Chapter 1323: Let Wang Gu Be Cleaner

At this moment of excitement for human cultivators and jubilation for the myriad races of Wanggu, Xu Qing stood in the sky above the human imperial capital, gazing toward the Devouring Heaven Domain.

He slightly raised his right foot, but… it did not descend.

A moment ago, his divine sense had made contact with Prince Ziqing within the Devouring Heaven Domain, stirring a powerful impulse within him.

He wanted to step into Devouring Heaven, into the Ziqing Superior Nation, and fight against Prince Ziqing, the "brother" from his memories.

To resolve all karmic entanglements.

But ultimately, Xu Qing withdrew his foot.

"It's not time yet..."

Xu Qing lowered his gaze. He knew that his current state couldn't be maintained indefinitely.

The fusion of immortal and divine forms had only temporarily allowed him to reach this formidable state.

Before long, an unresolvable incompatibility would arise between his divine body and immortal soul.

At that point, they would have to separate; otherwise, his soul would face assimilation.

Xu Qing also understood that this fusion was imperfect because it lacked certain essential and supreme rituals.

Most importantly, Shanghuang still existed.

His divine body was formed from Shanghuang's flesh and blood, and the source of his divinity also came from Shanghuang.

So, a short-term fusion with his immortal soul was acceptable, but if it lasted too long, assimilation was inevitable. This was also part of his karmic ties with Shanghuang.

"Once this assimilation begins, it's irreversible."

"Therefore... although this fused form enhances my cultivation and combat power, it cannot be used extensively."

"Until this issue is resolved, it's not suitable to fight Ziqing."

Xu Qing withdrew his gaze. Even with his cultivation at its current level, he still didn't underestimate Ziqing in the slightest.

On the contrary, as his cultivation and experience grew, he saw things more deeply and clearly.

"Ziqing is Shanghuang's chosen one, the one who walks Wanggu on Its behalf."

"I just don't know what kind of entanglement exists between him and me, and why he waited for me to grow..."

Looking back now, Xu Qing could discern many clues and hints.

For example, why Prince Ziqing provoked him repeatedly.

Also, when the Empress became a god, he acquired the fortune returning from the Ziqing Superior Nation. Although this was with his master's help, it would have been difficult to acquire smoothly without a foundation.

So why was his foundation related to the Ziqing Superior Nation?

And the extent to which he could endure Shanghuang's flesh, blood, and karma also seemed to exceed the ordinary.

Regarding the Ziqing Superior Nation and Ziqing, the questions in Xu Qing's heart hadn't lessened with his growth; instead, they had multiplied.

Especially... a speculation he preferred not to dwell on was buried deep in his heart.

"What is the true connection between Shanghuang, Ziqing, and me...?"

Xu Qing thought of the long corridor within his soul and the mysterious seat at its end.

He also recalled Prince Ziqing's peculiar reaction after sensing that scene years ago.

"Everything is coming soon... It won't be long. The moment I step into Devouring Heaven, all will be revealed!"

Xu Qing took a deep breath, making a decision in his heart.

Suppressing his thoughts of Ziqing, he once again gazed toward the Wanggu Continent. There were some matters he intended to resolve before confronting Ziqing.

"The current Wanggu Continent has just endured a great calamity and needs stability."

"But there are many external forces... So, I'll use this fused state, which can last for a few more hours, to uproot them one by one, severing their long-standing arrangements in Wanggu."

"To make Wanggu a bit cleaner."

A profound light flashed in Xu Qing's eyes. He looked toward Fenghai County, toward... the Wood Spirit Race!

His first stop for purging was the Ancient Spirit Emperor!

As the emperor of the Ancient Spirit Race, who had once unified the Wanggu Continent in an era even more ancient than that of the Darkhusk Ancient Emperor.

Still lingering to this day, Xu Qing didn't believe there weren't other external forces supporting him!

"If there are, I'll sever them!"

"If not... the Ancient Spirit Emperor's existence is still detrimental to Wanggu's stability."

Thinking of this, Xu Qing bowed to Master Seven in the sky, his gaze sweeping over the Empress, Second Bull, and the others.

"Wait a moment. I'll go handle some matters first."

After speaking, he raised his head, a coldness emerging in his eyes, and spoke softly.

"Zhou Zhengli!"

Not far away, Zhou Zhengli, who had been closely observing Xu Qing's every word and action, immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"My Lord!"

"You all, come with me."

As Xu Qing's words fell, his body suddenly took a step, and he teleported amidst the ripples in the sky.

Zhou Zhengli, Star Ring Son, Evil Spirit Son, Li Mengtu, Yuanshan Su, and others also rose into the air one after another, following Xu Qing's teleportation.

With their cultivation levels, the Wanggu Continent, which seemed almost boundless in the eyes of lower-level cultivators, was merely a slightly larger star.

Thus, in an instant, outside Fenghai County, above where the Wood Spirit Race resided, thunder rumbled across the sky.

As roars exploded in all directions, the sky parted.

The Wood Spirit Race trembled. All the trees opened their eyes and transformed into human forms. Amidst the Wood Spirit Clan Chief's trembling genuflection, Xu Qing's figure emerged from the torn sky.

Behind him stood Zhou Zhengli and the others.

The moment he appeared, Xu Qing didn't pause, taking another step.

In an instant, he appeared at the entrance of the Spirit Abyss, the underground forbidden land of the Wood Spirit Race!

The entrance to the Spirit Abyss was a massive hole, like a celestial pit. It was pitch black inside, with waves of chilling aura emanating from it, as if it could freeze all things.

This wasn't Xu Qing's first time here. Now, he stood at the edge of the Wood Spirit Race's Spirit Abyss, his gaze falling upon it.

Zhou Zhengli and the others beside him also stepped forward. Zhou Zhengli's third eye on his forehead suddenly opened. After gazing intently, he suddenly spoke.

"My Lord, below... there's a decaying, struggling giant serpent!"

Star Ring Son also cast his gaze downward, speaking calmly.

"The power of order within it has completely collapsed."

"It also contains poison..." Li Mengtu smiled.

"Not just that, my sword tells me there's also evil intent down there." Evil Spirit Son licked his lips.

"My Lord, where does this place lead to?" Zhou Zhengli looked at Xu Qing.

"On the Wanggu Continent, before Shanghuang descended, there was a race that once unified the world. This race was called the Ancient Spirits." Xu Qing spoke slowly.

"Their Spirit Emperor was an immortal. In the twilight years of his dynasty, he gathered the power of his entire race and amassed their fortune, intending to perform an act related to the Heavenly Dao."

"He sought to usurp the Heavenly Dao with his own body, wishing to become the sole Heavenly Dao of Wanggu."

"Looking back now, he intended to merge with Wanggu's rules, using this to enter the Dao and become an Immortal Lord!"

As Xu Qing spoke, he raised his foot and directly stepped into the Spirit Abyss.

Zhou Zhengli and the others immediately followed. Xu Qing's voice echoed in their ears amidst the swirling darkness of the Spirit Abyss.

"Ultimately, the Spirit Emperor's attempt at usurpation failed, and he suffered backlash from all the Heavenly Daos of Wanggu. But clearly, he chose to make his clan bear part of the burden. Thus, overnight, the Ancient Spirit Race withered, their nation transformed into a death realm, and most of their people became wailing, suffering departed souls day and night."

"Enduring the torment of the Ancient Spirit Emperor's backlash eternally."

"This Spirit Abyss of the Wood Spirit Race is one of the entrances to the Ancient Spirit Death Realm."

Hearing this, Zhou Zhengli and the others felt their minds stirred.

Their cultivation was merely that of quasi-immortals. And from what Xu Qing said, it was clear that this Ancient Spirit Emperor had once been an immortal. Moreover, this method of usurping the Heavenly Dao and acquiring rules for advancement was also circulated within the Fifth Star Ring.

However, this was merely one way to become an immortal, and it was less common compared to comprehending constitutional laws.

Its drawbacks were too numerous.

However... using this method to advance to Immortal Lord was also inconceivable in the Fifth Star Ring.

"This Spirit Emperor..."

Star Ring Son wanted to say something, but ultimately shook his head. Regardless, the other party had once reached the immortal realm and deserved respect.

Xu Qing merely provided a brief explanation, then said no more. He continued walking forward within the Spirit Abyss.

The inherent repulsion emanating from the Spirit Abyss, though constant and seemingly very strong, was not even a breeze before Xu Qing.

In just an instant, Xu Qing had already entered its depths.

In this darkness, he appeared before a colossal entity!

It was a decaying giant serpent, enveloped in a thick aura of death.

A world rested upon its head.

This world was blurry, with waves of agonizing wails emanating from within. The sounds were soul-rending, reaching the ears of Xu Qing and his companions through the void and mist.

In the past, this giant serpent had appeared immeasurably vast to Xu Qing, its mere aura making his body and soul tremble.

But now, everything was reversed.

Xu Qing stood in the void, his gaze sweeping over it.

With a single glance, the decaying giant serpent suddenly began to tremble violently, its entire body shaking, and it even started backing away, attempting to escape.

But a cold light flashed in Star Ring Son's eyes, and his body shot forward, directly toward the giant serpent.

Zhou Zhengli and the others also took steps. In an instant, everyone but Xu Qing flew toward the giant serpent.

Within that great world, they struck the decaying earth like meteors!

A resounding boom echoed within that great world, and the resulting storm swept in all directions, instantly shattering countless departed souls.

Even the sky, shrouded in mist, with no sun or moon, only ghostly flames like stars, had its mist torn apart in that instant.

Furthermore, in the next moment, as the world was transformed into a hazy, pallid starlight, Star Ring Son and the others instantly repositioned themselves, showcasing their might, like celestial generals, galloping in all directions.

Wherever they passed, the River Styx rolled back, mountains of flesh and blood shattered, and the entire world trembled.

And one by one, the eyes of the Ancient Spirit Emperor simultaneously opened in that instant.

It seemed to have been dormant for a long time, now disturbed and awakened, letting out a roar.

"You all..."

This roar only managed two words before abruptly stopping.

The opened eyes suddenly constricted.

They sensed the flowing-haired figure in the void outside!

An unprecedented wave of shock and terror transformed into a tumultuous storm within its mind, coupled with disbelief. The surge and manifestation of these emotions instantly became intensely concentrated in all its opened eyes.

"You... you are..."

Outside the giant serpent, Xu Qing stood, not immediately looking at the Ancient Spirit Emperor's awakened eyes within the serpent's world, but rather fixing his gaze on the depths of the distant, dark mist.

Gazing in that direction, the coldness in Xu Qing's eyes deepened.

He then withdrew his gaze, looking at the decaying world atop the giant serpent's head in front of him.

He spoke softly.

"Long time no see, Ancient Spirit Emperor."