Chapter 868: The Reign

As the jade slip floated over, Xu Qing’s expression remained cold. He did not reach out to take it; instead, he sent out a thread of soul energy, which instantly pierced and shattered the jade slip.

If anyone else had witnessed this scene, their heart would surely have trembled, believing Xu Qing had decided to kill. However, Tian Mozi, being one of the great prodigies, had already discerned some clues even before Xu Qing made his move, possessing keen insight.

So he remained respectful and spoke, "Jidongzi, that fiend, originally intended to capture a mountain spirit as his mount. But for some unknown reason, an accident occurred, so a month ago, he went to the territory of the Ghost Car."

"According to my investigation, there are quite a few cultivators currently vying for the Ghost Car. Previously, that bastard Fan Shishuang was the primary cultivator involved, but things changed after Jidongzi, that vicious beast, joined in."

"However, that disgusting Fan Shishuang is a sinister person. He must have prepared some hidden maneuvers for this great hunt, and indeed, that's the case. Jidongzi, that wretched soul, hasn't emerged since entering the Ghost Car Dark Forest."

"It's highly probable that those two dogs are locked in a stalemate."

Tian Mozi revealed everything he knew without any reservation.

His words further attacked these two individuals, who had previously clashed with Xu Qing, using various derogatory terms. He spared no effort to express his alignment with Xu Qing, without repeating himself.

The reason he knew so much was actually because he had originally intended to enter the Ghost Car Dark Forest himself. As for the timing, it was to wait until Jidongzi and Fan Shishuang had thoroughly weakened each other.

After speaking, Tian Mozi, to be safe, remembered the rumor that Xu Qing was a divine envoy of the Starflame Temple, and thus emitted some Starflame Temple aura.

Xu Qing's expression remained calm. Although his soul thread shattered the jade slip the moment it pierced it, Xu Qing had clearly probed the information within through his soul thread, and it was largely consistent with what Tian Mozi had said.

Whether it was the heartfelt condemnation in the other party's words or the release of the Starflame Temple's aura, Xu Qing naturally understood the implied meaning: the other party was hinting that they were on the same side.

So, Xu Qing’s gaze deepened as he looked at Tian Mozi. Neither the information provided nor Tian Mozi's identity as a Starflame cultivator made it easy for Xu Qing to kill him.

Most importantly, this person had indeed made no suicidal moves from beginning to end.

So Xu Qing didn't bother to dwell on it and stepped forward. He instantly passed Tian Mozi, heading straight into the distance, and in the blink of an eye, he reached the horizon.

With his departure, Tian Mozi finally breathed a sigh of relief. He looked back in the direction Xu Qing had gone, feeling a sense of surviving a catastrophe, coupled with complex emotions.

"Xu Qing's previous battle with Jidongzi likely wasn't a feigned weakness; he genuinely seemed inferior to Jidongzi."

"But in these past two months, this person's cultivation has broken through. And for a prodigy like him, every breakthrough brings earth-shattering changes."

"As for the dramatic upheaval of the Gray Mist Nine Li Taboo recently, it must be directly related to this person."

And he actually brought out the gray mist of the Nine Li Taboo, controlling it perfectly.

Tian Mozi's mind grew heavy; he knew the significance of this matter. He also harbored an unbelievable suspicion in his heart.

"Could it be that he subdued the Nine Li!"

Thinking of this, Tian Mozi took a deep breath, and vaguely, he had a premonition. The final ranking of this great hunt might no longer have a Heaven-Proclaiming Cultivator in the first place.

"First in the first phase, highly likely first in the second phase, and if he's still first in the third phase, then it's a Great Profound Heaven!"

Tian Mozi's mind trembled.

The Blazing Moon Profound Sky Clan hadn't seen a Great Profound Heaven in a very long time; the last one was ten thousand years ago.

"If a Great Profound Heaven truly emerges this time," Tian Mozi's mind became more active, filled with more thoughts. After a moment, his eyes showed determination. He didn't fly towards other areas; instead, he followed in the direction Xu Qing had left, shouting loudly.

"Brother Xu, Jidongzi is as insidious as Fan Shishuang; it's highly probable he'll eventually choose to team up with Fan Shishuang. To save you trouble, I'm willing to go along and lend you a hand!"

As he spoke, his speed increased. Xu Qing raised an eyebrow, sizing up Tian Mozi once more. A somewhat wary voice from the Vajra Sect Ancestor echoed in his mind.

"Master, this fiend is suspicious; he must have a scheme. Master, I suggest we kill this cunning fellow immediately!"

Xu Qing ignored the Vajra Sect Ancestor's words. After his gaze swept over Tian Mozi, he narrowed his eyes. He neither refused nor agreed, then turned and moved towards the Ghost Car territory.

Seeing that Xu Qing hadn't refused, Tian Mozi's spirits lifted, and he chose to follow behind.

During this time, Tian Mozi, wanting to leave a good impression on Xu Qing, meticulously shared all the information he knew about the Mountain and Sea Great Domain. Much of this information couldn't be bought externally, and it was Xu Qing's first time hearing it.

For example, the habits of some special beasts, and dangerous hidden places within the rainforest.

In this manner, with one person in front and the other behind, they sped along, getting closer and closer to the Ghost Car territory.

Meanwhile, in the upper ring region of the Mountain and Sea Great Domain, within the rainforest where the Mountain Chish are located, a chase that had lasted for several months was still ongoing.

However, unlike when Jidongzi pursued Xu Qing, forcing Xu Qing to travel thousands of miles, the chase occurring in the upper ring had always been confined to the Mountain Chish territory.

The one being pursued was Er Niu.

The pursuer was Yan Xuanzi. Using various incredible methods, Er Niu led Yan Xuanzi in circles within the Mountain Chish territory. The words he occasionally uttered were also quite mischievous.

"Are you never going to stop? All I did was interrupt your subduing process, and reveal that you're neither male nor female. Do you really have to be like this?!"

"Alright, alright, can you stop chasing? How about I introduce you to a Dao companion?"

"Let me tell you, I have a junior brother..."

As the captain spoke, Yan Xuanzi behind him suddenly raised a hand. Instantly, a crushing pressure comparable to that of a God-Accumulation realm expert erupted from his hand, filled with resentment, overwhelming and suppressing Er Niu in front.

In the center of the roar, the world collapsed, and Er Niu's body similarly shattered. But the next instant, a blue worm flew out from the distant mud, rapidly forming Er Niu's new body, and he continued to flee.

However, Er Niu was also complaining in his heart at this moment. Despite his words, he had suffered too great losses over the past few months, and at this rate, he felt he was probably doomed.

"Junior brother, why aren't you here yet?"

As Er Niu was anxious at heart, outside a black rainforest in the lower ring region of the Mountain and Sea Great Domain, two figures rapidly approached from the sky.

"Brother Xu, this is the Ghost Car Dark Forest. The fierce beasts here are primarily bizarre and exceedingly cruel, with grotesque forms and unpredictable methods."

"The Ghost Car clan resides here. They feed on bizarre entities, possess terrifying combat power, and some powerful members of their clan are like gods. Therefore, coming here to subdue young Ghost Cars requires enduring immense risks." Tian Mozi quickly glanced at Xu Qing and spoke in a low voice.

Xu Qing looked up, gazing at the dense forest before him, which differed from other areas. The vegetation here was pitch black, and the sky above was similarly dark, filled with ominous clouds. Streaks of red lightning snaked through the clouds, occasionally striking down with tremendous roars.

Within the dark forest, a chilling and sinister aura was extremely palpable; even from outside, one could feel their soul being drawn in. It was as if this dark forest was an invisible vortex, devouring all souls.

Vaguely, some figures of cultivators could still be seen inside, wandering numbly like walking corpses.

"They are cultivators who recently died here; their souls were devoured, and their bodies were revived by the dark forest. They will endlessly search for their souls within, until their bodies are corroded by the local vegetation and become nutrients."

Tian Mozi's words carried a hint of dread and gravity.

"Furthermore, this place is vast. That son of a bitch Jidongzi and that bastard Fan Shishuang have been inside for a long time, operating in the shadows. While we enter to search, we'll be in the open, so there might be some complications." After speaking, Tian Mozi quickly glanced at Xu Qing again, finding that Xu Qing still showed no reaction.

So he blinked, raised a hand, took out a stick of incense, and lit it. "I came prepared. Anyone wishing to enter here to acquire a Ghost Car must purchase this divine incense from a temple. Only by using it to protect one's soul can one enter this forest to a certain extent."

"I have seven or eight more here; that should be enough."

Xu Qing withdrew his gaze from the Ghost Car Dark Forest and glanced at Tian Mozi beside him.

"You don't need to keep testing me."

Tian Mozi smiled. His previous words, seemingly an introduction, were actually all probing. He wanted to know if Xu Qing's unique ability to make fierce beasts prostrate themselves was still effective in this place.

Xu Qing no longer paid attention to Tian Mozi. He knew that his subduing of the Nine Li could not be concealed forever and would eventually become known, so there was no need to deliberately hide his abilities.

At the same time, he also wanted to know the extent to which the Nine Li he had gained control of could perform in this Mountain and Sea Great Domain.

So, gazing at the terrifying Ghost Car Dark Forest, Xu Qing spoke faintly, "Ghost Cars, come!"

The moment his words were uttered, the Nine Li aura erupted from him, spreading out and dominating the heavens and earth.

The clouds in the sky instantly exploded and disintegrated. The streaks of lightning within also broke apart due to the shattering clouds, then successively coiled back to form a net of red lightning.

As it spread, all the vegetation in the dark forest on the ground swayed and trembled, even bending down one by one.

At the same time, all the strange entities hidden within wailed. The walking corpses also instantly fell to the ground, motionless.

Indeed. Following this, the rainforest and the earth began to rumble, the sound growing louder and louder. Until finally, the entire Ghost Car Dark Forest seemed to come alive, its aura astonishing.

Immediately afterward, world-shaking auras surged from within this trembling dark forest.

The next instant, monstrous Ghost Car beasts soared out of the dark forest.

They varied in size, numbering over a hundred, and their cultivation levels ranged from Spirit Repository to Void Return. Upon appearing, they roared individually and rushed towards Xu Qing as if summoned.

Wherever they passed, the heavens crumbled and the earth split; their momentum was overwhelming. Furthermore, upon instantly approaching, these Ghost Cars revealed eerie glows in their eyes and all prostrated themselves before Xu Qing.

As if seeing their king, their auras spread out, roaring in all directions. The stirred-up dust was like a storm, sweeping over everything.

Only Xu Qing stood before them, expressionless.

Tian Mozi watched, standing stunned on the spot.

But the astonishing events weren't over yet for him.

The earth suddenly churned more violently at this moment. From the center of the swaying rainforest, three terrifying fluctuations, akin to those of God-Accumulation experts, ascended from within the dark forest.

These auras were too astonishing, suppressing everything. In the blink of an eye, three gigantic Ghost Cars, emanating an ancient and weathered aura, materialized in the sky, gazing at Xu Qing.

Witnessing all this, Tian Mozi gasped, his hair standing on end, cold sweat pouring down.

Immediately afterward, Xu Qing's voice echoed again.

"Outsiders, emerge!" The moment his words came out, the earth rumbled. All the vegetation within this vast dark forest instantly uprooted itself and rapidly spread out in all directions.

It actually revealed the Blazing Moon cultivators who were hiding in the dark forest, preparing to hunt using different methods. Every single one of them was trembling, unable to believe their eyes, their minds completely blank.

Such an event truly surpassed their understanding, reaching a nearly mythical level.

In the distance, two cultivators, a thousand zhang apart, were in a standoff.

They were precisely Jidongzi and Fan Shishuang.

Both of them now had drastically changed expressions, their minds churning with unprecedented turmoil. They both turned their heads simultaneously, gazing in the direction of Xu Qing.