Chapter 125: Outside for Foundation Establishment

In the Seven Blood Eyes Main City, moonlight, like scattered sand, blanketed the earth. Xu Qing walked onward, bathed in the moonlight.

Even though his cultivation had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation, his previous injuries persisted, keeping Xu Qing as vigilant as when he first arrived at the Seven Blood Eyes. Today, in particular, carrying the Life Lamp intensified Xu Qing's caution to the extreme. His right hand swung seemingly naturally as he walked, yet at the slightest disturbance, his stance allowed him to instantly draw the black iron stick. This was a lesson Xu Qing learned in the Seven Blood Eyes: 'hiding a needle in cotton' was the key to survival. Unless there was a specific objective, one should never inadvertently reveal their true capabilities.

Furthermore, his time in the Seven Blood Eyes taught Xu Qing how to relax his body even when at his most vigilant. He had realized that, unlike his time in the slums and scavenger camp, when his body would stiffen under tension, seeming ready for an instant attack but actually reacting sluggishly. The true method was to keep his body relaxed while his mind remained fully alert. This way, outsiders would notice nothing, yet his body could respond instantly with just a thought. These were the skills he had acquired, subtly altering many of his behaviors. However, Xu Qing was still too young to perfectly mask his expressions, unlike the captain.

Xu Qing did not force himself to imitate others; he acted purely on instinct. As he sped forward, he drew closer to Zhang San's Transport Department.

As he passed an alley, Xu Qing suddenly halted, turning sharply to glance behind him, his eyes filled with a chilling gaze. Under his unwavering stare, a small, thin figure slowly emerged from a distant corner—it was the mute boy. The Seven Blood Eyes Daoist robe still hung loosely on him, and the dog-skin coat worn underneath still made him appear somewhat bloated. However, unlike before, his robe now bore a badge, the symbol of a formal member of the Demon Hunting Division.

He appeared in the distance, quickly glancing at Xu Qing before squatting down. His posture was not one of aggression, but rather of following and guarding. Xu Qing stared at the mute boy, noticing the badge on his Daoist robe. He had previously reviewed the boy's file and knew he had initially joined the Demon Hunting Division as an auxiliary enforcer, but had clearly now become a full member. Xu Qing spoke slowly.

“I don't like being followed.”

The mute boy remained silent, then quietly retreated, disappearing back into the darkness. Xu Qing then withdrew his gaze. He didn't care if the other's intentions were good or ill; he had no time to judge. However, if, after his warning, the boy continued to follow him covertly, Xu Qing would not hesitate to kill him.

With a swift movement, Xu Qing continued on his way.

Soon, Xu Qing arrived at the Transport Department. From a distance, he saw Zhang San meticulously counting his goods, clearly anxious about his treasures after returning from the Grand Competition, fearing they might be stolen. Zhang San spotted Xu Qing and waved. Having finished his tally, he contentedly pulled out his pipe.

“Junior Brother Xu Qing, you've just returned. Why aren't you resting? What brings you here?”

Without asking Zhang San why he hadn't stored his items in a storage bag, Xu Qing took out his own magic boat. With a thud, the magic boat landed, shaking the ground and scattering various loose parts that had been attached to it.

“Repair my magic boat,” Xu Qing stated calmly.

Beside him, Zhang San's eyes nearly popped out, and he forgot to smoke the pipe in his hand, staring blankly at the familiar yet alien half-boat before him.

“Did we… meet during the Grand Competition? We went to guard the captain at the temple, and then came back together?” Zhang San looked utterly bewildered for a long moment.

“Yes,” Xu Qing replied, looking at Zhang San with surprise.

“Since I'm not hearing things, and it really was you I met at the Grand Competition, then tell me how your magic boat ended up like this! My heavens, this is my most outstanding creation! Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would struggle to destroy it to such an extent! How on earth did you manage to obliterate half of the boat? Did you use it as a shield?” Zhang San clutched his chest, seemingly in greater agony than Xu Qing himself. He recalled Xu Qing using the magic boat during the competition to strike the colossal sea corpse, and it had been perfectly intact then. Its current state of ruin seemed impossible, unless Xu Qing had done something as insane as the captain... A thought suddenly struck Zhang San. He remembered Xu Qing's disheveled and weak state when he saw him again after escaping from underneath Juying Island. He took a sharp breath.

“You didn't actually do something as insane as the captain, did you?”

Xu Qing shook his head.

“Senior Brother Zhang San, how long will it take to repair the magic boat?”

Zhang San looked at the magic boat and sighed deeply.

“Alright, alright. Compared to the flying boat you brought back last time, this is actually better. At least half of the magic boat is still intact. However, I can't repair it quickly. Tomorrow, I'm accompanying the captain on an outing. He wants me to carry him to a certain place where he can recover from his injuries, and he said I can also establish my Foundation there. If you're not in a rush, wait until I return after establishing my Foundation. I can re-forge it for you then, and it should be even better after my breakthrough. Plus, the captain's acquired flesh and blood can serve as a temporary power source for the new vessel.” Zhang San circled Xu Qing's magic boat, sighing with resignation.

After a moment's thought, Xu Qing nodded, refraining from asking further about Zhang San's Foundation Establishment. Such inquiries, regardless of the relationship, were often considered taboo. He then cupped his fists and bid farewell.

The night was thick, and the Seven Blood Eyes' teleportation array did not operate at night unless absolutely necessary. After some thought, Xu Qing decided against finding an inn and instead headed to the Demon Hunting Division. After his promotion to deputy captain, he had been assigned a room in the Demon Hunting Division's Xuan Department. Although he rarely used it on weekdays, with no other place to stay, Xu Qing decided to spend the night there. After all, the Demon Hunting Division offered a significantly higher degree of security compared to external inns.

Beyond Time

Thus, Xu Qing went to the Demon Hunting Division that very night. The Xuan Department was largely deserted, and the captain was also absent. Xu Qing entered his room, activated the defensive formation he had purchased, and began to meditate with closed eyes.

The night passed.

Early the next morning, as dawn broke, Xu Qing's eyes snapped open. Without hesitation, he deactivated the formation, swiftly left the Demon Hunting Division, and headed directly for the teleportation array in the heart of the main city. He moved swiftly, and within half an hour, he spotted the teleportation array in the distance. A considerable number of people were queuing for teleportation. Among them, two figures stood out prominently: Zhang San, and the captain perched on his back. Xu Qing was not surprised, remembering Zhang San's words from the previous day. The captain, perched on Zhang San's back and glancing around, quickly spotted Xu Qing, waving while munching on an apple.

As Xu Qing drew closer, the captain gave him a knowing, half-smiling look. “So, you're afraid to break through in the sect? Going out to find a place instead? Shall I recommend a few spots for you?”

Zhang San also looked at Xu Qing, greeting him with a smile. Hearing the captain's words, his eyes lit up. He then glanced at Xu Qing a few more times, his expression showing a delighted sense of a successful investment.

“Going out on business,” Xu Qing replied calmly, his gaze sweeping over the queue for the teleportation array.

“Deputy Captain Xu, your expression is a bit too obvious. Let me teach you: when you want to lie in the future, you must look the other person in the eye—that's how to make it believable. Your attempts at concealment suggest a great haul on the island this time, don't they? Come on, show it to me. Let's see if it's even worth this apple.” The captain finished his apple, then pulled out another large apple, like the ones Xu Qing had eaten on Juying Island, and conspicuously brandished it.

“So, Captain, where are you off to this time?” Xu Qing asked, nodding and shifting his gaze from the teleportation array.

“Me? I'm going to recuperate. When I return, I'll be even more formidable. So, if you don't pay back the ten thousand spirit stones you owe me by then, don't blame me for being harsh.” The captain narrowed his eyes, casting a meaningful glance at the leather pouch on Xu Qing's person. He then looked away and took a loud, crunching bite of his apple.

“I wish you a smooth recovery, Captain,” Xu Qing said, looking earnestly into the captain's eyes.

The captain paused, studying Xu Qing's eyes, an expression of contemplation on his face as if assessing the sincerity of Xu Qing's remark.

At this point, Zhang San sighed. He realized that the captain and Xu Qing, those two eccentrics, probably always conversed like this when they met. He was about to speak. Just then, however, the sky above the Seven Blood Eyes suddenly transformed. The clear heavens instantly turned pitch black as an incredibly daunting pressure descended, causing the entire Seven Blood Eyes Main City to tremble and even the seven mountain peaks to roar. Everyone in the main city, cultivators and mortals alike, felt their minds reel, looking up at the sky in unison. Even the waves in the harbor surged into colossal swells, as if in worship.

Xu Qing's expression also shifted. Looking up, he saw the cause of the darkened sky. It was a vast, endless black cloud, roaring in from the direction of the Phoenix Forbidden Zone. As it passed over the Seven Blood Eyes, it eclipsed the sun, plunging the land into darkness. Within this black cloud, endless lightning crackled, rumbling across the sky. As it drifted in all directions, an unparalleled oppressive aura emanated from it, enveloping all living beings. Everyone who witnessed it instinctively felt a profound sense of life-and-death peril.

Faintly, within the black cloud, a god-like entity seemed to reside, resembling both a phoenix and an eagle! Its brownish body resembled solid rock, and its feathers were like clusters of flames. It seemed to embody fury at that moment, charging aggressively toward the Forbidden Sea. As it roared, the distant ocean churned with massive, continuous waves, creating an overwhelming sound. From a sensory perspective, even Juying was clearly inferior in comparison; the disparity was immense. Xu Qing, merely by looking from afar, felt his head ache violently and his mind buzz. Others nearby experienced the same, with some even bleeding from their seven orifices.

Xu Qing was inwardly horrified; he recognized the entity. The entity within that black cloud was none other than the Emperor of Southern Phoenix Continent's First Forbidden Zone, the Blazing Phoenix, whom he had encountered upon his first return from sea! However, that previous encounter had been with the entity in a calm state, so Xu Qing hadn't experienced the sensation of his head splitting. Now, the Blazing Phoenix was clearly enraged, its emotional turmoil affecting everything around it.

“The Blazing Phoenix heading out to sea indicates something major is about to happen. Could the Emperor within the Corpse Forbidden Zone have left its sanctuary?” the captain murmured softly.

The black cloud roared overhead, gradually receding. The sky above the Seven Blood Eyes cleared once more, yet everyone's minds continued to reel. Xu Qing took a deep breath. After his last return, he had asked Zhang San about the Blazing Phoenix, learning its identity and knowing that this terrifying entity was not inherently malevolent. It spent most of its time in deep slumber, only occasionally awakening. It treated humans and other races equally, offering a degree of protection to most beings residing on the Southern Phoenix Continent. This was why some humans had managed to persist in this region to this day.

After a long while, as the Blazing Phoenix completely receded, the Seven Blood Eyes barely resumed its normal functions. Xu Qing withdrew his gaze, walked toward the teleportation array, and stepped into it, his figure vanishing instantly.

“That kid doesn't trust me. Looks like he got something good this time, though it can't compare to my Juying flesh and blood.” The captain chuckled proudly, then patted Zhang San's head. “Come on, Zhang San, your big brother is taking you for some meat.”

Zhang San sighed, inwardly thinking that it wasn't just Xu Qing who didn't trust the captain—he didn't either. But considering his many years of investment, he had no choice but to resign himself to it.

“Those who receive investments are all freaking grandpas!” Zhang San shook his head, then, with the captain still on his back, stepped into the teleportation array.

As Xu Qing, Zhang San, and the captain departed via teleportation, the Seven Blood Eyes gradually returned to normal. However, an ominous haze had, at some unknown point, settled over the sky. It seemed a storm was brewing.