Chapter 388: Big Bird Qingqin

In truth, during their journey, the Old Woman of Five Peaks had already told Xu Qing a few things about the Commandery Capital. However, her understanding was not as direct or comprehensive as that of a Sword Holder from the capital itself.

Thus, through Chen Tinghao’s description, Xu Qing gained a deeper knowledge of the Commandery Capital’s various forces.

For instance, many branch sects, similar to those established by the Eight Sect Alliance in the capital, were numerous throughout the Commandery Capital. These sects were once overlords in their respective prefectures, but here, they had no choice but to humble themselves. This was because, above them, stood the even more powerful Three Major Sects.

These Three Major Sects could be considered the three strongest sects in the entirety of Fenghai Commandery, which was why they were able to build their headquarters within the capital.

“The Sword Holders’ Palace has many disciples from the Three Major Sects. Therefore, to a certain extent, the Three Major Sects are almost one entity with the Sword Holders’ Palace, fully supporting its every decision. This is also how we, the Three Major Sects, survive in Fenghai Commandery.”

“My companion and I are disciples of the Primordial Thunder Vein,” Chen Tinghao said with a smile.

As he continued his introduction, Xu Qing also learned about the Yao family’s profound background. As a Heavenly Marquis family, they belonged to the absolute elite.

“Although Marquis Yao fell years ago, their foundation remains. Even if the Yao family has been excluded from the Imperial Capital Region, here in Fenghai Commandery, they are still a towering presence, on par with the Three Major Sects.”

“However, compared to the entire Commandery Capital, the Three Major Sects and the Yao family are only considered part of the fourth echelon.”

“Above the Three Major Sects and the Yao family are the two major foreign races; they form the third echelon.”

Chen Tinghao had a straightforward personality, especially when facing Xu Qing and the Captain, who were also Sword Holders. It seemed that the moment he learned they were Sword Holders, he instinctively dropped most of his guard. This was completely unlike Xu Qing’s experience back in his own sect.

“The two major foreign races are the Sacred Demon Race and the Near-Immortal Race.”

When mentioning these two foreign races, Chen Tinghao’s expression turned somewhat somber.

Xu Qing and the Captain’s eyes narrowed slightly. As for the Old Woman of Five Peaks beside them, she clearly knew something about them, but for the other disciples of the Eight Sect Alliance, this information was new.

“When you two fellow cultivators arrive at the Commandery Capital, you must be careful of these two races,” said Chen Tinghao’s companion softly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “The members of the Sacred Demon Race are born with two faces, one in front and one behind, making them look strange, and most of them are deep-minded. As for the Near-Immortal Race, they bear similarities to humans but are extremely arrogant. Their distinguishing features are white hair, white eyebrows, and even white pupils. Their combat power is astonishing.”

Xu Qing nodded, remembering the characteristics of these two races. Chen Tinghao, meanwhile, sighed.

“These two major foreign races are the strongest groups in Fenghai Commandery, apart from us humans. They coexist with our human race in this commandery, under the balance and compromise maintained by Lord Commandery Governor. This coexistence is barely sustainable, and conflicts are gradually escalating.”

“Yet, it is still manageable. After all, the Saint Sayan Race in Saint Sayan Grand City, where our Fenghai Commandery is located, eyes Fenghai Commandery, the only territory within their region not under their control, like a tiger.”

“Internal strife and external threats,” the Captain suddenly interjected from the side.

“Exactly, internal strife and external threats,” Chen Tinghao said, clenching his right fist and thumping it on his leg. “Within Fenghai Commandery, the two major foreign races are ambitious. Outside Fenghai Commandery, the Saint Sayan Race’s desire to annex us never wanes. Were it not for the lingering legacy of the human race, Fenghai Commandery would have likely been swallowed long ago.”

“We humans have only one region and seven commanderies; we cannot afford to lose any more.”

Xu Qing remained silent. He had heard about and felt the human race’s decline, like a setting sun, before.

“Enough of this. You’ll experience it firsthand when you arrive at the Commandery Capital.”

“Let me continue telling you about the powers within the capital. The second echelon in the Commandery Capital consists of the Three Palaces: the Sword Holders’ Palace, the Palace of Governance, and the Palace of Justice.”

“Our Sword Holders’ Palace oversees all matters related to war, including external conflicts and internal arrests. These are all our responsibility.”

“As for the Palace of Governance, it is responsible for sacrifices, rituals, education, proclaiming the Human Emperor’s decrees, and vetting. It also bears the duty of recording human history.”

“And the Palace of Justice is responsible for trials, laws, and regulations. They have their own law enforcement cultivators and possess the power of oversight over all matters related to legal statutes.”

“The human race has five Upper Profound Departments and nine Lower Profound Departments, but Fenghai Commandery operates under a commandery system. So for many years, only three Upper Profound Departments have been stationed here, and these three Palaces are all Upper Profound Departments.”

Xu Qing knew that the Sword Holders’ Palace held an extremely high position within the Commandery Capital. Hearing that it belonged to the second echelon aligned with his judgment, and he could guess who occupied the first echelon, above the three Palaces.

“The first echelon is the Commandery Governor,” Chen Tinghao said with a solemn expression. “Outsiders say the Commandery Governor is indecisive and too soft-hearted, often compromising. But in the hearts of us Sword Holders, apart from the Palace Master, the person we respect most is Lord Commandery Governor.”

“For eight hundred years, Lord Commandery Governor has guarded Fenghai Commandery. Although he has achieved no feats of territorial expansion, he has balanced internal and external affairs diligently, ensuring Fenghai Commandery remains in human hands and its thirteen prefectures are still intact. This is rare in the other six commanderies, which are gradually losing prefectural land.”

Chen Tinghao took a deep breath, looking at Xu Qing and the Captain. “In the past eight hundred years, the Commandery Governor has faced forty-seven assassination attempts—”

Xu Qing was moved upon hearing this, and the Captain also took a deep breath.

Chen Tinghao sighed, not continuing to speak about the Commandery Governor. Instead, he told Xu Qing and the Captain much about the local customs and traditions of the Commandery Capital. Time thus passed quickly, and a month and a half soon went by.

As the desert gradually thinned out across the land, a verdant landscape slowly came into view for everyone on the flying boat. Looking around, the ground was primarily plains with few mountain ranges. The strange matter here was also sparse, and the spiritual energy was noticeably denser than in other areas. The sky was azure blue and very clear.

Xu Qing stood at the bow of the boat, gazing at the world. A feeling of clarity surged within him, especially as he could see many cities still dotting the land. For instance, directly below them, there was one such city. The people there wore many smiles, indicating that they were full of hope for life. This was rare among ordinary mortals in other prefectures, who struggled merely for survival.

“We’ve arrived at the Commandery Capital territory,” Chen Tinghao said with a smile. “From here, we can use a teleportation array from any location to reach the Commandery Capital. There’s a public teleportation point not far ahead; we can go there.”

Chen Tinghao pointed into the distance. Xu Qing looked in that direction, but in the next instant, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes. The Captain raised an eyebrow, and some of the other disciples around them also looked solemn.

In the direction Chen Tinghao pointed, a vast gray cloud suddenly appeared in the sky, large enough to cover a city. This gray cloud was moving rapidly, and faintly, a large bird could be seen within the swirling mist.

This bird was extremely strange. It had three heads, each looking ferocious and cruel. Its belly was large, its wings small, and its feathers gave a disheveled impression. Yet, astonishing divine fluctuations permeated the heavens and earth around it. It seemed to be holding something in its talons, though it was unclear what.

It was currently approaching Xu Qing’s flying boat, stirring up storms in its wake, which transformed into tornadoes connecting heaven and earth, imposing and grand.

“It’s Senior Qing Ling!” Chen Tinghao exclaimed, startled. “Senior Qing Ling was a friend of the previous Commandery Governor. Eight hundred years ago, when the former Commandery Governor returned to the Imperial Capital, he invited Senior Qing Ling to go with him, but he declined and chose to reside in Fenghai Commandery, occasionally flying out. That venerable old one is a primordial exotic beast whose bloodline can be traced back to the Ancient Emperor era. It is said his ancestor once followed an Ancient Emperor.”

The moment Chen Tinghao’s words left his mouth, as the large bird drew closer, an agonizing shriek emanated from whatever it held in its talons.

“Save me! Save me! I am a Sword Holder! The Emperor has tested my heart! Sixty zhang of radiance!”

The voice was miserable and filled with intense fear. Xu Qing found it somewhat familiar, while the Captain’s eyes gleamed strangely.

“Isn’t that Ning Yan? How did he end up as food?”

Xu Qing naturally recognized him. As for Ning Yan, who had once attacked him, Xu Qing chose to ignore him. But Chen Tinghao, upon hearing Ning Yan’s words, immediately ascended, cupped his hands to the large bird Qing Ling, and spoke loudly. “Lord Qing Ling, please calm your anger. Could you allow me to verify if this person is indeed a member of our Sword Holders? If he truly is, I implore Lord Qing Ling to kindly release him.”

Xu Qing looked at Chen Tinghao strangely. The Captain did the same, then looked at Xu Qing. “Don’t recognize him? Just because he said ‘Sword Holder,’ you’d go help?” The Captain didn’t voice these words, but Xu Qing understood their meaning from his gaze and fell into thought.

“In the future, you will also be like this,” Chen Tinghao’s companion said softly, as if guessing what Xu Qing and the Captain were thinking. She then ascended to stand beside Chen Tinghao and likewise bowed to the large bird.

The Captain immediately became wary. He felt that while other Sword Holders might act this way, if he himself encountered danger and declared his "one zhang of radiance," it was not guaranteed that someone would come to save him. That was why he hadn’t spoken much on this journey, fearing being asked about the radiance.

At this moment, Immortal Zi Xuan also emerged from the cabin, standing beside Xu Qing, gazing at the sky with vigilance.

In the sky, as Chen Tinghao’s companion bowed, the large bird circled once in mid-air. Its three heads and six eyes scanned the flying boat, as if confirming something. Then, its talons loosened.

Ning Yan shrieked as his body fell. Chen Tinghao immediately caught him. As he was brought back to the flying boat, the large bird in the sky let out an unpleasant squawk, then spread its small wings, flapping away with the gray cloud in tow.

“Why do I feel like it just looked at me?” the Captain wondered aloud.

Wu Jianwu beside him also nodded rapidly, a hint of daze in his eyes. He muttered to himself inwardly, “I think it was looking at me. Did it sense the aura of the Profound Nether Ancient Emperor on me?”

Xu Qing was also pondering.

At this moment, Chen Tinghao, holding Ning Yan, was about to inquire about his identity when the still-shaken Ning Yan saw the Captain and Xu Qing. His eyes instantly widened, and his body trembled. He struggled again, as if he didn’t want to be there.

Chen Tinghao looked at Xu Qing and the Captain, a little surprised. “You know each other?”

“Yes, this little fellow is also from our Yinghuang Prefecture. He’s a prospective Sword Holder for this recruitment,” the Captain said with a smile, emphasizing the word “prospective.”

Chen Tinghao chuckled and released his grip, letting Ning Yan drop onto the boat.

Xu Qing cast a cold glance at Ning Yan.

Ning Yan trembled even more violently, his heart filled with grief and indignation. He had finally managed to get here, only to immediately encounter that large bird, which unreasonably grabbed him. Now, having escaped danger, the worst possible thing had happened: he had run into Xu Qing, who was known to hold grudges.

At this moment, as he felt incredibly nervous, he saw Immortal Zi Xuan. His eyes immediately lit up with an intense gleam. He suddenly rushed over, plopped down on his knees, and spoke loudly, “Old Ancestor, your disciple has finally found you!”