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The instant the Great Emperor opened his eyes, the dim cave became resplendent and colorful light enveloped everything.
There was a cosmic shift, a transformation of all things. The cavern was veiled in this radiance, replaced by a vast expanse of stars.
It was as though at this moment, Xu Qing was drawn outside the Wanggu Continent and appeared in the boundless starry sky. Starlight flickered in the surroundings and the galaxy in the distance seemed to be flowing.
At the same time, countless stars appeared and rose from the galaxy, gathering together and finally forming a tall figure.
The figure in starlight, the resplendent emperor’s robe, the bright emperor’s crown, and that dignified face.
It was the Great Emperor.
The Great Emperor outlined by the stars sat cross-legged in the starry sky. His majesty radiating throughout the universe and his influence extending towards the ancient past.
Xu Qing was like a speck of dust in front of him.
Xu Qing lowered his head and bowed respectfully.
“Tell me, what was the original intention of establishing the Sword Holding Palace!”
A deep voice echoed in the starry sky, causing the void to wrinkle and countless stars to sway.
Xu Qing lifted his head and looked at the Great Emperor’s figure. His voice was filled with respect as he spoke.
“The Sword Holding lineage was created to bring the supreme glory to the human race, to establish eternal prosperity and peace. This was the original intention.”
“What’s the mission of a Sword Holder?”
The Great Emperor asked again.
“Sword Holders are the bearers of the command, protecting all living beings. Swearing to slash through calamities for the common people, they bring light to the world!”
As Xu Qing’s words echoed, the stars that formed the Great Emperor’s figure shone with an even brighter light. That seemed to be a form of recognition, recognition that Xu Qing’s words were indeed in line with the thoughts in his heart.
“What if we are obstructed by the nonhuman races?”
The Great Emperor’s voice echoed. These words contained a hint of sharpness.
Xu Qing’s expression became even more solemn as he calmly answered.
“Slash!”
“What if humans are the ones who obstruct us?”
Xu Qing didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Slash! Sovereigns are represented by 10,000 and are superior to emperors. It means that the Sword Holding Ministry can kill anyone below the sovereign!”
“What kind of sovereign is this?!”
The Great Emperor’s figure shone and his voice was filled with killing intent, causing an endless chill to rise in the starry sky.
Xu Qing paused and lowered his head. He needed to think about this question.
A while later, Xu Qing lifted his head. There was a strange glint in his eyes as he slowly spoke.
“The ancient sovereign?”
The Great Emperor didn’t speak. Xu Qing fell silent. After a while, the Great Emperor’s voice carried the vicissitudes of life as it echoed in the starry sky.
“To the Sword Holders, this sovereign is the ancient sovereign and the Human Emperor. However, to the Sword Palace, the sovereign doesn’t refer to one person.”
“The function of the sovereign is to allow the race to continue. Hence, the meaning of the sovereign… is the continuation of the race.”
“As the saying goes, anyone below the sovereign can be killed. To the Sword Palace, it means that anyone who affects the continuation of the race can be killed!”
“Even if the other party is the sovereign!”
Xu Qing’s body shook. This statement made his breathing slightly hasten. It was different from his understanding of the Sword Holders.
At the same time, he also learned of the difference between a Sword Holder and the Sword Palace.
The earliest Sword Holders actually came from the Sword Palace that the Great Emperor belonged to.
“However, there has to be a limit to any right. Therefore, after the Sword Palace lineage became Sword Holders, I issued a decree. After my death, there has to be a successor of the Sword Palace in any era. His responsibility is to… supervise. Only the successor of the Sword Palace possesses the right I just mentioned to you.”
“As for the Summer Immortal Palace, other than recording history, they also have the responsibility of supervising the successors of the Sword Palace. Only then will a cycle be formed.”
“However, this decree has never been truly implemented.”
“Because my avatar still has a trace of life. Because… the changes in the later generations caused me to not dare to let go…”
When Xu Qing heard this, his heart stirred. He understood that the successor of the Sword Palace was the last insurance for the continuation of the human race.
In the starry sky, the Great Emperor stared at Xu Qing but didn’t continue to speak. Instead, he closed his eyes. It was as though he woke up this time to tell Xu Qing about this insurance.
As he closed his eyes, the starry sky blurred and the stars dimmed. Everything gradually returned to the appearance of the cave. The figure of the Great Emperor slowly dissipated, turning back into that withered skeleton with a trace of life.
Xu Qing lowered his head and bowed respectfully before slowly retreating.
However, just as he was about to leave this world that was in the state between the cave and the starry sky, the Great Emperor, who had his eyes closed, suddenly spoke.
“Do you still remember what I said to you during the Heart Inquisition?”
Xu Qing stopped in his tracks and nodded.
“No matter when, my heart won’t change.”
The Great Emperor didn’t say anything else. Everything completely reverted. Xu Qing’s figure and the surrounding void dissipated together.
The Great Emperor fell asleep again.
The rainbows in the sky dissipated.
Xu Qing’s figure appeared outside the Sword Holding Palace. Everything before was like a dream that belonged to him alone.
His return attracted countless gazes and divine senses.
Most of the forces in the entire Imperial City were paying attention to Xu Qing. They didn’t know what the Great Emperor had said to Xu Qing but they saw Xu Qing disappear from the Sword Holding Palace and return after about fifteen minutes.
The Sword Holders in the surroundings all looked at Xu Qing. There was also this generation’s Sword Holding Palace Master among them but he didn’t ask. He only stared at Xu Qing before turning and walking back to the Sword Holding Palace.
After he left, all the Sword Holders here followed him back to the Sword Holding Palace. However, every Sword Holder had imprinted Xu Qing’s figure in their minds.
As they left, the area outside the Sword Holding Palace became empty.
Only Xu Qing stood there with his eyes closed. The scenes of him meeting the Great Emperor appeared in his mind and a hint of sorrow gradually rose in his heart.
“Is the Great Emperor going to die…”
Xu Qing mumbled inwardly. He felt a sense of entrustment. He was being entrusted with the fate of the human race.
After a long time, Xu Qing opened his eyes and cupped his fists, bowing to the Sword Holding Palace. He then left with a complicated expression.
The night sky.
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. A gentle breeze blew as Xu Qing walked on the streets. His clothes fluttered in the wind and his long hair spread out.
The wind here was different from the wind in Fenghai County.
It wasn’t that moist and was a little dry.
When it blew on his body, it gave off an unfamiliar feeling.
Xu Qing moved forward silently. The things that happened after he arrived at the Imperial City surfaced in his mind one after another. He needed some time to settle down.
Just like that, after a long time, Xu Qing saw the lake outside Ning Yan’s residence. Under the moonlight, this lake was like a mirror, reflecting the sky. If one looked at it for too long, they would have an illusion that the moon in the lake was more real than the moon in the sky.
Time flowed by and the night passed.
After Xu Qing came back to the residence, he meditated for the entire night and recalled everything that had happened today. Finally, at dawn, he lifted his head and looked in the direction of the Sword Holding Palace, sighing softly.
As the day arrived, there was also a response from the jade token sent to the Tenth Prince’s residence.
The Tenth Prince refused and replied that this was nonsense.
This didn’t make sense.
One had to know that Xu Qing’s actions after coming to the Imperial City caused anyone with some brains to not choose to stand out at this moment and test Xu Qing’s bottom line for others.
This was especially so after the matter of the Great Emperor summoning him.
Logically speaking, the Tenth Prince should have chosen to return the items in line with human nature unless he was a fool.
Xu Qing shook his head. He didn’t consider that the Tenth Prince was a stupid person. In that case, it was obvious that doing this was more in line with the Tenth Prince’s own interests.
“This Imperial City is indeed complicated. Moreover, everyone has more than one mask.”
A cold glint appeared in Xu Qing’s eyes. He stood up and left the residence with Ning Yan, Kong Xianglong, and the others.
As for the captain and Zi Xuan, they had gone out early in the morning.
On the way to the Tenth Prince’s residence, Ning Yan looked at Xu Qing with admiration and reverence. He naturally knew about the awakening of the Great Emperor yesterday.
After that, he thought of the Tenth Prince’s actions. He moved closer to Xu Qing and uttered in a low voice.
“Boss, the Tenth Prince is heartless. He has ordinary talents, wasn’t favored by his maternal family when he was young, and even the Emperor didn’t care for him. My mother took pity on him and took care of him for several years in the palace. However, as soon as my mother passed away, he immediately forgot all the kindness and turned ungrateful.”
“We’ll know after we take a look.”
Xu Qing calmly uttered and Ning Yan stopped talking. The group gradually arrived at the east of the city. Very soon, a luxurious mansion was reflected in their eyes.
The mansion was resplendent, seemingly afraid that others wouldn’t recognize its nobility. Even the guardian beasts outside were crafted from spirit stones. Inside, there was a lively atmosphere, as if a grand banquet was taking place.
Laughter rang out from within, and the sound of music echoed.
Outside the gate, there were two guards. These two guards were a little nervous about Xu Qing’s arrival. The cultivation base in their bodies rose as though they were facing a great enemy.
Xu Qing didn’t choose to barge in, and made the guard report his arrival. However, after waiting for a long time and seeing no response, he thought about it and walked forward.
The two guards were about to stop him but their vision blurred. Xu Qing had already walked past them and arrived in front of the red gate. He then pushed.
With this push, the gate rumbled and cracks rapidly spread from the place Xu Qing touched. At the next instant, they shattered.
Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed. As for the shattered pieces, they swept into the residence and scattered on the ground. There was also a sharp sound coming from the residence. Very soon, the figures of over a hundred cultivators rushed toward Xu Qing.
“Halt!”
“This is the Tenth Prince’s residence. How dare you be so disrespectful!”
Although these hundred-odd cultivators roared angrily, for some reason, their speed was a little slow and the rushing sounds were loud. However, none of them really got close. They allowed Xu Qing and the others to walk past the courtyard and appear at the banquet venue.
At that moment, dozens of silkpants were sitting in the banquet. There were maids everywhere and it was a scene of debauchery.
In the middle was a youth wearing a prince’s robe with a domineering expression. He cast a sidelong glance at Xu Qing and Ning Yan who were walking over and sneered.
“Get lost.”
Everyone in the surroundings looked over.
Xu Qing made his move.
He took back the items.
Xu Qing walked out of the gate and turned his head to take a look. His gaze was deep.
In the prince’s residence, Old Tenth unlocked his eyes in a daze. After seeing everything clearly and learning what happened from the surrounding people, he was furious.
When everyone saw this, they hurriedly bade farewell. Old Tenth was filled with anger as he punished all the guards. After his furious roar echoed, he stormed into his bedroom with resentment in his eyes.
The moment the door closed, no one saw that the resentment in Old Tenth’s eyes disappeared and the corners of his mouth revealed a hint of emotion.
“Aunt Qing, Xinhai’s ability is limited. The only thing he can do for you is to protect your belongings on behalf of the Twelfth Brother… Now, the items have came back to their rightful owner.”
Old Tenth muttered inwardly. When he thought of his late elders, he felt a little bitter.
In that cold and indifferent palace, he would never forget who gave him the warmth of a mother.
“Unfortunately, I can only use this method. I can’t let others see that I’m nostalgic, and I’ll definitely find out the cause of your death!”
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