Chapter 1284: Purple Mystery Awakens

Time passed, and twenty years went by.

In these twenty years, the entire Eastern Wanggu continent's pattern underwent earth-shaking changes!

Under Xu Qing's reputation, the empress expanded territory, advancing triumphantly, restoring human lands to the extent of the Eastern Victory Human Emperor era.

This is the directly controlled range; if indirect control is included, humanity in these twenty years has become the foremost tribe in Eastern Wanggu.

Occupying over half of Eastern Wanggu!

The remaining regions are centered on spirits and ancient myriad tribes; regarding humanity……these powers, though wary and unwilling to provoke, also do not wish to easily bow down.

When the three sides reached a certain stalemate, Xiang Linger emerged from the Moon-Worship Great Domain, accompanied by the Mingnan Shizi and others, and, as an ancient spirit bloodline, gave the ancient myriad tribes in those regions a step to bow down.

They, for various reasons, were unwilling to bow to humanity, but toward ancient spirit bloodline, it was different.

In these ancient tribes' cognition, although Eastern Wanggu's tribes are called myriad tribes, actually……the so-called myriad tribes are just humanity plus foreign tribes.

The ancient spirit tribe, which unified Eastern Wanggu before Emperor Xuanyou, belongs to the foreign tribes.

Therefore, bowing to the ancient spirit bloodline aligns with their wishes.

Thus, the only obstacle left to Eastern Wanggu's unification is the spirits.

And regarding spirits, it is best for spirits themselves to resolve it; thus the empress went to Nanhuangzhou, paid respects outside Xu Qing's secluded dharma vessel, and stated her intention.

The sea surface shimmered with rippling light; as the dharma vessel swayed, Xu Qing, seated cross-legged within, did not open his eyes.

Nor did he emerge from seclusion.

Yet he raised his hand, and with a outward sweep, a stream of light flew from the dharma vessel; above the harbor, before the empress, this light gathered and coalesced into a clay figurine.

This clay figurine was a fox.

As the wind blew over, the clay figurine emitted brilliant radiance; clay turned to flesh and blood, its color growing ever more vivid, ultimately becoming a body of flesh and blood.

Amidst the coquettish laughter, the charming clay fox reappeared in the human world.

"Elder sister, long time no see; you still need to thank elder sister you for coming over, otherwise this heartless one would have forgotten people."

The clay fox's eyes held allure, covering her mouth as she lightly laughed.

The empress furrowed her brows, yet said nothing more, bowed once toward the dharma vessel where Xu Qing was, then turned and departed.

The clay fox's laughter echoed, turning her head to gaze toward the distant direction of Yan Yue.

In her eyes lay deep anticipation.

"Sun, moon, stars……their order shall be changed."

Having spoken, the clay fox took a step forward.

Returning to Eastern Wanggu.

The first stop, naturally, was the Yan Yue Yanyue Xuantian tribe.

At the moment of descent, the Yan Yue Yanyue Xuantian tribe's sacred mountain suddenly trembled, and clay rain fell from the azure heavens.

As the rainwater fell, the entire Yan Yue Yanyue Xuantian tribe's populace felt inner trepidation, while simultaneously a towering divine might descended within the clay rain upon the sacred mountain, transforming into divine echoes that reverberated.

"Yan Yue, Yan Ri, come see me!"

The sacred mountain rumbled; the sun god and moon god's manifestations appeared within, each bearing expressions of turmoil, as they surged toward the azure heavens.

Yet they could not reach the end.

The moon god took seven steps, then hovered in mid-air in silence, afterward lowering her head.

While the sun god's entire body radiated brilliant light, actually transforming into a great sun, desiring to forcefully charge forward, yet he only managed to take a few more steps than the moon god……

The great sun he became directly turned into clay yang.

He himself also remained silent, giving a meaningful glance at the clay fox standing upon the heavenly canopy, then lowered his head.

The clay fox's laughter spread to all eight directions.

Sun, moon, stars, became star, moon, sun.

Thereafter, her divine form descended upon various spirits' domains, employing forceful means to present two paths before all spirits.

Either be exterminated and have their source drained, or choose to become affiliated gods.

Thus, unification of the spirit side was accomplished.

Even if some spirits remain deeply hidden, in slumber, powerful beyond the clay fox in strength, Seventh Uncle has always been present.

During Xu Qing's twenty years of seclusion, Seventh Uncle resided in Huangtian, venturing out twice.

The first time, he slew an ancient relic surviving by special means among the myriad tribes.

The second time, he subdued three half-step true gods.

Under his action, at least on the surface, no deadly contradiction exists between foreign tribes, spirits, and humanity; and under Xiang Linger and the clay fox's control, they allied with humanity.

Acknowledging humanity's status.

Thus, humanity……finally achieved unification.

Afterwards, the empress represented humanity, Xiang Linger represented the myriad tribes, and the clay fox represented the spirits.

The three parties together formed the agreement named Jinggu.

Jointly sweeping clean all hidden places of Eastern Wanggu continent, seeking traces and hidden hands extending beyond Eastern Wanggu through various means.

Thus, time flowed once more.

Another twenty years passed.

Xu Qing's seclusion has now lasted forty years.

In these following twenty years, humanity's position has been thoroughly consolidated, and the Xia Human Emperor has also become the Xia Ancient Emperor.

Humanity's development is likewise so.

Were it not for the residual face still upon the azure heavens, constantly keeping Eastern Wanggu's beings uneasy, otherwise it could already be described as a prosperous age.

And Xiang Xiang Ningyan, during these years, has grown remarkably; under the empress's meticulous guidance, he now truly possesses the qualities of a crown prince.

Besides Xiang Xiang Ningyan, there are also several others who, during this time, have emerged with their own distinct bearing.

Like Wu Jianwu, he actually created his own Dao lineage, focusing on hatching beasts. Though his own cultivation was limited, the beasts that had accompanied him all those years were far from ordinary.

There was also Kong Xianglong, a descendant of the former palace master of the Sword-Holding Palace of Feng Haijun, who fully inherited Kong Liangxiu's wish, took up the sword for humanity, and became the acting palace master of the Human Sword-Holding Palace.

Only waiting for sufficient cultivation, then he could formally.

Each one walks their own path, each setting sail.

The situation in Eastern Wanggu is the same: under the joint guardianship of humans, gods, and strange beings, the external clues hidden within Eastern Wanggu have largely been uncovered and recorded one by one.

The entire Eastern Wanggu seems to have no hidden places left.

Except……one place!

There, whether it be strange races, divine spirits, or humanity, none have ever set foot halfway in.

Even Seventh Grandpa merely gazed from outside and ultimately chose to leave.

Thus that place became, on the Eastern Wanggu continent today, the sole special!

Its name: the Devouring Heaven Great Domain!

The landing place of the returning Prince Ziqing's celestial realm!

No one has entered, and the beings within the Devouring Heaven Great Domain have never stepped out.

It seems everyone is waiting.

Until, two years later……at the port of Nanhuangzhou's Seven Blood Eyes, the law vessel that had remained there for forty-two years vanished silently and without trace.

Only leaving ripples on the sea.

And in the Huangtian World, at the moment the law vessel disappeared, beside the sleeping body of Chen Erniu, a figure appeared.

Seventh Grandpa sat cross-legged before his master's tomb, yet sensed nothing at all.

That figure did not disturb him, merely gazing at Chen Erniu.

Then it vanished.

The next instant, outside the human imperial capital, before the statue of the Sword-Holding Emperor, this figure appeared.

No one saw it, nor did anyone sense it.

Xu Qing stood before the Sword-Holding Emperor's statue, raised his head, and gazed at the statue before him.

At this moment, he wore a black robe, his hair purple, looking no different from forty-two years ago, except that the expression in his eyes seemed deeper.

He contemplated the statue for a long, long time, then bowed deeply.

Then he turned his head, gazing toward Feng Haijun.

"She is about to awaken……"

Xu Qing spoke softly, a gentle smile appearing on his face, as he took a step toward Feng Haijun.

At the same time, beneath Feng Haijun, within that vast underground palace, inside the Phoenix Bird Great Hall.

The light of an oil lamp slowly ignited.

It was the flame of the Immortal Zixuan's Supreme Blue Lamp.

And in the firelight's reflection, one could see within the tranquil hall, a woman sitting cross-legged.

This woman wore a purple silk robe, its hem spreading like light clouds around her, swaying gently with the faint breeze within the room, as if a hidden fragrance drifted.

Her features were exquisite, her skin surpassing snow in whiteness.

The slight upward lift of her brow seemed to hold endless affection, yet also revealed a trace of transcendent, icy elegance.

She sat thus cross-legged on the futon, her hands naturally resting on her knees, fingers long and slender, as white as scallion segments.

From afar, the whole scene resembled a perfect painting.

As if time had paused for her until now, wishing to eternally freeze this beautiful image.

Until……the next instant.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, slowly opening her eyes, gazing toward the hall door.

As if starlight flickered within her pupils, lively and profound while also illuminating the world.

And the hall door, at this moment, was gently pushed open from outside.