On the pitch-black Abyss Sea, the Leaf Boat moved at an incredibly high speed, nearly ten times faster than before. It surged wildly through the sea, as if terrified of delaying Xu Qing. Especially upon noticing Xu Qing's somber expression, its speed accelerated even further.
After learning about the Yanmiao Clan, Xu Qing abandoned his plan to stop at Green Mist Mountain. He intended to proceed directly to Morning Glow Mountain, though a profound sense of foreboding settled in his heart. He worried about the ongoing war in the two northwestern battle zones, and the information about the Yanmiao Clan made it difficult for him not to connect it with the hidden culprit implied in the jade slip given by the Palace Master.
"I cannot influence the battlefield," Xu Qing murmured after a long silence. "The only thing I can do is complete the task the Palace Master entrusted to me."
As time passed, several days went by. During this period, the vast net spanning the sky displayed more streaking lights than ever before, leading Xu Qing to conclude that the conflict in the northwestern regions had escalated to an incredibly fierce intensity. He sighed softly, gazing up at the distant horizon.
Finally, on the evening of the fourth day, Morning Glow Mountain came into Xu Qing's view. This mountain was truly unique; instead of black, its color was a vibrant rainbow. Although it appeared as if assembled from disparate parts, it was in fact a single, cohesive entity. Its sheer size far surpassed any other mountain Xu Qing had encountered on his journey. It stood majestically upon the Abyss Sea, soaring directly into the heavens, with its exposed peak reaching nearly ten thousand zhang in height.
Under the moonlight, the mountain's rainbow hues radiated in all directions, forming a dazzling halo that evoked a sense of splendor. Faintly, one could discern an even more colossal and astonishing mountain structure extending far beneath the Abyss Sea.
As they drew closer, Xu Qing also sensed waves of oppressive power radiating from the mountain, enveloping the vicinity. Simultaneously, the solar winds here were exceptionally fierce; wherever they swept, not only did mournful wails echo, but countless spatial fissures would rapidly appear, heal, and then reappear in an endless cycle.
Gazing at the mountain, Xu Qing's emotions grew complex, and a rare sense of trepidation arose within him. These feelings mingled, culminating in a profound ambivalence of gain and loss. On one hand, he had the task entrusted by the Palace Master, but more significantly, this was the burial place of his parents.
Standing on the Leaf Boat, Xu Qing gazed at the distant Morning Glow Mountain. After a long moment, he suppressed all his thoughts, took a deep breath, and stepped off the boat, swiftly moving towards Morning Glow Mountain through the Abyss Sea. The Leaf Boat, meanwhile, plunged abruptly the instant Xu Qing departed, as if fearful of disturbing him by lingering. In a flash, it submerged into the depths of the Abyss Sea, hugging the seabed as it swiftly moved away.
The head attached to the stone lion's tail watched this scene from afar, its expression filled with intense envy.
Approximately fifteen minutes later, Xu Qing approached Morning Glow Mountain. Here, he detected an invisible barrier encircling the entire mountain, like a colossal dome. This was the grand formation of the Morning Glow Mountain Sword-Wielding Court. The formation prevented entry to all unauthorized individuals; even sword-wielders from other states required special permission, and only local sword-wielders could pass through unhindered. However, as this was also a secret region personally designated by the Sword-Wielding Palace, local sword-wielders themselves had many restricted areas within Morning Glow Mountain. True unrestricted access required exchanging military merits for the qualification to enter these secret zones.
However, none of these restrictions applied to Xu Qing now. The jade slip bestowed upon him by the Palace Master granted authority as if the Palace Master himself were present. Consequently, his arrival would not trigger any ripples in the formation, nor would any secret areas be barred to him.
"I'll complete the investigation first, then search for my parents' graves," Xu Qing declared, his eyes resolute. He produced the jade pendant given by the Palace Master and, without causing the slightest ripple, entered Morning Glow Mountain's formation and stepped onto the mountain itself.
The moment his feet touched Morning Glow Mountain, a ripple of emotion spread through Xu Qing's heart. An inexplicable connection through his bloodline made his breathing quicken and his heart ache with a sharp pang. It was the presence of his parents.
"Father... Mother..." Xu Qing murmured, his eyes reddening. To outsiders, Xu Qing was known as a decisive, ruthless individual, one whose emotions rarely showed. Yet, this demeanor was a product of necessity, not his true nature. Now, on Morning Glow Mountain, scenes from Peerless City involuntarily flooded his mind.
After a long moment, Xu Qing lowered his head, completely concealing his aura and quieting the turmoil in his heart. He knew his immediate priority was to complete the Palace Master's mission. Thus, he silently began ascending the mountain.
From a distance, he observed hundreds of palaces, large and small, constructed near the summit. These palaces were built from the very stone of Morning Glow Mountain, giving them its characteristic rainbow hues. Grand in scale, they exuded a sacred aura under the moonlight, truly a beautiful sight.
Compared to Yinghuang Prefecture, the Sword-Wielding Court here was significantly grander in scale, and the number of sword-wielders typically stationed here undoubtedly surpassed those in Yinghuang. However, with the ongoing war, ninety-nine percent of Morning Glow Mountain's sword-wielders had already deployed to the battlefield. As Xu Qing advanced, he noted the profound silence pervading the vast Sword-Wielding Court. Fewer than thirty sword-wielders remained. Xu Qing, while concealed, observed that most of them were patrolling, their expressions highly vigilant. Evidently, they were aware of the external rumors concerning an impending attack on the Sword-Wielding Court. Most of the remaining cultivators possessed lower-palace Golden Core cultivation, with the strongest being a Nascent Soul sword-wielder whose aura was similar to Chu Tianqun's, also seemingly in the early to mid-Nascent Soul stage.
Xu Qing briefly observed the other party's location from a distance, then examined the Sword-Wielding Court's defensive formation. He concluded that breaching this formation would be incredibly difficult; combined with the forbidden net in the sky, it ensured the security of all Sword-Wielding Courts within Fenghai Commandery. Having made his assessment, Xu Qing averted his gaze. Within the silent Sword-Wielding Court, he skillfully evaded the patrolling sword-wielders, making his way stealthily towards the summit. His objective was clear: to reach the Sword-Wielding Court's archives.
The Palace Master's jade pendant, combined with Xu Qing's inherent stealth, ensured a smooth journey. Within fifteen minutes, he located the archives. This area was also protected by restrictions, prohibiting unauthorized entry, but as the jade pendant in Xu Qing's hand emitted a gentle glow, the barriers blurred before him.
Before entering, Xu Qing transmitted a divine thought to his shadow. The shadow rapidly expanded, enveloping the stone lion and the head within it like a pocket. Xu Qing confirmed they were secure, then stepped inside. He carefully surveyed the area, confirming no sword-wielders were on duty in the archives, then proceeded inwards, beginning to peruse the records.
The pavilion comprised four floors, housing an immense volume of records. Unable to review everything in a short time, Xu Qing focused on finding information related to "Morning Glow Light." On the third floor, he located a document that required extremely high authorization to access. After deactivating its protective enchantment, Xu Qing began to read.
After a moment, his brow furrowed. The records detailed the Morning Glow Light, stating that the light emitted by the sun before its fall was not inanimate but possessed intelligence. Over the years, it had appeared intermittently a total of 752 times. This presented a contradiction: if it genuinely originated from the sun's fall, it should have been a singular, explosive event back then, not sporadic occurrences across countless ages. Research by the Sword-Wielding Palace revealed that while Morning Glow Light was indeed related to the sun's demise, this was not its sole mode of formation. It was more akin to a life form that naturally arose in this region after the sun's fall altered certain cosmic laws, which explained its occasional appearances over countless years, exclusively on Morning Glow Mountain.
This was also noted in the records: legend held that Morning Glow Mountain was where a mouthful of the sun's blood had spilled before its demise. As the sun's blood was rainbow-colored, the mountain itself became similarly vibrant.
Furthermore, the Morning Glow Light primarily serves as a medium for cultivators to comprehend solar power and even reverse their own bloodlines. It also possesses unparalleled capabilities in artifact refining. Moreover, Sword-Wielding Palace research has indicated that Morning Glow Light is highly effective in countering divine power. Due to these various factors and its rarity, every instance of Morning Glow Light that has appeared to date has been meticulously documented by the Sword-Wielding Court, including the time of its emergence and its final disposition.
Xu Qing reviewed the records and found no significant issues. Every instance of Morning Glow Light had a clear trajectory: most were sent to the Sword-Wielding Palace, while a smaller portion was bartered away to other factions. The Sword-Wielding Court also maintained records of the destination of these traded lights. Xu Qing searched for a long time, but this was all the information he could uncover.
"Unless I individually trace the whereabouts of each instance, it will be extremely difficult to find any clues," Xu Qing murmured, his brow furrowed as he gazed at the vast volume of records, his eyes contemplative.
Meanwhile, deep within the Abyss Sea of Morning Glow State, an endless quantity of alien matter permeated the air, accompanied by an utterly terrifying pressure imbued with the will of death, blanketing all directions. Everything blurred, everything twisted, as if it were a world formed by a deity opening its eyes. It seemed any cultivator entering this area would be affected, either dying instantly or undergoing mutation. This was a forbidden zone for life. The source of all this was a remnant of the sun, long thought to be extinct in the outside world. Upon this thousand-zhang expanse of skeletal flesh, the old man Danqing stood trembling, gazing at a hundred-zhang divine finger floating before it, radiating terrifying divine might.
"Your Excellency is truly mighty!" the old man Danqing stammered. "I've heard that for countless years, various clans have gone mad searching for these relics here but found nothing. Yet, you found it the moment you arrived! Your Excellency is indeed a chosen deity!" He continued, "However, this sun remnant, having fallen so long ago, now lacks vitality and cannot be used as pigment." "Only by gathering more living beings and feeding them into it, thereby replenishing its vitality, can it potentially become a usable pigment..."
Upon hearing this, the divine finger shifted slightly, and as its surroundings blurred and distorted, its form instantly vanished. Watching the finger depart, the old man Danqing immediately crumpled into a troubled expression. "How can this be done? After I finish the painting, I'll surely be killed... and the painting will be destroyed too..."
At this moment, it was the cusp of dawn; the sky remained pitch black. Though a bright moon hung high, its light could not penetrate the pervasive mist within Morning Glow State, leaving the entire Abyss Sea shrouded in darkness. Only the very tops of the mountains rising from the Abyss Sea pierced through the mist, allowing a glimpse of the luminous moon. However, most of the mountains in the Abyss Sea were not particularly towering, making Morning Glow Mountain the sole truly bright spot in the entire Morning Glow State.
On Morning Glow Mountain, Xu Qing stood on the third floor of the archives, gazing through a wooden window at the celestial canopy. The mountain wind stirred his long hair, revealing his eyes, which reflected the moonlight.
"To trace these clues relying solely on my own strength would take an extremely long time," Xu Qing murmured to himself, his brow slowly furrowing.
He could not disclose this matter to anyone, not even the sword-wielders stationed here. If the Palace Master's judgment proved correct, the mastermind behind the county governor's murder would undoubtedly wield immense power. Thus, Xu Qing dared not trust even the sword-wielders implicitly, for the cost of misplaced trust could be a matter of life and death for him.
After pondering for a long moment, Xu Qing reviewed a few more records before finally departing the archives. Still concealed, he moved through the quiet, empty Sword-Wielding Court. As dawn approached, and the bright moon faded, the world grew even darker—an inevitable prelude to daybreak. At such times, the wind often felt colder than usual, stirring the sleeves of Xu Qing's Daoist robe as it brushed past him.
Xu Qing walked silently through Morning Glow Mountain, preparing to find his parents' graves and pay his respects. He had waited for this day for a very long time. The ebb and flow of his emotions, the oscillation of his thoughts, all created ripples, constantly churning within Xu Qing's heart.
As the turmoil within him intensified, Xu Qing's body began to tremble uncontrollably, a rare occurrence for him.
Xu Qing made no attempt to control his trembling. He closed his eyes, letting his perception spread, and silently walked forward, following the unseen guidance of his bloodline. He passed a dwelling, where the bloodline's pull was present. He passed a rock, where the bloodline's pull was also present. He passed a high tower, where the bloodline's pull was similarly present. Xu Qing walked for a long time, traversing one area after another, covering the entire visible portion of Morning Glow Mountain that emerged from the Abyss Sea. Finally, at the very peak of the mountain, he stopped, standing there in a trance.
At this moment, the wind intensified. The pitch-black sky slowly began to redden, as if aflame, and gradually, light pierced through the clouds, falling onto the Abyss Sea, illuminating various mountain peaks, and casting its glow upon Morning Glow Mountain. Rainbow light emanated from every rock on Morning Glow Mountain, forming a dazzling halo when it met the sunlight, becoming the sole captivating sight in the world at that moment. From a distance, the black Abyss Sea and the rainbow mountain shimmered with splendid brilliance, appearing as the very source of all light, vying for radiance with the sun itself.
Its light enveloped all directions. As the sky brightened and the first rays of sun ascended, Morning Glow Mountain's rainbow glow intensified even further, constantly scattering brilliant, colorful light outwards. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful.
Amidst this breathtaking beauty, Xu Qing opened his eyes. He looked down at the mountain stone beneath his feet, and comprehension dawned on him. He understood why he had walked through every area, why every location had offered a bloodline's guidance. And why, despite sensing their presence nearby, he had yet to locate a specific grave.
"I buried my parents on Morning Glow Mountain." These were the words Prince Ziqing had once told Xu Qing. In this moment, Xu Qing finally understood why.
"Father and Mother's tomb is this very Morning Glow Mountain," Xu Qing murmured, gazing at the stone beneath his feet. "They are buried deep within its very core. That's why the moment I stepped onto this mountain, I sensed the pull of my bloodline." He yearned to enter the mountain's interior, but due to Morning Glow Mountain's unique properties, his current cultivation level prevented him from doing so.
For a long, long time. Xu Qing silently knelt, his hands resting on the mountain stone, head bowed. No one could sense his presence here, nor, naturally, could anyone see the droplets of water tracing paths down his face and nose, falling one by one onto the bowed mountain stone, soaking into it like ink. Only the inherent rainbow colors of Morning Glow Mountain continuously diffused, as if transforming into a gentle hand, softly caressing Xu Qing's trembling form and silently weeping face.
He did not know how much time had passed when Xu Qing's forehead finally touched the mountain stone. "Father, Mother, rest in peace," Xu Qing murmured, his voice a blur, audible only to himself. Finally, he lifted his head; no tears were visible.
He stood up, a sense of desolation permeating him, and silently began his descent down the mountain. At that moment, the sky brightened completely. Endless sunlight poured down, illuminating Xu Qing's retreating figure and fully bathing Morning Glow Mountain in its warmth. The colorful glow was brilliant, magnificent, and vividly beautiful.
Xu Qing departed. His lifelong desire was, in fact, not so complex: he simply wished to visit Morning Glow Mountain and pay respects at his parents' tomb. After a long while, having reached the foot of the mountain, Xu Qing turned to gaze at the mountain of rainbow-hued light, watching it for a prolonged period. "Someday, when I have no more regrets, I wish to live here," Xu Qing murmured softly, closing his eyes. A few breaths later, he reopened them, his gaze once again sharp and cold as he collected all his thoughts. He turned and walked away, his steps growing increasingly resolute.
He was headed to a canyon beneath the Abyss Sea, located outside Morning Glow Mountain but not far from it. According to the records, this was where the last Morning Glow Light had manifested. He intended to investigate if any clues might be found there.
They were two distinct worlds: mist blocking sunlight, and coldness isolating warmth. Xu Qing descended Morning Glow Mountain, entering the encroaching darkness. His speed quickened, becoming a blur as he delved deeper into the gloom, until he reached the very base of Morning Glow Mountain, which also marked the bottom of this Abyss Sea.
This place was permeated with alien matter, imbued with sinister evil. In the surrounding pitch-blackness, green ghostly fires occasionally appeared, drifting silently. "After the sun's fall, it also dispersed alien matter..." Xu Qing mused after sensing it. With heightened vigilance and caution, he sped forward. He knew well that an Abyss Sea dense with alien matter was bound to harbor dangers; many malevolent entities would surely manifest here. Indeed, this was why cultivators in Morning Glow State avoided traveling underground.
Like the Forbidden Sea, no one knew how many terrifying entities lurked beneath this Abyss Sea. Prolonged stays would exponentially increase the danger. Maintaining extreme vigilance, Xu Qing further enhanced his concealment, moving like a phantom as he swiftly approached the canyon that was his destination.
Two hours later, Xu Qing, now outside the range of Morning Glow Mountain's formation, arrived at his destination. The so-called canyon was actually a colossal fissure at the bottom of the Abyss Sea, a full hundred zhang wide and several thousand zhang long. Bursts of black mist drifted out from within this fissure, dispersing into the surroundings.
Upon spotting it from afar, Xu Qing was about to rush forward, but his expression suddenly shifted. He quickly crouched down, concealing himself behind a rock, and squinted, peering at the mist emanating from the distant canyon. Within that mist, Xu Qing detected some familiar fluctuations.
Almost simultaneously with Xu Qing's investigation, the shadow rapidly transmitted divine thoughts and expanded, revealing the stone lion and the head that had been enveloped within it, both trembling. After they appeared, they dared not move a muscle, truly terrified by the sensation of being consumed while enveloped by the shadow.
Xu Qing paid no attention to the lion and the head. After a moment of contemplation, he confirmed the presence of Yanmiao Clan figures within the mist. He decided against acting rashly, instead ordering the shadow to extend forward and investigate. The shadow swiftly moved across the ground, disappearing into the canyon. It returned shortly, attempting to convey what it had seen to Xu Qing, but its expression was vague, suggesting that what it had witnessed was too complex. Even the Vajra Sect Ancestor seemed somewhat bewildered.
Xu Qing frowned, then with a wave of his hand, he detached the head from the stone lion's tail and tossed it to the shadow. "Take it." To the head's terror, the shadow swallowed it whole and darted towards the canyon. A moment later, when it returned, the head immediately spoke up.
"My Lord, I saw it! Inside are hundreds of Yanmiao Clan members, including several Nascent Soul cultivators!" the head exclaimed. "They are assembling an artifact. Through my meticulous observation, research, and extensive knowledge, I recognized it at a glance: it's an item designed to unleash forbidden artifact interference."
The Vajra Sect Ancestor, standing nearby, frowned and cast a glance at the head, feeling an inexplicable, heightened sense of impending crisis.
Upon hearing this, Xu Qing looked towards the canyon, a cold glint in his eyes. Assembling such an artifact so close to Morning Glow Mountain, it was not difficult to surmise that the Yanmiao Clan's target for interference was highly likely related to Morning Glow Mountain. While this speculation might be hasty, as there was still a possibility it could be used elsewhere, whether it was correct or not mattered little to Xu Qing. He already bore deep animosity towards the Yanmiao Clan, and moreover, Morning Glow Mountain now held a profoundly different significance for him. Therefore, his decision was simply to destroy the canyon where the Yanmiao Clan was located.
"With Nascent Soul cultivators present, charging in directly isn't advisable," Xu Qing mused. With a raise of his right hand, the Third Heavenly Palace trembled, and the power of poison enchantment diffused from his body, rapidly spreading in all directions. He then sensed the direction of the cold wind, quietly repositioned himself downwind, and released more poison. He spent half an hour systematically spreading the poison enchantment across the area, calculating until he confirmed its sufficiency. Crouching in the distance, his eyes gleamed with killing intent as he raised his right hand and pointed.
Clouds surged, containing countless tiny black insects, which then whistled towards the canyon fissure. In the blink of an eye, all the poison surged into the canyon. Soon, piercing screams and roars erupted from within the canyon. Meanwhile, deep within the Abyss Sea, some distance away, a hundred-zhang-long finger was streaking unhindered, ensnaring all living beings in its wake. Looking ahead, hundreds of cultivators from various clans were visibly being dragged along behind it, unable to break free, their faces etched with despair.
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