Chapter 1339: Star Radiance Blooms, Twin Suns Ascend

The lingering glow of the setting sun cast its light upon Mount Zhaoxia. Decades ago, this mountain had lost its morning glow, but in recent decades, its iridescent light had returned. Now, bathed in the afterglow, it reflected a myriad of vibrant colors, slowly separating two figures.

Outside the iridescent light, Xu Qing walked further and further away. Within the iridescent light, Zi Xuan gazed into the distance.

"He was right. His mysterious brother has indeed been waiting for him for a long time."

On Mount Zhaoxia, as the void rippled beside Zi Xuan, Seventh Master slowly emerged. He and Zi Xuan both looked into the distance.

"That is a fated battle between them. Based on my observations outside the Swallowing Heaven Domain, his brother has reached the limit of his waiting."

"Therefore, what we need to do is protect this place well."

Seventh Master's voice echoed, and Zi Xuan nodded gently.

Outside Mount Zhaoxia, Zhou Zhengli, Xing Huanzi, Xie Lingzi, and others were sitting cross-legged around the mountain, meditating. Each of them was bringing their state and cultivation to their peak, waiting in silence.

Time flowed, and three days passed.

Xu Qing could have reached the Swallowing Heaven Domain in a single step, but he chose to travel slowly. As he walked, he observed the heavens and earth of the ancient world, taking in everything around him, and recalling his childhood. Along the way, many thoughts occupied his mind. Both his childhood experiences and the faded images of his parents surfaced in his heart as he progressed. Naturally, these memories also included his brother.

It was not until the third day, at the same twilight hour as when he left Mount Zhaoxia, that Xu Qing arrived at the northern border of the Swallowing Heaven Domain, bathed in the setting sun's afterglow. It was an endlessly stretching black mountain range. Standing atop the mountain range, Xu Qing faced the sweeping wind and gazed into the distance.

On this side of the mountain range, black mist surged, enveloping the sky and earth, obscuring everything. This mist permeated the entire Swallowing Heaven Domain, occasionally emitting shrill cries. It seemed to harbor countless spirits and demons, causing a chilling dread and a sense of trepidation that emanated from one's soul.

Furthermore, an extremely dense, foreign substance permeated this side of the mountain range and the entire Swallowing Heaven Domain. Its intensity already surpassed that of the Luminous Heaven World Xu Qing had once visited. Moreover, this foreign substance was highly active, as if imbued with life, ready to devour anyone at any moment. To Xu Qing, the feeling was very similar to that of Peerless City and Primordial City when they were observed by the remnant face.

"There, mortals are infested by divine aura, and countless aberrations have also been spawned," a low voice came from behind Xu Qing. Yu Liuchen's figure emerged from the void and appeared beside Xu Qing, bowing to him.

"Greetings, Immortal Lord."

Xu Qing turned his head to look at Yu Liuchen. He was not surprised by this deity's appearance here, as he had not concealed his presence on this journey but had displayed it to the world. He also already knew that Yu Liuchen's advancement was closely related to him.

"I am not the Immortal Lord," Xu Qing shook his head.

Yu Liuchen also shook his head. "Not an Immortal Lord, yet superior to one; there isn't much difference."

Xu Qing said no more, retracting his gaze and continuing to look at the Swallowing Heaven Domain. Yu Liuchen's voice, however, continued to echo.

"Where there are deities, there are always aberrations. Mortals, and even many cultivators, do not understand. They believe aberrations are companion existences to deities, and many deities themselves think this way. But in reality… Immortal Lord, you should have noticed… Aberrations are not companion existences to deities. To some extent, they can even be called a curse upon deities!"

Listening to Yu Liuchen's words, Xu Qing spoke indifferently. "Are you speaking of the Aberration Realm?"

Hearing this, golden light gleamed in Yu Liuchen's eyes. "Aberrations existed before deities, and were destroyed by deities, thus becoming a curse, like shadows, coexisting with deities. Therefore… deities above the Divine Platform realm, they do not have…"

As Yu Liuchen spoke, his body suddenly jolted as if suffering a backlash, and he directly spat out a large mouthful of golden blood.

"The ascending rules do not permit me to utter this answer. It is an answer that impacts the understanding of all ascending beings, and only due to my unique divine authority can I glimpse a portion of it…" Yu Liuchen wiped the blood from his mouth and looked at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, raised his right hand, and with a wave, his constitutional will instantly spread, enveloping the area. Then he looked at Yu Liuchen. "You may try to continue speaking."

Yu Liuchen sensed the surroundings, then took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice. "Consider carefully all the deities you have seen in your life. Do any of them, at the Divine Platform realm or above… have shadows? Because shadows are the vessels of the Aberration Realm, and at the same time, a curse upon deities. This understanding is influenced by the ascending rules, preventing all beings from noticing it."

After uttering these few sentences, Yu Liuchen was drenched in sweat, and his body trembled. Xu Qing appeared thoughtful. He recalled all the deities he had seen in his life, from the Divine Platform realm and above, and indeed, none of them had shadows. Yet, before this moment, he had never paid attention to it.

"Interesting…" Xu Qing calmly stated. "Then, what is the reason for you coming here to tell me this?"

Yu Liuchen looked at Xu Qing and bowed deeply. "Immortal Lord, I anticipated your arrival in this Swallowing Heaven Domain. Therefore, over these past few decades, I have told 370,000 stories regarding this place… But without exception, every story's concepts were eerily replaced during narration, preventing me from completing their endings. This place is highly likely connected to the Aberration Realm. Immortal Lord, your brother… his identity might not be merely one that was concealed…"

Xu Qing gazed at Yu Liuchen, and after a moment, nodded.

Yu Liuchen breathed a sigh of relief. His purpose in coming here was to inform Xu Qing of these matters. Having said his piece, he no longer lingered. His body receded, gradually dissipating into the world. Only a blessing echoed in Xu Qing's ears: "May your journey be smooth, and may you go wherever your heart desires."

On the mountaintop, the wind intensified at that moment. Amidst its mournful sigh, Xu Qing murmured, "Wherever your heart desires, you may go…"

A few breaths later, he raised his foot and stepped forward, taking a single stride towards the Swallowing Heaven Domain, shrouded in black mist. When he reappeared, he was already within the border of the Swallowing Heaven Domain, within… the Violet-Azure Upper Kingdom!

The moment he appeared, the earth roared! The endless black mist shrouding the Swallowing Heaven Domain churned violently at that instant, as if transforming into a tumultuous sea. With every surging wave, various shrill and piercing cries echoed. A strong repulsion against Xu Qing emerged, as if intending to expel him! Furthermore, countless cold energies flowed from within the black mist, carrying intense malice and a strong madness, rapidly converging towards Xu Qing.

Amidst the mist, Xu Qing's expression remained impassive. He lifted his right foot and stamped it on the ground. It was as if ten million heavenly thunders exploded in this domain. Amidst the roar, a unique destiny from Xu Qing surged forth, transforming into half of an imperial crown that floated above his head. It emanated waves of invisible pressure, suppressing all directions. That unique destiny… shared its origin with the Violet-Azure Upper Kingdom! Wherever it passed, the mist recoiled, revealing the decaying earth and a desolate world.

As for the countless cold malevolent forces within the mist, they all paused abruptly at this instant, then rapidly melted away, dispelling the coldness. Even the sense of repulsion from the Violet-Azure Upper Kingdom reversed, transforming into cheers and a welcoming embrace! This was because the unique destiny forming the half-imperial crown above Xu Qing's head was precisely the destiny of the Violet-Azure Upper Kingdom! Years ago, during the uncompleted phase of the Violet-Azure Crown Prince's elaborate plan, Seventh Master resurrected Xu Qing and took half of this destiny for him. Now, that half had returned. It was like a half-emperor returning to his nation.

Consequently, the Violet-Azure Upper Kingdom, which had replaced the Swallowing Heaven Domain and returned from antiquity, immediately stirred with endless ripples. The churning of the black mist was comparable to the moment of its original descent. Amidst this national roar, Xu Qing, who had entered the Violet-Azure Upper Kingdom, took his second step forward. With a single stride, he traversed a vast distance, appearing directly in the capital of the Violet-Azure Upper Kingdom!

He saw the capital completely engulfed by mist and foreign substances, along with the citizens of the Violet-Azure Upper Kingdom. The appearance of this capital resembled unfurled ink wash paintings, blurred yet faintly revealing an ancient style. The citizens of the Violet-Azure Upper Kingdom were even more so. Their figures were like brushstrokes of ink, wisps and lines, regardless of gender, age, or status, all appearing the same. Xu Qing's appearance was like a drop of color falling into an ink wash painting, making him exceptionally clear while also drawing the gazes of countless citizens of the Violet-Azure Upper Kingdom. These gazes carried hatred and madness, yet also confusion. They seemed to want to lunge forward, but the blessing of the Violet-Azure Upper Kingdom's destiny forced these spirits, who existed because of it, to lower their heads.

All of this was reflected in Xu Qing's eyes. Xu Qing remained silent, then withdrew his gaze, looked towards the distant imperial palace, and took his third step. As his foot landed, he appeared in the heart of the capital… within the Violet-Azure Imperial Palace! He stood before the grand hall, on the dark plaza. Before him stood a colossal and sacred statue. It was… the only statue in this world of the Remnant Face of the Upper Barren. Although the statue was clearly inanimate, it exuded an overwhelmingly powerful pressure, rendering the entire palace silent.

Behind the statue was the grand hall, its doors already open. Inside the hall, a figure sat on the dragon throne! He wore an imperial crown and robes, had violet hair, and possessed an exceedingly handsome appearance, yet also exuded a strong sense of malevolence. It was… the Violet-Azure Crown Prince!

At this moment, he was resting his head on one hand, gazing at Xu Qing, who had appeared on the plaza outside the hall. A gentle smile gradually appeared on his malevolently charming face. His voice, too, was soft, gently echoing in this eerie environment and unique atmosphere.

"As expected of my little brother, still as clever as you were as a child. You didn't even appear before me in your strongest Immortal-God fusion form, nor did you bring your divine body into our capital. But none of that matters. What matters is, little brother, you have finally arrived."