Chapter 840: Little friend, don't be impulsive, let's talk it over

At this moment, numerous cultivators gathered outside the two distinct seals near the sacred mountain, their divine senses extending across the area. Most were from the various tribes of Yan Yue Xuan Tian, including some from other ethnic groups within the main tribe. Attracted by the unfolding events, they quickly discerned what was happening. Upon seeing Tuo Shishan's nine attendants near the peak, they realized he was one of the combatants, settling their minds.

They believed that Tuo Shishan, a distinguished member of the Xuan Tian family, exceptional since childhood, and one of the Yan Yue Xuan Tian tribe's five greatest prodigies of this generation, was invincible. Once he decided to act, defeat was impossible. Even though Xu Qing had displayed an overwhelming and irresistible presence throughout his journey, they felt that there was always someone greater, a higher peak to conquer.

They reasoned that a human, even a prodigy, lacked the inherent talents of the Yan Yue Xuan Tian and thus faced a significant disadvantage. However, their confidence and certainty slowly eroded, replaced by astonishment. Two hours had passed, and Tuo Shishan remained trapped, a revelation that deeply surprised the onlookers and fueled their mutual speculation.

"Something isn't right!""This seal of Xu Qing's is far from simple!"Tuo Shishan's nine attendants grew increasingly anxious. Their assessment pointed to only one conclusion: something extraordinary, beyond their wildest imagination, must exist within Xu Qing's seal.

Otherwise, their young master would not still be trapped. Qiu Quezi also showed some hesitation, her thoughts aligning with those of the nine attendants. The Captain, however, remained much calmer, though he mumbled to himself.

"That 'Shit Mountain' must be cheating; he looks so magnificent, but he's probably full of it. Why else would he be called 'Shit Mountain'?" The Captain, however, felt no anxiety. He believed that Little Ah Qing had followed him for so long, endured so much, evolving from naive beginnings to his current state. His character and intellect had been tempered to the point where even tricking him was difficult. Such a minor predicament was nothing to worry about!

"Thanks to my diligent guidance, Little Ah Qing now possesses profound insight. He can tolerate anything, but he will never suffer a loss! I bet 'Shit Mountain' is quite distressed right now!" The Captain's assessment was, of course, accurate.

Inside Seal D-132, Tuo Shishan stood before the prison gate, gritting his teeth and cursing relentlessly. "Damn it!" he fumed.

As he stared at the gate, a profound sense of helplessness welled within him. For the past hour, he had exhausted every conceivable method to bypass the Sun of Dawn and open the prison door, yet every attempt had failed. No matter how he strategized, there was simply no way to open the gate without triggering an explosion from the Sun of Dawn.

On several occasions, even a slightly larger movement from him caused the Sun of Dawn to emit an aura of impending self-detonation. He wasn't sure if it was a mere bluff, but Tuo Shishan was genuinely terrified, his spirit trembling with a vivid sense of life and death, which drove him to distraction.

"How shameless! To put a Domain Treasure here? Who carries a Domain Treasure when they go out? With this thing blocking the way, how am I supposed to leave?" Tuo Shishan inwardly cursed. "Xu Qing, Xu Qing, I underestimated you. I never imagined you could be so devious!"

"Even if you are cunning, I am no pushover. The Incarnated God Soul within my seal will undoubtedly create an insurmountable obstacle for you. If I can't get out, you won't be able to either! At worst, it's a draw!" Tuo Shishan sneered.

Meanwhile, Xu Qing, the cause of Tuo Shishan's frustration, also frowned within his own three-colored seal, observing the floating three-colored light cluster. Within the cluster, a phantom figure, an old man with white hair and a youthful face, emerged from the mingling colors. He sat cross-legged within the light barrier, his expression serene, his gaze tranquil. "Human boy," he calmly addressed Xu Qing, "don't waste your energy. As long as I am here, you won't be able to leave!"

Xu Qing remained silent. He had made numerous attempts before, employing various techniques, but they were all futile, like stones cast into the sea, causing no ripple. He found himself utterly helpless against this Incarnated God Soul. Every divine ability he unleashed was effortlessly neutralized by the opponent, and the oppressive aura from this sealed region grew stronger, appearing to be fully integrated with the old man.

If this figure refused to yield, the seal would remain closed! From this, Xu Qing surmised that the opponent was no ordinary Incarnated God Soul, especially given their profound connection to this sealed realm.

"This place must have been one of this Incarnated God's grand worlds," Xu Qing mused. The old man offered a faint smile. "You've likely already guessed it," he continued leisurely, "this world is merely a manifestation of my grand world!"

"Outside, I am an Incarnated God, but within this realm, I am a deity! However, I won't make things difficult for you; simply remain here obediently!" The old man licked his lips, a savage gleam in his eyes. "If you continue to be disruptive," he threatened, "then I will consume you!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing looked up and scrutinized the Incarnated God Soul, a glint of determination in his eyes. While he was confident Tuo Shishan couldn't escape Seal D-132, a prolonged stalemate was inevitable, and that was not the outcome Xu Qing sought.

Furthermore, he abhorred the feeling of being threatened with his life. Thus, Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, a decisive resolve forming within him. He still possessed one unused technique, and he believed that deploying it here might yield results.

With that thought, Xu Qing tapped his storage bag with his right hand and retrieved an item. Seeing Xu Qing's continued persistence, the Incarnated God old man, seated cross-legged within the three-colored light cluster, grew visibly impatient, a cold glint entering his eyes.

Believing this human to be ungrateful, the old man was about to coldly snort and suppress him. Yet, the very next instant, upon sensing the item Xu Qing produced, the old man's eyes abruptly narrowed, and his body stiffened instantaneously.

Both his gaze and divine sense immediately fixated on the object in Xu Qing's hand: a token! "This is..." A storm erupted in the old man's mind. "The Ancient Spirit Emperor's Netherworld Token!"

The old man gasped, a tempest raging within him, causing the light cluster he inhabited to twist violently. Seeing this, Xu Qing was somewhat surprised; he hadn't anticipated the old man recognizing the item. What he had produced was indeed the teleportation token given by the Ancient Spirit Emperor for delivering sustenance.

Since the old man recognized it, things would clearly be simpler. With that thought, Xu Qing raised the token high, met the Incarnated God old man's suddenly altered gaze, and calmly stated, "This token is indeed a teleportation command to the Ancient Spirit Emperor's dwelling."

"The Ancient Spirit Emperor has been ravenously hungry for a very, very long time. For years, I have been responsible for feeding him to sate his appetite. Senior, your current form actually quite aligns with the Ancient Spirit Emperor's dietary preferences and standards: without a physical body, you won't get stuck in his teeth, and your divine soul is robust, so the taste should be quite exquisite!"

"However, I won't make things difficult for you; simply step aside obediently! But if you continue to be disruptive..." Xu Qing's gaze sharpened as he stared at the Incarnated God old man's soul, "I will send you there, and let the Ancient Spirit Emperor consume you!"

The Incarnated God old man's heart churned. The familiar words were precisely what he had used against Xu Qing earlier. Now that they were returned to him, he looked at Xu Qing, then at the token, his expression fraught with hesitation.

Xu Qing's expression remained composed. Without allowing the Incarnated God old man more time to deliberate, he forcefully squeezed his right hand. Instantly, the token flashed with light, and a surge of netherworld energy emanated from within, forming a swirling black vortex.

As the vortex rumbled and spun, a chilling aura permeated the surroundings, carrying a heavy scent of decay—the very breath of death! From within, a labored gasp, laden with hunger and ancient weariness, escaped. The instant the Incarnated God old man heard that sound, his entire body shuddered, and his soul trembled.

A spectral glow flared in Xu Qing's eyes as he prepared to summon. Just then, the Incarnated God old man within the three-colored light cluster no longer hesitated. He abruptly stood up and quickly interjected, "Young friend, everything is negotiable! Let's be friends!"

Xu Qing gazed at him coldly. Moments later, following a "friendly" communication between him and the venerable Incarnated God, the old man retreated, smiling, and granted him passage.

"Thank you, senior!" Xu Qing was a polite person, and naturally, he offered his thanks before departing. The Incarnated God old man's smile momentarily stiffened before he took a deep breath and resumed his pleasant expression. The next instant, the three-colored seal blurred before Xu Qing's eyes and rapidly dissipated, revealing his figure in the open air outside.

The moment he emerged, a multitude of gazes and divine senses instantly converged upon him, accompanied by gasps of disbelief and astonishment from all directions. Tuo Shishan's nine attendants also blanched. Qiu Quezi was visibly thrilled, while the Captain smiled knowingly.

Xu Qing paid no mind to the reactions around him. Standing in mid-air, as the guardian of his D-132 seal, he could perceive its internal state with a mere sweep of his divine sense. He raised his right hand and waved; instantly, D-132 trembled and blurred, revealing Tuo Shishan, who had been trapped inside.

"You lost," Xu Qing stated calmly. Tuo Shishan stared at Xu Qing, wanting to hurl insults, yet also filled with shock and confusion. He couldn't fathom how Xu Qing had emerged.

In his understanding, this outcome was virtually impossible! "That old man actually let him out?" Tuo Shishan agonized. Yet, he had already made grand declarations, and to renege now, with so many witnesses, would be a profound loss of face. So, with a grim expression, he swept his hand, casting out over nine hundred of his mountain peaks, leaving only one behind.

Xu Qing raised his hand, accepting them all. Over eighteen hundred forbidden mountains floated above his head, an awe-inspiring sight, their presence shaking heaven and earth.

Observing Tuo Shishan's adherence to his word, Xu Qing said nothing further. He turned and flew towards the sacred mountain. The Captain smiled and followed alongside, while a tremendously excited Qiu Quezi trailed behind.

As the trio departed, onlookers were instinctively awestruck, parting to clear their path until they vanished from sight. Tuo Shishan, seething with frustration and doubt, retrieved his three-colored seal. The instant it was in his hand, he immediately sent a message inward: "Old man, why did you let him go?"

The Incarnated God old man's even more frustrated roar echoed in response: "Damn it, that human boy actually possesses the Ancient Spirit Emperor's token! He threatened me with it, what was I supposed to do?!"

"That ancient, insatiable Spirit Emperor has been starving for countless years! If he had truly sent me there, I'd have been nothing but a snack!" "And you ask me why I let him go? Why didn't you get out sooner yourself?!" Listening to the old man's roar, Tuo Shishan felt even more downcast. He quietly transmitted, "He hung a Sun of Dawn on the door; what was I supposed to do?"

The old man inhaled sharply and fell silent. Tuo Shishan, too, fell silent.