Chapter 106: The Solar Chariot

"Giant Imperial Carriage?" Xu Qing was deep in thought, recalling that after returning from his sea journey, he had reported the matter to the Sea Records Hall during his duty.

After that, he had left the sect for the Red Wasteland. Now that he had only recently returned, it was both reasonable and unreasonable for them to seek him out for questioning regarding this matter. It was reasonable in terms of timing, but unreasonable that they would summon him for a personal inquiry. If all of this was true, Xu Qing could already deduce that the matter of the Giant Imperial Carriage was likely of great significance, which was why it had attracted Elder Zhao's attention.

As he pondered, Xu Qing knew he couldn't and shouldn't refuse this matter. He nodded silently, put away his magic boat, and stepped ashore. When he looked up at Deacon Li, the deacon's expression was a half-smile as he spoke.

"I suggest you don't keep the Elder waiting too long. Besides, I just came up from the base of the mountain. I doubt someone of your cultivation level wouldn't have prepared a flying talisman."

"So, do you want me to take you, or can you manage yourself?" Deacon Li looked at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing nodded, took out a flying talisman, and placed it on his leg. With a single step, he ascended into the air. Deacon Li smiled, his body blurring into a long rainbow as he shot towards the Seventh Peak. Xu Qing followed closely behind.

As they flew, the two drew closer to the Seventh Peak. With their approach, Xu Qing felt a surge of emotion; this was his second time visiting this place. The first time was during his initial entry into the sect. He still remembered a phrase spoken by the round-faced cultivator who had once advised him: "This might be your only time climbing the mountain." Looking at it now, that statement was true. After all, not everyone had the hope of reaching Foundation Building. Even he had to consider acquiring Foundation Building resources.

As he mused, Xu Qing's vigilance remained strong. He couldn't fully trust the other party's words, but at the moment, he had no other choice.

Thus, the Seventh Peak gradually became clearer before Xu Qing's eyes. The entire mountain was largely covered in greenery, with a winding mountain path visible from the base to the summit. This mountain path branched off into numerous smaller trails in many areas, connecting to various palace-like buildings. Additionally, many places within the mountain featured plazas and various caves.

The two soon flew into the mountain, passing over numerous grand halls and the very spot where Xu Qing had received his Daoist robe and magic boat. Finally, near the summit, a magnificent hall entered Xu Qing's view. This hall was even more imposing than those they had seen along the way. Constructed entirely of blue-white spiritual tiles, with exquisitely carved balustrades and jade elements, it also featured statues of strange beasts emerging from each corner, as if ready to take flight.

In front of the hall stood two colossal human-shaped stone statues, resembling giants, emanating waves of suppressive aura. The hall's doors were not closed, yet for some unknown reason, nothing inside could be seen clearly; it was all blurry.

Deacon Li descended, and Xu Qing landed alongside him. A strong sense of crisis permeated his body at that moment. The invisible array fluctuations from all around seemed capable of instantly pulverizing him. What was even more directly terrifying was the hall in front of him. Inside the hall, it felt as if an astonishing ferocious beast resided, its exhaled breath transforming into a soul-shaking storm that echoed in all directions. Meanwhile, Deacon Li's expression was exceptionally respectful as he bowed his head and spoke.

"Elder, Xu Qing has been brought."

"Come in." A hoarse, ancient voice emanated from within the hall. When it reached Xu Qing's ears, it was like the rumble of thunder, causing his breath to quicken, as if immense pressure had descended, suppressing his mind. He struggled to stand steady. After bowing his head, he painstakingly lifted his feet and began to walk forward, step by step.

With each step, sweat beaded on his forehead. The astonishing pressure from inside the hall made his mind hum louder the closer he got. The tremor from his entire body made Xu Qing's steps heavy and difficult. However, it seemed the entity within the hall held no overt malice; this pressure felt like an instinctive emanation. Thus, despite the difficulty, Xu Qing managed to support himself step by step, relying on his body refinement and cultivation, and walked inside.

The moment he stepped over the hall's threshold, he finally understood why everything had appeared blurry from the outside: everything inside the hall was distorted. Whether it was the seats, the stone pillars, or even the surrounding walls, everything appeared to Xu Qing as constantly shaking and twisting. The source of all this was the figure of an old man seated on the grand chair at the very front. His face was unclear, only his purple Daoist robe and white hair were visible. This person was the source of the distortion; an invisible force seemed to emanate from him, making the area he enveloped impossible to discern clearly.

"Greetings, Elder." Xu Qing endured the dizziness caused by the distortion in the hall, bowed his head, and saluted with clasped fists.

"Describe in detail the Golden Crow Imperial Carriage you saw." The ancient voice drifted gently, sinking into Xu Qing's mind, transforming into repeated echoes that reverberated endlessly.

Xu Qing took a deep breath. There was nothing to hide about this matter; it had merely been a chance encounter, which was why he had reported it earlier. So, after the Elder spoke, he recounted the entire process in detail. During this time, Elder Zhao above said nothing more, merely listening quietly. Until Xu Qing finished speaking, there was a deathly silence in the hall. Xu Qing felt immense pressure, enduring it in silence.

After a long while, Elder Zhao's voice, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, slowly drifted forth. "You missed an opportunity."

Xu Qing remained silent.

"But you also saved your life."

Xu Qing hesitated for a moment, then, enduring the surrounding pressure and dizziness, clasped his fists and spoke. "Elder, may I ask, what was that Imperial Carriage...?"

The hall was quiet. After a long pause, the ancient voice spoke again. "Since you've seen it with your own eyes, there's no harm in telling you."

"That was the Solar Imperial Chariot!"

Xu Qing's mind reeled at these words.

"On the inner wall of that bronze imperial carriage, a secret art is inscribed, called 'Golden Crow Refines Myriad Spirits.' This secret art is one of the rare Emperor-level secret techniques from ancient times to the present." The ancient voice showed a hint of emotion at this moment, as if sighing with感慨. "Few people encounter the Solar Imperial Chariot, even fewer have the chance to see this secret art after encountering it, and those who can learn it after seeing it are exceedingly rare."

"Secret art?" Images of the giant and the imperial carriage he had seen that day flashed through Xu Qing's mind.

"That's why I said you missed an opportunity. Your fate is shallow, and you cannot force such things."

"For countless years, only our Seven Blood Eyes' Supreme Alliance Master, in his youth, had such an opportunity. He remained within that imperial carriage for a single breath's time and learned a fragmented part of it. After that, the imperial carriage sank into the sea and has remained there for a century. Its reappearance now is clearly to find a fated individual. Once the secret art within the carriage is comprehended again, it will resubmerge into the sea to slumber, awaiting its next awakening."

Xu Qing's heart surged with emotion. These matters were a great shock to him and were clearly secret knowledge, impossible for a disciple like him from the lower peaks to know.

"Telling you all this is also because this matter cannot be recorded in the Sea Records Hall, nor can it be exchanged for spirit stones, so consider it a form of compensation for you."

"Furthermore, observing your cultivation, you are nearing a breakthrough. The Seventh Peak Grand Competition is about to begin soon. Handle yourself well."

As the ancient voice echoed, a powerful force swept in from all directions. Xu Qing's body uncontrollably retreated until he was outside the hall, and everything inside became blurry once more.

Looking at the hall, Xu Qing bowed with clasped fists. Sweat now covered his body. In the short time he had spent inside the hall, he had endured immense pressure. Elder Zhao, seated at the head, truly felt far more terrifying and powerful than any forbidden zone beast he had ever encountered.

Outside the hall, Deacon Li was still waiting. Seeing Xu Qing emerge, he smiled. "Xu Qing, I'll escort you down." Saying this, he flew up, stepping on air as he moved forward.

Xu Qing took a deep breath and followed behind. As they flew out, the mountain wind dried the sweat on his body, but the profound terror he felt regarding Elder Zhao's power was something no wind could disperse.

"Elder Zhao is not an ordinary Elder on the mountain," Deacon Li, who was ahead, glanced at Xu Qing and spoke slowly. "Within the Seventh Peak, among the thirteen Elders, Elder Zhao ranks third. Also, I heard Zhongheng mention you. That child Zhongheng, to use the Elder's exact words, is... 'quite foolish, but not bad-hearted.'" Outside the Seventh Peak, Deacon Li uttered these words with profound meaning, then turned and left.

Xu Qing watched his retreating back, then after a moment of silence, walked into the city. He clearly understood the meaning of the other party's last words. It was a warning not to secretly try to eliminate Zhao Zhongheng over minor conflicts. Xu Qing had no such thoughts at the moment.

"Zhao Zhongheng has a good grandfather."

"Also... is the Grand Competition starting soon?" Xu Qing walked calmly through the city, slowly calming the mental ripples caused by Elder Zhao's pressure. Remembering the array crossbow he had obtained from the Vajra Sect Ancestor, he changed direction and headed towards the Logistics Department. He planned to further strengthen his magic boat before the Grand Competition.

It was noon, and the city was bustling with indifferent, hurried pedestrians. Xu Qing passed a fruit stall where, uncommonly, there were some very large apples today. Xu Qing looked at them, bought all of them, put them in his pocket, and entered the port area.

As he headed towards the Logistics Department, he passed an alley entrance. Xu Qing seemed to sense something, suddenly turned his head, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes. As his gaze fell, a young figure emerged from the shadowy alley entrance. The youth was clad in a loose, bulky grey Daoist robe, underneath which he wore a dog fur coat. His small face was dirty. It was none other than the mute boy from the Felony Division.

He seemed to have been waiting there for a long time. Upon seeing Xu Qing, he immediately dragged a corpse over, placed it in front of Xu Qing, forced a strained, ingratiating expression onto his rigid face, and then quickly ran off without looking back.

Xu Qing frowned, looking down at the corpse in front of him. It was a wanted criminal. The corpse was covered in bite marks; apart from the intact head, the entire body was a bloody mess, as if it had been bitten to death by a wild beast.