Chapter 821: He Is Mine

For the scarecrow, her experiences over the years had made her realize that Ding Yisan’er was truly a paradise. It was a place of utter freedom from worry; even if she were to perish, she would somehow continue to exist there, with others to converse with and conspire alongside. A divine finger lay dormant nearby, though it mostly remained in slumber. Moreover, she could occasionally amuse herself by teasing the resident guards.

Although she had yearned for freedom back then, once truly free, she discovered profound unhappiness. Life outside was utterly bleak, and her undying characteristic meant she was exploited and subjected to various horrific experiments. It was a horrific existence, and now, that very characteristic was fading, barely able to restore her shattered form. Yet, she could still endure. The millstone, equally wretched, was now in agony, close to complete collapse.

At this rate, her undying characteristic would completely vanish within a decade or so, and she felt she might instantly turn to ash. Thus, she awaited death, her eyes long devoid of spirit. She never imagined, however, that she would sense Xu Qing’s aura within the Yan Yue Xuan Tian Clan! This was astonishing to her, as the distance from Fenghai County was immense.

Startled, she then excitedly used her sole remaining arm to vigorously pat the millstone beside her, but to no avail; the millstone remained motionless. Her actions, however, drew the attention of the stall owner. The stall owner was a cultivator covered in white scales, with a head resembling that of a human, save for his three eyes. His central eye was entirely white, conveying an unsettling impression of being able to pierce through the void. A small mountain emblem shimmered continuously above his head, indicating he was also a participant in the Great Hunt.

He observed Xu Qing, his gaze initially resting on the small mountain above Xu Qing’s head. After a careful scrutiny of Xu Qing himself, a faint, discerning light flickered in his eyes.

“Humans are quite rare within the Yan Yue.”

Xu Qing maintained a composed expression, having also recognized the other party's race: the Bai Ze. Xu Qing held no particular fondness for this clan; it was the very same clan that had currently poured forth from the Black Spirit Great Domain to participate in the Heitian War. Thus, he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the scarecrow.

“How about this item?” The Bai Ze cultivator smiled, reaching out to grasp it. The scarecrow flew into his white-scaled hand, and as he squeezed it, the scarecrow let out a piercing shriek. “Though this item is of a low level, it is fascinating. It contains partial divine characteristics and an immortal will, making it quite valuable for study.”

“Furthermore, the soul sealed within it is human, a female cultivator whose looks are passable. Though I have long since grown bored of it, its value remains considerable.”

The Bai Ze cultivator observed Xu Qing’s expression, a smile playing on his lips as he spoke: “Could she be a friend of yours? If so, the forbidden mountain above your head would make a suitable exchange! As for that half-millstone, it shares the same origin as this scarecrow, though regrettably it’s on the verge of dissipation. Should you desire it, I can include it as a bonus.”

The Bai Ze cultivator’s words drew the attention of surrounding cultivators. Their gazes swept over, accompanied by chuckles of mockery. Ever since entering Xuan Yue Market, Xu Qing had sensed an abundance of ill will in the gazes directed his way, primarily contempt. The decline of the human race meant that, in the eyes of today's powerful clans, their status, while not outright lowly, was certainly not regarded with importance. Harassing them was merely harassment, and killing them was simply killing. Only the forbidden mountain above Xu Qing’s head, which marked him as a Great Hunt participant, garnered him a slight degree of attention. This was because fighting among participants during the Great Hunt was an exception to the rules, and unauthorized individuals were forbidden from interfering.

Indifferent to the surrounding mockery and scrutinizing gazes, Xu Qing’s expression remained serene. He shook his head and turned to leave. Naturally, he wouldn't agree to such a price.

Noticing Xu Qing’s departure, the Bai Ze cultivator squeezed the scarecrow forcefully. This time, the scarecrow gritted its teeth, desperately trying to suppress its screams.

“How interesting,” the Bai Ze cultivator murmured with a smile, his eyes narrowing as he watched Xu Qing depart. His third eye on his forehead subtly gleamed with a white light, and within it, the fleeting phantom images of four Spiritual Storage realms instantly materialized before vanishing.

“Four Spiritual Storages,” the Bai Ze cultivator murmured to himself as his third eye returned to normal. He then suddenly called out, “Human friend, how about a hundred jin of high-grade divine creature flesh and blood?”

Xu Qing paused, contemplating. He sensed that if Ding Yisan’er were to be made whole again, significant changes might occur. More importantly, this was one of his deep-seated obsessions. He was a guard of Ding Yisan’er, appointed by the Old Palace Master. After a moment of silence, Xu Qing produced a storage bag. He possessed divine creature flesh and blood, acquired in Ji Yue Grand City. Though not in vast quantities, he still had several hundred jin, so he withdrew the storage bag and tossed it over.

The Bai Ze cultivator caught the bag, assessed its contents, and nodded with satisfaction. He then casually tossed the scarecrow from his hand, and with a wave, the millstone also flew toward Xu Qing. Xu Qing flicked his sleeve, absorbing both the scarecrow and the millstone, then turned and departed.

Watching Xu Qing’s retreating figure, the Bai Ze cultivator licked his lips and began tidying his wares.

Meanwhile, as Xu Qing walked, he sent the scarecrow and the millstone into Ding Yisan’er. The moment they entered the cage, the Head, the Stone Lion, and Old Man Dan Qing all showed varying degrees of excitement. Even the divine finger emitted a wisp of its aura, causing the scarecrow to rapidly recover, and the millstone began to grow its missing half.

“Reunion,” the Head chuckled. Immediately, Ding Yisan’er began to tremble. With all its prisoners returned, the cursed cage became whole, and a sense of profound transformation slowly began to ascend within it.

Witnessing this, Xu Qing withdrew his spiritual sense, cast a quick glance at the Bai Ze cultivator’s stall, and continued on his way. Two hours later, Xu Qing rendezvoused with the Captain.

The Captain’s face was etched with tension, yet his eyes gleamed with satisfaction, giving him the appearance of a guilty, plump sheep. He hastily pulled Xu Qing away.

“I managed to ‘hook’ seven or eight, and I suspect there are a few more on the way—not ones I actively sought, but who passively came to me.”

“What about you, little A’Qing? How was your haul?”

“Just one,” Xu Qing replied via spiritual transmission.

“Only one, but a big one?” The Captain blinked.

Xu Qing nodded.

The Captain was exhilarated. Without another word, the two swiftly departed Xuan Yue Market, presenting an appearance of going all out as they rapidly moved into the distance.

As they left, time slowly passed. They maintained a controlled pace, not pausing, but ensuring their overall speed was such that a Spiritual Storage realm cultivator could catch up. However, even after half a day, no one appeared, leaving the Captain somewhat perplexed.

“This can’t be right. When did these Yan Yue Xuan Tian cultivators become so well-behaved? Was my bait not obvious enough?” The Captain sounded a bit regretful. “Or perhaps it was too obvious?”

The Captain frequently looked back. Xu Qing, having sensed something and gazing at the distant horizon, suddenly spoke. “It’s also possible that one party dispatched someone to block the others with ulterior motives, much like how the forbidden zone was previously marked.”

As Xu Qing spoke, he raised his sleeve. A subtle poison restriction spread forth and gently brushed against something hidden within. Instantly, a faint, fingernail-sized mark materialized on his otherwise ordinary sleeve.

“This is a substantial catch. A Bai Ze clan participant secretly left this for me. He covertly sensed my cultivation, assessing me to be at the Four Spiritual Storages, while he himself is at Spiritual Storage Great Perfection.”

“Therefore, let us wait a little longer. He possesses a forbidden mountain.”

Xu Qing’s form flickered, and he descended onto a nearby mountain peak. The Captain’s eyes lit up. He licked his lips, settled beside Xu Qing, and stared expectantly at the sky.

An hour later, as three long rainbows emerged on the horizon, excitement flickered in the Captain’s eyes. The three rainbows moved with extreme speed, as if sensing their target's direction. They sliced through the sky, whistling directly towards Xu Qing’s position. At a distance of ten zhang, the rainbows dissipated, revealing three figures: three Bai Ze clan cultivators.

The cultivator on the right was none other than the stall owner who had sold the scarecrow to Xu Qing. The central figure wore noticeably more lavish attire, and his aura surpassed that of the stall owner, his cultivation having reached the first stage of the Return to Void realm. The third individual was at Spiritual Storage Great Perfection.

Upon their arrival, the stall owner pointed at Xu Qing, then whispered a few words to the Return to Void Bai Ze beside him. Subsequently, his gaze settled on Xu Qing and the Captain, and he spoke, just as he had in Xuan Yue Market: “Humans, whether you were trying to ‘fish’ for us in Xuan Yue Market or not, it makes no difference. From the moment I saw you, we’ve already laid claim to the forbidden mountain above your head.”

“Furthermore, although I’m unaware of your specific standing within the human race, I can nonetheless freely impart two pieces of recent information concerning your people.” The Bai Ze cultivator eyed the forbidden mountain above Xu Qing’s head, then licked his lips. “Your human race has suffered a defeat in the northwestern battlefield. Although your National Master managed to forcibly contain the news, the High Priest of the Si’e clan has also arrived on the battlefield. I’ve heard the Shadow Demon clan has even been persuaded to join. Your northwest is now in grave peril.”

“As for the Heitian clan battlefield, while our clan is indeed being tied down by your forces, and your Fenghai County's power is rapidly sweeping through the Black Spirit Great Domain, do you realize that this diversion was precisely our objective? In these two theaters, your human race has suffered immeasurable casualties. If both your hands are bound, how will you parry the spear aimed at your heart?”

The Bai Ze cultivator’s face was wreathed in a wide smile as he hovered in mid-air, gazing at Xu Qing. “Even as I speak, hundreds more of your human race might be perishing on the battlefield.”

Having spoken, the Bai Ze cultivator keenly observed Xu Qing’s expression. Every word he uttered was laced with ulterior motives, intended to lure Xu Qing and the Captain away from the mountain. He could sense Xu Qing’s and the Captain’s prolonged stay via the mark he’d left. His cautious nature made him suspect that the pair might have set up an ambush there, and he was unwilling to take such a risk. These machinations were perfectly clear to Xu Qing and the Captain, who had endured countless experiences.

“He’s mine,” Xu Qing stated calmly.

“I’ll take care of the other two. Bai Ze clan… it’s been a long time since I’ve had a taste,” the Captain chuckled.

As they spoke, their forms vanished in a flash, and a sudden glint of sharp edges appeared around the three Bai Ze cultivators in mid-air.