Chapter 1189: Different East

The third stage of the Immortal Capital Trial is hunting and plundering.

The duration varies. In the many trials held so far, this stage has sometimes been long, sometimes quick.

This is determined by a crucial threshold: quantity. When the number of Immortal Capital Trial tokens, originally ten thousand, drops to one thousand, the entire Immortal Capital Trial enters a one-month countdown!

Furthermore, the associated rankings are publicly disclosed throughout the Fifth Star Ring, announced by the orthodox sects of each star domain. Therefore, not only can those who possess tokens sense this, but even cultivators without tokens can become aware of it.

And now, the number of individuals with Immortal Capital Trial tokens has reached one thousand. Thus, the final countdown has begun.

Accompanying this is the trial ranking, which has caused a sensation throughout the Fifth Star Ring. This is the overall ranking compiled from the boundless regions of the four major star domains, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, it is highly likely to be the final ranking.

Naturally, the focus of all parties is on the top hundred, as in previous Immortal Capital Trials, being in the top hundred has generally been considered a secure ranking, guaranteeing entry into the Immortal Capital!

As for the top ten, they are true prodigies, the absolute elites of this generation within the Fifth Star Ring. Therefore, after focusing on the top hundred, all eyes instinctively turned to the top ten!

However, among these top ten, only three are Star Children; as for the other Star Children... they are all conspicuously absent. The reason for this is no longer a secret. Both the commotion in the north and the news from the south have led many to hear about Xu Qing's deeds!

Others plunder tokens. This one hunts Star Children.

Jiang Fan failed before him. Yuanshan Su had no choice but to yield. Even Qian Jun, whose presence commanded all to yield, ultimately surrendered his token. Their prominence further amplified Xu Qing's own brilliance.

Consequently, in the rankings, after their withdrawal, several previously unknown cultivators replaced them, until a familiar name finally appeared at the fifth position: Li Mengtu, ranked fifth! This Star Child from the Western Star Domain has been steadily rising in power.

Above him is the Heretic Spirit Child, ranked fourth! To many, this ranking was neither exceptionally high nor low, but at least acceptable.

As for third, it was Xu Qing! Somewhat low. Although he had collected tokens from multiple Star Children, there were significant gaps among the top ten, and each was seizing every opportunity to improve their ranking. Therefore, Xu Qing did not immediately claim the top spot.

Above him was Zhou Zhengli! Ranked second! This ranking surprised many. It must be said that Zhou Zhengli's long-standing image had been quite misleading; although he was benevolent and righteous, his presence seemed rather subdued. Often, Zhou Zhengli, with his seemingly fated entanglement with the Heretic Spirit Child, was only mentioned when the Heretic Spirit Child himself was brought up.

As for first place... amidst the countless cultivators' attention in the Fifth Star Ring, a strange name appeared: Chen Batian! The name was somewhat common, yet it had to be admitted that even the most common name exuded an astonishing aura when it held the number one spot.

Simultaneously, due to its unfamiliarity, discussions about Chen Batian surpassed even the topic of Xu Qing's hunting of Star Children during this period. However, there was very little information about this individual. Most of it was hearsay.

Rumor had it, this person hailed from the Eastern Star Domain. Rumor had it, this person was extreme in character, cruel in methods, and excessively lecherous. Rumor had it, this person's ranking was almost at the bottom before the third stage, but they rose instantly after it began. Rumor had it, this person was bloodthirsty, and anyone who fought them seemed to have no chance of survival. All of it was rumor.

Thus, the mystery shrouding this person became an enigma. At the same time, with the public release of the rankings, all parties discovered something astonishing. The rankings did not include Xinghuanzi! The Fifth Star Ring's foremost prodigy was not in the top ten, nor in the top hundred; his name was absent from the entire list!

This sight sparked numerous conjectures. Amidst the widespread speculation, a quasi-immortal who had previously visited the fifth level of the Aurora Immortal Palace revealed the cause and effect after emerging. Suddenly, the past account of Xu Qing's life-and-death battle with Xinghuanzi in the fifth level of the Aurora Immortal Palace, though a past event, still created a storm in the present world, sweeping across all regions.

As discussions about Xu Qing instantly surged, creating countless ripples, Xu Qing departed from the northern region. Utilizing long-distance teleports within the Star Ring, he made multiple transfers. On the seventeenth day of the countdown to the end of the Immortal Capital Trial, when 735 Immortal Capital Trial tokens remained, he arrived in the eastern region, appearing at the foot of Mount Tai'a in the Eastern Star Domain.

With a calm expression, he began to ascend the mountain.

Mount Tai'a, the ninth mountain peak in the Eastern Star Domain, towered into the clouds, impressively vast. Its body was jet-black, resembling a sharp black blade seemingly eager to pierce the heavens. Upon closer inspection, one could discern faint red threads running through the mountain, like countless blood vessels hidden within the rocks.

Rumor has it, this mountain... was formed from a single horn! And this horn belonged to the Star-Horned God Emperor, one of the nine great divine races under the Divine Venerable, from the ancient Fifth Star Ring! That God Emperor's divine core was a star, making him the First Divine Lord under the Divine Venerable. This is a legend; as for the specifics, few truly know anymore.

At this moment, a person sat cross-legged atop Mount Tai'a. This individual was a young man clad in black robes. He had a stern and somewhat sinister appearance. As he sat there, his entire being exuded a pervasive killing intent. In front of him, a broken sword was plunged into the ground. His aura seemed intertwined with the sword, indistinguishable from it.

It was the Heretic Spirit Child.

At this moment, he suddenly opened his eyes, gazing downwards at Xu Qing, who was ascending.

Xu Qing, as usual, took a step, covering one-tenth of the immense mountain's path. His footsteps paused slightly. Before Xu Qing, on a rock, lay a small white bottle. It was not divine. The bottle was uncorked, allowing its internal aura to waft out. This aura felt neither entirely immortal nor entirely divine. Inside was an entire bottle of flowing liquid.

As Xu Qing's gaze fell upon it, the illusory truth formed by his dispersed soul rippled at that moment, as if this liquid was an incredibly vital nourishment for his Immortal Embryo.

"Source Substance," Xu Qing murmured.

Source Substance is the fundamental power of the Thirty-six Ascending Star Rings, the origin of deities, and the essence of the Star Rings. Whether it be a deity's divine authority or a cultivator's dominion, in essence, all stem from this. Even divine cores and constitutional laws are like this. It is an indispensable power for forming the Ascending Star Rings. It is also the best supplement for cultivators to forge their Immortal Embryos, and even to fully develop their Immortal Embryos into Immortals! Because, ultimately, the process of Immortal Embryo formation and the birth of Immortals is essentially the plundering and absorption of this substance!

This small bottle could directly advance Xu Qing's Immortal Embryo by a step. Although it wouldn't reach the level of indestructibility, it would provide immense assistance.

"Interesting."

Xu Qing raised his hand, sweeping the small bottle away. He then looked up towards the mountain peak, took his second step, and reappeared already halfway up the mountain. There, on a rock, lay a cyan bowl. Inside the bowl was a fist-sized lump of mud. Its color was crimson.

This object, named Divine Clay, is one of the many methods used by cultivators in the Fifth Star Ring to control deities. One can mold it into the likeness of a deity and control them through the clay. Thus, its value was astonishing.

Xu Qing collected it and took his third step. When he landed, he was near the mountain peak. Before him lay a seemingly ordinary blade of grass, yet it contained a faint starlight. This was a type of grass Xu Qing was familiar with. "Star Ring Grass!"

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. Star Ring Grass grows in the outer sea boundaries between various Star Rings and is extremely rare. When ignited, it can open a passage between Star Rings. Xu Qing's arrival in the Fifth Star Ring years ago was precisely because he possessed a Star Ring Grass. The one before him was much smaller than the one he had back then, yet its value was equally astonishing.

Xu Qing remained silent. After a moment, he collected the grass, then, after some thought, took his fourth step. He appeared at the mountain peak, directly in front of the Heretic Spirit Child!

The moment Xu Qing appeared, the Heretic Spirit Child, seated cross-legged, suddenly raised his hand. Instantly, the broken sword plunged into the ground before him thrust downwards fiercely, causing the entire mountain to rumble at that moment. Countless fine red threads glowed within the mountain, eventually converging at the peak, as if being absorbed by the broken sword. The broken sword turned crimson, and gradually, a single drop of red blood seeped from its blade!

The moment this blood appeared, the sky rumbled, winds surged, and bursts of thunder roared, echoing continuously. Everything around them distorted, and all directions became blurry. As for the mountain itself, all its red threads rapidly dimmed at this moment, until they completely vanished, as if its final essence had been drawn away. Only the drop of blood on the broken sword became the sole color in this entire world!

Gazing at this blood, a rapid breathing sound echoed in Xu Qing's heart. It was the Mud Fox's emotions fluctuating intensely.

"Divine Lord's blood! And from a Divine Lord whose divine authority is similar to mine! Xu Qing, I need this drop of blood! If I absorb it, not only can I advance to a Divine Platform in a short time, but my future potential to achieve true godhood will also become boundless!"

Almost simultaneously with the Mud Fox's urgent plea, the Heretic Spirit Child raised his right hand and waved it. Immediately, the drop of blood from the broken sword shot directly towards Xu Qing.

"Daoist Xu's assistance to me in the fourth-level world was immense. The previous three gifts were my way of repaying you," the Heretic Spirit Child said. "As for this drop of Divine Lord's blood... in the fourth-level world, I broke my promise to Lord Fox, so I offer this as compensation."

Having spoken, the Heretic Spirit Child rose and bowed to Xu Qing. Xu Qing said nothing.

After a while, the Heretic Spirit Child slowly retreated, stepping off the mountain, while the broken sword flew up to accompany him. In mid-air, the Heretic Spirit Child bowed once more, then transformed into a long rainbow and vanished into the horizon.

Watching the Heretic Spirit Child's retreating figure, Xu Qing chose not to stop him. Those four significant gifts were presented as thanks and compensation, but Xu Qing naturally understood they were, in fact, the Heretic Spirit Child's payment for the Immortal Capital Trial tokens.

"Having accepted these gifts, it wouldn't be right to take his token now."

Xu Qing shook his head. Standing on the mountaintop, he did not leave. Instead, he turned his head to gaze at the emptiness on the other side of the horizon and spoke faintly. "What do you say, Zhou Zhengli?"

As Xu Qing's words echoed, ripples spread outwards from the part of the horizon he gazed at, and Zhou Zhengli's figure gradually emerged within. As he became clearer, it was visible that he was holding an unconscious large man. The man's vital essence was depleted, and he exuded an aura of death, appearing like a puppet.

Then, Zhou Zhengli stepped forward from the horizon. With a single stride, he reached the mountain peak, standing before Xu Qing. After tossing the large man aside, he bowed respectfully and humbly.

"Greetings, Young Master." He then pointed at the large man. "This person is named Chen Batian. After I left the Immortal Remnants, I personally created this gift for you, Young Master, here in the east. I present him to you, Young Master, so you may become the First Star Child, the number one person in the Immortal Capital Trial!"