Chapter 991: The 1045th Chapter: Arrogant by Imperial Decree

The voice of Xu Qing echoed within the great hall of the Tenth Sovereign Mountain.

The Empress raised her head, her gaze falling upon Xu Qing.

"This divine power is supreme, especially the variable of fate; even I cannot see through it."

"I can only tell you that the divine power of the Upper Desolation on the Remnant Face is destiny itself."

"You and Ziqing—one is a body shaped from the flesh and blood of the Upper Desolation, the other gained a new life as a dependent of the Upper Desolation."

"At the same time, under that blade strike from your Master back then, you plundered some of the destiny of the Ziqing Upper Kingdom, making the return of the Ziqing Upper Kingdom incomplete."

"And the relationship between you and Ziqing is that of closest kin in this lifetime."

"These things are like the entanglement of fate, and they will inevitably converge at a single point in the future."

"This is the theory of the fixed and the variable, the struggle between fate and destiny, and even more so, the battle of choosing destiny between you and Ziqing."

The Empress withdrew her gaze from Xu Qing and looked toward the distant firmament; a stream of light seemed to flash in her eyes, as if... she saw that day.

Afterward, it dimmed somewhat.

Xu Qing was silent.

He saw the dimness in the Empress's eyes but did not ask a single question, because whatever she saw, it was ultimately within the scope of the fixed.

The variable cannot be seen.

Since destiny is eventually to be grasped by oneself, then the future must also be carved out by one's own engraving knife.

To draw the fate of others, and to carve the life of oneself.

Therefore, Xu Qing was composed; he looked at the Empress and bowed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for clearing my doubts. I wonder if there is anything I, Xu Mou, can assist with here in the Demon Feather Sacred Ground?"

"If there is, Xu Qing will do his utmost to complete it!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress nodded slightly.

"Originally, there was not."

Xu Qing blinked, catching the underlying meaning of this sentence.

"But considering you are somewhat restless, from now on, you shall follow by my side."

"In three days, I am going to the West Demon Feather to visit the current generation's Demon Feather Great Emperor in the guise of this Lu Lingzi, to discuss the details regarding the opening of the place where the Underworld Flame Great Emperor is in seclusion."

"At that time, you will accompany me."

"For now, you may rest outside the hall to recover your currently fragile soul."

The Empress raised her hand, and a pill bottle along with a jade slip flew toward Xu Qing.

Xu Qing caught them and sensed that the pill bottle contained a medicinal pill, clearly one for nourishing the soul, and the jade slip served the same purpose. A sense of gratitude rose in his heart; he bowed once more and then exited the great hall.

Outside the hall, Xu Qing took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and swallowed the pill from the bottle in his hand.

As the pill entered his mouth, it immediately melted, forming wisps of medicinal power that nourished his soul and merged into his sea of consciousness.

The effect of this pill was remarkable; as it landed in Xu Qing's sea of consciousness, it was like a parched earth receiving rain, and withered grass and trees gaining new life. Xu Qing's soul, dimmed by the Boundary Source Secret Realm, began to recover rapidly.

Three days passed.

Under the effect of the pill, Xu Qing's soul recovered by fifty percent.

Although it had not fully healed, the impact on his combat power was no longer significant. He would need some time to nurture it further. At the same time, the power of the jade slip gradually manifested; Xu Qing had a premonition that in at most a month, he could gradually return to his peak state.

And the Empress, at dusk on this day, walked out of the great hall and stepped toward the sky.

Xu Qing immediately stood up and followed behind.

Thus, the large number of Demon Feather cultivators gathered under the Tenth Sovereign Mountain all witnessed this scene that made them worship in the dusk.

A Sovereign, stepping through the air.

This was the first time Lu Lingzi had publicly walked out since ascending the Sovereign Mountain.

As for Xu Qing, who followed behind, he was also the first to be stared at by all the onlookers, most of whom felt their minds shaken.

Among them, some recognized Xue Chenzi, but more had seen with their own eyes the scene of Xu Qing paying respects to the mountain, and had felt ripples in their hearts when Xu Qing was allowed to enter the Sovereign Mountain back then.

And now, seeing Xu Qing following her with their own eyes, they immediately understood the significance within.

He had become a follower of the Tenth Sovereign!

From now on, his status and position would be completely different from before; if he were to descend the mountain alone, he could even command the respectful bows of these gathered cultivators.

Thus, complex and unwilling emotions arose in the hearts of many.

But no matter what, these emotions had to be forcibly suppressed and could not be revealed in the slightest; what could be revealed... was only respect.

Amidst the worship of the crowd, Xu Qing followed the Empress toward the horizon.

The Empress's speed was not fast, but with every step she took, the world blurred, and the aura of a Sovereign on her person was extremely obvious.

The Empress's departure also immediately attracted the attention of other Sovereigns in the East Demon Feather; gazes carrying weight stared across the void one after another.

Xu Qing instinctively restrained his aura, but after seeing the Empress's complete composure, he also gained confidence.

After all, this was the peak of the God Platform, and she dared to go see the Demon Feather Great Emperor; clearly, the Empress had absolute self-confidence.

Since that was the case, following by her side, he had no need to overthink.

Thinking of this, Xu Qing raised his head and became equally composed.

Just like that, under the gazes of the other Sovereigns of the East Demon Feather, the Empress took Xu Qing across the firmament, and after a few steps, left the territory of the East Demon Feather and stepped into the range of the West Demon Feather.

The moment they appeared in the West Demon Feather, more Sovereign gazes fell from thin air.

In an instant, the earth roared, the void twisted, and traces of laws and rules flashed from all directions; furthermore, the moment the gazes arrived, divine senses swept over this place in an overbearing manner.

Without the slightest courtesy, they landed on the Empress.

The Empress remained expressionless and continued forward.

Xu Qing's expression was as usual, and he followed with his head lowered.

Although the Sovereign Mountains of the West Demon Feather far exceeded those of the East Demon Feather, numbering twenty-one.

Yet Xu Qing could feel that these Sovereigns' gazes only swept over him briefly, with the focus all gathered on the Empress.

This left Xu Qing with almost no pressure.

He only needed to perform the role of a follower well.

However, he also sensed that those gazes coming from thin air carried ill intent, and such an aggressive posture was clearly also carrying a warning as well as contempt for this newly promoted Sovereign of the East Demon Feather, Lu Lingzi.

This contempt naturally existed for deeper-level purposes, so it did not come solely from the Sovereigns.

It also included the Demon Feather Great Emperor of this generation.

The Empress's visit yielded no results.

After the Empress stated her purpose, the Demon Feather Great Emperor's Dao Platform did not immediately issue a summons; instead, it was that Great Emperor's disciple, also a newly promoted Sovereign and a middle-aged cultivator, who issued the imperial decree to the Empress.

This decree contained only one word.

"Wait!"

After speaking, this newly promoted Sovereign looked at the Empress with scrutiny in his eyes and spoke coldly.

"Lu Lingzi, when we sparred back then, there was no victor; now that you have also been promoted, why not fight once more!"

As soon as these words were spoken, thunder roared in the firmament, and a sense of oppression descended suddenly.

The Empress's expression had not changed from beginning to end; at this moment, she did not even glance at that disciple of the Demon Feather Great Emperor, but instead turned to look at Xu Qing and spoke indifferently.

"Xue Chenzi."

"This subordinate is here!" Xu Qing immediately bowed.

"Go and spar with all the Spirit-Nurturing experts under the Sovereigns within the West Demon Feather; do not tarnish the name of our East Demon Feather."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the Sovereigns watching this place instantly looked at Xu Qing; even the Sovereign who had announced the Great Emperor's decree moved his gaze away from the Empress and toward Xu Qing.

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed; he understood the implication in the Empress's words—this was clearly telling him to be ostentatious.

However, divine power and authority were his primary means of lethality, so his biggest problem was that he would inevitably expose himself if he attacked.

But since the Empress had spoken this way, it was impossible that she had not considered this point, so Xu Qing did not hesitate in the slightest; a murderous intent rose from his body, and he accepted the order in a low voice.

"I obey the decree!"

After speaking, his body flickered, and he headed straight for the distant horizon.

The Empress closed her eyes and spoke no more.

As for Xu Qing, thoughts turned in his heart; on one hand, he guessed that the Empress was trying to cover up the way he attacked, and on the other, he recalled his understanding of the West Demon Feather from Xue Chenzi's memories.

"There are twenty-one Sovereign Mountains in the West Demon Feather; the strongest among them is the second, followed by the first, the third, and the seventeenth."

"The Empress told me to spar, so the most suitable first battle..."

Xu Qing looked toward the north.

That was the direction of the Seventeenth Sovereign Mountain.

"Is right there!"

"As for the Empress's way of covering up my attacks, in all likelihood..." Xu Qing touched the jade slip the Empress had given him earlier.

He had originally thought this jade slip was only for nourishing the soul, but judging it now, this object was nine times out of ten a concealment item specifically prepared for him by the Empress.

Thinking of this, Xu Qing no longer hesitated; whistling through the air, he headed straight for the Seventeenth Sovereign Mountain.

He displayed his speed to the extreme, and there was even the sound of sonic booms echoing in all directions. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the towering and majestic Seventeenth Sovereign Mountain appeared in Xu Qing's sight.

The moment he approached, Xu Qing's voice was like heavenly thunder, exploding boomingly on this mountain.

"Xue Chenzi, under the Tenth Sovereign of the East Demon Feather, challenges all Spirit-Nurturing experts within the Seventeenth Sovereign Mountain of the West Demon Feather!"

Almost the instant Xu Qing's words were uttered, a cold snort came from within the Seventeenth Sovereign Mountain.

"Chen Fei, go and suppress this brat!"

All the Sovereigns of the West Demon Feather had heard the Empress's words to Xu Qing earlier.

And in their view, since Lu Lingzi herself would not fight and had sent a follower, then... after suppressing this follower, Lu Lingzi would have no more excuses not to engage in battle.

Thus, in the blink of an eye, amidst the echoing cold snort, a figure flew out from within the mountain.

This was a middle-aged cultivator, tall and burly, with a powerful cultivation base fluctuation; seven Great Worlds were shockingly flashing with dazzling light upon his body.

At this moment, after flying out, his figure paused in mid-air, first bowing toward the mountain, then turning his head to look at Xu Qing with a sharp gaze.

Following this, with a single step, he headed straight for Xu Qing.

The seven Great Worlds erupted with a roar, forming a terrifying might, yet Xu Qing’s expression remained calm; he raised his right hand, pressed it remotely toward the direction Chen Fei was approaching, and then clenched his palm.

Instantly, the Sound Authority within his body erupted in a flash.

The sounds stirred up around Chen Fei all transformed into lethality at this moment, surging backward to form a massive sphere, within which the sound-kill turned into waves, vast and mighty, shaking everything.

Such a method caused Chen Fei’s expression to change and his heart to ripple, yet what he saw in his eyes was not the sound-kill, but countless astonishing blood seals.

Each seal exuded a thick, bloody aura, contained extraordinary power, and when combined with one another, possessed an even more profound sense.

This caused him to lose the initiative at the very first moment.

Thus, at the critical moment of crisis, the light of his seven Great Worlds flashed, and he formed seals with both hands; seven different, sinister statues shockingly rose ferociously from within the seven Great Worlds.

They flickered, revealed their true forms, rushed out from the worlds they occupied, and killed toward Xu Qing at high speed.

Xu Qing was expressionless; the moment those seven true forms approached, he vanished in an instant, merging into the sound, and when he appeared, he was shockingly behind Chen Fei’s physical body.

Two authorities in his eyes shone brilliantly for a split second.

He saw Chen Fei’s threads of karma and stirred his seven emotions and six desires.

Locking his life with karma, and turning his emotions into waves.

Striking his heart and mind.

Subsequently, the Profound Yang Immortal Light transformed into a great sun, rising in his sea of consciousness, forming endless light and heat, instantly enveloping Chen Fei and suppressing him fiercely.

A roaring sound rose to the heavens; Chen Fei had only lost the initiative within the Sound Authority, and thereafter was passive at every step; at this moment, before his full capabilities could even be unleashed, he was severely wounded within the Profound Yang Immortal Light, his body falling toward the earth with a boom.

Xu Qing pursued instantly, approached directly, and raised his hand to land a punch on Chen Fei’s chest, making his injuries even heavier.

All of this takes a long time to tell, but in reality, it all happened in a flash of lightning.

Almost at the instant Xu Qing displayed his Divine Authority and Authority previously, the jade slip gifted by the Empress merged with him silently and soundlessly, perfectly concealing all his methods.

Thus, the Sound Authority displayed externally in this battle became a seal related to blood, the Authority became a Dao technique, and the Immortal Light great sun became a secret art.

And such a rapid conclusion to the battle also caused the many cultivators on the Seventeenth Sovereign Mountain who were watching this fight to have their hearts shaken, falling into a moment of silence.

Xu Qing recalled the Empress’s request, so he looked down at Chen Fei from a high position.

"You are too weak."

While speaking, he kicked out, sending Chen Fei’s body flying toward the Sovereign Mountain.

Afterward, he spoke indifferently.

"This mountain contains divinity; who else will fight?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Fei felt unwillingness rise in his heart; he still had many methods he had not used, and in his perception, his previous failure was clearly due to his own negligence.

Thus, he wanted to say something, but as his body landed, the severity of his injuries caused him to vomit blood again before he could even speak.

At the same time, a low voice suddenly emanated from within the Seventeenth Sovereign Mountain.

"I did not wish to bully the young with my seniority, but since you, Xue Chenzi, have requested it yourself, then... I shall suppress you, old man."

As he spoke, a terrifying aura surpassing Chen Fei’s rose to the heavens from within the Seventeenth Sovereign Mountain, and an old man’s figure walked out from the void.

This old man had red hair and exuded a terrifying intent; nine Great Worlds were not on his body, but were manifested one by one behind him, and set against the backdrop of this world, they gave the old man a sense of being infinitely close to a god.

He walked toward Xu Qing, step by step.

Nine Worlds of Divinity!

A barely perceptible flash appeared in Xu Qing’s eyes; he had no certainty that he could shake a Nine Worlds of Divinity cultivator, so looking at the cultivator walking toward him, Xu Qing shook his head.

"You are likewise not my opponent."

"However, since you spoke of bullying the young with seniority, I shall stand here and let you make three moves; if you can injure me even slightly, you win."

After Xu Qing finished speaking, his body landed on the earth, and with his hands behind his back, he looked toward the old man.

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