All the living beings here were drowned by this river of time.
If one possessed the eyes of a god and looked down from high above, they would see the island, the statue of the ruler, and countless cultivators swirling within the river of time in this region.
They were all soaked and were motionless.
Everyone's time was fixed at the moment before, existing in a state neither alive nor dead, encapsulated in the essence of time.
However, among these cultivators, there were nine missing!
The heir and his four other siblings weren't around. Li Xiaoshan, Divine Sparrow, Chen Erniu, and Xu Qing were also nowhere to be seen.
The instant the gate of time opened, they were sent into different points in the past of the Red Moon Divine Son by Princess Mingmei's taboo art, dispersed across various nodes of time.
In order to ensure that they could destroy all the nodes, the time everyone was sent to was arranged according to their cultivation levels. For example, the time the captain was sent to was when the Divine Son broke through to the Golden Core realm and stepped into the Nascent Soul realm.
As for Li Xiaoshan, it was the instant the Divine Son broke through the Spirit Repository and stepped into Nihility.
As for Divine Sparrow, it was the instant the Divine Son broke through the major realm and stepped into the Soul Accumulation realm.
It was the same for Xu Qing. The node he was arranged at was the moment the Divine Son broke through the Nascent Soul realm and stepped into the Spirit Repository.
Only by killing the Divine Sons at these nodes could the ritual be completely thwarted, causing the divine fire to extinguish.
The reason why the Divine Son at every node was at the early stage of a major realm was because of the need for his god-ascension ritual. What he needed was the power of time produced at the moment all his siblings broke through a major realm.
The time power of these breakthroughs was the first step of his god-ascension ritual. The second step was a continuous breakthrough from weak to strong after he fused these times.
Just like a snowball rolling downhill, his aura would erupt all the way from Qi Condensation, gathering an invincible momentum. At the last moment, this power from his siblings would gather in his breakthrough times, replacing the final step of the godhood ritual.
He could then become a god!
This method was different from the Crimson Goddess' god-ascension ritual but it was similarly profound and no ordinary person could do it.
However, it was a pity that the appearance of the heir and the others disrupted the godhood ritual that was supposed to be inevitable.
At that moment, the world rumbled and the long river surged. Within the waves, scenes of ancient scenes could be seen, with the figures of the heir and the others, as well as the captain.
In one of the waves, Xu Qing, who had disappeared from the long river, was revealed.
The instant he appeared, he circulated all his cultivation base. He was vigilant, and his eyes gleamed with sharpness as he gazed in all directions.
This was an unfamiliar world. The sky was clear with no clouds. The blue sky was like satin, giving off a refreshing feeling.
The blowing wind carried the sweet fragrance of grass and trees, and there was a lightness to it. Falling upon the body, it felt gentle, as if it could seep into the heart.
The earth was covered in lush greenery, with abundant vegetation and a rich spiritual energy permeating the surroundings.
Far in the distance, misty clouds of spiritual energy covered some areas, creating a scene reminiscent of an immortal land. Numerous spiritual beasts ran through the mountains, while celestial birds soared in the sky, producing melodious calls.
It was like the melody of nature.
There was also a long river on the ground. The river was clear and the fish were fat. The entire world was like a peach garden. It was a place Xu Qing had never seen before in his life.
The world he was in was filled with anomalous substances and the gods resided there. The spirit energy was mixed like poison and all living beings were miserable.
This place was completely different.
Xu Qing lifted his head and looked at the sky.
"God's fragmented-face…"
In the sky, a colossus that existed eternally in his memories didn't exist in this world!
The god's fragmented-face hadn't arrived yet.
"At this point in time, Wanggu Continent hasn't experienced the calamity. The Ancient Sovereign Mystic Nether still rules the world, and the human race is the supreme race."
Xu Qing mumbled while walking forward. He wanted to find the Divine Son who had broken through in the vicinity.
As he advanced, celestial birds fluttered past him, only to return and circle around Xu Qing, expressing a sense of intimacy.
It was the same for the spirit beasts on the ground. After seeing Xu Qing, they let out gentle cries, as though they were worshiping him.
What they were worshiping was the human race.
Xu Qing's heart stirred at this scene. He thought of the lowly status of the human race outside.
At this time, everything was different. The green mountains and rivers here, the spirit beasts and celestial birds, all exuded tranquility.
Xu Qing looked in all directions. He really wanted to explore this world that hadn't experienced the calamity.
However, he understood that the most important thing now was to kill the Divine Son.
Hence, Xu Qing took a deep breath and sped forward.
Without the iron ball on him, Xu Qing's speed became astonishing. He left afterimages behind as he disappeared from the spot.
He spread out his divine consciousness and searched with all his might. The shadow spread out and searched as well.
After about fifteen minutes, Xu Qing, who had transformed into a rainbow in the sky, paused and abruptly turned his head to look to the east.
"There!"
There was an energy fluctuation of Spirit Repository from where his gaze landed.
Xu Qing immediately headed straight for the east. Very soon, he crossed 500 kilometers and a huge basin was reflected in his eyes.
The basin covered a radius of 50 kilometers, as though it had once been smashed out by a huge stone from the sky, and had vertical marks around its perimeter. At the center of the basin was a colossal black rhinoceros.
This rhinoceros was extremely huge and possessed the aura to devour mountains and rivers. Its entire body emitted terrifying fluctuations and it was currently roaring at the sky.
The sound was so deafening that there were ripples in the air.
There was also an auspicious light that descended from the sky, enveloping the rhinoceros' entire body and bestowing it with armor.
One could vaguely see a secret repository in the rhinoceros' body.
The instant Xu Qing arrived, the rhinoceros immediately sensed him. It abruptly turned its head and two lumps of fog spurted out of its nose as it coldly looked over.
Xu Qing's figure paused and his gaze met the rhinoceros'.
In his eyes, this rhinoceros was an illusion. In the depths of it sat a youth in black robes.
He had a handsome appearance and a cold expression. His entire body emitted a sense of danger and the River of Time surrounded him.
That long river didn't belong to him but Princess Mingmei's taboo art.
"Ant."
The black-robed youth calmly spoke. He then lifted his right hand and pointed at Xu Qing.
Under this finger, the black rhinoceros outside his body roared again. Its body swelled up and grew larger and larger.
Finally, it reached 100,000 feet and separated from the youth's body. It then shot toward Xu Qing like a black meteor.
As it moved forward, the world trembled. Waves of terrifying aura erupted from the rhinoceros' body. Its aura was like a rainbow, as though it possessed the power to destroy everything.
That was an emperor-level cultivation art!
The weight of its might surpassed everything Xu Qing had seen before.
Xu Qing's eyes gleamed. He had just broken through the Nascent Soul realm and stepped into the Spirit Repository. If he faced other Spirit Repository cultivators, he would be confident. However, this person in front of him was the son of the ruler.
Even though the other party's cultivation was the same as his, Xu Qing wasn't negligent at all. Instead, he revealed a strong fighting spirit in his eyes, without any intention of backing down.
He wanted to know the true extent of the foundations he had built through his cultivation compared to the opponent, to determine who was stronger and who was weaker!
At that moment, the battle intent in his heart erupted. Xu Qing lifted his right hand and performed a series of hand seals. Immediately, the Golden Crow crow totem on his body burned, and the Golden Crow rose from Xu Qing's body.
A thousand tails spread in all directions, the black body exuded astonishing power, and flames instantly ignited, spreading into a sea of fire. It roared fiercely toward the charging rhinoceros.
The sea of fire came into contact with the rhinoceros instantly.
The sea of fire rumbled and rolled in all directions. The black rhinoceros' aura was astonishing and actually broke through everything, crashing into the Golden Crow. However, what awaited it was a thousand tails that formed blades. It was the Golden Crow absorbing with the method of refining all things.
In an instant, the black rhinoceros' entire body trembled. The fourth son of the ruler, who was sitting cross-legged in the basin, frowned slightly and let out a chilly snort.
"Howling Moon!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the black rhinoceros' entire body released a pitch-black light that transformed into a black hole in the surroundings. It roared at the sky and shook off the Golden Crow.
The sky trembled and a white moon actually formed in the sky. It was connected to the unknown and seemed to have the power to destroy everything. The Golden Crow had no choice but to retreat.
This was the source of the ruler's fourth son's emperor-level cultivation art, the Heavenly Rhino Howling Moon.
Generally speaking, it was rare for someone to be able to display an emperor-level cultivation art to this extent, especially since his current realm was only at the Spirit Repository.
However, Xu Qing was calm. He performed a series of hand seals and pointed. Immediately, the retreating Golden Crow's entire body withered and its flesh and blood dissipated, revealing a black spear.
As soon as this spear appeared, the color of the world changed. Rumbling thunder echoed in this area like the roar of the Heavenly Dao, as though it wouldn't allow this spear to descend into the world.
However, it still descended.
Xu Qing similarly had comprehended the origin of an emperor-level cultivation art.
The expression of the fourth son of the ruler instantly twisted solemn. The black spear instantly landed on the rhinoceros with the might to destroy the world.
Even though the white moon descended to block it, it was still useless. At the next instant, with a deafening boom and as the ring-shaped impact spread violently, the white moon shattered into pieces. The spear pierced through everything and ruthlessly stabbed into the heavenly rhinoceros' body.
It landed between its brows and penetrated its entire body, landing on the ground.
The heavenly rhinoceros wailed and the ground rumbled. The battle intent in Xu Qing's eyes was high as he strode toward the fourth son of the ruler. At the same time, the expression of the fourth son of the ruler displayed coldness.
"Interesting."
As his voice echoed, Xu Qing heard the voice of the Diamond Sect's ancestor in his mind.
"Master, according to this old man's many years of reading ancient texts, anyone who speaks in such a posture is clearly a great villain. They're destined to fail. We're definitely going to win. All the best, Master!"
The ancestor felt helpless. He felt that if he didn't make his presence known, he would become cannon fodder soon, so he racked his brains and emphasized his importance.
Xu Qing didn't bother with him. He shifted closer and blasted toward the basin at an amazing speed.
The fourth son of the ruler was also extremely fast. He instantly stood up and rose into the air. After dodging Xu Qing, his right hand pressed toward the sky, as though he was grabbing at something and ruthlessly pulled it down.
Immediately, a gap opened in the sky and endless black fog seeped out. In the center of the fog was a black rattle drum.
On one side of the drum, there was an image of an evil spirit, and on the other side, an image of the wailing of myriad races.
It slowly descended and was grabbed by the fourth son of the ruler. It released an ink-like aura that corroded everything.
Even the spirit qi here was affected and felt distorted.
As he shifted it slightly, the sound of the drum rang out in all directions.
Wherever the sound spread, everything withered.
That was the poison curse art.
"Interesting."
Xu Qing glanced at the drum. His eyes were pitch-black as he calmly spoke.
The Diamond Sect's ancestor took a deep breath and wanted to remind him. However, after some thought, he hurriedly changed his words.
"This statement, coming from Master, is obviously different, with a distinct aura. This means we are going to win!"
