As this voice resounded, the entire Imperial Capital trembled, countless buildings shook, even the formations shimmered brightly. In the sky, rainbows appeared like auspicious signs.
The expressions of the various forces and countless experts in the city turned solemn and waves of emotions surged in their minds.
In just a single day, Xu Qing's arrival had affected the minds of too many people.
In the eyes of others, Xu Qing's influence was astonishing, causing the death of a Heavenly King. He controlled a large region and even formed an alliance with the Moon Offering Region. He also had the rare experience of slaughtering a god.
Ordinary people would already be extraordinary if they could accomplish one of these things, let alone Xu Qing who had accomplished all of them.
Moreover, his domineering entry into the array formation revealed his style of doing things. The Sun of Dawn had intimidated the observers. Soon after that, he paid his respects to the statue of the Great Emperor, and for the fourth time in countless years, the sound of awakening resounded.
All kinds of things caused Xu Qing to be unable to avoid attracting attention.
As for the Diamond Sect's ancestor, he was also sighing with emotion inwardly. Although he didn't dare to transmit his voice to Xu Qing at this moment, the fluctuations in his heart weren't small.
He felt that, based on the ancient texts he had read, protagonists usually didn't act in such a manner. Typically, they operated in a low-key fashion. It was usually the main antagonist, a super formidable villain from the ancient texts, who would create such a scene that shook the entire world after a triumphant return.
He had studied such a plot before. Most of it was to highlight how terrifying the enemy was and set a target for the protagonist. After that, the author would make the protagonist defeat the villain step by step, allowing the reader to obtain the joy of a small fry defeating a big shot.
'This… Master's situation is reversed…'
The Diamond Sect's ancestor's heart trembled. He felt that the difference between what Xu Qing was showing and the ancient books he had read was huge.
If he was already like this, there was no need to mention the others in the Imperial City who didn't understand Xu Qing.
These Imperial Capital people who were rarely shaken since the Mystic War Calendar were shaken by Xu Qing's actions.
Moreover, the awakening of the Sword Holding Emperor was a huge event that could be recorded in the history of the human race.
According to the records in the ancient books, the statue of the Sword Holding Emperor had always been in a deep sleep. Only during the assessment of the various Sword Holders would there be a fragmented divine sense that would inquisition the heart.
Before this, it had awakened three times.
The first time was during the era of the Human Sovereign Eastern Triumph. After the human race suffered a huge defeat, the Sword Holding Palace Master, Chen Shuyan, begged the Great Emperor to awaken before he died.
At that moment, the Sword Holding Emperor's statue awakened for the first time. It was also that revival that prevented the Flame Moon Mystic Heaven Race from annihilating the human race due to some karma.
The second time was during the era of the Human Emperor Mirror Cloud. At that time, the Sword Holding Palace Master, Wang Ken, had entered the palace with his sword when Crown Prince Purple Green was surrounded by the myriad races… He didn't return.
The Sword Holding Emperor woke up that day and stared at the south before sighing.
The third time wasn't too long ago. That was the moment the Human Emperor Mystic War ascended the throne. The Great Emperor had awakened and gazed at him with profound meaning, severity, and expectation.
According to the records in the ancient books, the Great Emperor had sent a voice transmission to the Human Emperor back then. Other than the Human Emperor, no one knew the exact words. Outsiders could only see that after the Human Emperor fell silent for a few breaths, he bowed to the Great Emperor with a determined gaze.
Now, it was the fourth time.
In an instant, countless gazes and divine senses locked onto this place from all directions. This matter was like a storm that rapidly spread throughout the large region.
Discussions and voice transmissions from all directions continued to spread.
Xu Qing's information wasn't a secret to the various parties in the capital, and his result in the Heart Inquisition was also known.
Hence, very soon, everyone guessed the cause and effect.
"There's a key point in Xu Qing's details. He's the first person to get a 100,000 feet long light in the Heart Inquisition since the Mystic War Calendar began! This matter might be the reason why the Great Emperor awakened!"
In the palace, in the Phoenix Sun Pavilion, Princess Anhai stood by the window, gazing at the statue of the Sword Holding Emperor. All kinds of information about Xu Qing appeared in her mind. After a long time, she retracted her gaze and muttered.
"The Great Emperor awakened for him… this matter seems like he is showing consideration, but why do I have a feeling as if he's been entrusted with something?"
At the same time, in the Seventh Prince's residence, the Seventh Prince sat silently in the pavilion with his eyes closed. There were dozens of cultivators behind him, standing silently.
The entire pavilion was silent. However, upon closer inspection, one could see that the hand in the Seventh Prince's sleeve was clenched tightly.
There was also the Tenth Prince's residence. Outsiders thought that the Tenth Prince, who had always been arrogant and despotic, had a bad temper. He threw a tantrum in front of the servant, but in a place with no one around, under his brutality, there was a hint of coldness that disappeared in an instant.
Most of the other princes also had different thoughts at this moment. As for whether their expressions were the same as their hearts, outsiders couldn't know.
There were also some dignitaries and Heavenly Kings, such as the Grand Chancellor and the others. Their expressions were much calmer and one couldn't see many emotions. However, after most of them stared at the Sword Holding Emperor's statue, their gazes landed on the palace with deep meaning.
When Mystic War ascended the throne, the Great Emperor had woken up.
After so many years, Xu Qing arrived and the Great Emperor woke up once again…
In the palace, in the Heavenwatch Pavilion, the Human Emperor was expressionless. He didn't look outside but stared at the chessboard in front of him. He held a white chess piece in his hand and gently placed it down.
"Your Majesty, I've already answered your question, but you haven't told me what the Sword Holding Emperor said to you when you ascended the throne back then."
On the other side of the chessboard, the State Preceptor smiled and placed the black chess piece down.
The Human Emperor lifted his head and looked at the State Preceptor as he spoke calmly.
"The Great Emperor told me that he regrets what happened to Crown Prince Purple Green back then. If I can encounter him in my life, I have to return the skull that was taken away by the Mirror Cloud."
"Didn't you receive it?"
The Human Emperor spoke casually but his words contained deep meaning.
The State Preceptor fell silent. After a while, a smile appeared on his face again.
"Having met someone like Your Majesty in this life, my life will certainly not be lonely."
The Human Emperor ignored him and picked up a white piece. Just as he was about to put it down, a vast voice echoed in the capital.
"Little friend, come to the Sword Holding Palace. I'll wait for you there."
The moment this voice rang out, the Human Emperor's hand that was holding the chess piece paused and he slowly lifted his head.
The State Preceptor opposite him also had a strange glint in his eyes as he turned his head.
The fluctuations in the hearts of all the living beings and experts in the capital became intense again.
That was the voice of the Sword Holding Emperor. The meaning of the Great Emperor's rouse was different from summoning him.
This was especially so for the Sword Holding Palace. From the Palace Master to the ordinary Sword Holders, their expressions changed.
Under the Sword Holding Emperor's statue, Xu Qing lifted his head and looked at the Great Emperor's statue. His heart was filled with endless waves. After a long time, he took a deep breath and bowed again. He then stood up and walked in the direction of the Sword Holding Palace.
Xu Qing had seen the Sword Holding Palace on the way previously and knew its location. All the Sword Holders on patrol on the way also held their swords respectfully and led the way for Xu Qing after seeing him.
Xu Qing was also a Sword Holder.
Just like that, he continued forward. Two hours later, a special building was reflected in Xu Qing's eyes.
It was a cluster of palaces. Overall, they looked like two large swords.
One was laid on the ground, and the other stood upright with its tip embedded in the earth.
The range was very large, enough to accommodate millions of people. This was the headquarters of the Sword Holding Palace of the human race's Upper Mystic Five Palaces.
When Xu Qing arrived, outside the Sword Holding Palace's headquarters, most of the Sword Holders who were stationed here were waiting outside. This generation's Sword Holding Palace's Palace Master, who was also one of the Heavenly Kings, Zhou Hengzhi, was also standing there.
Everyone in the Sword Holding Palace, who had always strictly followed the rules, didn't dare to slack off at all.
Among the crowd, there was another figure who had seen Xu Qing before. He was Huang Kun who had attended the Seventh Prince's banquet back then. Back then, the Seventh Prince had stated that the ancestor of the Huang Kun family was a great deacon of the Sword Holding Palace.
At that moment, Huang Kun's heart churned. As one of the very few people in the Imperial City who had seen Xu Qing before, he felt that what happened in the Holy Wave Large Region after that was unbelievable.
This was especially so when he saw the Great Emperor waking up and the solemnity of the entire palace. It made him sense an intense difference.
Back then, when everyone sat together, he had a certain attitude in his heart. After all, at that time, in his opinion, Xu Qing was just a Sword Holder from a remote place. Although his identity in Fenghai County was special, it had nothing to do with him.
As for whether he could really grow up in the future, that was unknown.
But now… He looked at his colleagues in the surroundings and sighed inwardly.
Right now, he could only stand with countless people as he stared at the figure walking over from afar.
Xu Qing didn't notice Huang Kun. At that moment, his emotions were surging. Although he tried his best to calm himself down, out of respect for the Great Emperor, he felt like he was on a pilgrimage.
Hence, when he saw the Sword Holding Palace and the many Sword Holders outside, Xu Qing stopped in his tracks. He removed his green robe and took out the Sword Holder's Daoist robe from his storage bag, putting it on.
Xu Qing wore the white Daoist robe that was identical to everyone's and stood there, becoming one with everyone in the surroundings.
The gazes from the Sword Holders became a little different. Even the Palace Master and the higher-ups of the Sword Holding Palace nodded slightly.
Xu Qing took a deep breath and walked forward. Under the glance of all the Sword Holders, he arrived in front of the palace and bowed to the Sword Holding Palace Master with a serious expression.
"At the summons of the Great Emperor, Sword Holder Xu Qing has come here for an audience."
The Sword Holding Palace Master, Zhou Hengzhi, was a middle-
aged man. His expression was serious as he looked at Xu Qing. After a long time, he nodded.
"Go in."
With that, he raised his right hand and waved it. Immediately, the gate of the palace behind him transformed into a vortex. Sword qi lingered inside, stirring up the emperor swords of all the Sword Holders to resonate.
Xu Qing's expression was serious as he walked toward the vortex. The moment he stepped into the vortex, he didn't appear at the entrance of the palace but arrived at a top-secret restricted area of the Sword Holding Palace.
It was a cave with a simple layout. There was only an altar and on the altar sat a withered person.
This person appeared old and withered, resembling a dried corpse, exuding a strong sense of decay. Only in the location of the heart, there was occasional movement, a faint sign of vitality.
There were countless wounds on his body that were densely-
packed and shocking.
They were injuries left behind after countless years of protecting the human race.
Every single one of them carried a divine aura. They were all injuries caused by gods.
He was the avatar of the Sword Holding Emperor and the last Great Emperor in the history of the human race. He was also… the only Great Emperor who hadn't left and was still protecting the human race!
Looking at the Great Emperor and those injuries, the respect in Xu Qing's heart grew even more intense. He knelt on the ground and bowed.
The Great Emperor's closed eyes slowly opened.
