Chapter 259: Purple and Cyan Past

Xu Qing felt a bit confused.

He followed Seventh Master, walking through the jungle. Although Seventh Master had mentioned an unfinished game of chess, he wasn't in a hurry on the way back. He walked leisurely ahead. However, each step covered a vast distance, pulling Xu Qing along as they traversed the jungle.

Xu Qing looked at Seventh Master's back, a scene flashing in his mind: Seventh Master waving his hand, and three Golden Core Dharma Protectors from the Lingyun Sword Sect dying. All of it felt somewhat unreal to him.

So, he remained silent.

"You handled Master Bai's matter very well," Seventh Master's faint voice came from ahead a moment later.

"It was my duty," Xu Qing murmured.

"You also did well with the Sea Corpse Clan."

"That was... His Royal Highness's doing," Xu Qing hesitated.

"The night dove matter was also acceptable."

"I just did my best," Xu Qing lowered his head.

"But you were reckless regarding Sheng Yunzi," Seventh Master said. As he spoke, a ruined city faintly appeared ahead of them – the very city where Xu Qing had fought Sheng Yunzi.

Xu Qing said nothing.

"You should have called your Eldest, Second, and Third Seniors to kill him together. That way, you wouldn't have been injured so badly," Seventh Master's tone held a hint of dissatisfaction.

Xu Qing pondered for a moment, deciding Seventh Master had a point, and nodded.

Seeing Xu Qing so well-behaved, Seventh Master was pleased. He turned to face Xu Qing, his eyes showing approval. "Come closer. Aren't you fearless? Why are you so far from me?"

Xu Qing hesitated, then slowly walked closer, standing beside Seventh Master.

Seventh Master looked at Xu Qing's height, a trace of reminiscence in his eyes. He recalled the skinny figure from the scavenger camp, carefully avoiding muddy spots after putting on new clothes, and smiled.

"You're taller than you were then."

Xu Qing suddenly looked up, a faint answer already forming in his heart.

Seventh Master didn't elaborate. He led Xu Qing into the ruined city. Xu Qing didn't ask any questions, silently following.

From a distance, an old man and a young man walked through the desolate ruins. The dim yellow sunlight made it seem as if they were walking through time itself.

"This is an ancient city that witnessed history and was buried within it."

Seventh Master's voice echoed through the ancient city, carrying an ethereal quality, like a distant Qiang flute. Xu Qing looked at Seventh Master, awaiting more.

"This city, according to legend, was once the residence of the Purple-Azure Kingdom's Crown Prince—the unparalleled and astonishing genius of his time, hailed as the foremost human prodigy after the Divine Remnants."

"It is said that the Purple-Azure Kingdom's Crown Prince possessed truly unparalleled talent, inheriting the bloodlines of ancient emperors and overlords, and suppressed an entire era."

"Some also say he was born blessed by the human race's fortune, with auspicious signs descending from the heavens at his birth, manifesting as nine golden dragons accompanying him throughout his life."

"Others claim he was a self-salvation effort by the vast Boundless Ancient Continent itself, gathering the power of the entire realm simply to bring him into existence."

"Historical records state that at the moment of his birth, all forbidden areas across the Boundless Ancient Continent wailed, and strange blood flowed, extending beyond their boundaries."

"It's also said that he survived five instances of divine eyes opening throughout his life, thus receiving the gods' blessings."

"Even the Holy Lands were alarmed, sending invitations multiple times, all of which he refused."

"However, this peerless human ultimately died in battle on the land of the Purple-Azure Kingdom. It's rumored that all the myriad races involved in his killing were astonishingly powerful individuals."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing's heart stirred. He felt this account differed from what he knew about the Purple-Azure Kingdom. His understanding was that the eight clans rebelled, leading to the imperial bloodline being controlled and seized, causing the Purple-Azure to dissipate and giving rise to the Eight Purple Earth Clans.

Noticing Xu Qing's expression, Seventh Master smiled.

"I'm not talking about the Purple-Azure of the Southern Phoenix Continent," Seventh Master explained, "but the Purple-Azure Kingdom hidden within history, which truly had the potential to unify Boundless Ancient after the Profound Nether era. Unfortunately, those who know of it are now few and far between. The myriad races, including humans, have either actively or passively erased it, and no one speaks of it anymore."

"As for the Eight Purple Earth Clans, what they overthrew was merely a fragile remnant of the Purple-Azure that, after many years, had barely formed a small nation."

Xu Qing took a deep breath.

"Coincidentally, the peerless Crown Prince of that Purple-Azure Kingdom died in battle right here on the Southern Phoenix Continent. Countless years after his death, a small city was built at that location. Eleven years ago, when a deity opened its eyes, the entire city vanished."

"Some say it was his curse."

Xu Qing remained silent, his gaze inward, not uttering a word.

Shortly after, they arrived at the Daoist temple within the ruins. The place was a mess, covered in traces of fierce combat. Looking at it, Xu Qing turned to Seventh Master.

"Didn't someone say you lack divine abilities and techniques? Go comprehend them! Hurry up, I still need to go back and play chess." Seventh Master lightly tapped Xu Qing's head.

Xu Qing's heart skipped a beat. This was what Sheng Yunzi had said to him during their battle.

Xu Qing glanced at Seventh Master, nodded, and walked into the Daoist temple. He sat cross-legged, silently gazing at the temple's statue.

After a while, he stood up again and looked at Seventh Master outside. "What's wrong?" Seventh Master asked.

"I can't comprehend it during the day; I need moonlight," Xu Qing hesitated before answering truthfully.

Seventh Master mumbled something Xu Qing couldn't quite hear, then waved his hand. Instantly, the sky above the Daoist temple filled with mist, black clouds swirling and covering the sunlight and all directions, plunging the area around the temple into darkness. Moreover, within this darkness, a mirror appeared in the black clouds. This mirror surprisingly contained moonlight, and as the mirror rotated, a beam of moonlight fell, illuminating the Daoist temple and landing on the divine statue.

The next instant, blade shadows formed around the divine statue.

Xu Qing's mind reeled. He looked at Seventh Master and took a long, deep breath. He had seen Sixth Master act, but such a scene, where a mere wave of a hand seemed to alter day and night, was something he felt Sixth Master absolutely couldn't achieve. This reminded Xu Qing of the Seventh Peak's traditions.

"Seventh Master is definitely not at the Nascent Soul stage!" Xu Qing knew the opportunity was precious. He focused his mind completely, gazing at the blade shadows around the statue. Gradually, a purple, illusory heavenly blade appeared above his head.

He began to comprehend.

While he was comprehending, Seventh Master stood outside the Daoist temple, looking out at the surrounding battlefield, muttering to himself, "He certainly has fewer divine abilities and techniques... but he has a lot of miscellaneous stuff."

"Though his tactics are still rudimentary, for his age, he's already quite good." And so, time passed.

Above the Forbidden Sea, sword light surged skyward. Streaks of sword qi whistled directly towards the Seven Blood Eyes. Patriarch Lingyun raged at the forefront, emitting killing intent, while the Lingyun Sword Sect disciples behind him were belligerent, ready to demand answers.

Within the Phoenix Forbidden Zone, there was peace. Night fell.

Xu Qing's comprehension continued. The moonlight conjured by Seventh Master was even clearer in the night, causing the blade shadows to appear more frequently and distinctly in Xu Qing's vision. His comprehension speed was notably astonishing. The purple blade shadow above his head rapidly solidified, progressing from merely ten percent to fifty, sixty, seventy percent...

As the night passed and morning arrived, the moment the dawn light dispelled the darkness, Xu Qing's entire body trembled. A sharp aura burst forth from him, and the purple blade shadow above his head achieved complete solidification. It was no longer illusory but like a real heavenly blade, radiating terrifying sharpness.

Moreover, with such a long period of cultivation and rest, especially the moonlight conjured by Seventh Master which clearly possessed restorative power, Xu Qing's injuries were now completely healed. His lost fingers had fully regrown, and his aura at this moment reached an unprecedented peak.

He stood up at this moment, his six-fire combat power shaking the heavens, causing the winds and clouds to change color. Storms formed around him, and his aura was majestic.

Seventh Master glanced at him, satisfaction in his eyes, and spoke slowly.

"Everyone outside already knows, so you don't need to hide it from me anymore."

Xu Qing said nothing. After a moment of silence, a fiery glow and a multicolored light emanated from above his head. The fiery glow was black, transforming into flames that formed a black canopy, scattering black fiery wisps. The multicolored light flowed out, accompanied by the whisper of wind, forming a multicolored canopy that erupted with dazzling light. Two canopies suddenly formed. They illuminated all directions simultaneously. Even with the morning light, Xu Qing, at this moment, made himself even brighter, his aura magnificent.

"Let's go. By my estimation, the guests should be arriving soon," Seventh Master said with a faint smile, flicking his sleeve. Instantly, the surrounding space shifted, as if clouds and mist traversed through it, and the images of heaven and earth swayed within.

Xu Qing watched this, gaining a renewed understanding of Seventh Master's cultivation. As his breath quickened, the surroundings reverted, no longer the Phoenix Forbidden ruins, but the top floor of Seventh Peak.

The sea breeze blew, carrying a familiar dampness. The hustle and bustle from the main city also echoed in the wind, like countless people whispering. This scene made Xu Qing's eyes slightly unfocused, especially since, apart from Seventh Master, there was another familiar figure before him.

The other person wore a grey long robe, appeared middle-aged, and had a smile on his face as he stood up from a chessboard. Xu Qing recognized this person; it was the one who had given him a token back in the scavenger camp.

"Seventh Master," the grey-robed attendant first bowed to Seventh Master, then nodded at Xu Qing.

"Have the guests arrived?" Seventh Master's gaze fell on the chessboard.

"They're close," the attendant replied respectfully.

"Good. First, take the child for a bath. He got himself quite dirty on his trip," Seventh Master said, flicking his sleeve as he walked out of the building.

The word "child" made Xu Qing's gaze turn inward, and the scene before him further clarified the suspicions in his heart.

"Child, I'll take you for a bath. What's coming isn't just a big event for you, but also for Seventh Master, and indeed for the entire Seven Blood Eyes," the attendant said meaningfully, handing Xu Qing a jade slip.

"After your bath, when you step out of the great hall and onto the mountain platform, then look at this jade slip."

Xu Qing took the jade slip, pensive. He didn't ask further questions, bowed politely, and followed the attendant away.

After a thorough cleansing, he was dressed in a new Daoist robe. Several maidservants respectfully arrived, holding special incense, which they waved around him. Xu Qing felt a bit unaccustomed to it but didn't refuse.

Just as some maidservants were styling his hair behind him, the Captain poked his head through the doorway and winked at Xu Qing.

Then, an attendant approached, carrying a purple Daoist crown. The crown shimmered with light, exquisitely beautiful, emanating a terrifying pressure. Faint shadows of exotic beasts swirled within it; upon closer inspection, these beasts had nine heads and serpentine bodies—the strange beings that had ultimately formed during the mermaid race incident. Staring at it for too long, one would seem to hear the roars and howls of ferocious beasts within their mind; it was truly extraordinary!

"Holy cow, that's the Purple Heavens Limitless Crown, sealed with half a Nascent Soul's spirit! The old man is playing favorites; I've been asking for this thing for ages, and he never gave it to me!" The Captain's eyes widened, shining brightly, as the attendant placed the crown on Xu Qing's head.

At this moment, Xu Qing, clad in a purple-embroidered gold-patterned robe and wearing the Purple Heavens Limitless Crown, with a faint canopy swirling above his head, combined with his peerless appearance, looked extraordinary and unparalleled. The maidservants around him all showed peculiar glints in their eyes as they watched him.

Just as the Captain was about to speak, a solemn voice suddenly echoed from outside.

"The Dao originates from the void, formless and nameless. Without scriptures, one cannot comprehend the Dao; the Dao resides within scriptures, profound and subtle. Without a master, one cannot grasp its essence."

"Today, a disciple named Xu Qing from our Seventh Peak has received the Way and obtained enlightenment. Therefore, we present this to our Ancestral Master!" This solemn declaration resounded across the sky from Seventh Peak, echoing in all directions.