Beyond the Timescape

The powers of a god could be described as extraordinary and unfathomable. The clay fox’s actions made that more clear than ever to Xu Qing. And it also gave him a deeper understanding of gods in general.

Gods are neither evil nor good. It all comes down to what makes them happy.

In Xu Qing’s memories, all the gods he had encountered were like that. There were no exceptions.

Whatever problems I might be thinking about right now would be of bug-like significance to the gods. Thēir thinking and actions aren’t even worth attempting to analyze. Only when godly nature disperses both animal nature and human nature will I be able to think in the same way as thēm.

Xu Qing looked out at the desert as he thought about everything he’d experienced. Then he looked back at the valley.

The Firemoon Darkheaven species....

With that, he flew off at top speed. Days passed. The wind and sand blew against his face as he flew along. The gray wind was what prevented any outsiders from entering the desert, yet didn’t affect the local cultivators hardly at all.

Xu Qing couldn’t be completely sure, but it seemed to him that on his return trip, the wind was different from before.

This sandstorm was created by one of High God Moonfire’s hairs. And I just met that very same High God....

After some thought, Xu Qing stopped in place in the wind and experimentally waved his hand out in front of him.

“Disperse.”

The wind didn’t change in any way. Xu Qing retracted his hand and continued traveling.

However, not long after that, the wind suddenly vibrated, then collapsed in front of him, creating a narrow passage like a canyon. Wind blew on both sides, connecting heaven and earth. Only that small, 300-meter gap was empty. Xu Qing’s eyes shone brightly as he clasped hands, bowed to the wind, and then sped onward.

Before long, he saw the Bitter Life Mountains up ahead. The familiar sight of the mountains and the mudbrick city calmed him. A moment later, he vanished, to reappear in the back room of the Green Spirit Pharmacy. Upon stepping out onto the main floor of the shop, Ling’er, who had been absent-mindedly doing the accounts, looked up at him.

“Big Bro Xu Qing!” She threw aside her treasured accounting book and raced over to him, her face alive with joy. Wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest, she said, “Where’d you go off to, Big Bro Xu Qing? And why didn’t you tell me before you left! I got so worried....”

Before she could say anything else, however, her nose twitched as she smelled something. She sniffed again, more deeply.

Ning Yan and Wu Jianwu looked over at the developing scene.

Nethersprite, meanwhile, checked the boiling water and then gave a sarcastic chuckle. “Men,” she muttered.

Xu Qing looked at the Heir Apparent, who was sipping his tea. The Heir Apparent looked back nonchalantly.

Xu Qing could tell that the Heir Apparent must have told Ling’er about him going to see the clay fox. That said, he didn’t mind. Taking out a bag of holding, he held it out to Ling’er.

“I went back to see those clay people,” he said quietly. “I needed to handle something for Eldest Brother. And I also got something for you.”

Ling’er took the bag of holding. Looking suspicious, she opened it. Her eyes lit up. “An Ancient Spirit bone pill!”

Xu Qing smiled and tousled her hair. “Go work on your cultivation. That pill will help you a lot.”

“Thanks, Big Bro Xu Qing! You’re so awesome!” Ling’er was bursting with happiness. As far as she was concerned, her Big Bro Xu Qing treated her the best. As it turned out, the entire purpose of his recent trip had been to get something for her. Realizing that, Ling’er decided that acting suspicious wasn’t a good thing. Feeling a bit guilty, she said, “Big Bro Xu Qing, it’s been a while since I used my cooking skills. I’m going to make you some amazing dishes to eat tonight!”

Xu Qing wanted to object, but then he looked at the Heir Apparent, who smiled back and nodded.

Ling’er looked even happier than before. Clutching the bone pill, she ran back into the kitchen to start preparing the food.

Xu Qing sat down in front of the Heir Apparent. “Senior, shē was the Firemoon Darkheaven’s High God Starfire.”

The Heir Apparent nodded and put down his cup. “What did shē want?”

“The same as High God Moonfire,” Xu Qing replied calmly. “And now there’s also a clay door at the God Decapitation Altar.”

The Heir Apparent’s eyes narrowed slightly. After giving the matter some thought, he smiled. “Interesting. Countless threads here in the Moonrite Region are all connected into a giant network of fuses, and one by one, they’re being lit.... Boy, your Eldest Brother is no simpleton. That said, you’re even more complicated than he is.”

Xu Qing shook his head. “It’s all according to our Master’s arrangements.”

The Heir Apparent hesitated briefly. Given what he knew, he no longer believed what Xu Qing said about his Master’s arrangements. For one thing, he now felt he could sympathize with Xu Qing’s Master after having personally dealt with Xu Qing’s powers of understanding. Now he was just interested in seeing what these two fellow apprentices would ultimately accomplish. Because of that, the Heir Apparent had formed some theories about Xu Qing’s Master, although he couldn’t make any final determinations now.

Meanwhile, the sounds and smells of cooking wafted out of the kitchen, causing Ning Yan’s nose to twitch and his eyes to light up.

At the door, Wu Jianwu took a deep breath. “She snips and slices with a great attitude; who went and asked for some gourmet food?”

Even the Heir Apparent turned to the kitchen and gave a slight nod. “Who would have thought that the girl was actually this good at cooking? Oh, by the way, I’m going on a trip in the next few days. You got back just in time. Let me see that jade slip I gave you earlier.”

Nodding earnestly, Xu Qing took out the jade slip used to control the chickens.

The Heir Apparent took it, fiddling with it briefly, then handed it back. “The jade slip still contains the warding spells to control the chickens. But now, you also have the warding spells for Inkrule and Nethersprite.”

When Nethersprite heard that, her expression darkened.

Xu Qing put the jade slip away safely. He could tell that the Heir Apparent was worried about staying away from the Green Spirit Pharmacy, and had acted accordingly. With that jade slip, he could definitely keep the Green Spirit Pharmacy safe for a time.

After a moment of thought, Xu Qing asked, “Senior, does your trip relate to Grandpa Ninth?”

The Heir Apparent nodded. “I’m just about ready to unseal him. This time, we won’t need your help. We can handle it on our own.”

Around that time, Ling’er bustled excitedly out of the kitchen with two dishes which she placed on the table. Then she hurried back to the kitchen and came out a moment later with more dishes. That continued until there were a total of eight dishes on the table.

With that accomplished, Ling’er stood to the side and called for everyone to eat. “Grandpa Heir Apparent. Big Bro Xu Qing. Big Sis Nethersprite. Please, have a taste!”

Ning Yan and Wu Jianwu didn’t need an invitation to sit down. Nethersprite stopped what she was doing, looked at the dishes, and gave a friendly nod.

The Heir Apparent was curious. Picking up some food with his chopsticks, he put it in his mouth. He smiled, looked deeply at Xu Qing, and nodded.

“Excellent.”

Everyone hurried to try the food. Wu Jianwu’s eyes went wide, Ning Yan blushed, and Nethersprite looked contemplatively at Xu Qing.

Ling’er was obviously very nervous as she watched Xu Qing calmly eating a few bites. Finally she said, “If it tastes good, make sure to eat as much as you want!”

Ling’er’s culinary skills had clearly improved. The eight dishes smelled, looked, and tasted great. Xu Qing was actually surprised.

Ning Yan swallowed, smiled, and exclaimed, “It’s delicious!”

Wu Jianwu had originally been planning to take a bite and then say he wasn’t hungry. But seeing the reactions of Xu Qing and the Heir Apparent, he cautiously picked up some more food with his chopsticks. Nethersprite continued eating. By the time dinner ended, all of the food was gone. Ling’er was incredibly satisfied, and was now convinced that her amazing culinary skills and cooking talents actually surpassed her cultivation ability.

I should open a restaurant! she thought.

Three days passed and the Heir Apparent left.

The day after that, Sir Skysouth from the Moonrebel Congregation came to say farewell. The war on the outside had reached a fever pitch. The forces of the Moonrebel Congregation had experienced numerous defeats; Second Vice-Bishop’s army had suffered severe casualties, and was in a very precarious situation. Given that Sir Skysouth was also Fourth Vice-Bishop, he had to take people out to provide reinforcements for Second Vice-Bishop. The Bitter Life Mountains were relatively safe, but Sir Skysouth couldn’t just sit around watching people suffer.

“I’m Fourth Vice-Bishop from the Moonrebel Congregation. I’m duty-bound to resist the red moon and protect my home, and I’m not going to shirk that responsibility. We need people to stand up.... I might be old and weak, but now’s not the time to start worrying about my own life. If I don’t come back, my shattered soul will remain one with the Moonrebel Congregation!”

As Sir Skysouth spoke the words, he looked incredibly determined and unfearful of death.

After he said farewell, Xu Qing watched him leave, and suddenly found himself thinking about Palace Lord Kong from the Swordsage Palace.

They’re the same type of person.

***

The red moon rose higher. The color in the sky grew deeper, until all of the Moonrite Region was as red as blood.

That was especially true the closer you got to the Yin Sacrifice River. The river itself was already the color of blood, and the smell of blood and gore was strong around it. Now, it was more intense than ever.

Nowadays, it was rare to see travelers from outside the region. After all, the merchants and businessmen all knew that a god was coming to harvest the Spirit Garden. And yet, a dilapidated boat could still be seen floating across the waves of the river, heading from the direction of Holytide territory.

Before long, the boat became clearer. It had been patched together so many times it looked like it was on the verge of falling apart. Yet it cut through the water until it reached the shore. A figure flew out just as the boat finally collapsed and sank into the water. The figure looked around, sighed, and then stamped his foot on the ground.

I can’t believe that villain took my Ling’er away for such a long time and hasn’t brought her back! I should have known he took her to this cesspit of a region!

My Ling’er has definitely been eating and sleeping poorly. She’s probably starving and freezing at the same time. She’s almost certainly shivering from fear at having to follow that fellow around all the time, and she’s definitely in constant danger. Who knows how many enemies might be chasing them, and she has nobody to keep her safe! It’s completely inappropriate.

I should have known all along that effeminate little bastard isn’t reliable! You just wait, you little rogue. I’m going to find you!

The red light of the sky shone down on an ancient and exhausted individual that was none other than the innkeeper from Plankspring way. After cursing up a storm, he finally sighed and looked off into the distance.

This region is so big, though. Where am I supposed to look?

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