Chapter 1617: Identity in the Fourth Realm

Editor: Atlas Studios

Before him, the endless clouds were dense, completely obscuring all sight.

The heavy mist disoriented the senses, making it instinctively difficult to find direction or distinguish between the four cardinal points. It felt impossible to discern the correct path forward.

This was the world within the mural.

However, Xu Qing was calm.

After entering the mural and appearing in the fog, he wasn’t unfamiliar with this feeling.

“It’s similar to the second realm but it also contains some characteristics of the third level. To be precise… this place exists between the second and third realms, forming a complete world of its own—heaven within heaven, a realm within realms.”

Xu Qing lowered his head and looked down. Activating the Space-Time Ordinance of his eighth extremity, his thoughts instantly ascended to a higher level, pulling his physical body downward.

As he traversed through the fog, an indeterminate amount of time passed. The fog gradually thinned until, finally, it could no longer obscure his vision…

A shockingly tall giant mountain appeared in front of Xu Qing.

The mountain was pitch black, with no man-made steps, exuding a sense of desolation. Its surface was completely barren, devoid of any vegetation, standing bare and stark—a spine of this realm.

However, waves of energy spread out from the restrictions hidden on this mountain. When Xu Qing scanned the area with his heightened perception, the sheer number of these restrictions seemed endless.

Moreover, the might of these restrictions was astonishing. If one didn’t have an Ordinance, it would be extremely difficult to climb this mountain safely.

“It’s here, it’s here.”

“Son, hurry up. My treasure is at the top of the mountain.”

The little person spoke excitedly, its tone filled with urging.

Xu Qing was well aware that it would be difficult to change the little person’s manner of speaking. After all, he had crushed the jade token over a hundred times, and at most, the other party would behave for a short while before reverting to the same attitude.

Hence, Xu Qing only frowned and didn’t bother too much with the other party’s nonsense.

At this moment, he observed carefully before taking a step forward. He instantly crossed the distance and was already at the foot of the mountain when he appeared.

“Hmm?”

The moment he appeared at the foot of the mountain, a dark glint flashed in Xu Qing’s eyes.

He had taken that step with the intention to get to the top of the mountain but he was stopped by a force, causing him to only be at the foot of the mountain when he appeared.

“This mountain is quite interesting.”

Xu Qing mumbled inwardly.

The little person sneered.

“This is my secret place. Although the methods I left behind have weakened after so many years, it’s still impossible for you to reach the top of the mountain in one step.”

“Hurry up and climb it. With your Space-Time Ordinance, even if you can’t reach the top in one step, there won’t be any obstacles on the way.”

Xu Qing didn’t bother with the little person. At the foot of the mountain, he still observed carefully first. Only after he saw all the hidden restrictions in the mountain clearly with his Space-Time Ordinance did he walk over.

He stepped onto this mountain.

The moment his feet came into contact with the mountain rock, a ripple spread out from under his feet. The entire mountain also trembled. Restrictions arose, forming heavenly fire that rushed toward Xu Qing.

However, the moment it landed on his body, it passed through him as though Xu Qing didn’t exist.

Xu Qing sensed it and continued forward.

As he walked step by step, the tremors of the mountain became increasingly intense. However, the difference in levels caused it to be impossible for the restrictions on the mountain to truly touch Xu Qing no matter how they erupted.

Hence, his footsteps became faster and faster as he headed straight for the top of the mountain.

As he sped, the mountain trembled, causing countless restrictions to erupt, forming furious waves, storms, seas of fire, and even void swords and spatial tears.

Moreover, it was accompanied by some chaos in time.

The power of these restrictions gathered like an avalanche.

Xu Qing calmly moved forward, as though he was walking in his backyard.

The intense fluctuations formed by his arrival naturally attracted the attention of the black-clothed middle-aged man near the mountain peak.

With just a glance, the black-clothed middle-aged man’s expression changed drastically.

He couldn’t see Xu Qing clearly and could only see the chaos formed by the continuous eruption of the restrictions below. However, this scene still caused his pupils to contract and his mind to churn. His heart was filled with anxiety and horror.

“There’s actually someone else who entered this place and caused such a commotion…”

“Which star is it?”

The black-clothed middle-aged man’s breathing was hurried. He could sense through his Ordinance Treasure that a terrifying aura was rapidly shuttling over from the eruption of the restrictions below.

There was no time to weigh the pros and cons. The black-clothed middle-aged man immediately controlled the compass in his hand. On one hand, he enhanced the Earth Spirit Ancestor and the other two to control their bodies and speed up the scouting process.

On the other hand, he relied on this Ordinance treasure to form a pitch-black thread that was thrown into the waves of restrictions below.

At the same time, Earth Spirit Ancestor and the other two had also sensed the fluctuations of the mountain’s restrictions and saw the terrifying eruption. However, because they didn’t have any Ordinance treasures, they couldn’t ‘see’ or sense the aura that was rapidly approaching amidst the waves.

In reality, there was no need to sense it. The three of them had already guessed what this scene represented.

“Someone’s coming!”

“Judging from Dao Feizi’s expression and actions, as well as the fluctuations of the restrictions, the person who came is extremely strong!”

“The chance for survival has appeared!”

The three of them were injured but they were excited. This was because no matter who the person was or what the outcome would be, at least from the looks of it, this was a variable.

Variables were the only chance in a deadlock.

Almost at the very moment when hope arose in the hearts of the three, the black-clothed middle-aged man had already flung out the black thread from the compass he controlled. At terrifying speed, the thread shot into the range of the rippling restrictions.

This black thread came from his Ordinance treasure.

So although it appeared ordinary, the power of that black thread could, in some sense, be described as real.

Only an Ordinance could resist an Ordinance.

Hence, the level of an Ordinance Treasure was extremely important.

However, at the next instant… a scene that caused the black-clothed middle-aged man’s expression to change drastically again appeared.

A cracking sound that echoed through the entire area suddenly rang out from the location of the fluctuations in the restrictions.

The appearance of this sound caused the bodies of the Earth Spirit Ancestor and the other two to tremble. A flaw appeared in the control over their souls. The three of them seized the opportunity and erupted separately, immediately breaking free.

The black-clothed middle-aged man spat out a mouthful of blood with a horrified expression. He could sense that a terrifying aura was rushing over.

And he had no other choice.

He could either lower his head, but if he did so, he might not be able to survive. He was also unwilling to let his many years of preparation go to waste.

Or… give it a try!

Madness appeared in his eyes. He couldn’t care less about the escape of the three people. He suddenly turned around and erupted with all his strength, rushing toward the top of the mountain.

“Controlling the second Ordinance treasure is where the reversal lies!”

“With two Ordinance treasures, even if I face the stars, I can still have a chance to escape!”

At the thought of this, his speed was extremely fast, forming afterimages as he got closer and closer to the mountain peak.

However… Xu Qing who was moving in space-time was faster than him.

Hence, while the restrictions on the mountain were still erupting on a large scale. Xu Qing’s figure had already passed through the countless restrictions and rushed out.

They exploded into nothingness.

After passing by the Earth Spirit Ancestor and the other two, he appeared in front of the black-clothed middle-aged man!

With a step, he walked to the top of the mountain.

This scene couldn’t be seen by others.

Only the black-clothed middle-aged man who held the Ordinance Treasure could ‘see’ him.

The black-clothed middle-aged man’s breathing grew rapid, and his eyes turned bloodshot in an instant. That feeling of having prepared for so long, endured countless hardships, only to have success snatched away just as it was within reach, made him desperate. He was ready to risk everything.

Hence, he held the compass in one hand and performed a series of hand seals with the other, pointing at Xu Qing.

Immediately, five black threads rose from the compass, each of them as thick as a finger. The moment they formed, they moved like five black snakes.

They caused the surroundings to distort. Their level gave off a feeling that they didn’t belong to this world. After that, they headed straight for Xu Qing.

Xu Qing turned his head and coldly looked over.

The Space-Time Ordinance erupted.

Time fluctuated and divided the five black threads.

It affected space and imposed isolation.

If the five black threads were compared to streams, Xu Qing’s Space-Time Ordinance was like a river that instantly blocked them.

This lasted until… the stream was obliterated in the vastness of space-time.

The five black threads disappeared without a trace.

A crack appeared on the compass.

The black-clothed middle-aged man’s body shook and blood flowed from his seven orifices as he continued to retreat.

It seemed like he was about to attack again but at the next instant… the compass suddenly emitted a black light, forming a huge human face. After staring at Xu Qing, it suddenly turned its head and devoured the black-clothed middle-aged man in one bite.

Miserable cries spread in all directions.

After devouring, the black light face disappeared.

The crack on the compass instantly recovered and landed on the ground.

It was motionless.

Only a sentence rang out from the void, echoing in Xu Qing’s spacetime.

“Bring this item to the fourth realm. I’ll come and collect it personally.”

These words contained terrifying might that others couldn’t hear but in Xu Qing’s mind, it was like a large bell.

His figure was revealed from the Space-Time Ordinance. He raised his head from the mountain peak and looked at the sky.

At the same time, as Xu Qing’s figure was revealed, an excited call rang out from below.

“Lord!”

The Earth Spirit Ancestor, who recognized Xu Qing, was very excited.

When Xu Qing heard this, he retracted his gaze from the sky and turned his head to sweep his gaze across the Earth Spirit Ancestor. He then raised his hand and sent a gentle force over.

After that, he turned and looked at the lake at the top of the mountain and the paper boat on the lake.

This paper boat was white and floated quietly on the lake, motionless.

“How do I collect it?”

Xu Qing calmly spoke.

“Hehe, you’re quite cautious. I thought you would collect it with your bare hands immediately.”

The little person coughed. At the next instant, the jade token floated to the air and disappeared. When it reappeared, it was already on the paper boat.

Following that, the jade token flashed.

The paper boat shook slightly and turned blurry at a speed visible to the naked eye. Finally, it transformed into lines that fused into the jade token.

In the blink of an eye, the jade token returned and appeared in Xu Qing’s hand. The little person inside let out a satisfied voice.

“Not bad, not bad. After so many years, this toy is still not broken. It can be used.”

“Now that I have the item, it’s time for you to tell me about the identity I will have in the fourth realm.”

Xu Qing calmly spoke.

Although that paper boat wasn’t a simple Ordinance treasure, Xu Qing wasn’t greedy. To him, his Space-Time Ordinance was where his Dao was.

When the little person heard this, it coughed and transformed into a figure on the jade token. It placed its hands on its waist and spoke despicably.

“Didn’t I tell you the first time I saw you?”

“Your identity is my son.”