The waves surging in Ning Yan's mind shook his entire body.
He was aware of how high and mighty Qingqin's three heads were. Each of its heads had a significant meaning.
The center head was its life. The left and right also had different meanings. To put Xu Qing on its right head was absolutely impossible in Ning Yan's understanding.
This had nothing to do with the cultivation base and was related to Qingqin's recognition. The only person who was lifted by the center head was its master. Regardless of whether it was the current Qingqin or the ancestor back then, they had never recognized a master.
As for the left head, only its descendants could appear there. If outsiders stepped on it, it would be a huge insult to it. It would definitely fight them to death.
As for those who could sit on its right head, it represented that Qingqin recognized them as people of the same level. It was just like a close friend of the human race. Back then, the previous County Governor stood there.
"Qingqin thinks that Xu Qing is its friend?"
Ning Yan gasped and looked at Xu Qing, who was standing on Qingqin's right head, as though he was looking at a god.
This wasn't the first time he looked at Xu Qing like this. Previously, after knowing that Xu Qing was the so-called Black Heaven Divine Son, huge waves had surged in his mind.
Now, it was the same.
He really couldn't imagine why this was the case. Hence, the first thought in his mind was that Qingqin also believed in the Red Moon and treated Xu Qing as a divine son.
"But in that case, it shouldn't be the right head."
Ning Yan was at a loss.
Xu Qing was also at a loss. He had already been prepared to threaten Qingqin with the Red Moon. However, the development of the matter exceeded his imagination. Before he could threaten it, Qingqin revealed goodwill.
At this moment, even though Xu Qing didn't know the meaning behind Qingqin's three heads, the other party took the initiative to lift him up. The meaning revealed by this scene was naturally incomparably clear.
"What is going on…"
Xu Qing's mind was a little chaotic. However, before he could think of a reason, Qingqin let out a roar. As the world rumbled, its huge body rushed out of the clouds.
The black clouds in the sky completely collapsed. Amidst the lightning that spread out like a pool, Qingqin's complete body was revealed.
It had ten thousand feet long heads and a hundred-thousand-foot-long stomach. Its entire body was purple-red, but its wings were very small.
The feathers on its body gave off a chaotic feeling, but there were astonishing divine fluctuations being emitted by them.
After rushing out of the clouds, it circled the sky. Wherever it passed, the sky would change color and ear-piercing cries resounded through the sky.
Xu Qing stood on its right head and looked down at the ground. An unprecedented feeling surfaced in his mind. After that, he took a deep breath and bowed solemnly to the other two heads.
"Thank you, Senior!"
Qingqin's central head nodded approvingly at Xu Qing and emitted a deep, resonant cry. Its cry was devoid of any aggression, but rather tinged with delight.
Looking at all of this, an unbelievable thought suddenly rose in Ning Yan's mind.
"The reason why Qingqin appeared here and not in its nest… Is it because of Xu Qing?"
"Don't tell me that as long as Xu Qing is in the county capital, it will follow him… Haha, how is that possible?" Ning Yan was startled by his own thoughts.
However, shortly after, he felt that this answer perfectly explained everything.
Otherwise, how could it appear here by chance after Xu Qing called for it, so far away from its nest?
"They know each other? No, they don't know each other, but then what is going on!!" Ning Yan was completely confused, and Xu Qing also suppressed the various questions in his mind.
No matter what, now wasn't the time to think about this. Although he guessed that the Palace Master would definitely have many ways to resolve the urgent situation at the frontline, Xu Qing was clear that he had to complete his mission as soon as possible.
"Senior Qingqin, please follow me back to the county capital." Xu Qing cupped his fists and spoke.
Qingqin nodded. Just as it was about to fly out, Xu Qing thought of Ning Yan and hurriedly told it.
Qingqin glanced sideways and disgust appeared in its eyes. However, it still grabbed Ning Yan with its claws amidst his screams. It then moved forward like lightning.
This place was clearly very far from the capital city, but as Qingqin moved, the void became blurry and the world distorted. Under the series of lightning explosions, the county was in sight in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
This speed was something Xu Qing had never felt before. While he was in shock, Qingqin's appearance attracted the attention of the county capital city.
The city's array formation was activated and the Deputy Governor's figure appeared in the air. When he looked at Qingqin, his expression changed. When he noticed Xu Qing standing on its right head, he was stunned for a moment before he heaved a long sigh of relief.
"Xu Qing, this matter concerns the protection of the county capital, so…" The Deputy Governor didn't finish his sentence and didn't ask why Xu Qing was with Qingqin. He knew that everyone had secrets. There was no need to probe too much.
However, his intentions had also been expressed. He wouldn't allow Qingqin to enter the city. This was his duty.
This matter could be understood. Xu Qing nodded. After he respectfully explained to Qingqin, Qingqin let out a cry and flew into the clouds to rest inside. Xu Qing's figure landed alone. After greeting the Deputy Governor, he headed straight for the Sword Holding Palace.
When he arrived at the Secretariat Department, Xu Qing's eyes gleamed. With Qingqin's help, he had the combat strength to resolve all obstacles. Hence, the first thing he did after returning was to inquire about the collection of resources from the nonhuman races.
Very soon, the information was gathered. Qing Qiu, who wasn't arranged to go to the battlefield and stayed behind in the Sword Holding Palace, personally reported to Xu Qing.
"There are 57,840 races in Fenghai County. 70% of them responded and 30% didn't respond."
"Half of the nonhuman races that gave a response are willing to provide supplies at a fair price."
"As for the other half, they demanded a high price, about 3 to 10 times the normal price, especially…"
At this point, Qing Qiu hesitated for a moment before looking at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing calmly spoke.
"Continue."
"Especially those races that are attached to the Quasi-Immortal Race. They asked for an astronomical price. Take healing pills as an example. They wanted 1,000 spirit stones for pills that cost 20 spirit stones! As for magic artifacts that originally cost hundreds of thousands of spirit stones, they would easily start at 10 million spirit stones."
"The prices they demanded for offensive magic artifacts are even more ridiculous."
"As for the Sword Holders sent to the Quasi-Immortal Race, their entry was rejected. The Quasi-Immortal Race told us that they complied with the Palace Master's request and chose to close their territory, asking us not to disturb them."
After Qing Qiu finished speaking, she silently stood at the side. She had never hated these nonhuman races so much.
Hearing Qing Qiu's report, a cold glint appeared in Xu Qing's eyes. His thoughts were actually the same as the Palace Master's. They didn't need so many nonhuman races in Fenghai County.
However, he could understand that the decline of the human race made it difficult for them to act domineeringly like in the past.
Over the years, the Holy Wave Race didn't want to see a completely unified Fenghai County. Hence, only this balance could reduce the friction of the war.
However, from the results, it seemed that some things were inevitable.
Hence, Xu Qing fell silent for a while before calmly speaking.
"Provide me with information on the race that offered the most absurd price. Additionally, retrieve all the files related to this race and search for any past offenses they may have committed that were only recorded by the Sword Holding Palace and not dealt any punishment."
Xu Qing closed his eyes.
At that moment, the sky outside was pitch-black. It was the moment before dawn.
The darkness in the outside world invaded the Secretariat Department. Xu Qing, who was sitting there, looked like he had fused into the darkness.
Looking at Xu Qing, Qing Qiu felt a killing intent brewing on the other party's body. She lowered her head and agreed. After she left, she immediately gathered everything Xu Qing needed.
After the time it took for half an incense stick to burn out, when dawn was about to arrive, Qing Qiu returned to the Secretariat Department and handed Xu Qing a jade slip.
"The Full Spirit Race is located in the mountainous region in the Qiling Province in the northwest of the county capital. This race isn't large and doesn't have distinct sects. They reside in a clan and have a total of four branches, which they refer to as the Four Veins."
"They are good at alchemy and are attached to the Heavenly Sound Family of the Quasi-Immortal Race. They also enjoy certain provisions of the alliance treaty between the Quasi-Immortal Race and the human race. They are exempted from having to pay the annual tributes and have autonomous governance over an area of 50,000-kilometer area around the Qiling Mountains."
"In the past 800 years, the Four Veins have violated the regulations of the human race a total of 18,931 times. Out of these, more than 1,300 cases were deemed to have violated the first-level regulations and were subjected to compulsory enforcement, while the remaining cases were left unresolved."
"In addition, relying on their affiliation with the Quasi-Immortal Race, they didn't send their Spirit Repository and Nihility experts to the battle." Qing Qiu glanced at Xu Qing and said softly.
Xu Qing was expressionless. He stood up and walked out.
"Xu Qing, should we report this matter to the Deputy Governor and apply for the county office to send someone to ask them to cooperate?" Qing Qiu recalled the scenes at the Ten Guts Tree and couldn't help but speak.
Xu Qing shook his head.
The moment he stepped out of the Secretariat Department, the sun rose in the sky. Boundless light was rapidly dispelling the night.
"I'll handle this matter."
Under the sunlight, Xu Qing was expressionless. His cold voice rang out as he leaped up.
The sky rumbled and a pressure descended. As the hearts of countless people in the county trembled, the majestic body of Qingqin appeared in the sky.
It blotted out the sky.
The huge shadow covered the sun. When it enveloped the county capital, Xu Qing stood on its right head. He squatted down and lifted his right hand to gently stroke its purple-red skin as he spoke softly.
"Senior, if you're free, how about we make a trip to the Qiling Mountains and exterminate a race?"
"Gah!"
When Qingqin heard Xu Qing's words, it seemed to be a little excited. It lifted its three heads at the same time and roared at the sky.
Its voice pierced through the sky, shaking the clouds and shocking the world!
Its wings that didn't have many feathers flapped fiercely, stirring up a huge storm that spread wildly.
Its huge body headed northwest.
Its speed was so fast that it caused a sharp sound of air being torn apart. In the blink of an eye, it disappeared.
