Chapter 84: Xu Qing's Rule

A faint, mysterious glow flickered in Xu Qing's eyes.

He was no stranger to the organization known as Sea Ghost. Previously, while at Seven Blood Eyes, he had been short on spirit stones and had killed several wanted criminals, including Sun Dewang from the Sea Ghost organization. Sun Dewang had gambled away everything at Zhao Zhongheng's casino, which resulted in Xu Qing gaining nothing but the bounty for his head after dispatching him. It was then that Xu Qing learned of the numerous pirate organizations in the forbidden sea. Their members were often outcasts from various sects, islands, and clans. Most were desperate individuals who had joined these pirate groups and were active in the forbidden sea. There were several large pirate organizations, and Sea Ghost was one of them.

The more than ten figures now approaching from the base of the mountain all exhibited cultivation fluctuations similar to Sun Dewang's, with four of them clearly surpassing him. Xu Qing sensed they were at the peak of the Qi Condensation realm. Moreover, as individuals who lived on the edge, their murderous aura was exceptionally strong, far more intense than anyone Xu Qing had encountered at the Scavenger Camp.

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at the sixteen figures from the Sea Ghost organization. As they rapidly approached the basin, a sense of deterrence emanated from all the surrounding cultivators. Clearly, the reputation and power of the Sea Ghost organization instinctively caused everyone present to feel a sense of rejection. However, the Sea Ghost cultivators seemed completely indifferent to the cultivators around them. Most wore chilling expressions, and some didn't even bother to hide their malice, letting it show through their sneers. Even when they glanced at Xu Qing and the Old Man of Banquan Road, their gazes were equally cold and dismissive, as if no one present was worthy of their attention.

Yet, they didn't immediately act. Instead, they found an area and sat down cross-legged. Only then did one of them look around coldly and speak slowly: "You can leave now. If you don't, then from this moment on, you can only watch, not seize, any sea lizard skins that appear. Otherwise... death."

His voice, thick with murderous intent, permeated the area, and everyone fell silent.

This scene made Xu Qing thoughtful. He had already formed some suspicions based on the other people present, and now, with the arrival of the Sea Ghost members, he realized something special might be about to happen on Sea Lizard Island.

"Should I leave first?" Xu Qing pondered for a moment. After sensing the cultivation fluctuations within him, he made his decision. He stood up without hesitation, turned, and walked away. His speed was such that he was far away almost instantly.

His departure caused the surrounding cultivators to glance sideways, and the Old Man of Banquan Road looked particularly surprised. "Did that kid actually leave?" Many of the Sea Ghost cultivators also looked at Xu Qing's receding figure but paid him no mind.

Thus, Xu Qing descended the mountain at full speed, entered the jungle without pausing, and reappeared on the sandy beach by the shore about half an hour later. On the beach, his expression was calm. With a wave of his hand, his Dharma boat materialized and landed in the sea. He then leaped onto the boat. The moment he landed, Xu Qing took a deep breath and sat cross-legged. As he formed a hand seal, the boat's protective barrier hummed to life. Meanwhile, his conjured plesiosaur swam beneath the surface, vigilantly patrolling in all directions.

Having completed these preparations, Xu Qing looked up at Sea Lizard Island, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes. His vigilance and astuteness had not diminished due to the smooth harvesting on the island, nor had they weakened with his increased cultivation and strength. His nature remained unchanged. Therefore, as he neared a cultivation breakthrough, he didn't arrogantly choose to remain on the island to advance. While it would likely have been safe, given his ample poison powder that could make anyone who approached bleed from all seven orifices and his own considerable strength, there was no need for it. He had witnessed countless instances in the slum where temporary arrogance and carelessness provided opportunities for others to exploit. Just as his principle was to eliminate all life-threatening dangers around him, Xu Qing would never create opportunities for others to strike against him. This was a law of living in troubled times. Some people, due to their growing strength, slowly forgot this, but Xu Qing's childhood experiences were etched into his bones, so he would not.

Now in a safe environment, Xu Qing closed his eyes. His cultivation erupted within him, and he began his breakthrough.

Meanwhile, by the mountain peak basin on Sea Lizard Island, with Xu Qing's departure, the toxicity in the air somewhat lessened, causing many cultivators to feel a sense of relief. However, the words spoken by the Sea Ghost organization upon their arrival became a potent threat, leaving all the rogue cultivators feeling suppressed. Yet, leaving seemed unappealing, so each of them hesitated, pondering their choice. A few, after hesitating, also chose to leave.

Soon, dusk descended. The moment the evening glow faded, a thin mist gradually appeared between the distant sea and sky, spreading in all directions as if an invisible deity was breathing its essence, swirling above the forbidden sea and dispersing. Mist was not uncommon in the forbidden sea, so even if someone noticed, they wouldn't pay much attention—until a startling fluctuation suddenly emerged from the sea near the coast. This prompted many cultivators to quickly look up. The moment their gazes reached the coast, the spiritual energy there erupted with even stronger fluctuations.

In that instant, an endless stream of spiritual energy surged from all directions, swirling towards a Dharma boat on the sea. The range was vast, covering over sixty zhang in the blink of an eye and continuing to expand, reaching eighty-nine zhang almost instantly. It didn't stop there; due to the sudden influx of spiritual energy, a massive vortex formed on the sea surface, centered around Xu Qing's Dharma boat. The vortex roared, the seawater churned, and like a bright beacon in the night, it drew the attention of everyone in the many mountains on Sea Lizard Island. Gaze after gaze converged, and gasps of surprise could be heard from every mountain.

"He's actually breaking through here?"

"This breakthrough sensation... it's quite powerful!"

As for the cultivators in the basin, both rogue cultivators and Sea Ghost members, they were all astonished, their minds shaken as they stared at the distant vortex on the sea.

"It's that Seven Blood Eyes disciple who left earlier!"

"He's actually having a breakthrough in cultivation!"

Xu Qing couldn't hear the cultivators' discussions. At this moment, on his Dharma boat within the vortex, his entire body trembled. The spiritual sea within him, like the external one, measured eighty-nine zhang. It was as if another world existed within him, overlapping with the external world at that very moment. With this overlap, Xu Qing's body trembled even more violently, emitting dazzling purple light. His breathing grew rapid. As his cultivation circulated, the moment his internal spiritual sea broke through the final zhang, reaching ninety zhang, the external vortex also suddenly expanded to ninety zhang.

The inner and outer seas synchronized at this moment, turning into a thunderous roar that continuously erupted in Xu Qing's mind.

Boom, boom, boom!

The Eighth Layer of the Sea Transformation Scripture broke through, advancing to the Ninth Layer!

It wasn't over! Amidst this eruption, the swirling spiritual sea around him expanded once more, its range growing further: ninety-one zhang, ninety-two zhang, ninety-three zhang... The external expansion drew his internal spiritual sea, causing it to similarly expand and elevate. This was a scene Xu Qing had never encountered during his previous cultivation. It was because his current breakthrough was taking place within the forbidden sea, which, unlike the previous bay, had a denser concentration of spiritual energy. At this moment, the range continued to expand: ninety-four zhang, ninety-five zhang, ninety-six zhang... Until the external vortex reached a ninety-seven zhang radius, Xu Qing's internal spiritual sea also erupted, synchronizing to a ninety-seven zhang range. In an instant, a wave of Qi Condensation Layer Nine completely burst forth from his body. The sea surface within a ninety-seven zhang radius around him instantly churned and surged high. From a distance, it was a shocking sight.

At this moment, Xu Qing's eyes snapped open. Purple light persisted in his pupils for several breaths. Just as it began to dim, an even stronger fluctuation emanated from Xu Qing's body once more. Behind him, the silhouette of a 'Ba' (drought demon) materialized, letting out a ferocious, ghost-like roar towards the sky, filled with brutality. This caused the violently churning hundred-zhang sea surface around him to instantly show signs of combustion, transforming into a sea of fire. As the roar echoed in all directions, the 'Ba' shadow behind Xu Qing inhaled forcefully, like a whale devouring. Instantly, the ninety-seven zhang vortex of fire surged directly into its gaping maw. It swallowed everything in an instant. As it consumed, the 'Ba' shadow's body trembled violently. Red light, constantly intensifying, shone beneath its cracked skin, as if it were filled with magma, a truly shocking sight. Finally, the light dispersed, forming a dazzling radiance that enveloped the surroundings, while a potent wave of flame power surged forth from Xu Qing's body! This wasn't a strange transformation of water and fire; it was an extraordinary fusion of water and fire, for within these flames, there were also currents of water formed by the forbidden sea's essence!

Only at this moment was Xu Qing's breakthrough truly complete.

The purple light in his eyes vanished. He slowly stood up, an imposing figure on his Dharma boat. His powerful aura and sharp gaze made everyone on Sea Lizard Island who witnessed him intensely shaken. This was especially true for the cultivators around the island's mountain-top basin; they all gasped, as if facing a formidable enemy. Xu Qing's breakthrough was truly astonishing, putting immense pressure on them. Those cultivators who had previously seen Xu Qing in action felt an even greater shock. They knew Xu Qing was already formidable, and now, after his breakthrough, they could imagine that with such a person present, their gains this time would likely be minimal.

The Old Man of Banquan Road also stared wide-eyed, then suddenly whispered to the large snake beside him: "How about you try to tempt that kid? I think he's quite extraordinary. How can a Qi Condensation Layer Nine cultivator feel even stronger than a Foundation Establishment cultivator to me!"

As everyone stared, their collective breathing hitched, because... they saw Xu Qing on the distant sea leap onto the island again, moving faster than before. He transformed into a long rainbow, returning once more! In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xu Qing's figure, radiating a ferocious aura, suddenly reappeared outside the basin. Ignoring everyone, he returned to his former perch on the tree canopy, and just as before, sat down cross-legged.

This time, however, his presence drew the keen attention of all the Sea Ghost cultivators. Their expressions grew serious, and a subtle wariness flickered in their eyes. While the display of strength had its pros and cons, in the current environment, the advantages clearly outweighed the disadvantages. Xu Qing was using his actions to tell Sea Ghost: "Don't provoke me. Your words about prohibiting others from seizing sea lizard skins... they are invalid for me."