Chapter 875

"Home, this word, has great significance."

The term 'going home' was something Xu Qing had heard Seventh Master say long ago. He knew that everyone's understanding of this word had similarities, but also existed differences.

For example, the home in Seventh Master's mouth was Seven Blood Eyes, and the home in King Zhenyan's mouth was the human race.

The old Palace Master of the Sword-Holding Palace in Fenghai County back then, his home was Fenghai County.

And for Xu Qing, he had walked all the way, from Nanhuangzhou to Yinghuangzhou, then to Fenghai County, and then entered the Saint Lan Great Domain... finally, the human Imperial Capital.

The meaning of home seemed to have become somewhat different with the passage of time.

From a nest in the slums to the house of the Lei Team in the scavenger camp, to the Sword-Holding Palace in Fenghai County, and now to the clan in the Imperial Capital, unknowingly, Xu Qing was no longer the youth he once was.

Time had not taken away his appearance, but it had still passed in his life; however, the fortunate thing was... time had not been wasted.

Although it could not be reversed and lived again, it had left behind life experiences, settled the thoughts of life, and transformed into the gifts of fate.

This gift had a name.

It is called, Growth.

Thirty years.

From the time Xu Qing personally buried all the corpses in that ruined city, until now, it had been thirty years.

So, hearing King Zhenyan's words, Xu Qing's expression was dazed for a moment, and finally, he looked into the distance.

In Xiang Ningyan's mansion in the Imperial Capital, for some reason, a woman's graceful shadow appeared before his eyes, seemingly buried in the depths of his heart long ago, and now it was becoming increasingly clear.

He remembered the night of their first meeting, that violet falling from the sky.

He did not forget the companionship along the way on the Yunxian Wangu River.

In his ears, there was still vaguely the melody of that ship named Litian.

This song carried the meaning of the jianghu, as if recounting the joys and sorrows of a lifetime; everything eventually turned into a pot of turbid wine.

In loneliness, he drank it down, it flowed into his heart, stirring up ripples; reflected in the ripples was the woman on the cliff hugging her knees, her figure whispering and murmuring.

【Perhaps there exists a lamp in this world...】

This lamp, named Zixuan Shangqing, in that pitch-black Phoenix Bird Palace, silently mourned, like a cycle.

The past was vivid before his eyes.

"Home?"

A gentle smile appeared on Xu Qing's face. Over these years, he had grown up; the ignorance of the past was no longer ignorance now.

Thus, he took a deep breath, and amidst the captain's suspicion and King Zhenyan's smile, he walked toward the Imperial Capital ahead.

Along this path, auspicious signs were in the sky, fresh flowers were on the ground; beside him was King Zhenyan, and behind him were groups of nobles.

Inside the Imperial Capital, there were countless commoners, all waiting.

The moment they saw Xu Qing's figure, cheers and boiling sounds soared into the sky, each sound coming from the bottom of their hearts.

Commoners are actually very simple and very sincere. As long as they believe you are good, they will not be stingy with their love and praise. Things like showing off power against alien races fit the definition of a hero in the hearts of the commoners.

Thus, there was this spontaneous welcome along the road.

Not to mention that this alien race was the one that Yanyue Xuantian had raised its might against, and it was becoming the Great Xuan Clan of this race.

At the same time, the end of the war also made the glory of this display of might no longer limited to an individual, but became the fortune of the clan.

Therefore, the returning Xu Qing was welcomed by the entire human race.

The hero's specifications and thick fortune also followed the echoing cheers, coming from all directions, surging toward Xu Qing, flowing within his body, nourishing the ruins, and nourishing the Imperial Sword.

In the crowd, there were also some familiar figures.

Such as Wu Jianwu, such as Kong Xianglong, and those Sword-Holders from Fenghai County.

Xu Qing nodded, just looking at them, but did not see Zixuan, which caused ripples in Xu Qing's heart.

Simply, in this forward movement, he waved at Wu Jianwu, Kong Xianglong, and others.

Kong Xianglong smiled and walked over. Wu Jianwu did not dare to put on airs in this environment; seeing Kong Xianglong go over, he also followed behind.

【Congratulations, Domain Lord!】

After arriving by Xu Qing's side, Kong Xianglong's smile turned solemn, and he immediately bowed.

【Brother Kong, there is no need for this between you and me.】

Xu Qing smiled and helped him up. As for Wu Jianwu on the side, just as he was about to say something, he was grabbed by the neck by Chen Erniu and pulled into his arms.

【Little Jianjian, did you miss me!】

Xu Qing did not pay attention to what Wu Jianwu was thinking inside. He looked at Kong Xianglong, and after hesitating for a moment, he asked a question.

【Are Xiang Ningyan and Immortal Zixuan doing well during this time?】

Hearing this, a strange look appeared in Kong Xianglong's eyes.

【After Xiang Ningyan returned, he was very determined to strive for strength, focusing on cultivation. He is currently at the critical moment of breaking through from Nascent Soul to Spirit Repository, and is in seclusion, looking like he is working very hard to be promoted.】

As for Immortal Zixuan, cough, when she came, the Immortal gave me a message.

【She said, if I see you and you didn't ask, then let me tell you proactively that she is out of the Imperial Capital and is not around recently... If you ask proactively, then tell you that after you finish your work, she will come to find you.】

Kong Xianglong swept a glance at Xu Qing rapidly, then looked at his nose, and did not speak again.

Regarding the matters between this good friend and Immortal Zixuan, basically most people in Fenghai County had heard many rumors.

Xu Qing smiled, did not ask again, but put away all his thoughts and looked up toward the direction of the Imperial Palace.

When entering the Imperial Capital, King Zhenyan had already informed Xu Qing that the Human Emperor had summoned him, asking him to go immediately after entering the city. The Heavenly Marquises, as well as the Heavenly Kings and Grand Preceptors in the Imperial Capital, were all waiting in the Imperial Palace.

Regarding this Human Emperor, even though Xu Qing now had glory on his body and his cultivation base was not what it used to be, he still could not see through him.

At this moment, under his gaze, Xu Qing looked at the end of the Seven-Colored Bridge, where twelve huge burning incense sticks stood in front of the Imperial Palace.

Wisps of blue smoke rose. From these twelve incense sticks, that was the incense for choosing the Crown Prince. When Xu Qing left the Imperial Capital, the burning speed of these twelve incense sticks was almost the same, but now, the one representing Xiang Ningyan, although not burning the fastest, was also among the last. No wonder Xiang Ningyan was cultivating so hard.

As for the ones burning the slowest, thus retaining the most and standing the highest, there were three.

One represented the Fourth Prince under the National Teacher, one represented the Fifth Prince under King Zhenyan, and the other was the First Prince; the three parties could be said to be evenly matched.

Looking at these, Xu Qing was thoughtful. The Fourth Prince, as a disciple of the National Teacher, obviously had great merit in this battle; the Fifth Prince had merit at the border, which was also as it should be.

As for the First Prince, it must be the merit of Yanyue.

While pondering, Xu Qing's group, under the guidance of King Zhenyan, walked all the way to the Imperial Palace. It did not take long for everyone to arrive in front of the palace gate.

The two huge statues guarding this gate lowered their heads slightly to show respect.

And Xu Qing's gaze passed through the palace gate, swept across the square, flew over the steps, and looked toward the Imperial Power Hall that represented the highest will of the human race. Almost the moment Xu Qing looked over, a gaze containing a sense of majesty also appeared from within this hall, meeting Xu Qing's gaze. Xu Qing lowered his head and bowed toward the hall.

At the same time, a voice came from the Imperial Palace: 【Proclaim, Heavenly Marquis Xu, Chen Erniu to have an audience!】

This voice came one after another, finally like heavenly might, echoing in all directions. Xu Qing glanced at the Senior Brother, and the two did not hesitate, walking into the Imperial Palace at the same time.

King Zhenyan smiled slightly and walked in as well.

As for the other nobles, those with qualifications naturally accompanied them, while the rest stood solemnly on the square.

Just like this, ten-odd breaths later, Xu Qing's group had stepped onto the steps and walked into the hall filled with people.

On both sides of the hall, the ministers were solemn.

On the front steps, the Heavenly Marquises sat upright, and above them were the seats of the thirty-two Heavenly Kings of the human race; at this moment, most of them were there.

And further above, on the dragon chair at the end of the ministers, the Human Emperor's gaze was like the sea, sitting there, expressionless, looking at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing's expression was solemn, and he bowed.

Beside him, Erniu blinked, thinking of King Zhenyan's words earlier, so he also learned from Xu Qing and bowed.

【Xu Qing.】

The Human Emperor spoke lightly, his voice low, spreading throughout the hall.

【You have been in Yanyue for several years on this trip, observing the Yanyue clan's exploration of the mysteries of Xuantian, feeling the administration of the Witch Dao, and also seeing that Great Administrator. Regarding this person, what are your thoughts?】

As soon as the Human Emperor's words came out, the surroundings were silent, and all gazes fell on Xu Qing.

The matter of the three Yanyue gods had long spread throughout Wanggu. Although the details were still considered secret, for the human race today, they already had the ability to know.

Hearing this, Xu Qing pondered. In his mind appeared the scene of Jiuli being backstabbed, the Great Administrator wanting to become a god, and the three gods sacrificing the heroic souls of Yanyue Xuantian, and finally the Great Administrator fading and choosing to sacrifice himself. Everything, everything, how could it be described by the two words 'thoughts'?

After a long time, Xu Qing said in a deep voice: 【If one cannot control one's own life, how can one control the destiny of the clan? In the end, it is just a reflection of flowers in a mirror and the moon in the water; one thought of prosperity, one thought of destruction.】

The Human Emperor was silent.

After a while, he raised his hand, signaling the Grand Preceptor to come forward, his eyes bright, staring at Xu Qing, and spoke loudly.

【By the decree of the Immortal, the day of the Xuan War Emperor, the rise of human fortune, Xu Qing, the Lord of the Saint Lan Great Domain, descended into the world, quelled the Black Heaven dispute, swept away the rebellion of the alien races, and raised the might of the human race. His merit can open peace, his momentum has reached the peak. Reward one Shangling Mansion in the Imperial Capital, confer the title of King Zhencang, and additionally confer the title of Imperial Prince's Grand Preceptor!】

Once this imperial decree came out, in the hall, except for a few people, everyone else was shocked, and even if their composure was strong, they could not help but be moved.

It was really because, with Xu Qing's merit, conferring a king title was as it should be, and it was also within everyone's expectations, but it was actually the 'Zhen' (Suppress) King; the meaning within it was too huge.

The 'Zhen' Heavenly King was the peak of Heavenly Kings; now, before this, the human race only had one.

This matter was already astonishing, not to mention the additionally conferred Imperial Prince's Grand Preceptor.

One must know that the position of Imperial Prince's Grand Preceptor was not only high in rank, but more importantly, it had the power to restrain all royal descendants; Imperial

Princes had to bow when seeing him.

Until a Crown Prince appeared, this position would definitely have merit rewards; according to the customs of past dynasties, it would be promoted to Crown Prince's Grand Preceptor.

Once that time came, it would be an existence like an Imperial Teacher.

While everyone's minds were churning, Xu Qing was also extremely surprised, and the imperial decree read by the Grand Preceptor was still continuing.

【There is the righteous man Chen Erniu, whose righteousness reaches the clouds, whose courage is extraordinary, a talent of heaven, and whose martial prowess is extraordinary. Specially order the Creation Mansion to use seventeen kinds of supreme items such as Tai Xuan Dark Iron and Nine Heavens Ice Crystal to forge the Great Tiangang Armor for him. In the human territory, those below the Heavenly King must bow when seeing it.】

This reward seemed gorgeous, but in reality, it did not have a single official position, but the Captain's eyes were incomparably bright, his whole person was excited, and he shouted loudly.

【Long live my Emperor!】