Chapter 745: The Last Summer Immortal of Ancient Wang

"This star is called the Ancient Sovereign Star! It's not just the former imperial palace of Ancient Sovereign Xuanyou; it also holds a legacy from him. Only those with imperial aura are qualified to comprehend it, but so far, no imperial family member throughout history has managed to obtain it."

As everyone gazed at the Ancient Sovereign Star, Princess Anhai's voice echoed. She had been introducing the Imperial Capital Region to Xu Qing and the others throughout their journey.

"As for the colossal statue of the Ancient Sovereign seated on the Ancient Sovereign Star, I've read descriptions of it in some imperial ancient texts. Originally, it didn't exist. It suddenly arrived from beyond the heavens after the Ancient Sovereign's departure, during the era of Human Sovereign Jingyun, settling here. Along with it descended an imperial decree from the Holy Land. Its content is not recorded in ancient texts, and few know it. The entire Ancient Sovereign Star, for our human race, is both an ancestral land and a forbidden one. One can only try to comprehend it from its exterior during special periods."

As Princess Anhai spoke, Xu Qing and his group gradually learned more about the Imperial Capital Region. While others listened intently, the Captain gazed at the Ancient Sovereign Star, his eyes hiding a deep longing and a sense of regret rising in his heart. "I vaguely remember," he grumbled, "I died several lifetimes trying to get in there... and never succeeded." The Captain huffed in indignation, then his gaze fell upon the void abyss, and he sighed again. "Never managed to get into that place either." As the Captain sighed, Princess Anhai's introductory words continued to echo.

Meanwhile, Zixuan's expression grew more complex. She gazed at the Ancient Sovereign Star, her eyes filled with reminiscence. She remembered this star; it had been her home in a previous life. As for Ning Yan, although he didn't know as much about the Ancient Sovereign Star as Princess Anhai, he had grown up here and was accustomed to it, so he simply nodded continuously beside her. Beside him, Wu Jianwu's expression was agitated. He strongly believed that his poetic breakthrough would happen here. His mind even conjured images of the Ancient Sovereign's bedchamber within the star, surely containing genuine poetic masterpieces.

As for Xu Qing, his attention wasn't entirely on the Ancient Sovereign Star. His gaze followed the void between the two rings of land, looking towards the abyss below the Imperial Capital Region. Princess Anhai had previously mentioned that this abyss was rumored to lead to an unknown place called Huangtian. Others might not know what Huangtian was, but after the events in the Sacrificial Moon Domain, Xu Qing had some understanding of it. It was the homeland of the Scarlet Mother, also the homeland of Li Zihua, and a forbidden place suppressed by the Wanggu Continent. As Xu Qing pondered, some of Princess Anhai's words of introduction caught his ear, causing a ripple and interrupting his contemplation.

"Additionally, all Marquises, Kings, and Emperors who died in battle during the Ancient Sovereign era left their legacies on this star. Even the human Marquises and Kings who accompanied Ancient Sovereign Xuanyou to the Holy Land before his departure each left their own legacies within this Ancient Sovereign Star. The last one to leave a legacy was Emperor Zhijian. He was the human race's last Emperor. His true body perished defending humanity, but his clone remained in the Imperial Capital Region. As for Emperor Zhijian's legacy, it is his Emperor Sword, buried deep within the Ancient Sovereign Star, and it has remained dormant for countless years..."

Xu Qing looked up, gazing at the Ancient Sovereign Star. The name "Emperor Zhijian" held profound meaning for him. Paying respects to Emperor Zhijian was also one of Xu Qing's objectives for this trip, so he suddenly spoke.

"Princess Anhai, is Emperor Zhijian's clone within this Ancient Sovereign Star, or...?" Xu Qing looked at Princess Anhai. This was his first time speaking since arriving in the Imperial Capital Region, and Princess Anhai immediately treated his question with seriousness.

"The statue formed by Emperor Zhijian's clone is not inside the Ancient Sovereign Star. This was his choice before his passing. He chose to place his clone outside the Ancient Sovereign Star, serving as the final defense for the human race and the ancestral land. We will see it after a few more teleports, as we approach the inner imperial capital."

Xu Qing nodded, and the group continued their journey.

Time passed. Xu Qing and his group's journey through the Imperial Capital Region was very smooth thanks to Princess Anhai's presence. After three more teleports, on the morning of the second day, they finally saw the imperial capital of the Ancient Sovereign Star. Xu Qing also saw... Emperor Zhijian!

The entire inner ring was the imperial capital. Along the edge of the circular land stood towering black pagodas and vast statues, intertwined with each other. They encircled the Ancient Sovereign Star, forming a ring. The statues within varied in form but each possessed a distinct aura. All were human figures: men and women, old and young, with diverse expressions, their seven emotions and six desires palpable on different statues.

"The black pagodas are components of the grand imperial formation, while the statues encircling the capital, apart from Emperor Zhijian, were built in later eras. They represent all the saints who fell or departed with the Ancient Sovereign since his time, as well as the successive Human Sovereigns. Among them are the 108 most ancient Marquises, the former 33 Kings, and nine human Emperors. However, as humanity's destiny declined, although 27 Kings qualified to stand here during the later Dong Sheng Human Sovereign era, after the Xuan Tian Transformation, humanity's fate waned. During the Sheng Tian Human Sovereign era, only five Kings qualified, and while there was a surge during the Jing Yun Human Sovereign era, only six appeared. As for the Dao Shi Human Sovereign era, no one qualified except the Human Sovereign himself, and the current Xuan Zhan Calendar era is no different."

Princess Anhai sighed softly. Kong Xianglong, who had been silent throughout the journey, couldn't help but speak after hearing this. "What cultivation level does this qualification refer to?"

"Dominator. During the Ancient Sovereign era, only Dominators could be ranked as Marquises. A Marquis, or 'Heavenly Marquis,' was a lord of heaven capable of governing a single domain. Only peak Dominators could hold the esteemed position of King. A King could govern multiple domains or a single one, depending on their will, and a King's decree was second only to the Sovereign's and Emperor's." At this point, Princess Anhai glanced at Xu Qing. "Senior Li Zihua, the former Dominator of the Sacrificial Moon Domain, was one of the Kings under the Ancient Sovereign back then. His esteemed statue is also here."

"And what about Emperors?" Xu Qing asked slowly.

"During Ancient Sovereign Xuanyou's era, other races occasionally had Emperors, but their numbers were extremely small. Only our human race, blessed with Wanggu's fortune, saw the emergence of nine Emperors. Their cultivation surpassed that of Dominators and they were referred to as... Quasi-Immortals. Since the Ancient Sovereign era, no Emperors have appeared among any of the myriad races to this day."

"Quasi-Immortal..." Xu Qing murmured, his gaze deep as he looked towards the inner imperial capital ahead.

He saw statue after statue, and then, directly ahead, a monumental statue unlike any of the others. This statue depicted a middle-aged man who, at first glance, appeared refined. But upon closer inspection, one could discern a strictness in his eyes, coupled with an air of dominance, as if in a fit of rage, the earth would crumble before him and the heavens would burn within his gaze. Even gods, it seemed, could be slain in his eyes. With his hands clasped behind his back, monstrous sword energy surged behind him. His entire body radiated a dazzling white light, brilliantly vivid, as if his true form stood there, awe-inspiring in all directions.

He was the human race's last Emperor, and the only one who did not depart with Ancient Sovereign Xuanyou, instead remaining to guard humanity and die for its sake: Emperor Zhijian.

Gazing at the Emperor's statue, Xu Qing took a deep breath, then remotely bowed his head slightly in a gesture of respect. Afterwards, he asked Princess Anhai a question whose answer he had long sought.

"What cultivation level was Ancient Sovereign Xuanyou?"

As soon as Xu Qing spoke, everyone around listened intently. Even the Captain adopted a curious expression, while only Zixuan continued to gaze at the Ancient Sovereign Star.

Anhai was silent. After a long moment, she spoke softly. "Ancient Sovereign Xuanyou's cultivation level is a mystery, but there was once a record of him in the imperial family's archives: 'At the end of the Age of Chaos, the Sovereign arrived from the south, stepping into Yingzhou. The land undulated, and the Heavenly Dao manifested in the sky to offer congratulations, calling him a Quasi-Immortal. For the next three thousand years, the human race reigned supreme, myriad races bowed, and Emperors lowered their heads, honoring him as a Xia Immortal.'"

"Xia Immortal!" Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. Beside him, Zixuan suddenly spoke. "He was the last... Xia Immortal in Wanggu for countless ages among all races."

Zixuan's words made everyone turn their heads. Princess Anhai, too, looked at Zixuan with surprise and doubt. Zixuan closed her eyes and said nothing more. Silence fell among the group. Xu Qing had noticed the reminiscence in Zixuan's expression early on. At that moment, he didn't press for more information and continued walking towards the imperial capital ahead.

As the group approached, the statue of Emperor Zhijian ahead became increasingly clear. The black pagodas interspersed among the statues also shimmered with ethereal light. Layers of invisible formations and restrictions emanated from each pagoda, linking together to envelop the entire inner imperial capital. Simultaneously, numerous divine senses and gazes spread out from various regions and factions within the inner imperial capital, locking onto Xu Qing and his group outside. Among these divine senses and gazes, some carried wariness, some held complexity, some exuded curiosity, some bore hostility, and some were filled with scrutiny...

Although Xu Qing had never been to the imperial capital before, his name had already spread throughout the Imperial Capital Region. As the respected Lord of the Great Domain, backed by several Concealed Gods, the Master of the Black Sky Clan Priests, a participant in slaying a deity, and the reason for King Tianlan's demise... all of this made it difficult for the various nobles, princes, and princesses within the imperial capital's vortex of power not to pay attention. Therefore, from the moment Xu Qing stepped onto the teleportation array, information about him and his past had already been meticulously researched. Until today, he had arrived.

In front of the inner imperial capital, above the void, Xu Qing and his group gradually halted their steps. Standing there, Xu Qing gazed at the imperial capital ahead. He could feel the terrifying power emanating from the capital's grand formation, filled with endless pressure and a distinct sense of scrutiny. If he were to step into the formation, all his inner secrets, and even the contents of his storage bag, would inevitably be revealed by it. Normally, such a measure would not be so strict unless during special periods, as many people travel to and from the capital, and many hold secrets.

Xu Qing frowned and looked at Anhai beside him. Princess Anhai furrowed her brow, took out a jade slip, and after transmitting a message, her expression turned somewhat grim. "A few days ago, a foreign spy suddenly appeared, triggering the grand imperial formation, causing it to automatically activate from its normal state into a probing one..."

"Someone is using the formation's principles in a way that no one can find fault with, using the imperial capital's formation to probe us. How interesting. As expected, the people of the imperial capital are as cunning as monkeys, with insidious methods." The Captain swayed, walked over to Xu Qing, and said with a smile.