Chapter 1141: You Let Me Finish Speaking

Chapter 1146: Let Me Finish!

Xu Qing's expression remained calm.

The snarky voice from the jade slip seemed to possess a magical power, capable of forming images in his mind. In the image, a small figure with four characters written on its forehead was smiling smugly.

"Senior, you emerged from the second world in this manner, using me as a medium. Surely it wasn't just to taunt me with such words?" Xu Qing asked calmly.

The jade slip flickered. The little figure's cough emanated from within.

"Oh, why are you getting angry?""I am a remnant consciousness formed from the Aurora Immortal Lord before his death. To be precise, I'm just a thought existing in the second realm. My time in the current world, appearing through you, is limited, and I have many things to do.""So, of course, I'm not here just to tease you.""Relax, my son, relax.""I'm not using your power for nothing. You see, if it weren't for me, you might not have been able to exit the second realm, right?""Also, I'll clear up a confusion for you, as a reward for bringing me out.""What you care about most is your 'constitution,' right? I'll clear up that confusion for you... your time-space constitution, I've traveled it before, but only halfway. It got too difficult, and I couldn't continue.""I'm telling you this in hopes that you can continue. That's it. Goodbye, son."

As it finished speaking, the jade slip cracked with a sound. The cracks multiplied, quickly spreading across the entire slip. Finally, under Xu Qing's gaze, the jade slip crumbled, shattering into pieces, then turning to dust. It seemed the current world did not permit its existence.

Xu Qing frowned, sensing a strong feeling of perfunctory dismissal from the words. As for the jade slip's disappearance... Xu Qing carefully surveyed his surroundings but detected nothing unusual nearby. He hadn't caused the slip to shatter.

"So, what was its purpose?" Xu Qing pondered, scanning his surroundings. Just then, his heart stirred, and he looked down at his palm. There, the jade slip that had just vanished now silently reformed, appearing from nothing.

Along with the reappearing jade slip came the little figure's snarky voice again. "Hahahahaha, are you feeling annoyed? Are you cursing me inwardly? Do you think I'm being perfunctory with you, and now you're incredibly disappointed, believing that after all you've been through, all you got was a single sentence from me, huh?"

Xu Qing remained silent.

"Not saying anything? I guessed right, hahahaha.""And let me guess again. Now that you see me reappear and hear these words, are you perhaps thinking I'll give you some special inheritance or tell you some secrets next?""Cough, cough, let me tell you, you've... guessed... wrong!""Actually... there's nothing! Hahahahaha, goodbye, son."

The jade slip shattered again, vanishing without a trace.

Hearing this, Xu Qing's furrowed brows actually relaxed. He concluded that the Aurora Immortal Lord had a screw loose. The Immortal Venerable had been right to suppress him. He no longer paid attention, focusing his gaze on the side hall ahead.

When he had looked at the immortal palace from outside earlier, he had seen a scene of peace and prosperity, with immortal melodies and an environment like a golden age. But now, being inside, what he saw was completely different. This hall was broken, exuding desolation and permeated with the marks of time. Some areas had already collapsed, and there were no items inside.

"With multiple openings and the arrival of successive waves of cultivators, most entered this third realm. So, theoretically, the treasures and inheritances here should be mostly gone, perhaps seven or eight out of ten.""However, because the immortal palace is vast, and different areas open each time, there are still opportunities hidden, drawing people here.""But for me, this third realm isn't the main focus. The main focus is... the fourth realm, which only those with a 'constitution' can enter!"

Xu Qing pondered, then walked forward. He planned to explore this third realm to find the entrance to the fourth realm. As for the vanished jade slip, he couldn't be bothered with it.

His disregard, however, seemed to have a peculiar effect. He had walked less than ten steps when his palm felt cool, and the vanished jade slip reappeared. The voice from within also began to speak...

"Haha, I'm back! Let me guess, are you thinking I'm crazy, speaking ill of me, and thinking it's perfectly normal that the Immortal Venerable killed me? I..." Xu Qing squeezed his right hand hard. With a snap, the jade slip turned to dust, and the unfinished words inside abruptly ceased.

Xu Qing continued forward, past the side hall, gazing into the distance.

Soon after... the jade slip reappeared in his palm. This time, before the little figure's voice could even speak, Xu Qing squeezed it forcefully, and it crumbled again.

Next, he ascended, sensing all directions. Although this was only a part of the immortal palace, its scope was still vast, comparable to a minor world, if not a major one. Within Xu Qing's perception, countless halls, pavilions, and spirit gardens appeared. Beyond that, there were also mountains and rivers. However, most of the structures were dilapidated, filled with broken walls and shattered remnants of restrictions. The mountains had also collapsed, and most of the rivers had dried up. Nevertheless, there were occasional unbreached areas. These clearly had restrictions, and even in the void between heaven and earth, black threads occasionally appeared and vanished unpredictably. Wherever they passed, they could cut through anything. Additionally, the weather here varied. Some areas were raining, some had the ground churning, some had lightning and thunder, and some had howling storms. At times, space would suddenly vanish and then reappear. They intertwined, creating great chaos. One moment, a person might be here; the next, with a single step, they might appear somewhere else. Overall, this entire region was constantly changing.

As for cultivators, Xu Qing finally sensed a few. Some were alone, others in groups, scattered throughout this vast eastern region, seeking their own opportunities. In his brief scan, Xu Qing didn't detect any Star-level cultivators, including Li Mengtu; none of them were here. Those present were primarily cultivators without a 'constitution'.

"The number of people seems off; many are missing..." Xu Qing narrowed his eyes. He didn't sense the aura of the Earth Spirit Ancestor among them. So, he looked further into the distance.

"Therefore, in the time before I arrived, there might have been fierce slaughter and conflict here.""Or perhaps there's a method that allows people to go to other areas. After all, the immortal palace has opened multiple times, so it's normal for entrants to have ways to reach unrevealed areas.""As for the Eight Great Stars, they most likely went to the fourth realm."

At the same time, through the details and the few relatively intact structures, Xu Qing recalled the immortal palace he had seen from the outside. Comparing them, he recognized that this current opening of the immortal palace was likely in its eastern region. "The eastern part of the immortal palace, as I saw it then, had a place for preaching."

As he pondered, Xu Qing squeezed his right hand again, crushing the jade slip that had once more formed in his palm with a snap. Then, his body flickered, and he flew forward. Along the way, the jade slip was incredibly persistent, reappearing again and again, only for Xu Qing to crush it each time. As a result, its words became intermittent."You're going too far, son, you..."*Crack!*"Ah, let me say something, I..."*Crack!*"Aaaah... let me finish my sentence..."*Crack!*

An hour later, as Xu Qing explored the area, the jade slip reformed once more. This time, Xu Qing was a little slower in crushing it. Immediately, the little figure's shriek came from within the jade slip. "Don't squeeze, don't squeeze! If you squeeze any more, I'll die! I'll give you a benefit, an opportunity for guidance, alright? In this secret realm, no matter when, just call me 'Aurora Old Man,' and I'll give you one 'constitution' guidance!!"

Xu Qing's face was devoid of expression, and he was about to crush it. "Senior! Call me 'Senior,' how about that?" Xu Qing thought for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Deal."

A sigh of relief emanated from the jade slip, followed by a sulky voice. "But you have to promise me you won't keep squeezing me. My head is really getting big. You... I feel like you're very good at controlling things, almost as if you've been trained."

Xu Qing ignored it. He now traversed the chaos of the area and finally arrived at the preaching place he had seen from outside. Unfortunately, it was completely ruined, with nothing left. He didn't feel particularly regretful. The emptiness here was within Xu Qing's expectations, so after a brief investigation, Xu Qing decided to find someone to ask how to enter the third realm.

But just as he was about to leave, the little figure in the jade slip scoffed. "All your searching is useless; you don't even know the purpose of this third realm!"

The first half of the sentence, upon reaching Xu Qing's ears, made him consider crushing the jade slip. It was the latter half that saved the jade slip.

"Oh, what's the purpose of this place?" Xu Qing asked.

The little figure in the jade slip replied proudly. "Beg me, and I'll tell you."

Xu Qing didn't hesitate, speaking calmly. "Please."

"Huh?" The little figure was stunned. "You, you, you... where's your integrity? Your backbone? How could you beg so easily?"

Xu Qing's expression remained normal as he looked at the jade slip. He was now used to this little figure and had appropriate experience. Dealing with it using the same methods he used for his Eldest Senior Brother was sufficient. So, he spoke plainly. "You need to honor your word." As he spoke, he gave the jade slip a slight squeeze.

The little figure pouted. "Fine, I'll tell you.""For cultivators without a 'constitution,' this third realm is for seeking opportunities and good fortune, but those are superficial.""The good stuff is in the later realms, at least the fourth realm!""But only those with a 'constitution' can enter the fourth realm! However, for cultivators who want to enter the fourth realm, this third realm has another use.""This place is the realm of identity; you need to obtain an identity here!""Because the fourth realm is time and space, and it's fixed in the past.""Whatever identity you obtain in the third realm will be your identity when you enter the fourth realm.""Simply put, entering the fourth realm is effectively going back to the past Aurora Immortal Palace and experiencing your opportunities there.""Therefore, identity is crucial!"

Hearing this, Xu Qing's mind stirred. "How does one obtain an identity?"

The little figure in the jade slip was immensely pleased, and said proudly, "I won't tell you!"

Yesterday, a reader wished me a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, and then someone started being sarcastic towards my reader, calling them "good son." I want to ask this person, if you have a mental illness, go see a doctor. Don't come here being passive-aggressive and disgusting. Being passive-aggressive or cursing me is fine; I've said before that even haters are fans. But for my readers to wish me a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, what did that do to provoke you? Being sarcastic towards them is going too far! Whatever immense resentment, inexplicable hatred, or strange reason makes you unhappy, don't take it out on my readers. Come at me directly!