Chapter 1217 - Here Lies Ice

These two words, spoken by Xu Qing standing on the Seaweed, were uttered with calmness. As if they were self-evident truths, as if this was the natural order. There was no need for any additional majesty, even though, apart from Xinghuanzi, all around were people of the Huntian race. Yet the calmer he was, the more immense the invisible pressure he placed upon the Huntian people in this territory. Because this was the Fifth Star Ring. Humanity reigns supreme! Outside the imperial palace, many members of the Huntian Imperial Family bore solemn expressions. As if facing a formidable enemy, their hearts were heavy. To them, Xinghuanzi had already been exceedingly powerful, and now the appearance of this second figure shook their spirits even more. Especially that Seaweed! They naturally understood that this was the essence of the No. 29 Prison. And to be able to command this Seaweed, bringing it here, to fight for it... the significance of this spectacle was profound. The waves it stirred in their hearts were naturally even more intense. Especially for these Huntian people, who were no longer in their former glory, and among whom none had truly witnessed the past history with their own eyes. This generation, from the moment of their birth, has seen humanity as the heavens. Even though the Aurora Beyond Heavens had lost its master, in their bones, they held awe for humanity. It was only the majesty of the Huntian Emperor that temporarily suppressed their awe of humanity, but... this suppression, when faced with a human powerhouse, ultimately could not be contained. Thus at this moment, Xu Qing's calmness, his forceful arrival, and his voice resonating in all directions, caused these Huntian people to once again recall their awe for humanity. Some instinctively bowed their heads. This was the servility etched in their blood. It was also the key method by which the humans of the Fifth Star Ring governed the alien races. All of this was clearly observed by the colossal visage formed by the Huntian Emperor. Thus, he remained silent, gazing intently at Xu Qing. Then... a flash of light appeared between his brows, and a medallion flew out. This medallion emitted a gentle white glow, with the word 'Exempt' engraved on its front, and the back resonated with the sound of spiritual light. "Our clan, many years ago, was honored by the Outer Heaven of Lingguang, and we acknowledged a great figure of the Outer Heaven of Lingguang as our sovereign, who bestowed upon us this medallion, granting exemption from all levies," the Huntian Emperor slowly spoke. As his words echoed, the white light emanating from this exemption medallion suddenly expanded, enveloping the imperial palace and isolating it from the outside world. And this imperial palace of the Huntian clan, floating amidst the stars, was actually the entrance to the Huntian clan's land! Xu Qing had heard Xinghuanzi mention this exemption medallion before; although he didn't know the specifics, he figured that since it could be bestowed and was extracted in such a manner by the Huntian Emperor, it must hold significance. Moreover, on their way here, he communicated with Zhou Zhengli, inquiring for details. Zhou Zhengli, having thoroughly probed for information, shared everything he knew with Xu Qing. In the Fifth Star Ring, there are some clans that, due to various reasons, receive an exemption medallion bestowed upon them by different Outer Heavens. Generally, when a Provision Envoy encounters such clans, they can only choose to retreat. But... with a flash of eerie light in his eyes, Xu Qing faced the exemption medallion. He raised his right hand and took out a special mission jade slip given by the Poison Lord. "By the order of the Nine Shores Immortal Lord! Seek the mystical nine-colored ice that can extinguish the fire of the God Lord." Upon saying this, Xu Qing coldly looked at the Huntian Emperor and spoke blandly, "This matter holds great significance, and I suspect that your clan harbors this item. I now need to investigate." As Xu Qing's words fell, the special mission jade slip in his hand immediately began to flicker, emitting bursts of radiant light, sweeping outwards. When the white glow of the exemption medallion touched this light, it twisted instantly. In the next moment, the white glow of the exemption medallion disappeared directly, no longer shrouding the imperial palace. The surrounding members of the Huntian clan might not have all reacted immediately, but the expression of the Huntian Emperor changed. This scene surpassed his expectations. Normally, the exemption decree held by his clan should have been enough to make the Provision Envoy retreat. Yet, no matter what, he had not anticipated that the human before him would have such a mission. This made him feel somewhat absurd! The Nine Shores Immortal Lord—what kind of existence was that? To send a Quasi-Immortal to collect the mysterious ice capable of extinguishing the Divine Master Fire...he didn't believe it! But, that mission jade slip contained a special mark, proving its authenticity beyond doubt! Most crucially, the performance of the exemption decree also completely confirmed its reality... This caused great waves in the mind of the Huntian Emperor. Because even if his clan possessed the exemption decree, its authority would be immediately judged inferior when facing a mission from the Nine Shores Immortal Lord! This scene not only changed the expressions of the Huntian Imperial Family members but also made Xinghuanzi's eyes narrow as he looked at the mission jade slip in Xu Qing's hand. Clearly, even he was extremely surprised. As for Xu Qing, at this moment, he stepped down from the Seaweed and walked towards the Huntian Imperial Palace. Each step he took stirred the starry sky. Each approach made the expression on the Huntian Emperor in the palace change. Until Xu Qing took his seventh or eighth step, the enormous visage of the Huntian Emperor vanished, and his true form emerged from the palace, standing in the starry sky. A hundred zhang tall, with a crimson body and eerie dual faces, the moment he appeared, a shocking wave of cultivation suddenly spread, forming an invisible barrier before Xu Qing. Xu Qing paused in his steps, calmly looking at this Huntian Emperor. "Are you trying to obstruct my investigation?" The Huntian Emperor stared at Xu Qing and spoke in a low voice. "My clan does not possess the Nine-Colored Ice!" "Whether you do or not will be known upon investigation!" The one who spoke was not Xu Qing, but Xinghuanzi at the side. The Huntian Emperor fell silent, then sighed, acknowledging his miscalculation this time. He raised his hand and grabbed, instantly causing the relics of the Fourth True Monarch to fly out from the palace behind him, landing in his palm. He planned to settle the matter peacefully, as the other party wanted this item, then... he would give it away. Although this item was extremely precious, compared to what their tribe was doing, it was better to choose to give it away. Just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed. At the same time, Xu Qing's eyes narrowed, looking towards the imperial palace. At the Seaweed's location, almost simultaneously with Xu Qing, it sensed something, and its leaves immediately swayed, with its aura becoming sharp. Inside the imperial palace, there were transmission fluctuations spreading out. Someone was being transmitted here! The Huntian Emperor squinted his eyes, clenched his right hand, and retracted the ball of Heavenly Principle Earth he had intended to send out. The words he was about to say also changed accordingly. “There is an emissary from my master, descending upon our tribe.” “Regarding the matters here, we, the Huntian tribe, follow the arrangements of the supreme master.” Saying this, the Huntian Emperor turned and bowed towards the imperial palace. All the tribesmen around lowered their heads and bowed in worship. Immediately, the transmission fluctuations grew stronger, and amidst the booming sound, a massive pillar of light descended from the void of the starry sky above the imperial palace, causing waves to surge. This scene was not unfamiliar to Xu Qing; it was exactly the same as the transmission he experienced when returning to his own universe. In the next moment, as the pillar of light descended, an aura infinitely close to a Lesser Immortal burst forth from within the imperial palace. This aura was terrifying to the extreme, causing the starry sky to ripple, and everything around was engulfed by a dense immortal aura. All things related to divine beings were repelled in the presence of this immortal aura. It was the Immortal Embryo that dispersed it. The arrival... Just a sliver away, and his Immortal Embryo could transform into an Immortal! Xinghuanzi's face was grave, and Xu Qing furrowed his brows. Then, as all eyes turned to the imperial palace, its grand doors suddenly swung open. A force as vast as mountains and seas erupted from within, akin to volcanic magma spewing forth. Amidst the roaring sound, a middle-aged cultivator clad in a crimson robe, his expression icy, stepped out. Each step he took made the starry sky tremble. Until the moment he fully emerged, the Huntian Emperor solemnly bowed, and his clansmen followed suit with utmost reverence. "Greetings, Envoy!" The newcomer's aura was terrifying, and coupled with the entire Huntian clan's obeisance, it formed an astonishing momentum. Simultaneously, the Seaweed there swayed instinctively, its divine sense swiftly transmitting into Xu Qing's mind. "On him, there is the aura of the Warden who left the seal on the True God's wound!" Upon hearing this, Xu Qing narrowed his eyes. Meanwhile, the crimson-robed middle-aged cultivator who had walked out of the palace cast a gaze of inexplicable majesty around, finally settling on the Seaweed, his eyes gleaming with brilliance. Then, he looked at Xu Qing standing in front of the Seaweed. "It was you, in collusion with this base plant, who stole my master's divine grain?" At these words, the Huntian Emperor, who was bowing, blinked thoughtfully. Xinghuanzi's expression turned dark, and he fixed his gaze on the middle-aged cultivator, the edicts of order within him beginning to activate.