Chapter 1209 - The Unexpected One

A radical change swept across Thousand Troops Quell's face! Starring Daoist furrowed his brow, his gaze icy as he turned to the newcomer and spoke with a chilly tone, "Leave!" One word, and the cold wind rose. Killing intent gathered from every direction. Starring Daoist’s nature had always been thus, even though Xu Qing had once defeated him. After his rebirth, he remained the same. Proud, cold, and unwavering, his demeanor was etched into his soul. Even when confronted by a fellow quasi-immortal, even when vastly outnumbered, even when facing an elder verging on the pinnacle of quasi-immortality. The order he cultivated: better to break than to bend! Upon hearing Starring Daoist’s response, the middle-aged cultivator chuckled. "What a temper." A ghostly glint flickered in his eyes as he turned to bow to his own leader. The elder he bowed to frowned but eventually nodded. In the next moment, the middle-aged cultivator's aura surged dramatically. It was as if he borrowed power! Then he raised his hand and pressed downwards, causing waves to surge across the black sea, from which numerous black, grotesque-looking flying insects emerged. These insects were hideous, seemingly not even corporeal. Their numbers multiplied rapidly, covering the skies in the blink of an eye, vast and boundless. They rose from the black sea, charging suddenly at Starring Daoist. In Starring Daoist's eyes, a cold light flickered; in the next instant, innumerable chains materialized around him, clattering as they revolved into vortices before suddenly dispersing. The might of order suppressed all. Balance's way extinguished everything. Thousand Troops Quell also joined in at this moment, scattering sword energy, fully cooperating with Starring Daoist. Everywhere their divine powers reached, the black insects collapsed one after another. Especially the vortex formed by Starring Daoist’s chains of order, which surged like a storm. From a distance, those hideous black insects seemed unworthy of mention. Continuously shattering. However, the disintegrated insects did not completely disappear; countless remnants of black dust lingered, drifting like powder or mist. Moreover, under the gestured incantations of the middle-aged cultivator’s fingers. The sky-filling black dust rolled vastly, all returning and converging on him, covering his entire body in layers. Including his face. It was as if reshaping a body for him. In a blink, the middle-aged cultivator's appearance vanished, covered with a layer of faceless attire. Then, his facial features twisted, only to reappear a moment later, completely transformed. He had taken on the appearance of Starring Daoist! Not just the appearance, but also the expression, and even the aura and soul were identical. Furthermore, once formed, two other heads rapidly emerged from the sides of his main one with black dust coalescing instantly. One took the form of Thousand Troops Quell. This scene sent a sinking feeling through the hearts of the ascendants around them. Afterward, the middle-aged cultivator smiled chillingly at the three forms of Starring Daoist. Then, he turned his back on Starring Daoist, moving towards his own companions. His comrades watched the spectacle without the slightest surprise, evidently accustomed to it, and the elder leader didn’t even glance back, turning away instead. The group intended to leave just like that. And at that moment, an eerie phenomenon occurred. As the middle-aged cultivator walked away, Starring Daoist and Thousand Troops Quell were somehow tethered to him. The three seemed to lose control of their bodies, moving in unison. Among them, the expression of Thousand Troops Quell even turned blank, as if his soul had been usurped. Starring Daoist, though physically moving forward, flashed a piercing glint in his eyes with every step, and crashing sounds echoed within him as if the control over him was gradually crumbling. This scene caused the middle-aged cultivator to utter a light sound in surprise, and even the elder leader turned back to gaze thoughtfully at Starring Daoist. “Very interesting, take him away,” the elder spoke indifferently. At his words, three of his team members immediately stepped forward, flying towards Starring Daoist. Seeing this, Zhou Zhengli’s expression turned contemplative, Evil Spirit Daoist licked his lips, Yuan Shan Su frowned, and other ascenders watched silently, with sharp glints in their eyes. They who ascended amidst carnage possessed their own pride. Watching a fellow being treated like this, even if their relationships weren’t close enough to warrant helping, it still left a bitter taste in their hearts. However, those people were obviously stronger, with several quasi-immortals, not to mention that terrifying elder. A significant disparity existed. And so, much as their hearts stirred, ultimately no one stepped forward. Even Xu Qing felt uncomfortable. Those two swords were his. As for Starring Daoist… Xu Qing thought about it. Something felt amiss to him. In the outside world, it might be tolerable, but this was the Reception Star. These newly ascended were awaiting their assigned duties. If someone could be summoned away like this, then this so-called reception was hardly more than a farce. "Something’s off!" Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. The moment his foot landed, his aura erupted, and the Constitution of Time and Space instantly shrouded the sky. A bell flew out from his brow. The next instant, the bell chimed. With its ethereal resonance, the sound echoed through the world, reverberating deep within everyone’s mind. In an instant, expressions changed dramatically. Whether Xu Qing’s newly ascended peers or the team of cultivators from before, all had transformations in their expressions. To their ears, the bell was like a crashing thunder, shaking their minds, stirring their bodies, interrupting their cultivation, and rendering their spells… ineffective! In the next moment, many bodies plummeted from mid-air. The three cultivators rushing at Starring Daoist similarly trembled, their eyes filled with terror, unable to proceed. And the brothers Thousand Troops Quell, their bodies shivered, symptoms of clarity emerging in the bell’s chime. Starring Daoist, who had already been on the verge of awakening, instantly snapped back to clarity under the bell’s sound! The killing intent in his eyes was intensely prominent. Compared to them, the most affected was the middle-aged cultivator. His three heads crumbled in an instant, the black-dust-formed body shattered into countless pieces, revealing his true form. In shock, his pupils shrank as he gazed at Xu Qing, his expression grave, as if encountering a deadly adversary, his heart roiling with tumult as if he had barely escaped disaster. For before him, without his awareness, stood an iron skewer! This skewer was razor-sharp, its emitted chill suppressing the middle-aged cultivator’s soul. He didn’t know when the skewer appeared, but he realized he was perilously close to being pierced through the forehead by it. Yet two fingers intercepted the skewer, halting its deadly trajectory. The one holding the skewer was his leader, that elder infinitely close to the peak of quasi-immortality! The elder slowly reverted his gaze to Xu Qing. Xu Qing met his gaze unflinchingly, speaking softly. "That is my sword, those are my people." The elder had a knowing look, then withdrew his gaze, glancing at the firmament, bowing low. "Immortal Above, my team has completed your special assignment; may we depart?" At his words, everyone’s hearts stirred, and they lifted their heads. Xu Qing’s gaze joined them. A once-muted sky now sparked with color. Vibrant hues blossomed suddenly across the previously dismal canopy. The colors, vivid and bright, wove together swiftly, forming a vibrant mosaic. Within, gradually, a figure was outlined, stepping forth. An unassuming elder, clad in coarse hemp garments like a simple farmer, holding a rough wooden staff. Cracks covered the staff, mirroring the lines on his face. When he appeared, the elder leader, nearing the peak of quasi-immortality, immediately lowered his head; his entire squad followed suit without exception. Upon seeing this person, Li Mengtu’s countenance drastically changed, his eyes widening with an expression of disbelief, and perhaps intentionally, he exclaimed. “Master!” Xu Qing was equally shocked to his core. From this elder, he felt a familiarity. From the Constitution he had forsaken! The visitor was none other than Li Mengtu’s master, the Immortal from the Dao Immortal Sect of the Western Star Region! The Poison Lord! At this moment, Xu Qing’s cautiousness reached its apex. He was fully aware that this figure was by no means benevolent; the Constitution once gifted was imbued with the karma of lending and repayment, not benevolence. Had he not comprehended the Constitution of Time and Space, consequences might have been dire. Subject to be bestowed the path. This was why he decisively let go. Whatever the case, never did Xu Qing expect to encounter him here. And judging by his status... it was clear this Poison Lord had duties beyond being just a patroller of the Dao Immortal Sect! “I am the head of the Resources Management Division.” The Poison Lord's eyes calmly surveyed the crowd as he spoke in a raspy voice.