Chapter 1234: A Meeting Across Four Million Words

The matter of the Poison Lord, Xu Qing has always remembered.

He has not overlooked it due to his own experiences.

This is not Xu Qing's nature.

In fact, his original plan was to first comprehend the Tenth Extreme, thoroughly enter the Xia Xian realm within himself, and before leaving this fifth star ring……

Slay the Poison Lord!

After all, the Poison Lord's initial thought of borrowing a path, though not successfully carried out, was severed by him here, yet such matters ultimately come down to cause and effect.

As for the other party's arrival of a clone this time, and the bronze figurine sent……

Xu Qing's gaze fell upon the figurine in his palm.

Before taking this figurine, he had already conducted a detailed inspection; at this moment, raising his hand, his qi surged and he sealed it, only then putting it away.

"For me now, the most important thing is waiting for Master Bai……"

Setting aside the matter of the Poison Lord, Xu Qing raised his head and gazed into the distant starry sky.

After a long while, vaguely, a trace of perception became a stirring, floating in his heart.

"He has come……"

Xu Qing stood up, walked out of the observatory tower where he was, and upon stepping outside, the starry sky flowed, a clear radiance descended from beyond the heavens, like the Milky Way pouring backward, wherever it passed, nebulae rippled open layer by layer like water.

Ultimately transforming into radiance, it scattered upon the stars, turning the firmament into a curtain, as if between heaven and earth a scroll of ink-and-wash painting had unfurled.

Wafts of faint, elusive herbal fragrance mingled with the icy breath of constitutional law, arising from the void.

Accompanying all this was an ethereal qin melody, like an ancient remnant echo, or like the rustling of grass and trees sprouting.

At this wondrous and extraordinary moment, a figure emerged, blurred and dyed within the ink-and-wash painting.

He seemed to have walked out of the painting.

Increasingly clear.

It was an old man.

Wearing a moon-white long robe, its sleeves embroidered with dark herbal patterns, a medicine gourd tied at his waist.

As for his appearance, though his brow bones were sharp as if carved by knife and axe, his brow tips naturally drooped, forming two arcs of compassion.

His eye sockets were deep like cold pools, his pupils swirling with nebulae vortices, occasionally fine starlight flickering across, as if the Milky Way flowed deep within his pupils.

His entire being was further entwined with faint, elusive purple vapor, as if the spiritual veins present since the world's creation had taken tangible form.

At this moment, he smiled gently, gazing at Xu Qing.

"You have grown up."

His voice was clear and bright like jade struck by a spring; as he spoke, starlight flowed and fell into Xu Qing's heart, becoming ripples, stirring boundless memories.

One scene after another from the past continuously surfaced.

Xu Qing's eye sockets slightly reddened, he lowered his head and bowed deeply.

"Master……"

These two simple words, containing memories and emotions, caused the Bai Master who had descended upon this star to soften his gaze further.

"Walk with me."

Bai Master spoke softly, raising his hand to guide; starlight fell toward Xu Qing, forming a star-path before him.

Xu Qing drew a deep breath, carrying the respect in his heart, stepped onto the star-path, came to Bai Master's side, and together they walked toward the starry sky.

They vanished from this supply star, appearing in the boundless universe.

"Tell me, your story after joining the Seven Blood Eyes."

Bai Master spoke warmly.

Xu Qing lightly nodded, bringing forth all past events from memory.

"After entering the Seven Blood Eyes, I became a disciple of the Seventh Peak……"

Xu Qing's voice wove into an illusory scene, as it echoed, reflected in Bai Master's eyes.

Including the trials of Mermaid Island, the war with the Sea Corpse Clan, the migration of the Eastern Wanggu Continent……

And the Sword Bearer…… and the sealing of Feng Haijun.

Moreover, Chi Mu, the Empress, the Sword-Wielding Great Emperor……

……

In the starry sky, Bai Master led, Xu Qing followed on his right, half a step behind.

This scene seemed to return to that time in the scavengers' camp.

Back then, Xu Qing was called a child, seeking the Heaven's Mandate Flower to save the Thunder Team, he went to ask Bai Master for help, and secretly studied herbal knowledge outside the tent.

Eventually, he was called into the tent, herbal enlightenment.

Now, this scene reappeared.

And wherever they passed, beneath Bai Master's feet, the radiance of blooming blue lotuses flashed, making every stretch of the path, every star in the universe, instantly burst forth with lush greenery.

Even some originally barren stars, at this moment, withered stone met spring, dead branches sprouted, as if renewed with new life.

Until time passed, unknown how long, Xu Qing finished recounting all his experiences in Eastern Wanggu.

Bai Master let out a soft sigh.

"The Ninth Star Ring, originally compared to other star rings, had nothing special……

Until, the Upper Wasteland's attempt to ascend to godhood failed, yet he was the first to return from the divine umbilical cord, choosing to go there.

He stayed in the Ninth Star Ring, stayed in gazing upon the Eastern Wanggu Continent."

"From that moment on, all supreme positions within the star rings turned their gaze toward Eastern Wanggu."

"We do not know why the Upper Wasteland went to Eastern Wanggu."

"Other star ring god-sovereigns once entered the Ninth Star Ring, seeking to investigate the Upper Wasteland's condition, yet all outsiders who approached showed signs of downfall…… although some also gained fortune, they could not escape cause and effect."

"Like the divine lord of the fourth star ring..."

"It seems only the one who originally belongs to the ninth star ring, with caution, can remain unharmed.

At that time, I was commanded by the immortal lord to use the technique of reincarnation, without touching any supernatural power, to become a mortal, born on an overseas island far from the mainland of Eastern Wanggu.

And without any past memories, I could not leave the island even a step in my lifetime; only after death could my true body perceive the memories of the incarnation.

"Eastern Wanggu... is ominous due to the Upper Wasteland."

"Are you sure... you still want to go back?"

"If you choose to stay in the fifth star ring, it won't take long before you can hope to become the immortal lord."

Master Bai looked at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing fell silent, and after a long while, he spoke softly.

"Master, I want to go back."

Upon hearing this, Master Bai ceased persuasion, like a reclusive sage who has seen through the world of mortals.

Only the wrinkles on his face seemed to have increased somewhat.

These wrinkles were not the gullies of age, but the patterns of mountains and rivers; each fold seemed to conceal the vicissitudes of a thousand years.

After a long time, he shook his head, his voice rising and falling.

"Before seeing you, within the fourth star ring, I had confirmed one thing."

"That place... is where you will become an immortal!"

At the moment Master Bai's words were spoken, Xu Qing's mind and spirit trembled.

At the same time, Master Bai's figure also came to a halt in the starry sky.

In the instant he stood still, all the stars within this universe seemed to be summoned, altering their orbits, coming from all directions.

Within the undulations of the starry sky, they gathered here, automatically arranging themselves around.

They actually formed a vast star map resembling a medicine cauldron!

Outside this star map, Master Bai raised his head to gaze toward the direction of the fourth star ring.

He murmured softly: "Xu Qing, I impart to you the final knowledge.

Unrelated to plants and trees, but rather 'the beyond'

These thirty-six upper star rings, including all venerable ones, are within, while what they seek... is the beyond."

"These two words, you need not understand them now, but remember... when one day in the future you have the opportunity to achieve immortal lord or even immortal venerable, you must remember this."

"As for now..."

"If you wish to comprehend a higher constitution, go to the fourth star ring!"

"You once encountered the God of Suffering, sank into his illusion, and there broke through your realm, enduring the years that caused you pain.

Though illusory, its essence is true.

Then you might as well truly experience it once!"

"Let the real become real, let the false become false again!"

As the words were spoken, Master Bai lightly waved his sleeve; the countless stars within the medicine cauldron star map trembled instantly, scattering celestial light of extreme brilliance, gathering together, and actually condensed into a special bridge.

Extending to the fourth star ring!

This bridge is woven from starlight and spiritual plants, virtual and real indistinguishable, fully displaying the marvels of creation.

It shares a wonderful similarity with the illusory yet true essence of the God of Suffering.

"Go forth, may you return... as Xia Xian!"

Master Bai's voice echoed, making that special bridge shine even more brilliantly.

Gazing at this, Xu Qing's mind and spirit surged.

The scenes from when he was immersed in the illusion flowed through his heart.

After a long while, determination appeared in his eyes.

After bowing once to Master Bai, he stepped forward with his body.

Stepping onto this bridge woven from starlight and spiritual plants, he advanced toward the fourth star ring!

Amidst the undulations of the bridge, Xu Qing's figure gradually faded.

Only the medicine cauldron-shaped star map continued to rotate, radiating grandeur, and even more, immortal fire appeared out of thin air, encircling the medicine cauldron.

And Master Bai's figure appeared upon the medicine cauldron star map, sitting cross-legged.

Using his own vital energy, using his own realm, to support Xu Qing's journey this time, for the entire cause and effect of the master and disciple of Eastern Wanggu.

Beside him, in the void's undulations, an old man wearing straw sandals stepped out, stood beside Master Bai, raised his head, and gazed far into the direction Xu Qing had departed.

On his shoulder, there was also a golden mouse, licking its paws there.

"I wonder if the venerable lord's item has been properly placed."

Master Bai did not turn his head, speaking lightly.

The old man beside him sighed.

"You still know I am the venerable lord... so why use such a tone in giving orders?"

"That is what you owe him!"

Master Bai spoke calmly.

The venerable lord shook his head; having coexisted with him for endless ages, he naturally knew the nature of the person before him, and further knew that this person... though appearing to be at the level of immortal lord, had actually been capable of stepping into the same realm as himself many years ago.

Only hindered by some unknown reasons, he had never taken this step.

Thus, he paid no mind to the other's tone, casually sitting to one side.

"It has been placed properly; although I do not wish to involve myself in cause and effect, how could I bear to part with that thing?"

Upon hearing this, Master Bai ceased speaking.

After a long while, the voice of the Immortal Sovereign echoed once more.

"However, Xu Qing this time, even with your assistance and my item, success remains slim."

"His Constitution differs from others…… advancing further will directly reach the level of law of an Immortal Lord."

"The gap in between is too vast, thus it must be extremely difficult."

"If he fails, what will you do?"

The Immortal Sovereign looked toward Bai Master.

Bai Master fell silent, his voice hoarse after a long time.

"He will not fail."

The Immortal Sovereign gazed at Bai Master, and after a long while, suddenly spoke.

"Are you searching for him in the Upper Wasteland? Or rather…… is he the reincarnation of the Upper Wasteland?"

Upon these words, the universe seemed to present a sense of solidification.

"You have also been to Eastern Wanggu; if it truly is as you suspect, with your cultivation you would not fail to notice? Why then ask me?"

Bai Master, as before, remained calm.