Chapter 986: I Wish

The first star ring is generally triangular in shape, its interior a blur, as if shrouded by a supreme power, impossible to investigate!

The second star ring is much clearer, and while it also contains markings, they are merely outlines.

The third and fourth are much the same.

But the fifth star ring is different; the marking of the old man sitting cross-legged at its very center is relatively much clearer.

Looking across the other star rings, they each have their own terrifying markings—some clear, some merely outlines, varying in size and shape.

Gazing at these, Xu Qing’s mind roared violently.

Back when he was reborn from the flesh and blood of the Upper Wasteland, his consciousness gained some vague perceptions, such as the thirty-six star rings.

It was not until he went to the outer seas with Yu Liuchen and was swallowed by that massive whale that he met an old man who claimed to be from the Immortal Capital of the fifth star ring.

The conversation with the old man broadened Xu Qing’s horizons, and he confirmed that the universe he was in was one of the thirty-six star rings.

But that was all.

He knew the information, but lacked concrete imagery, and did not know which star ring he was in.

So, at this moment, when the star map of these thirty-six star rings appeared before his eyes, the roar in his heart was earth-shattering, with ripples sufficient to make his sea of consciousness churn violently.

He finally knew which star ring he was in.

The ninth star ring!

And within this ninth star ring, there are numerous factions, with terrifying markings in the east, west, south, and north.

But Xu Qing did not know if it was an illusion, but whether it was the giant beast, the golden river, the black tower, or the paper figure, they all seemed to faintly point toward the direction of the Remnant Face.

It was as if they were being attracted and pulled.

And if one were to judge by the degree of clarity, the Remnant Face is the clearest marking within these thirty-six star rings!

There is no other.

As for the other markings in the ninth star ring, and even the old man marking in the fifth star ring, or even all the visible markings across the entire thirty-six star rings, they are all relatively inferior.

Only the first star ring, due to its overall blurriness, cannot be seen clearly; it is unknown whether a terrifying existence like the Remnant Face also exists within it.

But regardless, the star map before his eyes was like the creation of the world in Xu Qing’s mind, instantly expanding his worldview.

The world is right before his eyes.

The starry sky is also in his sight.

The star rings are infinitely vast.

Compared to this, the Wanggu Continent is like a grain of sand on a beach, insignificant, yet because of the existence of the Upper Wasteland, this grain of sand is... incomparably brilliant.

So, after a long while, Xu Qing took a deep breath, barely managing to calm his surging heart.

"The level of the Remnant Face is half-step god... that is why its brilliance exceeds all others."

"Then, what level of strength are the markings in the four directions of this ninth star ring? God Lord? God Venerable?"

"In all likelihood, the latter."

"Then, was the Remnant Face originally in the ninth star ring, or did it arrive from another star ring?"

"The east, west, south, and north are all faintly being pulled by the Remnant Face..."

Xu Qing pondered. He was unfamiliar with the giant beast, and he had never seen a similar existence to the golden river, but he had seen something similar to that black tower.

"The remnant tower beneath the Forbidden Sea, which I later integrated into my own wings to form the Holy Heaven Pagoda... I wonder if there is a connection between it and this black tower."

"As for the final paper figure..."

A cold glint appeared in Xu Qing’s eyes; he thought of that Deluozi who appeared in the battle where the Sword-Wielding Emperor fell!

"Deluozi’s methods are related to paper; could there be a connection to this paper figure?"

After a long time, Xu Qing suppressed the various thoughts that kept erupting.

What he saw today was too shocking; he needed some time to let it settle.

And this place was clearly not a suitable location.

So Xu Qing scanned his surroundings, spread his spiritual sense, and a moment later, Xu Qing looked up, gazing into the further void.

In this place, he did not find that fleeing face.

However, the preciousness of this star map is, to a certain extent, astonishing in value.

Thus, Xu Qing imprinted it in his mind, and after firmly memorizing it, his body flickered, and he began a wider range of exploration.

But instinctively, he did not approach this vast star map.

The first layer of candlelight in this jade slip possessed a terrifying power of assimilation, so Xu Qing knew he had to be cautious in this second layer.

It was highly likely that a similar assimilation existed here as well.

Just like that, an hour passed.

As Xu Qing searched, an inexplicable sense of crisis gradually rose in his heart.

It grew thicker and thicker.

By this moment, it had reached the point of making his heart jump.

This made Xu Qing increasingly certain of his previous guess.

"Cannot stay long."

Although it was a pity that he did not find that face on this trip, and he feared that returning to the shadow where the candlelight was located would likely not yield results, meaning his purpose for this trip was not achieved.

But Xu Qing understood one thing better: sometimes, fate is just like this.

He had seen it twice and searched twice, both times failing.

This suggests... that face perhaps possesses its own will; it does not want to be found.

"A pity..."

Xu Qing sighed softly and touched the jade bottle in his storage bag.

"I hope the white dust inside is enough for me to study and use."

Thinking of this, Xu Qing no longer hesitated. With a decisive heart, his body flickered, and he headed straight for the spatial rift he had used to enter.

"I have lingered in this Realm Source Secret Realm for a long time; to be safe, it is better to leave."

Xu Qing’s speed was extremely fast, racing through the void like a long rainbow, and he soon returned to the entrance rift.

He had left a strand of divine sense here earlier, and after checking that it was undisturbed, he stepped out, approached the rift, and was about to return to the previous layer of the candlelight world.

But just as Xu Qing’s figure was about to pass through the rift, a strange yet familiar aura suddenly came from the void behind him.

After sensing it, Xu Qing’s body shook, his cultivation erupted, his dual-face authority shone, and he turned around abruptly, staring fixedly at the void.

There, ripples were currently spreading.

Almost the moment Xu Qing looked over, an object appeared out of thin air at the center of these ripples.

It was a mask!

Its appearance was exactly that of the face Xu Qing had seen with his own eyes twice but failed to track down.

Only now, it had materialized into a mask.

It seemed this was its true form.

It was now facing Xu Qing, seemingly observing him, while also swaying, as if prepared to flee instantly at the slightest disturbance.

Xu Qing was vigilant and did not act rashly, instead standing before the rift, observing it as well, while pondering in his heart.

"I went to find it, and it hid from me, but when I gave up, it appeared on its own."

Just like that, the time of an incense stick passed.

Neither side made any move, merely observing each other with their gazes, and the mask no longer swayed as it had before, seemingly lowering its guard because Xu Qing had not attacked.

Until Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, thinking about how to strike to capture the mask instantly, the mask seemed to sense Xu Qing’s thoughts and began to blur rapidly, as if about to dissipate.

Xu Qing frowned and dismissed the thought of attacking, remembering that this object appeared when he had no intention of searching for it... so he simply gave up the idea of capturing it entirely.

Almost the moment he let go of that thought, the mask became clear again from its blurriness, gazed at Xu Qing for a while longer, and suddenly emitted a fluctuation; its lips parted slightly, and a numb voice entered Xu Qing’s heart.

"What wish... do you want to make?"

Xu Qing was silent, his inner vigilance intensifying; he did not know what this mask was, that it could even speak.

However, he had seen many strange things in his life, so he had his own judgment, understanding that some things cannot be answered casually.

But just as Xu Qing was pondering, the mask, seeing that Xu Qing did not answer, blurred once again, as if about to dissipate again.

Seeing this, Xu Qing’s eyes flashed, and he suddenly spoke.

"I wish..."

After these three words were spoken, the mask’s blurred state paused and became clear again. As it gazed at Xu Qing, Xu Qing took a step back and stepped directly into the rift behind him.

Instantly, his figure disappeared.

When he reappeared, he was no longer on the star map layer, but had emerged in the layer where the red candlelight was located.

Light and heat rushed toward him.

Xu Qing ignored them and flew rapidly toward the rift to see if the mask would follow.

Soon... ripples appeared at the spatial rift he was watching, and the mask actually flew out along with Xu Qing.

The moment it appeared, it gazed at Xu Qing.

It was as if it were waiting for Xu Qing to state the content of his wish.

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, his body flickered, and he sped into the distance, while keeping an eye on the mask.

And this mask showed a hint of hesitation in its expression, but soon it actually chose to follow, flying toward Xu Qing.

It seemed that Xu Qing’s previous opening had achieved some kind of cause.

And because Xu Qing had not stated the wish he wanted to make, this cause had no result.

Thus, the mask no longer left, but followed behind Xu Qing.

Just like that, after flying for half an incense stick’s time, Xu Qing suddenly retreated, appearing instantly near the mask behind him, and reached out to grab it.

This time, the mask did not blur and vanish as it had before, but instead allowed Xu Qing to grab it firmly.

In his hand, the mask stared at Xu Qing, as if still waiting for him to state the content of his wish.

Xu Qing’s face remained expressionless as he casually placed the mask into his sleeve.

Xu Qing did not feel at ease keeping this object in his storage bag; after all, it was a living thing.

Furthermore, methods like sealing it might be perceived as malicious, potentially breaking the current state between them.

Especially after the previous test, Xu Qing judged that it would likely continue to follow him until he stated his wish.

Therefore, his sleeve was a very suitable place.

As for the specifics of this mask, the karma of the wish, and the matter of the white dust, Xu Qing planned to study them carefully after leaving this Boundary Source Secret Realm.

Since his purpose for coming here had been fulfilled, and lingering for too long carried the risk of assimilation, Xu Qing did not hesitate; he immediately took out the token for the Boundary Source Secret Realm and, with a squeeze, prepared to leave.

Yet, at this squeeze, the red candlelight in the distance suddenly flared up, engulfing the entire area and illuminating Xu Qing as well.

Whether it was because of this light or not, the token... actually became completely unresponsive!

Xu Qing looked up at the red candle.

"Is it because the mask is on me that this red candle will not let me leave?"

"Or is there another reason that caused this red candle to flare up just now..."

"Or perhaps, it is just a coincidence."

Xu Qing pondered and squeezed the token again; the fire of the red candle flashed once more, causing the token to fail.

The malice radiated by this scene caused Xu Qing’s expression to darken.