492: Win without a fight

As he left Pass City Number Seven, it was sunset, and under the red sun, the entire Sword City was dyed crimson.

Xu Qing stood in the Azure Sky Immortal Palace, looking down at the majestic ancient city. The Battle Intent on the city walls still resonated, as if sending him off.

This splash of emerald blood would be a scene he would never forget in his long Lifespan.

"Let's go, kid. There's a pile of things waiting to be dealt with at the main city."

Zhan Tian Dao Ancestor patted Xu Qing's shoulder. The nine Fire Dragons on his gilded halberd lazily yawned, spewing out a few sparks.

The Azure Sky Sword Master stood with his sword, his azure Daoist robe fluttering in the Chaos wind.

He flicked his finger, and a blue sword light landed in Xu Qing's palm, transforming into a crystal-clear sword talisman.

"Although Pass City Number Seven is far, with this sword talisman, you can contact me at any time," the Azure Sky Sword Master's voice was clear and cold, but his eyes held a rare warmth. "If your younger brother encounters any difficulties in the Dao of the Sword, feel free to ask him."

Xu Qing solemnly accepted the sword talisman and, in turn, took out a Jade Slip imprinted with his own Dao charm, handing it over: "Senior, it is hard for you to guard the border. This Jade Slip is my communication talisman. If you have any difficulties, you can send me a message, and as long as I can help, I will not refuse."

A glint flashed in the Azure Sky Sword Master's eyes; he clearly understood the value of this gift.

He nodded slightly, and with a flick of his sword finger, the Jade Slip disappeared into his sleeve.

"Take care."

"Senior, take care."

After a simple farewell, the Azure Sky Sword Master transformed into an azure sword rainbow, disappearing instantly outside Tianyang Pass. The outpost had been removed and needed to be re-established, which required a Dao Ancestor to oversee it.

Xu Qing gazed at the distant sword light, vaguely sensing the killing intent emanating from beyond Tianyang Pass—the battles there had never truly ceased.

"Stop looking, that old fellow is tough as nails!" Zhan Tian Dao Ancestor pulled Xu Qing over. "It's time for us to get going!"

With that, he slashed his gilded halberd through the Void Realm, immediately tearing open a spatial rift that spanned the Chaos.

Within the rift, the outline of a majestic giant city was faintly visible.

Xu Qing was about to step forward when he suddenly felt something and looked back.

On the highest sword-viewing platform of the City Lord's Mansion, a white figure stood with his hands behind his back; it was none other than Sword Slaughter, the City Lord.

Although separated by billions of miles, Xu Qing clearly saw him nod in his direction.

"Let's go!"

Zhan Tian Dao Ancestor laughed heartily, pulling Xu Qing into the spatial rift.

The spatial rift closed with a roar, leaving only ripples in the Chaos Sea.

"From here, the Southern Abyss and even this Eternal Ruins... perhaps something interesting is about to happen..."

Sword Slaughter smiled at the corner of his mouth, shook his head, and turned to leave.

Immortal Palace of Humanity!

On the Nine Heavens Rank, clouds and mist swirled.

Xu Qing ascended the Jade steps slowly. With each step he took, a golden lotus of Dao charm naturally formed beneath his feet, only to dissipate on its own after three steps.

"Welcome, Ancestor Xu."

Xuan Xingzi, accompanied by a group of deacons, stood before the hall, his star-patterned Daoist robe spotless.

This Half-Ancestor expert was as tall and straight as a pine, his face as handsome and refined as it had been five years ago, but his bowing posture was a bit more solemn than usual.

He clasped his hands and pushed them forward, performing the 'Dao Seeking Rite' of a Junior meeting a Senior.

Xu Qing's gaze shifted slightly, and he raised a hand to offer a virtual support: "Dao Friend Xuan Xing, why be so formal?"

This support contained a subtle Dao charm. Xuan Xingzi felt an irresistible, gentle force lift him up.

When he looked up, his eyes met Xu Qing's profound gaze, which seemed to contain Myriad Worlds being born and destroyed. Just a momentary glance made even him, a Half-Ancestor, feel his mind tremble.

"Propriety cannot be abandoned," Xuan Xingzi smiled freely, his demeanor composed yet adhering to the proper etiquette. "Ancestor Xu is now a Dao Ancestor. How dare this old man still treat him as an equal?"

Xu Qing fell silent upon hearing this.

Xu Qing had long grown accustomed to this. As his Cultivation had continuously improved over the years, his former friends and disciples had gradually become estranged due to awe.

Therefore, many powerful cultivators ended up becoming solitary figures in the end.

Xu Qing was about to head to the Starry Sky Pavilion when he heard: "Ancestor Xu, the Earth Ancestor has summoned you. Please move to the Lunar Immortal Palace."

He looked up at the sky. Beneath the bright moon on the left, an entirely white immortal palace floated beyond the Nine Heavens.

Myriad stars revolved around the palace, and waterfalls of moonlight cascaded from the eaves, splashing into shimmering light rain in the Void Realm. That was where Zhan Tian Dao Ancestor had gone to report, and it was the residence of Earth Sovereign, one of the Human Race's Three Ancestors.

However, the Human Race would not call him 'Di Huang,' but rather 'Earth Ancestor'!

In an instant, Xu Qing had arrived before the Immortal Palace gate.

A majestic Jade gate, spanning the sky, stood tall. Two lifelike five-clawed Golden Dragons coiled around the gateposts, their Dragon eyes actually two burning Lunar Star Cores.

Armored warriors stood in formation before the gate, the lowest of them at the Immortal Monarch realm, clad in star armor and wielding immortal-slaying sabers.

Furthermore, four One-Step Dao Ancestors guarded the four directions, each with a banner condensed from the Innate killing Qi of 'Slay,' 'Slaughter,' 'Trap,' and 'Annihilate' suspended above their heads.

Only a figure like Earth Sovereign could have Dao Ancestors guarding his gate!

"Human Race's Xu Qing, reporting for an audience as summoned," Xu Qing cupped his hands.

The four Dao Ancestors opened their eyes simultaneously upon hearing this.

One of them, a purple-bearded old man, carefully scrutinized Xu Qing, then his pupils constricted slightly: "So it is the newly promoted Dao Friend Xu Qing! Please wait a moment!"

The four did not dare to delay and immediately made hand Seals to transmit a message.

"Boom—"

The Heavenly Gate suddenly opened, and a golden light spread forth from the depths of the Immortal Palace.

A golden-armored battle general, nine feet tall with a chiseled face, emerged from the golden light.

With each step he took, a golden lotus formed in the Void Realm to support his foot; the bronze battle sword hanging at his waist, though unsheathed, made the four surrounding Dao Ancestors unconsciously retreat half a step.

What was most astonishing was the vertical mark on his forehead, which was somewhat similar to Zhan Tian Dao Ancestor's. The only difference was that this mark contained the rotation of the sun, moon, and stars, as if it sealed a complete Universe!

Xu Qing could not discern this person's Cultivation, but his intuition told him that this individual was far more powerful than Sword Slaughter.

"I am Ying Wuzhan, commanded by the Earth Ancestor to welcome guests."

The golden-armored battle general cupped his fists in a salute, his voice like a grand bell.

As Xu Qing returned the salute, he noticed that this person exuded an Innate imperial pressure, a nobility originating from his Bloodline.

He had a guess in his heart!

"Dao Friend Xu, please follow me!"

Passing through the Heavenly Gate, Xu Qing truly witnessed the grandeur of an Immortal Palace.

From the outside, the Lunar Immortal Palace appeared to be just one immortal palace, but passing through the Heavenly Gate was like entering another world.

Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine white Jade immortal halls floated among the clouds, each hall supported by a star river.

The covered bridges were solidified rainbows, the steps were compressed nebulae, and the patrolling armored warriors they encountered along the way were all Immortal Overlords, with Half-Ancestor realm cultivators leading them.

"Dao Friend Ying, are you from the Human Emperor's family?" Xu Qing asked as they walked.

Ying Wuzhan's steps did not falter, but his voice softened a bit: "The first Human Emperor of the Ying family, calculating it, is my grandnephew! Dao Friend Xu, if you have time, you can visit the Ying family!"

Xu Qing was surprised, not expecting this person to have such a background.

Ying Wuzhan suddenly stopped, pointing to a palace shrouded in Chaos Qi in the distance, "We've arrived!"

Xu Qing looked in that direction, seeing a magnificent structure, indescribable in words, standing at the end of time and space.

Every brick and stone on the palace walls was a microcosm of a world, and the wind chimes hanging from the eaves were star systems shrunk billions of times.

The plaque above the main hall bore only one character, "Earth," each stroke containing a terrifying Dao charm that would make even a Dao Ancestor suffocate.

"The Earth Ancestor is waiting inside. Dao Friend Xu, please enter at your convenience."

Ying Wuzhan cupped his hands in farewell. As he turned, his golden armor reflected Myriad rays of light. "Oh, and..."

He suddenly turned back, revealing his first smile on this journey, "I have no children in my life. That kid Zhan Tian is the son of an old friend of mine, and also my adopted son. You can call me Uncle!"

Before his voice faded, he had already transformed into a golden light and vanished.

Xu Qing was astonished. No wonder!

He bowed in the direction Ying Wuzhan had departed!

Then, he straightened his attire and stepped towards the palace that seemed to bear the Myriad Worlds.