[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-beyond-the-passage-of-time":3,"chapter-beyond-the-passage-of-time-beyond-the-passage-of-time-chapter-100":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Beyond the Passage of Time",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2344540,4583,"Chapter 100: A Journey to the Red Plains","beyond-the-passage-of-time-chapter-100",100,"\u003Cp>On the summit of the Seventh Peak, the Seventh Master stared coldly in the direction of the sea, withdrawing his gaze only after a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come, let us continue our game.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant acknowledged the command, and after setting up the chessboard, he hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seventh Master, regarding the Third Prince and the kid...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Master glanced at the servant and spoke indifferently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are quite concerned about the kid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant lowered his head and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ruthlessness is the Third's nature. He usually wears a gentle face, but in reality, there is no emotion in his heart. This is the method he used to stand out from the foot of the mountain and reach me, and it is also why I think highly of him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for the kid, whether he can see through the Third's intentions and discern some meaning from this depends on his own wit. In this chaotic world, the foolish do not live long.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, the Seventh Master looked toward the firmament before the break of dawn; it would soon be day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the firmament, within the Seventy-Ninth Port, Xu Qing sat on the deck of his magic boat, his eyes filled with contemplation. As the first rays of the sun rose and the morning light dispelled the darkness, falling upon him, Xu Qing’s gaze became profound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One: The grand competition thirty years ago was held among the Mermaid Race, after which the Mermaid Race became allies. The relationship between the two sides is naturally one of outward compliance but inward estrangement. Furthermore, the expression of the mermaid youth at the Sixth Peak shop that day was full of fear, suggesting that the Second Prince likely committed a great deal of slaughter among the Mermaid Race thirty years ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two: The disciples of the Seventh Peak Master would not openly defy their master's will. The Second Prince's attitude toward the Mermaid Race proves this point. Therefore, it is not incomprehensible that the Third Prince would kill members of the Mermaid Race!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, why would the Third Prince invite the Mermaid Race to the Seven Blood Eyes? And why kill them after they arrived... and do so right in front of me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Third Prince must have an ulterior motive. If I were the Third Prince, in what situation would I do this, and in what situation would I kill them in front of a visitor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, and after a long while, he had the answer in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is only one situation: I would only do this if I wanted to use the Mermaid Race's leverage to blackmail them. If there were no leverage, I would create some! At the same time, killing them in front of a visitor is because I want to maximize the value of the slaughter; while blackmailing the Mermaid Race, selling a favor is also a profitable move.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The premise is that this visitor has value.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing recalled the moment the Captain spoke to him about the Sea Lizard Island with a mysterious smile; the other party clearly had channels unknown to him for gathering information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Captain could have them, the Third Prince might have them as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, Xu Qing remembered the aura that locked onto him when he escaped from Sea Lizard Island that day. He had been underwater and could not see who it was, but at this moment, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes as he had more guesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And since the Seven Blood Eyes allows this to happen, it can only mean... they are going to attack the Mermaid Race!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In any case, I must leave for a while!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing was not certain if his analysis was entirely correct, so he planned to leave for a period to see if there would be any follow-up to this matter. If everything remained calm, it would not be too late to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was only one step away from becoming a tenth-level Qi Condensation cultivator. Once he broke through to Foundation Establishment, he would be qualified to go up the mountain and would have a share in the distribution of the Seven Blood Eyes' interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A profit of at least five thousand spirit stones per month, which could be continuously obtained as long as the Seven Blood Eyes existed—this had long tempted Xu Qing. Of course, compared to this, staying alive was more important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Xu Qing did not hesitate and chose to leave first to observe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, he felt he could take advantage of this time away to accomplish a major task he had buried in his heart for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold glint flashed in Xu Qing’s eyes; he wanted to completely pull out the other thorn that had been buried in his heart for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was... the ancestor of the Vajra Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he did not kill this person, Xu Qing would have trouble sleeping at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having made this decision, Xu Qing did not waste time. At daybreak, he put away his magic boat, his body flickered, and he headed straight for the Homicide Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Vajra Sect is, after all, a sect. Even if their strength is relatively weak, their migration and movements are hard to hide. For the Seven Blood Eyes, every movement within their sphere of influence is no secret.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the time Xu Qing had been at the Seven Blood Eyes, as a member of the Homicide Department, he had the right to review the department's files and knew that a large portion of them recorded changes within the Seven Blood Eyes' territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the level of detail was not as high as the Intelligence Department, it was easier for Xu Qing to investigate here than to go to the Intelligence Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, soon after arriving at the Homicide Department, he headed straight for the archives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reputation in the Homicide Department was even greater than outside. Aside from his performance during the Night Dove operation, this was mostly due to one wanted criminal head after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, the disciples in the archives were very polite to him and allowed Xu Qing to look through the files alone. Not long after, Xu Qing finally found the clues he wanted among some scattered messages that the Seven Blood Eyes did not consider very important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Defected to the Departed Path Sect?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing looked at the file before him, his eyes slowly narrowing. The people of the Departed Path Sect were all madmen. Other factions viewed the Departed Path Sect with both disgust and fear, so they often avoided them from afar and did not have much contact with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It shouldn't be because of me that they migrated, but rather because the compensation demanded by the Second Prince was too heavy, causing the Vajra Sect to suffer a great loss of vitality after paying it. They were also full of terror, so they dared not remain within the Seven Blood Eyes' sphere of influence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing rubbed his chin, memorized the movements of the Vajra Sect noted in the file, and left the Homicide Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking on the streets of the port area, Xu Qing pondered for a while, then went to several shops to sell the miscellaneous items and some sea lizard skins he had obtained on Sea Lizard Island. He also bought some supplies needed for his trip, including a large amount of poisonous herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he stood outside a shop specializing in talisman treasures. After thinking for a moment, he suppressed the heartache of spending spirit stones and stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, when he walked out, he had a talisman treasure with a special purpose on him. This talisman treasure could change a person's aura and appearance; although not perfect, it was enough for Xu Qing’s use this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was noon. Although winter had arrived, the geographical location of the Seven Blood Eyes meant that winters here were mostly mild. The sunlight was still quite intense at this time, slightly dazzling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, under this sunlight, Xu Qing’s figure disappeared into a corner of an alley. When he emerged from the other end, his appearance had changed; he was no longer handsome and delicate, but had become a sallow-faced youth with a horse-like face, and his Daoist robe had been replaced by an ordinary long gown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cultivation fluctuations on his body had also changed; he was no longer at the ninth level of Qi Condensation, but appeared to be at the third level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew very well that in the outside world, ninth-level Qi Condensation cultivators were mostly people of status and were very conspicuous. Only scavengers at the third level of Qi Condensation were at a level that had a certain degree of deterrence while also being inconspicuous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the transformative power of the talisman treasure, Xu Qing remained vigilant of his surroundings, but his face was expressionless as he walked toward the teleportation array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not use his identity token to pay, but instead paid with spirit stones. Not long after, standing in the teleportation array and guardedly checking his surroundings, Xu Qing’s figure was submerged by the light of the array and disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the eastern part of the Nanhuang Continent, at least tens of thousands of miles away from the former Vajra Sect mountain gate, there was a sparsely populated area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because a type of red, tooth-shaped grass grew in the wilderness here, it was called the Red Plains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seen from afar, the entire land looked as if it had been stained with fresh blood. While shocking to the eye, the strange substances permeating it were also denser than in other wilderness areas of the Nanhuang Continent, so the ferocious beasts here were even more savage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this relatively harsher environment, there were naturally few cities; one could often only be seen every few hundred miles, and the architecture and style were mostly primitive and crude. The slums here were also mostly composed of scavengers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether in terms of terrain or population, the Red Plains was a rather harsh place, so the various families of the Purple Earth looked down on it, and the Seven Blood Eyes did not pay it any mind. Only the Departed Path Sect, due to their doctrine, preferred to develop followers in such harsh areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Red Plains became the sphere of influence for the Departed Path Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, in the center of a crude city on the edge of the Red Plains, the only teleportation array in the Red Plains, jointly set up by the Purple Earth and the Seven Blood Eyes, was shining brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged cultivator wearing a black long gown with a sallow complexion appeared within the teleportation array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Xu Qing, who had transformed his appearance using the disguise talisman treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he arrived, before he could even leave the teleportation array, a scent of rot and stench drifted over with the wind from all directions. If it were someone who had not experienced much hardship, they would be uncomfortable with this smell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Xu Qing, these were the norm in the places he had once lived; it was just that the stench of rot here was a bit stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing’s expression was calm, and under the indifferent gazes of a few lazy guards nearby, he stepped out of the teleportation array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city that came into view had buildings that were all gray-black and full of dilapidation; the ground was covered with all kinds of trash, mostly excrement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were very few people in the city, and most were very vigilant, strongly repelling each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, there were very few women, and even those who were there had fierce expressions. At the same time, in some corners of the alleys, there were hiding children, none of whom had innocence in their eyes, only deadness and indifference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From time to time, screams and curses could be heard from within the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's more like a scavenger camp.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing scanned his surroundings and walked forward calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, he ignored the gazes that looked at him with caution and fawning intent. He did not linger in this city, and after leaving the city, his body speed suddenly erupted, and he whistled toward the wilderness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place where the Vajra Sect migrated was on these Red Plains, though it was some distance from the city where Xu Qing had teleported.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he came, Xu Qing had looked at the map of this area at the Homicide Department, and now, locking onto a direction in his heart, he ran through the wilderness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His speed was very fast. The wind blowing in his face carried a bone-chilling cold, and there even seemed to be some snowflakes mixed in. On some small hills in the distance, one could even occasionally see thin layers of white snow covering them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the Seven Blood Eyes, this was a mild winter, but here, it was the gradually approaching severe cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cold awakened many memories in Xu Qing’s mind, especially since he saw many ferocious beasts and human bones along the way in this wilderness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A chaotic world.\" Xu Qing’s gaze was calm, and his speed increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, time passed, and deep night arrived. As the night chill permeated and the wind grew stronger, and the snow became sharp, Xu Qing, who had left the city for some distance and had completely entered the Red Plains, suddenly paused his steps and looked up into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind blew from there, carrying some savage laughter and the smell of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faintly visible in the wind and snow in the distance was a field of corpses, among which were commoners, guards, and scattered goods and broken carriages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was clearly a caravan that had been heading to the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at this moment, beside these corpses, there were more than a dozen desperadoes with tattered clothes, disheveled hair, and ferocious, bloodthirsty expressions, most of whom had cultivation fluctuations of the second or third level of Qi Condensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were finishing off the wounded, some were rummaging for items, some were dragging corpses away, and a few were even on top of several naked female corpses, venting their bestial nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Further away, there was a faint fire, as if they were cooking, and hot air with lingering warmth came with the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this caravan had encountered such a group of desperadoes here and had all met a tragic end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing’s arrival immediately aroused the vigilance of these desperadoes. At this moment, they all looked up, staring at Xu Qing with ferocity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing the third-level Qi Condensation cultivation on Xu Qing, these desperadoes all grinned savagely, their ferocity erupting, and they rushed straight toward Xu Qing without saying a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They believed that Xu Qing could also become their prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing stared coldly at the rushing desperadoes. For him, he had seen too much slaughter from childhood to adulthood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his experience as a scavenger let him know that so-called wilderness caravans, if they dared to walk in the wilderness, were rarely kind-hearted themselves; when encountering the weak, they could actually turn into murderous predators at any time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chaotic world was just like this, so killing and being killed were very common occurrences. He did not have enough overflowing sympathy to investigate who was good and who was evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But... since these people wanted to attack him, then it was different.\u003C\u002Fp>",2603,"2026-06-21T00:45:15.441Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","80bcdc6c3f930460712896af57301cb80f01fa4f2c03b444e251a5dc94c8af8b","beyond-the-passage-of-time-chapter-101","beyond-the-passage-of-time-chapter-99",998,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbeyond-the-passage-of-time-cover.jpg"]