Chapter 529: Where the Heart Leads, Follow

On the sky, colorful clouds shimmered, spreading across the horizon, creating a brilliant and exceptionally beautiful spectacle. The mist also changed color, turning golden and hanging high, as if bearing witness to the grand ceremony.

A four-clawed golden dragon let out a roar, causing tremors in all directions. It exhaled more ethereal light, and faint, towering illusory figures appeared, seemingly the past County Prefects of Fenghai County, witnessing all of this. Of course, these were merely phantoms formed by fate and destiny.

In addition, showers of spiritual energy gathered and fell from the clouds, dispersing the lingering alien substances from the ancient immortal restrictions across the land. Innumerable plants grew robustly, and the cultivation of everyone in the county capital surged. Many chronic illnesses and injuries also rapidly healed. It was as if an era of prosperity had arrived.

This scene caused all cultivators and residents of the county capital to cheer. Representatives from various clans of Fenghai County, witnessing this from afar, were filled with involuntary awe. Even the Near-Immortal clans respectfully lowered their heads.

"But what does that have to do with me?" Xu Qing thought. "I've fulfilled my promise. If the County Governor can't handle it, it's not my concern."

Almost simultaneously with Deputy Palace Lord Li Wuying's words, Deacon Si Nan and Deacon Sun of the Sword-Wielding Palace slowly ascended, bowing towards the altar. The County Governor stood below the altar, gazing towards Fenghai County, and spoke solemnly.

"No, that shouldn't be the case. My mentor definitely won't be harmed, but what if..." The pleading cries turned to despair and gradually faded in Xu Qing's ears. Xu Qing lowered his head, clenching his fists.

In front of the crowd, Xu Qing also looked up, but his gaze was not on the First Prince; it was on the massive statue of the Fenghai County Emperor.

The First Prince's voice was impassioned, resounding through the sky. His entire body was enveloped in a radiant glow, an azure dragon materialized above his head, and grand ceremonial canopies appeared one after another, shining brilliantly.

"In that battle, our human race pioneered a path unseen in tens of thousands of years! The Xuan War Human Emperor, known to heaven and earth!"

"Senior Brother, I can't hold it back anymore." As Xu Qing spoke, Deacon Si Nan and Deacon Sun unleashed their cultivation, and the auras of over a hundred thousand Sword Holders on the ground erupted instantly.

In terms of renown, Xu Qing was not comparable to the County Governor. Xu Qing stepped forward, bowed to Deputy Palace Lord Li Wuying beside him, bowed to the two deacons, bowed to the over a hundred thousand comrades on the ground, then raised his head, and spoke intensely, his voice heavy. Winds rose from all directions. Waves of excitement surged once more throughout the surroundings.

At this moment, on the altar, the First Prince looked at the County Governor beside him. "No matter," the County Governor replied calmly, "but I'd also like to hear why he spoke out. And Xu Qing, I remember I even taught him a class before."

Xu Qing knew he shouldn't do certain things. For days, he had used countless reasons to tell himself what was right. Deputy Palace Lord Li Wuying's steps halted—that was his name. But he still moved forward a few steps, reaching Xu Qing's side, looking up at the County Governor, and spoke bitterly yet firmly.

This made Xu Qing stand out, deeply remembered and recognized in the hearts of the people of Fenghai County, especially within the Sword-Wielding Palace. Seeing him instinctively brought to mind Xiang Wuying. Qing Qiu remained silent, but tightened her grip on her scythe. This was the acknowledgment of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity!

Compared to Xiang Wuying and the previous County Prefect, the County Governor was also not as esteemed. Especially the Captain, whose body emitted a blue light. The greater trend could not suppress Xu Qing's spirit. Not to mention, this was Xiang Wuying's dying wish from the Sword-Wielding Palace.

"That's the blessing of a county's destiny!" the Captain exclaimed. "While it doesn't do much for us, for Void-Returning cultivators, under that county's destiny, it can boost their power by one stage, or even more, possibly reaching Half-Step Nascent Soul!"

Xu Qing's eyelids lowered slightly, his hands clenched into fists, then relaxed, and when he clenched them again, the Captain's hand was placed on Xu Qing's shoulder. The Captain also felt a surge of emotion.

"What's right, what's wrong? To hell with all of it!"

"Not only that, but the eight lost states have been reclaimed for you, one by one!" Under the gaze of the crowd, Xu Qing, expressionless, took out the jade slip Xiang Wuying had given him—this was the evidence. This was the unity of the masses! Thus, his words at this moment exploded like heavenly thunder in all directions, silencing the square and seemingly shaking the entire county capital.

"Lord County Prefect," Deputy Palace Lord Li Wuying interjected, "Xu Qing was Xiang Wuying's accompanying scribe, a Sword Holder. He is young and ignorant, but loyal unto death. After Xiang Wuying's sacrifice, he entrusted his legacy to Xu Qing, so he must be protected—"

From Xu Qing's perspective, it was as if the Fenghai County Emperor's hands were holding the crown of destiny, about to place it on the County Governor's head. At this moment, his words exploded like earth-shattering thunder, reverberating within the minds of all who heard them, causing the hundreds of thousands on the square to erupt in uproar.

"My children of Fenghai County's human race, you have suffered these past six months."

"The Sky-Holding race has bullied our human race for tens of thousands of years, and we have made them pay! Tens of thousands of Sky-Holding tribesmen died on the Imperial Capital battlefield, and the Dawn Sun that erupted in their two domains annihilated ten times more Sky-Holding tribesmen!"

"Senior Brother, did you hear that?" Xu Qing suddenly spoke. "Our human race has achieved a great victory!"

"That's right, Little Ah Qing, you haven't fully grown up yet," the Captain chuckled. Hundreds of thousands of cultivators looked up. The County Governor smiled and bowed slightly.

Almost the instant the County Governor spoke, hundreds of thousands on the altar erupted in sound, and even more sounds emanated from the common people throughout the county capital, reverberating across heaven and earth.

"And our human race unleashed eight of them in this war, with even more to spare." In an instant, thunder erupted again in the sky, as if a million bolts had exploded, their shockwaves spreading in all directions, stirring the heavens. More destiny gathered, making the crown ring even clearer, and it even descended from the sky to float above the county capital's altar. But now, things were different.

"Has it been two full years?" Xu Qing felt time had passed a bit quickly. This was the approval of Fenghai's destiny; this was the recognition of the region's Heavenly Dao! On the altar, the County Governor looked at Xu Qing very seriously, as if trying to re-evaluate him. After a moment, he spoke intensely.

"Heaven" here referred to the Fenghai Human Emperor, and as a member of the Imperial Family, the First Prince could represent Heaven. So he looked at the County Governor and nodded. Just then, as Xu Qing's words echoed, Deputy Palace Lord Li Wuying of the Sword-Wielding Palace—the elder who had tearfully watched Xiang Wuying fall—suddenly rushed out, shouting loudly at Xu Qing.

"Ask the Human: O children of the Sword Holders, may I serve as the County Prefect of the Palace's County?"

In terms of renown, Xu Qing was not comparable to the County Governor. "But I know that some people might think my actions were cruel, or that my behavior was aimed at turning Fenghai into my own territory."

"I didn't hear it, and neither did he."

"Previously, he commanded the Sword Holder cultivators, restoring all operations and rebuilding the Sword Holders to their former state. This is his seventh merit!"

"This half-domain has four counties and a hundred states." The First Prince gazed at the ground, his eyes firm, and his voice became a little deeper.

"Little Junior Brother, why don't we just go back in a bit?" the Captain said. Even the common people in the county capital, upon hearing this, fell silent, their public sentiment wavering.

"I have already reported this matter to the Human Emperor and received his acceptance. Therefore, today, I will choose someone familiar to all of you Sword Holders to become the County Prefect of the Sword Holders."

If he did that, then the deaths of Captain Lei, Master Bai, and Old Eight would all become regrets. A slightly smaller seven-streamered crown ring, astonishingly, crowned itself upon Xu Qing's head!

Deputy Palace Lord Li Wuying roared, but his eyes clearly held tension. He quickly turned, bowed to the altar, and spoke loudly. "In July this year, after the war broke out, when Xiang Wuying led his army to the front, he gave me a mission: to secretly investigate the cause of the County Prefect's death!"

At that moment, Xu Qing didn't want to consider whether his actions were right or wrong, or if they would lead to life or death. He wanted to act according to his heart. That was Xu Qing's own voice, which he once again suppressed. The County Governor gazed at Xu Qing.

Because Kong Xianglong's identity was only known after Xiang Wuying's death, and Xu Qing had been by Xiang Wuying's side for most of the war, except for one period.

"During the war, I protected the rear, ensured the stability of Fenghai County's people, and contributed my strength to the front-line war. This is his eighth merit!"

And those who left their names with the Great Emperor would be highly regarded by the Human Emperor. Even someone like himself could not easily touch them.

"Senior Brother, what excuse should we find to leave later?" Xu Qing whispered to the Captain beside him. Thus, the First Prince said nothing, wanting to see how the County Governor would handle the situation.

Xu Qing murmured in his heart, but even as he comforted himself, a chilling voice echoed in his mind, telling him that the person before him was the killer of the County Prefect and indirectly responsible for Xiang Wuying's death. Fenghai County's great calamity was also orchestrated by this person for many years.

"I saw their spilled blood, the Human Emperor saw their sacrifices, and humanity saw their contributions." This also included the commanders of the three palaces. At this moment, the crying rose and fell in his ears, turning into ripples in his heart.

Xu Qing murmured softly. As the Captain's pupils contracted, Kong Xianglong gasped, Qing Qiu's eyes widened in astonishment, and the surrounding crowd looked on in utter bewilderment, Xu Qing's body rose high from the ground! Hundreds of thousands remained on the ground, while Xu Qing ascended alone.

"I, Xu Qing, the Myriad-Depth Inquirer of the Great Emperor, approve!"

"The war has begun." The sky's color changed. As Xu Qing spoke, Deputy Palace Lord Li Wuying, who was about to intervene, paused. Hundreds of thousands of cultivators present also felt a renewed stir in their hearts, looking at Xu Qing.

An Emperor's Crown had seventeen streamers, a Domain Crown ten, a Prince's Crown four, and a County Crown seven. The Captain's expression remained calm. He gave Xu Qing a deep look, then shook his head.

"Please, County Governor, guide me!" The focus of the County Prefect's coronation ceremony was not merely "asking Heaven, Earth, and Humanity"; this was a tradition and ritual established by the Fenghai County Emperor himself. The First Prince's eyes flickered slightly as he watched the County Governor. But now, he no longer wanted to weigh things.

As Xu Qing spoke, a thunderous roar instantly erupted from the sky, as if a million heavenly lightning bolts had burst. Amidst the echoing colossal sound, the vortex formed by destiny became increasingly turbid, faintly forming a crown ring.

Meanwhile, on the altar, the County Governor, with a gentle smile, swept his gaze over the hundreds of thousands above, also glancing at Xu Qing. Finally, he looked into the distance and spoke softly.

The First Prince's gaze narrowed, looking at Xu Qing's head. A huge wave of emotion surged in his heart; he knew Xu Qing. "Not only have the eight states been reclaimed, but half of the Saint Lan Grand Domain has also been recovered by our human race!" That was where the people's hearts lay! His voice echoed in all directions.

Under the sky, Deputy Palace Lord Li Wuying, seeing this, immediately shouted to stop the crowd from ascending, then continued to bow towards the altar. Even Kong Xianglong could not achieve this.

"And the Sword Holders, through their combined efforts, held firm as before!"

"After half a year, I have finally completed my investigation. Besides Marquis Yao, there are other suspicious aspects to this case, and it seems there are other culprits. But Xiang Wuying has sacrificed himself, and I have no one to report to. County Governor, may I report to you here, to provide more truth about the County Prefect's demise, and make it clearer to all of Fenghai County's human race?"

All around, everyone, prompted by Xu Qing's words, involuntarily looked at the County Governor. The cause of the County Prefect's death was a pain for all Sword Holders. The Captain spoke triumphantly.

At this instant, Xu Qing's inner emotional struggle reached its peak, finally transforming into heavenly thunder that rumbled and burst, shattering all his thoughts. He raised his head and sighed softly.

"A Sword Holder can execute anyone below the Emperor!"

"Our human race's domain treasures, earth-shattering as they are, their most terrifying aspect is not their brief effect. They will continue to burn within the Sky-Holding race's domain for a full sixty years!" To the common people of the entire county capital, compared to Xu Qing, the County Governor was the true benefactor of all.

"Ask Heaven: May this old man serve as the County Prefect of the Palace's County?"

Even the cultivators from the eight great palaces, though shaken, displayed confusion, surprise, and bewilderment, all of which made Xu Qing understand what he was facing. On the altar, the County Governor maintained a composed expression and continued to speak.

"What does it have to do with me? Yes, it has to do with me. I'm just a small person who wants to live. I have a mentor, I have senior brothers. I can't implicate them." And even if handled well, the County Governor becoming County Prefect would still have some stain. After all, such a "Myriad-Depth Inquiry" approval, combined with the recognition of the Sword Holders' destiny, would make his own Imperial Father ponder.

The countless words Xu Qing had used to convince himself for over half a month now felt pale and powerless. He simply couldn't suppress the thoughts that surged within his mind after knowing everything. Perhaps his thoughts would change in the next instant, or perhaps if given another chance, he wouldn't act this way.

In the instant the crown of destiny was about to descend, in the breath before the desperate child's cries faded, Xu Qing stood suspended in mid-air, gazing at heaven and earth. "Yes!"

After speaking, the First Prince, without waiting for a reaction from those below, faced the statue of the Fenghai County Emperor, bowed, then turned, looked up at the illusory figures of past County Prefects in the sky, and bowed again with clasped fists. "Yes!"

Xu Qing lowered his head, not wanting to look. He remained silent, telling himself in his heart, "One more day, and then I'll return to the Blood Child!" He finally spoke those words, and he had to add the phrase "with a clear conscience"—this was the qualification. Though many couldn't see it, some did!

This was the final ritual. The First Prince did not have the authority to answer on behalf of the Sword Holders. The answer should come from the Sword Holders themselves.

"To hell with weighing pros and cons!" That sentence had echoed for over seventy days, and Xu Qing had suppressed it for over seventy days. As these words left his mouth, an unprecedented sense of relaxation and clarity spread through Xu Qing's entire body. The gloom that had suppressed him for over seventy days was swept away. Public sentiment had buried his heart.

As the First Prince spoke, each of the County Governor's merits spread in all directions. Hundreds of thousands on the altar and tens of millions within the county capital heard them, and gazes of respect converged on the County Governor. The Captain spoke softly, his hand pressing firmly on Xu Qing's shoulder.

Xu Qing had long, unknowingly, entered the hearts of Fenghai County's human race. His aid had provided immense help to the western front, and his identity as an accompanying scribe made countless people aware of his existence. No one knew him, no one understood him. To outsiders, he was just a name. A sentence echoed in his mind once more.

"No matter what, no matter how great a mistake Xu Qing has made, at this moment, we instinctively must protect him. Conversely, Xu Qing would do the same for us. We are comrades!" The First Prince spoke softly.

"It doesn't matter. Everything has returned to normal. My Lord, within eight days at most after the Saint Lan clan's transaction is complete, I will be able to sacrifice all beings of the Sword Holders, extract all their destiny to form a Supreme Life Fruit, and bring it to you."

Xu Qing suddenly looked up at the sky. The crying sound was faint, yet visible. However, judging by the reactions of others around him, no one else seemed to notice. But as a Prince, he knew more than others. He understood that the "Great Emperor's Myriad-Depth Inquiry" meant leaving one's name on the Great Emperor's statue in the Imperial Capital!

"Ask Earth: May this old man serve as the County Prefect of the Palace's County?"

"Today, I, Gu Yue Zhang An, as the First Son of the Xuan War Human Emperor, propose one person as the new County Prefect. After the Heaven, Earth, and Human Inquiry, I shall report to the Human Emperor for his decree of investiture!"

"I... I cannot say 'yes'." The pleading cries turned to despair and gradually faded in Xu Qing's ears. Xu Qing lowered his head, not wanting to look. He remained silent, telling himself in his heart, "One more day, and then I'll return to the Blood Child!"

"Yes!"

Moreover, figures of Sword Holders, each with a crown ring, were about to ascend, numbering well over ten thousand, including Kong Xianglong, the Captain, Qing Qiu, and Ning Yan. The destiny of the sky roared, and as millions of lightning bolts exploded, the seven-streamered crown ring, representing the guardian of a county, instantly formed. Destiny converged, the earth trembled, and the sky surged with immense waves. This was an ancient regulation, preserved to this day.

The "Myriad-Depth Inquiry" which had never appeared among the Sword Holders before. Others only knew it was extraordinary and extremely rare, akin to being genuinely upright, trustworthy, and having immense benefits for future promotions. He still smiled gently, the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes even more distinct.

"Yes, it's been two years." In that sigh, Xu Qing exhaled the suppressed spiritual energy that had been trapped within him for over seventy days.

"During my time as County Governor, I was diligent and conscientious, assisting the County Prefect above and caring for the common people below, achieving great merits. This is his ninth merit!" Faintly, the clouds in the sky also dimmed slightly. As destiny gathered, a massive vortex materialized in the firmament.

"But in the end, I cannot deceive my own heart." This was not formed by a magical art, but by invisible destiny gathering in this place. Saying this, he took a few steps back, about to lead Xu Qing away, his cultivation spreading out to guard against any sudden moves from the Imperial Capital commanders or the County Governor.

"A Palace's County cannot be without a Prefect. All past County Prefects have been heroes." The only thing that made him remember Xu Qing before was not Xu Qing's merits, nor his small identity as Xiang Wuying's accompanying scribe in the Sword-Wielding Palace, but his "Great Emperor's Myriad-Depth Inquiry"!

The County Governor walked out calmly, step by step, under the gaze of the multitude. He ascended the steps, reached the altar, and stood beside the First Prince. Outside the altar, some of the Imperial Capital army commanders who had arrived with the Prince showed fanaticism in their eyes. For them, this Prince had led them to victory, allowing every general to achieve unparalleled merits. The County Governor gazed.

Manifested in the sky at this moment was a seven-streamered crown formed by destiny. Kong Xianglong's body trembled, bloodshot eyes appearing as he fiercely looked at the County Governor. Ning Yan recoiled, secretly glanced at the First Prince, and sighed to himself.

"After this, I will leave the Sword Holders, perhaps never to return. I will go to Saint Lan to guard the human race's borders!" Today was Xu Qing's first day in the county capital. Even if he possessed the Great Emperor's endorsement, it wouldn't cause such a commotion.

"Then I'm seventy this year." "Simple, I've thought it all through. We're almost at two years ourselves. Using some military merits can shorten the eight-year residency rule for newly promoted Sword Holders. Then, we'll choose external deployment, and I'll arrange for you to return to Yinghuang State."

At this moment, amidst the cheers from all directions, the First Prince on the altar raised his hand slightly. In an instant, hundreds of thousands on the square fell silent, and gradually, the entire county capital quieted down.

Although the Great Emperor's statue was not a domain treasure, it was an inherited artifact that had protected humanity multiple times. Every Human Emperor throughout history would pay homage to it. Another familiar Sword Holder, hidden in the crowd, watched Xu Qing. His expression showed appreciation and pride, but also helplessness, and a flash of golden light flickered in his eyes. Xu Qing murmured inwardly.

"Li Wuying, halt!" the County Governor spoke calmly. With such a foundation, Xu Qing's "Myriad-Depth Inquiry" truly became a focal point, an aura. "Under the blessing of destiny, within Fenghai County, this person can truly be considered supreme."

Xu Qing's chest rose and fell, his heart churning. He raised his head and gazed silently. It was precisely because of the "Myriad-Depth Inquiry of the Great Emperor" that Xu Qing's voice at this moment, as it echoed and spread, caused an extremely strong ripple in the minds of every cultivator who heard it.

"County Governor!" The First Prince looked down, towards below the altar. Xu Qing fell silent. He knew this was the crying of destiny, the cry of a little girl. His Senior Brother, being on the same Heavenly Dao rank as himself, would definitely be able to hear it. "Why aren't you going back?!"

The County Governor was gentle, his face full of compassion. As for Old Eight, because of his previous White Jade Hand incident, whether he could escape an investigation (by the county's full power) remained unknown.

"Seventy years old, huh?" Xu Qing also smiled. Ignorance was a sin. The First Prince looked. At this moment, the First Prince finished listing all the merits. Amidst waves of cheers, he smiled and nodded to the County Governor below.

"I manufactured Su Pills, benefiting the human race of the county capital, alleviating the suffering of tens of thousands from alien substance incursions. This is his tenth merit!" Killing someone who achieved the "Myriad-Depth Inquiry" would have too great an impact on one's reputation. Once this crown ring was worn, the County Governor would become the County Prefect, and under the blessing of destiny, the entire Sword Holder contingent would be under his influence.

The County Governor spoke calmly and loudly. All of it was merely superficial. The people of Fenghai County knew he was ordinary, but that wasn't really important. On the altar, among the commanders brought by the First Prince, the masked Blood Demon, who had previously been responsible for activating the immortal restrictions, slightly raised his head, a flicker of light in his eyes.

But after experiencing those events, Xu Qing already understood that public sentiment was the most elusive thing in heaven and earth, and the most difficult to influence. "This ceremony is about to begin."

At this moment, the crown ring descended from the sky, as if held by the Fenghai County Emperor, slowly anointing the County Governor. For the Sword Holders, Xu Qing was one of their own, especially for the Sword Holders themselves. They were comrades who had faced life and death together, entrusting their backs to each other!

The crown for the County Prefect was gradually becoming clear, drawing the attention of countless people. At this moment, Xu Qing's eyes shone brightly. His body seemed to emit light, and the power of destiny in the sky began to boil. Faintly, a trace of it even emerged from the formed seven-streamered crown ring, converging above Xu Qing's head!

As the thunder reverberated, suddenly, from within the crown ring formed by the converging destiny of the Sword Holders in the sky, a faint sound of a child crying echoed in Xu Qing's mind. "Yes!!"

From all the common people and cultivators in the county capital, threads of destiny began to rise. "I still have many things to do. I need to return to the Blood Child. My cultivation isn't enough; I need to survive. Everything else can wait until my cultivation is higher."

The First Prince narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on Xu Qing's head, his heart still turbulent. Then he looked at the over hundred thousand Sword Holders in the crowd above. He understood that if this matter wasn't handled well today, it would lead to great chaos. Following this, gasps of air, like raging winds, whistled in all directions.