Chapter 1339

The once pitch-black Spirit Abyss is now entirely bathed in golden light.

Thus, this place has become a world of gold.

Within that golden radiance, the divine authority emanating from the eye of the deity inside the lantern surges like tidal waves, churning the sea of the world.

Wherever it passes, all things dissolve within that golden light.

This is not decomposition, nor is it the disassembly like Xu Qing's constitution; rather, it is a diminishing formed by continual reduction.

This process, aside from requiring the corresponding divine authority, cannot be reversed.

All things are transformed—everything within the void, whether life or breath, whether illusory or truly existent, whether time or space.

Everything, everything, is destined to vanish in this decline.

Naturally, this includes that golden lizard,

who, though a deity, is not its true form—only a thread of divine thought came here, and thus is ultimately limited.

Therefore, even possessing the status of a deity, under the divine authority of the deity's eye of equal standing, it cannot endure for long.

After all, that deity's eye, besides its own power, also bears the blessing of Master Bai.

Thus, this lantern has become the sharpest object in Xu Qing's hands now.

At this moment, wherever its light passes, all becomes void—except the golden lizard, which still persists within the void.

Yet, as the divine thought is layer by layer neutralized, its silhouette gradually blurs, and before vanishing, it turns its head and gazes at Xu Qing.

In the void, his indifferent voice echoes.

"You will one day have the day to go out."

Amid the undulating sound, the golden lizard closes its eyes, its form melting into the golden light and vanishing within it.

Erased.

To dispel it!

Only the lingering echo of his previous words remains, reverberating for a long time without fading.

Xu Qing's gaze is icy, listening to the echo reverberating in all directions; he understands the meaning within that being's words.

In truth, even holding this lantern forged by the deity's eye, he knows the gap between himself and a deity remains as vast as heaven and earth.

Between them, there is no such thing as being able to fight.

And the reason the four deities of the Ninth Star Ring chose compromise, allowing themselves to be bounded by the line drawn in Eastern Wanggu, is due to the Upper Desolation.

They fear the Upper Desolation, dare not manifest their true forms, not even avatars dare descend, and can only arrange for demons below, or alternatively use some methods to descend divine thoughts.

But Xu Qing now wields power such that their divine thoughts coming here can also be erased.

This is why they chose to stand by and watch,

but it is indeed as that golden lizard said—unless Xu Qing henceforth does not step outside even a single pace.

Otherwise, once he leaves the range of Eastern Wanggu, having lost their dread of the Upper Desolation, they have too many methods,

that can drive Xu Qing to death.

Even if Xu Qing bears the karma of the Upper Desolation, having once provoked its descent into the Fourth Star Ring, for deities, they need not act personally—multiple divine masters together can still achieve victory.

"Going out—"

Xu Qing narrows his eyes, then slowly lowers the raised lantern.

As the divine might within the lantern gradually fades, his body sways slightly, and a pallor appears on his face.

Using such a treasure of this level, even in his current state of immortal-divine fusion, is difficult to employ multiple times—each use— for him, is a consumption.

Especially this time, he triggered the deity's authority within the lantern, making the consumption far greater.

Thus, at the instant the golden lizard dissipates, Xu Qing also withdraws his own thought; the deity's eye within the lantern in his hand,

now re-closes.

The golden light of the Spirit Abyss also, at this moment, vanishes completely.

Void returns once more to pitch-black darkness, but compared to before, this darkness now bears emptiness.

Utterly clean.

The entire Spirit Abyss, to some extent, no longer exists.

Only that rotting giant serpent trembles there.

Earlier, the golden light, under Xu Qing's control, avoided the position behind him, so this serpent and the Spirit Emperor's Eye were not assimilated by the golden light.

As for Zhou Zhengli and the others, they likewise flew out successively, bearing the world on the giant serpent's back, appearing beside Xu Qing.

In the outside world, they perceived within the world, and their gazes toward Xu Qing now carry an even deeper sense of awe.

Even the Star Ring Children all silently lowered their heads slightly.

They are all like this—let alone the ancient Spirit Emperor, who watched helplessly as the Spirit Abyss became void, even that terrifying existence in his memory also dissipated; thus, all the eyes of the ancient Spirit Emperor now shine with shock and horror.

Feeling the giant serpent's tremor and seeing the ancient Spirit Emperor's shock, Xu Qing shakes his head.

"The ancient Spirit Emperor who could unify Eastern Wanggu must possess great ambition, and indeed he does."

"But clearly, after his failed ascension, he indeed fell, and you—are his obsession given form, used by the deity, granted vitality."

"But you, are no longer the ancient Spirit Emperor of before."

Xu Qing speaks calmly.

The ancient Spirit Emperor says nothing; bitterness rises in all his eyes, and he finally chooses to close them.

He knows he cannot struggle, cannot resist, and Xu Qing's words also speak the truth he refuses to admit.

He, indeed, is no longer the ancient Spirit Emperor of before.

Merely a remnant body relying on external force to revive, clinging to life, hiding within the Spirit Abyss.

"But you possess the status from the ancient times of Eastern Wanggu, whether it is the identity of your true form, or your connection with Eastern Wanggu, or even the cultivation your true form once had"

Xu Qing gazes at the ancient Spirit Emperor, a hint of profundity appearing in his eyes.

"Since you are the obsession formed from the Ancient Spirit Emperor's desire to seize the Heavenly Dao, then——

"Today, you shall become the Heavenly Dao."

Xu Qing said, raising his right hand in a grasp, directly seizing the Ancient Spirit Emperor's Eye and that giant serpent, stepping through the void in an instant.

Upon appearing above the firmament of Eastern Wanggu, his words caused the Ancient Spirit Emperor's closed eyes to snap open wide in disbelief, staring at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing lifted his head, gazing into the distant firmament.

"Wanggu cultivators, after condensing the Spirit, the path ends; aside from special inheritances, there is no possibility of sovereignty, due to the ancient Desolate's arrival, which devoured many Heavenly Daos, leaving Wanggu's cultivation path incomplete."

As he spoke, a sharp light flared in Xu Qing's eyes.

"Heavenly Dao!"

The instant these two words left his mouth, they transcended the Heavenly Dao, transcended the Heavenly Sound, and shattered all of Eastern Wanggu.

Amid the rumbling, above Xu Qing, the heavens instantly manifested countless extraordinary figures.

These figures included humans and non-humans,

all remnants of the Heavenly Dao left behind in Eastern Wanggu to this day.

Most were decayed, their auras turbid, and they appeared blurred—"Today, I seal the Ancient Spirit Emperor, one eye one path, ninety-nine eyes, becoming Eastern Wanggu's ninety-nine Heavenly Daos!"

As Xu Qing's voice, imbued with the power of sealing righteousness, rang out, Eastern Wanggu's fortune surged, transforming into auspicious signs rising in all directions, while the surviving Heavenly Daos all bowed low, their figures retreating, yielding their status.

Thereafter, Xu Qing's gaze fell upon the Ancient Spirit Emperor.

All of the Ancient Spirit Emperor's eyes now emitted excitement.

"Thank you, Lord of Wanggu."

Upon speaking, it violently dispersed, returning to the giant serpent beside it, merging into its body, and finally, as the serpent trembled, ninety-nine wounds split open upon its form.

Within each wound, an eye sprouted.

All opened in unison.

Then, from the serpent's mouth came a roar as it shot into the sky.

One eye is one path; gathered together, they form ninety-nine Heavenly Daos, taking dominion over Eastern Wanggu.

The entire Eastern Wanggu trembled.

In the unseen, all races sensed it, and some cultivators stranded in the late Spirit Condensing stage felt sudden enlightenment in that moment, followed by excitement.

For these insights were guidance on the path to sovereignty—this all came from the Ancient Spirit Emperor, from his status, from his cultivation!

This is using the ancient to continue the sovereign's path in the present age!

"Heavenly Dao cannot lack, hence it must be a hundredfold."

Gazing at the Ancient Spirit Emperor taking dominion, Xu Qing spoke softly, then turned his gaze toward the sealed Feng Haijun.

Outside Feng Haijun, on the earth, a mundane observer saw a giant infant sitting there, grinning foolishly at Xu Qing.

Yet upon its body were visible numerous rotting wounds.

These were the result of prior contamination by the Ancient Immortal Pool.

Gazing at the giant infant, Xu Qing's gaze softened.

"Return the residual paths to their proper place!"

As the thought arose, the voice descended upon the firmament; in an instant, those residual paths that had yielded their status to the Ancient Spirit Emperor transformed into streams of light,

rushing straight toward the giant infant.

In that instant, they entered the giant infant's body one by one.

Thus, the infant's aura grew ever more substantial, and its wounds healed at astonishing speed.

Until finally, the infant's entire body radiated five-colored light, and it began to grow; in Xu Qing's sight, it took on the form of a six- or seven-year-old boy.

Its face was like a silver disc, its skin fairer than snow, glowing with a moist luster, resembling mutton-fat jade, exuding a clear, refreshing tenderness.

Especially its eyes, like dots of ink, deep yet clear within, like a clear spring, or like brilliant stars fallen into them—glancing back and forth, they flowed with radiant color, pure innocence of childhood.

Overall, it resembled a tender bud just bursting on a spring branch, making one feel joy at a glance.

As if it were itself an auspicious sign.

At this moment, it stood, turned toward Xu Qing, raised its small hand, and bowed.

"I, the child, pay respects to my great father."

Xu Qing smiled, speaking softly.

"You originally had no form, but descended by fortune; born as the Heavenly Dao, you enjoy the ancient Dao's status.

Today, I seal you as Eastern Wanggu's first Heavenly Dao!

Command the Ancient Spirit's ninety-nine paths!

Guard Eastern Wanggu in the future!"

Xu Qing's voice, imbued with the authority of his constitution, carried the support of fortune, shaking Eastern Wanggu, rumbling in the hearts of all beings, sealing the righteous Heavenly Dao.

Thus, the rosy light deepened, heaven and earth shared auspiciousness.

Amid this sky-filling rosy light, the child gazed at Xu Qing with utter seriousness, nodding firmly.

"I, the child, will heed my great father's words; from now on, I shall surely guard Eastern Wanggu."

"I am here, Eastern Wanggu is here."

"If I am not here, I will still strive with all my might to ensure Eastern Wanggu remains."

Xu Qing nodded.

The child drew a deep breath, turned its head to gaze toward another direction, where it sensed its second father, and bowed in that direction.

Thereafter, its body rose into the air, amidst thousands of ribbons of auspicious light, with the Ancient Spirit's ninety-nine paths bowing low, it entered the position of Eastern Wanggu's first Heavenly Dao!

At the moment of taking dominion, Eastern Wanggu's rules suddenly surged.