Outside Of Time

Chapter 1748  Traces of the Whole Picture

Xu Qing was well aware that his current goal was not to kill, but to leave.

If the dwarf of the Zhen Yi clan chose to avoid conflict and activate the teleportation, then even with Xu Qingʼs usual tendency to eliminate all threats, he would prioritize departure after weighing the risks.

After all, that had been his original plan and the securest route back to the Fifth Star Ring.

Another reason was that within this realm, the Zhen Yi clanʼs True God was in the process of fusion and could awaken at any moment. For Xu Qing, the longer he stayed, the greater the danger.

Earlier, while attacking, he had secretly tried spatial techniques, but this place was isolated, making it unfeasible to teleport out on his own.

To leave, the other party had to open the way.

But with the True Godʼs connection present, Xu Qing knew that even if he subdued the dwarf, he couldnʼt guarantee successfully extracting the exit method through soul-searching.

Thus, the dwarf avoiding battle would be the most perfect outcome.

Therefore, his words were not only aimed at the dwarf but also… the black tumor in the sky!

But judgments varied among different beings. What seemed wise or foolish depended on perspective.

In the next moment, the black tumor in the sky trembled, and a vortex appeared in the void beside it.

The vortex emitted the aura of the outside world…

It was an exit!

Compared to others, the True God of the True Yi clan was the one who least wanted chaos here.

Although Xu Qing was of great value to It, since Its clansmen couldnʼt end him as soon as possible, and given Its current state, It chose to let Xu Qing leave.

This would eradicate variables and allow Its fusion to proceed smoothly.

”Ancestral God!”

In mid-air, the dwarf god grew anxious. To It, Xu Qing held far greater value!

Xu Qingʼs eyes flickered. Though he doubted the exitʼs authenticity, he had to act decisively. Gritting his teeth, he shot toward the vortex.

But… just as Xu Qing neared the exit, another upheaval struck!

The mountains on the ground roared, countless withered trees swayed, and the earth god unleashed divine might, conjuring a storm that engulfed the exit.

The vortex shattered instantly, its remnants dissolving into chaotic waves

that forced Xu Qing back. His expression darkened, while the residual energy coalesced into a booming divine thought:

”Immortal cultivator, that exit was a trap! It sought to harm you!

Aid me, and once I suppress this enemy, I will help you leave!”

The one who least wanted Xu Qing to depart wasnʼt the dwarf—it was the earth god, locked in an eternal struggle with the Zhen Yi True God and now facing the crisis of being devoured.

Chaos was Its only chance, and Xu Qingʼs presence offered hope for reversal.

Thus, It intervened, clashing fully with the Zhen Yi True God in the sky.

The realm descended into turmoil, blood rain intensifying, and thunderous roars shaking the world.

Amid the crimson downpour, a hoarse divine sense echoed:

”It is the one who wants to stop you! Aid me, suppress this foe, and I will reopen the exit for you!”

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, thoughts racing.

The earth quaked as divine sense pressed:

”It lies! That exit would have killed you! It currently holds the advantage over me and cannot risk external attention—you are but a variable, but once there is a link to the outside world… there would be multiple variables!”

”Do not heed It! Under normal circumstances, I would never let you leave, but now your exit benefits me most. I swear this by my True Name! See if It dares to do the same!”

Two True God-level divine senses clashed.

The earth god refused to swear by Its True Name!

Meanwhile, the dwarfʼs eyes glinted. It suddenly addressed Xu Qing:

”Fellow Daoist, my earlier actions were rash. There is no need for life-or-death conflict between us. Aid my clan, and our True Godʼs promise shall be honored!”

It bowed toward the sky and shouted:

”Ancestral God! Sever the Divine Platformsʼ connections! Grant me power to assist this immortal cultivator in suppressing the enemy god—lest further disruptions arise!”

Its words carried implicit meaning: releasing the Divine Platforms would allow Them to control the situation.

Instantly, the black tumor pulsed. The seven or eight Divine Platforms linked to it opened Their eyes, Their divine senses returning as connections severed. They descended rapidly.

They appeared genuine in Their intent to aid Xu Qing.

Among these Divine Platforms, three stood out—ones Xu Qing had noted earlier.

One was a sinister bronze eye, corroded and covered in rust.

Another was the shriveled, humanoid old woman.

The last was the god half-blooming with crabapple flowers and half-charred to ash.

Observing Them, Xu Qingʼs eyes gleamed coldly.

He knew that while he possessed the Immortal Lord Dao Artifact, wielding it required drawing on the Fifth Star Ringʼs fortune. Doing so here in the Fourth Star Ring would expose him instantly.

At this critical juncture, he chose…

”Very well! Follow me!”

With that, Xu Qing shot toward the giant fungal umbrellas growing among the withered trees!

These mushrooms, large and small, were covered in crystals—each containing a ruined small world.

Though they seemed tangible, they existed between reality and illusion.

And they were impenetrable!

Yet Xu Qingʼs target was precisely these small worlds—and he vanished into one instantly!

It had nothing to do with his Ordinance. It was as if… those small worlds had opened willingly!

Xu Qingʼs expression remained calm, unsurprised. Behind him, the dwarf watched, eyes glinting as It secretly transmitted orders to all gods:

”These small worlds are the enemy godʼs core! Normally inaccessible, their opening now… All of you, follow me in and destroy everything!

As for that cultivator—capture him alive if possible. If not… slay him!”

The dwarf then vanished into the small world Xu Qing had entered, followed by the Divine Platforms and the swarm of gods.

They entered effortlessly.

After Their disappearance, only the clash between sky and earth remained—divine senses colliding.

”You refused to swear by your True Name earlier, fearing Iʼd find your True Name hidden in your memory Divine Kingdom. Yet now, youʼve opened it voluntarily!”

”Each fragment of your Divine Kingdomʼs destruction erodes the concealment of your True Name! If enough shatter, I will find and devour it, completing the fusion instantly!”

”This is your final gambit—staking all hope on that cultivator!”

”You gamble that heʼll side with you and that he can annihilate my forces before they shatter your kingdom, buying you time!”

”But… that cultivator is shrewd. I swore by my True Name—you did not. Why would he trust you?”

The sky godʼs divine sense reverberated, seeking to crush the earth godʼs resolve. Yet the mountains and withered trees shook defiantly.

”Because within my memory divine kingdom lies something far more valuable to him than your oath!”

”I didnʼt understand before, but seeing him, I recognized the karma. Now… just wait and watch!”

The black tumor contracted, blood rain intensifying.

”You fear my words are true—hence your panic!”

The mountains resonated—this was precisely what the earth god wanted.

Only panic would create openings.

…

Within the small world. The sky was wrinkled, the earth barren. No life remained—only endless ruins speaking of past glory.

A bolt of lightning split the air, revealing Xu Qingʼs figure. As he appeared, a wind from the void brushed past him, delivering an image:

A shattered map of a divine kingdom, pieced together from countless fragments. His current location was marked—one of the shards.

Moreover, a mysterious pull emanated from a nearby fragment!

The moment Xu Qing sensed this, the dormant Holy Heaven Pagoda within him—capable of returning him to the Ninth Star Ring—trembled.

The trembling came not from the pagoda itself, nor the slumbering Holy Heavenly Vine coiled around it, but…

The little golden rat that Xu Qing had stored inside! Because the consumption while coming to the Fifth Star Ring was too great, it had been sleeping till now!

Now, awakened by the pull, it squeaked within Xu Qingʼs mind.

Xu Qingʼs pupils contracted, then blazed with realization. A wild guess formed—one that quickened his breath.

Without hesitation, he shot toward the source of the pull!

But as he raced forward, gods materialized around him.

With each arrival, the pull dimmed. By the time all gods had appeared, the connection vanished—and the fragmented divine kingdom shifted chaotically, obscuring Xu Qingʼs path.

His eyes narrowed. Clearly… the earth god wanted him to slaughter all Zhen Yi clan members here.

This was a transaction.

”Deal!”

Xu Qingʼs aura turned cold as he erupted into action!

Meanwhile, within one of the shattered divine kingdom fragments… A massive golden rat gnawed on a straw sandal in the ruins, glancing warily around—as if fearing recapture by a certain existence.

Unnoticed by it, the straw scraps scattered around its feet faintly formed… a teleportation array.