Chapter 534: White Xiao Zhuo, Final Act

Although the divine thought originated from the imperial palace Xu Qing had visited, in reality, at this very moment, the giant eyes of all imperial palaces throughout the Ancient Spirit Realm subtly twitched.

Ever since his clan was wiped out by the backlash of the Vast Ancient Continent's destiny, and he, along with his people, were still cursed even after hiding here, the Ancient Spirit Emperor, who constantly sought to revive, had never felt as utterly stifled as he did last time. Given his regal status and past glory, the mere utterance of "get lost immediately" had caused immense emotional turmoil. After all, in his eyes, Xu Qing was nothing more than an ant. Yet, this ant had dared to threaten him using the Red Mother's mark, not only taking sacrificial souls but also extorting a strand of ancient spirit destiny. Such insubordination and disrespect had taken him several months to recover from after Xu Qing's departure.

But now, the audacity! The opponent dared to return!

Even though the Ancient Spirit Emperor was no longer at his peak, his recovery after falling had diminished much of his cognitive ability, making his schemes less profound and his thinking much simpler due to its slowness. Yet, his pride remained, and his status was still that of the ancient emperor who once unified Vast Ancient. Even Profound Nether was considered his junior before the gods.

Therefore, his first reaction to the familiar aura was an eruption of fury. As his divine thought surged, the Ancient Spirit Realm's land rumbled, and the sky shifted. The entire Ancient Spirit Realm trembled.

Meanwhile, the remnant face of the Commandery Governor continued to crack and shed more and more pieces, until it split into seventy-seven fragments, all rising into the sky. Heaven and earth stood in confrontation.

At this moment, the eighty-eight swords shimmered with golden light, transforming into golden threads that connected them all. She was truly terrified.

Within the Mo River, Zi Qing was protected but also involuntarily drawn by the suction towards the deeper parts of the river where chewing sounds emanated. Now, as the Mo River paused, his body also halted.

The Commandery Governor then turned and gave Zi Qing a profound look, his expression shifting from bitter to resigned. The two figures appearing in the vortex had not yet fully matured when they suddenly trembled, clearly affected by the divine authority. The sky trembled, and figures descended upon the earth one after another. Upon their arrival, the eyes of the Sealed Sea Commandery were not only shocked by the Commandery Governor, but also by him.

He then stood up, and without needing the Mo River to carry him, walked towards the great maw of heaven and earth himself, like a martyr, his expression utterly serene.

Amidst the overwhelming hostility of Peng Yuanyao, a massive vortex appeared on the flesh-and-blood mountain of the imperial palace that Zi Qing had once visited. As the power of time flowed, the river's suction paused, and he seized the opportunity to escape again. The Commandery Governor was both shocked and enraged, sparing no cost. Even his remnant face cracked, unleashing endless golden light to accelerate his escape. Peng Yuanyao suddenly looked up, causing the Commandery Governor's body to tremble. One figure was eighty feet tall, the other small like a common person but holding the giant's finger. The two appeared intimately entwined, hand-in-hand, as they vaguely formed within the vortex!

The Commandery Governor fell silent. The Ancient Spirit Realm was silent, a sense of unease rising within it. After speaking, the Ancient Spirit Realm looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with reluctance and reminiscence. Because the Emperor had already told them: these were all food! It was as if, at that moment, what appeared was not the Commandery Governor, but Bai Xiaozhuo, the Governor of the former Xu Qing Kingdom, the true form of the Ancient Spirit Realm.

Within the formation, eighty-eight great swords roared, and time seemed to return to a ten-thousand-mile radius. The river stagnated, and a figure reformed from the void where the Commandery Governor had previously dissipated. Within the vortex, a deafening roar echoed, and two figures emerged. This divine thought contained divine might and an undeniable dominance. The Mo River instantly returned to normal, and as its suction resumed, the Commandery Governor's remnant face could not bear it, emitting cracking sounds as a fissure appeared.

"Zi Qing, Peng Yuanyao is yours. Treat it well."

The Commandery Governor remained silent. He looked up at the unchanging sky, feeling the victory of his summoning, but also a piercing pain. Almost the instant the Commandery Governor's remnant face tried to escape, Peng Yuanyao, with his body largely collapsed, a bloody mess, and immense pain flooding his mind like a tide, bowed respectfully towards the Sealed Sea Commandery.

"My realm, countless years."

The sound of swallowing saliva, imbued with a horrifying, scalp-tingling dread, filled the surroundings. Just then, a purple lightning bolt suddenly streaked across the sky with a thunderous roar, shaking heaven and earth and echoing through the clouds. Its immense length traversed more than half of the Ancient Spirit Realm's sky. With that, the Ancient Spirit Realm took a step forward and was engulfed by the great maw. It was identical to the landscape that was meant to form when the outside world was changed. Soon, they all simultaneously looked at Peng Yuanyao.

As for the exit created by the Commandery Governor, it instantly collapsed under the gaze of the Sealed Sea Commandery, replaced by the encroaching Mo River, which enveloped the Commandery Governor within its waters, causing the giant serpent to shudder. Simultaneously, golden light surged from the Commandery Governor, transforming into sharp spikes that plunged into the vortex, attempting to reverse its flow, blast open an exit, and rush out slowly.

The Sealed Sea Commandery paid no attention either; he merely watched the Commandery Governor, the sound of his swallowing vaguely echoing all around. Thus, at this moment, the Commandery Governor's mind was violently shaken. Without hesitation, he fiercely tried to advance, his entire body shimmering with golden light, hoping to reverse the teleportation and escape this terrifying place.

"Since he doesn't want you to leave and insists on devouring you, you can only use the methods intended for the outside world here."

"He has already obtained it." The purple lightning flashed across the sky. The sky seemed to be torn apart, splitting into seven. He was no longer a remnant face, but had recovered his human form. Instantly, the eighty-eight great swords around him dimmed, swallowed by the endless Mo River, and his figure was likewise engulfed, swept towards the depths.

He had initially thought that after an incense stick's time, he would thoroughly plunder that body. Therefore, after realizing the Commandery Governor's remnant face was difficult to deal with from the outside, he didn't use his full strength, intending to conserve it and wait for Zi Qing's death to parasitize and escape.

"Senior, I want your time."

Even if the Ancient Spirit Realm's words contained meaning similar to his past actions, Zi Qing hadn't been moved in the slightest. After bringing the other party here and stating his intentions, Peng Yuanyao understood that everything was no longer under his control. The purple lightning under the sky grew brighter, and after a long time, a booming voice echoed throughout this realm.

Because he had failed, he felt ashamed before his Lord, had no face to meet him, and couldn't utter words of rescue. Furthermore, he didn't want his Lord to confront the Sealed Sea Commandery on his behalf. Vaguely, he seemed to see countless of his people wailing, shattering. But he never expected Zi Qing to bring him here.

Peng Yuanyao, at that moment, seemed to come alive. Zi Qing was also affected by the golden light; his collapsing body further crumbled, and the divine finger within wailed, trying desperately to repair the body. The giant serpent collapsed, and Peng Yuanyao on its head shattered. But how could Zi Qing let him have his way!

The Sealed Sea Commandery was too hungry.

"If you survive today and aren't devoured, you must, the instant you get out, stake everything to seize his body. He absolutely cannot be allowed to run wild any longer!" Unafraid of life or death, they rushed directly into the sea of light. No matter how the Commandery Governor erupted or tried to extinguish them, it was futile; the number of evil spirits was too great. And now, another aura arrived.

"Sealed Sea Commandery, you shall open the Gate of Ill-Omened Dawn, connecting Ill-Omened Dawn with your Peng Yuanyao. All consequences, all cataclysms, though not by your will, shall be bestowed by this child." This golden sword seemed to pierce through the sky, directly breaking the firmament and rushing towards the earth with a roar. After his attention had been on Zi Qing, he now gazed at the Commandery Governor. A heartbeat like thunder suddenly emanated from the entire land of the Ancient Spirit Realm. Whether it was the earth or the sky, all living beings and myriad things were their targets for consumption.

Meanwhile, the Commandery Governor within the Mo River respectfully kowtowed. Zi Qing was expressionless, his gaze intense and silent. More great maws of heaven and earth appeared all around, and more rivers of the underworld swept towards heaven and earth. The current feeling was as if a forbidden immortal deity had encountered the Red Mother. In the sky, all souls raised their heads, sensing the Emperor's rage. They all roared, forming a terrifying wave of sound that shook the heavens.

The one on the left had a blurred body, as if erased and greatly dissipated, revealing a remnant face. He staked everything, and as the light spread, a tattooed totem vaguely appeared beneath his remnant face. As his words spread, within the Ancient Spirit Realm, above Peng Yuanyao's sky, the seventh layer of firmament, barely blocked by a golden net, suddenly began to shake. He also didn't try to seek help from Prince Xu Qing in his own way. The giant serpent suddenly opened its eyes, which held a divine yet utterly pale light. Its body abruptly turned at that instant, exuding terrifying pressure, and it crashed fiercely into the vortex, carrying the Ancient Spirit Emperor on its head.

"A former minister of the Xu Qing Kingdom, I pay my respects to the Sealed Sea Commandery."

"Interest."

The remnant face in the sky did not speak further; its profound gaze lingered on Zi Qing for several breaths before finally dissipating beneath the firmament. And he looked much younger, his attire different from the present. As for how it was resolved, Zi Qing didn't know much, but it was certainly related to concealment. All his calculations, all his preparations, were now useless. Watching all this, the Commandery Governor's expression was bitter.

"Insignificant Sealed Sea Commandery, your junior has brought you food. This is the first installment of interest for borrowing your Ancient Spirit destiny. After you digest it, I will bring you the seventh installment of interest!" This totem had always been there, but no one outside could see it. Now, under Peng Yuanyao's suppression, it was revealed. This was the core location where the Commandery Governor initiated the return of the ancient era. All eyes of the Sealed Sea Commandery simultaneously heated up.

The Commandery Governor sighed as he watched everything unfold. So Zi Qing bowed his head, closed his eyes, and paid no heed. Zi Qing was silent. This face, he knew so well. He never imagined that Zi Qing's trump card would be Peng Yuanyao! The tattoo was a painting, depicting the ancient Bai Xiaozhuo. It formed an unparalleled formation. It was blessed to suppress the Mo River. Together, like bursting bubbles, they vanished into nothingness. At this moment, the eighty-eight golden greatswords around them ended their brilliant glow, and the suppressed Mo River surged once more, its devouring power erupting again. At this moment, there, it unfolded.

Within it, great rivers collapsed, mountains crumbled, and as roaring sounds echoed, endless ancient spirit evil spirits, filled with greed and madness, surged forth. He couldn't help but be moved and horrified, because he saw the giant eyes and felt the earth-shattering status emanating from the other party. The two sides instantly met; there was no roar, no fluctuation. Zi Qing looked at the Commandery Governor and nodded. The river's waves surged, showing signs of being overwhelmed by the broken river, and a sense of dryness materialized, as the river water visibly diminished.

When the other party deployed that method, Zi Qing had already largely anticipated it. He didn't doubt that Peng Yuanyao, after experiencing his threat, would not fix that vulnerability. The vortex roared majestically, precisely the seventh layer of firmament that had disappeared outside, appearing like a painting. Furthermore, divine authority from Peng Yuanyao also erupted within that gaze. They all ascended into the sky, the sound of the firmament shattering continued, like thunder cracking. The seventh ten-thousand-foot golden sword fell from the sky, piercing into the earth, followed by the eighth, and then all others descended. The one on the right, its divine body was largely collapsed. Evil spirits, skeletons, and banners, tens of times more numerous than before, all appeared at that instant. Hundred-foot, thousand-foot, and even ten-thousand-foot colossal figures, exuding terrifying auras, also crawled out from deep underground, roaring towards the sky. On the ground, all skeletons exuded extreme ferocity, raising their bone blades.

The giant eyes of the Sealed Sea Commandery paused, then widened abruptly, shifting their gaze from Zi Qing to focus on the fleeing Commandery Governor's remnant face. That was his food; no one could take it away! Minor injuries became severe, severe injuries became death! The river trembled, as if it was transformed from Peng Yuanyao's saliva. At this moment, it suddenly swelled several times its size, surging outwards in all directions, then rapidly disappearing over a large area.

A cold gleam appeared in Zi Qing's eyes as he stared at the sky, murderous intent rising in his gaze. The divine finger within his body trembled uncontrollably.

"He used a similar method before." Zi Qing was not surprised. The Ancient Spirit Realm pointed at Zi Qing on the ground. Devoured by the Sealed Sea Commandery. Just then, a vast divine thought echoed within the Ancient Spirit Realm.

Countless roars emanated from within the seventh layer of firmament, and a large number of souls rushed out. With no interference from the aura of the Vast Ancient Continent here, these departed souls of the Xu Qing Kingdom successfully descended, heading straight for the giant serpent. In the depths of the river was a great maw of heaven and earth, from which endless saliva flowed, drawing ever closer. As those words were uttered, all the eyes of the Sealed Sea Commandery rippled, and the divine finger within Zi Qing's body trembled to its extreme, not even daring to wail.

All this happened in mere moments. Soon, heaven and earth lost their color; eighty-eight great swords formed a ring, covering a ten-thousand-mile radius, with the very center being the place where the Commandery Governor's remnant face had collapsed. Immediately after, in the depths of the Spirit Abyss, beneath the colossal remnant serpent corpse that Peng Yuanyao had once seen in the void, which carried the Ancient Spirit Emperor on its head, a massive vortex suddenly appeared. Even after all his previous deceptions were exposed, it had not reached this level. Exuding an ancient aura. In Peng Yuanyao's giant eyes, only a faint, eerie glow flickered, unperturbed. Mountains collapsed, leaving only a golden ten-thousand-foot sword standing tall, drawing all attention.

The ground churned, as if an even larger entity residing within was stirring, communicating with the lightning in the sky through its actions, gaze, and roars. After several breaths, he appeared to have aged considerably. He lowered his head, looked at Zi Qing, and sighed heavily. Even when pointed at by Peng Yuanyao at this moment, he still didn't look up, remaining in that state. On the ground, the river completely churned. Saliva seemed to have secreted too much to be fully swallowed, causing the Mo River to widen, grow, and surge tumultuously towards the vortex. In an instant, the seventh layer of firmament was gone. At the end of the Mo River, a swallowing sound echoed, terrifying and filled with greed, excitement, and longing. It transformed into a suction force, ready to devour the delicious Commandery Governor.

This was precisely where he had sent Ling'er away, and also where the Sealed Sea Commandery's giant eyes had opened. All the giant eyes beneath the imperial palaces within the Ancient Spirit Realm instantly opened simultaneously, looking towards the sky. His life was difficult to describe; views from different perspectives were far from similar. Whether loyal, evil, or treacherous, words could hardly convey it. It landed beneath a mountain peak on the ground of the Ancient Spirit Realm. The moment he approached, he didn't look back, but a voice emanated. He spoke softly, not attempting to summon the divine remnant face. He knew it was meaningless; the other party would not open their eyes for him. The transaction had already been completed the moment he awoke. A piece of his remnant face, irregularly shaped, fragmented from that sigh. After detaching, it transformed into a golden light, streaking directly towards the dim sky.

"You've grown up." The ancient Bai Xiaozhuo appeared from within the golden light at that moment, seemingly about to descend upon the Ancient Spirit Realm, thereby blocking Peng Yuanyao's mouth and providing an opportunity for the Commandery Governor to escape. However, the Commandery Governor's current state was a delicacy even for the Red Mother, let alone for the Sealed Sea Commandery, who had been starving for an unknown number of ages and normally could only absorb a few stray souls from his clansmen.

"Your body, I don't want it! I want to get away from you!" Yet, from beginning to end, he maintained a bowing and worshipping posture. There was no resistance, only utmost respect. After sensing his surroundings, the remnant face's expression changed dramatically, contorting to an unprecedented degree. Such a profound display of emotion was the first to appear on the Commandery Governor's remnant face from beginning to end. It ceased to exist.

He stood between heaven and earth, among the eighty-eight swords, gazing at the land and at the giant eyes of the Sealed Sea Commandery that had always fixated on him. His expression was somewhat desolate, and he bowed towards the giant eyes. Though not like the Red Mother, it surpassed forbidden immortal deities; one could even say that the giant eyes before him had already become a great deity.

As the chewing sounds emanated, Bai Xiaozhuo, the Governor of the Xu Qing Kingdom, was utterly annihilated, body and soul. The two white jade hands he had conjured collapsed, shattering into countless fragments that fell into the Mo River, as if devoured. In an instant, the golden light pierced the air. Before it vanished into the sky, heaven and earth shook, a loud cracking sound echoed, and a golden light shimmered at the horizon. A sword tip appeared in the sky. At the height of the grand spectacle, Bai Xiaozhuo from the Xu Qing Kingdom era appeared like a mirage. The Commandery Governor's body was about to be devoured. And he had already guessed the other party's identity through this place.

"Prince, Xiaozhuo cannot lead anymore. I hope you... are safe."

With trembling fingers, the Commandery Governor's expression was first agitated, then ashamed. He knelt towards the sky, shouting, "My Lord!"

And at this moment, within the Ancient Spirit Realm, beneath the ten-thousand-mile area formed by the eighty-eight golden greatswords, nothing appeared in the sky. He had done his best. Soon, a satisfied sigh resonated throughout the Ancient Spirit Realm.

"By your karma, lead the Ill-Omened Dawn. Your people... return!"

The river churned, its suction growing stronger. One small, one large, one right, one left. But no matter what, he had to try. So, he raised his hands towards the sky, and chanting sounds emanated from his mouth. The divine finger trembled uncontrollably. The Heavenly Dao cycle seemed to complete a full rotation at this moment. Seeing himself about to be pulled into the river's depths by the suction, the Commandery Governor's remnant face flashed with light, and two colossal white jade hands appeared, tearing fiercely in all directions. The Sealed Sea Commandery's giant eyes were as usual, but a faint, eerie glow flickered deep within them. As the ancient mountain ranges on the ground further collapsed, amid the shock and terror of Bai Xiaozhuo's awakening beings, the firmament suddenly vanished, and the evil spirits that had rushed out from within largely returned.

"Is this thing inside his body the seventh installment of interest he prepared for you?" The Commandery Governor sighed deeply in his heart and closed his eyes. This was beyond his expectation and perception; Peng Yuanyao's concealment was simply too profound. Had it not been for Ling'er's matter, Zi Qing would not have known.

"He brought help."

The next moment, the ancient Bai Xiaozhuo within the sea of light could not maintain clarity and began to blur. They surged in like mad, submerging the sea of light and pouring into the collapsing image of ancient Bai Xiaozhuo, just as Bai Xiaozhuo had encountered previously outside. Collapsing alongside it were the seventh layer of firmament's vortex and the countless departed souls of Xu Qing that had emanated from within, as well as parts of the Ill-Omened Dawn realm within the vortex. Intense light emanated from his giant eyes, changing the very color of heaven and earth. He had carved it with their blood just before he died, after slaughtering all his subjects! After rushing in, these ancient spirit evil spirits began to devour. The purple lightning instantly converged, finally forming a face similar to the divine remnant face beneath the sky, gazing at the land, and at Peng Yuanyao. It now manifested, reflected within the sea of light. Perhaps the taste was too exquisite, or perhaps it had been too long since such food had been eaten, but all the giant eyes of the Sealed Sea Commandery in this realm comfortably narrowed. But just as they descended...

"No!" The divine thought of the Sealed Sea Commandery, imbued with dominance, boomed across heaven and earth. There were eighty-eight pieces in total, forming eighty-eight swords. The Commandery Governor's expression also led Zi Qing to guess that, besides hiding the true Ancient Spirit Emperor, the Sealed Sea Commandery had also set up counterattack methods. A profound divine thought spread in all directions, carrying a command-like decree, descending towards the sea of light. Seeing this, a sharp whistle escaped the Commandery Governor's mouth. Even though his remnant face cracked again, he still fully activated the golden light to spread outwards.

"Brother, he really has grown up."

That was not merely the power of time; it was the return of the ancient era, formed by the Commandery Governor leveraging a series of plans, drawing a segment of time from the River of Years, combining it with the external Bai Xiaozhuo, and activating the totem beneath his face. Only silent destruction.

"This place, all is food."

And the source of all these variables... was Peng Yuanyao. Peng Yuanyao's hungry gaze and the sound of his swallowing terrified the divine finger, which recalled its main body's tragic death and was now in utter panic. The Sealed Sea Commandery was immensely shocked and enraged. His giant eyes snapped open, and their golden gaze illuminated the entire heaven and earth.

"Fortunately, I helped retrieve the Lord's skull, and that Crown Prince, who dislikes weighing pros and cons, did not attack me then. Seeing all my arrangements now, he wouldn't dare to easily break the agreement either."

Thump-thump, thump-thump!

The surroundings distorted, blurring entirely, and a unique foreign substance permeated, causing all external forces to be decomposed and suppressed there.

"Still not leaving!"

Soon, the Commandery Governor's remnant face shed its seventh piece, then its eighth, and then its ninth... The Mo River churned, and colossal figures rose from within. Clouds in the sky rolled like a sea, revealing white banners unfurling. A vast army emerged from the void.

"Sealed Sea Commandery!"

His divine authority caused opponents' injuries to worsen tenfold upon impact! A storm swept across the land, and countless evil spirits roared. The Sealed Sea Commandery did not hinder them.