Outside Of Time

Chapter 1769  Reunion

Xu Qing had always remembered the matter with Poison Lord.

He had not forgotten it due to his own experiences.

This was not Xu Qingʼs nature.

In fact, his original plan had been to first comprehend the Tenth Extremity, fully step into the Summer Immortal realm, and before leaving the Fifth Star Ring…

Kill Poison Lord!

After all, Poison Lordʼs initial intention to borrow his path, though it had been severed by Xu Qing before it could be carried out, was still a matter of causality.

As for Poison Lordʼs avatar arriving now and offering the bronze figurine…

Xu Qingʼs gaze fell on the figurine in his palm.

Before taking it, he had thoroughly inspected it. Now, with a wave of his hand, fortune surged over it, and he sealed it before storing it away.

”For me now, the most important thing is to wait for Grandmaster Bai…”

Setting aside the matter of Poison Lord, Xu Qing raised his head and gazed at the starry sky outside.

After a long while… a faint sensation stirred in his heart, becoming a trigger.

”Heʼs here…”

Xu Qing stood up and walked out of the observatory tower. The moment he stepped outside, the starry sky shifted, and a clear radiance descended from beyond, like a river of stars pouring down. Wherever it passed, the star clouds rippled like waves.

Finally, the light fell upon the star, turning the sky into a canvas, as if a long scroll of ink wash painting had unfurled across the heavens and earth.

A faint, elusive fragrance of plants and trees, mixed with the sharp aura of Ordinance and Laws, arose from the void.

Accompanying all of this was the ethereal sound of a zither, reminiscent of ancient melodies, yet also like the rustling of sprouting plants.

At this moment of profound mystery, a figure emerged from the ink wash painting.

It was as if he had stepped out of the painting.

Growing clearer and clearer.

It was as if he had stepped out of the painting.

Growing clearer and clearer.

It was an old man.

Dressed in a moon-white robe, the hem of his garment embroidered with subtle plant patterns, and a medicine jar hanging at his waist.

As for his appearance, though his brow bones were sharp as if carved by a knife, his eyebrows naturally drooped, forming two arcs of compassion.

His deep-set eyes were like cold pools, with swirling galaxies in his pupils, and occasional flickers of starlight, as if a river of stars flowed in the depths of his eyes.

Around him, a faint purple mist lingered, as if it were the manifestation of a spiritual vein that had existed since the beginning of heaven and earth.

At this moment, he was smiling, looking at Xu Qing.

”Youʼve grown up.”

His voice was clear, like the sound of a spring striking jade. As he spoke, starlight flowed, falling into Xu Qingʼs heart, stirring waves of emotion and bringing forth endless memories.

Scene after scene from the past surfaced.

Xu Qingʼs eyes reddened slightly, and he bowed deeply.

”Teacher…”

This simple word carried memories and emotions, making Grandmaster Baiʼs gaze grow even softer.

”Walk with me.”

Grandmaster Bai said softly, raising his hand to guide a stream of starlight toward Xu Qing, forming a starry path before him.

Xu Qing took a deep breath, filled with respect, and stepped onto the starry path, arriving at Grandmaster Baiʼs side. Together, they walked toward the starry sky.

They disappeared from the supply star and appeared in the boundless universe.

”Tell me about your story after joining the Seven Blood Eyes.”

Grandmaster Bai spoke gently.

Xu Qing nodded lightly, bringing forth all the memories from the past.

”After entering the Seven Blood Eyes, I became a disciple of the Seventh Peak…”

Xu Qingʼs voice wove into illusory images, which echoed and reflected in Grandmaster Baiʼs eyes.

It included the trials on the Merfolk Island, the war with the Sea Corpse Race, the migration to Wanggu…

And the Sword Holders… as well as Fenghai County.

There was also the Crimson Goddess, the Empress, the Sword Holding Great Emperor…

…

In the starry sky, Grandmaster Bai walked ahead, with Xu Qing following half a step behind on his right.

This scene was reminiscent of their time in the scavenger camp.

Back then, Xu Qing was known as ”Kid.” In order to find the heavenfate flower to save Captain Lei, he sought help from Grandmaster Bai and secretly studied plant knowledge outside the tent.

Finally, he was called into the tent, where he received his first lessons in Dao of plants.

Now, this scene was reenacted.

Wherever they passed, beneath Grandmaster Baiʼs feet, the radiance of blooming green lotuses shone, causing every universe and star they passed to instantly burst with vibrant greenery.

Even some originally barren stars, at this moment, saw withered stones come to life and dead branches sprout anew, as if reborn.

As time passed, Xu Qing finished recounting all his experiences in Wanggu.

Grandmaster Bai sighed softly.

”The Ninth Star Ring, originally no different from the other star rings…

Until Desolate failed to ascend to Divine God, yet became the first to return from the umbilical cord of the gods. It chose to go there.

It stayed in the Ninth Star Ring, stayed in Wanggu.”

”From that moment on, all the supreme beings in the star rings turned their gazes toward Wanggu.”

”We do not know why Desolate went to Wanggu.”

”Other star rings Venerable Gods once entered the Ninth Star Ring, seeking to investigate the state of Desolate, but all outsiders who approached showed signs of perishing… Though some succeeded in obtaining opportunities, they could not escape karma.”

”Like the Venerable God of the Fourth Star Ring…”

”It seems that only those originally from the Ninth Star Ring, acting cautiously, could remain relatively unharmed.

Thus, at that time, I was tasked by the Venerable Immortal to use reincarnation techniques, free of any extraordinary power, to be reborn as a mortal on a remote island far from Wangguʼs mainland.”

”Without any memories of my past life, I could not leave the island for even a step in my lifetime. Only after death could my true body perceive the memories of my avatar.”

”Wanggu… is ominous because of Desolate.”

”Are you sure… you still want to return?”

”If you choose to stay in the Fifth Star Ring, it wonʼt be long before you can aspire to become an Immortal Lord.”

Grandmaster Bai looked at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing stayed silent and spoke softly after a long while.

”Teacher, I must return.”

Hearing this, Grandmaster Bai stopped trying to persuade him, like a wise hermit who had seen through the mortal world.

Only the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen.

These wrinkles were not the ravages of time but the patterns of mountains and rivers, each fold seemingly hiding millennia of vicissitudes.

After a long while, he shook his head, his voice fluctuating.

”Before meeting you, I confirmed something in the Fourth Star Ring.”

”There… is where you will become an immortal!”

As Grandmaster Baiʼs words echoed, Xu Qingʼs mind trembled.

At the same time, Grandmaster Baiʼs figure came to a halt in the starry sky.

The moment he stopped, all the stars in this universe seemed to respond to his call, changing their trajectories and converging from all directions.

Amidst the ripples of the starry sky, they gathered here, automatically arranging themselves around him.

They formed a vast star map resembling a medicine jar!

Standing outside this star map, Grandmaster Bai looked up toward the direction of the Fourth Star Ring.

He murmured softly, ”Xu Qing, I will teach you one final lesson.

It has nothing to do with plants, but with ʼoutside.ʼ

These thirty-six upper star rings, including all the venerables, are within, and what They seek… is the outside.”

”This word, you donʼt need to understand now, but remember… if one day in the future, you have the opportunity to become an Immortal Lord or even a Venerable Immortal, keep this in mind.”

”As for now…”

”If you wish to comprehend a higher Ordinance, go to the Fourth Star Ring!”

”You once encountered the God of Pain, sank into Its illusion, and there you broke through your limits, reliving the painful years.

Though it was false, the illusion contained truth.

So, why not truly experience it!”

”Let the real become real, and the false become false again!”

As he spoke, Grandmaster Bai waved his sleeve, and the countless stars within the medicine jar star map instantly trembled, releasing a dazzling radiance that gathered together, forming a special bridge.

It extended to the Fourth Star Ring!

This bridge was woven from starlight and spiritual plants, its reality and illusion indistinguishable, showcasing the profound mysteries of creation.

It shared a similar essence with the God of Painʼs illusion containing truth.

”Go, and may you return… as a Summer Immortal!”

Grandmaster Baiʼs voice echoed, causing the special bridge to shine even brighter.

Looking at all of this, Xu Qingʼs mind churned.

The scenes from when he was immersed in the illusion flowed through his heart.

After a long while, determination flashed in his eyes.

He bowed deeply to Grandmaster Bai, then took a step forward.

He stepped onto the bridge woven from starlight and spiritual plants, heading toward the Fourth Star Ring!

As the bridge rippled, Xu Qingʼs figure gradually disappeared.

Only the medicine jar-shaped star map continued to operate, radiating a majestic aura, with immortal flames appearing out of nowhere, encircling the medicine jar.

Grandmaster Baiʼs figure appeared atop the medicine jar star map, sitting cross-legged.

Using his own fortune and cultivation level, he enhanced Xu Qingʼs journey, fulfilling the karma between teacher and disciple in Wanggu.

Beside him, the void rippled, and an old man wearing straw sandals stepped out, standing next to Grandmaster Bai. He looked up toward the direction Xu Qing had departed.

On his shoulder, a golden rat licked its paws.

”Has the Venerable Immortalʼs item been placed properly?”

Grandmaster Bai did not turn his head, speaking indifferently.

The old man beside him sighed.

”You still remember Iʼm the Venerable Immortal… so why the commanding tone?”

”Thatʼs what you owe him!”

Grandmaster Bai spoke calmly.

The Venerable Immortal shook his head. Having lived together for countless years, he naturally knew that this was just Grandmaster Baiʼs nature. Moreover, he knew that Grandmaster Bai… though seemingly at the Immortal Lord level, had actually been capable of stepping into the same realm as himself many years ago.

However, due to some unknown reason, he had never taken that step.

Thus, he didnʼt mind the otherʼs tone and casually sat down beside him.

”Itʼs been placed. Though I dislike being entangled in karma, how could I begrudge that item?”

Hearing this, Grandmaster Bai fell silent.

After a long while, the Venerable Immortalʼs voice echoed again.

”However, even with your help and my item, Xu Qingʼs chances of success this time are slim.”

”His Ordinance is different from others… taking one step further will directly reach the level of an Immortal Lordʼs law.

The leap is too great, so it will undoubtedly be extremely difficult.

If he fails, what will you do?”

The Venerable Immortal looked at Grandmaster Bai.

Grandmaster Bai remained silent for a long time, then spoke in a hoarse voice.

”He will not fail.”

The Venerable Immortal looked at Grandmaster Bai, then suddenly spoke.

”Is Desolate searching for him? Or rather… is he the reincarnation of Desolate?”

As these words were spoken, the universe seemed to freeze.

”Youʼve also been to Wanggu. If it were as you speculate, with your cultivation level, wouldnʼt you have seen it? Why ask me?”

Grandmaster Bai remained calm.