376: Under the huge pit

The Lord of Stars and Moon saw Xu Qing remain silent, and a hint of impatience flashed in her eyes.

However, just as she was about to turn and leave, she suddenly sensed something, and her gaze abruptly changed: "You've seen him?"

Xu Qing's heart tightened, knowing he couldn't hide it from her, so he nodded and honestly replied: "I had a brief encounter with him in the Ancient Land of Dao. After he took the nine-dragon carriage, he left."

The Lord of Stars and Moon frowned upon hearing this, her gaze fixed on Xu Qing as if trying to see through him: "That's not right! Someone as arrogant as him, taking the nine-dragon carriage from you, would definitely leave you a reward. I imagine, given his personality, he must have given you something to protect your life."

Her voice was cold and certain, as if she had already seen through everything.

Xu Qing sighed inwardly, knowing he couldn't hide it, and could only say with a wry smile: "Senior's Wisdom Eye is truly sharp. Junior did indeed receive an item to protect my life from him."

A complex expression, a mix of nostalgia and wistfulness, flashed in the eyes of the Lord of Stars and Moon upon hearing this.

She was silent for a moment, then finally let out a soft sigh, turning to look at the vast moon in the distance, her voice low and distant, as if carrying endless longing and wistfulness: "Is he... doing well?"

Xu Qing stood by, seeing her melancholic expression, and his heart stirred. He half-jokingly said: "He's doing very well! Eating well, sleeping well, and even able to challenge a Dao Ancestor at the Perfection stage of a Dao Monarch!"

Lord of Stars and Moon: "..."

She gave Xu Qing a cold glance, her tone indifferent: "You can go back now."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing immediately put on a smile, his tone carrying a hint of flattery: "Senior, actually, I have a way for you to see him!"

A ripple flashed in the eyes of the Lord of Stars and Moon upon hearing this, her voice still clear and cold, but with a hint of urgency: "What way?"

"The item to protect my life that Senior gave me before leaving, once I crush it, he will come to help me."

Xu Qing betrayed Jun Tian without hesitation.

The Lord of Stars and Moon narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of playfulness flashing within them: "Interesting."

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of scrutiny, "Tell me, what do you want?"

Xu Qing was secretly delighted, this was the sentence he had been waiting for.

The reason he brought up Jun Tian was, firstly, to negotiate terms, and secondly, he was afraid that the Lord of Stars and Moon would deliberately trick him, as she was, after all, a Dao Ancestor.

He smiled slightly, his tone respectful yet composed: "Junior needs Senior to agree to three things for me."

The Lord of Stars and Moon nodded, her tone indifferent: "Speak. As long as it doesn't violate my principles, I can agree."

Xu Qing felt a sense of relief upon hearing this, and nodded: "That is natural."

He pondered for a moment, then continued: "The first thing is, Senior, having experienced that battle, Junior wants to know the fallen lands of several Seniors in the Nine Heavens, such as Cang Tian. I have searched the continental records, but have never found them."

The Lord of Stars and Moon narrowed her eyes slightly upon hearing this, her tone carrying a hint of deeper meaning: "You want to collect the Nine Heavens Key? Or obtain their Nine Origins Dao Scripture?"

Xu Qing was startled, secretly thinking that this Senior's insight was indeed astonishing.

He replied frankly: "The Nine Heavens Key."

The Lord of Stars and Moon nodded, her tone calm: "I don't know much about the fallen lands of Cang Tian Dao Brother and the others. I only know about one of them, and that Nine Heavens Key should be in his hands. Another one is in the hands of someone else."

Xu Qing's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this.

He already had five keys in his hand. If the Lord of Stars and Moon knew the whereabouts of two of them, then only two would remain unknown.

As for the nether heaven key, he could obtain it as long as he completed the mission of conquering the Netherworld. As for the last one, it would take some effort.

He quickly asked humbly: "Please inform me, Senior!"

The Lord of Stars and Moon said faintly: "In that battle, after Xuan Tian Dao Brother of the Nine Heavens fell, he landed on Tianluo Continent, transforming into a Secret Realm."

"Later, Tianluo Continent disintegrated, and that Secret Realm's whereabouts are unknown. However, if you want to find the Xuan Tian Key, you can go to the Sea God Hall."

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of warning: "Xuan Tian Dao Brother was an Innate Divine Saint formed from a drop of the Origin of Water, one of the nine great Innate Origins at the beginning of creation."

"He fell into the Tianluo Sea, perhaps resurrected in another way, or perhaps his Opportunity was not enough, and there is no possibility of revival. If you go, you must be careful."

Xu Qing nodded, secretly noting it down.

The Lord of Stars and Moon glanced at him, her tone indifferent: "As for the last key, with your current cultivation, I'm afraid you won't be able to get it, because that key is in the Luanshen Territory."

"Heavenly Hall?" Xu Qing frowned, immediately guessing something.

"That's right." The Lord of Stars and Moon nodded, "The current Old Ancestor of the Heavenly Hall is the Disciple of Hao Tian Dao Brother back then. He controls the Hao Tian Secret Art, one of the Nine Heavens Secret Arts. Although he is only a one-step Dao Ancestor, with the Hao Tian Key, he can unleash the Innate Golden Dao of a Dominator at the Major Achievement stage, with combat power comparable to a top-tier two-step Dao Ancestor."

Xu Qing asked curiously upon hearing this: "Then no one tries to snatch it?"

The Lord of Stars and Moon smiled, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm: "Currently, the strongest in the Eternal Ruins are only three-step Dao Ancestors. With Jin Tian's strength, he can completely escape from a three-step Dao Ancestor, so naturally no one would provoke him."

Xu Qing nodded, though he had doubts, he didn't ask further.

Now, he knew the whereabouts of three keys, so he no longer needed to search for them.

However, there was still one that was unaccounted for, which he needed to find, and he still had to fulfill his promise to Jun Tian. Therefore, he still needed to inquire about the fallen lands of the other Heaven Ancestors.

He cupped his fists and said: "Thank you, Senior, for clarifying!"

The Lord of Stars and Moon nodded faintly: "What about the second matter?"

Xu Qing quickly said: "Naturally, I came for the thing Senior is suppressing. It's just that Junior's cultivation is low, so I hope Senior will look after me."

The Lord of Stars and Moon waved her hand, her tone carrying a hint of disdain: "This request doesn't count. You are fated with him, and I will not stand by and watch you die. Moreover, if you can deal with that old fellow below, it would also be helping me. So, you can change your request."

Xu Qing was secretly delighted upon hearing this, but he didn't show it.

He took out a jade stone and respectfully handed it over: "Senior is unwilling to let Junior suffer a loss, and Junior cannot hide anything either. This is the item Jun Ancestor entrusted to Junior. Junior has only one small request, which is that you use this jade stone after Junior leaves."

The Lord of Stars and Moon's expression changed, clearly sensing Jun Tian's Qi in the jade stone. She readily nodded and put the jade stone away: "Good."

She looked at Xu Qing, her tone indifferent: "Speak, the other two matters."

Xu Qing thought for a moment, then smiled: "Currently, Junior has no other ideas. How about we save them for later, and I'll contact you when I need them."

The Lord of Stars and Moon nodded: "That's fine! You just need to hold the token I gave you and send me a message."

Xu Qing cupped his fists and said: "This Junior thanks Senior for your understanding!"

The Lord of Stars and Moon turned and walked towards the immortal palace, her tone indifferent: "Follow me."

Xu Qing quickly followed, secretly anticipating.

Before long, the two walked into the depths of the palace.

A gigantic pit, ten thousand feet in size, appeared before their eyes, bottomless, as if leading to an endless abyss.

"Go!"

The Lord of Stars and Moon controlled the starlight, gracefully leaping into the giant pit, Xu Qing followed closely, secretly vigilant.

As they descended, the space in the giant pit became smaller and smaller, the surrounding darkness grew thicker, and a peculiar decaying aura continuously emanated, as if even time could decay.

And on the cliff walls around the giant pit, special Dao Rhythms continuously surged out, constantly eroding the decaying aura.