Outside Of Time

1687  Embezzlement

Their standpoints were different, so their mentality and actions were naturally different.

It couldnʼt be simply divided into good and evil.

This was because good and evil would only happen between people of the same race most of the time.

Hence, the nonhuman races could feel hatred, anger, and helplessness. After all, their ancestors were once gods. If there hadnʼt been the change to immortal in the Fifth Star Ring, they would be the orthodox ones now.

The human race was just a slave race that could be exploited however they wanted.

But now, the gods had been slaughtered, reared, and imprisoned. These nonhuman races had also become meat on the chopping block.

To a certain extent, it was like a cycle of reincarnation.

Right or wrong became irrelevant; what truly mattered was that—be they immortals or gods—their stances inherently dictated everything.

The weak were destined to be devoured by the strong.

Those who fell behind lost the right to stand as equals.

Thus, cultivators were not becoming the gods of old; rather, this was the very law of existence for the upper star rings and for all beings within creation.

One could not demand that the victim remain perpetually victimized, nor expect the aggressor to forever act as the aggressor.

Ultimately, it was a cycle.

Xu Qing had already understood these principles when he was in Wanggu.

After coming to the Fifth Star Ring, the things he experienced and the way they dealt with the gods here made him understand this law even more.

For example, the persistence of those remnant thoughts in the Immortal Heroes Tomb.

This was actually the entire Fifth Star Ringʼs attitude toward gods and nonhuman races.

Xu Qing agreed with this.

However, he had his own judgment. Among the many cold gods, there were some gods who were more human than humans.

However, this didnʼt include the gods in this prison.

Xu Qing lacked the benevolence to delve deeply into each of Them, evaluating and choosing selectively.

Thus, when it came to draining the pond for fish, his heart remained utterly unshaken. At this moment, he had arrived at the final spot of a world on that leaf.

The environment here was a vast, viscous black sea.

Its surface lay calm, yet devoid of any sense of peace. From the stench of the seawater emanated a thick, oppressive anomalous substance that permeated the surroundings, seeking to influence everything in its reach.

Beneath the sea, a massive head lay buried.

Shaped like a birdʼs, it was covered with long tendrils and constantly secreted a viscous fluid.

Over time, this fluid had given birth to the black sea itself.

The moment Xu Qing descended, the anomalous substances surged wildly between the sky and sea. The tranquil surface erupted into towering waves, while the colossal head beneath trembled violently, and Its eyes suddenly snapped open.

The golden light penetrated the sea and looked at the sky.

A strange, mind-shaking sound echoed through the air, piercing directly into Xu Qingʼs ears. In an instant, it transformed into countless alien thoughts, foreign to him, sprouting uncontrollably in his mind.

In the next moment, these intangible thoughts began to take shape, manifesting as black, mucus-secreting threads that sought to entwine his brain.

Simultaneously, the surrounding anomalous substances erupted into a violent storm, surging toward Xu Qing from all directions.

The waves of the sea grew larger, and the entire world seemed to invert.

The sea ascended to become the heavens above, while the sky descended to replace the ground below.

With this reversal, the black sea surged downward like a torrential downpour.

This included the head inside. With the help of the reversal power, It broke out of the sea!

At the next instant, the world blurred and rumbled, covering everything.

A few breaths later, a dense immortal energy erupted from this blur, transforming into a rumbling sound. It was earth-shattering and destructive. As it spread layer by layer, it forcefully drove everything in the surroundings away.

It returned the clarity of the world.

The anomalous substances melted in the immortal energy and the viscous sea vaporized, revealing Xu Qingʼs figure.

He raised his right hand and grabbed a godʼs head that was much larger than his body.

His five fingers exerted force and pierced into the flesh.

The difference in size between the two sides was clearly huge from the perspective of the eyes, but the one who was afraid was the huge head!

It was trembling!

Traces of golden origin essence were being extracted from It and fused into the jade slip in Xu Qingʼs palm.

A long time later, a heart-rending voice rang out.

The godʼs head trembled and turned gray, turning into dust that dissipated into the world.

In the air, Xu Qing stood there alone. His gaze was cold as he stared in all directions.

”The seal here is about to be worn down… This is why this god can take the initiative to attack.”

”However, this seal doesnʼt seem to be worn down by It. Itʼs more like there are other existences that helped It wear down most of the seal first, giving It a chance to continue wearing it down. What these other beings are waiting for is for It to break out of prison.”

”Then, is this the action of the nonhuman races outside, or… is the prison itself embezzling?”

Xu Qing pondered deeply. Having served as a warden before, he was well acquainted with the petty scheming and underhanded dealings that often took place in such environments.

As he pondered, Xu Qing narrowed his eyes. With a sway of his body, he left this world and appeared in the starry sky, looking at the red seaweed.

He carefully observed the other leaves.

The seaweed swayed.

After a while, Xu Qing suddenly spoke.

”On the other leaves, more than half of the gods imprisoned should have died. They were… devoured by you!”

As soon as the sound rang out, the swaying speed of the seaweed suddenly sped up. All the leaves spread out and slowly approached Xu Qing from all directions.

Xu Qing was unmoved and continued to speak.

”That leaf you provided earlier was likely something you deliberately set aside, making it convenient to account for when someone came to collect, all while concealing your own acts of embezzlement. Am I correct in my assessment?”

The terrifying will became sharp at this moment and an astonishing pressure spread out.

Cracking sounds rang out from the surrounding starry sky as strange marks appeared in all directions, sealing this place.

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and spoke again.

”Young Lord Aurora has a good relationship with me. You can sense my aura and my authority over the Aurora Immortal Palace.”

”The Nine Shores Immortal Lord attaches great importance to me. You should be able to sense the aura on this item.”

”Iʼm the number one ascender in this batch. If I die here, you wonʼt be able to escape.”

Xu Qing took out a wooden token. This item was the guide item for the ferry on the God Blood River.

The seaweed paused. At the next moment, the terrifying will contained in it instantly arrived and enveloped the wooden token Xu Qing took out. After that, this will clearly fluctuated.

Immediately after, this will moved away from the wooden token and enveloped Xu Qing.

It was as though it was checking at a deeper level.

Xu Qingʼs expression remained calm.

After the trip to the mirror image of the Aurora Immortal Palace ended, it stood to reason that since others experienced continuation in the present world, there was no reason he wouldnʼt have the same.

Although in this Heavenʼs Beyond, Xu Qing had previously been unable to sense it, he deduced that this was due to the true Aurora Immortal Palace remaining concealed.

His inability to sense it didnʼt necessarily mean that this colossal seaweed, which thrived in this Heavenʼs Beyond, couldnʼt detect it.

Hence, he was trying to use an indirect method to prove his identity!

It was fine even if he failed. The Nine Shores Immortal Lord and the title of number one ascender were enough to save his life.

Hence, Xu Qing allowed the other partyʼs will to check.

A long time later, when he sensed that there were even greater fluctuations in the will of the seaweed and even the seaweed itself was trembling, Xu Qingʼs eyes gleamed.

He knew that his guess was correct!

The seaweedʼs aura became chaotic as it trembled, as though it had fallen into a decision.

Under this deep inspection, it indeed sensed that the authority of the Aurora Immortal Palace was hidden in this humanʼs body. Moreover, there was a huge karma.

This authority made it wary.

After all, it belonged to the Aurora Immortal Palace!

Although Aurora Heavenʼs Beyond had lost its master, its identity was still there!

However, its actions were already a serious crime, so it was in a dilemma now…

At that moment, Xu Qingʼs voice echoed again.

”Youʼve suppressed these god prisons for countless years. Itʼs normal for you to eat something when you are hungry occasionally.”

The seaweed paused.

”Even though you almost finished eating all of them, you still left a leaf of prison. This shows your loyalty!”

The seaweedʼs will stirred.

”After all, it was me who came late. Youʼre not at fault.”

All the leaves of the seaweed swayed rapidly and the pressure in the surroundings dissipated greatly.

It could sense that what the person in front of it said wasnʼt fake but that he really thought so.

”So, what happened in the past is in the past. As for now, let me ask you, do you… want to eat It?”

Xu Qing pointed at the sun enveloped by the seaweed roots.

All the leaves of the seaweed instantly trembled. After that, a low-pitched divine sense echoed in Xu Qingʼs surroundings.

”Want!”

Xu Qing nodded.

”Let me in and guard me. Iʼll see if I can… get some out and weʼll split them!”

The seaweed was a little hesitant. After checking Xu Qingʼs aura again, its roots suddenly swayed and quickly spread out a portion, as though it wanted to open a path.

However, before this path could be completely activated, the seaweedʼs divine sense suddenly spread out and swept toward the outside.

”Thereʼs no need to be nervous. It is my people. Open a path and let him in.”

Xu Qing calmly spoke.

The seaweed fell silent. After a while, it sealed this place and opened a gap. At the next instant, Zhou Zhengliʼs figure rushed in from the outside.

After appearing here, he quickly surveyed his surroundings. He then acted as though he hadnʼt realized anything and bowed to Xu Qing.

”What is it?”

Xu Qing asked.

”Young Master, some had a smooth harvest during this period, while others faced difficulties, but overall, the issues are manageable.”

”However, there has been an incident with the Chaotic Sky Royal Family. Thus, I have come to request your presence, hoping that with your status within this Aurora Heavenʼs Beyond, you might suppress those who believe this Heavenʼs Beyond is truly without a master.”

Of course, if you prefer not to use your status to intervene, I could ask Star Ring to handle it on your behalf.”

Zhou Zhengli said respectfully.

Xu Qing glanced at Zhou Zhengli.

He couldnʼt help but admit that Zhou was clever. If not for the potential of rebellion lurking within him, using this person would certainly be very comfortable.

”Let Star Ring handle it.”

Xu Qing slowly spoke.

”I obey Auroraʼs order!”

Zhou Zhengli respectfully retreated and left through the exit.

The moment his figure disappeared, the exit was sealed again. The will from the seaweed enveloped the surroundings again.

Xu Qing didnʼt bother with these. He turned his head and looked at the roots.

”Alright, you can open it now. Iʼm hungry. I think youʼre hungry too.”

When the seaweed heard this, it no longer hesitated. In an instant, its roots spread out, revealing the entrance to the sun!

Xu Qingʼs eyes gleamed as he stepped forward!