Chapter 802: Lights Blossom

The chaos at the Imperial College has ended!

The face of the Ancient Emperor of the Imperial Star slowly receded and vanished. The head of the Emperor's statue also slowly turned back, standing still once more before the Rainbow Bridge. The glow from the Imperial Palace returned to normal at this moment. Inside the shrine of the Red Dust Forgetfulness Pavilion, the mud fox in the vacuum niche chuckled softly, closed its eyes, and transformed back into a clay sculpture.

The rift in the Imperial College's Celestial Curtain Divine Domain completely disappeared. Although the chaos caused by the debate had now ceased, its impact was immense. Suspense lingered in the hearts of various factions, and the students of the Imperial College were profoundly affected. Countless students sustained injuries of varying degrees.

Silence and complexity thus became the main theme at the Imperial College. The sky above the college was particularly fractured, with some areas resembling melting ice, showing corroded black holes like unhealing skin ulcers. The ground fared no better; while not completely riddled with holes, many areas were visibly collapsing, and the overall impression was one of intense decay.

Witnessing all this, the Dean of the Imperial College seemed to have more wrinkles on his face than before. He sighed softly, raised his right hand, and pointed towards the sky.

"Reshape!" he commanded. Assisting the Dean were all the sect masters within the Imperial College, including the Heterodox Immortal Sect Master. Each of them raised their right hand at this moment, activating the Imperial College authority vested in them as sect leaders.

Instantly, one white tower after another emitted white light, forming shockwaves that spread across the land. Simultaneously, each tower sent up a white pillar of light, piercing into the Imperial College's Celestial Curtain. From a distance, pillars of light soared skyward. The next moment, numerous runic symbols appeared in the heavens, shining with white light. Each symbol was octagonal, extending across the firmament and covering the earth. These runic symbols arranged themselves into a colossal Eight Trigrams formation, with circles encircling each other within it, rotating according to a certain pattern. Each complete cycle would mend the fractured space of the Imperial College. The same applied to the earth; the Eight Trigrams formations rotated in continuous circles.

Amidst the joint rumble of heaven and earth, the restoration of the entire Imperial College space accelerated. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the sky cleared, and all damage vanished. All collapsed areas on the ground were fully restored. Everything returned to its state before the debate.

The debate concluded.

"The Heterodox Immortal Sect."

The Dean of the Imperial College, hovering in mid-air, surveyed all the students before finally looking towards the Heterodox Immortal Sect's platform, his gaze focusing on Xu Qing, who had resumed his cross-legged seated posture. His gaze was deep, containing a hidden sharpness, as if it could see through people's hearts. His words brought a definitive end to the debate. His figure drifted away after speaking. As for the prince who had been accompanying him, had he not witnessed this event, he would at most have smiled and offered a few words of encouragement to the students before leaving. But now, he respectfully bowed towards Xu Qing before daring to depart.

As they left, the Imperial College erupted in enthusiastic cheers after a brief silence. All voices came from the students of the Heterodox Immortal Sect. These students, who had not dared to associate with the Heterodox Immortal Sect before the debate, were now excited and exhilarated. They knew that after this debate, the Heterodox Immortal Sect had powerfully defeated and exposed the Fused God Sect, clearing all obstacles and ensuring its meteoric rise! The grand momentum of the Heterodox Immortal Sect had arrived! This was evident from the radiant long rainbow shining in all directions from their platform. Even many neutral students, after witnessing today's events, were filled with aspirations for the Heterodox Immortal Sect.

However, in stark contrast to the surging momentum of the Heterodox Immortal Sect, the Fused God Sect, as the defeated party, had exhausted its fortune. All Fused God students, from the top-tier disciples to the ordinary ones, were filled with apprehension, confusion, and regret, which would ultimately transform into anger directed at Bai Xiaozhuo. What awaited them was inevitably an investigation by the Imperial College and even the Imperial Capital targeting Bai Xiaozhuo. None of the high-ranking members of the Fused God Sect would escape, and unless they could withstand the scrutiny, death would be their only outcome.

Indeed, as the cheers intensified, the Imperial College's Black Guards and the Imperial Capital's personal guards arrived together. All high-ranking members of the Fused God Sect were taken away and forcibly sealed. Fused God students would have to remain at the Imperial College for a period, awaiting further investigation. The Fused God Sect's white tower was sealed, just as the Heterodox Immortal Sect's had been previously.

Xu Qing stood up at this moment and walked down the platform with the Heterodox Immortal Sect Master and Chen Daoze, returning to the Heterodox Immortal White Tower, surrounded by Heterodox Immortal students. Outside the white tower, the Heterodox Immortal Sect Master took a deep breath and announced to the students, "The Heterodox Immortal Sect is reopening!" The cheers grew even more fervent. The Heterodox Immortal Sect Master bowed deeply to Xu Qing, and Chen Daoze, standing beside him, did the same. Xu Qing understood they had many questions for him, so he entered the white tower. The two followed him in, and the white tower's gate slowly closed. The students outside also knew it was not a good time to disturb them, so with agitated hearts, they bowed towards the white tower and then departed.

Inside the white tower, it was silent. Under the bright lamplight, Xu Qing stood before shelves filled with countless jade slips and ancient texts. Behind him, the Heterodox Immortal Sect Master and Chen Daoze stood respectfully. They had too many questions in their hearts, yet standing there before Xu Qing, even with a thousand words, they didn't know how to begin. The truth was, the origin of the Heterodox Immortal lineage now lay with Xu Qing, which made them feel a mix of gain and loss, anxiety and anticipation. When someone can decide your most cherished matters with a single word, apprehension and hesitation are inevitable. This was indeed the mark of a truly significant figure. The term "significant figure" is often relative, not absolute.

Xu Qing understood their feelings. His experiences with the Seven Blood Eyes and in Fenghai County had transformed him rapidly from a youth who emerged from the slums into a mature individual. So, Xu Qing's voice echoed within the white tower.

"The Heterodox Immortal Dao Seed is transformed from my soul seed!"

"The advantages and disadvantages of this soul seed were clearly stated in the jade slip I gave to the Sect Master the first time."

"I can indeed retrieve this soul seed with a thought, reclaiming all cultivation that arose from it."

"However, I will only do so under one condition: if it violates humanitarian principles!"

After Xu Qing finished speaking, he turned, his gaze sharp, looking at the Heterodox Immortal Sect Master and Chen Daoze. They bowed their heads in silence, cupping their hands in respect. If they hadn't known Xu Qing's identity, these words would have only caused them to be suspicious and wary; even if they ultimately bowed, it would have been a mere temporary measure, a matter of mutual exploitation and compromise. But now, it was different. Among Xu Qing's identities, one was critically important: the Sword-Bearer. To be acknowledged by the Emperor as a Sword-Bearer meant his words inherently carried credibility. Therefore, for the Heterodox Immortal Sect Master and Chen Daoze, they trusted what Xu Qing said.

With a wave of his right hand, Xu Qing took out three more of the remaining ninety-eight purple soul seeds from his body and presented them to the two. "You may choose suitable individuals to merge with and implant these purple soul seeds. As for the specific practices of the Heterodox Immortal Sect, you may decide externally! I will also draw and provide a new reference totem here, which students can use as a guide for their cultivation in the future."

"We obey your decree!" The Heterodox Immortal Sect Master took a deep breath and spoke solemnly. He then carefully put away the three purple soul seeds, thought for a moment, and cupped his hands again. "Venerable Xu, my external identity is an advisor for the Fengxing Palace. If there's anything you need, please command me!" Xu Qing hadn't asked about his external identity, but as a core beneficiary of their intertwined interests, the Heterodox Immortal Sect Master felt he should disclose it. Chen Daoze, standing beside him, also spoke in a low voice after a moment of silence. "Venerable Xu, Sect Master, I haven't left the Imperial College for two thousand years. Only recently did I regain consciousness and fully control my body. My previous external identity was one of the executive elders of the Star Emperor Supreme Sect. Now that the matter of the Heterodox Immortals has concluded, I also plan to return to my sect!"

"Star Emperor Supreme Sect," Xu Qing mused thoughtfully. He thought of the Star Emperor Branch Sect where the Captain was rumored to have gone, and nodded. As Xu Qing spoke first, the Heterodox Immortal Sect Master and Chen Daoze also inquired about the cultivation technique for the Heterodox Immortal Soul Threads. He conveyed his thoughts to them. His words held profound significance for Chen Daoze and the Sect Master, stirring their hearts.

"The function of soul threads is to simulate divine source... burning the divine shadow to break through barriers. The so-called 'Heterodox Immortal' means one thought is divine, one thought is immortal!"

Their minds raced with countless thoughts, and time slowly passed until Xu Qing left the white tower and entered the Imperial Capital late at night. The sky was enveloped by a black curtain, appearing exceptionally deep and still. Stars dotted the night sky like mysterious eyes quietly peering at the world. A gentle breeze rustled the trees lining the quiet streets, and the sound reached Xu Qing's ears. He paused, and spoke softly.

"The last time a lurking figure appeared before me in the Imperial Capital at night, they ended up utterly annihilated!"

The moment Xu Qing spoke, a female figure emerged from the moonlight behind him. The woman, wearing a mask, had a hint of surprise and skepticism in her eyes and voice, along with a touch of provocation.

"You can try."

It was precisely the mysterious woman who had appeared at the Star Emperor Branch Sect. Xu Qing turned, his eyes instantly flaring with purple moonlight that enveloped the long street.

Simultaneously, a strange transformation was occurring within the Ancient Emperor Star. Mists spread and flowed slowly across the Imperial Star. In its depths, above the Imperial Palace, within the vast pentagonal altar, five golden turtle coffins emitted terrifying imperial energy. This imperial energy, corrupted and dark as black dragons, let out wails of death as it rapidly rotated around the central lamp. This purple lamp, originally extinguished, suddenly had a flickering flame appear at its wick. It was a dual flame of gold and red, very faint, as if it could be extinguished by a mere gust of wind. Within the flame, a flower with characteristics of the Other Shore and Heavenly Mandate flickered in and out of sight. This flower was precisely the one Bai Xiaozhuo had ultimately revealed, the final display of his life.