Chapter 1497: I Wish…
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Translator: Atlas Studios | Editor: Atlas Studios
The first star ring was roughly triangular in shape. It was blurry inside, as though it was enveloped by supreme power and couldn’t be probed!
The second star ring was much clearer. There were also marks inside but they were only outlines.
The third and fourth places were roughly the same.
The fifth star ring, however, was different, with the mark of the meditating old
man in the center being much more distinct.
As for the other star rings, they also had terrifying marks, some clear, some only outlines, varying in sizes and shapes.
Staring at these, Xu Qing’s mind rumbled intensely.
Back then, after he was reborn in the body made of flesh and blood of Desolate, his consciousness gained some more blurry understanding, such as the thirty-six star rings.
It was only after he followed Jade Flowing Dust to the outer sea and was devoured by the Suix that he met the old man who claimed to be from the fifth star ring’s Immortal Capital.
The conversation with the old man caused Xu Qing’s vision to expand. He confirmed that the universe he was in was one of the thirty-six star rings.
However, that was all.
He knew the information but there was no image. He also didn’t know which
star ring he was in.
Hence, when the star map of the thirty-six star rings appeared in front of him, the rumbling in his heart was earth-shattering. The waves were enough to cause his sea of consciousness to surge intensely.
He finally knew the star ring he was in.
The ninth star ring!
In the ninth star ring, there were many forces. There were terrifying marks in the east, west, north, south, and west.
However, Xu Qing didn’t know if it was an illusion. Regardless of whether it was the behemoth, the golden river, the black paG.o.da, or the paper effigy, they were all vaguely pointing in the direction of the fragmented-face.
It was as though they were being attracted.
Moreover, from the clarity, the fragmented-face was the clearest mark in the
thirty-six star rings!
None of the other marks were as clear.
The other marks in the ninth star ring, the old man’s mark in the fifth star ring, and even all the marks that could be seen in the entire thirty-six star rings were relatively inferior.
Only the first star ring was blurry, so he couldn’t see it clearly. It was unknown
if there was such a terrifying existence like the fragmented-face inside.
However, no matter what, the star chart before him was like a creation myth unfolding in Xu Qing’s mind, instantly expanding his worldview.
The world was right in front of him.
The starry sky was also in his eyes.
The star rings were infinitely vast.
Compared to this, w.a.n.ggu was like a grain of sand on the beach, insignificant.
However, because of the existence of Desolate, this grain of sand… was extremely resplendent.
Hence, it was only after a long time that Xu Qing took a deep breath and forced his surging heart to calm down again.
“The level of the fragmented-face is half-step Divine G.o.d… Hence, its
resplendence surpa.s.ses all others.”
“In that case, what level of strength are the marks in the surroundings of the ninth star ring? Lord G.o.d? Venerable G.o.d?
“There’s a high chance that it’s the latter.”
“In that case, was the fragmented-face originally in the ninth star ring or did it
come from another star ring?”
“The east, west, north, south, and west are all faintly affected by the
fragmented-face…”
Xu Qing fell silent. He was unfamiliar with the behemoth and the golden river, and had never seen similar existences before. However, he had seen a similar object like the black paG.o.da.
“I fused the damaged paG.o.da under the Forbidden Sea into my great wing, forming the Holy Heaven PaG.o.da… I wonder if it has a connection with this black paG.o.da.”
“As for the paper effigy…”
A dark glint appeared in Xu Qing’s eyes. He thought of Droz, who had appeared
in the battle where the Sword-Holding Great Emperor died!
“Droz’s methods are related to paper. Does It have a connection with this paper
effigy?”
After a long time, Xu Qing suppressed the various thoughts that kept erupting.
What he saw today was too shocking. He needed some time to settle down.
And this place was clearly not a suitable place.
Hence, Xu Qing’s gaze swept across the surroundings and his divine sense spread out. A while later, Xu Qing looked at the void further away.
Here, he couldn’t find the face that had escaped.
However, from a certain perspective, the value of this star chart was astonishing.
Hence, Xu Qing copied it in his mind. After firmly memorizing it, his body swayed and he began to explore a larger area.
However, he instinctively didn’t approach this vast star map.
The first level of the jade slip’s candle possessed a terrifying a.s.similation power. In that case, Xu Qing knew that he had to be cautious on the second level.
It was very likely that there was a similar a.s.similation here.
Just like that, two hours pa.s.sed.
As Xu Qing searched, an inexplicable sense of danger gradually rose in his heart.
It was getting increasingly intense.
At this moment, his heart was pounding with fear.
This made Xu Qing even more certain of his previous guess.
“I can’t stay long.”
It was a pity that he couldn’t find that face on this trip and there was a high chance that he wouldn’t be able to find it after leaving this level and returning to the recording where the candle was. His goal wasn’t achieved, but he was well aware that fate was like this sometimes.
He had seen it twice and searched twice but he had failed.
This meant that… that face might have its own will and it didn’t want to be
found.
“What a pity…”
Xu Qing sighed softly and touched the jade bottle in his storage bag.
“I hope the white dust inside is enough for me to research and use.”
Xu Qing no longer hesitated. He made up his mind and headed straight for the exit.
“I’ve stayed in this World Source Secret Realm for a long time. In order to prevent any accidents, it’s better to leave.”
Xu Qing’s speed was extremely fast. He sped through the void like a rainbow and soon returned to the entrance rift.
He had left behind a trace of divine sense here previously. After checking that there was nothing wrong, he took a step forward and approached the rift, wanting to return to the candle world on the first level.
However, just as Xu Qing was about to pa.s.s through the rift, waves of unfamiliar and familiar auras suddenly spread out from the void behind him.
After Xu Qing sensed it, his body trembled and his cultivation base erupted.
Two authorities shone in his eyes as he abruptly turned around, staring fixedly at the void.
There, waves of ripples were spreading.
Almost at the instant Xu Qing looked over, an item appeared out of thin air at
the center of the ripples.
It was a mask!
Its appearance was the face Xu Qing had seen twice but failed to catch.
However, now, it had materialized into a mask.
It was as though this was its main body.
At that moment, it faced Xu Qing as though it was observing. At the same time, it was swaying, prepared to instantly leave if there was any movement.
Xu Qing was vigilant and didn’t act rashly. Instead, he stood in front of the rift and observed as well, pondering.
‘When I looked for it, it hid from me, but when I gave up, it took the initiative
to appear.’
Just like that, fifteen minutes pa.s.sed.
Both sides didn’t do anything and only looked at each other. Moreover, this mask no longer swayed like before. It was as though because Xu Qing didn’t make a move, it lowered its vigilance.
When Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and thought about how he could capture this mask in an instant, this mask seemed to be able to sense Xu Qing’s thoughts and rapidly blurred, as though it was about to dissipate.
Xu Qing frowned and dispelled the thought of attacking. When he thought about how this item had appeared when he didn’t plan to search for it… he simply gave up on the thought of capturing it.
Almost at the instant he put down this thought, the mask became clear again. After staring at Xu Qing for a while, it suddenly emitted a fluctuation. Its lips parted slightly and a numb voice entered Xu Qing’s mind.
“You, what wish do you want to make?’
Xu Qing fell silent and the vigilance in his heart grew even stronger. He didn t know what this mask was but it could actually speak.
However, he had seen many bizarre ent.i.ties in his life, so he had his own judgment. He understood that some things couldn’t be casually answered.
Just as Xu Qing was pondering, when the mask saw that Xu Qing didn’t answer, its body blurred again, as though it was about to dissipate again.
Upon seeing this, Xu Qing’s eyes flashed and he suddenly spoke.
“I wish…”
After saying these words, the blurry state of the mask paused for a moment before it became clear again. When it stared at Xu Qing, Xu Qing took a step back and directly stepped into the rift behind him.
He instantly disappeared.
When he appeared, he was no longer on the level of the star chart but on the level where the red candle was.
Light and heat a.s.saulted his senses.
Xu Qing didn’t bother with it. Instead, he quickly looked at the rift to see if the mask would follow him.
Very soon… ripples appeared at the spatial rift he was looking at. The mask really flew out with Xu Qing.
The moment it appeared, it stared at Xu Qing.
It was as though it was waiting for Xu Qing to make a wish.
Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and sped into the distance. At the same time, he paid attention to the mask.
A hint of hesitation appeared on the mask’s face. However, it quickly chose to follow and fly toward Xu Qing.
It was as though Xu Qing’s previous words had created a certain cause.
Moreover, Xu Qing didn’t mention his wish, so this cause remained without an effect.
Hence, this mask no longer left but followed behind Xu Qing.
Just like that, after flying for eight minutes, Xu Qing suddenly moved back and instantly appeared near the mask behind him, and grabbed it.
This time around, the mask didn’t disappear in a blur like before. Instead, it allowed Xu Qing to grab it.
In his hand, the mask looked at Xu Qing, as though it was still waiting for Xu Qing to make a wish.
Xu Qing’s face was expressionless as he casually placed the mask inside his dress.
Xu Qing was worried about placing this item in his storage bag. After all, it was a living creature.
As for methods like sealing, they might break the mask’s current state due to the malice of such actions.
Moreover, after the previous test, Xu Qing judged that there was a high chance that this item would continue to follow him until he made a wish.
Hence, it was very suitable to put it inside his dress.
As for the specifics of this mask, the cause and effect of the wish, and the matter of the white dust, Xu Qing planned to study them carefully after leaving this World Source Secret Realm.
Now that his goal in coming here had been accomplished and there was a risk of a.s.similation if he stayed for a long time, Xu Qing didn’t hesitate. He immediately took out the token of the World Source Secret Realm and was about to leave.
However, as he pinched the token, the flames of the red candle in the distance suddenly soared, enveloping all the range and illuminating Xu Qing.
It was unknown if it was because of the fire, but this token… actually didn’t have any reaction!
Xu Qing raised his head and looked at the red candle.
“Is it because the mask is on me that this red candle won’t let me leave?”
“Or is it something else that caused this red candle to burn so intensely…
“Or maybe it’s just a coincidence.”
Xu Qing fell silent and pinched the token again. The fire of the red candle shone again, causing the token to lose its effect.
The malice emitted by this scene caused Xu Qing’s expression to sink..