493: Dihuang clan

The moment Xu Qing stepped into the palace, time and space seemed to freeze.

The hall was not as resplendent as imagined; instead, it was an endless starry sky, with a slowly rotating galaxy underfoot and the sun, moon, and stars floating above.

In the center of this starry sky, a figure stood with his back to them, dressed in simple linen robes, yet it made Xu Qing's Dao Heart tremble uncontrollably.

Facing this figure, Xu Qing couldn't even conjure the thought of fighting him.

"You've arrived."

A gentle voice sounded, and the figure slowly turned around.

Xu Qing finally saw the appearance of this Human Race ancestor.

This was a middle-aged man with an ordinary face, his brow conveying a gentle wisdom that came from enduring countless changes. His eyes seemed to contain an eternal night, so profound that one could drown in them; the slight upward curve of his lips made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

Most astonishing was the Dao rhythm flowing around him.

It had already surpassed the scope of a Dominator-level Dao; with every step he took, countless worlds were born and destroyed; every breath he drew resonated with all the Great Dao of the heavens, containing the mighty power of creation.

Simply standing there, he seemed to be the center of the entire Universe.

"Junior Xu Qing respectfully greets Earth Ancestor."

Xu Qing performed a solemn Disciple Rei (li - a bow of respect).

"No need for formalities."

Earth Sovereign gently raised his hand, and Xu Qing involuntarily straightened up.

Earth Sovereign pointed beside him: "Sit."

Two futons condensed from Chaos Qi naturally appeared in the Void Realm. Xu Qing was about to politely decline, but found his body already sitting uncontrollably on a Chaos futon.

"You are very good," Earth Sovereign's voice carried satisfaction. "To reach this stage in just a few million years is much faster than Ying Hao back then."

Xu Qing's heart jolted.

To receive the recognition of this Human Race ancestor, this honor was enough to shake the entire Eternal Ruins.

Moreover, he compared himself to that person, which showed his extreme importance.

Many people did not know the name Ying Hao, but his other name was remembered by the Human Race: Human Emperor Shi, one of the three ancestors of the Human Race.

Earth Sovereign suddenly reached out and pointed to the Void Realm, and a scene slowly unfolded, showing Xu Qing battling the Dao Ancestor of Rock in the Chaos Sea.

"The Spatial Dao you cultivate is quite interesting," Earth Sovereign commented. "However, here, and here..."

He lightly pointed out a few places, "It could be done better."

Each pointer directly hit the essence of the Dao, giving Xu Qing a sense of enlightenment.

Every word from this ancestor contained profound truths that reached the Origin.

"Do you know why I wanted to see you?" Earth Sovereign suddenly changed the subject.

Xu Qing thought for a moment and asked, "The Xu River Land?"

Earth Sovereign smiled gently, "That is one reason. After discussion, the Sacred Hall has decided to entrust the Number Two Xu River Land to you. We hope you make good use of it!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Earth Ancestor!"

The forty-three Xu River Lands were ranked from highest to lowest in terms of output. For example, the Number One Xu River Land could produce 90,000 grains of ruin river sand, while the forty-third Xu River Land, being small, could only produce about 10,000 grains of ruin river sand.

As for the Number Two Xu River Land, it could produce 80,000 grains of ruin river sand. If well utilized, it could bring considerable benefits to the Xu Family.

Earth Sovereign smiled and continued, "Secondly, you have already achieved the Dao Ancestor Realm. Do you wish to return to the Ancient Land of Dao to oversee it for a hundred cycles? Or oversee Tianyang Pass?"

Xu Qing did not hesitate, cupping his fists and saying, "Junior is willing to oversee Tianyang Pass!"

"Good!" Earth Sovereign nodded with satisfaction.

"If you oversee Main City Number One, a Celestial Palace will be arranged for you here, and you can then be stationed here, but if there is a summons, you must go!"

"Or, I can assign you a Fortress City, and you can go guard the Fortress City!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing already had an idea, "Junior is willing to be dispatched to guard a Fortress City!"

Being dispatched offered more autonomy and could also avoid the covetous eyes of the various races in Main City Number One!

Earth Sovereign smiled and said, "Then go to the Eighty-First Fortress City. There just happens to be a shortage of a Vice City Lord there, and the City Lord is also a Sacred Hall Elder!"

"Everything according to Earth Ancestor's arrangements!"

Xu Qing agreed.

"As for the third matter..."

Earth Sovereign stood with his hands behind his back, the hem of his linen robes fluttering without wind, and the stars in the hall flickered accordingly.

His gaze pierced through the endless Void Realm, as if staring at a distant and terrifying existence.

At this moment, he was no longer the gentle elder, but the supreme existence who held the destiny of the Human Race.

"A great tribulation is approaching," he looked into the depths of the Void Realm, his gaze penetrating endless dimensions. "We need new Transcenders."

Xu Qing's heart pounded.

The weight of this statement was too heavy; he thought of Pan Yu.

"You've met that one, haven't you?"

This sentence exploded like thunder in Xu Qing's Sea of Consciousness. He immediately understood who Earth Sovereign was referring to.

"Junior was fortunate enough to meet him and received his guidance," Xu Qing replied respectfully.

"Fortunate?" Earth Sovereign suddenly turned around, a trace of envy Xu Qing had never seen before flashing in his eyes. "From the beginning of Chaos until now, those who have been summoned by that one can be counted on two hands. As for the grace of his guidance..."

He paused, his voice tinged with emotion, "Even this old man has not had such an Opportunity."

The starlight in the hall suddenly dimmed, as if trembling at this astonishing truth.

Earth Sovereign paced to an ancient star-tree, his fingertips gently caressing the trunk: "Do you know why, in these years, Xuan Yuan should have been in charge, yet I have been overseeing the Human Race on his behalf?"

Xu Qing recalled the rumors from outside: "I heard that Heavenly Ancestor is in seclusion..."

"He is in seclusion, but not for cultivation," Earth Sovereign interrupted, his voice suddenly low. "Rather, he is recuperating."

"What?" Xu Qing's Dao Heart was greatly shaken.

As the oldest ancestor of the Human Race, Heavenly Sovereign's strength was unfathomable. Who could injure him?

Earth Sovereign raised his hand and drew a line in the Void Realm, and a scene slowly unfolded: In endless darkness, a golden figure was battling some indescribable existence.

That existence had no fixed form, sometimes transforming into a terrifying beast, sometimes condensing into a black hole that devoured everything.

"Ever since that one informed us of 'His' existence, Xuan Yuan personally went to the Tianyang Ruins," Earth Sovereign's tone was heavy. "After a million years, he finally found 'His' trace. At that time, 'He' was devouring the entire Tianyang Ruins."

In the scene, the golden figure laid down countless profound array patterns deep within a sea of fire.

Just as it was about to be completed, that indescribable existence suddenly erupted, and a black light pierced through Xuan Yuan's chest..."Xuan Yuan escaped, but suffered an injury to his Dao Origin," Earth Sovereign waved his hand, dispersing the scene. "He is still in slumber in the Primordial Secret Realm."

"We don't have much time," Earth Sovereign suddenly looked up, his eyes radiating a divine light that penetrated all ages. "In at most a hundred cycles, 'He' will be able to completely refine the Tianyang Ruins."

"A hundred cycles, huh..." Xu Qing murmured to himself, his heart slightly eased.

For others, a hundred cycles might be short, but for him, there was still an Opportunity.

Earth Sovereign seemed to see through his thoughts and said meaningfully, "Do not underestimate this hundred-cycle limit. The measures Xuan Yuan put in place back then are already beginning to loosen."

His gaze looked out of the hall, gazing towards the outside of Tianyang Pass.

"Do you know why the Tianyang aliens, even knowing there's a mastermind behind them, are still fighting us to the death recently?"

Xu Qing suddenly realized: "Could it be that they..."

Earth Sovereign neither confirmed nor denied, merely sighing, "The truth is often this cruel. Therefore, we need new Transcenders."

He gazed at Xu Qing, his eyes like torches, "And you are the most likely candidate in these past million years to take that step."