Chapter 761: From the Ancient Emperor Star's Summons

Sometimes, even when one has already guessed and is certain about certain things deep down, it's still inevitable for ripples to rise in one's heart when they actually occur. The magnitude of these ripples depends on the importance of the matter to the person involved; the greater the importance, the more intense the ripples.

At this moment, to the Human Emperor's right, from the empty space where his gaze rested, the void rippled, followed by a gentle voice:

“Your Majesty already has an answer in your heart; what can outsiders say or do to make Your Majesty change your mind?”

As the voice emanated, a figure's back gradually emerged from the void to the Human Emperor's right, drawing everyone's gaze.

Clad in an elegant white Daoist robe, with long purple hair that gave a demonic impression, the tall figure stood poised like a spiritual bell. Between heaven and earth, winds and clouds shifted unpredictably.

Listening to the voice and looking at the figure's back, Xu Qing remained expressionless. However, his right hand was tightly clenched, veins bulging on its back.

There was no need to identify the voice or the back directly; they had already confirmed the other party's identity for him.

A day earlier, prompted by Mud Fox, he had guessed the Grand Preceptor's identity. But the moment he truly saw him, surprise and turmoil still erupted into a storm in his heart.

He didn't know why this person could become the Grand Preceptor and appear so openly here, nor did he understand what kind of connection or transaction existed between the Grand Preceptor and the Human Emperor.

He only knew that the other party was Zhuzhao, who had killed Sixth Lord and orchestrated the change in Feng Hai County, making them sworn enemies.

He only knew that the other party was the crow he was determined to eliminate. However, the current Xu Qing was no longer who he used to be; seeing Crown Prince Zi Qing again, his emotions would not collapse. He could now conceal even the most intense emotions deep within, without showing them externally.

Therefore, Xu Qing lowered his gaze slightly and exhaled deeply until he heard the voices of the crowd by his ears.

“Greetings, Grand Preceptor!” The crowd outside the hall bowed their heads and spoke respectfully.

Although the Grand Preceptor held no real power within the orthodox human hierarchy, his status was esteemed, second only to the Human Emperor and the Great Emperor.

As the voice resonated, the Human Emperor noticed everyone bowing to the Grand Preceptor, and a faint smile touched his lips as he looked towards the Ancient Emperor Star.

As for the Grand Preceptor who had appeared beside him, he turned around, revealing the mask beneath his robe.

It was a white smiling face, bizarre in appearance, yet when gazing at it, people would instinctively disregard the mask's existence. This was because the Grand Preceptor's eyes were more radiant than anyone else's, becoming a brilliance that captured all attention.

He nodded towards the officials, his gaze sweeping over each person before finally resting on Xu Qing.

Xu Qing looked up and met his gaze.

The Grand Preceptor smiled.

He had his own pride and his own way of doing things. Had it been someone else serving as Grand Preceptor today, they might have concealed their true self for various reasons. But he was Crown Prince Zi Qing; he never acted covertly and would not let any objective influence his behavior.

Therefore, he appeared and even raised his hand to remove the mask from his face.

At this moment, his true face was revealed to the eyes of all officials.

This was the first time the officials had seen his face.

Before this, only the Human Emperor had seen his face; to others, he had always appeared in a white robe and a white smiling mask.

Now, as the mask was removed and the face revealed to the crowd, everyone's expressions changed, and their hearts filled with surprise and doubt.

Indeed, this face bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Xu Qing, but it was paler, seemingly colder, and perhaps even more sinister! Yet, within those brilliant eyes, there seemed to be no impurities, appearing utterly clear.

As for the dashing, sword-like eyebrows that slanted above his eyes, his thin, lightly pursed lips, and his sharp, well-defined contours.

All of this made the Grand Preceptor appear like a white dragon between heaven and earth—supremely beautiful yet supremely aloof.

This scene caused everyone outside the hall to fall into silent contemplation, for the resemblance between the Grand Preceptor and Xu Qing was not merely in appearance but also in their inherent essence.

Although magical arts could achieve this, such an action clearly did not align with the Grand Preceptor's status.

Therefore, there was only one explanation.

This explanation plunged everyone into deep thought. While recalling the assassination attempt in the imperial capital, some also subtly glanced at the Human Emperor, their inner thoughts unrevealed on their faces.

As for the Grand Preceptor, he paid no mind to the gazes of the crowd. At this moment, he looked at Xu Qing, a smile on his face, and spoke in his usual gentle, soft voice.

“Little brother, we meet again!”

Xu Qing gazed calmly at the Grand Preceptor before him, remaining silent.

“The assassination in the imperial capital was not my doing; I would neither stoop to such an act nor would I do it!” The Grand Preceptor said with a smile, then turned and sat beside the Human Emperor, gazing with him at the human prodigies on the Ancient Emperor Star.

The officials in front of the hall did the same.

Xu Qing's expression remained as if he hadn't seen Zi Qing today. Everything was as usual there as he looked up, gazing at Ning Yan on the Ancient Emperor Star, inwardly calculating the time of his departure.

He needed this action to disperse the storm brewing in his heart.

Outside the hall, it was quiet, like a lake without wind or waves.

Each person present harbored inner turmoil; if combined, it would likely create towering waves capable of overturning everything.

And time flowed by, little by little, amidst this external quietness and internal turmoil.

Soon, an hour passed.

The insights of the human prodigies on the Ancient Emperor Star also underwent joyful changes at this time.

Looking across, among the thousands of cultivators seated cross-legged outside the Ancient Emperor Star, which was constantly shrouded in mist, some manifested auspicious signs and visions while also radiating glowing light.

These indicated success or imminent success; the more auspicious signs, visions, and glowing light, the higher the level of insight achieved.

However, most people were still in the process.

Yet, these successful individuals were not comprehending the legacies of Heavenly Marquises. Instead, they were comprehending the inherited paths left by the brave martyrs who had fallen in battle over countless years, those below the Heavenly Marquis rank.

Within these paths were divine abilities and cultivation techniques. Although not as profound as Heavenly Marquis legacies, they possessed unique merits, and being able to comprehend them was also a stroke of fortune.

“That is the Combined Sword Art of Chen Qinghai, the Myriad Commander who once followed the Great Emperor of Sword-Wielders. Excellent, excellent! The Sword-Wielding Palace's ten dispatched prodigies this time are indeed extraordinary. This is second only to a Heavenly Marquis legacy.”

“It's not just Chen Qinghai. The king's path of the departed heroes is also being comprehended. Look there, at that Yin-Yang statue—that's the Black and White Evil-Transforming Art described in ancient texts. The comprehending individual looks somewhat unfamiliar; judging by their attire, they should be a disciple of the Divine Harvest Cangyu Sect!”

As they watched, the quiet outside the hall was broken. Some officials resumed smiling and nodding at each other, and it gradually grew somewhat lively.

The number of successful comprehenders steadily increased. For a time, continuous glowing light and frequent auspicious signs appeared outside the Ancient Emperor Star.

And each time a comprehension was successful, the comprehending individual would be sent out of the Ancient Emperor Star and appear on the Rainbow Bridge. Everyone only had one chance at comprehension.

As for Xu Qing, his gaze fell upon Ning Yan's location on the Ancient Emperor Star. An hour had passed. Ning Yan showed no changes; he seemed to be trying very hard, but evidently without effect.

Xu Qing was not anxious. Ning Yan's aptitude was not bad; even if his ultimate gain wasn't at the Heavenly King level, he would certainly gain something.

At this moment, with these thoughts, Xu Qing's gaze shifted from Ning Yan to others, continuing to disperse the storm rising in his heart.

As his gaze swept across, although he recognized almost none of these prodigies, he could identify the princes by their robes, and among them, there were a few Xu Qing had met before.

Such as the Third Princess.

Or the Seventh Prince.

He saw the latter for the first time since arriving in the imperial capital. The moment he looked at the Seventh Prince, Xu Qing's gaze turned icy.

After concentrating for a moment and noticing that the other party showed no auspicious signs or glowing light, Xu Qing shifted his gaze, about to look towards the Third Princess.

But just then, Xu Qing's heart suddenly stirred, and his gaze instinctively turned towards an area of mist where no one was comprehending.

The mist in that area was relatively sparse compared to other regions as it flowed, even allowing glimpses of the Ancient Emperor Star's mountainous terrain beneath the mist.

It was precisely that mountainous region of the Ancient Emperor Star that attracted Xu Qing.

Although the distance was vast, and the Ancient Emperor Star was merely the first layer of mist, preventing anyone from entering its core, Xu Qing felt a faint fluctuation emanating from that mountainous region.

This very subtle fluctuation came from beneath the mountains, deep within the Ancient Emperor Star, and felt more like a summons.

Xu Qing pondered, his gaze sweeping over the sparse mist outside the Ancient Emperor Star. There was no one in the sparse area, but comprehenders were still present in other surrounding places.

Yet, it seemed none of them noticed this call; it was as if the summons was specifically directed.

“What is that? Is it also a legacy?”

Xu Qing pondered. Comparing it to what others had gained, he found that these so-called legacies were mostly formed by wandering consciousnesses within the mist.

In contrast, the summons emanating from within the mountains seemed more like an aura released by some tangible object.

As Xu Qing pondered, the mists on the Ancient Emperor Star suddenly accelerated their flow, rising and engulfing all directions, enveloping all the prodigies' figures. Only one spot was specially revealed, drawing all attention.

Because this tide of mist was caused by that person, from a distance, it looked like a burning vortex, roaring as it rotated outwards with that person at its center.

Furthermore, an ancient, sacred image, bearing majesty and divinity, rose from this person, exceptionally unique and ten thousand zhang tall, shaking the mind, with golden flames burning heaven and earth.

“A Heavenly Marquis legacy.”

“This is the Dao art of Heavenly Venerate Yan Ji, ranked tenth among the 108 Heavenly Marquises!”

“The comprehending individual is… Meng Yunbai, the grandson of the Grand Commandant.”

Various forces and rogue cultivators within the imperial capital were gazing at the Ancient Emperor Star from afar. At this moment, seeing this scene, they were all moved.

Even many of the other comprehenders on the Ancient Emperor Star, who were covered by mist, opened their eyes and looked towards Meng Yunbai. Their expressions varied: some were complex, some envious, some unwilling.

Outside the imperial palace hall, the officials smiled, and the Human Emperor's eyes showed admiration.

Only Xu Qing, after scanning Meng Yunbai, looked again towards the direction of the veiled mountainous region.

“The summons to me has grown stronger....”