Chapter 1505: Taking Shelter Under the Tiger’s Skin
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Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xu Qing naturally didn’t know about Erniu’s bitterness.
During this half a month, he perfectly executed the decree given by the Empress.
Challenging all of the West Demon Feather’s Soul Acc.u.mulation experts.
However, his challenge wasn’t about fighting but about defense.
Hence, as half a month pa.s.sed, the news that Xue Chenzi had grasped Great Emperor Nether Flame’s secret technique, the Underworld Lotus, spread to all directions.
This also caused Xue Chenzi’s name to possess ill.u.s.trious might in the entire Demon Feather holy land.
Some people had doubts about how he obtained Great Emperor Nether Flame’s secret art. However, considering that he became Lu Lingzi’s subordinate and was the only one brought the West Demon Feather, it was evident that this secret art was taught to him by Lu Lingzi.
Xu Qing’s challenge continued.
After walking past the ninth and eighth Rulers’ mountains, he arrived at the foot of the seventh Ruler’s mountain.
A large number of cultivators had gathered around the mountain. Most of these cultivators were natives of the West Demon Feather while some of them had rushed over from the East Demon Feather.
The moment Xu Qing appeared, there was an uproar.
Some rebuked angrily, while others cheered, causing an uproar outside the Seventh Ruler Mountain.
However, compared to the liveliness outside the mountain, the Seventh Ruler Mountain was silent.
Just like that, under everyone’s gazes, Xu Qing walked to the front of the Seventh Ruler Mountain.
It was still the same words as before. He still sat cross-legged on the steps of the Ruler Mountain with his eyes closed, waiting for someone to appear and break his defense.
However, this time was different from before.
Under Xu Qing’s challenge and the public opinion that surrounded it, a Soul Acc.u.mulation cultivator eventually decided to break the rules, either by personal choice or through subtle suggestion.
He wanted to end this farce that caused the West Demon Feather to continue losing face.
The instant Xu Qing sat down, a cold snort rang out from the Seventh Ruler Mountain.
“Xue Chenzi, don’t be arrogant!”
As his voice echoed, a figure flew over from the mountain, heading straight for Xu Qing.
The person looked like a youth. The seven great worlds on him shone with resplendent light, forming a vast might that could topple mountains and overturn seas. He arrived above Xu Qing with a destructive force.
He didn’t stop at all. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he raised his right hand and pressed it toward Xu Qing.
A huge palm print rapidly formed in front of him, enveloping the sky as it landed on Xu Qing.
Although the attacks of other Soul Acc.u.mulation cultivators also displayed such a huge palm print, this palm print was very different from the Soul Acc.u.mulation cultivators Xu Qing had faced before.
This palm print was even clearer, even the lines on it were clear. Most importantly, the rules and laws that formed this palm were even more terrifying than what Xu Qing had encountered before.
What was even more astonishing was that… there were fluctuations of authority!
Although the source of this bizarre fluctuation was the Soul Acc.u.mulation Seven Worlds’ youth, upon closer inspection, one could see that the true source was his raised palm.
On his palm was a glove as thin as a cicada’s wing.
This was… a Ruler treasure!
It could erupt with power comparable to a Ruler’s attack.
The price of using it in the Soul Acc.u.mulation stage was definitely not small. However, determination appeared in the eyes of this youth as he circulated all his cultivation to activate the power of the glove.
This caused the palm print to emit a terrifying and astonishing aura, shattering the void and enveloping Xu Qing.
Xu Qing slowly opened his eyes and looked at the palm print that was growing larger and larger above his head.
The Emperor Sword in his body was trembling. With a thought from him, it would rush out and slash at the palm.
However, Xu Qing didn’t use it. Regardless of his expression or heart, he wasn’t surprised by such a situation.
Someone eventually breaking the rule was within his expectations.
He didn’t need to make a move.
He would deal with those below the Ruler level. However, if a Ruler-level power appeared, Xu Qing believed that… there was a high chance that this was what the Empress wanted.
His challenge was just a catalyst.
The Empress had come to the West Demon Feather to see the Demon Feather Great Emperor. The Great Emperor making Her wait naturally contained another deeper meaning.
This wait could be a day, a month, or even an indefinite period.
Hence, in the face of the provocations of the other Rulers, the Empress didn’t choose to attack. Instead, She let Xu Qing challenge their people. This was because… the Empress didn’t like to be pa.s.sive. She wanted to take the initiative.
How to strike, when to strike, and in what manner and for what reason to strike all needed to follow Her rhythm.
Everything was to let the Demon Feather Great Emperor issue a decree for a meeting.
Xu Qing had a.n.a.lyzed the clues very thoroughly. He also believed that those people from the West Demon Feather weren’t stupid. They must have also a.n.a.lyzed this matter carefully.
Therefore, when a cultivator with a Ruler’s treasure appeared, he couldn’t judge the intention of this cultivator.
There was a certain possibility that… a Ruler was doing this on purpose.
For some unknown reason, they were lending the Empress a hand, giving Her a reason to take the initiative.
Hence, at the next instant, when the palm print formed by the Ruler’s glove was a thousand feet away from Xu Qing, the palm print suddenly shook and actually stopped in mid-air, motionless.
Under the palm print, Lu Lingzi’s figure silently appeared just as Xu Qing had expected. He lifted his hand and waved it gently. Immediately, the majestic and huge palm print instantly dissipated.
The surroundings fell silent.
Xu Qing stood up and bowed to Lu Lingzi.
That youth from the Soul Acc.u.mulation Seven Worlds also seemed to heave a sigh of relief inwardly and immediately lowered his head to greet.
Lu Lingzi’s gaze landed on the Ruler Mountain in front of him. He didn’t speak but a hint of pressure rose from his body.
The sky changed color.
Immediately after, a majestic figure appeared on the Ruler Mountain. It was an old woman with a cold expression. She looked at Lu Lingzi.
The ground rumbled.
Two Ruler-level forces were colliding from the aura, gaze, and pressure.
This collision tore through the void and spatial cracks appeared in all directions. There was also a storm that appeared out of thin air and surrounded the surroundings, forming a vast vortex.
Countless rubble rose into the air. Even the Ruler Mountain trembled slightly.
At the same time, the confrontation here immediately attracted the attention of the other Rulers of the West Demon Feather. Many divine senses gathered here, causing the s.p.a.cetime here to feel even more chaotic.
The threads formed by the rules and laws continued to reveal themselves and shatter.
The oppression also enveloped the hearts of all the cultivators here, causing their hearts to tremble. The voice of the Empress who had transformed into Lu Lingzi echoed.
“Xue Chenzi, take out the token I gave you.”
When Xu Qing heard this, he immediately took out the token and raised it high.
As the Empress waved Her hand, the token emitted a hint of the aura of a Ruler. In everyone’s perception, this jade slip clearly contained the power of a Ruler.
“Have you used this token when sparring with those of the West Demon Feather?”
When Xu Qing heard this, he replied in a resonant voice.
“No.”
The Empress continued.
“Have you killed anyone from the West Demon Feather Race when you sparred with them?”
Xu Qing shook his head.
“The fight was only to determine victory or defeat, never to endanger life.”
The Empress’ gaze landed on the Seventh Ruler Mountain.
“The compet.i.tion between the eastern and West Demon Feather is a spar between members of the same race. The ancient teachings all prioritize fairness.”
“Xue Chenzi has a Ruler’s treasure but he has never used it. The spar only determines victory and defeat, not life and death. Moreover, other than the first battle, he hasn’t taken the initiative to attack since.”
“But the West Demon Feather secretly used a Ruler’s treasure. If I hadn’t appeared, Xue Chenzi would have no chance of surviving.”
“What’s the meaning of such brutality between clansmen?”
The Empress’ cold voice spread in all directions.
The surrounding void fluctuated and the divine senses of the various Rulers froze. Seeing that the surrounding atmosphere was becoming more and more frozen with Lu Lingzi’s words, a calm voice rang out.
“Lu Lingzi, come and see me on the Dao altar.”
The appearance of this voice instantly corrected the chaotic s.p.a.cetime, causing the collapsed nomological laws to return to normal. It also caused the frozen intent from before to instantly dissipate.
All the Rulers immediately appeared and bowed in the direction of the winglike Dao altar.
This was because the person who said that was the current Demon Feather Great Emperor.
The Empress raised Her head with Her usual expression and took a step into the void.
Her goal had been achieved.
As for the Rulers who had sent their divine senses here, they looked at each other and had different thoughts before disappearing.
Very soon, even the figure of the old woman from the Seventh Ruler Mountain disappeared. Only the youth who had attacked Xu Qing earlier cupped his hands at Xu Qing and left.
Xu Qing was still at the foot of the mountain. When he saw this scene, he knew that his mission was considered completed and there was no need for him to continue challenging.
“Then…”
A thought appeared in Xu Qing’s mind.
“Since I’m here in the West Demon Feather and have the protection of the
Empress, I’ve caused some waves through sparring previously. Then… there’s a place that I might be able to explore with these things.”
Xu Qing had always remembered the information his eldest senior brother had told him. The two Immortal Arts Halls of the Demon Feather Holy Land had each inherited an immortal art.
“Five dogs, six thieves…”
Xu Qing muttered inwardly. He had already mastered the Six Thieves Delusions of the East Demon Feather. If it was any other time, Xu Qing understood that it would be almost impossible for him to view this Five Dogs Sheltering Immortal Art of the West Demon Feather.
But now…
“With the help of the Empress’ name and my momentum in the past half a month, I might be able to take a look!”
Xu Qing fell silent. After confirming that there were no mistakes in his thoughts, he instantly rose into the air. Under the gazes and discussions of a large number of cultivators in the surroundings, he quickly left.
He was heading in the direction of… the West Demon Feather Immortal Arts Hall!
The West Demon Feather Immortal Arts Hall wasn’t far from the Seventh Ruler Mountain. It was built on a lake called the Immortal Shelter.
The lake water was pitch black, while the Immortal Art Hall, built of white stone, looked exquisite and luxurious, with light flowing around it.
Compared to the lake water, it gave off a strange sense of peace.
On the surface of the lake, hundreds of cultivators were sitting cross-legged. There were men and women of all ages and their clothes were all white. They were cultivating with their eyes closed.
Waves of immortal art fluctuations spread in the surroundings.
When Xu Qing arrived, he saw this scene and immediately recognized that these people were the immortal masters of the West Demon Feather!
His arrival didn’t attract the attention of the cultivators here. Xu Qing only swept his gaze over and focused on the white Immortal Arts Hall in the center of the lake. He then cupped his fists and bowed before speaking in a deep voice.
“In the name of the Ruler, I, Xue Chenzi, have come here to take a look at the Five Dogs Sheltering Immortal art!”