it was a pathway and that one could use the core's power to escape.

To him, taking risks was never an unacceptable choice, as long as the rewards were sufficient.

And the Legacy of the "Juetian Sword Chapter" had already allowed him to see the scenery of a higher level of the Way of the Sword.

If he fought to the death with Ye Tian now and delayed the opportunity to comprehend the Legacy, it might be even less worthwhile.

In an instant, Li Xuanxiao made his decision.

"Today, we shall stop here."

He sheathed his sword with a crisp movement, but his gaze remained icy: "Your life and your Legacy are temporarily stored with you.

Once we are out of the Secret Realm, I will come to collect them."

Having said that, he did not wait for Ye Tian's response. With a flash of his body, he charged toward the white "Door of Life" at the dome.

The moment he touched the door, the white sword seal in his hand flashed, the door opened silently, and his figure was swallowed up.

Immediately after, the white door slowly faded and disappeared.

He had chosen the stable exit.

Leaving the danger to Ye Tian, he also avoided an immediate battle to the death.

Ye Tian watched the disappearing white door but did not act immediately.

He quickly inspected his own body.

The Legacy energy originating from the Chaos seal was automatically merging with his own Chaos True Essence.

His Fourth Stage Peak of the Sea Transformation Realm cultivation showed faint signs of a Breakthrough.

But he knew this was not the best time for a Breakthrough; the environment was wrong, and his state of mind had not fully settled.

He guided most of the Legacy energy to settle deep within the chaos bead and Dantian, leaving only a small portion to continue stabilizing his current Realm.

By the time he finished, the ten breaths were almost up.

The door to the Abyss of Ruins began to vibrate slightly, becoming illusory.

Ye Tian no longer hesitated and aimed the Chaos seal at the pitch-black door.

The seal flashed with light, resonating with the door.

He stepped forward into that darkness.

After a brief sensation of falling, a point of light appeared ahead.

The light rapidly expanded, turning into a rotating exit.

Ye Tian's body felt light as he was thrown out.