Chapter 1250: Nineteen Seed Pressing Goddesses

Outside the teleportation array, gazes converged.

At this moment, everyone's attention was fixed, and murmurs rose and fell.

However, while Zhou Zhengli reflected on his efforts to create momentum for Xu Qing, the goddess in Xu Qing's grasp was consumed by an boundless, raging hatred.

Though she was dying, devoid of her former radiance, with dry, lusterless skin, she was not truly unconscious.

Xu Qing wouldn't allow it.

Based on Xu Qing's extensive experience with live extraction, the more agitated and active the subject's soul, the higher the quality of the extraction.

Thus, the Star-Eyed Goddess remained conscious throughout the journey.

She was being live-extracted.

And whenever she was about to faint, she would be forcibly stimulated back to consciousness.

This cycle repeated endlessly...

Consequently, the suffering she endured throughout this journey was indescribable.

For her, a being of lofty status and noble lineage, such an experience was unprecedented in her life, branding itself deep into her memory.

This was also the source of her extreme hatred and rage towards Xu Qing.

So intense was her animosity that even in her weakened state, under the gaze of countless onlookers, she still opened her divine eyes and stared fixedly at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing, however, had grown accustomed to such gazes throughout their journey. At this moment, his expression was blank, only the hand gripping the Star-Eyed Goddess's neck tightened once more.

Absorbing again!

Immediately, the Star-Eyed Goddess trembled all over, as if electric currents coursed through her body, seeping into her mind and creating a sensation as if her soul was being drawn out, leaving her even weaker.

She wanted to groan, but her choked throat prevented any sound from escaping.

In this frenzy, all her hatred converged in her eyes, forming the most venomous curse in her heart.

"If I survive this calamity, then for the rest of my life, I will ensure that this person, and all his kin and friends, suffer a fate worse than death!!!"

Xu Qing remained oblivious.

For him, the most important matter was to quickly improve his cultivation, advance to a Lesser Immortal, and return to Wanggu Continent.

"And the reward for capturing this goddess..."

"Furthermore, this goddess has a very unique constitution... If I can hold onto her for a long time, breaking through my cultivation and reaching the mid-stage Quasi-Immortal realm will be within reach!"

Xu Qing, carrying the Star-Eyed Goddess, was escorted by the Nianlin Army. He instinctively continued to absorb while pondering, as they left the teleportation array and walked into the distance.

They were heading towards the colossal red star where the Commander-in-Chief of the Left Flank Front Line was located.

The cultivators who had gathered to observe watched Xu Qing and his group disappear into the distance, their minds filled with a mix of emotions and reflections.

"This group of theirs, already 'Dao Seeds' and well-tempered, has now achieved such a great merit. They are surely destined for meteoric rise!"

"Especially Xu Qing; his name will soon spread throughout the entire Fifth Star Ring!"

Amidst sighs, various emotions were present, but whether it was envy or jealousy, the departing Xu Qing left it all behind.

And so, time flowed on.

Half a month later, with the Nianlin Army's continuous escort, Xu Qing and his group traversed the star sea and finally arrived at the Front Line Headquarters, located at the core of the Left Flank War Zone!

It was a massive, slightly irregular star!

Like a scarlet demonic star, it hung suspended in the cosmos.

From a distance, it resembled a single eye formed from the weeping blood of a deity, gazing down upon the starry expanse.

Although he had been here once before, witnessing this star again still stirred waves in Xu Qing's heart.

This star was truly enormous, like a colossal burning fireball in the universe, emitting incredibly dazzling and scorching light.

Its light seemed capable of piercing through endless darkness, making it an exceptionally prominent presence in the vast starry sky.

Having reached their destination, the Nianlin Army halted their advance. The leading cultivator bowed respectfully to Xu Qing with a solemn expression.

After Xu Qing returned the bow, he knew their mission was complete. The next step was for him and his group to report their achievements.

He then turned to face the colossal red star, and with a flicker of his figure, he and Xing Huanzi's group headed directly towards it.

As they approached, they could see the surface of the red star covered in a violently surging "sea of fire." Fiery flames ceaselessly surged and rolled, evaporating into scarlet mists.

Simultaneously, a mysterious sensation, one Xu Qing had not felt before due to his lower cultivation and understanding at that time, assailed them.

It was the sound of a heartbeat at the Constellation Law level!

Like the sound of ancient war drums, it echoed amidst the churning sea of fire.

Thump-thump, thump-thump!

As if this star were a living being!

At any moment, it seemed capable of erupting into monstrous scarlet tides, sweeping through the star system with roars, reducing everything within it to dust.

This sight made Xu Qing pause.

The people behind him were also deeply shaken.

Just as everyone halted, an ancient voice, imbued with boundless antiquity and seemingly carrying the winds of time, emanated from the void.

"Very good..."

Accompanying the voice, a colossal flare suddenly erupted in front of Xu Qing and his group, generating an intensely bright light that illuminated the surrounding void.

Like a gigantic firework blossoming in the cosmos.

Within this sea of light, a hundred thousand silver vertical eyes suddenly appeared and abruptly opened.

Each pupil distinctly reflected the past images of slaughter between Xu Qing's group and the goddess.

As if scrutinizing the entire process.

A few breaths later, the images of slaughter vanished, and the hundred thousand eyes focused on Xu Qing and his group.

Their gaze was particularly fixed on the Star-Eyed Goddess in Xu Qing's hand.

Immediately afterward, a pulling force emerged from thin air.

Sensing the immense power of this force, Xu Qing could only release his grip, allowing the pulling force to envelop the goddess, drawing her into the sea of light until she gradually disappeared.

Watching this scene, Xu Qing felt a considerable sense of regret.

He hadn't extracted enough yet.

Though his journey seemed swift, he had actually delayed as much as possible, purely to absorb more.

The source essence within this goddess was clearly different from other deities; while not inexhaustible, it would often regenerate just as it was about to be depleted.

Even if the regenerated amount decreased each time, the quality remained exceptionally pure.

"If I could absorb for a while longer, my cultivation would surely break through."

Xu Qing sighed inwardly, but he also knew that the Zhànlú Immortal Lord had a greater need for this goddess, making it impossible for him to keep her indefinitely.

So he could only suppress this thought.

Then, remembering the reward for capturing the goddess, Xu Qing bowed forward respectfully.

The others behind him followed suit.

After a moment, the ancient voice, seemingly imbued with the essence of time, echoed again.

"Those who obtained the goddess's whereabouts shall be rewarded with one million military merits and ten units of source essence. Those who captured her alive shall be rewarded with ten million military merits and one hundred units of source essence!"

"You all, having both obtained her whereabouts and captured the goddess, have performed a great service!"

At these words, everyone was invigorated.

"Xu Qing!"

Hearing this, Xu Qing's expression turned solemn, and he stepped forward.

In the sea of light, the hundred thousand eyes converged upon him.

The ancient voice resonated.

"This goddess, I shall send to the Zhànlú Immortal Lord, and I shall request for you the title of True Monarch and... an Immortal Lord Dao Artifact!"

"Do you have any specific requests for this Dao Artifact?"

Xu Qing's eyes gleamed with a strange light. After pondering for a moment, he cupped his fist and spoke in a low voice.

"Your humble subordinate desires a Dao Artifact specialized in combat and slaughter!"

"Very well, I will relay your request."

"All rewards will be delivered within seven days. You may wait in the star towers here. This star naturally contains source essence; make good use of it."

The voice gradually faded.

The hundred thousand silver eyes slowly closed until, after a few breaths, the sea of light also vanished. However, twelve towers made of magma rose from the ground amid the earth's rumbling turmoil.

They stood before Xu Qing and his eleven companions.

These twelve fire towers exuded dense source essence, so much so that even Xu Qing felt his Constitution stir.

Xing Huanzi, Zhou Zhengli, and the others behind him were all moved.

"I heard some time ago that this colossal scarlet star was formed by the Zhànlú Immortal Lord in ancient times, who slew multiple peak True Gods and refined it using their skulls and divine blood, combined with a giant star!"

"Furthermore, he integrated a Constellation Law of his own from his early years into it."

"Therefore, even Lesser Immortals can benefit greatly from cultivating here. However, this star is unstable, so unless it's a special bestowal, remaining here is not permitted!"

Zhou Zhengli spoke in a low voice.

Xu Qing nodded slightly, then turned to look at the people behind him. Their gazes met, acknowledging the hardships they had endured together.

Then, Xu Qing's expression became serious, and he bowed respectfully.

"Of these rewards, the title of True Monarch cannot be shared, but the source essence and military merits are to be divided amongst us!"

"And the Immortal Lord Dao Artifact, though I shall wield it, is also a shared possession amongst us!"

Zhou Zhengli's expression was solemn, Xing Huanzi remained silent, Li Mengtu grinned, Xie Lingzi coughed, while Yuanshan Su lowered her gaze slightly.

The others reacted similarly.

They returned the bow.

Qianjun Piyi was also among them, appearing even more excited; being bowed to by Xu Qing seemed to bring them more inner joy than receiving the rewards themselves.

Afterward, Xu Qing turned and walked into a fire tower.

The others also stepped forward, each choosing a tower, and began their respective cultivation.

Thus, days passed one after another.

While everyone awaited their rewards, as the goddess was sent to the Zhànlú Immortal Lord, the black and white energies encompassing the entire battlefield area between the Fourth and Fifth Star Rings began to subtly ripple.

And clearly... the white, representing immortal spirits, was sweeping forward, causing the black, representing anomalous energy, to continuously retreat.

This reversal of momentum immediately caused turmoil across all front-line war zones—left, central, and right—making the conflict between the two sides even fiercer, with the cultivators now gaining the upper hand.

The stalemate between the Li Zhu Divine Emperor and the Zhànlú Immortal Lord seemed to have been broken.

Vaguely, two colossal figures could be seen within the black and white, gazing at each other.

Immediately afterward... a wisp of divine thought, incomprehensible to those not of the same realm, echoed within the momentum.

"Zhànlú, you must know, if the front lines fall and I retreat, this war will escalate to a decisive battle involving multiple beings of our realm, as well as Divine Venerables and Immortal Venerables. Are you... prepared?"

Meanwhile, in the Fourth Star Ring, far from the core of the battlefield, where anomalous energy was extremely dense.

Within the fringing starry expanse, an ancient, meteorite-sized, aged deity, radiating an aura of antiquity, drifted along.

It was dying, devoid of consciousness, seemingly retaining only instinct...

Its drifting trajectory seemed to follow a designated direction, drawn by an unseen force, returning to some unknown place.

Inside this ancient deity, at the location of its heart, where the flesh had already been emptied, a man and a woman sat cross-legged, facing each other.

After a long while, one of them opened her eyes, sensed the outside, and spoke softly.

"Husband, we're almost there..."

As her words echoed, the other person opened and closed his eyes, nodding slightly.

"The lights of the front lines have indeed drawn almost all attention, but... for the journey ahead, it would be best for us to be even more discreet."

At this moment, if Xu Qing were here and saw these two, he would undoubtedly recognize them at once.

They were none other than the Aurora Young Lord and his Dao companion, Immortal Phoenix.