Chapter 993: Beneath the Tiger Skin, It Is Good to Enjoy the Shade

Xu Qing naturally did not know of Erniu’s bitterness.

At this moment, having spent half a month in this experience, he had perfectly executed the imperial decree given by the Empress.

He challenged the West Moyu, all those at the Spirit Severing realm.

It was just that his challenge was not a contest of magic, but a test of defense.

Thus, as the half-month passed, the news that Xue Chenzi had mastered the secret art of the Nether Lotus of the Nether Flame Great Emperor spread everywhere.

This also caused the name of Xue Chenzi to possess immense prestige throughout the entire Moyu Sacred Land.

As for the origin of the Nether Flame Great Emperor’s secret art, some had questioned it, but considering he was able to become a follower of Lu Lingzi and was the only cultivator brought from the West Moyu,

it was evident that this secret art was naturally taught by Lu Lingzi.

And Xu Qing’s challenge continued.

After passing the Ninth Sovereign Mountain and the Eighth Sovereign Mountain, he had now arrived at the foot of the Seventh Sovereign Mountain.

A large number of cultivators had gathered around the mountain; the vast majority were local cultivators of the West Moyu, with some having rushed over from the East Moyu.

Therefore, the moment Xu Qing appeared, an uproar erupted.

Some shouted in anger, others cheered, making the area outside the Seventh Sovereign Mountain clamorous.

Yet, compared to the liveliness outside the mountain, inside the Seventh Sovereign Mountain, it was completely silent.

Just like that, under the gaze of the crowd, Xu Qing walked before the Seventh Sovereign Mountain.

It was the same words as before, and he still sat cross-legged with his eyes closed on the steps of the Sovereign Mountain, waiting for someone to appear to break his defense.

But this time, it was destined to be different from before.

Under such a challenge from Xu Qing and the build-up of public opinion, there were finally Spirit Severing powerhouses who, whether by their own will or due to hints, chose to take the action of breaking the rules.

They wanted to use this to end the farce that kept causing the West Moyu to lose face.

Just like now.

The moment Xu Qing sat down, a cold snort echoed from the Seventh Sovereign Mountain to all directions.

"Xue Chenzi, do not be arrogant!"

As the voice reverberated, a figure whistled down from the mountain, heading straight for Xu Qing.

The newcomer appeared to be a youth, with seven great worlds shining brilliantly upon him, forming a vast might that surged like a tidal wave, arriving above Xu Qing with an unstoppable force.

There, he did not pause in the slightest; a cold glint flashed in his eyes as he raised his right hand and pressed it down toward Xu Qing.

A massive palm print formed rapidly before him, shrouding the firmament and descending toward Xu Qing.

Although other Spirit Severing cultivators had also displayed such massive palm prints, this time, this palm print was very different from those Xu Qing had faced before.

This palm print was clearer, with every line within it showing no signs of blurriness. Most importantly, the number and level of the rules and laws forming this palm were far more terrifying than what Xu Qing had encountered previously.

And even more shocking was that within it... there was actually a fluctuation of authority!

This fluctuation was strange; although the source was that Spirit Severing youth of seven worlds, if one looked closely, one could see that the true source was the glove on his raised hand.

On his palm, he was unexpectedly wearing a glove as thin as a cicada's wing.

This was... a Sovereign Treasure!

It could erupt with power comparable to a Sovereign.

For a Spirit Severing cultivator to wield it, the cost must be significant, but now, this Spirit Severing youth of seven worlds showed decisiveness in his eyes, as if he were going all out, channeling his entire cultivation base to drive the power of the glove.

This caused the manifested palm print to emit a terrifying and shocking aura, shattering the void along its path as it shrouded Xu Qing.

Xu Qing, who had his eyes closed, slowly opened them and looked up at the palm print that was growing larger above his head.

The Emperor Sword within his body was trembling; with just a single thought, it could rush out and slash at this palm.

But Xu Qing did not use it. Regardless of his expression or his inner thoughts, he was not surprised by this situation.

The other party breaking the rules was within his expectations.

He did not need to make a move.

Below the Sovereign level, he would handle it, but if power at the Sovereign level appeared, Xu Qing believed... this was, in all likelihood, what the Empress expected.

His own challenge was merely a catalyst.

The Empress came to the West Moyu to see the Moyu Great Emperor, and since the Great Emperor chose to make her wait, there was naturally a deeper meaning within it.

This waiting could be one day, a month, or even indefinite.

Therefore, in the face of provocations from other Sovereigns, the Empress did not choose to act, but instead let Xu Qing challenge them, because... the Empress did not like being passive; she wanted to hold the initiative herself.

How to act, when to act, and in what way and for what reason to act, needed to be within her rhythm.

And everything was to make the Moyu Great Emperor issue the decree for a meeting.

Xu Qing had analyzed the clues here very thoroughly, and he also believed that those in the West Moyu were not stupid; he assumed they had likewise analyzed this matter completely.

Therefore, when a cultivator holding a Sovereign Treasure appeared, one could not simply judge the kindness or malice of the other party's intentions.

There was a certain possibility that... a Sovereign had intentionally done this.

For some unknown reason, they were lending the Empress a hand, giving the Empress a reason, a stepping stone to seize the initiative.

So, the next instant, when the palm print formed by the Sovereign glove was a hundred feet from Xu Qing, the palm print suddenly shook and hung suspended in mid-air, motionless.

Beneath the palm print, the figure of Lu Lingzi appeared silently, just as Xu Qing had expected. With a light wave of his hand, the massive, imposing palm print instantly dissipated.

The surroundings fell silent.

Xu Qing stood up and bowed to Lu Lingzi.

That Spirit Severing youth of seven worlds also seemed to feel a sense of relief in his heart and immediately lowered his head to pay respects.

Lu Lingzi’s gaze fell upon the Sovereign Mountain before him. He did not speak, but a trace of pressure began to rise from his body.

The firmament changed color.

Immediately following, a towering figure manifested on the Sovereign Mountain; it was an old woman with a cold expression, staring back at Lu Lingzi.

The earth rumbled.

Two forces at the Sovereign level were beginning to collide in terms of aura, gaze, and pressure.

The force of this collision tore the void apart; spatial rifts appeared in all directions, and storms arose from thin air, circling the surroundings to form a vast vortex.

Countless rocks rose into the air, and even the Sovereign Mountain itself swayed slightly.

At the same time, the standoff here immediately drew the attention of other Sovereigns of the West Moyu. Divine senses whistled over one after another, making the space-time here feel increasingly chaotic.

Threads formed by rules and laws were constantly revealed, only to be constantly shattered.

A sense of oppression also shrouded the hearts of all the cultivators present, causing everyone’s minds to tremble as the Empress, in the guise of Lu Lingzi, spoke.

"Xue Chenzi, take out the token I gave you."

Hearing this, Xu Qing immediately took out the token and held it high.

As the Empress waved her hand, a trace of Sovereign aura emanated from the token. In the perception of everyone present, this jade slip clearly contained the power of a Sovereign.

"Have you ever used this token while sparring with your clansmen of the West Moyu?"

Hearing this, Xu Qing responded in a deep voice.

"I have not."

The Empress continued.

"Have you ever dealt a lethal blow while sparring with your clansmen of the West Moyu?"

Xu Qing shook his head.

"I only sought victory or defeat, and never endangered lives."

The Empress’s gaze fell upon the Seventh Sovereign Mountain.

"The competition between the East and West Moyu is a sparring match between clansmen, and ancient teachings all measure it by fairness."

"Xue Chenzi possesses a Sovereign Treasure but has never used it. The sparring only concerns victory or defeat, not life or death, and apart from the first battle, he has never taken the initiative to attack since."

"Yet the West Moyu secretly used a Sovereign Treasure. If I had not appeared, Xue Chenzi would have had no chance of survival."

"Such actions, harming one's own clansmen, what is the meaning of this?"

The Empress’s voice was icy, spreading to all directions.

The void around them rippled, and the divine senses of the various Sovereigns tightened. Just as the atmosphere around them grew increasingly solidified following Lu Lingzi’s words, a calm voice fell upon the area.

"Lu Lingzi, come to the Dao Platform to see me."

The appearance of this voice instantly corrected the chaotic space-time, caused the collapsing rules and laws to return to normal in an instant, and even dissipated the previous sense of solidification immediately.

All the Sovereigns immediately manifested figures in the heavens and earth, bowing toward the direction of the wing-shaped Dao Platform.

Because the one who spoke these words was none other than the Moyu Great Emperor of this generation.

The Empress raised her head, her expression as usual, and stepped into the void.

Her goal had been achieved.

As for the Sovereigns whose divine senses had descended upon this mountain, they looked at each other, each harboring different thoughts, and then dissipated.

Soon, even the old woman of the Seventh Sovereign Mountain saw her figure fade away. Only the youth who had attacked Xu Qing earlier cupped his hands toward Xu Qing before turning to leave.

Xu Qing, at the foot of the mountain, watched this scene and knew his mission was considered complete; there was no need to continue challenging.

"Then..."

A thought arose in Xu Qing’s mind.

"Since I have come to this West Moyu, and with the Empress’s cover, having already stirred up some waves through the sparring, then... there is a place that might be explored by relying on these events."

Xu Qing had always remembered the information told to him by his Eldest Senior Brother: the two Immortal Art Halls of the Moyu Sacred Land each inherited an immortal art.

"Five Dogs and Six Thieves..."

Xu Qing murmured in his heart. He had already mastered the Six Thieves Delusional Life of the East Moyu, so if it were any other time, Xu Qing understood that the difficulty of trying to observe the Five Dogs Forsaking Immortal Art of the West Moyu would be immense.

But now...

"By borrowing the name of the Empress, and the momentum I have stirred up over the past half-month, perhaps I can go and take a look!"

Xu Qing pondered for a moment, and after confirming there were no flaws in his thoughts, his body flickered, and he ascended into the sky in an instant, flying rapidly away amidst the gazes and discussions of the many cultivators in the surroundings.

The direction he headed was precisely... the West Demon Feather Immortal Art Hall!

The West Demon Feather Immortal Art Hall was not far from the Seventh Sovereign Mountain, built upon a lake named Shexian.

The lake water was pitch black, while the Immortal Art Hall was crafted from white stone; it was exquisite and luxurious, and also had light flowing across it.

Contrasting with the lake water, it gave one a sense of eerie tranquility.

And upon the lake, there were hundreds of cultivators sitting cross-legged; these cultivators were male and female, old and young, all dressed in white, cultivating with their eyes closed upon the lake.

Ripples of Immortal Arts were exceptionally distinct.

When Xu Qing arrived, this was the scene he saw, and he immediately recognized that these people were the Immortal Masters of West Demon Feather!

His arrival did not attract the attention of the cultivators here, and Xu Qing merely swept his gaze over them before focusing his attention on the white Immortal Art Hall in the center of the lake, cupping his hands in a salute and speaking in a low voice.

"Xue Chenzi, acting under the Sovereign's orders, has come here to borrow the Five Dogs Shexian Art for a look!"