Chapter 394: New Generation's Strongest Combat Power

The county capital in the early morning was bathed in gentle sunlight. Unlike Seven Blood Eyes, people here smiled more.

Also unlike the Eight Sects Alliance, the county capital had relatively fewer anomalies, and there was no damp chill between heaven and earth, nor the stench from the Forbidden Sea.

People's attire was similarly distinct.

Whether it was the early rising common folk or shopkeepers opening their stores, every human Xu Qing saw, though not necessarily dressed in fine silks, wore much more ornate clothing.

The primary manifestation of this was in the colors.

In the cities of the Southern Phoenix Continent, ordinary people wore dull colors, and even the Eight Sects Alliance was only slightly better.

Only in this county capital did the colorful garments make this vast city vibrant and full of life.

Since it was still early for their report, Xu Qing and the Captain chose not to fly, but instead walked leisurely through the county capital.

Xu Qing had been in seclusion for half a month and hadn't gone out, so he intended to use this opportunity to familiarize himself with the environment.

Gazing at the gradually bustling long street around them, after a while, Xu Qing looked up at the sky.

Many Sword Holders were currently heading to the Sword Holding Palace. Their attire was similar, making it hard to distinguish if they were the newly promoted batch, but the aura emanating from each of them was remarkable.

Xu Qing was not surprised; after all, this was the county capital, a gathering place for the elites of various states, so naturally, there were many powerful individuals.

"Master said a great era is upon us, which is why prodigies are emerging frequently," the Captain said, standing beside Xu Qing, eating an apple, and gazing at the sky. "This batch of newly promoted Sword Holders from various states is quite different from usual."

"But Little Ah Qing, you don't need to worry about being unfamiliar with things. Your Eldest Senior Brother handles matters with extreme caution. I've spent a fortune buying intelligence recently, so I know all the new prodigies in this state like the back of my hand, and I even have a good understanding of the Three Sects and One Family, as well as the two major foreign races."

A look of triumph appeared on the Captain's face, as if all his spirit stones had been spent wisely.

Xu Qing nodded. Just as he preferred to observe his surroundings in a new place, the Captain preferred to gather more information.

"It's a pity that the Sword Holding Palace doesn't sell positions," the Captain sighed, thinking of appointments, feeling a bit disappointed.

Xu Qing glanced at the Captain but said nothing.

The Captain looked depressed and took a harsh bite of his apple.

"This Sword Holding Palace, it's good everywhere, except it's a bit inflexible."

Given his own ostentatious glory, the Captain felt uncertain about his appointment.

While Xu Qing was cultivating during this period, he frequently went out to find Chen Tinghao to inquire about the intricacies of the place, originally intending to send some gifts to secure a good position.

However, after inquiring around, he found that such a thing was impossible. The Sword Holding Palace was different from other places; it was extremely strict in this regard. All appointments were designated by the upper echelons and also involved assessments.

Seeing the Captain's dejection, Xu Qing was about to say something, but just then, he suddenly looked at the distant sky, his expression shifting slightly.

The Captain's gaze also instantly followed.

In the sky, a very unique group of cultivators was rapidly approaching.

Their attire differed from that of humans; although they were Taoist robes, they were not loose, but form-fitting.

Their upper bodies were woven with gold threads, and their lower bodies were entwined with silver strands.

While appearing somewhat peculiar, the fluctuations emanating from their bodies were astonishing, and their appearance was even more distinctive.

There were men and women among them, but all of them had incredibly pale skin exposed, and their eyebrows and hair were also the same color, as were their pupils, giving them a sacred and divine aura.

As they moved through the air, the sunlight glinted off their gold and silver robes, reflecting dazzling light, adding to their brilliance and haughty demeanor.

"Are they the Near-Immortals?" The Captain's expression showed curiosity; this was the first time he had seen cultivators of this race in half a month.

Xu Qing gazed at them intently.

These cultivators were indeed not human, because besides their white hair and white pupils, they also had white wings on their backs, exactly like the Near-Immortals, one of the two major foreign races in Fenghai County that Chen Tinghao had described earlier.

What made Xu Qing even more serious was the presence of a very special individual among these Near-Immortal cultivators.

It was a figure clad in black armor.

This entity also had wings, but they were black. Its face was obscured by a mask, making its appearance unclear, and its flowing hair was also black.

The aura emanating from it clearly surpassed that of the other Near-Immortals, and most importantly, it also exuded an anomalous presence.

Its eyes lacked liveliness, like a puppet.

"That black one should be the Near-Immortals' renowned Immortal Puppet," the Captain's purchased intelligence came in handy at this moment.

"Immortal Puppet?" Xu Qing inquired.

"That's right, the Near-Immortals are skilled at creating puppets, especially the Black Immortal Puppets, which are their unique combat puppets. Their creation method is unknown, but they are said to be quite formidable."

The Captain spoke in a low voice.

Xu Qing was thoughtful, watching the group of Near-Immortals fly into the county capital, heading towards the core area, gradually disappearing from view.

The Immortal Puppet felt similar to an abnormal ghost, yet also different.

Xu Qing was too far away to discern the specifics.

He withdrew his gaze at this moment, and the two continued forward, observing their surroundings along the way. During this time, they saw some disciples from the three major sects, and also encountered many members of the Holy Demon race.

Unlike the Near-Immortals, who preferred to reside in their clan territories within the county capital and rarely interacted with other races outside.

The Holy Demon race, however, preferred to engage in commerce.

Over forty percent of the shops in the county capital were opened by members of the Holy Demon race.

Holy Demon race members were robust, standing over two zhang tall, like small giants.

In addition to their normal faces, they also had a face on the back of their heads. When they spoke, their two faces would occasionally rotate and change, which could be unsettling for those unfamiliar with them.

Furthermore, some Holy Demon race members had two male faces, while others had a combination of male and female faces. With no obvious distinguishing features on their bodies, it was difficult to tell their gender.

Xu Qing couldn't help but take a few extra glances at this peculiar race.

As the time for reporting approached, the two finally ascended into the air, soared through the sky, and landed at the Sword Holding Palace.

Upon their arrival, some people were already waiting outside the Sword Holding Palace.

These were all newly promoted Sword Holders from various states, not very old, both male and female. Most of them had arrived in the county capital much earlier.

The number of new recruits from each state in Fenghai County varied each time, with some having seven or eight slots, while others, like Yinghuang State, only had three.

There were nearly thirty individuals present at the moment, scattered around, some alone, others in groups of three to five, all waiting.

In the crowd, Xu Qing also saw Qing Qiu.

She was not alone; beside her was a young girl with an ordinary appearance but peculiar behavior.

"Not wearing red, I almost didn't recognize you. Isn't this Qing Qiu? I think you could actually wear red underneath; it would match that big scythe."

The Captain greeted her with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the girl next to Qing Qiu, taking a few extra glances at what she held in her hand.

Qing Qiu had clearly departed earlier than the Eight Sects Alliance, arriving in the county capital several months before Xu Qing and his group, which explained why she had acquaintances here.

The girl standing beside her was one of them.

The two shared some similarities. One exuded an aura that warned off the living, with eyes beneath her mask filled with indifference.

The other held some melon seeds in her hand, each emanating divine fluctuations. Upon closer inspection, it could be seen that they seemed to be formed from flesh and blood.

She continuously ate them, her mouth smeared with fresh blood, and her expression was cold.

After hearing the Captain's words, the girl looked up and glanced at the Captain.

"Sister Qing Qiu, you know them, right? One of them is Xu Qing?" the girl asked.

"That's right, two idiots," Qing Qiu said indifferently. The scythe-wielding evil spirit on her shoulder was rapidly chattering in her mind at this moment.

"The mad dog is here. I don't know why, he's speaking normally, but I just can't help but want to hit him. Everyone else is a Sword Holder, but this one is a 'Sword Loser'. We can find an opportunity to perish together with him, eliminating a menace for the Sword Holders, perish together!"

"As for Ghost Hand, let's not provoke him; he's not easy to deal with. Perishing with him isn't a good choice..."

"Don't you dare act rashly!"

Qing Qiu was already accustomed to the evil spirit's incessant chatter. At this moment, she remained expressionless, allowing it to prattle on.

Meanwhile, the Captain was also transmitting a message to Xu Qing: "Did you see the person next to Qing Qiu?"

"This girl is not simple. She has no name; everyone calls her Night Spirit. The melon seeds in her hand are said to be a type of divine flesh and blood, extremely beneficial for nourishing the physical body. But she seems to have an endless supply of them. Some suspect that this item might even be a part of her own body!"

"The intelligence reports a lot about this girl. She grew up in an abyss within a forbidden zone. Years ago, an old ancestor of the Grand Void Transformation Demon Sect encountered her and brought her back to the sect for cultivation. This girl has a cold personality and is said to be capable of transforming into a great demon!"

Xu Qing listened to the Captain's words, glanced at the girl eating the flesh-and-blood melon seeds, then shifted his gaze to a young man sitting in meditation with closed eyes in a distant corner.

When he had just arrived, his gaze swept over the area. Besides the peculiar aura of that girl, this young man also gave him a sense of danger.

"This person's name is Shanhe Zi," the Captain said, noticing Xu Qing's gaze, and began to introduce him.

"He is also an extraordinary prodigy. He comes from the Blood Cold Gate, one of the Three Major Sects. His family is a major power within the Blood Cold Gate itself, and his background is impressive. His birth was even more exceptional; it is said that he was born with a mountain and river pattern birthmark on his body, which is why the Blood Cold Ancestor bestowed upon him the Daoist title 'Shanhe'."

"This person's talent is astonishing; he possesses two Emperor-level cultivation techniques!"

As the Captain was speaking, the young man, who had been meditating with closed eyes, opened them and looked coldly in Xu Qing's direction.

Evidently, when Xu Qing perceived their extraordinary nature, they also sensed the pressure emanating from Xu Qing.

Their gazes met, and the moment they withdrew them, an object flew from the distant sky.

It was a black wooden coffin.

Lying on it was a young man wearing a Sword Holder's Taoist robe, but for some unknown reason, it was covered in wrinkles.

He yawned, his eyes drowsy, looking as if he hadn't fully woken up.

Yet, his appearance made most of the Sword Holders present inwardly wary, and Xu Qing also sensed danger.

"This person should be Wang Chen, said to be the one in this generation closest to the Primordial Thunder Body from the Primordial Thunder Vein."

"Interesting. I sensed some sealing aura on him. Little Ah Qing, the one outside isn't his true body; the one inside the coffin is."

Xu Qing nodded, a faint glint appearing in his eyes. He sensed the fluctuation of a life lamp within the coffin.

As he had left the Southern Phoenix Continent, passed through Yinghuang State, and traveled all the way to the county capital, his experience and knowledge had grown, and he had also seen more life lamps.

Although life lamps were rare, it was relative. The stronger an individual or larger a power, the less likely they were to lack a life lamp.

"There are many strong individuals," Xu Qing murmured to himself. Whether it was Night Spirit, Shanhe Zi, or Wang Chen, all gave Xu Qing an extremely powerful feeling.

At the same time, while the other newly promoted Sword Holders around them did not have auras as strong as these three, each of them also had notable qualities.

Xu Qing knew that he could not underestimate them simply because their auras were slightly weaker. He was not the only one in this world who understood that a trump card should be hidden for a fatal blow.

Anyone who had experienced life and death knew how to use a trump card; it would rarely be revealed unless it was a critical moment.

"Although these three are strong, Little Ah Qing, there's a monster among this batch of newly promoted Sword Holders!" The Captain sighed, and Xu Qing's expression changed.

For the Captain to call someone a monster, that person must be extraordinarily formidable.

He was about to ask, but just then, an astonishing aura surged from afar.

The intensity of the aura caused everyone present to blanch.

Night Spirit stopped eating her melon seeds, quickly wiped the fresh blood from the corners of her mouth, and her cold expression turned submissive, even showing admiration.

Shanhe Zi rose from his cross-legged position, his expression filled with fanaticism.

Wang Chen also immediately got up from the coffin, instinctively straightened his clothes, and looked deferentially towards the source of the aura.

At the same time, as the aura arrived, a bold voice resounded from the sky.

"Who is Xu Qing?"