Chapter 1208: Embezzlement by the Custodian

Different stances naturally lead to different mindsets and actions. They cannot be simply categorized as good or evil, because markers of good and evil often only apply within the same species. Thus, towards other species, one can feel hatred, anger, or helplessness. After all, their ancestors were once gods, and had the Fifth Star Ring not undergone the Immortal transformation, they would still be the rightful inhabitants. The human race would simply be slaves, entirely at their mercy.

Now, however, gods have been slaughtered, bred, and imprisoned, and these other species have also become mere prey. To some extent, it's like a cycle. One cannot speak of right or wrong; it can only be said that regardless of the race, be it Immortal or God, their respective stances have already determined everything. The weak are destined to be devoured by the strong, and being backward means losing the right to confront them directly. Therefore, cultivators haven't become like the gods of old; rather, this very principle is the law governing the upper celestial rings and all living beings, all forms of life. You cannot demand that the victim remains a victim forever, nor can you expect the aggressor to remain an aggressor indefinitely. Ultimately, it is a cycle.

Xu Qing had already understood these principles during his time on the Wanggu Continent. His experiences after arriving in the Fifth Star Ring, and the way gods are treated here, allowed him to grasp this law even more profoundly. This was exemplified by the obsessions of the lingering spirits within the Perseus Mausoleum. This, in fact, also reflects the overall attitude of the Fifth Star Ring towards gods and other species. And Xu Qing, in his self-examination, agreed with this perspective.

However, he had his own judgment: among the many indifferent gods, there were some who possessed more human qualities than humans themselves. But this did not include the gods held within this prison. Nor did Xu Qing possess the benevolence to deeply engage with each one and make selective judgments for extraction. Therefore, he felt no hesitation about completely depleting the resource. At this moment, he arrived at the last speckled world on that leaf.

The environment here was a black, viscous ocean. The sea surface was calm but devoid of tranquility. A thick, anomalous essence emanated from the water's foul stench, pervading all directions while also attempting to influence the surroundings. At the bottom of the sea, a head was buried. The head, bird-like, was covered in long tendrils and constantly secreted mucus. Over time, this mucus formed the black sea.

The moment Xu Qing descended, the anomalous essence between the sky and sea instantly churned. The sea surface erupted with massive waves, and the head at the bottom of the sea trembled, its eyes suddenly snapping open. Golden light pierced through the ocean from its eyes, gazing up at the sky. Furthermore, a strange, mind-shattering sound instantly entered Xu Qing's ears, then transformed into thoughts that were not his own, burgeoning within his mind.

The next instant, these intangible thoughts astonishingly became tangible, forming fine threads that secreted black mucus, attempting to entangle Xu Qing's brain. The surrounding anomalous essence also transformed into a storm, surging towards Xu Qing from all directions. The sea waves surged higher, and at this moment, the entire world inverted. The sea became the sky, positioned above, and the sky became the earth, below. Subsequently, the black ocean poured down, including the head within, which, utilizing this power of inversion, burst forth from the sea!

The next moment, the world blurred, and heaven and earth roared, obscuring everything. Until a few breaths later, a dense Immortal Qi erupted from the blur, transforming into a thundering roar that surged like an irresistible force, spreading outwards layer by layer and forcibly driving away everything around it. It restored clarity to the cosmos and brought lucidity back to the world.

The anomalous essence melted away in the Immortal Qi, the viscous sea vaporized within the Immortal Qi, and Xu Qing's figure was revealed. His right hand was raised, gripping a god's head that was far too large for his body. His five fingers pressed forcefully, piercing into the flesh. Despite the vast visual disparity in their sizes, it was the colossal head that was consumed by fear! It trembled! Strands of golden source essence were being drawn from its body and absorbed into the jade slip in Xu Qing's palm.

After a while, a shrill sound emanated. The god's head shuddered, turned gray, then crumbled into dust and vanished into thin air. In mid-air, Xu Qing stood alone, his gaze sharp and cold as he surveyed his surroundings.

"The seal here is almost worn away... This is what allowed this god to proactively attack. But this seal doesn't seem to have been weakened by its own power; rather, it appears that another entity helped wear down most of it, giving the god an opportunity to continue the erosion. The ultimate goal is to facilitate its escape. So, is this an act by external alien races, or... is it internal corruption within the prison itself?"

Xu Qing was deep in thought. Having once been a jailer, he was well aware of the petty corruption and underhanded dealings that could occur in such places. Lost in thought, Xu Qing squinted his eyes, swayed, and left the speckled world, appearing in the starry sky, where he gazed at the crimson seaweed. He meticulously observed the other leaves. The seaweed swayed.

After a moment, Xu Qing suddenly spoke. "On the other leaves, most of the imprisoned gods must have died, right? Devoured by you!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the seaweed's swaying intensified. All its leaves unfurled, slowly drawing closer to Xu Qing from every direction. Xu Qing remained unmoved and continued to speak. "The leaf you gave me earlier must have been specifically reserved by you for accounting purposes when someone collects, thereby concealing your internal embezzlement. Am I correct?"

At this moment, a terrifying will sharpened, and an astonishing pressure spread alongside it. Cracking sounds emanated from the surrounding starry sky as strange symbols appeared in all directions, sealing off the area. Xu Qing squinted his eyes and spoke again.

"Young Master Aurora and I have a good relationship. You can sense my aura and determine my authority within the Aurora Immortal Palace. Immortal Lord Nine Shores holds me in high regard. You should be able to sense the aura on this item. I am the first Ascended from this realm. If I perish here, you will not escape." Xu Qing raised his hand and produced a wooden slip—an item used to guide the ferry boat on the Divine Blood River.

The seaweed paused. The next moment, the terrifying will it contained instantly descended, enveloping the wooden slip Xu Qing had produced. Subsequently, this will clearly wavered. Immediately after, this will moved away from the wooden slip and enveloped Xu Qing. It seemed to be conducting a deeper inspection.

Xu Qing's expression remained calm. After the journey to the Aurora Immortal Palace mirror world concluded, since others' connections had extended into the current world, there was no reason his wouldn't as well. Although Xu Qing hadn't felt it previously in this celestial realm, he judged this was due to the true Aurora Immortal Palace being concealed. And just because he couldn't feel it didn't mean the seaweed growing in this celestial realm couldn't either. Therefore, he was attempting to indirectly prove his identity! Even if he failed, Immortal Lord Nine Shores' prestige and his title as the first Ascended from this realm were sufficient to ensure his safety.

Thus, Xu Qing allowed the other party's will to conduct its inspection. After a moment, when he felt the seaweed's will exhibit greater fluctuations, and even the seaweed itself began to tremble, Xu Qing's eyes gleamed. He knew his conjecture was correct! The seaweed, trembling, now had an erratic aura, seemingly caught in a difficult choice. Under this deep-level inspection, it had indeed sensed that this human before it held the authority of the Aurora Immortal Palace, and was linked by significant karmic ties. This authority made it wary. After all, it was subordinate to the Aurora Immortal Palace! Though the Aurora Celestial Realm was currently without a master, its allegiance remained! However, its actions constituted a grave offense, making its current decision difficult...

Just then, Xu Qing's voice echoed once more. "Having suppressed this god prison for countless years, it's quite normal to occasionally consume a bit when hungry."

The seaweed paused.

"Even if you've nearly consumed everything, perhaps even considering leaving a leaf behind, it still demonstrates your dedication to duty!"

The seaweed's will seemed to seethe.

"After all, I arrived late; the fault isn't yours."

All the seaweed's leaves swayed rapidly, and most of the surrounding pressure dissipated. It could discern that the person before it wasn't speaking falsely, but genuinely believed what he said.

"So, let bygones be bygones. As for now, I ask you: Do you... wish to consume it?" Xu Qing pointed to the sun enveloped by the seaweed's roots. All the seaweed's leaves instantly quivered, and then a low telepathic message echoed around Xu Qing.

"Yes!"

Xu Qing nodded. "Let me in and protect me while I work. I'll see if I can... extract some for us to share!"

The seaweed hesitated slightly. After re-examining Xu Qing's aura, its roots suddenly swayed, rapidly unfurling a section as if to open a path. However, before this path could fully open, the seaweed's divine sense suddenly spread out, sweeping towards the outside.

"No need to be anxious. My person has arrived. Open an entrance and let him in," Xu Qing said calmly.

The seaweed pondered. After a moment, it loosened a gap in the area's seal. The next instant, Zhou Zhengli's figure rushed in from outside. Upon appearing, he quickly glanced around, then, feigning ignorance, bowed to Xu Qing.

"What is it?" Xu Qing asked.

"Young Master, regarding the others on this expedition, their harvesting efforts during this period had mixed success. Some went smoothly, some did not, but overall, all issues can be handled. However, some unexpected issues arose with the Hun Tian Imperial Clan. Therefore, I, your subordinate, came here to request your presence, so that with your identity in this Aurora Celestial Realm, you can... subdue those who believe this celestial realm is truly masterless! Of course, if you are unwilling to use your authority, I can also have Star Ring Son handle it on your behalf." Zhou Zhengli conveyed his words respectfully.

Xu Qing glanced at Zhou Zhengli. It had to be said, Zhou Zhengli was intelligent. If one disregarded his potentially treacherous nature, then employing him would be quite convenient.

"Let Star Ring Son handle it," Xu Qing said slowly.

"As Aurora commands!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhengli respectfully retreated and departed through the exit. The moment his figure vanished, the exit was sealed once more, and the seaweed's will again enveloped the surroundings.

Xu Qing paid no heed to this, turning instead to look towards the roots. "Alright, you can open it now. I'm hungry, and I imagine you are too."

Upon hearing this, the seaweed no longer hesitated. In an instant, its root system expanded, revealing the entrance to the sun! Xu Qing's eyes gleamed as he stepped forward!