Chapter 764: Ancient Emperor Star's Mysterious Ceremony

For Xu Qing, the audience with the Human Emperor had already concluded the moment he stepped out of the palace gates. But the storm within him was continuously erupting, as if a beast was hidden inside his body, eager to break free from the cage of his mind and tear everything apart.

He could only try his best to control himself, striving to appear as calm as he seemed on the surface. He raised his head and smiled at the Captain and Zi Xuan, who were waiting outside the palace.

The Captain's thoughts were clearly drawn to other things, not as perceptive as Zi Xuan's. So Zi Xuan simply glanced at Xu Qing and chose to leave with him, while the Captain remained, saying he would wait for Ning Yan. But Xu Qing, seeing the yearning in the Captain's eyes as he gazed at the Ancient Sovereign Star, knew that the Captain always needed to gather all sorts of information before undertaking a major task. That gaze was clearly gathering information.

So he let the Captain stay. Xu Qing had gained a lot from this audience: his enfeoffment and the convergence of his luck, the confirmation of his identity as the State Preceptor, and the Emperor's Sword.

However, Xu Qing felt he hadn't performed well enough, and there were some issues with how certain matters were handled. Most importantly, he couldn't stop his mind from racing at this moment, nor could he allow himself any free time. Once his thoughts stopped turning, the killing intent deep within him for Prince Ziqing would erupt like a bursting dam.

Zi Xuan keenly sensed this. Even though Xu Qing was trying his best to hide it, Zi Xuan still felt that his heart contained an extreme storm. So, she took Xu Qing's hand, offering her warmth, just as he had taken hers in the Immortal Forbidden Land before.

"Let's go home."

The moment their eyes met, the wind ruffled their hair. Xu Qing was silent for a few breaths, then, as they walked, he softly recounted the process and details of his audience with the Emperor to Zi Xuan.

Zi Xuan listened very carefully the entire way, until they returned to Ning Yan's manor. Before the lake, she spoke in a soft voice.

"The moment you saw the crow, your handling of it was already very good."

"I also agree with your guess. The Human Emperor couldn't possibly be unaware of the crow's identity; there must be a transaction between them."

"The Emperor's Sword not reacting to the crow doesn't mean anything. This sword is for the public; how could it be used privately? It primarily senses changes in the human race's destiny and thus prevents catastrophes at critical moments."

"Your shortcomings during this audience with the Human Emperor are minor flaws, nothing to be concerned about."

"The Human Emperor and the crow seem to be playing a game of chess, each making their moves."

"As for your killing intent towards the crow, before you possess the ability to slay it, protecting yourself and suppressing your killing intent is the key."

"Our journey to the Imperial Capital is destined to be treacherous and unpredictable, A Qing, and you must know that you are not alone. In everything... I am with you."

"To slay the crow, when the time is right, I will be with you!"

The lake surface rippled, fish leaped, splashing water and creating ripples that spread across the lake, and also rippled in their hearts. Xu Qing looked at Zi Xuan in front of him and nodded.

"Alright, I know you came back early because you were worried about my alchemy. Shall we go check on your alchemy furnace?" A gentle smile appeared on Zi Xuan's face. Sunlight fell upon her delicate, fair skin, seeming to turn into a celestial veil, adorning her beautiful figure like a blooming orchid.

She was exquisitely beautiful.

Xu Qing's heartbeat involuntarily quickened. He allowed Zi Xuan to hold his hand and went to the alchemy room. Looking at the burning alchemy furnace in the room, and feeling that the elixir inside was unharmed, Xu Qing felt the last burden lift from his heart.

Time flowed by, and dusk arrived. This day was also the Day of Red Clouds. The enlightenment period on the Ancient Sovereign Star was originally a full day, but due to the activation of the second seal, this period was shortened and thus concluded at dusk.

News of subsequent successful enlightenments also spread rapidly. After Xu Qing left, three more inheritors of Heavenly Marquis enlightenment appeared, and even one more inheritor of Heavenly King enlightenment emerged. It was the Tenth Prince! This caused quite a stir.

As for Ning Yan... he gained nothing. Yet upon his return, Ning Yan showed no sign of dejection; instead, he held his head high. Clearly, Xu Qing's achievements made him feel proud. However, deep within his eyes, there was still a hint of disappointment. Proving himself before his Imperial Father was something he had always longed for. Xu Qing had something on his mind and thus offered no comfort.

So that night, many people in the manor were sleepless. Xu Qing and Zi Xuan were refining elixirs; the one Zi Xuan needed had reached its final stage. If successful, it would be completed within a night at most.

The Captain was deep in thought, occasionally taking out a jade slip to record notes, and even drawing many diagrams as he began his research based on what he had seen of the Ancient Sovereign Star that day. For him, this was rare. Previously, whenever he undertook a major task, although he would also gather information, he rarely had any specific plans, simply relying on brute force. But this time was different. After all, in many past lives, he had died on the Ancient Sovereign Star due to failure.

Ning Yan spent this night in the ancestral hall, sitting cross-legged and gazing at his mother's portrait. He whispered about the past since his mother's departure, not once using the word "miss," yet every sentence conveyed yearning.

Kong Xianglong was also silent. He had heard about Xu Qing's events today and had also seen them from afar. While silently blessing Xu Qing, he also had demands for himself. He could not allow himself to fall too far behind.

Only the carefree Wu Jianwu lay there that night, too lazy to cultivate, and slept soundly.

The night passed in silence.

When the early sun rose and a new day arrived, everyone's thoughts also faded with the departure of night. Ning Yan, refreshed and energetic, walked out of the ancestral hall and began his breathing cultivation. The Captain was overjoyed and ran out to continue observing.

For Xu Qing, the elixir was also completed. As the alchemy furnace opened, a blood-red elixir with golden veins floated before him and Zi Xuan. Zi Xuan took a deep breath, her eyes filled with anticipation. With a wave of her delicate hand, she took out a compass. This compass was something she had crafted recently to help amplify her senses. Now that she had taken it out, the blood elixir floated down and settled into the central slot of the compass.

The moment it was embedded, the blood elixir shone brightly, and the compass vibrated violently, beginning to operate. Zi Xuan, with utmost seriousness, sat cross-legged, placed her hands on the compass, and spread her sensing power. In an instant, her perception was greatly enhanced. Everything in the world faded from her mind; only that destiny-related lamp became increasingly clear.

Xu Qing also sat cross-legged. While protecting her, he also pondered over what was next.

"Helping Zi Xuan find that lamp, that's one."

"And also... a trip to the Grand Academy."

The Grand Academy is the highest educational institution of the human race. Xu Qing had heard about it more than once during his time in the Imperial Capital; whether princes or ministers, all had experience studying there. Even many prodigies from super sects also wished to gain the qualification to study at the Grand Academy.

To some extent, the Grand Academy is actually like a sect, except it was founded by the orthodox human race. There are no sectarian biases; all cultivation techniques and knowledge can be learned.

"On the way here, the Third Princess mentioned the Grand Academy, saying that it emphasized different schools of thought... with thousands of large and small schools existing. Each school had its own path, its own system, and its own understanding of the world and cultivation."

"Using different methods, from different directions, they explore the most suitable path for the human race's rise in cultivation."

"All schools have no thresholds. As long as one qualifies for the Grand Academy, they can join any school they wish. Furthermore, for better discussion and learning, background and status do not matter."

"Because the Grand Academy is located in a special space, those who enter will wear Grand Academy robes and masks, able to conceal all their auras, and are not allowed to reveal their identities. Only at graduation will their true selves be revealed."

"Therefore, if one has the ability at the Grand Academy, they can also create their own school of thought, provided they can attract students and gain recognition for their ideas..."

"The establishment and rules of the Grand Academy were introduced by Emperor Xuan Zhan after his ascension, overcoming all objections and personally founding it. Over the years, countless cultivation techniques have emerged from within, and one prodigy after another has graduated. That place is the birthplace of human thought's resurgence, where a hundred flowers bloom in contention, and everyone can expound upon their own path..."

The Third Princess's words appeared in Xu Qing's mind. Combining them with his own audience with the Human Emperor, he found this Emperor Xuan Zhan somewhat incomprehensible.

"What exactly is this major undertaking that the Mud Fox said the Human Emperor is engaged in..."

Xu Qing pondered, and at the same time, another thought arose in his mind.

"Also, is what the Mud Fox said necessarily true... After all, it is a deity of the Flaming Moon Profound Sky race."

As Xu Qing was pondering, his expression suddenly shifted. He looked up at Zi Xuan in front of him. Zi Xuan's eyes also opened at that moment, revealing a hint of confusion. After a long moment, she spoke softly.

"A Qing, I think I've found that lamp."

The Ancient Sovereign Star.

After the seal was activated and the legacy enlightenment ended, the clouds there spread out again, covering everything and slowly flowing as they had before. Beneath the clouds, inside this Ancient Sovereign Star, continent after continent floated, moving with the mist and drifting around the star. And in the deepest core, between the clouds, there seemed to be an imperial palace, indistinct, shrouded in mist, appearing faintly.

Only a vast pentagonal altar above it had sparse clouds.

On the altar, five enormous golden coffins could be seen, placed at each corner. Each coffin emitted a terrifying imperial aura, containing supreme majesty. And each had a shrine standing above it. There were no statues enshrined in the shrines, only spirit tablets, respectively inscribed with Dongsheng, Shengtian, Jingyun, Daoshi... and the last one, Xuan Zhan.

This scene was like an earth-shattering, mysterious ritual that shocked the ancient world. And in the very center of these five coffins, there was an ancient lamp. This lamp was entirely crafted from purple stone, like a blooming Bauhinia flower. Upon it rested a purple phoenix bird, with its wings spread, lifelike.