Chapter 739: Still Flowing Among the Flowers and Creek

Southern Phoenix Continent, Spring.

The sky was dim, filled with dark clouds. Even though it was midday, heavy, continuous dark clouds pressed together, covering an immense area, as if to blot out all sunlight. A chilly gloom covered the land, and desolation permeated everything. It was the season of revival, yet there was no sign of vibrant life. All of this created a sense of oppression that hung over an ancient city.

This city had existed for a long time. If one were to consult ancient texts, its origins could be traced back to the era of the Ziqing Empire. This Ziqing Empire, however, was not the mysterious realm buried in history, but rather the Ziqing Empire of the Southern Phoenix Continent. Legend had it that the Ziqing Kingdom of the Southern Phoenix Continent was a continuation of the descendants of that mysterious Ziqing Empire. But it seemed this kingdom was cursed; the name "Ziqing" itself was not meant to endure. Thus, the Ziqing Kingdom of the Southern Phoenix Continent did not last long. It was abandoned by its people and its throne usurped by its eight major noble families.

And so, the Purple Earth came into being.

At this moment, in the city that had endured for ages yet retained its ancient architectural style, there were few pedestrians. In the Purple Earth, with its rigid social hierarchy, too many people were valued less than livestock. This was a rule of the world, difficult to change; even if forcibly altered, similar situations would still arise. After all, the other side of civilization was exploitation and oppression.

Xu Qing walked silently through the streets of the Purple Earth, passing ancient buildings, observing the city and its people. The wind blew from ahead, gently rustling his hair. Within the city, he had old acquaintances. And in the Purple Earth, there was his mentor. As for his acquaintances, Xu Qing's divine sense swept over them, knowing they were well, and that was enough.

As for his mentor... Xu Qing looked at a flower shop nearby. Shops opened near cemeteries mostly sold items for mourning the deceased. The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man, noticed Xu Qing and immediately offered an ingratiating smile. Xu Qing's neat attire and handsome features made the humble shopkeeper instantly realize he was a significant figure. He surmised that Xu Qing was likely the son of a powerful noble from one of the eight great families. Such a person was not to be offended in the slightest.

Xu Qing's gaze swept over the flowers, and he bought a bunch of white magnolias. He then walked towards the cemetery, reaching the grave of Master Bai. Looking at the tombstone and the flowers already placed there, Xu Qing's gaze softened. He laid down the flowers in his hand and knelt. “Master, rest well.” Xu Qing murmured softly, closing his eyes.

The clouds in the sky parted, revealing a rift, allowing the previously hidden sunlight to stream down and illuminate the cemetery. This ray of light, like a dawn, represented beauty. Falling upon the cemetery, it made the place seem like a sanctuary in an apocalypse, and brought with it the essence of spring. This solitary beam of light soon attracted the attention of many in the Purple Earth. As various divine senses swept over the area, the Purple Earth cultivators were perplexed. They found no abnormalities in the cemetery. Before Master Bai's tomb, there was no one. Only the bunch of magnolias bloomed silently, and their flower language symbolized the arrival of spring.

Xu Qing had already departed.

It was a similar time, but under a different sky, and in a different season. Spring in the Purple Earth was the beginning of winter for the eastern part of the Southern Phoenix Continent. A cold wind, like a knife, swept across the land, whirling snowflakes through the air, unleashing its merciless chill. In the wilderness, motionless dark figures could be seen. They were the frozen corpses of those who had been forced to migrate. The era had not changed, nor would it change much just because Xu Qing was now a Lord of a Great Domain. Because... the shattered face in the sky remained eternal.

Xu Qing walked past silently, arriving at what was once the scavenger camp. It remained the same, but most of his old acquaintances were gone, replaced by newcomers who had taken over. They continued to live by gathering seven-leaf grass around the restricted area. Filth, indifference, and bloodshed still dominated here. Even the feather tents were still present. Xu Qing's gaze swept over the scavenger camp from the sky, before he finally entered the restricted area ahead.

The moment he stepped into the restricted area, the entire area suddenly rumbled. The mist shrouding the area instantly thickened, churning continuously. Furthermore, streaks of red lightning darted within the clouds. All the trees trembled, and all the ferocious beasts within the restricted area shivered. These violent changes also drew the attention of the scavenger camp outside. Amidst their alarm, roars from deep within the restricted area, laden with menace, echoed out. The sounds... were like the most helpless roars of a ferocious beast, retreating continuously when facing its natural predator, issued just before encountering immense danger. Furthermore, the sharp, rapid strains of a zither echoed, as if trying to stop Xu Qing's approach, but it was all meaningless.

Xu Qing's expression remained unchanged. His steps were heavy; with each stride, the restricted area trembled and roared. Soon, all the ferocious beasts within the area chose to prostrate themselves. Only the zither music continued to struggle. Annoyed, Xu Qing glanced coldly into the depths of the restricted area. "Noisy."

The moment he spoke, the shadow beneath his feet immediately spread out. A sense of greed and the sound of gulping saliva surpassed the zither music, covering everything. The Vajra Sect Ancestor also instantly flew out, hovering in mid-air. Its tip pointed towards the restricted area, as if ready to pierce a thousand holes at Xu Qing's slightest command. The zither music abruptly ceased.

Flowers and grasses parted before Xu Qing. Trees pulled up their roots and swiftly moved aside, and soon a straight path unfolded before Xu Qing. At the end of the path stood a trembling large tree, and before it, a solitary grave. Xu Qing walked calmly until he reached the solitary grave, and sat down, leaning against the large tree. A wine gourd appeared in his hand. He took a sip, then poured some out. No words were spoken, nor were any needed. The moment he sat there, Xu Qing's heart felt peaceful. Faintly, it was as if Captain Lei appeared before him, drinking alongside him, gazing at the sky together.

Until in the distant sky, the lingering glow of sunset appeared. Xu Qing's voice, slightly hoarse, spoke softly. “Captain Lei, I found the Heaven's Mandate Flower...” These words carried reminiscence, regret, unspeakable thoughts, and the helplessness of life. After a long while, Xu Qing sighed lightly, and finished the wine in the gourd in one gulp.

In the sky, the sun set. On the horizon, the bright moon rose. Under the moonlight, Xu Qing stood up, knelt before the solitary grave, and after a single bow, he rose and walked into the distance. Behind him, the flowers and trees returned to their positions, concealing the solitary grave. The blowing wind carried Xu Qing's voice. "I won't erase you, but you must protect this place well."

As Xu Qing's voice echoed, a blurred figure appeared beside the solitary grave. This figure was not Captain Lei's former lover, but an old woman. Upon closer inspection, one could see an ancient zither with broken strings within her. She was the true master of this restricted area. At this moment, gazing at Xu Qing's retreating back, she quietly bowed her head and chose to comply.

Under the moonlight, Xu Qing walked through the sky. Elsewhere, the moonlight was pure and bright, but on Xu Qing, it formed a purple hue. The halo formed by the purple moonlight made Xu Qing's figure in the dark resemble a deity. Step by step, he arrived at the Southern Phoenix Continent's only forbidden land, and the largest forbidden land Xu Qing had ever seen: The Phoenix Forbidden Zone.

The Phoenix Forbidden Zone was so vast that it occupied more than half of the Southern Phoenix Continent. Indeed, if the Blazing Phoenix desired, it could easily cover the entire Southern Phoenix Continent. Such a massive forbidden land had consequently spawned some peculiar tribes. These tribes lived within the forbidden zone, and their numbers and types were unknown to the outside world. Towards outsiders, they adhered to the Blazing Phoenix's decree, refraining from actively causing harm. However, if provoked, they would show no mercy. It was precisely because of the terror of the Phoenix Forbidden Zone that in many tribal records across the Vast Ancient Continent, the master of the Phoenix Forbidden Zone was called the Blazing Phoenix, and revered as the Southern Phoenix. It was mysterious, ancient, and a rare entity that showed a degree of benevolence towards living beings.

At this moment, under the moonlight, Xu Qing arrived at the edge of the Phoenix Forbidden Zone, standing on a peak of the Truth Mountains. Someone evidently knew of his arrival long beforehand, and was waiting there in advance. As Xu Qing approached, he saw a chubby person, who was occasionally slurping on an egg with a delighted expression, sitting on the edge of the cliff, humming a little tune.

“It's not that I love the mortal world, but as if traces of past destiny are etched. Flowers bloom and fall in their own time; I've become a stone yearning for my wife. I must go, and I must stay. Until mountain flowers adorn my hair, do not ask of my return!”

Listening to the little tune, Xu Qing walked towards Huang Yan and sat beside him. Huang Yan grinned, waved his hand, and tossed Xu Qing an egg. He wiggled his brows, squinted his small eyes, and said with a laugh, “Your sister-in-law hasn't given birth yet, and her temper is growing. Ah, it's good you're here. Have some egg with me.”

Xu Qing took the egg, pierced it in his usual way, and took a sip. It was incredibly sweet. “How much longer until Second Senior Sister gives birth?” Xu Qing looked at Huang Yan. Huang Yan looked smug and patted his belly. “My offspring is extraordinary, born a primordial spirit. Naturally, it needs a longer gestation period. It should be born in a few more decades.” Xu Qing nodded. In that case, he should be able to return before Second Senior Sister's child was born.

And so, Xu Qing and Huang Yan drank eggs, discussing their respective affairs of late. Huang Yan mainly spoke of his feelings and expectations about becoming a father, while Xu Qing recounted his experience at the Moon Sacrifice and his upcoming journey to the Imperial Capital. Time slowly passed until the morning sun rose on the distant horizon. They looked at each other and smiled.

Xu Qing dusted his clothes, stood up, and prepared to leave. He didn't ask if Huang Yan was the Blazing Phoenix; it wasn't important. What mattered was that he was Huang Yan, a friend. Huang Yan didn't bring it up either; everything was understood without words.

However, before Xu Qing left, Huang Yan thought for a moment, took out a storage bag and a crimson feather, and handed them both to Xu Qing. The feather was entirely crystalline, resembling jade but not quite, emitting an intense heat, with a potent divine aura rising within it. It was unlike any divine aura Xu Qing had ever encountered. It seemed to carry an ancient essence. "This is for you. I have a younger sister in Nanxin Prefecture, a mandatory stop on your way to the Imperial Capital. She visited the Southern Phoenix Continent before and liked the ground fruit here, but the yield wasn't much then. Now, quite a lot has ripened, so please deliver some to her on your way. My sister has a bad temper, but she's just like me—very loyal.” Huang Yan said with a smile.

Xu Qing nodded, not declining. After putting them away, he gazed at Huang Yan. “Take care.” Having spoken, Xu Qing vanished in a flicker, ascending into the sky.

On the mountaintop, Huang Yan watched Xu Qing, a look of emotion on his face, and suddenly spoke. “Xu Qing, remember what I said: If you're unhappy outside, come back to the Southern Phoenix Continent—it's safe here!”

In the sky, Xu Qing's expression was serious, and he nodded heavily. He then walked into the distance, his figure gradually fading away. Huang Yan's figure on the mountaintop also blurred and, at the moment of its dissipation, deep within the Phoenix Forbidden Zone, a pair of gigantic eyes suddenly opened. The aura that emanated caused all living beings in the forbidden land to prostrate themselves in worship. It gazed into the distance, muttering softly, “Take care.”