Chapter 499: Half-Step Spirit Accumulation

Xu Qing didn't rush them. After waiting a moment and receiving no reply from the Sky Soul and Earth Soul, he said no more, simply leaving a message:"The two Venerable Spirits can consider it further. Xu will wait for you on Wanghai Mountain outside the Eight Sects Alliance at dusk tonight."

After speaking, Xu Qing sent a divine thought to Qinglin. Qinglin let out a burp, squawked, and flapped its wings fiercely, rising directly into the air. Clouds naturally gathered, enveloping Qinglin. As it ascended, they transformed into black clouds, generating countless lightning bolts. Soon, with a rumbling sound, Qinglin burst forth. As the clouds exploded and dispersed, Qinglin's enormous figure soared towards Ghost Emperor Mountain.

An hour later, Ghost Emperor Mountain was visible in the distance. The mountain, formed by the Ghost Emperor sitting cross-legged, was exceptionally majestic. Although it was covered in dry, decaying vegetation and a layer of lichen, this could not conceal the ferocity of its armor and the thick malevolent aura emanating from its two giant blades. It sat there, facing the Forbidden Sea, its head slightly bowed, as if waiting…

Gazing at the immense mountain, Xu Qing felt a stirring in his heart. When he had first come here with Seventh Master for enlightenment, he hadn't seen the Ghost Emperor Mountain's Seven Souls; they had simply resided in the town at the foot of the mountain. Now, returning and looking at Ghost Emperor Mountain, the Ghost Emperor Palace within Xu Qing trembled slightly. Xu Qing took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming. He crushed a Demonic Talisman Bell, and as Qinglin's roar approached, the shadow of the Ghost Emperor materialized behind him.

The world changed color, and winds surged. From a distance, two Ghost Emperor Mountains, one large and one small, one real and one illusory, seemed to gaze at each other. At this moment, roars erupted from the true Ghost Emperor Mountain, filled with menace. Simultaneously, seven black plumes of smoke shot skyward from within the two great worlds carried on the Ghost Emperor Mountain's shoulders. Each plume was a hundred zhang thick, startling to behold, and radiated terrifying fluctuations. At the edge of the sky, they transformed into seven enormous smoky faces, looking down upon the land. Their appearances varied: some human, some beast, male and female, old and young. The misty face in the very center, in particular, bore a striking resemblance to the Ghost Emperor.

Their appearance distorted the surrounding void. The clear sky instantly dimmed, and a sense of oppression descended. As the sky changed, the ferocity and brutality on their faces intensified, and they looked at Xu Qing with ill intent.

Simultaneously, ghostly figures flew out from the two great worlds carried on Ghost Emperor Mountain's shoulders, spreading in all directions. These figures were filled not only with malevolent spirits but also with numerous strange entities. They were all sinister beings born after the great worlds of Ghost Emperor Mountain had dimmed and vanished. Now, they blotted out the sky, as if the gates of hell had opened and ten thousand devils had descended. However, to Qinglin, these were nothing. In fact, after a glance, all three of its heads showed interest, as if it wanted to sample the taste of these malevolent spirits.

Xu Qing stood on Qinglin's right head, calmly gazing at the seven enormous smoky faces, and spoke. "I have concluded my discussion with the Artifact Spirit, the Sky Soul, and the Earth Soul. There is no need to elaborate further on the specifics; you should already be aware. At dusk today, on Wanghai Mountain outside the Eight Sects Alliance, Xu will be waiting." After speaking, Xu Qing clasped his hands in a bow and prepared to leave.

He could have avoided coming here. After all, though the Three Souls and Seven Souls were two factions, they ultimately shared the same origin. Xu Qing didn't believe they would be unaware of his actions at Three Spirits Dao-Suppressing Mountain. However, sometimes, even if one knows the other party understands their demands, a certain attitude must still be conveyed.

Just as Xu Qing turned to leave, the First Soul, which looked exactly like the Ghost Emperor among the seven faces on Ghost Emperor Mountain, suddenly spoke, its voice like thunder. "Show me your Heavenly Dao!" Xu Qing's figure paused. He turned to gaze at the First Soul, raised his right hand, and waved it across the sky. Instantly, the dim heavens resounded with roars. The clouds seemed to transform into an ocean, from which a Canglong leaped out. Its long crimson whiskers hung down, swaying as it moved. While its presence was astonishing, the aura of the Heavenly Dao clearly diffused from its body.

The Seven Souls fell silent. Xu Qing waited for a moment, then recalled the Canglong. He then clasped his hands in a bow towards Qinglin's central head. Qinglin understood Xu Qing's intent, squawked, and carried Xu Qing in a circle around Ghost Emperor Mountain before flapping its wings and soaring away like thunder.

As time passed, the sky gradually approached dusk. On this particular evening, there were no red clouds. The sky was a waxy yellow, like an elderly person struggling to linger in the world, unwilling to fade away. Consequently, the light of this dusk was imbued with the twilight, and as it fell upon Wanghai Mountain outside the Eight Sects Alliance, it also turned dim yellow.

Xu Qing stood on the mountaintop. To his right was the Eight Sects Alliance, where defensive formations had already been activated and full martial law imposed. To prevent the failure of the Corpse Taboo seal, it was currently in a semi-sealed state. Within, the taboo artifacts of various sects had long since ascended and activated, occasionally unleashing astonishing beams of light that shot towards the depths of the Forbidden Sea.

Before him lay the black Forbidden Sea. Waves churned, crashing repeatedly against the rocks below, producing brown foam that accumulated at the sea's edge. As some dissipated, more would form. The anomalous substances from the Forbidden Sea also continually diffused through the breaking foam, invading the surroundings.

"The Corpse Taboo is there," Xu Qing murmured to himself, looking up at the depths of the Forbidden Sea. He was waiting.

The sky gradually faded, dusk deepened, and darkness rapidly devoured the light. Just as black became the dominant theme, enveloping everything between heaven and earth, a colossal figure suddenly appeared above the sky. With a gaunt body, a fierce head, and a hump-like bulge on its back, the newcomer was none other than Venerable Spirit Jueyang! He was not alone; atop his head stood a dwarf. This dwarf wore a black robe, had small eyes, a protruding forehead, and eyebrows that drooped to his cheeks. His chin receded inward, causing his mustache to split into an 'eight' shape before curling inward at the ends, like a pair of fangs. He looked extremely ugly, but his ability to stand atop Venerable Spirit Jueyang's head made his identity obvious. Especially around him, wisps of black mist transformed into centipedes, constantly coiling and slithering, emitting piercing screeches as they looked at Xu Qing on the mountaintop below.

"Only one strike," the dwarf calmly stated, his voice hoarse; it was the voice of the Sky Soul. Simultaneously, muffled roars echoed from the black sky. Clouds churned, and seven enormous faces, hazy and indistinct, appeared, also looking at Xu Qing. "Only one strike!" The seven faces spoke in unison, their voices surpassing thunder, rumbling in all directions.

"Good," Xu Qing nodded. This was, after all, a transaction, so no formalities were needed between them, only an agreement. Each of the Seven Souls was at the first stage of the Soul Return Realm, and the First Soul among them had clearly reached the second stage. The Earth Soul also radiated a second-stage aura. As for the dwarf Sky Soul, Xu Qing found it unfathomable, suggesting that as the leader of the Three Souls and Seven Souls, it must be even more extraordinary. These battle strengths, even if only used once, would be immensely effective at a critical moment. Not to mention, they hadn't come alone. Around them, Xu Qing also sensed the presence of the evil cultivators from Three Spirits Dao-Suppressing Mountain and countless malevolent spirits. This was nearly a complete combination of Yinghuang Province's two major factions. With Qinglin's cooperation, Xu Qing had greater confidence in accelerating the sealing of the Corpse Taboo and releasing some of Yinghuang Province's power.

With this thought, Xu Qing took a step forward. Qinglin's figure emerged from the void, lifting Xu Qing. After sweeping its fierce gaze around, it emitted a piercing screech and soared towards the Forbidden Sea. Behind Qinglin, the Earth Soul licked its lips and stepped forward to follow. The dwarf Sky Soul, hands behind its back, remained expressionless atop its head. Above them, clouds churned, containing the seven colossal faces, as they flew together. Within the clouds, countless malevolent spirits could be seen, their presence vast and imposing, like a chaotic dance of demons, causing the sky to change color.

The vast sea churned, and the diffusion of anomalous substances was ubiquitous. Under the surface, currents surged. Amidst the rising and falling waves, traces of sea beasts could occasionally be seen. However, these sea beasts were different from what Xu Qing remembered. Most of them showed varying degrees of decay on their bodies. If one paid close attention, they could even smell the stench of rotting corpses in the sea, in addition to the usual fishy smell. Clearly, the outbreak of the Corpse Taboo had severely polluted the Forbidden Sea, as its true location was at the bottom of the sea, and the turmoil there had swept across most of the Forbidden Sea.

As they advanced, Xu Qing soon saw towering waves violently crashing in one direction from afar, and the wind grew stronger and stronger. Empowered by each other, massive waves, dozens, hundreds, or even more zhang high, churned up from the sea, crashing down with deafening roars. The entire Forbidden Sea seemed to have transformed into a volatile giant, furiously venting intense pain from its body.

Furthermore, strong magical fluctuations, accompanied by chanting, emanated from the direction of the Corpse Taboo. As they proceeded, Xu Qing also noticed that the sea's color was gradually changing. A golden expanse permeated it, as if the area of the Corpse Taboo was slowly transforming into a golden sea. The closer they got to the Corpse Taboo, the more widespread and concentrated the golden hue became, until finally, it was brilliantly radiant. The chanting and magical fluctuations similarly grew more vast, reaching everyone's ears as if countless people were roaring.

"Humans often lose the Dao, not the Dao losing humans. Humans often abandon life, not life abandoning the Dao.""Mystical things possess sentience and nature. Their acquisition is not given by heaven, nor is their loss taken by man."This scripture contained a soul-shaking effect. Upon hearing it, Xu Qing's expression involuntarily changed. He felt his mind buzz, as if his soul was about to leave his body. Fortunately, Qinglin's head swayed, emitting a reddish-purple light, and Xu Qing immediately activated the Morning Glow Light within him, only then suppressing the restless urge for his soul to depart.

Behind him, the Three Souls and Seven Souls also gazed at the Forbidden Sea, their eyes gleaming. At this moment, a world-shaking formation was unfolding in the Forbidden Sea. From the sky, Xu Qing's gaze swept across the scene. He saw a large number of cultivators from Yinghuang Province and the current appearance of the Corpse Taboo. It was a colossal golden face. This face covered a vast area of the sea, precisely the size of the Corpse Taboo itself. It protruded from the sea surface, looking immensely vast and startling, and was struggling with all its might, seemingly trying to burst out of the water. Waves of terrifying fluctuations continuously emanated from this closed-eyed face, spreading in all directions. This was also the source of the corpse stench, which, as it spread, assaulted all living beings. However, Xu Qing felt a significant difference between it and a deity. This golden face was not a deity; it was more like an embodiment of a deity's aura.

The reason it hadn't burst forth was a colossal blood-red net woven from nine hundred and ninety-nine blood threads, which enveloped it, suppressing it firmly. The head and tail of each of these nearly a thousand blood threads were anchored in the sea, suppressed by cultivators from Yinghuang Province and various other races. In total, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight points were distributed in all directions. Each point served as the core of a formation, thus forming one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight major formations. These major formations converged to form a world-shaking grand formation. This formation's scope covered the entire Corpse Taboo, firmly restraining the face. From the sky, one could see thousands of cultivators seated within each formation. Some of them were Xu Qing's acquaintances. The total number reached over two million. This was a terrifying number formed by the combined forces of Yinghuang Province and the various races of the Forbidden Sea. Even Qi Condensation cultivators were present among them, making it clear that for Yinghuang Province and the various races of the Forbidden Sea, this seal was a full-force effort.

They were all chanting scriptures."I invoke the Qi of heaven and earth, with Daoist incantations sealing the ghost realm.""Curse metal, metal self-destroys; curse wood, wood self-breaks; curse water, water self-dries; curse fire, fire self-extinguishes; curse mountains, mountains self-collapse.""Seal ghosts, ghosts self-slay; seal prayers, prayers self-sever; seal tumors, tumors self-resolve; seal gods, gods self-bind.""The Yin-Yang Dao seal arrives, allow no transgression."The voices of over two million people converged, forming a scripture that shook heaven and earth, reverberating through the clouds, surpassing the sound of a great bell. It was like countless heavenly thunders constantly exploding in this area, even more like words becoming law, causing divine might to dim.

This scene caused the expressions of the Three Souls and Seven Souls to change, and Xu Qing was also moved. Simultaneously, in this heaven and earth, there were two even more powerful formations: one in the sky and one at the bottom of the sea. Reinforcing the sky formation were the powers of twenty-six taboo artifacts. It was evident that most of Yinghuang Province's taboo artifacts had projected themselves here. The tiers of these taboo artifacts were also clearly visible. The most powerful at the top tier was an ancient bronze bell, whose age was unknown, radiating an ancient aura. Each time it chimed, it would shake souls and cause the Corpse Taboo face below to frown. It contained the power of emotion, capable of influencing the minds of all beings. It clearly originated from the Taisi Immortal Sect.

Beneath the great bell were three second-tier taboo artifacts. One was a statue kneeling with its hands crossed over its chest, countless sharp swords impaled in its body, its expression a mix of pain and piety. There was also a cyan long spear, radiating extreme sharpness and a dense malevolent aura. The last taboo artifact on this tier was the Seven-Blooded Pupils' colossal ancient mirror, now with all seven of its eyes open, shimmering with eerie light.

The third-tier taboo artifacts were the most numerous, including those from the Eight Sects Alliance, as well as other taboos within the Taisi Immortal Sect and the Litu Sect. However, none of these compared to the sky formation itself. This formation was also a taboo artifact, originating from Yinghuang Province's Sword Holders' Court. It was the fundamental power of this province's Sword Holders' Court, comprising two Yin and Yang formations: the sky formation being Yang, and the deep-sea formation being Yin. The two formations mutually reinforced each other, continuously suppressing the Corpse Taboo. Through the sea surface, one could see the Yin formation within the golden face, where more than eighty grand cultivators of the Soul Return Realm from Yinghuang Province were seated cross-legged. These included members from the Eight Sects Alliance, the Taisi Immortal Sect, the Litu Sect, and some ancestors from other races. The Sword Holders' Court led them. Several Soul Return Realm cultivators Xu Qing had met from the Sword Holders' Court were present, especially the Grand Elder, who radiated terrifying pressure, single-handedly suppressing nearly ten percent of the formation. Venerable Spirit Youjing sat beside him, looking helpless but compelled to act. Master Blood煉子, Seventh Master, and Immortal Zixuan were also among them. Seventh Master had already broken through, and judging by his seated position, he seemed to hold an even more crucial role than Ancestor Blood煉子. All of this proved that the suppression of the Corpse Taboo had reached a stalemate after a month of confrontation between the two sides.

Although the power of the Corpse Taboo was astonishing, gathering the strength of an entire province could still seal it, though it would take time. The arrival of Xu Qing and his group immediately drew intense attention. In an instant, countless divine thoughts converged from all directions, enveloping Xu Qing. At this moment, not only did the Three Souls and Seven Souls appear solemn, but even Qinglin somewhat reined in its ferocity, clearly awed by the display of power from Yinghuang Province.

Within the golden face, the various sect ancestors seated cross-legged on the Yin formation opened their eyes and looked towards the sky. Seventh Master, Master Blood煉子, and Immortal Zixuan immediately fixed their gazes on Xu Qing. The latter two were somewhat surprised, but Seventh Master looked thoughtful. As for the Grand Elder of the Sword Holders' Court, after seeing Xu Qing, he glanced at Qinglin and the Sky and Earth Souls and Seven Souls behind it, his eyes gleaming with no surprise whatsoever. He knew Xu Qing was coming. In fact, when Xu Qing entered Yinghuang Province and was on his way to Three Spirits Dao-Suppressing Mountain, he had already attempted to contact the Grand Elder of Yinghuang Province's Sword Holders' Court, outlining his plan and informing him about the Ghost Emperor Palace, thereby gaining his consent. After all, this matter carried a certain risk; there was a chance, however small, that the Three Souls and Seven Souls might betray them. Although logically this probability was minimal, precautions had to be taken. This was why Xu Qing had communicated with the Grand Elder.

The Grand Elder had affirmed the plan, telling him to bring them without worry. "Sword Holder Xu Qing greets Grand Elder!" Xu Qing stood on Qinglin's right head and bowed with clasped hands. "Your subordinate has invited the nine seniors—the Sky and Earth Souls and the Seven Souls—to strike once, and Senior Qinglin is also willing to act. I ask Grand Elder to decide." Qinglin squawked, indicating agreement. After speaking, Xu Qing respectfully bowed again to Seventh Master and Ancestor behind the Grand Elder. "Greetings, Master. Greetings, Ancestor." He then looked at Zixuan, who smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling. Seventh Master stroked his beard, and Ancestor's eyebrows danced with delight, though at the moment, they couldn't afford to be distracted and were fully engaged in suppression.

The Grand Elder wasted no time and immediately spoke. "Xu Qing, manifest your Ghost Emperor Mountain!" Xu Qing nodded upon hearing this. The last time he went to the Grand Void Realm, he had acquired a large number of demonic talismans, enough to support multiple activations of his Ghost Emperor form. Now, as a demonic talisman was crushed, the Ghost Emperor Mountain behind him materialized with a roar. The Ghost Emperor's shadow, awe-inspiring, stood towering in the sky. It was lifelike and radiated a ferocious pressure, especially the Primordial Departed Nether Pillars on its knees, which gleamed brilliantly. Even more astonishing was its face, which bore Xu Qing's features. As soon as the Ghost Emperor appeared, the minds of over two million cultivators from Yinghuang Province and various overseas races present were shaken, and they were all moved. They naturally knew of the Ghost Emperor Mountain's existence, so seeing Xu Qing actually manifest it now naturally startled them. Among those most moved, Seventh Master was one. He looked at Ghost Emperor Mountain with some disbelief, recalling the method of manifestation he had taught Xu Qing before the latter went to the Prefecture Capital. In truth, it was a theoretical explanation, and he hadn't truly believed it could succeed. But now… he saw with his own eyes that Ghost Emperor Mountain had indeed been manifested. Although it was different from the method he had initially described, ultimately, it had truly been manifested. "It actually succeeded?" Seventh Master muttered in a daze.

Just then, the Grand Elder of the Sword Holders' Court suddenly spoke. "Venerable Spirit Taiguang, Venerable Spirit Jueyang, and all you fellow Daoists of the Seven Souls, I am aware of your transaction with Xu Qing. Today, I can bear witness, so you can rest assured regarding this idle move." "Since you can only strike once, I invite you all to merge within this illusory Ghost Mountain shadow for a brief unification of the Three Souls and Seven Souls. This will also count as your strike!" "Yinghuang Province and all supporting races, next we will fully empower the Ghost Emperor's shadow to prevent its collapse. And Senior Qinglin, please release your Life Divine Light. Together, we will ensure the Ghost Emperor's illusory form does not collapse, maintaining it for at least one breath." "Xu Qing, perceive carefully. This is your fortuitous opportunity to aid Yinghuang Province!" The Grand Elder's voice, like a torrent, spread throughout heaven and earth.

Xu Qing's breathing quickened. Seeing Seventh Master nod to him, he didn't hesitate and immediately began to fully perceive. Venerable Spirit Jueyang pondered. The dwarf Sky Soul on his head, hearing this, gave the Grand Elder a deep look. Although the request was unexpected, it was reasonable. There was no conspiracy involved; after all, they didn't want the Ghost Emperor to revive, and neither did the various factions of Yinghuang Province, especially with the front line in crisis and the Corpse Taboo seal at a critical juncture. Moreover, if there was a trick, he had ways to resolve it. So, the dwarf Sky Soul nodded, then looked at Xu Qing. "The Sword Holder Palace indeed values you greatly. So be it. Though it's an idle move, I hope you truly succeed in the future!" As he spoke, his body transformed into a white light, shooting directly towards Xu Qing's manifested Ghost Emperor Mountain. As it merged, the Ghost Emperor Mountain vibrated violently, its aura surging. It immediately reached the third stage of the Soul Return Realm, and countless small worlds formed around it.

Venerable Spirit Jueyang's eyes gleamed with wonder. He had never experienced anything like this before. At this moment, he also took a step, transforming into a second white light, following suit. After instantly merging, the Ghost Emperor Mountain's aura erupted once more. The small worlds that had appeared around it began to shatter and reform, cycling endlessly. Immediately after, the Seven Souls transformed into seven long rainbows, successively merging into the Ghost Emperor's shadow. The Ghost Emperor's shadow was clearly unable to sustain itself and was about to collapse. Qinglin's body flashed with a reddish-purple light, empowering it. Furthermore, the two million cultivators present gathered their power through the formation, providing additional reinforcement. Instantly, the Ghost Emperor's shadow became clearer than ever before, and an astonishing pressure descended in all directions. It was as if the Ghost Emperor had descended! Within the shattering and reforming of the countless small worlds around it, they began to merge and converge into the great world on the left shoulder of the Ghost Emperor, causing that great world to shine with brilliant light, recovering some of its divine splendor from its previous dimmed state.

An aura infinitely close to the Soul Nurturing realm descended upon this Forbidden Sea at this moment, unprecedentedly powerful. The sky fractured, and clouds trembled. This supreme aura was as if it alone dominated all! Large sections of the Forbidden Sea instantly caved in, converging from all sides, as if the Forbidden Sea itself bowed down! Whether it was Yinghuang Province or the Forbidden Sea, whether it was cultivators from various races or the strange beings at the bottom of the sea, all were utterly shaken at this moment. The primal instinct of life, the deep reverence from within their souls, erupted simultaneously. This led to an extreme tremor, transforming into an uncontrollable terror that spread in all directions. A terrifying will, impossible to resist or evade, demanding only submission, descended from the heavens at this moment. It seemed as if all beings would immediately kneel before it, like before an Emperor. It seemed as if all races would bow their heads and pray before it, like before a Monarch. Its dominance was boundless. Even the chanting was instantly suppressed, and the surrounding formations trembled. Even the golden face ceased its struggles, sensing a massive threat, its eyes seeming to open. This was half-step Soul Nurturing. Only one soul, Youjing, was needed to reach Soul Nurturing. But this soul was not released by the Grand Elder; this was a constraint. And if Qinglin's divine light dispersed, the Ghost Emperor would collapse; this was also a constraint. The empowerment from the two million cultivators present was also a constraint. Moreover, this illusory emperor's shadow originated from Xu Qing, so Xu Qing's subtle connection to it was also a constraint.

"Ghost Emperor, you only have one strike! Suppress the Corpse Taboo now!" the Grand Elder roared. The Ghost Emperor, on the verge of collapse in the sky, showed a hint of confusion in its eyes but still raised its right hand and pressed it down towards the Corpse Taboo below. With this press, heaven and earth shattered. Countless Dao marks materialized, and innumerable rules were revealed. Even wisps of Heavenly Dao aura permeated the void, blessing and enhancing its power! Various phenomena also manifested between heaven and earth: human figures stood tall, giant beasts roared, celestial maidens scattered flowers, and the shadows of ancient emperors watched. As the palm descended, it seemed to replace the sky, crashing down. A deafening rumble resounded! The power of heavenly might was utterly vast. All directions roared, and the Forbidden Sea collapsed. The seawater violently exploded and rolled back, affecting the entire Forbidden Sea, raising endless storms, sweeping across all islands, and increasing the overall sea level by a hundred zhang. The golden face was instantly submerged, but it was unwilling, fiercely opening its eyes and emitting a low growl, attempting to struggle. However, the surrounding sealing net now erupted with full power, and after a brief pause, the Daoist scriptures resumed like thunder, forming a suppressive force that firmly bound it. Ultimately, with an unwilling roar, the face had no choice but to sink.

The combined power of an entire province and nearly a hundred Forbidden Sea tribes, along with numerous experts and taboo artifacts, had created a stalemate with the Corpse Taboo. It would have originally taken more time to gradually complete the seal. But at this moment, under the palm of a half-step Soul Nurturing entity, this process was instantly accelerated. However, in reality, if it were merely the power of a half-step Soul Nurturing entity, sealing the Corpse Taboo with one strike would be impossible. Only when Yinghuang Province's combined strength had created a stalemate could this strike, like a weight added to the scales, ultimately lead to this accelerated sealing outcome. Both elements were indispensable.

Now, as the golden face on the sea surface sank and the blood-red net completely flattened the area, the Ghost Emperor's shadow in the sky could no longer hold and disintegrated. Before dissipating, the bewildered Ghost Emperor did not look at anyone present but gazed into the depths of the Forbidden Sea. It opened its mouth as if to say something, but ultimately no words emerged. With a boom, it turned into ash and vanished. Rain fell from the sky, as if weeping. The Heavenly Dao seemed to retreat, as if sighing. All anomalies fractured, as if the Great Dao itself was shattering. Only nine lights flew out from its collapsing body, transforming into the Sky and Earth Souls and the Seven Souls. They each appeared bewildered, their emotions clearly fluctuating. This experience had deeply stirred them. However, they also understood that such an event was unlikely to occur a second time, unless Xu Qing willingly manifested it again, and it would still require Qinglin's divine light protection, and most importantly, the cooperation of the Sword Holders' Court, the combined strength of an entire province and nearly a hundred foreign races, along with dozens of taboo artifacts and nearly a hundred Soul Return Realm cultivators. This was clearly impossible. The calamity of the Corpse Taboo was finally, temporarily resolved!

No one could erase a forbidden zone, so throughout history, whenever a forbidden zone experienced a disaster, the solution was always sealing. As for the Corpse Taboo's calamity, human factors played a major role. To facilitate their war and tie down the forces of Fenghai Commandery, the Holy澜 Clan had long ago arranged for someone to open a crack in the mysterious ancient bronze door within the Corpse Taboo. The appearance of this crack led to the Corpse Emperor being devoured. Without an Emperor, the various entities within the Corpse Taboo lost their deterrent and began to spread. This was one calamity. As for the ancient bronze door with a crack from which a divine aura emanated, that was the second calamity. Therefore, this seal, in addition to preventing the various evil entities within the Corpse Taboo from wreaking havoc, was primarily about re-closing the door that had been opened with a crack. This was also the most crucial and difficult aspect of the previous sealing formation, which gathered two million people. A divine gate, even if only a crack, was not easy to close. Since the beginning of the conflict, Yinghuang Province had gone through immense hardship and finally sealed that door to within an inch of completion. The appearance of the half-step Soul Nurturing entity accelerated this process, ultimately bringing the seal to full completion. What followed was the relatively easier task of mopping up.

Xu Qing's gains were equally immense. At this moment, his expression was somewhat dazed. Through his connection with the Ghost Emperor's shadow, his mind, in that instant, felt as if it had undergone a world-shaking baptism. The insights this baptism brought him were extremely profound. The appearance of the half-step Soul Nurturing entity, to outsiders, was an astonishing and unparalleled impact on vision and mind, which could be likened to a mere image. Therefore, ultimately, no matter how clearly outsiders saw it, they were merely "watching." But Xu Qing was different. He was one of the creators of this visual and mental impact; he participated in it and was an indispensable part of it. He was not an outsider but an insider. The insights he gained naturally surpassed those of ordinary people. After all, it was the power of a half-step Soul Nurturing entity, akin to guiding Xu Qing's future direction, opening a window in his heart towards Soul Nurturing. The main manifestations were in his cognition and soul. His cognition expanded astonishingly, which would allow him to face powerful individuals with greater composure in the future, making his resolve stronger! His soul's resilience also benefited similarly, being deeply tempered during the creation of the half-step Soul Nurturing entity from nothing. Although this gain was not direct, it was enough for Xu Qing to benefit from for a long time.

Xu Qing took a deep breath and looked at the Grand Elder and others who emerged from the Yin formation on the Forbidden Sea as the golden face was sealed. He knew that although it concerned the seal, this was, by all means, a huge opportunity given by the Grand Elder. Thus, he clasped his hands and bowed solemnly towards the Grand Elder. The Grand Elder nodded slightly, an appreciative expression on his tired face. He highly valued Xu Qing, who had emerged from Yinghuang Province. Master Blood煉子 naturally felt the same. As for Seventh Master, there was no need to mention it; he was now stroking his beard, his smugness evident for all to see. Zixuan stood nearby, her beautiful eyes brimming with an unusual brilliance. At this moment, in her eyes, the radiance around Xu Qing was the most striking.

Until a clear squawk echoed in all directions, drawing everyone's gaze to Qinglin. Qinglin stood proudly between heaven and earth, as if reminding everyone that its role was also significant. "Many thanks, Senior Qinglin!" The Grand Elder of the Sword Holders' Court said with a solemn expression, bowing with clasped hands. All the Soul Return Realm experts behind him bowed in gratitude, and the two million cultivators below also bowed in unison. Such a display made Qinglin quite proud. It instinctively looked in the direction of the Southern Phoenix Continent, wondering why its elder brother hadn't come. But then, considering its elder brother's principle of not getting involved in tribal conflicts, it somewhat understood.

Meanwhile, the Sky and Earth Souls and the Seven Souls in the distance had also recovered. The dwarf Sky Soul, as their leader, looked at the Grand Elder with a cold expression, then finally at Xu Qing. "Our transaction is complete. Now, we await you." Xu Qing's expression was solemn as he nodded heavily. The Sky Soul turned and flickered, merging into the void and departing. The Earth Soul did the same, and the Seven Souls transformed into smoke, also blending into the air. From beginning to end, they paid no attention to Youjing. After all, Youjing was with the Sword Holders' Court. If she were to return, the Sword Holders' Court wouldn't be at ease. Therefore, it was better for her to remain a hostage for everyone's comfort. Youjing felt somewhat disappointed but also helpless. She knew her companions too well; compared to their shared origin, they valued freedom more.

With the departure of the Sky and Earth Souls and the Seven Souls, and after arranging the cleanup work, the Grand Elder convened a discussion with Xu Qing and a group of Soul Return Realm ancestors from Yinghuang Province. Among the Soul Return Realm cultivators participating in the discussion was the Grand Alliance Leader of the Eight Sects Alliance. His gaze towards Xu Qing was now somewhat different from before, carrying a new gravity. "Xu Qing, tell us your thoughts," the Grand Elder said hoarsely, rubbing his brow. As he spoke, the gaze of dozens of Soul Return Realm cultivators present fell upon Xu Qing. To be scrutinized by so many Soul Return Realm experts might cause other cultivators' minds to tremble intensely. However, Xu Qing had experienced too much, having met several deities. He could withstand the gaze of Soul Return Realm cultivators who weren't releasing their pressure.

"Currently, the battlefields in the Northwest are in urgent straits. The power of taboo artifacts is constantly being weakened, and the front lines are critical," Xu Qing said softly. "The Palace Lord has conveyed a decree to me, granting me authority to act on his behalf to gather resources and troops within Fenghai Commandery. I have already completed the resource collection, and by my estimation, they should have arrived at the battlefield." "As for troops, I thought of Quzhao Province and Yinghuang Province." At this point, Xu Qing looked at the Grand Elder. The Grand Elder nodded, his gaze sweeping over those around him, and spoke in a calm voice. "What are your thoughts?"

Master Blood炼子 was the first to speak. "Let's fight!" Seventh Master's expression was normal. Standing behind Master Blood炼子, he nodded gently. Zixuan looked at Xu Qing and spoke softly. "The Profound Nether Sect can participate." The other ancestors of the Eight Sects Alliance also agreed after a moment of thought. The Grand Alliance Leader smiled at Xu Qing, his eyes showing encouragement. "Our Eight Sects Alliance naturally supports our Dao Son, and even more so, humanity." "Then what about the Taisi Immortal Sect, the Litu Sect, and other human factions within my Yinghuang Province?" The Grand Elder turned to look at the dozen or so other Soul Return Realm cultivators. They exchanged glances, knowing there was no reason to refuse, so they could only nod. As for the Litu Sect, after deliberating, they also tacitly agreed to the matter. "Then, Xu Script-Holder, please issue the order on behalf of the Palace Lord!" The Grand Elder's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Xu Qing, his expression solemn. Xu Qing's expression was grave. He took out the Palace Lord's token and held it high. As the token shone, Xu Qing's voice, imbued with the authority granted by the token, reverberated in all directions. "By the Palace Lord's decree, I summon the various forces of Yinghuang Province, to be coordinated by the Sword Holders' Court, to immediately proceed to Quzhao Province to assist in resolving the calamity there, and ultimately combine the strengths of both provinces to support the western front!" "We obey the Palace Lord's decree!" The Grand Elder bowed solemnly. All the Sword Holders behind him assumed solemn expressions. As they bowed to receive the order, a chilling aura of resolute determination rose from them. The Soul Return Realm cultivators from other races and sects also bowed before the token at this moment. An hour later, the allied army organized by the Grand Elder of Yinghuang Province's Sword Holders' Court had assembled. The various Forbidden Sea tribes who had come to help suppress the Corpse Taboo were unwilling to participate in such a war and took their leave. The Sword Holders' Court did not make things difficult for them but respectfully saw them off. Not all of Yinghuang Province participated either; while some members of each family remained behind, another portion was assigned to the Corpse Taboo to carry out cleanup work. Among these assignments, the Grand Elder appointed Seventh Master and Zixuan to remain and oversee the Corpse Taboo cleanup, exempting them from the battlefield. Upon hearing this appointment, Xu Qing glanced at the Grand Elder. He understood in his heart that this might be related to him, as the battlefield was too dangerous. Xu Qing tacitly agreed to this. The rest joined the allied army, with the Seven-Blooded Pupils' contingent led by Master Blood炼子. Simultaneously, under the Grand Elder's impetus, the taboo authorities of various sects in Yinghuang Province were integrated into the Prefecture Capital's taboo artifacts. This caused a golden net to appear over Yinghuang Province's sky, covering its entire area, strengthening the Prefecture Capital's taboo power. Some small artifacts carried the vast army of Yinghuang Province, moving majestically between heaven and earth. Wherever they passed, pressure permeated the air, blotting out the sky and sun, their momentum like a rainbow.