Chapter 961: Empress

For the Ancient Xiang Linger Emperor, although it was still often hungry over these years, its appetite had unknowingly become a bit picky.

Back then, when it saw any divinity, its eyes would bulge, and the hunger in its mind was enough to drown everything; it would swallow it in one gulp without hesitation and without any picky behavior.

Regardless of whether others felt it tasted good or not, anyway, it felt it was supreme deliciousness.

So its eating manners were very ugly.

But now... it actually looked down on this puppet from the bottom of its heart.

After all, its last meal was the flesh and blood of the Red Mother.

Compared to the Red Mother's flesh and blood, this puppet was no different from a mosquito's meat.

So toward Xu Qing, the Ancient Xiang Linger Emperor's inner heart was very complex; although it cursed "don't come again" in its mouth, it was also roaring "get out, get out, get out" in its heart.

However, if Xu Qing really didn't come again, it was actually a bit reluctant.

This complex thought made the Ancient Xiang Linger Emperor's heart even more annoyed; at this moment, when it spoke, the entire Ancient Xiang Linger Realm was roaring, and under its control, a huge vortex appeared out of thin air above Xu Qing and the others, emitting a huge suction force, pulling the world.

Regarding this kind of treatment like being driven away, Old Nine did not bother to care; holding the thirteen Imperial Qi, he didn't say a word and walked toward the vortex.

Chen Erniu also didn't care about this situation of being repelled; he was already used to it... at this moment, licking his lips, a dark glint flashed in his eyes, and he flew into the vortex.

As for Xu Qing, he naturally had manners, so before leaving, he first bowed to the Ancient Xiang Linger Emperor.

"Then, Junior won't disturb Majesty's seclusion; I wish Majesty a smooth future and an early exit from seclusion."

Regardless of how much sincerity this sentence contained, hearing Xu Qing say it at this moment, although the Ancient Xiang Linger Emperor was annoyed in its heart, it had to admit that Xu Qing had been very polite to it from beginning to end.

Compared to that reckless Old Nine who drew his sword upon meeting, and that idiot who looked sneaky and made people worry if their wallet was lost at a glance.

Xu Qing's respect was very obvious.

"Majesty, that token from before lost its effect, and Junior might encounter better sacrifices next; if I can't send them back in time because of the token..."

Xu Qing looked at the Ancient Xiang Linger Emperor; he didn't want to give up this useful combat power so easily.

The Ancient Xiang Linger Emperor was silent, and after a long while, it snorted coldly; instantly, the suction force of the vortex above Xu Qing surged, and the repulsive force from this realm rose.

Seeing this, although Xu Qing felt regret in his heart, he didn't force it and swayed his body, heading straight for the vortex.

And just as his figure submerged into the vortex and was about to disappear, a token came from the void and flew into the vortex; the next instant, the vortex roared and disappeared from the Ancient Xiang Linger Realm.

The entire Ancient Xiang Linger Realm immediately became peaceful.

The Ancient Xiang Linger Emperor finally sent out the token.

The giant eye slowly closed.

It was just that it didn't notice that within this Ancient Xiang Linger Realm, in the silt of the earth, among countless skeletons, there was a small skeleton whose eyes revealed a blue glint that flashed and vanished.

Hidden within the bones of this skeleton was a blue worm.

The worm radiated a hidden power without words, concealing all its aura.

This was naturally Chen Erniu's legacy.

In the days to come, this small skeleton would search bit by bit in this world of death, investigate bit by bit, and find the treasure that the main body smelled...

Time passed, half a day later, outside the tribal land of the Wood Xiang Linger Clan, above the firmament.

Ninth Grandfather had left, taking Linger with him.

After integrating all thirteen Imperial Qi into Linger's body, the curse on Linger's bloodline was finally completely suppressed, and there would be no more problems in the short term.

Her cultivation also successfully improved, beginning to transition toward the Xiang Linger Collection.

Due to the special nature of the Ancient Xiang Linger Clan's constitution, there was no bottleneck in cultivation improvement at this stage, but it required sleep.

The current Wanggu was filled with smoke and fire; by comparison, the Jiyue Great Domain was safer.

After all, most of the powerful clans in Wanggu knew about Li Zihua's impending return, and even the Holy Land had not descended into the Jiyue Great Domain.

So letting Linger return to the Jiyue Great Domain for seclusion was naturally the best choice.

Originally, Xu Qing was also considering whether to return to the Jiyue Great Domain.

But an Imperial Edict from the Human Race Imperial Capital changed Xu Qing's thoughts.

"Summon Crown Prince's Grand Tutor Xu Qing to return to the Human Race Imperial Capital; conscript the Fenghai County army, in three batches, to come one after another."

Whether it was out of his past in the human race or the Empress's actions after he went missing, in the face of the current descent of the Holy Land, with small-scale wars frequently breaking out in the Eastern Yanyue and the Human Race Imperial Capital Great Domain.

Xu Qing had no reason to refuse the conscription.

Thus, after watching Ninth Grandfather's figure gradually go far away, Xu Qing looked at his Senior Brother beside him.

Chen Erniu didn't care whether Old Nine left or not, nor did he care about the Empress's edict; at this moment, his entire attention was on the worm he left in the Ancient Xiang Linger Realm.

After a moment, Chen Erniu's eyes lit up.

"I can sense it, hahaha."

Chen Erniu was excited.

Xu Qing knew at a glance that his Senior Brother must have made arrangements in the Ancient Xiang Linger Emperor's world, so he reminded him.

"Senior Brother, I have been to the Ancient Xiang Linger Emperor's world of death many times."

Chen Erniu looked at Xu Qing.

"I didn't have much feeling before, but this time... perhaps it's the difference in cultivation, or perhaps it's the difference in this physical body of mine, I felt some strangeness."

Xu Qing pondered for a while and spoke in a low voice.

"It seems that the Ancient Xiang Linger Realm I went to this time is not the same place as the one I went to before!"

"Even recalling the previous few times, it seems every time, it was like this."

"I suspect that there might not be only one Ancient Xiang Linger Realm!"

"That giant snake might not be the only one either."

"And in the thick fog of the Xiang Linger Abyss, my spiritual sense detected a trace of ancient aura and a gaze, carrying deep malice."

Xu Qing rarely spoke so much; he was really worried that his Senior Brother's madness would lead to deviations without clear and accurate intelligence.

In that case, it wouldn't be madness, but seeking death.

Chen Erniu was thoughtful upon hearing this.

"That does fit the logic; if I were the Ancient Xiang Linger Emperor, I wouldn't really have only one world, I would definitely prepare many, mixing truth and falsehood within."

"Good, the worm I left there will be more careful and cautious."

"But Little A-Qing, there is indeed treasure there; although I don't know exactly what it is, I feel... that treasure will definitely be of great use to you and me!"

"I want to explore it well..."

Chen Erniu licked his lips instinctively.

Xu Qing nodded; he knew that although his Senior Brother was crazy, he wasn't stupid, so he didn't say anything more and his gaze fell in the direction of Fenghai County.

Going to the Human Race Imperial Capital, relying on the speed of the pagoda, it was naturally not as fast as teleportation; after all, the journey spanned multiple great domains.

In addition, before heading to the Human Race Imperial Capital, Xu Qing still had one thing to handle in Fenghai County.

Thus, he didn't linger at the Wood Xiang Linger Clan and, after bidding farewell, took the Holy Heaven Treasure Pagoda straight to Fenghai County.

Xu Qing's return was a top-tier major event for Fenghai County, so there were naturally many meetings and pleasantries among old friends.

Like Yao Hou, like Qing Qin, like old friends from the Sword Holder Palace, and Yao Yunhui...

And the opening of the cross-domain teleportation array also required time to prepare and check details; after all, for Fenghai County, Xu Qing's teleportation did not allow for the slightest accident.

So he and Chen Erniu needed to stay in Fenghai County for one night.

That night, in the first half of the night, representatives from all sides of Fenghai County reported their duties to Xu Qing; in the second half of the night, following everyone's departure, Xu Qing also left the County Government.

He appeared at the former Criminal Prison Division.

Walking here, Xu Qing felt as if he were walking through time; the scenes of his past as a prison guard here surfaced before his eyes, and the figure that appeared most often here was the Old Palace Master Kong Liangxiu.

Finally, walking all the way, Xu Qing arrived at the very bottom of the Criminal Prison Division, which was the ruins of the Emperor Xuanyou Ancient Emperor's former palace, and also the place where that Fish Bone God resided before falling.

This place had now been completely mastered by Fenghai County; some areas had been renovated, like the palace on the edge.

Some areas had been explored, like the Hall of Immortal Arts, where the immortal arts were now an important foundation for Fenghai County.

And some areas had been designated as forbidden, like the Phoenix Bird Hall.

Xu Qing's destination was exactly this hall.

He walked step by step to the front of the Phoenix Bird Hall and looked up at this former mysterious place.

Back then, he had lost a portion of his memory here.

Later, he finally learned that this hall was where the daughter of the Emperor Xuanyou Ancient Emperor fell, and it was also where the Zixuan Upper Green Lamp was stored.

It was also... the place where Zixuan was currently receiving the inheritance.

Standing outside the hall, the first thing Xu Qing felt was the aura of the Jin Gang Sect Ancestor.

Almost instantly, the iron sign where the Jin Gang Sect Ancestor was located flew out from the bricks and tiles on the hall, transformed into the figure of You Lingzi, and knelt down directly toward Xu Qing.

"Greetings, Master!"

The Jin Gang Sect Ancestor was full of excitement.

The shadow beneath Xu Qing also rippled, manifesting eyes to examine this current arch-rival of his own.

"How is Zixuan?"

Xu Qing spoke calmly.

"Replying to Master, after the Mistress entered the hall, she has not come out; during this period, I have guarded this place and have not allowed anyone to approach."

"In addition, the Mistress said before entering the hall that if you, Master, come here, do not force your way into this hall; give her some time, no matter what difficulties, she can solve them herself, and after succeeding, she will go to find you."

The Jin Gang Sect Ancestor spoke hurriedly.

Xu Qing's gaze fell on the hall upon hearing this; his spiritual sense could not spread inside here and could only slightly sense that the fluctuations within were in a stable state.

Thus, he withdrew his spiritual sense, sat silently outside the hall, closed his eyes, and sat in meditation.

One night passed.

That night, the Jin Gang Sect Ancestor was solemn, and Little Shadow was vigilant; these two were both filled with thoughts, thinking of various future methods to target each other.

However, their occasional mutual gazes showed different expressions; Little Shadow was full of hostility, while the Jin Gang Sect Ancestor was smiling.

Until the sky of Fenghai County saw the dark night dissolve and the first sun rise, Xu Qing opened his eyes, looked at the Phoenix Bird Hall again, and turned to leave.

Half an hour later, under the respectful send-off of representatives from all sides of Fenghai County, the Fenghai County array roared and operated, and the figures of Xu Qing and Chen Erniu blurred within the array.

Until they disappeared. ===== CHAPTER 964 =====