Chapter 1299: Meeting the Green Ox

Fate, wonderfully indescribable.

That familiar figure, the disheveled appearance, and the madness within the expression.

Most importantly, although the other party only had a skull left, they still re-swallowed the scattered Heavenly Principle dust, as if forming a self-contained cycle of special behavior...

These scenes caused Xu Qing's heart and mind to stir with intense ripples.

No matter how, he never expected that he would actually meet his senior brother here...

And upon seeing Chen Erniu, Xu Qing suddenly understood something about cause and effect.

He thought of the teleportation formation that appeared in that heaven and earth secret realm.

"The use of that formation requires two specific conditions: one is possessing Star Ring Grass, the other is possessing a Golden Rat, and having both at the same time—besides me, there is also my senior brother."

Similarly, Xu Qing also thought of the Immortal Venerable's layout, where the Shanghuang cause and effect concealed the omniscience of the Fourth Star Ring God Sovereign. Now, looking... that concealing power, besides himself, surely also included his senior brother.

He also played a role.

At the same time, Xu Qing also recalled what the Aurora Young Master said when granting him the Shanghuang Fate Divinity.

He said, originally there should have been one person appearing to receive his divinity's gift, but for some unknown reason, that person never came.

"The one who didn't come, is it my senior brother?"

As these scenes surfaced in Xu Qing's mind, the people of the funeral procession also all turned their gazes toward Xu Qing.

Within them, Li Mengtu, who was most familiar with Xu Qing, and whose identity as a close attendant in the Aurora Immortal Palace's mirror image was like a brand shining in his heart and mind, thus stepped forward, bowed excitedly, and then began to speak of their reason for coming here.

"Young Master, we received the Star Ring Child's plea for help; he had just refined new Heavenly Principle dust, which was stolen by a mysterious little thief."

"And that little thief is cunning, skilled at concealment, himself possessing many strange methods, even Zhou Zhengli suspects that this little thief might still have accomplices!"

"Now that little thief is sealed in that expanse of universe ahead; we are planning to refine this universe, so that the little thief has nowhere to escape, while also preparing to see if any possible accomplices will come to assist!"

Hearing Li Mengtu's words, Xu Qing's expression grew even more strange.

If speaking of accomplices... Xu Qing felt it should be himself.

Thus he glanced at Zhou Zhengli.

Zhou Zhengli's expression shifted.

And the others, at this moment, also came forward upon Xu Qing's arrival to pay their respects.

Among them, the Yin Spirit Child was respectful and reverent, daring not to slack in the slightest, while also pondering in his heart.

"This person who has come here, gazing upon that expanse of universe, why is his expression like this?"

The Qianjun Piyi shuddered; he and his brother's thoughts were not focused on Xu Qing's current expression, but on themselves.

At this moment, feeling uneasy in his heart, he exerted all his strength to make his own light less bright, fearing that if Xu Qing merely gestured, they would turn into flying immortal swords.

Though he tried to conceal it, the instinct of the immortal sword from deep within his soul, uncontrollably transmitted the joy of encountering its master.

Thus the two became even more uneasy.

And Yuanshan Su, as always like autumn waters, silently bowed.

The Star Ring Child, after bowing to Xu Qing, although he noticed Xu Qing's strange expression, during this period he had been hunting thieves, his heart and mind entirely on that little thief.

Thus his gaze quickly turned toward the universe he had sealed, his heart filled with stronger killing intent toward the thief who stole his Heavenly Principle dust.

As for Zhou Zhengli, at this moment his expression suddenly became solemn, and he spoke in a low voice.

"Young Master, I believe that Daoist friend did not intentionally steal; there are clues to this matter, and it might even be related to what this Daoist cultivates and order, or perhaps the Heavenly Principle dust was attracted to him and he approached actively."

Upon hearing this, the others all fell into thought, while the Star Ring Child's eyes flashed with a cold gleam, he fiercely looked at Zhou Zhengli, then turned his gaze to Xu Qing, and in his heart, amidst bitterness, there also arose a hint of sudden understanding.

Facing the Star Ring Child's gaze, Zhou Zhengli ignored it, his eyes only on Xu Qing, and he continued speaking.

"As for his companion..."

Xu Qing coughed once, raised his right hand, and pointed toward the universe ahead.

With this gesture, it seemed as if a storm suddenly erupted from within that universe, sweeping in all directions, causing cosmic ripples, countless stars scattering brilliant starlight, gathering into the power of opening and closing.

In the next instant, the starry sky trembled, the seal dissipated.

Faintly, in the depths of this universe, a meteorite was revealed, and on the meteorite, Chen Erniu's figure appeared at this moment, his expression dazed, his face full of disbelief.

However, due to cultivation level, Xu Qing and the others could see Chen Erniu clearly, but from Chen Erniu's perception looking back, it was merely a blur.

And upon seeing Chen Erniu clearly, the Star Ring Child's killing intent in his eyes suddenly surged.

Xu Qing helplessly spoke softly.

"That is my senior brother..."

Upon hearing this, Li Mengtu's eyes widened, Zhou Zhengli's heart and mind trembled, and the Yin Spirit Child also gasped.

The Qianjun Piyi froze, and Yuanshan Su also revealed a strange gleam in his eyes.

As for the Star Ring Child, he fell silent, his gaze withdrawn from Chen Erniu, and he turned to stare fixedly at Xu Qing.

Waiting for Xu Qing's decision.

The helpless feeling in Xu Qing's heart grew stronger and stronger; if the Star Ring Child were still as he once was, Xu Qing would not care.

But after all this journey, things are no longer the same as before; the two have become comrades-in-arms.

And for the Star Ring Child, those Heavenly Principle dust are crucial to his path as Xia Xian, of utmost importance.

But Xu Qing knows his senior brother's character too well—it's that he either doesn't pick things up when going out, or he loses them...

What he has swallowed, wanting to take back, is infinitely difficult.

Thus, in his hesitation, Xu Qing raised his hand and waved; instantly his constitution erupted, layer upon layer, the universe transforming and manifesting from within, a large amount of Heavenly Principle dust emerging.

With Xu Qing's current cultivation and insight, plus his prior research on Heavenly Principle dust, achieving this is not difficult.

Thus, in an instant, sheets of Heavenly Principle dust appeared, transforming from the void into substance, floating before the Star Ring Child.

At the same time, Xu Qing also took out the Heavenly Principle dust he had previously left behind and presented them together to the Star Ring Child.

"A misunderstanding."

Xu Qing said softly.

Xinghuanzi looked ahead at the recovered and even more numerous heavenly principle dust, his heart filled with countless thoughts, and finally bowed deeply to Xu Qing.

"Thank you!"

After saying that, he flickered and departed, but just before his figure vanished into the distant starry sky, his voice came through.

"On this journey, the grace of the Dao and the bond of comrades—I will not forget.

I know you are not a cultivator of the Fifth Star Ring... when you return to your hometown, I will be with you."

Xu Qing nodded, waiting for Xinghuanzi's figure to disappear, then looked toward Zhou Zhengli and the others.

"Indeed, I am about to leave; coming here was also to see you all one last time."

Xu Qing said calmly.

Li Mengtu's eyes flashed with a strange light, anticipation rose, and after locking eyes with Xu Qing, he immediately spoke.

"Me too!"

Zhou Zhengli smiled; Xinghuanzi had seen through it, and he naturally had also long noticed the signs.

"Wherever the young master goes, I will go."

"As for now, we will not disturb the young master and his sworn brothers catching up."

After saying that, Zhou Zhengli clasped his fists, turned, and left with Li Mengtu.

Yuanshan Su said nothing, Xielingzi was also hesitant in his heart, and Qianjun Piyi was overjoyed; thus, they each carried their own thoughts and departed.

Watching their figures fade until they were completely gone, Xu Qing turned his head to gaze at that expanse of cosmos, at the excitedly leaping Chen Erniu, and a smile rarely seen on his face appeared.

That was his eldest senior brother, one of the few people he cared about most.

He then took a step forward.

Crossing the starry sky, stepping over the void, he appeared before Chen Erniu.

"Little A-Qing!!"

Chen Erniu trembled with excitement, a strong dreamlike feeling surged in his heart.

"Eldest senior brother..."

Xu Qing coughed once, while in his heart he also thought of what would come next on the road—his eldest senior brother would surely react with endless sourness, yet on the surface put up all kinds of resistance.

"How nostalgic."

Xu Qing laughed.

——

A moment later, there was still