Chapter 1219: Sealing the Heavens

The heavens.

Voices of admiration and praise resonated, declaring, "Excellent."

Unfathomably profound gazes held an unusual depth.

Lofty wills remained indifferent.

There was also a majestic thought, calmly gazing, finally revealing a secret perceivable only to itself.

"Turn the historical pages of the Ultimate Heaven and unfold a new epoch belonging to the successors."

"Aurora, your talent is unparalleled, capable of forsaking everything, and your son's magnanimity is likewise unparalleled, capable of abandoning all... Both father and son are like this. I... am indeed inferior to you."

The thoughts of the heavens remained unknown to outsiders, but at this moment in the Azure Heaven, as the Aurora Immortal Palace transformed into an immortal foundation and integrated into Xu Qing's immortal embryo, Xu Qing's aura surged dramatically.

It grew increasingly stronger, eventually becoming a fleeting marvel that left its mark throughout the Outer Heaven.

Subsequently, amidst the awe of those present, an inexplicable pressure naturally emanated from him, instinctively inspiring a sense of worship in anyone who gazed upon him.

It was a sensation akin to that of a deity, a manifestation of source matter reaching a certain density, and moreover, the inherent majesty of becoming the master of an Outer Heaven.

Under this majesty, even Xinghuan Zi instinctively lowered his head.

Possessing the inheritance of the Fourth True Monarch, he also shared a karmic connection with the Aurora Outer Heaven, and this karma, enduring until now, had converged upon Xu Qing.

Yuanshan Su's delicate body trembled. She tried to restrain herself but found it impossible.

Scenes from the mirror image flashed in her mind; vaguely, in her eyes, Xu Qing seemed to have once again become... the Young Master of Aurora.

Li Mengtu also looked bewildered, recalling his identity within the Aurora Immortal Palace's mirror image.

Xie Lingzi instinctively stepped back several paces, putting away all rebellious thoughts.

If they reacted this way, let alone the other ascendants; at this moment, all were deeply stirred.

Among them, the storm within Zhou Zhengli's heart was even greater.

A strange light gleamed in his eyes. He produced an iron shard in his hand, squeezed it tightly, letting it pierce his palm, and as blood welled up, he also bit the tip of his tongue.

More blood spilled out, flowing backward directly into his eyes, dyeing his pupils crimson.

It didn't end there; his inner Xian also erupted at this moment.

Connecting the blood from his tongue tip and palm, the former rushed into his eyes while the latter entered the iron shard, activating his ultimate secret technique.

With this secret technique, he looked at Xu Qing again!

Everything he had thought and said before was true.

He genuinely intended to assist Xu Qing, he was indeed taking a gamble, and he truly knew some hidden secrets.

Similarly, he truly wished to follow, hoping to gain immense rewards in the future.

However, amidst these genuine intentions, he had another objective.

That was, he wanted to see Xu Qing clearly!

He wanted to see Xu Qing through his premonition.

Even if it was abstract.

Even if it was blurry.

Even if it was just a tiny bit...

He was determined to find a way, to exhaust everything, to see it!

This was his Dao.

Ever since he met Xu Qing, a premonition had deepened and intensified in his mind, ultimately becoming an obsession.

"To see, is to see the Dao."

"My Xian can break through, and my cultivation can also break through!"

However, Zhou Zhengli understood that under normal circumstances, his premonition couldn't achieve this, so he waited.

Until this moment, he waited for Xu Qing's breakthrough: a storm arose, heaven and earth roared, the starry sky trembled, and the Azure Heaven shone!

The moment a Dominator ascended to a Quasi-Immortal was like a closed door opening for an instant.

Though it was only a fleeting glimpse through a crack, from outside the door, what he saw through that opening was sufficient!

Thus, Zhou Zhengli seized this opportunity, and in that fleeting moment of the door opening, he... saw it!

The instant he saw it, Zhou Zhengli trembled all over, and a sound louder than heavenly thunder erupted in his mind.

Blood gushed from all seven orifices: his eyes, nostrils, mouth corners, and ears.

Yet, he was smiling.

His laughter was filled with excitement.

And amidst the excitement, there was also extreme dread.

"An unfamiliar star-ring... a terrifying, ineffable ruined face... and upon that ruined face, a throne..."

"And the person on the throne..."

"He is looking at me, he is..."

Zhou Zhengli's body boomed, and his aura surged at this moment. His Xian, empowered by this sight, instantly soared.

His cultivation was originally only a hair's breadth away from the Quasi-Immortal realm.

What was lacking was not source matter, but his Xian.

Therefore, at this instant, as his Xian improved, his immortal embryo immediately burst forth.

He actually ascended to Quasi-Immortal right there.

A thick mist rapidly enveloped him. This was a manifestation of his Xian, and just as his Dao contained secrets, his ascension... was undetectable by outsiders.

The other ascendants around, perceiving this scene, felt their minds ripple once more.

As for Xu Qing, he didn't pay much attention to this.

He opened his eyes.

His eyes held galaxies, containing the cosmos.

His brows contained stellar vortices, immensely vast.

At this moment, the entire Outer Heaven rumbled.

Innumerable races, in their respective territories, instinctively knelt, following an inherent understanding from the unseen.

They all trembled.

Because... a pair of eyes, opening and closing with Xu Qing's, appeared within this Outer Heaven, above all beings, and above all creation.

Gazing down upon the Azure Heaven!

Those were Xu Qing's eyes.

With the authority of the Immortal Palace within him, he gazed upon all beings and creation.

These eyes were omniscient.

At this moment, Xu Qing saw countless traces.

These traces contained all the universes, all the races within the Outer Heaven, as well as the deity prisons, and all the resources that originally belonged to this Outer Heaven.

After a while, Xu Qing sighed inwardly.

He withdrew his gaze.

Because the Aurora Outer Heaven had been without a master for many years, the various races here had fallen into chaos and complexity. The weak had already been annihilated, and even the strong had karmic ties to other Outer Heavens.

As for the deity prisons... corruption and self-dealing were rampant, and essentially... not much remained.

Prisons containing true deities, for instance, were completely gone.

After all, resources of such primal essence were usually the first to be plundered.

Either stolen by their own custodians or divided among other Outer Heavens.

The Primordial Chaos Universe was, to some extent, merely a microcosm of the entire Outer Heaven.

"Presumably, the true deity prison in the Primordial Chaos Universe was left behind by that Lower Immortal because, due to personal reasons, they were unwilling to expend too great a cost to take it previously."

Xu Qing remained silent.

He knew clearly that these things... were not impossible to reclaim.

However, it would require his own strength, and dealing with them would also demand a significant amount of time.

For the current Xu Qing, he possessed neither.

So after his silence, a faint glimmer appeared in his eyes.

He spoke softly, uttering words that resonated throughout the Azure Heaven!

"In half an hour, this heaven will be sealed. During this period, if any race wishes to leave, I, Xu, will not hinder them!"

"However, while races may depart, the resources belonging to this heaven must not be taken!"

For Xu Qing, keeping the races with ties to other Outer Heavens here held little meaning, and past events had historical reasons unrelated to him.

He didn't want a chaotic Outer Heaven.

So even if those races left, it would render the Outer Heaven almost devoid of life.

But... it would also become clean.

Given this, rather than forcibly detaining those races, it was better to open the gates and let them out.

As Xu Qing's voice echoed, the Outer Heaven he occupied immediately rippled, granting permission to depart.

Soon, many races within it immediately contacted their backing powers and began to migrate.

Time thus flowed by, bit by bit.

Although half an hour was somewhat rushed for the various races, they still did their utmost to activate their teleportations within this final deadline.

The deadline also arrived.

The Immortal Palace within Xu Qing trembled.

His voice echoed.

"Heaven, seal."

The next instant, streaks of light instantly erupted in this heaven, centered on Xu Qing, spreading across all universes at an unimaginable speed.

Until the entire Outer Heaven was enveloped, it closed the departure permissions and sealed off the starry sky.

This ensured that, without Xu Qing's authority, no one from outside could enter or leave this Outer Heaven thereafter!

Having completed these actions, the mist around Zhou Zhengli gradually dissipated, revealing his figure. Stepping out, the moment he stood in the starry sky, he was no longer a Dominator.

His realm: Quasi-Immortal.

Yet, his face showed the same humble smile as always, and he bowed deeply to Xu Qing.

"Congratulations, Azure Lord!"

Everyone else present, regardless of their faction or background, also bowed at this moment.

This was a sign of respect for the Outer Heaven, and also recognition.

Xu Qing gazed at Zhou Zhengli.

After a moment, he spoke softly.

"We should leave now."

Although the Immortal Palace served as his foundation and he now possessed this Outer Heaven, these were merely Xu Qing's hidden strengths. His duty remained that of a procurement envoy.

Having spoken, Xu Qing raised his hand and waved it towards the starry sky.

The starry sky rippled, forming a path to depart.

Xu Qing stepped onto this path, and the others, suppressing their inner turmoil, followed one after another.

Zhou Zhengli did the same, though he walked behind Xu Qing, observing Xu Qing's back, the storm in his heart remained intense.

He couldn't help but recall what he had seen earlier.

"The one sitting on the throne, gazing down at me... it was him!"

Zhou Zhengli lowered his head, quickening his pace with firm steps.

In this manner, the group walked along the starry path. Blessed by this path, each step they took traversed multiple universes, eventually leading them to the edge of this Outer Heaven, and they stepped out.

The moment they departed, an unfamiliar starry sky appeared before their eyes.

This place was the boundary between Outer Heavens, also known as the Heavens' Void Belt.

Generally, such zones were barren and desolate, but here, perhaps due to the Aurora Outer Heaven's former lack of a master, the influence of adjacent heavens had spread.

Consequently, a certain degree of prosperity emerged, with galaxies within it showing signs of life and civilization.

Not only that, but even from Haicao, divine senses arose.

"There's a deity prison inside, and a rich concentration of source matter!"

As this divine sense emerged, Xu Qing turned to look, and behind him, Xinghuan Zi and the others also gazed, strange lights glinting in their eyes.

They hadn't had their fill.

They were still keen on their current expedition.

So, after sensing this deity prison, their gazes flickered, and then some looked towards Xu Qing.

This was not within the scope of their mission's procurement.

Xu Qing pondered.

"There's a good amount of source matter here, possibly even Nine-Colored Ice," Xinghuan Zi suddenly spoke.

Hearing this, everyone's interest grew even stronger.

Xu Qing thought for a moment, then spoke calmly.

"Using this reason multiple times is improper."

The others fell silent.

Zhou Zhengli, at his side, his eyes glinting, said softly.

"What about... suppressing a deity who escaped prison?"