[{"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-57":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},2344497,4583,"Chapter 57","beyond-the-passage-of-time-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>The shape of this beast bone was like a hook, the size of a palm, entirely red, and shining with a strange light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking closely, one could see some natural patterns on the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These patterns seemed to contain some Dao essence, capable of absorbing spiritual energy from all directions on their own, transforming it into wisps of wind that circled around Zhang San’s palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A Flying-Winged Fish’s immortal bone? This thing, when paired with an array, provides a pretty good boost to a magic boat’s speed. Zhang San, you brat, why are you so generous today?\" The captain of the Sixth Team, eating a pear in his hand, squatted down beside Zhang San, bumped him with his shoulder, and spoke with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since Junior Brother Xu Qing is new here, I had to show some gesture,\" Zhang San said with a simple, honest expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing did not reach out to take the gift, but instead looked at the captain, seeking his opinion. He felt that the reason Zhang San was doing this was likely not because of him, but because of the captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xu Qing’s gaze, the captain smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take it. He’s giving you this to tell you to come here less often to hunt criminals in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xu Qing glanced at Zhang San, who gave a simple, honest smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing nodded, took the fish bone, examined it curiously, and put it into his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, he followed the captain’s example and squatted to the side, though he kept a certain distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xu Qing do this, Zhang San’s smile became even more simple and honest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhang San, has there been anything unusual here lately?\" The captain finished the pear in his hand, took out a peach, and began to bite into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing immediately paid attention and looked at Zhang San.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang San took a pipe from his person, put it in his mouth to take a puff, then tapped it on the ground. After the ash fell, it formed the pattern of a human face on the ground, along with a line of text.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There have been many new faces at the South Pier recently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain of the Sixth Team looked thoughtful, patted Zhang San on the shoulder, and smiled at Xu Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little Junior Brother, you should head back first. Your shift is over for today; remember not to be late tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xu Qing knew that the two of them had something to discuss, so he nodded, cupped his fists toward the captain and Zhang San, and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was sunset, and the orange sunlight scattered over him, casting a dazzling color onto his gray Daoist robe. As he walked away, the two people squatting behind him both raised their heads and watched him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until Xu Qing had walked far away, the captain spoke with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How is this newcomer? You were uncharacteristically generous today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Newcomer? Where did you find such a guy? When this kid first saw me, his first reaction was to look at my neck. With a person like that, how could I not be generous!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the captain burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re still laughing? What kind of habit leads to the instinct of looking at people’s necks?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang San gave a bitter smile and touched his own neck; he still felt some discomfort even now, and took a forceful puff from his pipe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The kind who is used to slitting throats, of course.\" The captain of the Sixth Team laughed happily. After finishing the peach in his hand, he took out another one and took a big bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This kid, he looks handsome, but the baleful aura on him is too heavy. Although he tried his best to hide it, I could still sense it, especially his eyes.\" Zhang San’s expression was somewhat serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you notice? Those are eyes that belong to someone who will repay every grievance. It seems that for him, as long as it fits his principles, there is nothing he cannot kill...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A person like this, if you use him well, it’s fine; if you don’t, be careful of the backlash. I can faintly sense that many people have died at his hands, and he also gives me a very dangerous feeling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I encountered him on the sea, I would definitely not provoke him easily. I don’t want to die.\" Zhang San looked at the captain of the Sixth Team seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"An interesting Little Junior Brother.\" The captain of the Sixth Team smiled as he looked at the place where Xu Qing had disappeared; it seemed that the more Zhang San said this, the happier he became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang San sighed helplessly to the side, thinking to himself that he had forgotten this guy was just as abnormal, with a bizarre and unpredictable way of doing things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the captain and Zhang San were discussing Xu Qing, Xu Qing was already walking on the streets of the port. It was near dusk, the crowd on the street was slowly thinning, and most of the medicine shops were closed, so Xu Qing returned to his berth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning, he did not immediately take out his magic boat, but instead checked the area thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, someone had come here with murderous intent, so when Xu Qing returned today, he checked in detail and even sprinkled some poison powder into the sea. Only after confirming it was safe did he take out his magic boat and step onto it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the magic boat’s protective barrier rose instantly, Xu Qing, who had walked into the cabin, felt a slight sense of stability in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sitting down cross-legged, he did not immediately begin to cultivate, but instead pondered everything that had happened today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the captain, Xu Qing could not see through him, but he kept everything the man had said in his heart. His intuition told him that what the man said was likely true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Zhang San, Xu Qing faintly sensed that the man seemed to be hiding some kind of emotion, as if he were a bit wary of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there was that disciple whose contribution points had hit zero, who could not leave on his own, looked at the sky in despair, and was finally erased and turned into dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The things he had seen and heard this day made Xu Qing realize that most of the disciples who could survive in the brutal environment of the Seven Blood Eyes main city were not simple; one could not judge everything by its surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the captain or Zhang San, if either of them were thrown into a scavenger camp, they would likely be able to toy with people in the palm of their hands, deciding their life and death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the entire Seven Blood Eyes, in Xu Qing’s view at this moment, was truly like another kind of forbidden zone, so he needed to cultivate even harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when he thought of the youth in the pale purple Daoist robe he had seen during the day—the other party was only at Qi Condensation, but his noble status and the submissive posture of the people around him made Xu Qing feel a familiar class gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen many similar class gaps since he was a child, and he knew how to handle them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, based on caution, Xu Qing did not ask the captain about the specific information of the person who had given him the token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the other party wanted to appear, they would naturally appear; if they did not want to appear, Xu Qing would not force an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is unlikely to be the care of Master Bai.\" Xu Qing took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour later, the sky outside had turned completely dark. In the silence, Xu Qing opened his eyes, a look of hesitation appearing in them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt that his cultivation speed had decreased significantly compared to yesterday, and he knew the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his body were compared to a container, yesterday, this container was mostly empty, so he could absorb more spiritual energy without much effort. But now, this container was much fuller, so during cultivation, he had to increase his absorption capacity to draw in the spiritual energy from the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unless I can let the spiritual energy flow in without effort, but that requires the spiritual energy outside to be dense.\" Xu Qing lowered his head, pondered, then formed a seal with his right hand and pointed at the deck beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the place he pointed at flashed with light, and lines of light emerged, permeating the entire magic boat, looking like an array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the array was clearly in operation, causing the spiritual energy from the outside to flow in, albeit slowly, but continuously. This was also the reason why cultivating inside the magic boat was faster than outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this array was called the Spirit Gathering Array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need to upgrade the power source.\" Xu Qing was thoughtful. Through the jade slip of the magic boat, he knew that besides the addition of biological materials, there was another key point to upgrading a boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the power source.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the core of a boat, like a heart, determining the boat’s power. It could be upgraded infinitely and was the most expensive part to replace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For all the disciples of the Seventh Peak, the power source of their magic boats was just a Spirit Gathering Array at the beginning, which could slowly absorb the surrounding spiritual energy and store it as a substitute power source.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a disciple felt the power was insufficient, they could also place spirit stones themselves to make the power stronger and the array’s might greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides that, the hearts of some powerful exotic beasts were often the best materials for a power source. The stronger the power, the greater the might of the Spirit Gathering Array, and at the same time, the boat’s speed, protection, and so on could all be unleashed to the maximum extent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, if the level of the power source was insufficient, even if the external configuration was the best, it would be difficult to fully utilize it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Xu Qing gritted his teeth, took out one of his only ten spirit stones, and placed it on the array. The next instant, the spirit stone disappeared, and Xu Qing’s magic boat shook violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the array’s light shone brilliantly, the entire magic boat seemed to become a vortex, and spiritual energy, much denser than before, was forcibly drawn in from all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing immediately began to cultivate, and this time, his cultivation speed was significantly faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until dawn, Xu Qing’s eyes snapped open, and purple light shone within them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sea Transformation Scripture, sixth level!\" Xu Qing took a deep breath and felt the sixty-zhang spiritual sea within his body. Although it seemed to be only ten zhang more than before, these ten zhang were in all directions and included greater depth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, in terms of quantity, it was much larger, and most importantly, the types of transformations he could perform had also increased, as had the power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At this rate, in a few more days, the Sea Transformation Scripture will be able to catch up to the same realm as the Sea Mountain Art.\" Xu Qing was very satisfied with this speed; the only thing he sighed about was that the cost of cultivation was too high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the span of one night, one spirit stone had been completely consumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the sky outside was already bright. Xu Qing tidied himself up, left the magic boat, and headed to the Criminal Investigation Department to begin his second day of work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serving in the Criminal Investigation Department was both a responsibility and a source of salary. According to the employment information on his identity token, the monthly reward was three thousand contribution points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Xu Qing was very serious. Not long after the sun rose, he arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department. Walking all the way to the Xuan Department, he saw the captain and members of the Sixth Team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Sixth Team had about twenty people, men and women, with different appearances, and every one of them had impressive cultivation fluctuations. They also saw Xu Qing, but most were indifferent, and there was wariness between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing’s personality was not one for socializing, so he remained silent on the side, keeping his distance from everyone. Soon, the captain of the Sixth Team walked out of the room lazily, eating an apple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today’s mission is still for everyone to go out and search for the remnants of the Night Dove.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So don’t just keep your eyes on those wanted criminals. Although the rewards are high, the Night Dove is our key focus recently. Remember, if you find clues, don’t alert the enemy. Come back and inform the Department, and the Department will arrange for others to investigate the truth and make comprehensive arrangements.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, get to work!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the captain finished speaking, the members of the Sixth Team scattered. This time, the captain did not take Xu Qing with him, but gave him a jade slip recording the wanted criminals, letting him act alone. Xu Qing had no objections to this arrangement, so he soon left the Criminal Investigation Department, patrolling the city while checking the jade slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not know where to patrol, so he followed the captain’s example from yesterday, walking in the port area. He remained vigilant as always, even removing the badge of the Criminal Investigation Department, and most of the time appeared in dark and inconspicuous locations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the shadows, he watched the hurried crowds on the street and the various shops with people coming and going. Xu Qing also had a deeper understanding of the prosperity of the main city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until he saw someone selling candied haws on the road, Xu Qing remembered his longing from childhood, so he went up to buy a skewer. After checking it to make sure it was normal, he ate it while walking in the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already finished reading the jade slip of wanted criminals, and he understood why the captain warned the members of the Sixth Team not to just focus on catching wanted criminals. It was truly because the rewards inside were extremely generous, with the lowest being around ten spirit stones and the highest reaching several hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until the sun was high in the sky and it was slowly approaching noon, Xu Qing, who was eating slowly and still had one candied haw left, suddenly paused his steps and looked into the crowd in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where his gaze landed, there was a woman dressed very plainly, but who could not hide her graceful figure, skillfully picking two pockets from the passing crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeming very confident in her own skills, this woman, who had a decent appearance and figure, weighed the leather bags in her hand after walking out of the crowd, the corners of her mouth curling up to reveal a smug smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that this smile froze slightly after she saw Xu Qing’s expressionless face in a corner not far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, she put on a shy look, lowered her head with a blushing face, and was about to walk away, but her peripheral vision noticed that Xu Qing was walking toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made her very vigilant, but she still did not recognize Xu Qing. However, an instinctive sense of crisis made her quicken her steps, and with a sway of her body, she was about to disappear into the crowd to avoid him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Qing recognized her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This woman was the one who had framed him a few nights ago and taken the opportunity to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who had forced him to kill on his first day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Xu Qing finished the last bite of the candied haw in his hand, and with a flick of his right hand, the bamboo skewer instantly became like a bolt of lightning, setting off a whistling sound as it pierced the air, heading straight for the woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speed was so fast that the woman’s expression changed drastically, and she had no time to dodge. Before her body could disappear into the crowd, her right foot was instantly pierced by the bamboo skewer, and with a bang, it dragged her delicate body and pinned it to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scream immediately came from the pale-faced woman, accompanied by calls for help, as if she were a weak woman being bullied by a thug, causing the surrounding crowd to be shocked and scatter rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Xu Qing’s cold voice, as he walked over, also reached the ears of the trembling woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you scream one more sound, I will tear your mouth apart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing’s ability to learn and imitate, just like his memory, was very good...\u003C\u002Fp>",2857,"2026-06-21T00:45:15.441Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","9b310781fa30ef96797f0025c405b143895f650ed7ed1818eec5330f32eb51b6","beyond-the-passage-of-time-chapter-58","beyond-the-passage-of-time-chapter-56",998,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbeyond-the-passage-of-time-cover.jpg"]