Chapter 1285: Crossing 4 Million Words to Meet

Xu Qing never forgot about the Poison Lord. He didn't neglect the matter because of his own experiences, as that wasn't his nature. In fact, his original plan was to first comprehend the tenth extreme, fully entering the Summer Immortal realm, and then slay the Poison Lord before leaving the Fifth Star Ring. Although the Poison Lord's initial intent to borrow his path was thwarted by Xu Qing before it could be fully implemented, such matters always involve karma.

Regarding the arrival of the other party's clone and the bronze puppet it sent, Xu Qing's gaze fell on the puppet in his palm. He had thoroughly investigated it before taking it. Now, with a lift of his hand, destiny surged, and he sealed the puppet before putting it away.

"For now, the most important thing is to wait for Master Bai..." Setting aside the Poison Lord, Xu Qing raised his head, gazing into the distant starry sky. After a long time, a faint sensation stirred within him.

"He's here..." Xu Qing stood up and walked out of the observation tower. The moment he stood outside, the starry sky flowed, and a clear radiance descended from beyond the heavens, like a Milky Way pouring down. Where it passed, nebulae rippled outwards. It finally transformed into light, scattering over the stars, turning the firmament into a curtain, as if a long scroll of ink wash painting had unfurled between heaven and earth. Faint, ethereal fragrances of plants and trees, mixed with the crisp aura of constitutional laws, spontaneously arose from the void.

Accompanying all this was ethereal zither music, like an ancient melody or the rustling sound of plants sprouting. Amidst this extraordinary mystery, a figure emerged from the ink wash painting. He seemed to step out of the painting, becoming increasingly clear. It was an old man.

He wore a moon-white long gown, its sleeves embroidered with subtle patterns of plants and trees. A medicine pot hung from his waist. His brow bones were sharply defined as if carved by a knife, yet his brows naturally drooped at the ends, forming two benevolent arcs. His eyes were sunken like cold pools, with swirling nebulae in his pupils, occasionally traversed by fragmented starlight, as if a galaxy flowed in their depths. Around him, a faint, ethereal purple mist lingered, as if it were the manifestation of a spiritual vein that had existed since the creation of heaven and earth. At this moment, he was smiling, looking at Xu Qing.

"You've grown up." His voice was clear and melodious like a spring striking jade. As he spoke, starlight flowed, settling in Xu Qing's heart, creating ripples that stirred boundless memories. Scene after scene from the past continuously surfaced. Xu Qing's eyes reddened slightly as he bowed deeply.

"Teacher..." These simple words carried memories and emotions, making Master Bai's gaze, as he descended upon this star, even softer.

"Walk with me," Master Bai said softly. As he raised his hand, starlight guided and fell towards Xu Qing, paving a star-path before him. Xu Qing took a deep breath, and with reverence in his heart, stepped onto the star-path, coming to Master Bai's side. Together, they walked towards the starry sky, vanishing from this supply star to appear in the boundless universe.

"Tell me about your story after you joined the Seven Blood Eyes," Master Bai said warmly. Xu Qing nodded gently, allowing all his past memories to surface.

"After entering the Seven Blood Eyes, I became a disciple of the Seventh Peak..." Xu Qing's voice wove illusory scenes that echoed and reflected in Master Bai's eyes. His narrative included the trials on Mermaid Island, the war with the Sea Corpse Race, the migration of the Wanggu Continent, as well as the Sword Holders and Fenghai County, and even the Scarlet Mother, the Empress, and the Great Sword Emperor.

In the starry sky, Master Bai walked in front, with Xu Qing following half a step behind on his right. This scene seemed to hark back to their time in the scavenger camp. Back then, Xu Qing was called "the child." To find the Heaven's Mandate Flower and save Captain Lei's team, he sought help from Master Bai and secretly learned about plants and herbs outside his tent. Eventually, he was called into the tent and began his botanical enlightenment.

Now, this scene was replaying. Wherever they passed, beneath Master Bai's feet, the radiance of blooming green lotuses shone, causing patches of the universe and countless stars they traversed to instantly burst forth with vibrant greenery. Even some previously barren stars saw withered stones bloom and dead branches sprout at that moment, as if revitalized.

Time passed, and after an unknown duration, Xu Qing finished recounting all his experiences in Wanggu. Master Bai sighed softly.

"The Ninth Star Ring was originally nothing special compared to other star rings," Master Bai began. "That is, until the Upheaval failed to ascend to godhood, yet was the first to return from a god's umbilical cord. It chose to go there, settling in the Ninth Star Ring, on the Wanggu Continent. From that moment on, all supreme beings within the star rings turned their gaze towards Wanggu. We don't know why the Upheaval went to Wanggu.

"Divine Venerables from other star rings once entered the Ninth Star Ring, seeking to investigate the Upheaval's condition. However, all outsiders who approached showed signs of falling; though some managed to gain opportunities, they could not escape karma. For instance, the Divine Venerable of the Fourth Star Ring... It seemed only those who originally belonged to the Ninth Star Ring could remain relatively unharmed, provided they acted with extreme caution. So, at that time, I was instructed by the Immortal Venerable to use the art of reincarnation. Without touching any supernatural power, I was to become a mortal and be born on an overseas island far from Wanggu's mainland.

"And I would have no past memories, unable to leave the island for a single step throughout my life. Only after my death could my main body perceive the memories of my incarnation. Wanggu... is ominous because of the Upheaval."

"Are you sure... you still want to go back?" Master Bai asked, looking at Xu Qing. "If you choose to stay in the Fifth Star Ring, it won't be long before you can aspire to become an Immortal Lord."

Xu Qing fell silent, then after a long moment, he said softly, "Teacher, I want to go back."

Hearing this, Master Bai stopped persuading him, like a reclusive sage who had seen all the mundane world. His face seemed to have gained more wrinkles, not the ravines of age, but the patterns of mountains and rivers; each crease seemed to hide a thousand years of vicissitudes.

After a long time, he shook his head, his voice rising and falling. "Before I saw you, I confirmed something in the Fourth Star Ring. That place... is where you will achieve immortality!"

The moment Master Bai's words came out, Xu Qing's mind trembled. At the same time, Master Bai's figure paused in the starry sky. The instant he stopped, all the stars in that part of the universe seemed to receive a summons, changing their trajectories and converging from all directions. Amidst the ripples of the starry sky, they gathered here, automatically arranging themselves around them. They actually formed a vast star map in the shape of a medicine pot!

Outside this star map, Master Bai looked up towards the distant Fourth Star Ring. He murmured softly, "Xu Qing, I will impart one last piece of knowledge to you. It's unrelated to plants and trees, but rather 'beyond'. These thirty-six upper star rings, including all Venerables, are 'within', while what they pursue... is 'beyond'. You don't need to understand these two words now, but remember them... when one day in the future, if you have the chance to achieve Immortal Lord or even Immortal Venerable status, remember this matter. As for now...

"If you want to comprehend a higher constitution, then go to the Fourth Star Ring! You once encountered the God of Pain and were immersed in its illusion. There, you broke through your limits and traversed years of suffering. Although it was false, its illusion contained truth. Therefore, why not truly experience it once more? Let the real happen truly, and let the false be false again!"

As he spoke, Master Bai gently waved his sleeve. The countless stars within the medicine pot star map instantly vibrated, emitting a dazzling array of starlight that converged to form a unique bridge that extended all the way to the Fourth Star Ring! This bridge was woven from starlight and spiritual plants, making its reality and illusion hard to distinguish, fully displaying the profound mysteries of creation. It bore a striking resemblance to the God of Pain's illusory yet truthful nature.

"Go forth. May you return... a Summer Immortal!" Master Bai's voice echoed, making the unique bridge even more brilliant. Looking at this, Xu Qing's mind churned. The scenes from when he was immersed in the illusion flowed through his mind. After a long moment, determination appeared in his eyes. After bowing to Master Bai, he took a step forward.

He stepped onto this bridge woven from starlight and spiritual plants, heading towards the Fourth Star Ring! As the bridge rippled, Xu Qing's figure gradually disappeared.

Only the medicine pot-shaped star map continued to operate, exuding a magnificent aura. Immortal flames also appeared out of thin air, encircling the medicine pot. Master Bai's figure appeared above the medicine pot star map and sat down cross-legged, using his own destiny and realm to bless Xu Qing's journey and complete the karma between master and disciple from Wanggu.

Beside him, the void rippled, and an old man wearing straw sandals stepped out, standing beside Master Bai. He looked up, gazing in the direction Xu Qing had departed. On his shoulder was a golden mouse, licking its paws.

"I wonder if that item of the Immortal Venerable's has been properly placed," Master Bai said indifferently, without turning his head.

The old man beside him sighed. "You still know I'm the Immortal Venerable... so why the commanding tone?"

"That's what you owe him!" Master Bai stated calmly.

The Immortal Venerable shook his head. Having spent countless years together, he naturally knew that this was the nature of the person before him. He also knew that this individual, though seemingly at the Immortal Lord level, could actually have reached his own realm many years ago. However, due to some unknown reasons, he had never taken that step. So, he didn't mind the other's tone and casually sat down beside him.

"It's properly placed. Although I don't wish to be entangled in karma, how could I be reluctant to part with that item?"

Hearing this, Master Bai said nothing more. After a long moment, the Immortal Venerable's voice echoed again.

"However, even with your help and my item, Xu Qing's success this time remains slim," the Immortal Venerable said, looking at Master Bai. "His constitution is different from others... taking another step will directly bring him to the level of an Immortal Lord's laws. The leap in between is too great, so it will undoubtedly be extremely difficult. If he fails, what will you do?"

Master Bai fell silent, and after a long time, his voice was hoarse. "He will not fail."

The Immortal Venerable looked at Master Bai, and after a long moment, suddenly spoke. "Is he the one the Upheaval is looking for? Or rather... is he the reincarnation of the Upheaval?" As these words were uttered, the universe seemed to solidify.

"You've also been to Wanggu. If it were truly as you suspect, with your cultivation, would you not be able to tell? Why ask me?" Master Bai remained calm.