Chapter 1045: Beneath the Tiger Skin, It's Good to Find Shade

Xu Qing, naturally, was unaware of Er Niu's sorrow. At this moment, over the past half month, he had perfectly carried out the Empress's decree! He was challenging all the Soul Nurturing experts of West Demon Plume. However, his challenge wasn't a contest of combat spells, but rather one of defense.

Thus, as half a month passed, news of Xue Chenzi mastering the Underworld Flame Emperor's secret art, the Underworld Lotus, spread everywhere. This established Xue Chenzi's formidable reputation throughout the Demon Plume Sacred Land. As for the origin of the Underworld Flame Emperor's secret art, some had questioned it. However, considering he was the only attendant Lu Lingzi brought to West Demon Plume, it was clear that Lu Lingzi must have taught him this secret art.

And Xu Qing's challenge continued! After passing the Ninth and Eighth Dominant Mountains, he had now arrived at the foot of the Seventh Dominant Mountain. A large number of cultivators had already gathered around the mountain. Most of them were native cultivators from West Demon Plume, with some having rushed over from East Demon Plume. So, the moment Xu Qing appeared, an uproar erupted! Some angrily denounced him, while others cheered, making the area outside the Seventh Dominant Mountain incredibly lively.

However, compared to the commotion outside, the Seventh Mountain itself was utterly silent.

And so, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Xu Qing walked to the front of the Seventh Dominant Mountain. He repeated his previous words, closed his eyes, and sat cross-legged on the steps of the Dominant Mountain, waiting for someone to appear and try to breach his defense.

But this time, it was destined to be different! Under Xu Qing's relentless challenge and the mounting public pressure, a Soul Nurturing expert finally, either by their own volition or subtle instigation, chose to break the rules. The intention was to end this farce that was causing West Demon Plume to continually lose face.

And so, at this moment! The instant Xu Qing sat down, a cold snort echoed from the Seventh Dominant Mountain, spreading in all directions!

"Xue Chenzi, do not be arrogant."

As the voice reverberated, a figure whizzed down from the mountain, heading straight for Xu Qing! The newcomer appeared to be a young man, with seven great worlds shining brightly on his body, forming an immense and overwhelming power. Like a torrent sweeping through mountains and seas, he approached Xu Qing with devastating force, stopping directly above him.

Without hesitation, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He raised his right hand and pressed it down towards Xu Qing! A gigantic palm print rapidly formed before him, enveloping the sky as it descended upon Xu Qing!

Although other Soul Nurturing experts also manifested large palm prints when attacking, this time, this palm print was distinctly different from any Xu Qing had faced before! The palm print was much clearer, with every single line distinct. Most importantly, the rules and laws forming this palm were far more numerous and of a higher caliber than any Xu Qing had previously encountered, making it truly terrifying.

But what was even more astonishing was what lay within it! There were fluctuations of authority. These fluctuations were strange. While they originated from the young man of the Seven Soul Nurturing Worlds, a closer inspection revealed that the true source was his raised palm! On his palm, he was clearly wearing a glove as thin as a cicada's wing! This was... a Dominator's Treasure. It could unleash power comparable to that of a Dominator!

For a Soul Nurturing expert to wield it, the cost must have been considerable. Yet, at this moment, the young man from the Seven Soul Nurturing Worlds showed grim determination in his eyes, as if going all out, channeling his entire cultivation to unleash the glove's power! This caused the materialized palm print to exude a terrifying and astonishing aura, shattering the void as it descended, enveloping Xu Qing!

Xu Qing slowly opened his closed eyes and looked up at the rapidly growing palm print above his head. The Emperor's Sword within him trembled, ready to burst forth and strike the palm with just a thought. But Xu Qing didn't use it. Neither his expression nor his inner thoughts betrayed any surprise at this situation. The opponent breaking the rules was well within his expectations. He didn't need to make a move. He would handle anything below the Dominator level, but if Dominator-level power appeared, Xu Qing believed it was very likely what the Empress desired.

His challenge was merely a catalyst! The Empress had come to West Demon Plume to meet the Demon Plume Emperor, and the Emperor's choice to make her wait naturally held a deeper meaning. This wait could be a day, a month, or even indefinite! Therefore, facing the provocations of other Dominators, the Empress chose not to act herself but to let Xu Qing challenge them! Because... the Empress disliked being passive; she wanted to seize the initiative herself! How to act, when to act, in what manner, and for what reason – all needed to be on her terms! And everything was aimed at compelling the Demon Plume Emperor to issue a decree for a meeting!

Xu Qing had analyzed the implications of this thoroughly, and he also believed that the people of West Demon Plume were not foolish; they must have analyzed the matter completely as well. Therefore, when a cultivator wielding a Dominator's Treasure appeared, one couldn't simply judge their intentions as good or evil. There was a distinct possibility that a Dominator had intentionally orchestrated this! For some unknown reason, they might be lending the Empress a hand, providing her with a reason and a stepping stone to take the initiative!

So, the next instant, when the palm print formed by the Dominator's Glove was a hundred *zhang* from Xu Qing, it suddenly trembled and halted motionless in mid-air. Below the palm print, Lu Lingzi's figure, just as Xu Qing had anticipated, silently appeared. With a gentle wave of his hand, the colossal and imposing palm print instantly dissipated!

Silence fell across all directions! Xu Qing stood up and bowed to Lu Lingzi. The young man from the Seven Soul Nurturing Worlds also seemed to feel a release, immediately bowing in greeting.

Lu Lingzi's gaze fell upon the Dominant Mountain before him. He did not speak, but a surge of immense pressure emanated from his body! The sky changed color. Immediately after, a majestic figure materialized on the Dominant Mountain—an old woman, whose cold expression met Lu Lingzi's gaze! The earth rumbled! Two forces at the Dominator level were clashing through their auras, gazes, and pressure! The force of this collision tore through the void, creating spatial cracks in all directions. Storms also appeared out of nowhere, swirling around to form a vast vortex! Countless pieces of rubble flew into the air, and even the Dominant Mountain itself trembled slightly!

At the same time, this confrontation immediately drew the attention of other Dominators in West Demon Plume. Streams of divine sense whistled over, further intensifying the sense of chaos in the space-time here! Threads of rules and laws continuously manifested, only to shatter again! A sense of oppression also enveloped the hearts of all cultivators present, causing everyone's minds to tremble. At that moment, the Empress, in the guise of Lu Lingzi, spoke, her voice reverberating!

"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 Dominator's aura emanated from the token. To everyone's perception, this jade slip clearly contained Dominator power!

"Have you ever used this token during sparring matches with fellow cultivators from West Demon Plume?"

Xu Qing heard the question and responded in a deep voice! "Never!"

The Empress continued! "Have you ever struck with killing intent during sparring matches with fellow cultivators from West Demon Plume?"

Xu Qing shook his head! "Only to determine victory and defeat, never to endanger lives!"

The Empress's gaze fell upon the Seventh Dominant Mountain! "The contests between East and West Demon Plume are sparring matches between kin. Ancient teachings dictate fairness as the measure! Xue Chenzi possesses a Dominator's Treasure, yet he has never used it! His sparring matches are solely about victory and defeat, not life and death, and except for the first battle, he has never actively attacked afterward! Yet West Demon Plume secretly used a Dominator's Treasure. Had I not appeared, Xue Chenzi would surely have had no chance of survival from that strike! What is the meaning of such actions, kin harming kin?"

The Empress's voice was icy cold, spreading in all directions! The void around them rippled, and the divine senses of the various Dominators converged. As the atmosphere solidified with Lu Lingzi's words, a calm voice suddenly resounded!

"Lu Lingzi, come to the Dao Platform and meet me!"

The appearance of this voice instantly corrected the disordered space-time, restored the collapsing rules and laws to normal, and immediately dispersed the previous solidified tension! All Dominators immediately materialized their figures in the heavens and earth, bowing respectfully towards the wing-shaped Dao Platform! For the one who had spoken was none other than the current Demon Plume Emperor!

The Empress raised her head, her expression unchanged, and stepped into the void. Her objective had been achieved. The Dominators whose divine senses had descended around the mountain also exchanged glances, each with different thoughts, before dispersing. Soon, even the old woman from the Seventh Dominant Mountain dissipated, leaving only the young man in mid-air who had just attacked Xu Qing. He cupped his hands at Xu Qing, then turned and left.

Xu Qing stood at the foot of the mountain, watching this scene, knowing his task was complete and that he no longer needed to continue challenging.

"Then..." A thought arose in Xu Qing's mind. "Since I'm already in West Demon Plume, and with the Empress's cover, and having caused quite a stir with the sparring matches... there might be one place I can explore, leveraging these events."

Xu Qing had always remembered the information his senior brother had told him: the two Immortal Art Halls of the Demon Plume Sacred Land each preserved an immortal art! "Five Dogs, Six Thieves."

Xu Qing murmured to himself. He had already mastered East Demon Plume's Six Thieves of Delusion. As for West Demon Plume's Five Dogs Abandoning Immortals art, Xu Qing knew that if it were any other time, observing it would be extremely difficult. But now... leveraging the Empress's name and the momentum he had built over the past half-month, he might be able to take a look.

Xu Qing pondered for a moment, and after confirming there were no flaws in his plan, his body flickered, and he instantly ascended into the sky. Amidst the gazes and discussions of the many cultivators around, he swiftly departed. His destination was the West Demon Plume Immortal Art Hall.

The West Demon Plume Immortal Art Hall, not far from the Seventh Dominant Mountain, was built on a lake named "Abandoning Immortals." The lake water was pitch black, while the Immortal Art Hall was crafted from white stone, exquisite and luxurious, yet also imbued with a desolate light. In contrast with the dark lake, it gave off a strange sense of tranquility.

On the lake, hundreds of cultivators sat cross-legged. These cultivators, male and female, old and young, all dressed in white, meditated with their eyes closed. Waves of immortal arts were especially palpable. When Xu Qing arrived, this was the scene he witnessed. He immediately recognized these individuals as the Immortal Masters of West Demon Plume.

His arrival did not attract the attention of the cultivators present. Xu Qing merely swept his gaze over them before focusing on the white Immortal Art Hall in the center of the lake. He clasped his hands in a bow and spoke in a low voice.

"Xue Chenzi, by the Dominator's decree, requests to observe the Five Dogs Abandoning Immortals art."