Outside Of Time

1789  Leaving the Star Ring, Returning to Wanggu

Xu Qing and Grandmaster Bai walked side by side.

They traversed the starry sky, walked through the river of time.

Their figures were imperceptible to ordinary cultivators—only Summer Immortals could vaguely sense their presence.

Along the way, they spoke of many things.

Past memories, present stories, and visions of the future.

Until, when they reached the edge of the Fourth Star Ring, Grandmaster Bai departed.

Before leaving, Xu Qingʼs first teacher gave him two items.

The first was a seed.

”Xu Qing, when you return to Wanggu, if Chen Feiyuan and Ting Yu are still alive, ask them if they would like to come to me.”

”If they agree, plant this seed for them. When the flower blooms, its fragrance will lead them to me.”

”And if they have already passed away?” Xu Qing asked softly.

”Then plant this seed before their graves.”

Grandmaster Baiʼs voice was hoarse.

The second item he gave Xu Qing was a lantern.

Its frame was crafted from a special type of baked clay, inscribed with intricate patterns that seemed naturally formed yet likewise resembled ancient runes, pulsing with mysterious power.

The material closely resembled Grandmaster Baiʼs medicine jar.

As for the lantern shade, it was woven from a mystical spiritual silk that emitted a faint, iridescent glow.

The shifting light was dreamlike, as though it had gathered all the resplendent colors of the myriad realms.

The weaving of the spiritual threads was extraordinarily delicate, forming faint, elusive images—sometimes depicting mist-shrouded immortal mountains, other times the vast starry river of the cosmos.

It was as though the lantern shade itself contained miniature universes, hiding endless mysteries.

But the most peculiar part was the wick inside the lantern.

It was an eyeball!

Even after undergoing refinement, it retained its divine essence.

It exuded an awe-inspiring majesty and mystery that made one hesitant to look directly at it, while the blood vessels in the eye radiated boundless terror.

A single glance seemed capable of making all living things tremble.

According to Grandmaster Bai, this eyeball came from the Venerable God of the Fifth Star Ring from years past!

After Grandmaster Bai refined it using his unique herbal techniques, the lantern could preserve a trace of that Venerable Godʼs divine authority!

”The Venerable God of the Fifth Star Ring wielded the divine authority of Entropy!”

”Entropy is the process by which all things descend from order into chaos. At the peak of Its power… It could alter the very nature of matter itself through increase or decrease.”

”The method I used to craft this lantern is an application of my Dao of vegetation. As my disciple, I pass this technique on to you. Study it well, and perhaps one day you too can create such treasures.”

…

Grandmaster Bai left.

He had waited seven years for Xu Qing outside the spatial rift where the old Venerable God once resided. Now, his heart was at peace.

Standing at the edge of the Fourth Star Ring, Xu Qing watched Grandmaster Baiʼs departing figure and bowed deeply in respect.

After a long while, he turned his attention to the lantern floating before him in the starry void, swaying gently and stirring ethereal winds.

Within those winds lingered faint, celestial melodies that could intoxicate the listener—though prolonged exposure revealed divine whispers hidden beneath the music.

After listening for a time, Xu Qing stored the lantern away and turned to face the entirety of the Fourth Star Ring.

Slowly, a smile appeared on his face.

Echoing his smile was a hearty laugh that resounded from the Fourth Star Ring.

The laughter manifested as arcs of light in the void, forming an illusory, shimmering mirror.

Within the mirror appeared the figures of Immortal Lord Mi Ming and his Dao companion.

”Little Brother, I know youʼre returning home.”

”The Ninth Star Ring where you reside… I dare not go.”

”To be precise, aside from the native Venerable Gods of your Ninth Star Ring, no Lord Gods or Venerable Gods from other star rings would dare set foot there.”

”Especially since Desolate awoke not long ago…”

”So I cannot personally assist you on this journey.”

Xu Qing nodded. Over the years, he had gradually come to understand this. Now, as a Summer Immortal, his perception was even clearer.

He knew that even Venerable Immortal had only dared to appear in the Outer Sea back then—and even then, hidden within the belly of a fish and borrowing the Golden Ratʼs power. Despite all these precautions, he hadnʼt lingered long before departing.

”However, though I cannot go myself, Iʼve prepared gifts for you!”

Mi Ming smiled and waved his hand. The mirror shrank into a small fragment that flew toward Xu Qing.

”This is my Ordinance Law!”

”You once played my character in the past. Though my Ordinance was sealed at the time, you were still able to sense my true Mirror Ordinance. So there should be no issue with you wielding it now.”

”Also, Iʼd feel uneasy letting you return alone. So Iʼve brought all your subordinates with me.”

As he spoke, Mi Ming waved his hand again.

The starry sky twisted, and in the next instant… the figures of Star Ring, Zhou Zhengli, Xie Lingzi, Li Mengtu, Yuanshan Su, and others appeared one after another.

Even the tearful Qianjun and Piyi were among them.

Eleven in total!

The moment they appeared, Mi Mingʼs voice resonated in their minds like an imperial decree:

”You are hereby commanded to follow True Monarch Ji Qing for three thousand years, guarding him with your lives!”

”Upon your return after three millennia, you shall be enshrined among the ranks of immortals!”

At these words, Zhou Zhengli and Star Ring remained relatively calm. The former cared little about attaining immortality, believing greater rewards shall come from following Xu Qing.

The latter was confident in his own ability to ascend.

Though their thoughts differed, their expressions were similarly composed.

The others, however, were visibly moved.

Being ”enshrined among the ranks of immortals” meant being granted the opportunity to become a Summer Immortal!

For them, this was an extraordinary fortune.

Thus, they immediately bowed in unison.

”We obey the Immortal Lordʼs decree!”

Then, almost instinctively, these former subordinates swiveled their gazes toward Xu Qing.

Sensing his cultivation and vast aura, they immediately understood—Xu Qing had already become a Summer Immortal!

Moreover, compared to other Summer Immortal they had encountered, they could sense something different about him.

”Xu Qing… he carries the majesty of an Immortal Lord!”

Star Ringʼs heart trembled.

Meanwhile, Mi Mingʼs gaze also rested on Xu Qing. Smiling, he said nothing more.

Looking at the mirror fragment before him, warmth blossomed in Xu Qingʼs heart as memories of his time here surfaced.

Finally, he bowed deeply to Mi Ming.

Mi Mingʼs smile softened further, while Fairy Spirit Phoenix beside him spoke gently:

”Xu Qing, may all go well for you.”

Amidst their smiles and blessings, their figures faded away.

Yet the moment they disappeared, a streak of light shot out from the void, accompanied by Mi Mingʼs teasing voice:

”Oh yes, here are the three goddesses I promised you. Theyʼre all inside.”

It was a pearl.

Within it, three slumbering goddesses could be seen…

Xu Qingʼs expression turned peculiar as he stored it away.

This scene wasnʼt lost on the others. Most remained indifferent, but Zhou Zhengliʼs eyes gleamed with sudden understanding.

21:20

”So the Young Master favors this type…?”

Before Zhou Zhengli could ponder further, Xu Qing raised his hand toward the direction of the Fifth Star Ring.

In an instant, his Ordinance Law stirred, causing the starry sky to churn as a bronze pagoda materialized—the same one he had used to cross the Primordial Sea.

The Holy Heavenly Vine coiled around the pagoda, now fully awakened, slithered about and emanated waves of familiarity toward Xu Qing.

”Going home…”

Xu Qing was about to step forward when suddenly, he paused.

A massive bubble had appeared without warning, enveloping this region of the cosmos and isolating everything within.

Thus, completely unnoticed by Star Ring and the others, an elderly man in straw sandals emerged from the distant starry sky.

The man wore simple hemp robes, with a golden rat perched on his shoulder.

Recognizing him, Xu Qing spoke calmly:

”Greetings, Venerable Immortal.”

The newcomer was none other than the Venerable Immortal of the Fifth Star Ring.

He approached Xu Qing and looked him up and down before coughing lightly.

”Kid, long time no see.”

Xu Qing remained silent.

This man had used him as a chess piece step by step. Though Xu Qing had benefited from their interactions, it had ultimately been nothing more than a transaction.

There was no need for pleasantries.

Venerable Immortal understood this too. Smiling, he produced a small bronze cauldron.

”Due to Desolateʼs awakening seven years ago, the trajectory of fate on Wanggu has deviated…”

”So youʼd best return quickly.”

Xu Qingʼs pupils constricted.

Without hesitation, he flashed to the bronze pagoda and swept up Star Ring and the others with his sleeve, stepping inside.

The pagoda trembled violently as the void below distorted, forming a massive vortex from which emanated the aura of the Primordial Sea.

Each star ring had its own Primordial Sea.

Among the thirty-six Upper Star Rings, these seas were the most direct connecting paths…

Now, as the Primordial Sea emerged, the bronze pagoda blazed with radiant light, unleashing earthshaking power—the might of Xu Qingʼs Ordinance Law.

Under the influence of Dimension, the pagoda plunged downward.

Into the Primordial Sea it sank, vanishing within its swirling currents.

Then… the sea dissipated, leaving no trace behind save for lingering traces of Outer Sea aura that slowly faded into the cosmos.

Venerable Immortal watched all this unfold before lifting his gaze toward the Ninth Star Ring.

After a long while, he murmured softly:

”Iʼve never understood why Desolate remains in the Ninth Star Ring, lingering on that small continent once called Brilliant Heaven, now named Wanggu…”

”Is It searching? Or waiting?”

”Is It marching toward death? Or… preparing for rebirth?”

Shaking his head, Venerable Immortal turned and vanished.

Only his thoughts continued to ripple outward.

”Is the Umbilical Cord of the Divine God truly the only path to transcendence?”

”Then throughout history, has any god ever succeeded through it?”

”And what… awaits us in the Outside?”