Chapter 812: Blood-colored Mysterious Bird

Xu Qing’s voice, as if echoing across time or spreading underwater, reverberated within this space.

Each word carried a profound meaning, and when combined, they seemed to form a droplet of water capable of activating a mysterious Daoist art. It fell onto the water’s surface, transforming into a crisp sound.

Dong...

As the sound spread, ripples appeared in the space, diffusing outwards.

Unbeknownst to them, this place had transformed into a water surface.

Above the water's surface, the Fifth Prince's eight figures all trembled. A look of shock appeared on his face, and his mind was in turmoil. He had never witnessed a divine ability like this!

He had never experienced anything similar, but he could sense the vast aura filling this space, so immense it felt like the very source of the Dao.

What truly made his mind race was the realization that in this instant, he had lost all ability to move. His body couldn't budge an inch, his cultivation seemed to have solidified, and his spells, indeed everything about him, had been brought to a standstill.

The shock on his face seemed to become eternal.

Only his thoughts could still function, but they were useless. Then, as Xu Qing's voice echoed once more, an even more terrifying scene unfolded before him.

“Everything exists within the well: all divine abilities, all magical treasures, all forms, all present within this well... including the true you.” As the voice reverberated, the ripples on the water's surface intensified. In the Fifth Prince's eyes, he clearly saw his own reflection appear on the water beneath his feet.

Not only his reflection, but also all his magical treasures, and even flames burning within – those were his spells.

Furthermore, numerous spells he had cultivated throughout his life were visible. Even his Heavenly Dao, all the rules and laws he had comprehended, and even his altar and the ash urn, were revealed within. All his secrets, all his possessions, whether illusory arts or real objects, appeared in this watery reflection.

This scene completely overwhelmed the Fifth Prince. He instantly realized that any harm inflicted upon his reflection in the water would undoubtedly affect his true body.

This premonition made him try to struggle, but at that moment, all his attempts were utterly futile.

His reflection in the water grew clearer and clearer.

Meanwhile, this battle between him and Xu Qing, though seemingly confined to a separate space, was actually still taking place within the Imperial Palace. It was merely isolated by the intervention of the palace's formation arrays.

Therefore, everyone in the Imperial Palace could fully perceive their actions.

They witnessed the Fifth Prince's eerie corpse flames, the strange chains formed by the ash urn, and the scene where the Fifth Prince attempted to extract Xu Qing's soul.

Similarly, they also saw Xu Qing's move.

During the Dao discussion that day, Xu Qing had also acted, but he only displayed his divine form. Today, however, his divine form manifested a spell, stirring many hearts.

The descent of the three mountains was merely one ripple.

After all, many people had sensed Xu Qing's and Little Butterfly's actions that day.

What truly stirred them was the spell currently manifesting. No one had ever seen this spell before!

All thirteen Heavenly Kings were moved. The Human Emperor leaned slightly forward, a strange glint in his eyes.

Under everyone's watchful gaze, Xu Qing's voice calmly echoed within the space.

“He, is you.”

The moment these four words were uttered, the Fifth Prince's mind buzzed. The world before his eyes instantly blurred, as if water was flowing, covering everything and making it indistinct.

In this blur, the self he was looking at remained motionless, without the spell formations or magical treasures he had seen before.

This discovery shook him again. He immediately realized that what he was seeing was no longer his reflection in the water.

It was his true body outside the water.

Unbeknownst to him, his consciousness was no longer within his body outside the water, but had merged into the reflection within the water.

He couldn't resist, couldn't stop it!

This realization filled the Fifth Prince's heart with endless thoughts. He was unwilling, yet there was no way to resolve it. He wanted to struggle, but it was utterly meaningless.

Until, he saw a hand.

Xu Qing's hand lifted and gently reached towards the water's surface. This simple action contained infinite Daoist principles, and the spell, devoid of any ostentation, gave a sense of effortlessness.

Indeed, it was precisely so.

For Xu Qing, after comprehending the ability to 'fish for the moon in his own heart,' extracting someone else's soul had become incredibly simple.

In fact, during this time, he had also been contemplating other variations of 'fishing for the moon in a well.'

To a certain extent, this Daoist art could extract all things in heaven and earth, not just be limited to the moon.

'Moon' was merely a specific reference.

So, at this moment, he calmly raised his hand, dipped it into the water, and with a gentle scoop towards the Fifth Prince's reflection, water droplets scattered, and the Fifth Prince's soul appeared in Xu Qing's palm.

With a slight clench.

This space rumbled and instantly collapsed. The bone chains that had bound Xu Qing's soul threads also lost their controller and shattered at that moment. The chains rotating around Xu Qing met the same fate.

All seven other figures of the Fifth Prince in mid-air vanished along with this space.

As the scene shifted, the Imperial Palace came into Xu Qing's view.

The Fifth Prince stood still, pale-faced, his eyes vacant, motionless.

His soul was lost; only his physical body remained, making him a living corpse without a soul.

Xu Qing, meanwhile, remained seated in his chair throughout, his expression largely unchanged, looking down at his palm.

Not only was he looking, but everyone in the grand hall spontaneously focused their gaze there.

In his palm, was the Fifth Prince's soul.

“Gu Yue Qing Ji, as a Prince, you have guarded the borders and made significant contributions to the Human Race without committing major transgressions. Therefore, I will not make things difficult for you.”

Xu Qing spoke calmly.

“I will only keep one of your spells. Whenever you believe you can defeat me, come and retrieve it!”

As he spoke, Xu Qing waved his right hand. Instantly, the Fifth Prince's soul in his palm split into several wisps, heading straight for the Fifth Prince below. They went to him, and only the ash urn remained. Xu Qing grasped it in his palm before putting it away.

The Fifth Prince's body trembled, and a look of confusion appeared in his eyes, quickly clearing. He looked at Xu Qing with a complex expression, remained silent for a moment, then bowed, took a few steps back, returned to his designated seat in the grand hall, and closed his eyes.

Silence fell over the grand hall. Waves of thought formed in everyone's minds, reverberating through their spiritual consciousness.

Today's events added an extra layer of mystery to the Human Race nobles' evaluation of Xu Qing. The scene of him transforming heaven and earth into a water surface and extracting a soul truly left an impression of insolvability.

“Unless one's cultivation greatly surpasses Xu Qing's, or they possess special treasures…”

“This divine ability is profound in Daoist principles and exudes an ancient aura; it should not be a modern technique.”

“Given the vastness of this divine ability, if it had ever appeared throughout history, it's impossible that no traces would be left behind…”

Everyone in the hall fell into contemplation, some thinking of the Xia Immortal Palace. “Does this Daoist art have a name?” Among the Heavenly Kings under the Human Emperor attending the imperial assembly, a female cultivator Heavenly King, dressed in a Daoist robe with an indistinct appearance that obscured her features, suddenly spoke.

As she spoke, her gaze fell upon Xu Qing.

“Fishing for the Moon in a Well.”

Xu Qing's expression remained calm as he uttered a low voice.

“A good name.”

The female cultivator Heavenly King nodded slightly and ceased her inquiry.

The imperial assembly had now reached its conclusion. So, the Grand Tutor, who was presiding over the assembly, glanced at the sky outside, then addressed the assembled officials in the grand hall.

“My Lords, if there is anything to report, please do so; otherwise, the court is adjourned.”

Everyone lowered their heads.

The Grand Tutor's gaze swept across the hall, then rested on the Human Emperor, waiting for a moment.

“Then...”

The Grand Tutor nodded, just about to declare the end of the day's assembly, when suddenly, outside the Imperial Capital, a world-shaking crimson long rainbow appeared in the eyes of all beings across the sky.

It was first seen, then followed by a piercing shriek that could split clouds and rocks. This sound was extremely loud, resonating in the ears of the capital's populace, creating an explosive force that even caused the Imperial Capital's ground to tremble.

It rapidly approached the Imperial Palace from the horizon, moving with a speed akin to teleportation. Its momentum was awe-inspiring, as if no formation array or obstacle could affect it in the slightest.

Even the Imperial Capital's grand formation not only allowed it to pass directly but also empowered it, making its speed even faster.

Furthermore, this crimson long rainbow contained the aura of the Sun of Dawn, conveying an insurmountable, uninterceptable intent. If one were to forcibly touch it, it would surely lead to cataclysmic destruction, with both sides turning to ash. Its appearance was immediately noticed by the officials within the Imperial Palace. The Human Emperor abruptly looked up, a rare and noticeable change in his expression. This was because among the Human Race, there was a highest-level communication method: a scarlet profound bird as a carrier, capable of instantly transmitting top-secret information across any range within the Human Race, regardless of distance.

The crimson long rainbow appearing on the horizon at this moment was precisely this message.

All the Heavenly Kings instantly had their auras surge. All the Marquises' expressions changed abruptly. Other officials were all moved, turning their heads in unison to look outside the palace. At that moment, the crimson long rainbow, emitting a sharp and urgent sound, surged into the Imperial Palace, transforming into a scarlet profound bird that landed on the Human Emperor. A flash of crimson light, and it became a scarlet jade slip.

The Human Emperor gazed at it, and after perceiving its contents, his expression slowly darkened. A sense of oppression spread throughout the entire Imperial Palace, causing everyone's hearts to tremble. Simultaneously, more scarlet profound birds appeared on the horizon, flying in one after another.

There were nine in total, all rushing into the Imperial Palace and transforming into identical jade slips around the Human Emperor. With a flick of his finger, the Human Emperor sent one of them into the Grand Tutor's hand.

The Grand Tutor seized it, and after perceiving its contents, his eyes instantly burst with sharp light. He clutched it tightly, and a hoarse voice escaped his lips.

“The Si'e Clan, one of the three affiliated clans of the Blazing Moon Profound Heaven, has mobilized an army of ten million and is invading our northwest border, initiating war!”

“Concurrently, the Bai Ze Clan, another affiliated clan of the Blazing Moon, has deployed its full strength, teleporting to the battlefield between our race and the Dark Sky Race to reinforce the Dark Sky. Marshal Dong Ding Wang, commander of the Dark Sky War, is gravely wounded.”

“Our side is in grave danger on the Dark Sky battlefield, and the northwest border faces severe crisis.”