Chapter 518: The Truth Behind the Opening of the Immortal Barrier

"Eldest, Fourth, you two go up and pay your respects."

Seventh Master looked at the statue and slowly spoke.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing was about to bow when the Captain suddenly spoke.

"I don't need to bow."

Xu Qing blinked, pausing his action. Seventh Master, hearing this, frowned and looked at the Captain.

"What trick are you trying to pull now?"

The Captain's eyes gleamed with fervor as he looked at Seventh Master.

"Master, in your disciple's world, you are the supreme being in my heart, surpassing all emperors. For others, one must bow to an emperor, but your disciple sees Master often, and I have already bowed countless times to the highest emperor in my heart."

"Therefore, for other emperors, your disciple's heart is no longer sincere; bowing would be useless. Since my heart only holds Master, there's naturally no need to bow to others!"

The Captain spoke these words as if they were self-evident, without a hint of falsehood, as if that truly was what he thought. As he finished, his face was filled with reverence.

It was as if Master was not only his Emperor but also the god in his heart.

Especially within his reverent expression, there was also a fitting touch of filial devotion, making his demeanor truly exceptional.

Seventh Master snorted upon hearing this. His expression, at first glance, remained cold, but upon closer inspection, one could see his brows relax, and his eyes held a hint of satisfaction.

Even his gaze towards the Captain softened considerably.

He seemed to feel that although this disciple had many issues, fundamentally, his attitude was good. Respect for one's teacher and valuing the Dao—these were great qualities and significant virtues that outweighed minor flaws.

Thinking this, Seventh Master spoke indifferently.

"You're not a child anymore, always prattling and clowning around, never serious. Fine, I know your intentions. If you don't want to bow, then so be it."

Having said that, Seventh Master looked up, seemingly searching among the human skin masks on the temple's inner wall.

The Captain, full of vigor, bowed deeply to his Master, then cast a triumphant sidelong glance at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing witnessed all of this and couldn't help but admire the Captain even more. He realized that before he joined the sect, the Captain must have been Master's favorite.

After all, most people appreciate constant flattery delivered in various ways.

With this thought, Xu Qing still bowed to the statue of the Human Emperor with cupped fists, then bowed three times, bending at the waist, towards his Master.

The bow with cupped fists was a sign of respect for outsiders.

The three bows with bent waist were an expression of filial devotion to a loved one.

The Captain chuckled at Xu Qing upon seeing this scene.

Seventh Master's lips curled into a smile. He raised his right hand and grabbed upwards. Instantly, a human skin mask positioned higher up was retrieved from the temple's inner wall through spatial manipulation.

In a flash, the human skin mask flew into Seventh Master's hand.

It was the face of a young man, gruesome and exuding endless ferocity. In Seventh Master's hand, it emitted waves of craving for flesh and blood, enveloping his hand as if to devour it.

"Eldest, this one suits you best."

Seventh Master tossed it with his right hand, and the immortal art human skin mask flew directly towards the Captain.

The Captain caught it.

The human skin instantly enveloped his right hand in reverse, and chewing sounds emanated from within, as if it were gnawing.

The Captain shook his hand but found he couldn't dislodge it.

For others, their expressions might have changed drastically at this moment, as their hand was being bitten.

But not the Captain. Instead, he showed curiosity, allowing the human skin to cover his hand and continuously devour it.

"It's trying to bite me?" The Captain found it amusing and brought it closer to his face.

The next instant, the human skin mask reacted, swiftly peeled away from the Captain's hand, revealing his bloodied, bite-marked palm. Then, with intense malice and greed, it lunged directly at the Captain's face.

In the blink of an eye, it enveloped the Captain's face, rapidly covering it until it transformed into a complete mask, fully worn on his face.

His entire aura instantly changed, and his appearance transformed, giving off a sense of unfamiliarity.

A cold chill also spread around him, as if he had become a different person.

The Captain's body trembled, and his eyes closed.

This scene made Xu Qing's eyes gleam with surprise. After carefully sensing it, his expression slightly hardened.

He found that even with his understanding of the Captain, at this moment, looking at the masked Captain, he felt no familiarity whatsoever.

Indeed, had he not witnessed the transformation with his own eyes, he would certainly not have recognized him if they had met elsewhere.

Under this mask, not only did the Captain's aura change, but even his soul's fluctuations were different.

"This immortal art human skin mask inherently possesses a certain power of concealment," Seventh Master said to Xu Qing, looking at his eldest disciple.

As Xu Qing nodded, the Captain's eyes suddenly opened. His gaze was unfamiliar, and after a cold look at Xu Qing, he cast an equally detached glance at Seventh Master.

Xu Qing remained expressionless, while Seventh Master snorted coldly.

"Still playing around? Feeling mischievous?"

Upon hearing this, the Captain chuckled. Although his aura remained unfamiliar, a sense of familiarity returned significantly with that laugh.

"Master, junior brother, this mask is quite interesting. I can feel it trying to merge with my face, and it contains deep malice. At the same time, there are countless voices of men, women, old, and young, all shouting two words in my mind."

"The shouts in your mind are the names of the immortal arts. Speak them aloud, and you can cast the immortal art. However, the power varies depending on your cultivation level."

After Seventh Master explained the usage, under Xu Qing's watchful gaze, the Captain deliberated for a moment, then uttered two words.

"Heavenly Dog!"

The next instant, the Captain's entire body trembled. The mask emitted a large amount of red mist, which enveloped his entire body. As a vast power descended, the mist actually transformed into a gigantic red dog.

Saliva dripped from its mouth, and an overwhelming greed surged. Its eyes were also incredibly crimson, and its heavy breathing was heart-stopping.

It looked as if it were starving to the extreme, ready to devour anything.

As Xu Qing instinctively recoiled a few steps, the Heavenly Dog conjured by the Captain let out a roar that shook the entire temple. Then, it quickly dissipated until the Captain's figure reappeared. He then pulled off the mask.

The removal process was not particularly smooth; one could see numerous red tendrils stretching between the mask and the Captain's face.

It took a considerable effort for the Captain to remove the mask.

Yet, he showed no tension. Instead, his expression was one of excitement and pleasant surprise.

"Master, this immortal art is perfect! It comes with a built-in storage space, and if something swallowed can't be digested, it can be stored. It's incredibly suitable for me!"

Xu Qing nodded in profound agreement upon hearing this.

Seventh Master also smiled.

"It's indeed suitable for you." Having said that, Seventh Master raised his right hand and grabbed towards the top of the temple. Instantly, another human skin mask was retrieved by him.

It was the face of an old man, filled with sorrow and covered in wrinkles. Unlike the Heavenly Dog immortal art, this human skin mask showed no struggle or malice in Seventh Master's hand. It remained quiet, and a faint sigh echoed all around.

After sensing it, Seventh Master shook his head slightly.

"Fourth, your senior brother's Heavenly Dog and this mask are the highest-ranked ones here. But unfortunately, this one isn't very suitable for you. It's a bit of a pity. I'll get you another one, but the others aren't as high-ranked as these two."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing looked at the human skin mask.

"Master, what immortal art is this?"

"Compassion."

Seventh Master sighed, looking up at the other masks. Thinking how well things went for the Eldest, he felt it wouldn't be right if the Fourth got something inferior.

Upon hearing this, the Captain stepped forward and handed the Heavenly Dog mask to Xu Qing.

"Here, take this, little junior brother. Although this immortal art is good, it's not of much use to me, your senior brother, haha."

Xu Qing knew this was the Captain's goodwill. His heart felt warm, but he politely declined and looked at his Master, speaking softly.

"Master, what is the specific effect of the immortal art 'Compassion'?"

"Wearing this human skin mask and activating the immortal art 'Compassion' allows you to share half of the damage and pain endured by whomever you see."

After explaining, Seventh Master continued searching for other human skin masks, wanting to find an immortal art suitable for Xu Qing.

The Captain laughed upon hearing this.

"Master, why are you still choosing? This 'Compassion' is so suitable for me! I'm a very compassionate person."

Seventh Master didn't pay attention to the Captain's nonsense, but he knew his eldest disciple's physical recovery speed and understood that although they often played pranks on each other, their bond was deep. He was about to speak when Xu Qing suddenly interjected.

"Master, this art is actually more suitable for me here."

"Little Ah Qing, you, compassionate?" The Captain was surprised.

Seventh Master also showed curiosity.

"I have a friend, and it's very compassionate," Xu Qing said with a serious expression, then added, "It also looks very suitable."

After Xu Qing spoke, his Ding Yi San Er Heavenly Palace vibrated. The head inside, looking utterly despondent and bored, instantly vanished, having been moved by Xu Qing to outside the Heavenly Palace and thrown onto the ground.

Suddenly taken from the Heavenly Palace and thrown to the ground, the head rolled a few times, looking a bit confused.

"What's happening?"

Before it could clearly see its surroundings, Xu Qing lifted his foot and, with a crunch, stomped on it, crushing it.

The Captain and Seventh Master were equally stunned.

"Your friend?" The Captain looked at the bloody mess on the ground.

As Xu Qing nodded, the bloody mess rapidly gathered, and the head soon reappeared. It looked at Xu Qing with a mournful face and wailed, "My lord, my lord, what did I do wrong? I didn't scold you today!"

Xu Qing remained expressionless. With a wave of his hand, he sent it back into the Heavenly Palace. Then, he looked up at the bewildered Captain and Master, and spoke with a Human Race expression.

"That is my friend. It is very compassionate."

The Captain blinked, and Seventh Master cleared his throat, handing the compassionate human face mask to Xu Qing.

"Since Fourth's friend is so compassionate, then it is indeed very suitable!"

Xu Qing took the human skin mask, thought for a moment, and whispered, "Master, I have a few other friends who are also compassionate. Since each person here can only receive one, can they also obtain their own similar 'Compassion' immortal arts here?"

Upon hearing Xu Qing's suggestion, the Captain's eyes lit up, while Seventh Master pondered. After a long moment, he looked at the faces around him and finally shook his head.

"Based on my experience over these many years and through so many events, I've learned that anything in excess is detrimental."

"Especially these immortal arts, each one contains great karma, and their formation methods are strange, their curses unpredictable. Don't acquire too many lightly."

"Even if each of your friends took one, ultimately, all the karma would converge on you, Fourth."

"Especially since they are not human, it's unknown if acquiring these would increase your karma even further or trigger other hidden curses."

"So, Master suggests that next time you visit a similar place, you can guide someone you dislike to try it first using a similar method. If they don't die and suffer no misfortune afterward, then it will be safer for you to go and seize it."

"Even if you don't seize it, if it's safe after the trial, you can use a similar method. After all, the Immortal Art Hall won't run away, and this isn't the only palace."

Seventh Master was always steady in his actions, something Xu Qing had known before. Hearing these words now, he agreed even more, feeling that he had learned another valuable lesson.

The Captain felt a bit regretful but dared not refute, though deep down he felt the old man was getting more timid with age.

Having retrieved the immortal arts, Seventh Master didn't linger here. He led Xu Qing and the Captain out of the Immortal Art Hall. As they exited, under the spreading foreign substance, flesh and blood gradually grew back.

In the blink of an eye, the once dissipated, distorted, and painful flesh and blood face resurfaced, standing there, mouth agape, as if letting out a silent wail.

Gazing at the flesh-and-blood face, Seventh Master looked up at the dark, mirror-smooth sky. After a long moment, he slowly spoke.

"Red Moon's awakening should be near. You two probably won't obediently return to the army's location. Very well, there are many strange opportunities in the Immortal Restriction. Be careful yourselves, and don't be too aggressive."

"I need to leave alone to make some arrangements."

"After you two told me about this last time, I also secretly investigated. Combining that with my analysis, I have a rough judgment and guess in my mind."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing and the Captain immediately concentrated and listened.

Especially Xu Qing, he was very eager to know the inside story of the Immortal Restriction's activation. He truly couldn't understand the purpose of activating this place at this time, feeding the sleeping deities to the Red Moon.

The Red Moon was the god of the Black Sky Race. Currently, the Black Sky Race was at war with the Human Race. The act of sacrificing to the Red Moon at this time gave Xu Qing the most intuitive feeling that they wanted to appease the Red Moon.

But what was the point of doing that?

Due to his limited understanding, he found it difficult to see through the essence; a mist always obscured everything before his eyes.

"Master's guess is?" Xu Qing asked.

Seventh Master gazed at the core direction of the distant palace complex, his eyes deep as he spoke in a low voice.

"This matter shouldn't be the personal act of the Seventh Prince. Although he is a prince, with countless strong individuals around him and armies at his command, seeming glorious, the Human Emperor is actually still on the throne and in his prime. Rumor has it he is swift and decisive, with great ambitions. Even if these are just rumors, there's no smoke without fire. At least for now, it's far from the time for succession disputes in the Human Race."

Seventh Master's gaze grew even deeper.

"However, this Seventh Prince is also ruthless and decisive by nature. And no matter how he did it, the final result was that he successfully used the victory reports to resolve the situation where the Imperial Capital was besieged by the Black Sky Race and various minor factions were stirring, thus easing the situation in the Imperial Capital."

"This outcome, for the Human Emperor, is beneficial to the Human Race. Even if there were sacrifices and many clues hidden within, it doesn't matter; the greater good prevails!"

"However, everything has a bottom line. Matters concerning deities, like here in the Immortal Restriction, could never possibly be decided by the Seventh Prince's word alone."

"Therefore, the activation of the Immortal Restriction is by the Human Emperor's command; the Seventh Prince is merely executing it! With this understanding, the mist can actually be cleared somewhat."

Seventh Master's calm voice echoed in the ears of Xu Qing and the Captain. The Captain seemed to have an epiphany, while Xu Qing was thoughtful.

Standing in the Human Emperor's position, looking down at the overall situation, you will find that what the Human Emperor most wants to do now must be related to war. Whether it is ending the war or achieving victory in the war, everything revolves around war.

So, how can one end or win the war?

Seventh Master's eyes gleamed with a profound light, seemingly containing eons.

"That is, to let the Human Race possess a war domain treasure that can deter all directions!"

Seventh Master's voice was firm and resolute.

"But this alone is far from enough. Behind the Black Sky Race is the Red Moon deity. With all the Black Sky Race's great祭司 communicating and calling upon it, sacrificing lives to perform the divine descent ritual, there's a probability of the Red Moon's projection descending."

"So, figuring out how to possess a war domain treasure that can deter all directions is just one part. As for the second, we also need to find a way to prevent the Red Moon from descending."

"Then, how can the Red Moon be prevented from descending?"

"The Human Race cannot control the Red Moon, nor can it entrust the fate of its race to a passive transaction with the Red Moon. Therefore, there is no transaction. So, what can be done to make her not come or be delayed for a very, very long time?"

What can be done to make her not come or be delayed for a very, very long time?

Seventh Master looked at Xu Qing and the Captain.

"Make the Red Moon unable to arrive due to an accident, like falling into a deep sleep?" Xu Qing suddenly spoke, and the Captain chimed in at the same time.

"Whenever I eat too much, I instinctively fall asleep to absorb..."

As they finished speaking, their eyes widened simultaneously, as if a thunderclap had struck their minds.

They each took a deep breath.

Seventh Master smiled, his eyes showing wisdom.

"This is just corroboration; it doesn't confirm that this is precisely how it is. So, we need to analyze this matter from another angle."

"For example, after the Human Emperor pondered the answer, he would activate the Immortal Restriction as soon as the battle situation eased, and even actively help the Red Moon parasitic on Zhang Siyun awaken."

"Regarding this matter, what you saw before was a mist. The deity finger, due to its own reasons and perceptions, saw its main body about to be devoured. In fact, its words have already revealed the answer."

"Xu Qing, you are still young, even if your mind is meticulous, there are still oversights."

Seventh Master gazed at Xu Qing, speaking earnestly.

Upon hearing this, many thoughts arose in Xu Qing's mind. He carefully recalled the words of the deity finger before and suddenly spoke.

"Master, do you mean, why was that deity finger so certain immediately that the Red Moon would devour its main body?"

Seventh Master's eyes showed satisfaction, and he nodded.

"Exactly. His absolute certainty in that answer can only mean one thing: he firmly believed that as long as the Red Moon saw its main body, it would definitely devour it. This is his perception, and the essence revealed by this perception is that when deities encounter each other, the powerful will inevitably devour the weaker."

"Combined with the fact that deities reside and sleep here in the Immortal Restriction, never venturing out, the accuracy of this answer is over eighty percent."

"Just as I told you before, after my research, I found that deities are nothing special; they are merely existences of a higher order than us."

"Mortals get drowsy and lazy after eating too much, not wanting to deal with anything. Cultivators even more so. For example, when Eldest eats too much, he instinctively goes into a deep sleep. It's the same for Master when I eat too much, and for you too. Even if it's not always a deep sleep, one must enter seclusion to absorb."

"As for the duration of seclusion or sleep, it's determined by the food."

Xu Qing's mind was stirred by immense waves, and the Captain kept licking his lips. Clearly, after corroboration from two directions, both ultimately pointed to the same answer.

"So now, is the answer clear?" Seventh Master said softly.

"The Human Emperor actively helps the Red Moon awaken, sending it into the Immortal Restriction to devour the sleeping deities there, then enter a phase of absorption and digestion!"

"At that time, no matter what problems the Black Sky Race encounters, the Red Moon will not care, because to him, they are merely servants. He cannot forgo eating or sleeping for the sake of servants!"

"And the Red Moon's absorption and digestion will take a certain amount of time. During this period... the Black Sky Race will essentially be without divine protection!"

"The Human Emperor is waiting for this very opportunity!"

Xu Qing organized his thoughts and spoke rapidly. A sense of sudden clarity surged within his mind. At this moment, it was as if the sky had cleared, the clouds dissipated, and his understanding became incredibly sharp.

Even with this clarity of thought, his twelfth Heavenly Palace, which was being materialized, instantly accelerated its materialization, drawing closer to completion. This was the breakthrough of understanding!

Under Seventh Master's systematic guidance, Xu Qing's perspective was opened up in a groundbreaking way, his mind expanded infinitely, and his way of thinking and perceiving was no longer limited to the immediate, but elevated to higher levels, allowing him to oversee the entire situation.

Seventh Master could have chosen not to speak, or simply revealed the answer directly. But doing so would have limited Xu Qing's cognitive improvement.

Instead, by guiding Xu Qing to slowly analyze everything himself, this breakthrough in understanding was undoubtedly a profound benefit!

Imparting knowledge and nurturing talent, always.

Xu Qing's eyes showed reverence as he looked at Seventh Master and bowed deeply.

Seventh Master smiled, feeling proud and pleased as he saw Xu Qing's heartfelt conviction.

"What about the War Domain Treasure? Master, what's your view? Seize it?" The Captain was also greatly moved, looking at his Master with reverence.

Seventh Master's smile froze. The Captain's question was something he hadn't figured out an answer to, and seeing Xu Qing also looking at him expectantly, Seventh Master felt a headache.

He thought to himself that it wouldn't do to say he didn't know, not after just building up his image...

"This Eldest, how can he be so tactless!" Seventh Master was displeased, but he didn't show it at all on the surface. He spoke indifferently.

"This matter, Master has already figured out, but not everything can be directly told by me. This... consider it homework for this lesson. You two go back and ponder it carefully. I'll see which of you has better comprehension, and Master will have a reward."

Xu Qing nodded, feeling even more respectful of his Master.

The Captain, however, was a little suspicious, glancing at his Master.

Seeing that Chen Erniu was about to speak again, Seventh Master inwardly snorted, made a mental note, and then took out a very special translucent human skin mask, handing it to Xu Qing.

"This item is an immortal art I obtained in an Immortal Art Hall back then. It has only one function: concealment, extreme concealment."

"Fourth, the moment Red Moon awakens, immediately put on this human skin mask. This is the first layer of concealment, but it's not foolproof. Remember to immediately find a place here with abundant flesh and blood, dig a pit, and bury yourself in it, so your body is hidden beneath the aura of a sleeping deity. This is the second layer of concealment."

"And you also have some methods of your own; this is the third layer of concealment. I will also cast my concealment divine art on you; this is your fourth layer of concealment!"

"This way, as long as Red Moon doesn't specifically exert all its effort to find you here, you should be safe for a short time. And Red Moon's awakening will definitely be attracted by the sleeping deity, so if you are cautious, you can ensure your safety."

"But remember one thing: once the mask is on, you cannot move. Your cultivation isn't high enough; if you move, the concealment will have flaws."

Hearing his Master's words, a warmth arose in Xu Qing's heart, and he bowed his head.

"Master, please take care of yourself too."

Seventh Master smiled, his eyes showing satisfaction. He greatly appreciated his fourth disciple's deep emotional nature.

He then raised his right hand and patted Xu Qing's shoulder, granting him a blessing, before turning to leave.

The Captain quickly spoke.

"Master, what about me? What about me?"

Seventh Master gave him a look of disdain.

"Compared to a sleeping deity, who would care about your puny aura?"

Despite saying so, Seventh Master still waved his hand, casting a concealment divine art blessing. Then, with a flicker, he vanished from the spot.

Watching his Master leave, the Captain let out a long breath, then perked up, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Xu Qing.

"Little Ah Qing, on the way here, I saw something good. The old man was walking too fast then, so I didn't speak up. Come on, let's go see what that thing is."