Chapter 1085: Wind and Rain Promise

From this moment, the sky above the Wanggu Continent seemed to gain an additional layer of misty significance. It was the smoke of human civilization, the very essence of the human world. This atmosphere was imbued with the Sword Intent of the Sword-Wielding Great Emperor. He had, for the sake of all beings on Wanggu, secured a reprieve of thirty years.

Of course, only mortals truly perceived this change. To the deities, it was merely a conflict between cultivators, one that did not concern them. Any intervention from them was solely motivated by a desire to preserve their source of incense and worship. The Three Flame-Moon Gods, for instance, fell into this category. A deity truly like the Empress, however, was unique; there were no others. Moreover, only a fraction of Wanggu's deities chose to absorb the incense of its myriad races. Most other deities remained dormant in their respective abodes. They did not intervene.

Ultimately, this war among cultivators was seen as nothing more than a game. The deities paid no heed to its progression. The Sword-Wielding Great Emperor, however, was equally indifferent to the gods' perceptions; his entire will and aspiration had been poured into that single sword strike.

At that moment, a crimson rain descended from the heavens, drenching the world. It was the rain marking the demise of the Summer Immortal. Amidst the downpour, the Sword-Wielding Great Emperor, his figure towering between heaven and earth, turned to cast one final glance upon the mortal world, then... a faint smile touched his lips.

"Clinging to life and death, it is difficult to let go. Yet, with a single thought of release, comes rebirth."

His smile was eternal. The death qi engulfing his being consumed his entire body; his flesh and blood visibly withered away, transforming him into a form of earth and stone. His three souls – Heaven, Earth, and Human – detached from his form. His Human Soul returned to the collective memory of humanity, his Earth Soul merged back into the land and rivers of the human domain, and his Heaven Soul likewise dissipated into the current of destiny. His seven corporeal souls also departed. The souls formed by the five Human Emperors were all returned to their original state, awakening once more. Even the past and future bestowed by the Empress were, within the Sword-Wielding Great Emperor's smile, returned to her. This also included the Emperor Sword he held.

As he released his grip, the Emperor Sword arced gracefully through the air, landing before Xu Qing.

The rain intensified.

Xu Qing and the Empress stood amidst the downpour, observing this scene, a profound sorrow rising in their hearts and lingering indefinitely. A distant wind then swept through a thousand mountains, colliding with the blood rain to create an unforgettable echo that resonated deeply within their souls. It ultimately transformed into a soft sigh.

Xu Qing lowered his head and bowed deeply towards the Great Emperor's towering form. The Empress, in silence, offered a farewell bow. This scene became an indelible image, etched into the hearts of every cultivator who witnessed or perceived it.

A month later.

The war on the Wanggu Continent, marked by the successive collapse of numerous Profound-grade Holy Lands, was drawing to a close. The ancient Summer Immortal could not descend and made no demands for the other four Earth-grade Holy Lands to fall. Such actions would have been meaningless. Consequently, the remaining Yellow-grade Holy Lands on Wanggu became isolated and abandoned forces, much like their ancestors had abandoned Wanggu in ancient times. Amidst the surge of the myriad races, these Yellow-grade Holy Lands were denied even the option of surrender. Only death awaited them. Their struggles before death merely served to delay the inevitable, and no matter how long they stalled, it would never amount to thirty years.

As for humanity, they had completely risen. Both the contemporary Empress and the heroic feat of the Sword-Wielding Great Emperor had restored humanity's splendor among Wanggu's myriad races, transforming them into a beacon in the darkness.

Thus, against this backdrop, on this day a month later, within the continuous rain falling over the human imperial capital's grand region, an ancient temple's doors creaked open. Two figures emerged from within. One was Xu Qing. The other was Er Niu.

Xu Qing's eyes held a trace of bewilderment. Er Niu's face, however, was clouded with deep gloom, his eyes harboring profound worry. Behind them, from within the temple, a sigh resonated.

"I have told you everything. From this moment forth, the entire Summer Immortal Palace on the Wanggu Continent will close its doors. Before every great catastrophe on Wanggu, the Summer Immortal Palace makes all necessary preparations, inviting powerful individuals and chosen prodigies to slumber with us within the Immortal Source. These powerful cultivators and prodigies are the seeds of each civilization. After the catastrophe passes, we awaken. If the world has changed, our mission is to rebuild the civilization of cultivators. This has been our practice during previous catastrophes. Others have already been sent. Xu Qing, Chen Er Niu, your choice is yours alone. Provide me with your answer as soon as possible."

It was the voice of the Summer Immortal Palace Master. As these words resonated, the temple doors slowly closed, and the entire structure gradually blurred in the rain, on the verge of vanishing. The moment it fully disappeared would mark its descent into slumber.

Time was running out.

Xu Qing and Er Niu stood silently under the rain. They had been summoned by the Summer Immortal Palace Master half a month prior, after the eastern war had concluded, to meet at this location. During this half-month, the Palace Master had bestowed upon them unique opportunities and blessings. Xu Qing's Immortal body became more stable, and with the Palace Master's assistance, his Divine body was seamlessly re-integrated into his consciousness, becoming complete. For Er Niu, his opportunity centered on the skull and memories he had acquired from his third life. Guided by the Summer Immortal Palace Master's mysterious methods, Er Niu seemed to recall even more memories.

However, these were not the primary sources of their bewilderment and gloom. Their current expressions, upon leaving the Summer Immortal Palace, stemmed from the Palace Master's detailed revelations during their final days there.

"Xu Qing, when you embarked on the Path of Immortal Extremity and began shaping your immortal body, I assisted you because... your Master had visited. Your Master paid a price to secure my aid for you. Even this summons, where I solidified your immortal body and restored your divine form, was all for your Master's sake. Your Master... has sacrificed a great deal. Chen Er Niu, the same applies to you. Your origin is mysterious. Your Master once came to the Summer Immortal Palace to investigate your history, after paying a significant price. However, our records only begin after your third life. Regarding your first and second lives, the Summer Immortal Palace holds no records whatsoever; perhaps only you yourself know of them. Even of your third life, we know little; it appears a power erased its details. Furthermore, this information would ordinarily not be accessible to anyone within the Summer Immortal Palace. Yet, your Master sacrificed a part of his own essence for this, and even dared to refine his own authority, ultimately securing this opportunity for you from the Immortal Source. This allowed you to merge with the history of the Summer Immortal Palace and recall more of who you truly are. You both have an excellent Master."

In the rain, Xu Qing looked up, gazing towards the direction of South Phoenix Continent. "Senior Brother, Master... he's making his final arrangements," Xu Qing murmured.

Er Niu remained silent for a long moment before slowly speaking. "Let's go back and ask the old man what's going on." With that, Er Niu swayed and headed directly for the human imperial capital's teleportation array. Xu Qing nodded, taking a step to join Er Niu. In that moment, all other matters were cast aside; their sole priority was to return to South Phoenix Continent and see their Master. They needed to understand everything.

Soon after, the formation array in the human imperial capital roared to life, and Xu Qing and Er Niu vanished.

Several days later, above the forbidden sea between the South Phoenix Continent and the Welcoming Emperor Continent, a pagoda tore through space, traversing the expanse at an astonishing speed. At dusk, it appeared above the Seven Blood Eyes Sect. The pagoda then vanished, and outside Grandmaster Seven's secluded cave on the Seventh Peak of Seven Blood Eyes, Xu Qing and Er Niu suddenly materialized.

They each knelt in obeisance.

After a long silence, a sigh echoed from within the cave. "Why aren't you two going with the Summer Immortal Palace to slumber in the Immortal Source? What brings you here to me?"

"Master." Xu Qing looked up at the cave, a pang of anxiety and trepidation stirring within him. Er Niu, whose expression had been grim for days, now looked up and spoke loudly. "Old man, what's going on with you?!"

The cave door burst open, and Grandmaster Seven emerged, glaring at Er Niu. "Are you itching for a beating?!" Seeing Grandmaster Seven behaving as usual, Er Niu visibly relaxed, quickly putting on an ingratiating smile and chuckling. Grandmaster Seven snorted, then his gaze settled on Xu Qing, to whom he gave a slight nod. "You've shaped it quite well."

He then raised his head to look at the sky, and just as Xu Qing and Er Niu were about to speak, his voice resonated. "I know what you two want to ask. You're wondering about my preparations for the future, aren't you?"

Xu Qing and Er Niu felt a jolt, their hearts pounding with apprehension.

"While it's true I paid the price for everything the Summer Immortal Palace did for you, I am your Master; it was my duty. Not just you, but many from the Seven Blood Eyes, and even that troublesome third one, have all been sent by me into slumber. As for the second one, she has her own choices, and I do not wish to interfere. My reason for doing all this is simply to be prepared for any eventuality. Between that ancient immortal in the Heaven-grade Holy Land and me, there is a karmic connection. However, your Master is not without confidence. The Sword-Wielding Great Emperor's strike also bought me time. So now, both of you, scram quickly and don't waste my cultivation time."

Grandmaster Seven glared at Er Niu, then nodded towards Xu Qing. Without waiting for either of them to speak, he flicked his large sleeve, sending them away, then turned and, with hands clasped behind his back, re-entered his secluded cultivation chamber. With a resounding thud, the door to his seclusion chamber sealed shut.

Inside the cave, Grandmaster Seven stood in silence for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. "The heavens are about to change. My umbrella... can it shield them all?" Grandmaster Seven slowly sat down and closed his eyes. Regardless of the possibility, he would strive to ensure his umbrella could continue to shield his disciples from the coming storms.

Outside the Seven Blood Eyes, a fierce wind howled across the sky. Xu Qing and Er Niu found themselves transported there. They remained silent, suppressed emotions filling both their hearts. Although Grandmaster Seven had spoken lightly, Xu Qing and Er Niu were no longer children; they possessed their own judgment.

"The old man... he's old, and he's still fighting so desperately..." Er Niu mumbled a few words, then looked at Xu Qing. "Little A Qing, you should go to the Summer Immortal Palace and rest. You don't need to worry about this matter; I'll handle the old man. It's just an ancient immortal, what's so great about that? I've already found clues to my second life within the memories of my third, and the origin of those clues is connected to the Blazing Heavens Divine Clan. Therefore, I plan to visit the sealed land of the Blazing Heavens Divine Clan. There, I'll find my second life. When that happens... as your Senior Brother, I, Er Niu, will bear the heavens for our lineage!"

Er Niu said proudly, patting Xu Qing's shoulder. "That place is too dangerous for you. After all, if you die, you're truly gone, unlike me. So this time, I won't accompany you. Little A Qing, you must be obedient and go to the Summer Immortal Palace. Trust me, in thirty years, Senior Brother and Master will awaken you." Er Niu looked earnestly into Xu Qing's eyes. "If you don't go, I won't be at ease."

Xu Qing remained silent, then nodded after a long moment.

"I'll take you there first; it's on my way anyway," Er Niu decided, giving Xu Qing no time to object. He pulled Xu Qing directly to the teleportation array, and using its power, they returned to the human imperial capital. The entrance to the Blazing Heavens Divine Clan, where he intended to go, lay directly beneath the human imperial capital.

Throughout the journey, Xu Qing remained silent until Er Niu forcibly escorted him to the Summer Immortal Palace temple. After expressing his intention to pay respects, the doors opened, revealing the Summer Immortal Palace Master, and Er Niu loudly declared, "Senior, I won't be going; my junior brother will." With that, he gave Xu Qing a decisive push inside.

Through the temple's closing doors, Xu Qing watched Er Niu. Er Niu chuckled heartily. "Alright, junior brother, see you in thirty years." With those words, Er Niu's figure blurred and vanished. The temple doors then silently closed, and the structure itself began to blur.

Several days later, when the temple had completely vanished, Er Niu emerged from his hidden spot, his heart finally at ease. "He finally listened for once; now I can rest easy." Murmuring to himself, Er Niu took a deep breath, a wild glint in his eyes, then turned and shot off towards the entrance of the sealed Blazing Heavens Divine Clan. He had his own means of traversing that path to reach the Blazing Heavens Divine Clan.

Yet, just as Er Niu set out on his path, the temple that had vanished now reappeared amidst the rain. It was incredibly blurry, as if it could dissipate at any moment. Its doors opened. Xu Qing's figure emerged from within. Behind him, the Summer Immortal Palace Master's voice echoed. "Are you certain you won't go to the Immortal Source to slumber?"

"I won't," Xu Qing replied softly.

The Summer Immortal Palace Master gazed at Xu Qing, no longer attempting to persuade him. The doors closed, and the temple completely dissipated. Only Xu Qing remained standing in the rain.

He knew that during the thirty years the Sword-Wielding Great Emperor had bought for them, everyone had been preparing. His Master was in secluded cultivation. His Senior Brother was heading to Blazing Heavens to fight with his life. The Empress, after returning a month ago, had gone to the Ghost Cave in Welcoming Emperor Continent. This was not just true for humanity, but for other races as well. All those with capability were making their own preparations.

"Thirty years..." Xu Qing raised his head, gazing towards the outer sea. His eyes revealed a look of resolute determination.