Xu Qing's expression didn't change. After he withdrew everything, he sat cross-legged and meditated for more than an hour.
On one hand, he had to show that he was not able to form the fourth ball of life fire.
On the other hand, he could sense the transformation in his body after the fourth ball of life fire formed.
His combat strength had improved by leaps and bounds.
Other than that, Xu Qing also sensed that 120 magic apertures wasn't the limit. He vaguely felt that his body wasn't perfect and he was missing a magic aperture.
"What I lack is the 121st magic aperture that Master mentioned. It's also the last magic aperture that all four fires cultivators yearn to open."
Xu Qing mumbled inwardly.
"Only between life and death can I open the 121st magic aperture?" Xu Qing tried to sense it but to no avail. He thought of Old Master Seventh's words and fell into deep thought, but he wasn't in a hurry to open the last aperture.
"Only by completely mastering the Fiendish Fire Soul Devouring Art can it unleash its true power and suppress souls in the magic apertures."
"I have 120 magic apertures and can suppress 120 souls!"
"This way, not only can I increase the might of my magic apertures, but I can also unleash the Fiendish Soul Devouring Art's spell… Dark Soul Fire!" Xu Qing pondered. He also knew that once he suppressed 120 souls, they could transform them into an existence similar to an artifact spirit, instantly upgrading his magic ship to a magic warship.
Its might would increase greatly.
"If by that time, I still can't find the 121st magic aperture, I don't have to limit myself and will directly advance to the Golden Core Realm."
Xu Qing made up his mind and was about to leave. However, his gaze swept over and landed on the huge heavenly nail and the demon snake's head in the center of the blood-colored lake.
Looking at the heavenly nail, Xu Qing could faintly sense the terrifying power it emitted. According to what he knew, this nail was an item that the Ancient Sovereign Mystic Nether casually refined from the five elements.
He couldn't imagine what kind of cultivation base would one need to be able to casually grab and refine such a soul-stirring nail that could suppress the demon snake who was at the second stage Nihility for 100,000 years.
Moreover, although the demon snake had withered, this nail still existed.
"I wonder when I can be like this too." Xu Qing's heart stirred. He looked at the heavenly nail and vaguely got the feeling he had when he first saw the Extreme Heaven Saber.
Slowly, a peculiar light appeared in his eyes as he tried his best to outline the nail in his mind.
Back then, he had done the same thing in the Dao temple in the forbidden zone of the scavenger campsite.
However, the level of the heavenly nail was too high and Xu Qing's mental outline wasn't smooth. There seemed to be a Dao rule that made it difficult for others to clearly remember the appearance of this nail.
Even when the time he could stay in this land of fortune had reached its limit, Xu Qing could only barely create a blurry outline in his mind.
He still needed to continue copying this nail. This way, just like when he comprehended the Extreme Heaven Saber back then, he would be able to gradually outline it.
As for whether he could succeed in the end, Xu Qing didn't know either.
He only felt that this heavenly nail contained an astonishing intent. If he could use it, it would definitely be an extremely formidable killing weapon.
"It's a pity. If I could copy its meaning every day, the possibility of success might be greater." Xu Qing felt some regret. The moment he stood up, a vortex appeared in front of him.
The suction force of the vortex instantly enveloped his figure. At the same time, the captain who had been staring at the fang from afar and the melancholic Wu Jianwu were also enveloped by a similar vortex.
The three of them instantly disappeared. When they reappeared, they were already outside the Mystic Nether Sect's place of fortune.
When they entered, the three of them had different emotions; Xu Qing had mixed feelings about the arrival of Purple Mystic Fairy, Wu Jianwu was looking forward to seeing the ruins of Mystic Nether, and the captain was sighing about how Purple Mystic Fairy had arrived late.
When they came out, the three of them felt the same emotion, regret.
Xu Qing regretted that the time was too short and he couldn't comprehend the nail for a long time. Wu Jianwu regretted that he hadn't completely satisfied his craving and the fee was too high if he wanted to enter again.
As for the captain, he regretted that the fang wasn't his for the time being.
Just like that, the three of them left the Mystic Nether Sect with regret.
However, the instant they descended the mountain, a large number of messages suddenly appeared in Xu Qing's jade slip. He opened it in surprise and his expression instantly darkened. A murderous intent rose from Xu Qing's body.
It was filled with messages about Saintly Star coming out of seclusion and wanting to challenge Xu Qing. The letter was sent two days ago. The location wasn't the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect or the Seven Blood Eyes but a place not far from here.
That place was called Mount Mystic Dao and was in the territory of the Mystic Nether Sect. It was one of the four Daoist Rite Temples of the Eight Sects Alliance.
There would occasionally be experts from the Eight Sects Alliance who would preach the Dao there.
Looking at the jade slip, Xu Qing's gaze was cold as killing intent rose in his mind.
Saintly Star was the most difficult enemy he had fought since he started cultivating.
The captain also received the news from the outside world. After checking, he suddenly laughed.
"Little Qing, this Saintly Star should have broken through to the five fires. Do you need Senior Brother's help?"
"Thank you, Senior Brother. If I can defeat him once, I can make defeat him a second time." Xu Qing calmly spoke. He looked at the sky. After calculating the time, he simply headed to Mount Mystic Dao.
Saintly Star wanted to fight a life-and-death battle with Xu Qing. Xu Qing felt the same. He now knew that the fastest way to advance an emperor-level cultivation art was to devour the essence, qi, and blood of those who cultivated emperor-level cultivation arts.
Hence, with the thirst for Saintly Star's Miemeng, Xu Qing headed straight for Mount Mystic Dao. The captain followed behind.
As for Wu Jianwu, seeing that it was such a major event, he naturally wouldn't leave. Hence, very soon, the three of them arrived at Mount Mystic Dao.
This mountain was a short mountain with a very imposing Daoist Rite Temple at the top.
Green jade tiles paves the ground and there were carvings on white rocks. There was also the energy fluctuations of array formations and restrictions coming from it. A large Daoist altar was in the center with three huge incense sticks before it that that represented heaven, earth, and man. They burned day and night, causing incense smoke to fill the surroundings.
When Xu Qing arrived, it was already dusk. Under the illumination of the setting sun, the Daoist Rite Temple looked mysterious.
There were also many people meditating here. When there were no Alliance experts preaching the Dao, this place was a place of cultivation as well as a place to spar.
Xu Qing's appearance immediately caused an uproar among the surrounding Alliance disciples. Clearly, the matter of Xu Qing not responding to Saintly Star's challenge had caused a heated discussion in the Alliance.
After arriving here, Xu Qing sat down cross-legged. He thought about it and looked in the direction of the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect. The magic power in his body gathered in his throat and was released as a thunderous shout.
"Saintly Star, there's no need to wait. If you want to fight, come and fight now!"
Thunder rumbled as Xu Qing's voice spread to half of the Alliance, including the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect.
At the next instant, a blood light soared into the sky from the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect, causing the sky to change color. The sunset turned into a red glow. When the blood light filled the sky, the golden-robed Saintly Star whistled toward Mount Mystic Dao with his hands behind his back.
Saintly Star's long hair fluttered in the wind. His golden robe refracted the red glow in the sky, causing his entire person to be filled with endless murderous aura. His once peerless face gave off an unusual feeling because of the darkness in his right eye. He lost his beauty and everything that was left was strange.
Moreover, due to his resentment, his aura caused the surroundings to be cold. Wherever his aura spread, the red clouds in the sky would press down, transforming into a bloody mouth that wanted to devour everything.
The five balls of life fire in his body manifested outside and surrounded him, causing the flames to spread out. The the entire sky seemed to be burning red, like a raging fire that burned the plains!
Almost at the instant Saintly Star's figure flew out, the minds of the disciples of the various sects in the Alliance trembled. They rose into the air from all directions and headed straight for Mount Mystic Dao.
To this generation of disciples of the Eight Sects Alliance, the upcoming battle was extremely worth watching.
This was a battle between the two lead heaven's chosens. There was even a grudge between these two people, and Saintly Star had almost died.
After Xu Qing snatched Saintly Star's life lantern, he stepped on Saintly Star's past reputation and became the number one heaven's chosen of the Alliance.
They could imagine that this would definitely be an unprecedented battle.
Even the ancestors and the experts of the various sects opened their eyes and looked at Mount Mystic Dao.
Xu Qing looked at the fire clouds that whistled over from the direction of the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect. His expression was calm but his eyes were filled with killing intent.
At the next instant, the color of the world changed. When the wind and clouds churned with astonishing momentum, the burning cloud approached from the sky, transforming into a golden figure that landed on Mount Mystic Dao and appeared in front of Xu Qing!
The two of them were separated by the three incense sticks. Their gazes instantly met amidst the smoke.
They stared at each other with ruthless intent without giving in.
At that moment, everyone's attention was on this place. One could see rainbows descending from the sky in the surroundings. They didn't dare to step onto the mountain but stopped in the air and watched.
The original cultivators on Mount Mystic Dao also quickly retreated. It was the same for the captain and Wu Jianwu. Next, this place would be Xu Qing and Saintly Star's battle stage. It wasn't good for others to stay.
"Xu Qing!"
The moment he arrived, there was only Xu Qing in Saintly Star's eyes.
He looked at Xu Qing and couldn't help but recall the pain and torture he had experienced during this period of time. His expression slowly revealed madness and his eyes revealed endless hatred.
Xu Qing coldly looked at Saintly Star and then at the people in the surroundings who were paying attention. He began to analyze the pros and cons of the surrounding layout.
'There are too many people here. I cannot brazenly use Under the Nine Springs.'
'Soaring Cloud Ancestor is definitely watching this, so it will be difficult to kill Saintly Star.'
'Devouring his Miemeng is even more difficult.'
'I have many secrets on me. I have to consider how many secrets to reveal in this battle…'
'However, having so many people's gazes in this battle is not a complete drawback for me. I can use Saintly Star's personality to scheme against him and weaken his chances of survival step by step. At the very least, I have to increase the success rate of devouring his Miemeng!'
Xu Qing quickly analyzed. This was his personality. If there was space to attack during a battle, he definitely wouldn't speak easily. Even if he spoke, it was mostly for tactical considerations. For instance, Xu Qing calmly spoke at this moment.
"Saintly Star, these are the only two life-saving items I have."
As he spoke, Xu Qing took out two disorder teleportation talismans and kicked them out of the Daoist Rite Temple.
As soon as Xu Qing made this move, the surroundings instantly fell into an uproar.
Although this action wasn't big, the determination contained in it was extremely impactful. Saintly Star clearly didn't expect Xu Qing to do this.
Under the attention of countless people in the surroundings, Saintly Star sneered and threw a jade slip to the side.
That jade slip emitted a gentle force. One look and one could tell that it was a life-saving item.
The instant both sides threw away their life-saving items, Xu Qing and Saintly Star moved at the same time.
A rumbling sound erupted.
A majestic momentum soared from both sides!
An unstoppable aura spread!
