"Young Master Xu, we are honored by your visit. I apologize for any shortcomings in our hospitality"
"If Young Master is free, can we move to another place?"
"An elder of my sect has invited you over for a chat."
The old granny's words were polite. After saying that, she looked at Xu Qing inquiringly.
When everyone saw this scene, they were all surprised.
They were all aware of Xu Qing's background. Hence, they had only toasted him previously and didn't go overboard. They didn't truly tear off each other's facades.
After all, there was no need for them to do this for a woman.
However, in their intelligence reports, Xu Qing had nothing to do with the Mortal World Forgetful Tower which was a super sect of the human race, and had a god of the Flame Moon Mystic Heaven Race backing it.
Their attitude was ambiguous.
Even the Human Emperor could only tacitly agree to this.
Hence, it was shocking that this sect was so polite to Xu Qing. What caused many guesses was the sect elder that the old granny mentioned.
Everyone's gazes flickered. The prince surnamed Peng also narrowed his eyes. His attitude toward Xu Qing was the same as the various forces. He didn't offend but he wasn't close either and maintained a certain distance.
Hence, when he saw Ling Yao sitting beside Xu Qing earlier, although there were waves in his heart, he didn't have any intense reaction. His identity and the background of this Mortal World Tower made him restrain himself.
However, his prestige had been somewhat damaged, so he tacitly allowed the person beside him to toast Xu Qing.
Just now, when he saw that it was about enough, he didn't want to intensify this matter, so he stood up and prepared to leave. However, the arrival of the old granny caused him to have more thoughts about Xu Qing.
Meng Yunbai and Huang Kun were also shocked as they looked at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing sighed inwardly. He had more or less guessed the answer. In reality, when Meng Yunbai introduced the Mortal World Tower and the god it worshiped, Xu Qing already understood. However, this was the Imperial City of the human race after all.
According to his understanding of Crimson Goddess, worshiping a god and god descent were different.
In addition, after experiencing the event in the Moon Offering together, Xu Qing knew that Star Flame High God wasn't an enemy at least for now. As for the future, it was hard to say.
This was also the reason why Xu Qing still chose to come here.
Since he had been discovered, Xu Qing pondered for a moment before cupping his fists toward the old granny and agreeing to head there.
Just like that, under everyone's gazes, Xu Qing and the old granny left. Ling Yao also left with them.
After Xu Qing left, everyone had different thoughts and left one after another. They would inform their families immediately about what had happened today. One could imagine that the various forces would weigh Xu Qing even more heavily.
The imperial son surnamed Peng also fell into deep thought. As he looked at the teleportation array Xu Qing left in, a strange glint appeared in his eyes.
Meng Yunbai blinked. He originally thought that he already knew Xu Qing's details very well. However, now that he looked at it, what he knew was only the surface information.
Under the surface, Xu Qing had even more hidden cards.
"Interesting..."
Meng Yunbai smiled and left as well.
At the same time, Xu Qing followed the old granny and teleported out of the immortal pool paradise. When he reappeared, he was already outside the ancestral hall in the depths of the Mortal World Tower.
Here, the old granny respectfully bowed to the ancestral hall and took a few steps back, indicating for Xu Qing to enter alone.
Looking at the gate of the ancestral hall, Xu Qing took a deep breath and stepped forward to push it slightly. The gate slowly opened and a pink light spread out, enveloping Xu Qing's figure. Xu Qing also saw the clay fox enshrined in the altar of the ancestral hall.
Looking at the clay fox, Xu Qing cupped his fists and bowed.
"Greetings, High God."
Laughter echoed in the ancestral hall.
"Stinky brother, you were so reserved during the Moon Offering. I didn't expect you to come to such a place.
How could I not know what this place is? Fortunately, I woke up in time. Otherwise, you would have been devoured by those sluts."
Xu Qing remained silent.
"Stinky brother, are you surprised to see me? Are you happy?"
Xu Qing shook his head.
"I'm not surprised. Wasn't the High God sitting beside me just now?"
The clay fox's body shone as It opened Its eyes and looked at Xu Qing playfully.
"Stinky little brother's perception is good. You actually sensed a wisp of my divine consciousness on Ling Yao. What do you think of Ling Yao? She's a divine maiden I personally chose. In the Flame Moon Mystic Heaven Race, I have another divine maiden as well. I'll get her to come and play with you later."
"If you like them, I can allow you to share a drop of your yang essence with each of them."
Xu Qing was already used to the teasing in the clay fox's words. He wasn't moved but asked politely.
"There should be some other reason for the High God to summon me, right?"
The clay fox rolled Its eyes, revealing a look that said he wasn't fun.
"Your expression…"
"I can't easily descend with my true body here due to your Sword Holding Emperor guarding this city; otherwise, I would be slashed by him. Right now, I really want your yang essence."
"Forget it, forget it. Time is tight. I won't be awake for long. I reckon that your Sword Holding Emperor will sense me in a while. I called you over to remind you of something."
"Your Human Emperor… is doing something major that the Emperors of the human race have never done since ancient times!"
Xu Qing's eyes narrowed.
The clay fox smiled but didn't say anything specific. Instead, It lifted Its head and gazed into the distance.
"Also, you have to be careful of your human race's State Preceptor… That person is very dangerous."
The voice of the clay fox was filled with seriousness.
"He is a little similar to you…"
When Xu Qing heard this, he abruptly raised his head and was about to speak. However, at the next instant, a terrifying divine sense spread out from the Sword Holding Emperor's statue and enveloped this place.
The clay fox let out a cold snort, looking like It was a little unconvinced. However, in the end, It still closed Its eyes and returned to being a statue. At the same time, It emitted a gentle force that sent Xu Qing out of the ancestral hall.
A long time later, the divine sense dissipated.
The old granny outside the ancestral hall cast a meaningful As a servant of the High God, she was well aware that statues of the god existed in every Mortal World Towers. However, they were only statues and they would rarely awaken like today.
Especially for a single person.
However, she knew this matter concerned the god, so it was better for her not to probe into it. She lowered her head slightly and politely sent Xu Qing out of the Mortal World Tower.
Xu Qing remained silent the entire way. The moment he strolled out, he turned his head and glanced at the Mortal World Tower before turning and walking into the night.
At that moment, the sky was already dark. The night sky of the capital was pitch-black and there were no stars in the sky. It was covered by a thick layer of clouds and muffled thunder could be heard from time to time.
The lights in the city could be considered bright but not every street was the same. There were very few pedestrians at night. Most of them had returned to their residences. Some of the pedestrians transferred alone and some were walking in groups of three to five.
Perhaps it was because of the thunder, but as the humidity permeated the air, the pedestrians strolled hurriedly.
At this moment, the wind blew, bringing with it a chill. It blew across the ground and the eaves, emitting whimpering sounds as it landed on Xu Qing's face.
The instant it landed on his face, the seasons seemed to have changed.
"Autumn is here."
Xu Qing felt the coldness in the wind. He strolled on the streets and pondered over the two things the clay fox had told him.
"What kind of major event is the Human Emperor trying to do?"
A long time later, splashing sounds echoed as droplets of rain fell to the ground. Lightning intertwined and the rain became even heavier.
A hazy light emitted from Xu Qing's body, blocking the rain. He didn't stop in his tracks, nor did his thoughts stop. This was because at that moment, he was recalling the last sentence of the clay fox.
"Be careful of the State Preceptor… He is a little similar to me…"
Xu Qing mumbled. He had never seen the State Preceptor before but he felt very uncomfortable hearing that they were somewhat similar.
"The similarity the Star Flame God said shouldn't be referring to danger. It's also impossible for me to make Her feel danger. Then, putting this point aside, the so-called similarity… should be aura, perception, or appearance."
Amidst the rain, Xu Qing suddenly stopped in his tracks. His expression darkened and a cold glint appeared in his eyes. He raised his head and gazed at the path in front of him.
This was a long street. The houses on both sides were tall and short, and each of them was pitch-black. Only the raindrops landed on the eaves, emitting a crisp sound. When they landed on the ground, they piled up into small puddles that were continuously merging.
Lightning flashed, illuminating everything, even the wind.
The wind was originally invisible but in the heavy rain, the rain drenched the invisible body of the wind, revealing it. It tilted toward Xu Qing and rushed toward him.
Amidst the cold and humidity, there was a hint of sharpness that transformed into knives hidden in the wind and rain that suddenly passed in front of Xu Qing.
The instant they got close, a spiky staff that was like a demon-
subduing staff instantly flew out of Xu Qing's storage bag. Among the three heads, the eyes of the Diamond Sect's ancestor widened in anger as it let out a shout and headed straight for the wind in front of Xu Qing.
Its speed was so fast that it surpassed the wind and rain. In an instant, the sound of collision echoed in the wind. Long blades formed by the rain broke and rolled back, collapsing.
As for the demon-subduing staff, its speed didn't decrease as it rapidly transferred around Xu Qing. After a series of clanking sounds spread out, the rain became even heavier. When it landed on the ground, countless small puddles on the ground gathered together and became complete, like a lake.
The rules of this place were also completely changed at this moment.
The surroundings were hazy and blurry. Only lightning flashed, thunder rumbled, and the lake water under Xu Qing's feet rose rapidly, as though it wanted to drown him.
What was even more astonishing was that in the waves of the lake around Xu Qing, the shape of a palm appeared. It was rising from the bottom of the lake, wanting to grab Xu Qing.
Further away, figures manifested in the rain one after another. Their appearances couldn't be seen clearly and they were like water lifeforms, rushing toward Xu Qing from all directions.
Every one of them emitted intense killing intent.
The pitch-black houses on both sides also changed at this moment. They turned into black bald statues sitting cross-
legged. They each unlocked their eyes and let out sinister and bizarre sounds.
"Hear the decree of the Ghost Fiend, you lonely soul. The eight divisions of ghosts decree: those with grievances in life shall perish, those without heads shall live. The wind descends with deadly blades, the water overflows, and life hangs by a thread. Resolve grievances to find peace, injustice leads to ruin. Kneel before our altar, and let your life lose its light before the Eight Trigrams!'"
