Chapter 814: Not As Good As Saying

The sky over the Imperial Capital, like spilled ink, was dark, monotonous, and devoid of color.

The setting sun gradually descended in the west, its lingering light losing much of its brilliance and growing dim. The sparse light that scattered across the land cloaked everything in gray, as if the entire world was steeped in a pervasive gloom.

Even the clouds in the sky seemed to merge with the firmament in this atmosphere, becoming indistinguishable.

Pedestrians on the street hurried with anxious expressions. Though unaware of the specific imperial decree, they had seen the blood-red Mystic Bird and surmised that a catastrophe might be approaching.

The movement of large armies, in particular, had turned these conjectures into reality.

In this era, humanity was filled with sorrow.

Thus, gloom became the dominant force in the human world, gradually turning pitch black. Lightning flashed across the darkness, as if a great storm was imminent.

The wind that blew, though no longer carrying the chill of deep winter, brought with it the change of seasons and reminded people of the arrival of spring. Yet, when it touched a person, it felt... even colder than winter.

Xu Qing felt it, but he had already adapted.

Standing outside the Forgetfulness Tower of the Mortal World, he listened to the voice of the Mud Fox by his ear, feeling no surprise.

He understood the nature of deities better than ordinary people.

However, his presence this time had another purpose.

"The Crimson Mother has fallen," Xu Qing stated calmly.

"Of course I know that, little rascal. What are you trying to say?" The Mud Fox chuckled softly, her voice laced with a hint of seduction.

"But the Red Moon remains."

As Xu Qing spoke, a ripple of energy emanated from within the Forgetfulness Tower in front of him.

Xu Qing's expression remained unchanged as he continued.

"I can sense that the Red Moon is returning."

"I plundered the Crimson Mother's authority, so my perception cannot be wrong. Soon, the Red Moon will appear in the sky over the Ancient Horizon Continent. At that time, the person standing on the Red Moon could be Li Zihua or someone else."

"No matter who it is, they will seek completeness. And we, who have divided the Crimson Mother's flesh and blood, might be their target."

"Just like seeds, grown only to be harvested later."

Xu Qing's voice entered the Forgetfulness Tower. After a moment, the Mud Fox laughed, "Little rascal, your words are quite interesting, but I cannot see into the future."

Xu Qing did not argue, even though deities could see the future. His voice remained calm as it echoed.

"The Crimson Mother is Li Zihua's sister. They became gods later, unlike primordial deities."

"Consider the Fifth Prince. From the perspective of righteousness, he knew I was right to kill the Seventh. But as an elder brother, he still had to fight me. I also have an elder brother; if someone killed me, he wouldn't stop them. But after my death, I think he would act to sever the karmic ties for his own peace of mind."

The Mud Fox fell silent, seemingly in thought. A moment later, her voice contained less seduction and more formality.

"An interesting deduction. Although it's unlikely, it does sound somewhat reasonable. So... what do you want from me?"

Xu Qing bowed respectfully. "I ask Starflame Exalted Deity to grant me eligibility to participate in the hunting ritual of the Blazing Moon Mystic Heaven clan."

"My interest in you was indeed not misplaced. Little rascal, you are truly amusing at times, to think you could come up with such a solution." The Mud Fox laughed aloud.

"If you can obtain the title of Mystic Heaven General in the Blazing Moon Mystic Heaven clan's hunting ritual, then you will gain an honorary status within the Blazing Moon clan."

"And every Mystic Heaven General who emerges from a Great Hunt has the opportunity to request a boon from the Three Great Authorities."

"Are you planning to use this opportunity to prevent the Blazing Moon Mystic Heaven clan from warring with humanity? That possibility is nonexistent." The Mud Fox's voice was filled with mockery; to her, human lives were merely like flowers.

Xu Qing shook his head. "If I succeed, I will not make that request."

"Then what is your request?" The Mud Fox asked, a little curious.

"You will know once I succeed."

Xu Qing looked at the Forgetfulness Tower and spoke softly.

Laughter emanated from within the tower.

"You mischievous rascal, fine, I can agree to this small request. I can grant it to you, considering your vital essence."

As she spoke, a streak of pink rainbow light flew out from the tower, heading straight for Xu Qing. It stopped in front of him, and amid shimmering light, transformed into a pink token.

Its front depicted a fox figure, while its back showed a landscape of mountains and rivers.

Xu Qing took the token and his gaze fell upon it, examining it. At the same time, a languid voice came from within the Forgetfulness Tower.

"By the way, I can also tell you about the stages of the Great Hunt in advance. You should know, this is my special favor for you; I wouldn't bother telling anyone else."

The seductive quality of the Mud Fox's voice intensified at this moment.

Xu Qing took a deep breath, cupped his hands in greeting, and listened intently. He knew the upcoming information was crucial for him.

Indeed, as he had stated earlier, his purpose for coming this time was to obtain this qualification. As for returning to the Moon-Sacrificing Grand Domain, Xu Qing did not intend to make it the primary objective of this trip. Given his relationship with the Crown Prince and others, if he pleaded, it was highly probable that they would intervene.

But he had to consider the wishes of the Crown Prince and others. So Xu Qing's plan was to first try to solve it himself, and only if that failed, then seek help from the Moon-Sacrificing Grand Domain.

Furthermore.

Another reason Xu Qing chose the Blazing Moon Mystic Heaven clan was that Ning Yan's merits would only allow him a chance to enter the Ancestral Star and potentially obtain the 'Yuan Zi Xuan Shang Qing Lantern' if he became the Crown Prince. Therefore, Xu Qing felt that Ning Yan's battle merits from going to the Dark Sky clan were not enough.

If the situation with the Blazing Moon Mystic Heaven clan could also be resolved, then this merit would be immensely great for Ning Yan.

As Xu Qing's thoughts drifted, the Mud Fox's voice wafted over.

"The Blazing Moon Mystic Heaven clan's Great Hunt this time is divided into three stages. To become a Mystic Heaven General, you must be first in at least one stage. If you can be first in all three stages, then you will be titled something more than an ordinary Mystic Heaven General."

"You would be a Grand Mystic Heaven!"

There was a hint of anticipation in the Mud Fox's tone.

"It has been many years since a Grand Mystic Heaven appeared. And currently, the first stage of the hunt is underway; it lasts for half a year and is already halfway through."

"The first stage is mountain moving."

"Not an ordinary mountain, but a forbidden mountain." Xu Qing's eyes narrowed.

"Forbidden mountain?"

"That's right," the Mud Fox chuckled. "Whether within the Blazing Moon clan's sphere of influence or outside it, any mountain found within a forbidden zone is acceptable."

"One forbidden mountain fulfills the requirement, but it's only the minimum. To become first, the forbidden mountain you acquire must surpass everyone else's."

"Also, during the first stage, you must carry the forbidden mountain to the Blazing Moon's Divine Mountain and Divine City. Only by integrating the mountain there is it considered complete."

"During this time... all participants can kill each other, plunder from one another, regardless of life or death."

The Mud Fox paused slightly here. These simple words revealed a hint of bloodshed.

Xu Qing nodded. The Mud Fox continued, "As for the second stage, it's quite interesting. It's called 'Taming the Hunted'."

"Within the Blazing Moon Mystic Heaven clan, there are various divine creatures, some strong, some weak. Taming a Mystic Heaven Mount of your own is the requirement for this second stage."

"The more powerful the divine beast, the greater the difficulty of taming it. To become first, the difficulty is naturally immense; a slight carelessness might lead you to become its food."

"So, little rascal, you must think carefully. Don't disappear before giving me your vital essence. And during the Great Hunt, even I cannot easily interfere."

Xu Qing listened, deep in thought. This stage's requirement also seemed quite unique.

"As for the third stage, it's much simpler, but also the most important."

Inside the ancestral hall, the Mud Fox licked her lips, a strange, enchanting glint appearing in her eyes.

"That is, 'Hunting in a Divine Domain'."

"At that time, my two elder sisters and I will act together to tear open an entrance to a Divine Domain."

"As for which Divine Domain it will be, I cannot tell you, but I think... you will quite like that place." The Mud Fox chuckled softly.

"After the Divine Domain is torn open, all participants will rush inside. The number and identity of the divine domain creatures they slay will be the standard for evaluation."

"Naturally, the more you kill, the greater your chance of winning. But similarly, that is a Divine Domain... in every Great Hunt, most of the participants actually die."

"A certain number will also be encroached upon, transforming into divine flesh. This divine flesh is excellent for feeding my little darlings. Occasionally, if you have something exceptionally delicious, I might take a bite myself."

"This is a feast, a feast prepared for the pleasure of the deities. If you participate, I will watch this feast even more closely."

"But I don't want to see others eat your flesh first after you die, so... I might use a divine authority to claim your flesh for myself."

"Little rascal, what do you think of this proposition?"

The Mud Fox's voice was very gentle, but the implications of her words were bone-chilling.

Xu Qing didn't seem to mind and nodded. "Alright."

Inside the ancestral hall, the Mud Fox burst into charming laughter, her laughter making the divine shrine tremble, dust sprinkle from her body, and the ancestral hall itself shake. The light in her eyes became even more intense. Finally, she licked her lips and softly said, "This time it's for real, little rascal, I've found... I like you more and more."

Xu Qing glanced at the Forgetfulness Tower of the Mortal World. He had experienced similar words and feelings before with Yan Yan; in fact, comparatively, this Mud Fox was somewhat restrained.

Aside from the difference in their abilities, to some extent, there was still a considerable gap between her and Yan Yan.

So Xu Qing said nothing. He cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and left.

As the sky completely darkened, his figure gradually disappeared into the night, merging with the darkness, leaving no trace, indistinguishable from it.

A long time later, within the pitch-black, relatively silent Imperial Capital.

In the ancestral hall of the sealed Forgetfulness Tower of the Mortal World, the Mud Fox on the divine shrine slightly raised her head, gazing into the distance. "My second elder sister once fell in love with someone," she murmured. "I wonder what that felt like."