Chapter 995: Daytime Patrol of the Realm

Wanggu is vast, its regions exceptionally expansive. Before the arrival of the Divine Fragmented Visage, there were a total of thirty-seven suns! Each of these thirty-seven suns was unique, possessing its own mysterious past, differing in both composition and origin.

Among them, one sun and moon were even more extraordinary! Legend has it that countless ages ago, when the Huangtian Divine Clan ruled Wanggu, there were thirty-six suns. The same applied to the moons. It wasn't until after the war between immortals and gods that the new Wanggu, raised by the immortals, gained an additional sun and an additional moon.

It is said that these newly added sun and moon originated from the Huangtian Divine Clan. They were deities from the Huangtian Divine Clan, permitted by a few ancient immortals to live in Wanggu after their clan was sealed and suppressed. They were also bound by an agreement to patrol the boundaries of Wanggu.

The sun among them was the Crown Prince of the Huangtian Divine Clan, named Golden Crow, destined to be the Day Wanderer. As for the moon, its name was Zhi Geng. It symbolized kindness, innocence, and beautiful love, destined to be the Night Wanderer. They ascended alternately, year after year, yet rarely met. Only during occasional moments when the sun and moon shone together could they gaze upon each other. What they illuminated was not the continent of Wanggu, but the mysterious and unfathomable Outer Sea.

Thus, time flowed by. The world changed, and the power of ages washed over history. As generations of cultivators emerged and the myriad races of Wanggu continuously split and merged, the stories of Wanggu's suns and moons grew increasingly faint.

This continued until the Fragmented Visage descended. Amidst shifting karmic forces, more than half of the thirty-seven suns fell, leaving only seventeen. The stories of these suns and moons became even fainter, eventually unknown to most, becoming legends within legends. People only knew that these seventeen suns were irregularly scattered across the Wanggu continent, some with short distances between them, others separated by vast expanses. This explained why some parts of the Wanggu continent were perpetually dark, while others experienced eternal daylight. From then on, the mysterious Outer Sea lost its light, as both sun and moon disappeared.

However, the South Phoenix Continent, the Saint Lanhai Region, and the surrounding regions were fortunate. The sun belonging to this area had not fallen for tens of thousands of years. It still existed. It would emerge from its hiding place at dawn, illuminating the area with its light and nourishing all living beings with its warmth. For countless years, this had remained unchanged, becoming commonplace.

Today was no different. However, this morning was somewhat special compared to previous days. The sunlight was brighter, and the temperature was more intense, even thick. For all beings, accustomed to the ordinary, their senses immediately detected when something unusual occurred within the usual. This was instinct. This applied to cultivators, mortals, all races, and all living entities.

Therefore, at the moment of dawn, when the light in this area was incredibly bright, various races, cultivators, countless mortals, and even fierce beasts couldn't help but raise their heads and gaze at the sky. The next instant, the minds of all beings were seized by a deafening roar, like giant waves sweeping through their souls, forming an earth-shattering storm that shook their bodies and overwhelmed their consciousness. Horror, shock, disbelief — a cascade of emotions erupted entirely at that moment.

Because, in the South Phoenix Continent, Saint Lanhai Region, Nan Yu Region, and the countless islands of the Inner Sea in between, the sky that the various races living there beheld, showed two suns. The world was brightly illuminated. The darkness of the Forbidden Sea, illuminated by these two suns, even revealed a green hue, causing all boats sailing on the sea that morning to halt in shock. Many mortals even instinctively prostrated themselves in worship.

All of this was utterly shocking to the little mute and the two deputy heads of the Felony Division. Er Niu's gasping sound was still audible. Huang Yan's expression was exceedingly grave.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, the massive, rotting giant strode towards the sky, the bronze dragon carriage behind him growing increasingly radiant. Like a fireball, a source of light, a great sun, its ascent was the sunrise itself. Within this boundless light and heat, Xu Qing sat upright inside the dragon carriage, his mind clear and ethereal. His consciousness was completely immersed in transforming into the Golden Crow, reliving the Day Wanderer's patrol.

The "Golden Crow Refines Ten Thousand Spirits" seal, carved within the dragon carriage, seemed to come alive at this moment, flowing outward to form glowing imprints. As they converged, they vaguely formed a blurred figure, standing desolately with its back to Xu Qing. This figure was precisely the young boy Huang Yan had seen before. Xu Qing also saw it at this moment.

His mind stirred, the brilliance of his own Golden Crow, along with a partial inheritance of the Golden Crow, seemed to create a mysterious resonance between him and this figure's back. He felt loneliness, sadness, and longing. This loneliness stemmed from a long life. This sadness came from the decline of his clan. This longing came from the bond with Zhi Geng. Unconsciously, Xu Qing's consciousness sank into it, until he vaguely heard a soft sigh.

"Day Wanderer, patrol the boundaries!"

The next instant, the giant pulling the dragon carriage upwards trembled. Light from the dragon carriage flowed in all directions, dyeing it golden, like a war chariot, with an overwhelming aura. It settled upon the giant, transforming into golden armor that imbued the giant with a divine aura. The giant raised its head, its lost eyes now filled with light. A low roar echoed in all directions as it took mighty strides, moving across the sky towards the Outer Sea.

Thus, in the eyes of all beings, the extra sun changed its trajectory, hurtling towards the Outer Sea. As it approached, the dark Outer Sea churned with blackness. For the first time in tens of thousands of years, there was light here. As the light fell upon the sea, whether from refraction or its true color, the seawater strangely exuded a purple hue.

The Golden Crow soared in the sky above the Outer Sea, illuminating everything, advancing across the heavens. Wherever it passed, it brought daylight, dispelling the darkness and making the surface of the Outer Sea clearly visible. The water of the Outer Sea was darker and thicker than the Inner Sea, and its buoyancy far exceeded it. Large waves rarely appeared here. On the sea surface, countless fragments of ancient ruins were visible: giant stones, colossal corpses, and the broken walls of mysterious temples. There were enormous eyes, floating like islands. Terrifying divine might permeated through the seawater. Vast unknown entities, as large as an entire continent, rose from the sea surface, coldly gazing at the sky. They gazed at the former Day Wanderer on its patrol.

Until time flowed by. The giant, pulling the dragon carriage, galloped across the sky above the Outer Sea, pausing and hovering motionless at the moment of strongest sunlight at noon. Countless hidden gazes and divine senses emanated from the Outer Sea, converging there, seemingly bearing witness.

After a while, the figure standing inside the dragon carriage, in front of Xu Qing, which had been gazing at the world, slowly turned around. It gazed at Xu Qing. The moment its eyes met Xu Qing's, Xu Qing's mind roared. Innumerable pieces of information surged into his mind like a raging tide. This was an inheritance. A true inheritance from the Golden Crow. All of Xu Qing's Golden Crows immediately shone. The next instant, the boy's figure closed its eyes.

The giant outside the dragon carriage let out a sorrowful roar and began its return journey. Gradually, the temporarily dispelled darkness, as the dragon carriage moved away, spread greedily, filling the void left by its departure. Finally, at dusk, the dragon carriage left the Outer Sea. The Outer Sea became dark once more. The golden armor on the giant's body slowly faded, revealing its rotting flesh once more. The dragon carriage's own light also dimmed again, showing its broken state.

Dusk faded. Under Er Niu and Huang Yan's gaze, the giant descended from the sky, step by step, disappearing into the Inner Sea amidst the pervasive death qi. The bronze dragon carriage also submerged with it. The moment it sank beneath the surface, a gentle force emanated from the dragon carriage, bringing Xu Qing, who had been immersed in the inheritance, back out. Afterward, the dragon carriage completely sank beneath the sea.

Pulled by the giant, deep beneath the sea, a phantom palace seemed to appear within the currents of time. Outside the palace, the giant stopped, kneeling motionless. From within the bronze dragon carriage, the boy's blurred figure stepped down and slowly walked into the palace, his every step imbued with desolation. He walked to the highest point of the palace and quietly sat on the only chair. Around him, ripples of time appeared, and musicians materialized. Heavenly music welcomed the moon, softly rising. Amidst this beautiful melody, the boy lowered his head, listening in solitude. However, no matter how the music drifted, the moon named Zhi Geng was no longer on the Forbidden Sea. Thus, loneliness became eternal, drowning out the music and time, causing the palace to revert to its true form. It was a ruin of shattered walls and broken remnants. Like a tomb. Outside the tomb, the kneeling giant wept sorrowfully.

On the sea surface, inside the little mute's Dharma Vessel, Xu Qing sat cross-legged. The little mute silently guarded him, his heart filled with extreme vigilance. At this moment, the little mute felt endless caution towards everyone present. In the distance, the two deputy heads of the Seventh Peak's Felony Division still looked shocked, gazing at Xu Qing as if he were a divine being. Indeed, everything that happened today surpassed their understanding and imagination. They had heard legends of the dragon carriage, but they could never have imagined that someone could sit inside it, seemingly transforming into the sun, experiencing sunrise and sunset. Thus, their minds were violently disturbed, unable to calm down for a long time.

As for Er Niu and Huang Yan, they stared intently. Especially Er Niu, Xu Qing's actions today had deeply shaken him, making him incredibly curious about Xu Qing's gains. Huang Yan, however, was not curious about Xu Qing's gains. He had some questions about the Golden Crow Crown Prince that he wanted to ask Xu Qing, but after staring for a moment, his expression suddenly changed, and he sharply looked up at the horizon.

In the night sky, a red light appeared. This light spread, invading the night sky, turning the entire firmament crimson at that moment, even the sea, as if it had become a sea of blood. These countless shades of red converged, forming a god. This god descended from the sky, stepping onto the Dharma Vessel in a single stride. The moment it landed, the little mute and the other two immediately fell unconscious.

A bloody wind blew, fluttering the god's crimson robes and lifting his hair, revealing an alluringly handsome face in the eyes of Huang Yan and Er Niu. Er Niu's eyes narrowed, then he put on a surprised expression, stood up, and seemingly casually blocked Xu Qing, bowing to the newcomer.

"Senior, it's actually you! No wonder this junior felt the world lose its luster just now. It turns out Senior has graced us with your presence!"

Huang Yan remained silent, radiating terrifying fluctuations, his expression grave.

"Don't be nervous!" Yu Liuchen chuckled softly. "I came here to find Xu Qing, to have him repay a favor!"

He sat down cross-legged, and with a wave of his hand, a bamboo table appeared beside him, holding four teacups. After pouring the tea himself, he picked up one cup, took a sip, and looked at Er Niu and Huang Yan.

"Have some tea!"