Chapter 541: Old Places, Old Friends, Stories

Beyond Yinghuang Prefecture, on the black Forbidden Sea, waves surged. Dense alien matter transformed into a chilling aura, corroding all marine life. Even the scorching midday sun could not melt this alien substance.

Nor could the sun's light reach the mysterious depths of the sea.

It was precisely for this reason that countless legends about the Forbidden Sea arose over the years, with tales of divine beings emerging ceaselessly.

Only the great clans of the sea or high-level cultivators knew that while these divine beings were powerful, they were not truly invincible.

And the gods in this world were not limited to the one with the Residual Face; the most terrifying entities in the depths of the Forbidden Sea were not the divine beings, but the slumbering deities.

Gods could slumber on the sun and moon, reside within immortal forbidden palaces, or exist in ferocious, desolate places. Therefore, the Forbidden Sea, which encircled the Wanggu Continent, was naturally also a chosen place for divine slumber.

Especially since... the Forbidden Sea was immense.

The waters between Yinghuang Prefecture and Nanhuang Continent alone were vast, let alone beyond Nanhuang Continent.

In fact, even the waters around Nanhuang Continent were considered merely coastal areas when compared to the entire Forbidden Sea.

The Forbidden Sea's former name, the Endless Sea, already conveyed its immense scope.

All of this left Vajra Xu Qing a bit stunned. Feeling everything, a sense of joy followed his initial bewilderment. Although the process was disappointing and his future life or death uncertain, he had at least survived this ordeal today.

Moreover, seven life lamps manifested, empowering the flames.

There was a general store here.

Dayi remained silent this time. It wanted to speak but sensed Xu Qing's low spirits after entering the forbidden zone, so it obediently brushed against Ling'er's cheek.

The Nascent Soul gritted its teeth, recalling its instinctive reaction earlier. It indignantly raised its hand towards the oil paper in front of it, but as it touched it, its movements became incredibly gentle. It carefully took the oil paper package into its palm as if it were a treasure.

He now had eighteen Heavenly Palaces, seventeen of which had formed into Xu Qing and had endured a heavenly tribulation.

He had obtained his shadow here back then, so he wanted to bring the shadow back to this place, allowing it to absorb the alien matter from this forbidden zone to see if it could help the shadow break through.

This was the seventh time he had heard singing in the forbidden zone.

The shop was still there, but the owner was not the same as before.

“Is this young lady Ling’er brother’s childhood companion? He was very emotional earlier, but he immediately felt better after seeing this piece of candy.”

Ling'er paid no mind to these words. He took out two pots of wine, placed one in front of the tomb, and held the other high in his hand.

After all, the iron skewer was sufficient to support his cultivation. Even though it had been refined once, its quality was not significantly different compared to the fish bone.

As dusk faded and night fell, the surrounding mist grew denser, engulfing everything. Within the mist, Xu Qing's murmurs could be heard.

A white base with red patterns, within which a more potent killing aura circulated.

So, he waited silently here.

Xu Qing sat silently to the side, leaning against a large tree, looking at the tombstone.

Ling'er murmured in his heart, closing his eyes to cultivate.

As Vajra Xu Qing's heart grew more resentful, Ling'er's eyes flashed with decisiveness. He raised his left hand to form a hand seal, and a burst of flames immediately erupted, instantly enveloping the iron skewer.

That molten iron was actually the true form of Vajra Xu Qing.

Until today, footsteps were heard on that empty street.

So today, Ling'er had originally intended to unseal the other party, let them leave, and resolve a karmic link. As for secrets, he had other means of prevention.

Time passed. A day later, Dayi traversed the sea and finally arrived at Youlingzi. From afar, Ling'er saw the Blood Eye, where he had lived for many years.

Thus, he came here. With a caring heart, while slowly sifting through everything, he also held some anticipation, wondering if he would meet his childhood elder brother here.

A distant mountain peak, although taken to Yinghuang Prefecture back then, had long since been reshaped, everything as usual, except that the Blood Eye was no longer atop the summit.

“Sudden...”

“...ly... Master is good... Mistress is very good... You are powerful... Useful!”

The shadow trembled in fright, rapidly transmitting emotional fluctuations.

Though it couldn't be flexible, with Ling'er's assistance, it could fight enemies on its own, much better than before it had a tool spirit.

Vajra Xu Qing was startled.

In an instant, the white iron skewer flew out from Xu Qing's storage bag, hovering before Ling'er. As it trembled, the figure of Vajra Xu Qing appeared on it, bowing to Xu Qing.

“But I understand I cannot be a burden to you. I beg you, Master, please, for the sake of my diligent service these past few years, grant me a swift end.”

Vajra Xu Qing's screams grew more and more wretched, scaring the little shadow into constantly twisting and trembling, quickly trying to curry favor with Dayi, who witnessed it all.

After he left, a gust of wind swept through, stirring up the dry leaves on the ground and making the oil paper sway. It also landed on the Nascent Soul, disturbing its mind.

Ling'er's lips curved upwards. He said nothing more and walked into the distance.

That was the ability of Ding Yi Ba Qi Xu Qing.

That was his pursuit, and also his dream.

Its existence, when compared to the fish bone, was too disparate. Therefore, the best method was for it to become the artifact spirit of the Thorn of Misfortune. Only by being embedded in this manner could it indirectly control the Thorn of Misfortune.

Ling'er followed his gaze and looked at the general store.

Ling'er walked step by step towards Xu Qing, until he reached his side.

This sudden scene made him somewhat unable to accept it.

“If candy is so useful, then I'll buy some when I go back.”

The Nascent Soul looked straight ahead, not turning its head. It merely tightened its grip on the Evil Ghost Scythe slightly, then slowly loosened it, remaining silent.

Not my former residence, but this street that was once stained with blood.

Traveling with Ling'er were a thousand Sword Holders from the county capital, Daoist Sinan, and above them, Qingshan, soaring with outstretched wings in the higher sky.

One year later, they returned again.

Though he had tried his best, he ultimately could not keep up with Ling'er's pace.

There was a legend in this forbidden zone: if one heard the singing and did not die, they would receive a gift from the forbidden zone, and upon hearing the singing a second time, they would see the person they wished to see.

And it also had to ensure it wouldn't die in the future, nor be devoured...

Under these cackling sounds, even the birds in the sky dared not ascend to comfortable heights. They could only fly low, occasionally diving into the sea to snatch prey before swiftly returning.

Vajra Xu Qing's heart was now filled with extreme tension and anxiety. The feeling of impending disaster was overwhelmingly strong, and his voice trembled, his heart full of despair.

After a long while, Ling'er withdrew his gaze and looked at the fish bone thorn he held in his hand.

In an instant, under Vajra Xu Qing's wails, the iron skewer, which had merged from its two tribulation hosts, began to melt, gradually turning into molten iron.

A long while later, Ling'er sighed softly in the mist, kowtowed to the grave, then stood up and left the place, walking step by step deeper into the forbidden zone.

“Captain Lei, I miss you...”

The Evil Ghost Scythe watched all of this, speaking excitedly.

It seemed to form a world of its own, confronting the continent and facing the heavens.

As for Dayi, which possessed a spirit, it required personal control. As long as the power source was sufficient and permissions were granted, anyone could control it for a short time.

Xu Qing glanced at the mist, a cold glint in his eyes, but continued to walk forward. As Ling'er passed the ancient temple complex and entered the depths of the forbidden zone, the mist became incredibly dense, continuously spreading, and vaguely, he heard singing.

Meanwhile, Xu Qing, having left the Scavenger Camp, was walking within the forbidden zone towards Captain Lei's grave.

When leaving the Four Sect Alliance earlier, Old Man Yi had seen him off and mentioned that Seventh Senior Sister was in secluded cultivation for a breakthrough.

“This is a test for me, to bomb me. Yes, that's right, it's testing my loyalty. Too cunning.”

This time, the Nascent Soul didn't shout “shut up” but seemed to ponder...

“Then, on the last day, if Ling'er brother isn't troubled, I'll give it to him.”

After a long while, Ling'er took out an oil paper package and placed it on the ground in front of the Nascent Soul.

Ling'er stood on Dayi's deck, his gaze falling upon the sea. Watching a plesiosaur stir up massive waves, he recalled scenes from his very first time at sea.

“Master, I am ready. In all the stories I've read in my life, every protagonist's cultivation progresses by leaps and bounds daily. It's difficult for ordinary people to accompany such exceptional individuals throughout their lives.”

“But why, sometimes when I close my eyes, I still really want to eat a meal you cooked back then…”

Thus, Ling'er did not linger at Blood Eye. Dayi whistled as it departed, rapidly heading east towards Youlingzi.

This place was still so dirty and messy. Ling'er no longer recognized many of the scavengers outside.

As Dayi thought so, feeling it had learned useful knowledge, Xu Qing arrived at Captain Lei's grave.

“It's too difficult. I just want freedom, to live. Why is it so hard?”

Ling'er paused in his steps. He looked up, gazing into the distant mist. This... footsteps were heard.

“I'll give you a chance; bear with it,” Ling'er said in a low voice. He formed hand seals, and immediately seventeen Xu Qings simultaneously opened their eyes, all exhaling life flames.

Vajra Xu Qing's eyes widened upon hearing this, followed by a tremendous wave in its heart and violent trembling of its body. But in the next instant, it reacted sharply.

Vajra Xu Qing's words moved Dayi. It looked at Vajra Xu Qing and quietly spoke to Ling'er.

Dayi's arrival stirred the emotions of those within the Blood Eye. As countless people looked up and gazed into the distance, Xu Qing's attempt to transmit a message to Seventh Senior Sister failed.

Finally, at the moment the molten iron's temperature dropped and it solidified, it was completely embedded onto the fish bone.

“If there is a next life, I will surely follow my Master again, serving you tirelessly, and watching you ascend to the pinnacle of heaven and earth.”

“Brother Ling'er, that old man is a good person.”

And he was so excellent, so upright; unwilling to deny his inferiority, yet compelled to admit this fact.

In fact, these past few days, as I recalled the county capital's past, ever since the Ten Intestine Tree incident, I had actually been silently protected.

However, in this process, my happiness was far more intense than before. After all, this transformation was akin to a gradual rebirth, and the torment was hard to describe.

Simultaneously, Xu Qing mobilized divine essence within his body, his form emitting fluctuations, granting a blessing during the embedding process.

Vajra Xu Qing's heart felt fortunate and emotional. Just as it was about to speak, Xu Qing's eyes showed encouragement, and he spoke.

Ling'er looked down from high in the sky, gazing at everything. After a moment, he walked alone, stepping into the Scavenger Camp, which felt both familiar and strange.

If only he could soften his heart for a moment, and impulsively release me, then it would be absolutely perfect.

“Master, I...”

Occasionally, I feel that if I don't work hard, Ling'er will surely kill me. This thought stems from my deeply ingrained personality, so every time Ling'er's cultivation advances, I am actually greatly alarmed.

Ling'er gave Vajra Xu Qing a meaningful glance.

As the shadow spread, the mist in this place suddenly grew denser and emitted waves of greed, as if, deep within the mist, benevolent gazes were fixed upon Xu Qing and the shadow.

And today, the appearance of that fish thorn made him realize that what was bound to come had finally arrived.

The shadow was truly scared. It had witnessed the eruption of the purple crystal and seen how even the god's finger couldn't escape, so it had long been in despair, only wishing to live properly.

He understood that he knew too many secrets. If he were Xu Qing, he too would harbor killing intent, so he tried hard to move Ling'er, hoping Ling'er would consider his past efforts and dismiss the thought of killing him.

Thus, in his current tension, he expressed everything he could.

After he saw Ling'er's Xu Qing at the county capital's altar, a massive, unprecedented wave of emotion surged in his heart.

A year ago, they met among the scavengers, both having narrowly survived the awakening of the god's residual face.

In this way, perhaps one day, Vajra Xu Qing might transform and become a divine artifact spirit.

Ling'er's voice carried a hint of recollection. After speaking, he turned and walked away. After taking more than ten steps, Ling'er paused, not looking back, and spoke in a solemn tone.

I met him.

“Captain Lei, a few days ago, I accomplished something big…”

As the singing drifted, the surroundings grew cold and eerie, with chilling air coming from all directions.

However, in his heart, he murmured softly.

And so, time passed. Vajra Xu Qing's wails grew increasingly faint until they were almost inaudible, and the iron skewer completely melted into molten red iron.

“Master, I do not want freedom. I only wish to follow by your side, because compared to freedom, I long for relaxation more.”

Ling'er murmured. He could not forget a single bit of the first person who brought him a sense of home and coolness after Wushuang City disappeared, when he wandered the world and tasted all kinds of hardship.

“Ancestor Zong, I originally intended to give you freedom, but since you wish to follow eternally, I will help you this once.”

I did not eat it. As I gazed at it, a smile appeared on the corner of my mask.

I felt my words had an effect. This malevolent star in front of me was finally moved by me, and the contemplation in its eyes was proof that the other party was weighing my contributions and efforts against death.

So Ling'er no longer looked at the shadow. He sat down cross-legged and meditated properly.

It wasn't that I didn't try hard; it was simply that the other party progressed too quickly.

It was Xu Qing.

For the former Xu Qing, Youlingzi was vast, so large that he needed to use teleportation to go anywhere. But after experiencing so much, looking at Youlingzi again, Xu Qing finally understood why Old Man Yi had said Youlingzi was merely an island.

Ling'er spoke softly.

The Evil Ghost Scythe was extremely excited, its body trembling, and its eyes glowed with a crimson light.

Compared to the Wanggu Continent, Youlingzi was indeed just an island.

The tombstone was as it always was.

Under the sunlight, the white thorn seemed to have become a white hole, absorbing light while simultaneously emitting even more astonishing fluctuations from within.

At Dayi's speed, it took only half a day for Ling'er to reach the former Scavenger Camp.

Now, gazing at the Thorn of Misfortune, Ling'er's eyes showed contemplation. After a while, he suddenly spoke.

At this moment, beyond Yinghuang Prefecture, waves rolled in succession, and beneath the horizon, a black Dayi soared forward.

Vajra Xu Qing's face was full of sorrow. Even at that moment, the gaze he directed at Ling'er still held loyalty, as he believed this was his only chance for self-preservation...

“Like this... we used to have the chance to perish together with Void Return cultivators, and even... it wouldn't be impossible to perish together with gods!”

“Master, since following you, my Zong Ancestor has already understood a truth: relaxation is more important than freedom!”

“I can roughly guess the turmoil in his heart, but I want to tell you, I ate this piece of candy back then, and it dispelled the sadness in my heart. As for this piece, I bought it for you from Blood Eye.”

The fish bone's appearance changed greatly.

He spoke of the county capital, of the Sword Holders, of the war, and of the Palace Lord.

It was precisely because of this that plesiosaurs were attracted, their figures emerging by instantly breaking the surface of the water, biting airborne birds, and crashing back into the sea amidst roars, creating even larger waves.

Wherever it passed, trees began to sway, gradually transforming into coffin-like shapes, covered in eyes.

I couldn't believe the source of my efforts to become strong—the person I had longed to find in Youlingzi, had actually been by my side all these past two years.

And the shadow also showed fluctuations after Ling'er entered the forbidden zone.

It was precisely because of the Nascent Soul's presence that the street was very quiet; all the shop owners trembled in fear, not daring to speak.

And constantly influenced by the divine fish thorn, Vajra Xu Qing's state would gradually change.

Gently opened, revealing

a glistening piece of rock sugar inside.

“Ah!”

What followed were waves of strange, oppressive sounds, as if countless entities were whispering, drifting through this noisy forbidden zone, within the mist.

Perhaps even he himself did not know what he was waiting for.

“Master!”

This was Seventh Grandfather's Dayi, permitted for use in Fenghai County.

There was more wild grass here.

At this moment, it was already dusk. The somewhat sparse mist around was gradually growing denser.

Xu Qing's eyes held deep meaning. He did not explain, but after offering a few words of encouragement, he put away the fish bone, then lowered his head to look at the shadow at his feet.

He didn't feel the other party's loyalty, but he saw Vajra Xu Qing's actual actions over the years, which had assisted him greatly.

Around it, there were still a few scavenger corpses that no one dared to collect. Evidently, these weren't individuals who had 'opened their eyes' to provoke trouble, as not everyone in this world possessed abnormal thoughts.

“Fan Jin Fen.”

“Cute!”

While Vajra Xu Qing felt relieved, it also secretly sighed in relief.

However, Vajra Xu Qing's words made Xu Qing reconsider. He withdrew what he was about to say, his eyes showing contemplation. He believed he might be able to give the other party a chance.

His robes covered his thin body, obscuring his face. Only a massive Evil Ghost Scythe could be seen, carried on his shoulder.

Vaguely, he seemed to see the busy figure of a dirty little girl with a scarred face in the shop.

“Good thing I'm quick-witted, otherwise I would have been doomed today!”

For those scavengers who walked the line between life and death, unless they were extremely lucky, a few years often constituted an entire lifetime.

“Almost there.”

Only the Heavenly Palace formed from the Nether Spirit Bloodwing Lamp, acquired last, had not yet manifested Xu Qing's form. However, with the assistance of the other Xu Qings, a siphon effect was created, causing the Xu Qing of that seventh lamp to rapidly take shape.

And he had clearly been here for some time, perhaps to investigate some clues, or perhaps because he couldn't believe what he had seen in the county capital.

A year had passed.

At this moment, across from the shop, under the eaves, sat a person in white robes.

“Also, remember to report back to the Script Command Office.”

“Ah Qiu, you must seize this opportunity. This is a divine chance granted by the Heavenly Dao. From now on, you must obediently listen to Lord Xu Qing. Do whatever he tells you; never refuse.”

Just like that time the other party stood before him, replacing the bamboo slips, to protect him.

Ling'er walked past silently, his goal very clear.

The grievances from back then could also be resolved.

“Senior Brother said I've grown up. Yes, seven years... Captain Lei used to tell me that time can clear everything, so I've waited this long, but I don't want to wait anymore.”

And Vajra Xu Qing, as an artifact spirit, also indirectly half-melted onto the fish bone through that method.

Ling'er formed a hand seal and pointed, and immediately the molten red iron transformed into threads, heading straight for the fish bone. They did not merge into it but flowed along the fish bone's patterns.

“Once, someone here gave me a piece of candy. He told me that when I was sad, if I ate it, I would feel much happier.”

Walking within, Ling'er passed by scavengers and various earth-and-wood structures. The fluctuations from his body naturally concealed themselves, making him forgotten by ordinary eyes upon sight.

Ling'er spoke with a smile, drinking wine as he talked.

And as Ling'er delved deeper, the fluctuations became clearer, emanating desire while also spreading outwards from beneath Ling'er's feet.

But now, this person I wanted to protect

simply didn't need me to do anything.

Thinking of this, Vajra Xu Qing spoke loudly.

Compared to when he left, this place had changed immensely. It was still prosperous, yet still quiet. As people came and went, many boats of the First Peak disciples could be seen entering and exiting the port.

Ling'er remained silent, and the Nascent Soul was also quiet, only its shoulders began to tremble.

Ling'er pondered. He had an idea in his heart that might accelerate the shadow's breakthrough. He couldn't have done it before, but now he was confident.

“This further proves that you, Master, are an existence like a protagonist in a story.”

This left me somewhat bewildered, and endless sorrow arose in my heart, because all my past efforts and arduous cultivation were for the sake of one day protecting this figure who was so important in my life.

Outside the deck, many Sword Holders had solemn expressions after sensing it. Only Xu Qing, due to his physical body, felt a sense of suppression when holding it, but more than that, a sense of shared origin.

Ling'er lowered his head, drinking wine, sip after sip.

“Heavens, if we can perish together with a god in this life, that would be our supreme glory!!”

For cultivators, being affected and forgotten would be more difficult, but in the Scavenger Camp, the ability to cause forgetfulness conveniently erased everything.