Chapter 768: Storms Arise and Whirl

"Eldest Senior Brother has multiple past lives, born through many reincarnations, mysterious and unfathomable."

"Second Senior Sister has the destiny of Huangyan and is loved by the Blazing Phoenix, possessing her own extraordinary qualities."

"Third Senior Brother... is connected to the Ghost Emperor, perhaps from the Holy Land."

"So what's so special about me?"

Xu Qing fell silent. He didn't feel particularly different from others, except for... his connection with the raven.

And also, during his battle with the Crimson Mother, he had seen a scene within the purple crystal—a moment in time he didn't know was real or fake. In that moment, he had died, which was different from what he had experienced.

"Did I really die once?" Xu Qing murmured softly under the moonlight, his voice blending into the night, as if creating ripples in the night sky.

The clouds, as if sensing something, moved with the wind, spreading across the night sky, gradually thickening. Silent lightning, delayed by the thunder, flickered faintly within them.

Soon, the delayed thunder arrived.

A booming sound exploded across the entire Imperial Capital. The heavy rain poured down all night, continuing until dawn, leaving the sky gray and subtly inducing a sense of laziness.

It wasn't until the afternoon that the rain began to fall again.

Xu Qing didn't go to the Grand Academy that day. He had already familiarized himself with almost all the schools of thought there, and now, a choice lay before him.

Furthermore, there was another reason: he had an appointment today.

The person who invited him was the Third Princess.

If it had been anyone else, Xu Qing could have refused, but the continuous kindness the Third Princess had shown made it difficult for him to decline; that was simply his nature.

So, even though it was raining heavily today, Xu Qing still walked out of his residence at dusk, holding a paper umbrella.

Although cultivators could use their cultivation to form a barrier to block raindrops, there was no need to be different when living among ordinary people. This was part of cultivating the mind, and an insight Xu Qing had gained from the Mind Cultivation school at the Grand Academy.

Walking along the streets of the Imperial Capital, observing the people passing by, Xu Qing's pace was unhurried. He pondered the schools of thought at the Grand Academy as he made his way to the meeting place.

Raindrops pattered on the paper umbrella, making a rustling sound. They then formed lines of water along the umbrella's rim, flowing towards the ground, but the wind tilted them, making them intermittent. Ultimately, they still became raindrops, joining their companions as they fell to the earth.

"A raindrop is a raindrop, a raindrop is not a raindrop, a raindrop is still a raindrop."

Xu Qing looked up at the sky, and the ripples in his heart, caused by his master's origins and Eldest Senior Brother's words, gradually subsided.

"The wonder of this world lies in its unknown."

"As for whether I really died once, that's not important. What's important is that I'm still alive."

"If I can live a bit better, that would be even greater."

Xu Qing murmured softly in his heart. This had been his dream since he was a child in the slums, and it remained unchanged even now: to live.

Only by living could he unveil the curtain before his eyes, only then could he see the truth, and only then could he... walk alongside his master, his Eldest Senior Brother, and his fellow disciples in this life.

Xu Qing took a deep breath and gradually walked away in the twilight rain. As the sky grew darker, he arrived at the southwest of the Imperial Capital.

There stood a Phoenix Bird Grand Hall.

The similar architecture made Xu Qing pause for a moment. This was the Third Princess's residence outside the Imperial Palace.

Today's invitation was not just for him; there were also several talented individuals from the Imperial Capital's greater region, including her close friends and other brilliant minds.

Xu Qing knew this was the Third Princess's way of showing kindness, wanting to introduce him to more people.

Although he wasn't adept at socializing, Xu Qing chose to accept the kindness. The moment he stepped into the Third Princess's residence, a massive clap of thunder suddenly reverberated across the sky.

The thunder was so loud it shook heaven and earth, like a giant deity roaring in the sky, causing countless raindrops to explode into a mist. The hearts of all beings also wavered amidst this sudden colossal thunder.

Xu Qing frowned, his steps faltered, and he looked up at the dark sky. The thunder naturally didn't startle him, but a strong sense of unease from within his heart intensified the moment the thunder sounded.

That was a warning from the Heavenly Dao.

It was important to note that even during the assassination attempt in the Imperial Capital, there had been no Heavenly Dao warning. Yet now, this warning created ripples in his heart.

"Something big is about to happen..."

With thoughts swirling in his mind, Xu Qing entered the Third Princess's residence.

Meanwhile, to the north of the Imperial Capital, there was a mysterious complex of buildings, entirely black, with black towers arranged in a crisscrossing trapezoidal pattern. The tallest parts were at the edges, the lowest in the middle, and the entire structure was square. Its surroundings were heavily guarded with constant patrols, and it boasted astonishing formations, making it the most scrutinized area of the Imperial Capital's grand formation.

This place was the Palace of Creation, one of the Five Palaces of Shangxuan, dedicated to the study of immortal arts and deities, and also the research and development site for the Sun of Dawn.

This palace held immense significance for humanity. Therefore, besides the high-ranking officials of the Palace of Creation itself, the Human Emperor had also appointed his Ninth Son to a position within the Palace of Creation.

When the Ninth Prince took office at the Palace of Creation, he swore an oath never to participate in the struggle for the Crown Prince, neither personally nor by favoring any side. Hence, he did not participate in the previous insights from the Ancient Emperor Star.

For him, studying immortal arts and deities was his greatest pursuit, and he had lived up to the Human Emperor's expectations, contributing to the development of the Sun of Dawn.

Ordinarily, he rarely ventured out unless summoned by the Human Emperor. But today... amidst the booming thunder in the sky and the heavy rain, his figure stumbled out from an inner pavilion.

His expression was panicked and terrified, his body trembled, allowing the rain to instantly drench him. He let out a desperate cry to his surroundings.

"By the authority of the Human Emperor's Ninth Son and the Minister of Law of the Palace of Creation, I order the entire Palace of Creation to be immediately sealed! No one is permitted to leave! Violators will be executed without mercy!!"

His voice echoed, accompanied by the thunder, and the Imperial Capital's formation transformed into a seal, descending upon the area. This sudden scene caused astonishment and suspicion among the cultivators in the Palace of Creation.

But the Ninth Prince paid no attention to this. He took out a jade slip and immediately transmitted a message, then, with reddened eyes, he guarded the place, awaiting... the Human Emperor's arrival.

At the same time, the high-ranking officials of the Palace of Creation also appeared one after another, their faces ashen and utterly grim, standing silently in the rain.

Simultaneously, inside the Third Princess's residence, in the Phoenix Bird Grand Hall, songs and dances created a peaceful atmosphere. The Third Princess sat at the head, inviting Xu Qing to sit beside her, while everyone else was seated in two rows.

There were dozens of people, men and women alike, either descendants of nobility or prodigious talents. Meng Yunbai was also among them, and they were all conversing happily.

Because each guest had been carefully considered and invited by the Third Princess, it was virtually impossible for any unpleasantness to occur at the banquet. Their demeanor towards Xu Qing was largely one of kindness and respect.

After all, though Xu Qing was a cultivator of their generation, his status was unique, especially having obtained the Emperor Sword, which held immense significance. Thus, even though Xu Qing wasn't adept at socializing, interaction felt effortless throughout.

After a few rounds of drinks, as the atmosphere grew lively, the conversation, guided by the Third Princess, gradually turned to the Grand Academy.

"I suppose you've all heard that the Soul Fusion school at the Grand Academy has announced they will open core trials in half a month, selecting one hundred individuals to become core disciples."

"Speaking of the Soul Fusion school, one must mention its chief disciple. Unfortunately, this person's identity is mysterious and never revealed... but I've heard that almost eighty percent of their body has completed soul fusion, and they usually rely on a magic treasure to conceal it."

"As for their combat power, it's astonishing. I heard that the Soul Fusion school's chief disciple suppressed a first-tier Void Returning divine creature with just one hand."

"Such a prodigious talent, yet so low-key; their future is bound to be even more extraordinary."

Everyone expressed admiration, and during the discussion, other schools such as the Spirit Forging school, the Myriad Laws school, the Mind Cultivation school, and the Treasure Harmonization school were also mentioned. Whenever the chief disciples of these schools were discussed, everyone praised them, with envy evident in their expressions.

At the same time, they also discussed their respective guesses about the true identities of these chief disciples, with all sorts of theories, some even speculating that a certain chief disciple was a prince.

Clearly, the influence of the major schools within the Grand Academy was no longer limited to the Academy itself; it could already sway the outside world, attracting a very high degree of attention.

"Unfortunately, soul fusion has now become the mainstream at the Grand Academy, with other schools trailing behind, making fierce school rivalries unlikely. I've read in the Grand Academy's ancient texts that since its founding, there have been four major school rivalries, each attracting the attention of the entire Imperial Capital, with grand spectacles."

Someone sighed, and others nodded as the conversation expanded further. Someone also brought up the Heretic Immortal school.

"Compared to these schools, I'm actually more interested in the Heretic Immortal school. But unfortunately, this school is now deserted and has declined."

"Ultimately, it's because this school's cultivation is difficult and demands extremely high aptitude. That alone would be fine, but most importantly, they have never produced a truly great master."

The one who brought up the Heretic Immortal school was a young man named Mu Nan. His expression was refined and his smile gentle. When Xu Qing arrived earlier, the Third Princess had introduced him, stating that he came from the Litu Human Race Grand Sect. Now, his tone was contemplative as he continued speaking.

"The only two half-achieved predecessors: one was beaten to death, and the other, after transforming, couldn't revert. They appear to be enshrined but are no different from specimens, and due to the vast time elapsed, few have seen them, so their stories are not widely known."

"However, within my sect, there's a preserved recording that documented Chen Daoze's Soul Weaving form."

After speaking, he seemingly unintentionally glanced at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing met his gaze, his expression normal, and he spoke calmly. "Daoist Friend Mu Nan, may I see this recording?"

Mu Nan smiled readily upon hearing this. "This is a secret of my sect; others are not permitted, but since Venerable Xu wishes to see it, of course you may."

As he spoke, Mu Nan took out a jade slip, lightly released it, and it floated towards Xu Qing.

Xu Qing grabbed it and focused his mind on it. Instantly, a scene appeared in his mind: a middle-aged cultivator in a Daoist robe. With a wave of his hand, a large amount of strange matter dispersed behind him and merged into his body. His form changed in an instant, transforming from human into a terrifying divine creature.

As Xu Qing watched this scene, his expression remained normal, but a ripple stirred in his heart. Because it was very similar to his divine form!

Just as Xu Qing's heart stirred, suddenly, solemn chimes resonated throughout the entire Imperial Capital. The sound was profound, surpassing the thunder, and it rang nine times.

The people at the banquet first froze, then their expressions all changed simultaneously, some even standing up.

"Nine chimes of the Royal Bell! What major event has occurred!"

Xu Qing's expression also grew solemn. The unease from the Heavenly Dao warning earlier now intensified within his mind. Simultaneously, a startling whooshing sound came from outside the Third Princess's grand hall.

The next moment, a squad of imperial guards in golden armor rushed in, appearing inside the banquet hall.

A chilling atmosphere of solemnity and resolve filled the banquet. As everyone looked on in surprise and suspicion, the leading golden-armored cultivator's cold gaze landed on Xu Qing. He bowed, then straightened up and spoke in a cold voice.

"The Emperor summons Venerable Xu! Enter the palace to be granted an audience immediately!"