Chapter 713: Please Pay the Meal Fee, Your Majesty

At the moment this terrifying aura erupted, the entire restricted zone's land trembled, and all the strange beings born within it knelt down in fear, worshipping towards the Flesh Mountain.

In the sky, clouds and mist appeared out of nowhere, rapidly churning and transforming into a roaring vortex!

At this same moment, the restricted zone itself churned up a storm, connecting with the sky's vortex—a truly shocking sight!

And Xu Qing, the source of all this, was now in the heart of the storm, beneath the vortex, his body bent and trembling violently, a non-human roar tearing from his chest!

Indescribable agony, like the heavens collapsing and earth shattering, swept through his body and soul, tearing apart his divine body and releasing dark, poisonous mist.

This mist grew denser and more abundant, eventually completely covering Xu Qing's first divine form, and even forming a taller figure!

Gradually, this figure slowly straightened up. He looked up at Old Ninth on the Flesh Mountain. At this moment, his aura was astonishing, and his complete body was revealed: no skin was visible anywhere, his entire body was shrouded in black armor, even his head.

A faint light burned where his eyes should be, and an exceptionally clear sense of indifference emanated from him.

Overall, the first impression this figure gave was one of ancientness and darkness. Wisps of black mist slowly rose from the armor, gathering behind him like a black cloak that could obscure the sky and sun!

As the cloak swayed, decay and virulent poison spread across the heavens and earth!

All life would wither and perish in its presence, giving off an extreme, demonic sense of dread.

Of the divine repositories behind him, only the Purple Moon remained at this moment. Old Ninth was moved.

Xu Qing's second divine layer, which he had merely acknowledged with a nod before, now caused a ripple of awe within him!

"I seem to have... seen this before!"

Old Ninth murmured inwardly, bowing slightly as he gazed at Xu Qing. His primary focus was observing Xu Qing's soul fluctuations. Then, in a strange, low tone, he spoke.

"Tell me your true name!"

This sentence seemed to contain a mysterious power, echoing through heaven and earth, stirring ripples.

Old Ninth was verifying whether the person before him was still Xu Qing.

Xu Qing stood there, gazing back at Old Ninth for a long moment. The faint fires in his eyes flickered, and a hoarse voice emerged from his mouth.

"Xu Qing!"

Hearing this, Old Ninth nodded.

"How do you feel now?"

Xu Qing remained silent, carefully perceiving his current state. It was a state of no desires, complete indifference, and absolute rationality.

This reminded him of his past encounter with a god, so he spoke faintly.

"Very good!"

Old Ninth pondered, then raised his right hand and pointed again at Xu Qing, a low voice emerging: "Would you like to experience your third divine layer?"

Hearing this, Xu Qing waved his hand, and a piece of Scarlet Mother flesh of the same size appeared in his hand.

"I'll try!" he said. Without any hesitation, he sent this piece of flesh into the Purple Moon Divine Repository behind him. The moment it entered, the Purple Moon Divine Repository emitted an earth-shattering roar, like countless bolts of thunder exploding and shaking the very heavens and earth!

Immediately after, the Purple Moon Divine Repository burst open, and the divine source within it rapidly integrated into Xu Qing's body. During this process, Xu Qing's body experienced tearing again.

Yet he stood there motionless. It wasn't that he couldn't feel the pain, but that everything was suppressed by his absolute rationality.

More visible changes appeared in his body. First, the long hair beneath his armor rapidly grew and changed, eventually falling to the ground and spreading in all directions!

Its color had already turned deep purple. Even more astonishingly, his back was tearing, as if feathers were emerging, and another Purple Moon also seemed to be about to rise with them!

This was more terrifying than the second divine form, and an astonishing aura erupted from Xu Qing at this moment.

Purple lightning appeared in the sky, streaking across, giving off a strong sense of taboo.

Heaven and earth changed color because of it. Old Ninth's body even stood up from the Flesh Mountain, staring at Xu Qing with intense fluctuations in his eyes!

"He's undergoing flesh ascendance," Old Ninth murmured, his heart churning with ripples. Xu Qing's body suddenly jolted, and traces of disintegration appeared on his form, with even some flesh turning into scattered dust.

The third divine layer had not yet fully manifested, but he had already reached his limit!

His soul and body could not bear it; continuing would lead to complete annihilation!

Xu Qing remained calm, as if he were not himself, then exhaled a puff of purple gas.

As this breath was exhaled, it was as if time flowed backward. His long hair rapidly retracted, the Purple Moon behind him descended, and his aura sharply diminished.

The next instant, he reverted to his first divine form, dispersing all the divine source that had integrated into his body during the process, and it reformed into the Purple Moon Divine Repository behind him.

The third divine layer failed to manifest. With Xu Qing's current foundation, even with the Scarlet Mother flesh, it was still very difficult to successfully form the third layer.

At the same time, his second divine layer also reached its limit. His armor melted into a poison restriction divine source, and all the poison restriction power within his body was discharged and gathered behind him, reforming the Poison Restriction Divine Repository!

Only the first divine layer remained intact.

And along with these changes, Xu Qing's mind once again gave rise to human emotions. His breathing became rapid, and his heart fluctuated greatly. He clasped his hands and bowed towards Old Ninth, who was gazing at him.

"Thank you, Grandpa Ninth!" Xu Qing said solemnly.

Although he didn't fully manifest the third divine layer with Old Ninth's assistance, this process was extremely precious to Xu Qing!

Not only did it help him find a way to utilize the divine repositories, but it also helped him to experience the mindset of the divine state in advance.

For Xu Qing, this would allow him to be more composed and fully understand the process the next time he activated a divine state.

Furthermore, Xu Qing could now clearly perceive his current foundation within this first divine layer, and he would have no problem maintaining the first layer indefinitely.

Old Ninth cast a deep gaze at Xu Qing, nodded slightly, and then closed his eyes.

Xu Qing didn't disturb him further. He took out a piece of Scarlet Mother flesh and placed it aside. Then he thought for a moment, took out another piece, respectfully put it down, and then departed.

As his figure walked away, his form gradually changed, no longer in the first divine layer, but reverting to his normal self, disappearing from the restricted zone.

The Flesh Mountain still stood tall. Old Ninth remained motionless on it.

Although his expression appeared normal, the ripples in his heart were still churning.

The changes in Xu Qing seemed to spark new ideas for Old Ninth. What appeared in this child was an unprecedented transformation, a completely new path!

"Father, is he also walking this path?" he murmured, opening his eyes and looking in the direction Xu Qing had left. He then looked at the two pieces of Scarlet Mother flesh on the ground. The coldness in his expression melted into a hint of tenderness.

"Still a good child!"

Sometimes, liking someone can be sudden, but more often, it's about the details. The willingness to engage and extend that liking also stems from these details.

Xu Qing's journey to this day, from Peerless City all the way to the Sacrificial Moon Great Domain, his adherence to proper etiquette and his grateful nature are the fundamental reasons he receives assistance from others.

Unfortunately, such good people are rare, regardless of the era or world.

What's more, some individuals inferior to him might even feel a sense of aversion after witnessing Xu Qing's conduct!

This is a manifestation of human nature, highlighting their inner ignorance. Thus, there is a reason why such people are often not appreciated.

But Xu Qing didn't care about any of this. After leaving the restricted zone, he gazed at the world, looking up in the direction of Fenghai County.

"Time to go home!" Xu Qing murmured, turning and walking towards Mount Kusheng. He was going to pick up Ling'er and take her home.

Just as he was about to reach Mount Kusheng, Xu Qing paused. He remembered something!

"The Ancient Spirit Emperor promised me a wisp of imperial energy!"

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, took out the Ancient Spirit Emperor's token, and turned it a few times in his hand. He had previously sent a divine sense inquiry, as per the captain's request, asking about his gains, but the Ancient Spirit Emperor had given no response.

So after thinking for a moment, Xu Qing sent his divine sense into the token.

"Your Majesty, will you be joining the next meal?" The token showed no movement.

Xu Qing's divine sense vanished like a stone ox entering the sea. Xu Qing's expression remained normal as he waited for more than ten breaths. He continued to send in his divine sense.

"Since you're not replying, I'll assume you're not participating in the next meal!"

"I will participate."

The moment Xu Qing finished speaking this time, the ancient and weathered voice of the Ancient Spirit Emperor echoed from within the token.

"Then, Your Majesty, please pay for this meal: one wisp of imperial energy!" Xu Qing's voice, full of righteous conviction, entered the token.

The token fell silent, and Xu Qing waited patiently, without haste.

It wasn't until half an incense stick's time later that the token trembled. A small dragon, formed from a wisp of imperial energy, slowly flew out from within, giving Xu Qing the distinct impression of extreme reluctance.

He paid no mind to this. He raised his hand, grabbed the imperial energy dragon, and with a strong pull, dragged it out directly. No matter how the small dragon struggled, it was useless; Xu Qing tossed it into his divine repository.

Having finished this, Xu Qing was satisfied, and walked towards Mount Kusheng, entering the apothecary.

The moment he stepped into the apothecary, Xu Qing saw the Young Lord sitting there, drinking tea. He saw Ning Yan wiping the floor, the Nether Essence boiling water, and the unemployed Wu Jianwu. He also saw the swaying little grass sprout and the bald parrot.

He also saw Ling'er, who had dropped her account book and was running towards him.

"Brother Xu Qing, you're finally back!" Ling'er, with reddened eyes, hugged Xu Qing tightly.

During this time, her longing for Xu Qing was profound. Most of her days were spent looking out of the shop, hoping to see his figure appear there.

A smile appeared on Xu Qing's face as he stroked Ling'er's hair. With a raise of his hand, he took out the Ancient Spirit Imperial energy and placed it in Ling'er's hand.

"This is for you!"

Joyful cheers shone in Ling'er's eyes. For her, happiness was simple: as long as Brother Xu Qing was there, it was enough. And she cherished any gift Brother Xu Qing gave her, no matter what it was.

Seeing this scene, the Young Lord smiled without speaking, picked up his teacup and took a sip. A reminiscent look appeared in his eyes, as if he was thinking of some past events of his own.

Wu Jianwu, who was beside them, shook his head. He had intended not to speak, but couldn't resist.

"Are they a good match?" Wu Jianwu blurted out.

Xu Qing turned his head and gave him a cold, stern look!

Wu Jianwu shivered and immediately said with a serious expression, "Yes, they are!" Hearing this, Ning Yan sneered, about to help his boss rebuke Wu Jianwu, but at that very moment, the Captain's voice came from outside the inn.

"Haha, I'm back! Guess who I encountered on the Half-Step Road this time!"

"Little Ah Qing, I've brought your father-in-law back!"

Outside the inn, the Captain strode in, his face beaming with satisfaction. In his hand, he was carrying a bruised, swollen, and unconscious person. Judging by his appearance, it was indeed the old man from Banquan Road.