Chapter 838: The Battle for the Top Position

The sky settled, and the earth became still.

The clouds and mist in the sky, tattered and fragmented above their heads after the battle between Xu Qing and Crown Prince Ming Nan, allowed starlight to freely sprinkle through the ruptures. This bathed the area in a mysterious, glowing veil of stars. The deep pits and large depressions in the ground's magma also gradually healed, leveling out as high temperatures began to rise.

With the end of this battle, everything became peaceful.

Only the Captain's voice gently echoed. It was rare for him to utter such formal words.

Having spoken, the Captain stood there, hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. Wind swept down from the clouds, stirring his long hair and robes. A few strands danced before his eyes, and through the gaps, one could see a hint of reminiscence and emotion in his gaze.

It seemed as though unique experiences, beyond what ordinary people possessed, had moved him to speak. At that moment, he resembled a solitary commander standing at the heart of a battlefield.

This scene, witnessed by the human cultivators, resonated deeply. Some among them had heard of the Captain. After all, compared to Xu Qing's ten-thousand-zhang Trial of the Heart, a one-zhang Trial of the Heart, equally unprecedented and unmatched, was undeniably a significant qualification. But now, as the Captain's words echoed, their perception of him underwent a tremendous change. Even the First Prince gazed at the Captain a few more times, understanding dawning on him, and bowed respectfully.

The Captain's eyebrow subtly twitched, his expression otherwise unchanged – a detail most would miss. But Xu Qing, with just a glance, knew the Captain was posing again. He naturally wouldn't expose him. At that moment, with a wave of his hand, a forbidden mountain descended from above, heading directly towards the First Prince. It was the mountain previously reserved for the First Prince in the forbidden zone, now returned to its rightful owner.

“See you at Divine Mountain.”

Xu Qing said calmly.

Xu Qing had no prior interaction with the First Prince, but he knew the First Prince was also a participant in the Grand Hunt. According to the rules of the Grand Hunt, if one wasn't aiming for first place, possessing a forbidden mountain met the basic requirements. As for whether it could be ultimately kept, that was beyond Xu Qing's interference.

Having bestowed a forbidden mountain, Xu Qing stepped towards the horizon, while the Captain maintained his solemn expression, walking alongside him.

Their figures shone on the distant horizon, drawing the gaze of all human cultivators. Just as Xu Qing and the Captain were about to vanish from sight, the First Prince suddenly spoke.

“Venerable Xu,”

The First Prince clasped his hands and bowed deeply.

“I wish you success.”

He had already discerned that Xu Qing's goal was the Xuan Heavenly General rank; otherwise, he wouldn't need so many forbidden mountains. All the human cultivators beside him bowed their heads, sincerely convinced, and paid their respects.

Xu Qing paused, looked back at the land, and after a moment, returned the bow. Then, in a single step, he vanished into the sky with the Captain. As for the bone dragon carriage, Xu Qing also put it away.

After a long while, the First Prince and the human cultivators each took a deep breath. After exchanging glances, all their gazes converged on the First Prince.

The First Prince gazed at the spot where Xu Qing had disappeared on the horizon and said in a low voice, “Our next goal is not to seek peace, but to find a way to gather enough intelligence for Venerable Xu, and to prepare with all our might for his bid for the Xuan Heavenly General rank.”

With that, the First Prince began giving orders. As he did, the group dispersed, each setting off to gather information and intelligence according to his instructions.

Thus, time slowly passed, and three days went by.

During these three days, the news of Crown Prince Ming Nan's death, impossible to conceal, gradually spread. Initially, it was just a rumor, largely disbelieved by those who heard it, some even scoffing at it as absurd. In their judgment, few possessed both the capability and the courage to kill Crown Prince Ming Nan, given his background and personal combat strength. He was, after all, King Ming Nan's only son. Yet, as information continued to spread, doubts slowly receded, replaced by growing shock. Coupled with the fact that Crown Prince Ming Nan's figure had never reappeared, the news of his death ultimately became a hot topic, drawing attention from numerous cultivators of the Fiery Moon Profound Sky Clan.

After all, Crown Prince Ming Nan was a prominent figure within the Fiery Moon Profound Sky Clan; his every move garnered significant attention. His sudden disappearance, and the implications it carried, stirred waves in the hearts of all who sensed it. Consequently, many cultivators arrived at the site where Crown Prince Ming Nan and Xu Qing had battled during these past few days. They conducted their own investigations, and from a series of clues, they pieced together the truth. This truth, transforming into a storm, swept across the entire clan with incredible speed.

“Crown Prince Ming Nan is presumed dead!”

“The one who killed Crown Prince Ming Nan is a human cultivator!”

“Someone has already identified the human cultivator: his name is Xu Qing!”

Countless pieces of information exploded in all directions within a short time, and details of Xu Qing's past were quickly uncovered. However, as more was learned and known, an even greater storm began to erupt. Indeed, Xu Qing's past was shocking, even to the cultivators of the Fiery Moon Profound Sky Clan themselves.

“Lord of the Seal Sea Prefecture for the Human Race!”

“Participated in god-slaying in the Sacrificial Moon Grand Domain!”

“Revered as a deity in the Black Spirit Grand Domain!”

“In the Human Imperial Capital, he slew a prince and was bestowed a sword by the Emperor!”

“His single word can determine the rise or fall of a domain!”

“It is said that this person possesses demigod-level poisonous arts that shake the heavens, and even the authority of the Purple Moon!”

“Behind him, there is not only protection from a manifested deity but also a divine blessing!”

“Furthermore, this Xu Qing seems to be a Divine Envoy of the Starflame Divine Palace!”

Each piece of information was more sensational than the last. As they spread, Xu Qing's reputation soared within the Fiery Moon Profound Sky Clan! Coupled with the continuous killings throughout his journey in the Grand Hunt, virtually all participants of the Grand Hunt could not remain unaware of his existence. Before he even reached Divine Mountain, his name was already known to all.

Another crucial point was the number of forbidden mountains Xu Qing possessed, which, as he journeyed towards Divine Mountain, began to draw attention from onlookers. His forbidden mountains were simply too numerous. Combined with Xu Qing's fame, his presence radiated a blazing power, akin to Crown Prince Ming Nan's, drawing all eyes. Among those watching, some were indifferent, some hostile, some unwilling to accept it, and some resentful!

After all, from the perspective of the Fiery Moon Profound Sky Clan, especially the native Fiery Moon members, for a human to acquire so many forbidden mountains in their sacred hunt, surpassing almost everyone else, made them feel overshadowed. If the human race were mighty, it might be acceptable, but the current human race was weak. Consequently, this feeling transformed into shame and intensified hostility in the hearts of many native Fiery Moon members.

Attention grew, and piece by piece, information about Xu Qing's whereabouts and acquisitions continued to spread as time passed.

“Xu Qing and his group have crossed the Third Inner Domain!”

“During this time, he was obstructed by the Bai Ze Clan, whom he slew, bringing his forbidden mountains close to eight hundred!”

“Xu Qing has entered the Second Inner Domain!”

“He has again slain multiple participants, and his mountains now exceed eight hundred!”

“Approaching the First Inner Domain!”

“Nine hundred forbidden mountains!”

“He fought his way into the First Inner Domain, less than five days' journey from Divine Mountain!”

Some saw from afar that Xu Qing emanated astonishing killing intent. The dissemination of this information led to immense attention on Xu Qing's journey, with his every move being watched. Many Fiery Moon cultivators, seeing Xu Qing's unstoppable rise, even turned their attention to King Ming Nan. After all, his son's death could very well cause a catastrophe. Yet, strangely, King Ming Nan had made no move whatsoever from beginning to end.

As news of Xu Qing's approach to Divine Mountain spread, finally, some of the inner prodigies among the native cultivators of the Fiery Moon Profound Sky Clan began to show interest in Xu Qing. Although Crown Prince Ming Nan was strong, he was not at the peak of his generation within the native Fiery Moon Profound Sky Clan; more than a dozen others surpassed him in ranking. These true Fiery Moon prodigies possessed diverse personalities: some were indifferent to fame and fortune, some arrogant and ostentatious, some acted discreetly, some had wild styles, some loved empty glory, and some disdained it, pursuing only strength. Their attitudes towards Xu Qing also varied depending on their individual personalities.

Meanwhile, in the Fiery Moon's First Inner Domain, just half a day's journey from Divine Mountain, a cultivator clad in a coarse linen robe was striding across the land. His body was much larger than that of ordinary native Fiery Moon cultivators. His nearly five-zhang tall frame made him appear like a giant, with bulging muscles and surging vital energy, indicating extreme strength. As he walked, he resembled a small mountain, exuding an irresistible aura. Each step he took caused the earth to rumble and tremble. Simultaneously, he utilized the 'Shrinking Ground to an Inch' technique, allowing him astonishing speed. Even more astonishing were the more than nine hundred forbidden mountains floating above his head.

All this ensured that anyone who encountered him along his path was profoundly shaken and bowed their heads in reverence. This was due partly to his identity and partly to his formidable reputation. This individual was Tuo Shishan, one of the five supreme prodigies within the Fiery Moon Profound Sky Clan.

Unlike other prodigies who weren't particularly interested in becoming the chief of the first phase, his case was quite the opposite: his goal was to become the Xuan Heavenly General. This was because his family was the 'Xuan Heaven' family, which had produced six Xuan Heavenly Generals.

As his immense form strode forward, the earth roared beneath his feet. With the shifting landscape, his figure appeared atop a mountain range. Far in the distance, a golden light shimmered on the horizon. The specific details were unclear, but one could only see an endless golden radiance. That was Fiery Moon's Divine Mountain, the destination of the Grand Hunt's first phase.

“Finally arrived,” Tuo Shishan grinned, standing there and gazing into the distance. Around him, the void distorted as nine figures materialized and knelt before him.

“Welcome, Young Master.”

Tuo Shishan nodded slightly, withdrawing his gaze. “How much longer until Xu Qing arrives here? How many forbidden mountains does he have?”

Among the nine figures beside him, one responded in a low voice, “He will be here in three hours. He possesses a few more forbidden mountains than Your Highness.”

Tuo Shishan licked his lips, a flicker of interest in his eyes. Instead of moving forward, he sat directly on a rock to wait. At the same time, he raised his right hand, pulled out a wine jar, and took a large swig.

“Excellent,” he muttered. “To be able to kill Crown Prince Ming Nan makes him a notable figure. I never liked that kid anyway, so it's good that he was killed. However, the chief position of this first phase is mine!”