Chapter 823: This Time It's the Star Flame Divine Messenger

The Grand Hunt, held periodically in the Eighth Domain of the Scarlet Moon Mystic Sky Clan's inner territories, is always a momentous occasion for the clan.

Not only do various affiliated clans from the Eight Domains participate, but also cultivators from other outer domains sometimes gain qualification by chance, just like Xu Qing.

Consequently, the total number of participants isn't fixed. However, the number of Forbidden Mountains is limited. With so many cultivators vying for them, the difficulty of passing increases significantly for the majority, as at least three mountains are required to meet the basic qualification.

This means participants must constantly compete with each other to accumulate enough Forbidden Mountains to reach the basic standard.

But the basic standard isn't what the Scarlet Moon Mystic Sky Clan desires.

They seek powerful individuals. To intensify this competition, a strategy reminiscent of 'raising venomous insects' has been implemented by the Scarlet Moon Mystic Sky Clan, as Xu Qing and the Captain had heard.

This involves opening certain restricted zones.

During the first phase of the hunt, various affiliated clans and influential nobles under the Scarlet Moon Mystic Sky Clan's three grand authorities will progressively open restricted zones within their territories at specific times, as per the Temple's requirements, allowing all participants to enter.

Furthermore, no interference with participants' hunting or seizing behavior is permitted; encouragement is the main policy.

These opened restricted zones appear continuously like vortexes of blood and flesh across multiple domains of the Scarlet Moon Mystic Sky Clan.

This mechanism relentlessly drives the first phase of the Grand Hunt forward until the most outstanding talents are chosen from among the elites.

However, due to variations in geography and opening times, it's rare for all participants to rush into a restricted zone immediately after it opens.

Typically, only participants passing nearby become aware of an opening and gather, with their numbers varying.

Currently, in the northwestern area of the Eighth Domain, one such vortex of blood and flesh has been announced open by a Scarlet Moon noble. This area was originally sealed, its outer layer visible, enveloped by a golden barrier that made it a private domain.

The restricted zone within is vast, covering half a province. Strange matter is dense, forming a wide expanse of mist, and the exotic beasts residing there are of a very high caliber. It appears this entire restricted zone is not far from spontaneously advancing to become a forbidden land itself.

From a distance, this restricted zone features a copper-leafed forest, winding rivers, eerie villages, and towering Forbidden Mountains. Above the highest peak, a resplendent golden palace floats in mid-air, with several rows of statues standing outside it.

In the deepest part, a tall figure rests on a massive chair, propping his forehead with one hand.

This individual appears to be middle-aged, radiating golden light with a magnificent aura and clear spiritual fluctuations, seemingly capable of suppressing the world.

He is one of the Scarlet Moon nobles who owns this restricted zone.

This opening is in accordance with the Temple's command for him to open his own restricted zone. He is also interested in this year's talents, which is why he has come in person, hoping to see if any promising individuals will emerge within his domain.

There are also unspoken rules tacitly agreed upon by all parties, and he needs to make arrangements out of courtesy.

As the hour arrived, the Scarlet Moon noble's eyes subtly opened and closed, and he took a deep breath.

With that single breath, the heavens and earth instantly changed color, winds surged, and the vast golden barrier enveloping the restricted zone shattered into countless pieces.

It then transformed into swirling golden mist, rapidly converging from all directions towards the noble's palace, swiftly entering it and being absorbed into his mouth.

"The restricted zone is open. Show me what you've got, young ones!"

The Scarlet Moon noble spoke indifferently, his voice thundering in all directions like heavenly lightning.

As his words echoed, figures of talents from various Scarlet Moon clans began to appear around the restricted zone, each moving at full speed, rushing in.

They charged into the restricted zone from different directions.

Immediately, fierce competition erupted within the restricted zone.

Here, no outsiders would interfere with the fighting, seizing, or any deaths that occurred; the Scarlet Moon noble simply watched from his palace as if enjoying a show.

Casualties quickly began to appear.

After all, not everyone chose to head straight for the Forbidden Mountains, as defeating other participants could also yield mountains.

Hunting down other participants was, naturally, simpler than battling a crowd for a mountain.

However, all this turmoil was concealed within the restricted zone. From the outside, the area seemed like a black hole, swallowing everything, with no sound or fluctuations escaping.

It was utterly silent.

Time passed, and soon seven days had gone by. Every day, more Grand Hunt participants arrived and vanished into the restricted zone, while some chose to leave.

Strangely, the number of Forbidden Mountains within remained largely unchanged.

"A bit dull, isn't it?" The Scarlet Moon noble, watching the spectacle from his palace, yawned and shook his head. He felt the show wasn't particularly interesting.

At this moment, a hundred miles from the restricted zone, on the horizon, Xu Qing and the Captain were rapidly approaching.

They traveled without pause, finally nearing the location after seven days.

The number of Forbidden Mountains above Xu Qing's head had also increased from two to three, indicating other gains along the way.

"A bit slow," Xu Qing muttered to himself. The slow travel time and slow acquisition rate of Forbidden Mountains made him think that unless he could achieve a massive haul, there wouldn't be enough time to collect a hundred mountains.

With this thought, Xu Qing looked up at the silent restricted zone in the distance, a cold glint in his eyes, and sped forward.

The Captain followed behind, a hint of anticipation in his expression.

After the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, they finally reached the edge of the restricted zone. The moment he stepped inside, a mist of strange matter swirled around, engulfing his figure.

Within the mist, Xu Qing's aura also changed, becoming concealed.

He no longer moved openly but crouched low, his every appearance blending seamlessly into the surrounding jungle environment.

This method of movement was instinctive for Xu Qing.

Having lived and interacted extensively within restricted zones, he had developed this habit.

After entering the restricted zone, his Forbidden Mountains, influenced by an external force, shrank and circled above his head, much like when he approached the Xuan Moon.

Observing Xu Qing's figure ahead, the Captain showed a hint of curiosity in his eyes. It wasn't his first time seeing Xu Qing move this way in a restricted zone, but this time he observed more closely.

Gradually, his own movements began to change, and he quickly learned some of Xu Qing's techniques, crouching and leaping from branch to branch alongside Xu Qing within the restricted zone.

This technique allowed them to a certain extent to remain hidden in the shadows, not easily revealing themselves.

While moving swiftly, Xu Qing also noticed that the area greatly affected spiritual sense; even when fully extended, it only covered a few hundred zhang.

For cultivators accustomed to their spiritual sense sweeping all directions, this naturally felt restrictive.

As for Little Shadow, it was still asleep and couldn't help at the moment.

However, Xu Qing felt fine. His familiarity with restricted zones allowed him to gain more information through the surrounding plants and trees, achieving an effect of indirect vision.

Therefore, throughout their journey, Xu Qing observed his surroundings, noting the plants and trees, the exotic beasts, and also the distant mountains and the golden palace floating in mid-air.

That palace felt out of place here; it was most likely where the Scarlet Moon noble resided. It seemed this Scarlet Moon dignitary was also quite a fan of spectacles.

The Captain transmitted a low whisper:

"Little A'Qing, many people must have died here over the past seven days. I smell a very strong scent of blood!"

Xu Qing nodded, his gaze sweeping over some plants on the ground. Among them was a type of grass called Blood Spirit Grass, which swayed gently and grew exceptionally well.

This grass thrives by absorbing the aura of death; wherever there is death, its branches and leaves will lean towards that direction.

Just as Xu Qing moved, the branches and leaves of the Blood Spirit Grass on the ground instantly stirred, all pointing towards a single direction, rapidly wiggling as if absorbing something.

Xu Qing's spiritual sense registered no reaction, but he noticed a slight fluctuation from the token the Mud Fox had given him. This made him thoughtful; he paused and concealed himself.

Beside him, the Captain also crouched on a tree branch, transforming into a worm and disappearing without a trace.

Half an incense stick later, a faint whistling sound was heard from a distance. Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and waited silently.

Not long after, a rapidly approaching figure appeared in Xu Qing's sight.

This individual was a young man from the Scarlet Moon Mystic Sky Clan itself, with a Spirit Hoard cultivation base, but it was clearly unstable. He was visibly injured, his expression was withered, and there was blood at the corner of his mouth.

Anxiety still flickered in his eyes. After Xu Qing had concealed himself, the young man paused, immediately scanned his surroundings, found nothing, and grew even more anxious. Just as he was about to speak, a piercing, rock-splitting sound echoed from the distance.

Besides its sharpness, the sound also carried a sense of intense flame. The next moment, a fiery red figure, enveloped in a sea of fire, roared closer.

A cold voice also reverberated through the area.

"Qiu Quezi, since we've met, it's time to settle our past grievances. Where can you possibly run?"

As the words were spoken, the figure of the arriving cultivator revealed itself in mid-air. He was also from the Scarlet Moon Mystic Sky Clan.

He was also a young man, but the intense flames emanating from him were unlike anything Xu Qing had seen on other cultivators of the Scarlet Moon Mystic Sky Clan.

Above his head, two Forbidden Mountains were clearly circling.

"Old grievances?" Upon hearing this, Qiu Quezi, who was being pursued, showed anger in his eyes.

"Regarding what happened between us back then, you know perfectly well who was right and who was wrong!" After saying this, Qiu Quezi bowed deeply to his surroundings, his expression devout, and loudly proclaimed, "Back then!"

"Prince Xingyan! Qiu Quezi, administrator before the Spirit Suppression Authority's tent, respectfully greets Divine Emissary Xingyan."

The moment he spoke, the expression of the Scarlet Moon Mystic Sky cultivator who was pursuing him changed, and he abruptly looked around.

The surroundings were silent, with no fluctuations detected.

A moment later, Qiu Quezi's face turned pale, while the Scarlet Moon cultivator who had been pursuing him let out a soft laugh.

At the same time, inside the golden palace floating in mid-air, the Scarlet Moon noble who had been resting with his hand propped on his forehead opened his eyes, revealing a hint of interest.

"Interesting," he murmured, then raised a hand and gently pointed towards Xu Qing's hiding place within the restricted zone.