Chapter 767

Inside the ancient temple, Palace Master Xia Xian gazed into the window formed by the candlelight at the dandelion seed that belonged exclusively to Xu Qing, until this seed merged into the parent body and disappeared.

The Little Butterfly beside her watched this scene foolishly, its brain somewhat chaotic, and its speech was the same.

"Ah? Unique... what is this? Master, he... he is cheating!"

"For countless years in Houtu, there have been some talented people who deduced that all cultivation techniques have a source. If the source is occupied by someone, then it is extremely difficult to cultivate this method to the extreme."

Palace Master Xia Xian spoke softly.

"They do not know of the existence of Immortal Origin; this is what they guessed and analyzed based on their own observations."

"This guess is right, and also not right."

"And Houtu cultivation techniques do indeed have a source, and rarely have uniqueness. But if someone can achieve it, then the imprint will be deeply rooted, and Immortal Origin will also respect it and not erase it, leaving it for future cultivators to observe."

"This Xu Qing, he has achieved it."

Palace Master Xia Xian's voice became less ethereal, replaced by a sense of appreciation. Her right hand also lifted at this moment, and with a wave, the candlelight in the middle of the ancient temple rolled back, returning into the candles on the offering table.

The Imperial Qi inside also dissipated, merging into the various Human Emperor totems on the surrounding murals.

Only Palace Master Xia Xian's lingering voice continued to echo in the ancient temple.

And no matter how foolish the Little Butterfly was, combined with its master's regretful words earlier, it also felt this touch of appreciation, so its heart was flustered, and it was just about to show off.

Just at this moment, Xu Qing's eyes slowly opened.

There was no confusion in his eyes, but rather clarity, and even purple light halos flowing within. Under the reflection, it gave people a feeling that his pupils were like stars.

Perhaps, they were indeed stars.

"Many thanks, Palace Master!"

Xu Qing cupped his fists and bowed heavily toward Palace Master Xia Xian.

"No need for that. You offering your soul seed into Immortal Origin is itself a merit to Houtu. From now on, your soul seed will have its will stripped away, forming a cultivation technique that will spread throughout the myriad worlds of Houtu, adding a touch of color to Houtu cultivation techniques."

"And because of this merit, you comprehended a divine ability within Immortal Origin. One drink and one peck, this is karma."

"So now, is there anything else you would like to ask?"

Palace Master Xia Xian's words were clearly more numerous than before. Clearly, the appreciation she felt for Xu Qing here was the main reason.

Xu Qing pondered, his gaze falling on the nine scrolls on the offering table.

"Palace Master, this junior wishes to know, where did the Xia Xian predecessors who founded the Wanggu Continent and raised the Heavenly Dao go? And since the appearance of the God's Remnant Face until now, why have they not returned?"

Xu Qing's voice drifted in the ancient temple. Responding to him was a soft sigh from Palace Master Xia Xian.

"No one knows the exact location of those six Xia Xian now. In the records within the Xia Xian Palace, only a piece of information was left behind."

"Some of them went to the depths of the Huangtian, and some are recuperating in Houtu. As for the specifics, I do not know either."

"Time has been too, too long."

Palace Master Xia Xian's voice contained some special emotions. After speaking, her figure slowly blurred. The Little Butterfly beside her sensed its master's despondency, so it also blurred along with her.

Xu Qing was silent; he knew he had to leave.

So he bowed again, turned around, and walked toward the temple door. Just before stepping out, he turned his head and took one last look at the ancient temple.

What his gaze fell upon was not the blurry Palace Master Xia Xian, nor the offering table, but the Human Emperor totem in the wall mural—the first Emperor of the human race, and also the first Ancient Emperor.

That young man looking up at the starry sky.

After one glance, Xu Qing withdrew his gaze and stepped out of the ancient temple.

The moment he walked out, the ancient temple behind him shattered like a bubble amidst the colorful flow, until it disappeared, leaving no trace of its existence.

Xu Qing looked back and saw only emptiness.

There were no buildings.

It was as if this had just been a dream. And at this moment, on the distant horizon, the red sun rose into the sky. It was the time of dawn; one could see the firmament gradually waking up from the darkness, becoming bright.

The morning glow was dyed a crimson red, magnificent beyond compare.

And the earth was shrouded in a thin morning mist, as if someone had draped a light veil over it, giving it a hazy sense of mystery.

Until the light of the first sun shone upon the earth, the morning mist melted like snow, becoming increasingly sparse until it disappeared. Thus, the sunlight successfully passed through the space between heaven and earth and fell upon Xu Qing.

One night had passed.

Xu Qing looked at the red sun, his breath turning into white mist. In his mind, the mural he had seen twice appeared.

That first Ancient Emperor of the human race, that young man... when he saw him for the first time, he had a familiar feeling. The glance before he left made this feeling even stronger.

"It seems I have seen him before..."

Xu Qing murmured in his heart. Carrying this thought, he stepped on the light of the first sun and walked toward Xiang Ningyan's mansion.

An hour later, the sky was already bright. The moment he walked to the lake in front of Xiang Ningyan's mansion, Xu Qing suddenly paused. Looking at the lake water in front of him, he vaguely found the source of the familiarity.

"He looks a bit like Master."

Xu Qing was thoughtful as he walked on the lake, step by step, returning to Xiang Ningyan's mansion.

He had never seen what Master looked like when he was young, but the young man's eyes were very similar to Master's eyes.

When this thought emerged in Xu Qing's mind, along with his return, all the Fenghai County cultivators in the mansion were actually waiting in the courtyard. The moment they saw Xu Qing, cheers erupted.

In the crowd, Xiang Ningyan was there, as well as Kong Xianglong, Wu Jianwu, and Li Yunshan, the Palace Master of the Fenghai County Sword-Holding Palace who had led the team to the Imperial Capital with Xu Qing.

Immortal Zixuan had also returned and was smiling in the distance.

Even the Captain had actually appeared. He was originally hugging Wu Jianwu's neck, not knowing what he was saying. After noticing Xu Qing, he grinned.

Their cheers were because of the revelation of Xu Qing's identity as an Alien Immortal school member, because of his victory in the Dao discussion, because of Xu Qing's show of strength in beheading the Seventh Prince, and even more because of the demise of Bai Xiaozhuo!

For all Fenghai County cultivators, the Seventh Prince and Bai Xiaozhuo were great enemies!

Listening to the cheers and looking at the familiar crowd before him, Xu Qing was somewhat dazed. Too many things had happened in this day and night, so much so that he only realized at this moment that... only one night had passed since yesterday's Dao discussion.

The experience in the Xia Xian Palace, in that ancient temple filled with years and vicissitudes, seemed to have rendered Xu Qing's perception, making him have a hazy feeling about the passage of time.

But this feeling was quickly suppressed by him. A smile appeared on his face, and he bowed slightly toward the cheering crowd.

In the crowd, Kong Xianglong was the first to rush out. His eyes were red. When he arrived in front of Xu Qing and was about to bow, Xu Qing stepped forward and hugged him.

Kong Xianglong's body paused, then he hugged Xu Qing back.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you..."

Li Yunshan was also emotionally stirred. He walked out and bowed forcefully toward Xu Qing.

"Thank you, Venerable Xu, for beheading the white thief, killing the seventh son, and avenging the blood feud of Fenghai. If the old Palace Master knows about this in the underworld, he will surely close his eyes in peace!"

All the Sword-Holders bowed in unison.

Xiang Ningyan, who was inside, bowed even deeper. Although the degree of his excitement was different from the others, it was equally extreme. The death of the Seventh Prince and Xu Qing's display of might made him feel honored, and a sense of heroism rose in his heart.

Xu Qing returned the salute. In this morning when the Fenghai County cultivators were incomparably happy, he walked toward Immortal Zixuan.

Immortal Zixuan's figure, in this sunlight, had a face like a hibiscus, eyes containing autumn water, and lips like vermilion dots. She was as quiet as a delicate flower reflecting in the water, dressed in a purple dress, graceful and dancing, like a fairy descending to the mortal world, and also like a blooming violet.

Her eyebrows were indeed like distant mountains containing black, and her eyes were like autumn water rippling.

"Where did you go this whole night? Why is your body stained with some dust of time, and some pollen incense?"

Immortal Zixuan smiled without smiling, her beautiful eyes sweeping over Xu Qing.

Just as Xu Qing was about to speak, the Captain not far away heard these words, blinked his eyes, and hurriedly shouted.

"Little Junior Brother, come quickly! I have a big matter to tell you, a huge matter!"

As he spoke, he flew forward. Without waiting for Xu Qing to speak, he grabbed Xu Qing's arm and pulled him away, while simultaneously speaking rapidly toward Immortal Zixuan.

"Immortal Sister-in-law, you two have plenty of time; there's no rush to catch up. It's not easy for me to come back, so I'll talk to Little Ah Qing about the big matter first."

Saying this, he pulled Xu Qing and hurried away.

Xu Qing was somewhat helpless, being pulled away by the Captain by the arm. Until they reached a secret room, the Captain performed a technique to seal the surroundings. Only then did he look at Xu Qing, looking like he was asking for credit.

"How about it, Little Ah Qing? Your Eldest Senior Brother, I reacted fast, right? Let me tell you, the moment you came back, I smelled the scent of pollen on you from far away."

"You, you are still too young and inexperienced. Remember, next time you steal a bite, you must wipe it clean!"

"Senior Brother, I can help you once, but I can't happen to catch up every time, can I?"

Xu Qing was speechless. Looking at the Captain who was full of pride, he asked a question.

"Where have you been during this time?"

As soon as Xu Qing's words came out, the Captain sat on the side, crossing his legs, lifting his hand to take out a peach, and throwing an apple to Xu Qing. While eating, he spoke with an arrogant expression.

"Of course, I went to do big things."

"Let me tell you, Little Ah Qing, although you have shown your might now, it is only in the human Imperial Capital. Once my big matter is accomplished, it will truly be enough to drop your jaw."

Xu Qing was too familiar with this scene and knew what the Captain wanted, so after taking the apple, he put on a curious look.

"What big matter?"

The Captain got into the spirit, leaned his body forward a bit, and spoke in a low voice.

"During this time, I was at the Star Emperor Branch Sect, which is the place where I went to steal things before. At that time, I didn't steal it, but I wasn't convinced, so I thought of a way to join this sect."

"Now, I have successfully mixed into being an outer disciple, and I am about to be assessed. I am confident that I will pass the assessment. Once I succeed, I will be an inner disciple!"

"By then, I will operate a bit, and I can approach my target!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing's heart also rose with some genuine curiosity. After all, something that could make the Captain care so much was naturally not simple.

"Eldest Senior Brother, what exactly do you want to steal?"

"The Wordless Stone Book!"

Light appeared in the Captain's eyes, containing deep longing.

"That mysterious girl that day, what she stole was also this object. It seems she succeeded, but that girl is a bit stupid. What she stole was just an empty shell, just a broken stone."

"What I want are the words inside!"

"Wordless Stone Book?" Xu Qing glanced at the Captain.

"Yeah, Wordless Stone Book." The Captain smiled without smiling.

Xu Qing pondered and nodded.

"Aren't you going to ask me why the Wordless Stone Book has words?" The Captain was expectant.

Xu Qing already had the answer in his heart, but seeing the Captain like this, he still chose to satisfy his expectation, so he followed his intent and asked a question.

The Captain perked up, laughed, and spoke mysteriously.

"Wordless Stone Book, these are four words. The silly girl stole the shell, but she didn't know that those four words had already become spirits and had long since escaped, hiding in a jade slip in the upper layer of the Dharma Transmission Pavilion. As long as I become an inner disciple, I can go to the upper layer of the Dharma Transmission Pavilion and find them!"

"And these four words concern the Divine Domain. No matter which Divine Domain, they all have a certain effect. And I heard that the Yanyue Xuantian Clan is also going to conduct a Divine Domain hunt soon!"

Xu Qing's eyes constricted.

The Captain was even more proud.

"How about it, amazing, right? Otherwise, why would your Eldest Senior Brother spend so much energy and time, cutting my head to mix into the Star Emperor Sect? For this, I have paid a lot of heart's blood."

"But it doesn't matter, all the effort is worth it. A month later is the assessment. I will definitely succeed in being promoted to an inner disciple, and then we will go to the Yanyue Xuantian Clan. When they open the Divine Domain hunt, we will mix in!"

The Captain spoke with certainty, his gaze firm and incomparably persistent.

"Hunting the Divine Domain?"

Xu Qing's heart trembled. He had a deeper understanding of the Yanyue Xuantian Clan, but this so-called hunting of the Divine Domain obviously still had many details.

"After I get it, I will tell you in detail." The Captain said, finishing the peach in his mouth, and stood up to pat his butt.

"I'm leaving first. Coming back this time is just to tell you in advance. You should also prepare. Next... wish me success."

The Captain took a deep breath and was about to leave.

Xu Qing hesitated and asked a question.

"Is it that hard to go to the Dharma Transmission Pavilion to get a jade slip?"

When the Captain heard this, he was unhappy.

"Little Ah Qing, you've become arrogant, haven't you? That is the Star Emperor Supreme Sect. Although it is a branch sect, the Dharma Transmission Pavilion is the core of this sect. There is an old monster there, and the protection is strict. Outsiders are not allowed to enter. Otherwise, I would have stolen it long ago, and it wouldn't be so troublesome."

Xu Qing pondered. He thought of Chen Daoze, so he took out the sound transmission jade slip and tried to transmit a wisp of divine sense to Chen Daoze...

The Captain was curious.

"What are you doing?"

"Eldest Senior Brother, wait a moment. I'll see if I can help you complete it in advance."

Xu Qing spoke calmly.

The Captain was stunned.