Chapter 1200: Revisiting the Deity

An event on the path back to the Dao Refining Universe was merely a minor incident for Xu Qing. As Xinghuanzi stepped forward, Xu Qing did not reveal himself. From Xu Qing's perspective, both Qianjun Biyi and Xinghuanzi were merely passersby. At most, he would simply retrieve those two swords himself when the time was right.

However, the three cultivators who harbored ill will towards Qianjun Biyi did catch Xu Qing's attention. Among these three, two were Sovereigns, and one was a Quasi-Immortal. The greed and dominance evident in their words and actions were quite apparent.

Xu Qing never believed that those with profound cultivation must necessarily possess transcendent character. In this vast world, cultivators are countless and powerful individuals are abundant, so their personalities are naturally not cast from the same mold. This applies to both personal conduct and actions. There are those with gloomy personalities, those who are transcendent and extraordinary, those with broad minds like Emperor Zhijian, and naturally, there are also those who are dark, greedy, and malicious. Even at the level of a Quasi-Immortal, this is no exception. After all, they are human, and human nature is diverse; it's impossible for everyone to be exactly the same.

Furthermore, the number of Quasi-Immortals in the Fifth Star Ring is abundant, owing to different population bases and environments. Unlike the Continent of Wanggu, where amidst hardship and barrenness, not to mention Quasi-Immortals, even Sovereigns are as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns. Therefore, the higher one ascends, the more mountains one sees. And the farther one travels, the more complete the scenery becomes. This is to be expected.

Ultimately, of course, personality is also related to time and experience. Unless they are beings who have lived for thousands or tens of thousands of years, experiencing the joys and sorrows, partings and reunions of the human world again and again, until they become numb, until they see through everything, until they return to their original simplicity. Otherwise, they cannot escape the diverse hues composed by human nature. Additionally, there are some matters that cannot be judged merely by their surface.

Therefore, Xu Qing was not surprised that these three, who were clearly powerful individuals—one of whom was even a Quasi-Immortal—still engaged in acts of plunder. What did surprise him was the identity of these three individuals.

"Procurement Envoy... War..."

Xu Qing, who had left the Void Belt, pondered in his heart. The key was the word "war."

"Are they preparing supplies for war? So, is there a war in the Fifth Star Ring?"

"With other Star Rings?"

Xu Qing mused. Some matters cannot be fully understood or comprehensively seen unless one reaches a certain position, a point that was clearly evident in this situation. Before this, Xu Qing had not known about a war in the Fifth Star Ring. But now, from the discussions of the crowd, Xu Qing sensed the scent of war.

"Once the Guiding Universe calls, everything should become clear."

With these thoughts, Xu Qing crushed the immortal slip for the Perseus Mausoleum; his body dissipated, and he teleported away. In the next instant, the starry sky blurred in Xu Qing's perception.

The Perseus Mausoleum.

It does not only exist in Jiuan Heaven. In fact, every Outer Heaven has similar locations. These are the burial grounds for Immortals who have died in battle in all Outer Heavens throughout history. Some contain complete bodies, but the vast majority are mere remains. Some, in fact, might only contain a memorial tablet crafted by a descendant.

The Perseus Mausoleum of Jiuan Heaven is located within the Perseus Starfield of the Immortal Ode Universe. This area is isolated, with entry and exit through a single ancient bronze gate. Outside the giant gate, stood an ancient black stone platform. On it, an old man in black robes sat cross-legged. He was unremarkable in appearance, his aura seemingly non-existent, and he remained motionless.

Xu Qing's figure, amidst ripples of void distortion, appeared outside the giant gate, beneath the stone platform. He looked up at the giant gate, then turned to the old man, and his heart stirred. A strong sense of death permeated the old man, along with profound loneliness and desolation. The moment Xu Qing looked, the Constitution within him rippled, as if drawn, allowing him to perceive more information. It gave Xu Qing the feeling that this old man before him should perhaps no longer exist, yet he stubbornly persisted. The feeling was not strong, and it quickly faded.

Xu Qing's heart tightened, and he bowed his head in respect. He then walked past the stone platform, approached the giant gate, and disappeared inside.

Not until Xu Qing's figure had vanished into the giant gate did the old man on the stone platform outside slowly open his eyes.

"It's been a while since anyone came," he murmured. "That's good. Even if it means fewer tributes, no one coming also means no one has died in battle."

"May they all be well, may they all live well..."

The old man raised a hand to take out a wine gourd, tilted his head back for a drink, then looked back at the giant gate, and mumbled hoarsely. "You all departed so cleanly and decisively," he sighed, "why did you leave me alone to guard the tombs in the human world..." The old man sighed softly, his eyes filled with reminiscence.

Inside the giant gate, as the starry sky before Xu Qing's eyes sharpened from its blur, he saw clusters of galaxies. Those were all mausoleums! Each galaxy within the Perseus Starfield was a burial tomb. Each had a colossal stone tablet erected; some were inscribed with the buried individual's life story, while others contained only a few words. The latter were often sentiments from their lifetime, serving as epitaphs.

As for the total number, it was not very large, only about a hundred. But it's important to understand that this was where Immortals were interred. This meant that throughout history, in Jiuan Heaven alone, hundreds of Lower Immortals had died in battle. Even if the span of history extended for countless tens of thousands of years, upon entering the giant gate and personally witnessing these galaxies and the countless stone tablets erected, Xu Qing's heart was still profoundly shaken.

Vaguely, he seemed to hear sighs reverberating through the starry sky. As if heroic shouts were swirling within the galaxies. As if ancient blessings persisted even in death. They protected their homeland. They protected future generations. They bravely fought for humanity and for the Star Ring! They sacrificed their lives and dedicated themselves selflessly.

Although he was not a native cultivator of the Fifth Star Ring, after arriving here, Xu Qing's mood inevitably became much heavier. He held deep respect for the outstanding heroes and martyrs here. The stone tablets in his sight also became monuments in his heart.

After a long while, Xu Qing walked on in silence, passing through one stellar vortex after another and gazing at one stone tablet after another.

"I cultivated for nine thousand years, hailing from the Great Immortal Mountain, cultivating the Cloud Mists to achieve the Immortal rank, and was known as the Immortal Lord. Throughout my life, I slew seven True Gods! How exhilarating!"

"I was a rogue cultivator, and relying on my own indomitable spirit, I ascended to the Immortal rank. In the Star Ring War, I participated in the siege and killing of a Divine Lord; though I perished, I have no regrets."

"Spirits become gods, beasts become monsters, ghosts become fiends. Then... what is an Immortal? To become a mountain for humanity, to protect humanity—that, a human, is an Immortal!"

"Having lived too long, I've almost lost my humanity. I couldn't kill a True God, but I still wanted to do something. My goal for this journey is to hunt and slay many Divine Platform prodigies, doing my utmost to sever the lineage of the opposing deities!"

"Cultivators of later generations, do not come to pay respects empty-handed. I delight in divine blood; worship me with divine blood!"

As Xu Qing's gaze swept over each stone tablet, the inscriptions in his eyes seemed to transform into figures laughing heartily. They cried or laughed, went mad or found peace, seeming to appear before Xu Qing's eyes, forever etched into the long river of history. This place, these stone tablets, and these epitaphs connected the past, present, and future, becoming an indelible mark, allowing anyone who came here to perceive it. Indeed, loyal bones lie buried in green mountains, and their merits are recorded in history. The heroic spirit endures between heaven and earth, and the martyrs' glorious names are passed down through the ages.

After a while, Xu Qing had finished looking at everything. He sat cross-legged in the center of the starry sky, gazing at the surrounding stone tablets, and softly murmured.

"Esteemed seniors, your junior Xu Qing, though not a native cultivator of the Fifth Star Ring, promises not to let down your aspirations."

"If any senior is willing to bestow their relic upon me, this junior will certainly not deviate from his original intention."

Xu Qing took a deep breath and spoke solemnly. The surroundings were silent, with not the slightest ripple caused by him.

Xu Qing fell silent, closed his eyes, steadied his breath, and focused his mind, attempting to gain insight. After a long while, he gained no insight whatsoever. Xu Qing furrowed his brow, and after pondering, he decided against further attempts at insight. Instead, he let his thoughts wander, and gradually, all past events resurfaced in his mind.

The hardships of his youth.The killings after he grew up.The revulsion upon first encountering deities.The rage upon encountering deities again.Until the Empress became a deity, complexity gave way to understanding.Finally, it seemed to return to a self-interrogation. A voice asked, "What are deities?"

Once, Xu Qing's answer was a single sentence. Now, pondering the answer again, Xu Qing fell silent. He thought of the Empress, and after a long moment, spoke calmly.

"Most deities are still sons of bitches!"

"But among them, some are still human!"

All the stone tablets vibrated in unison.