Xu Qing lowered his head and sighed inwardly.
He never expected that their master was actually standing beside them.
That snort that contained a warning earlier allowed Xu Qing to understand that his master was going to teach his eldest senior brother a lesson.
Hence, he looked at the captain sympathetically and wanted to remind him. However, his master's cold snort let him know that it was best not to remind him.
When the captain heard Xu Qing's words, he still glanced at Ning Yan suspiciously.
Ning Yan put on a sincere smile.
"Captain, I did a lot of research before I came. Besides, you know that my bloodline is special. I also vaguely sensed that there might be good things there just now."
The captain blinked and then looked at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing coughed. Just as he was about to give the captain a hint, he discovered that Ning Yan was looking at him with a spurious smile.
Hence, Xu Qing's expression turned serious.
"Eldest Senior Brother, let's leave quickly. I believe in Ning Yan."
The captain felt that something was amiss, so he lifted his hand and patted Ning Yan's head.
"Little Ningning, you…"
"Eldest Senior Brother!"
Seeing that his eldest senior brother was still courting death, Xu Qing's heart trembled and he hurriedly interrupted.
"Senior Brother, Ning Yan is actually quite pitiful. You shouldn't keep holding onto him and refusing to let him go. I know the reason you're doing this is because Ning Yan once spoke ill of our master, so you want to punish him."
"Ah?" The captain was stunned, but immediately reacted like a monkey. His eyes suddenly widened and the hand he used to touch Ning Yan stiffened for a moment.
He sensed that something was wrong with Xu Qing's words. Hence, he carefully looked at Ning Yan and slowly withdrew his right hand.
However, unable to resist his curiosity, he still wanted to make sure. He approached Ning Yan's abdomen and gave it a pat.
Smack!
Xu Qing closed his eyes.
Ning Yan expressionlessly allowed the captain to slap his stomach.
There were no vines.
The captain gasped. In this cold world, sweat began to break out on his forehead and he smiled awkwardly.
Ning Yan calmly looked at the captain. That gaze contained deep meaning, causing the captain's body to gradually shiver. He instinctively took a few steps back and arrived beside Xu Qing before suddenly speaking.
"Little Qing, why did you ask me to pat Ning Yan's stomach when we were outside? You're too rude. Have you forgotten what Master taught us? Let me tell you, Master treated us like his own sons. We can't repay him in this life!"
"Therefore, we have to listen to Master's words seriously and remember them in our hearts. This is because every time we take the wrong path, as long as we remember Master's words, they can guide us in the right direction!"
The captain spoke righteously.
Xu Qing opened his eyes and looked at the captain. He then chuckled and turned his head.
He had already done his best. Eldest Senior Brother was courting death and he really couldn't be saved, nor did he want to save him.
"Do you want to pat it again?" Ning Yan calmly asked.
The captain shivered and hurriedly shook his head. His gaze landed on Ning Yan but he also felt that this wasn't good. He was worried that the other party would think that he was looking at his stomach, so he endured the trembling and looked at Ning Yan's face.
However, he felt that it was inappropriate. He was worried that the latter would think that he was looking at the head. After all, he had touched it too many times previously.
As expected, Ning Yan noticed the captain's gaze and calmly spoke.
"Do you want to pat my head a few more times?"
The captain shook his head like a rattle-drum, and lamented inwardly. When he recalled the comfortable sensation he felt, his whole body trembled even more intensely. Immediately, he turned his head and reprimanded Xu Qing.
"Junior Brother, I need to scold you. Last time, when Ning Yan spoke ill of Master, I wanted to beat him to death. You shouldn't have stopped me!"
"Forget it, forget it. This time, I won't make things difficult for you, Ning Yan. You better be careful. If you dare to speak ill of my master in the future, don't blame me for being heartless!"
"In my life, as long as I, Chen Erniu, see anyone who disrespects my master in the slightest, I will kill them without mercy!"
"So, Junior Brother, don't stop me in the future. Otherwise, I'll fall out with you. For Master, I, Chen Erniu, can risk my life!"
The captain spoke loudly.
Ning Yan's expression softened slightly.
Xu Qing was expressionless. He suddenly pointed at the fog in the distance.
"Eldest Senior Brother, look at the fog over there. Doesn't it look a little like the cloud beasts we encountered back then?"
"Cloud beast? This place is so dangerous!" The captain blinked and looked over. He immediately exclaimed.
He then assumed an extremely vigilant stance, standing by the side of Ning Yan, as if he would throw himself into danger without hesitation to protect him.
These words seemed to have provoked Ning Yan. He let out a cold snort and glared fiercely at the captain.
The captain felt aggrieved and looked at Ning Yan fawningly.
"The two of you, follow me." Ning Yan headed straight for the depths of the fog.
Xu Qing instantly followed without looking at the captain.
The captain gritted his teeth and hurriedly followed. When he reached Xu Qing's side, he put on an innocent expression. After that, he took out a green stone and quickly handed it over.
Xu Qing's expression softened.
Just like that, the three of them sped forward. With Ning Yan in the lead, they continued to move forward in the cluster of palaces filled with flesh and blood.
Although they encountered some bizarre entities and mutated beasts on the way, they were easily dealt with.
Those at the Golden Core realm were quickly killed by the captain.
As for the terrifyingly powerful mutated beasts, as soon as their presence was revealed, they trembled one by one, their bodies rapidly aging until they turned into ashes.
This scene caused waves in Xu Qing and the captain's hearts.
When a mutated beast that was thousands of feet long and emitted the aura of the perfected first stage of Nihility appeared in the distance and also trembled before turning into ashes, Xu Qing was completely shaken.
The captain also blinked crazily. The two of them couldn't help but look at each other.
Although they knew that their master was good at hiding and no one knew his true combat strength other than himself, to be able to cause a first-stage Nihility to instantly collapse, this combat strength was at least at the second stage of Nihility.
'It definitely isn't the limit!' The captain transmitted his voice.
Xu Qing nodded vigorously in deep agreement.
Ning Yan, who was in front, turned his head and glanced at the two of them. He then smiled proudly.
The captain hurriedly fawned over him. Xu Qing blinked, his expression filled with obedience.
The deeper they went, the denser the anomalous substances became. Xu Qing clearly felt his body trembling uncontrollably. An intense desire spread out from every inch of his flesh and gathered in his mind.
Xu Qing understood that this was because his body had been modified by the god's finger, so it came from the same source as this place.
Previously, there were too many people and Xu Qing didn't dare to absorb it. However, it was relatively safe now. After hesitating for a moment, Xu Qing finally released the restraints on his body and slightly absorbed a little of the anomalous substances here.
As the anomalous substances rapidly fused into him, Xu Qing's body trembled. An unprecedented sense of comfort instantly filled his entire body.
All his hair instinctively opened. As wisps of anomalous substances rapidly fused into him, he could clearly sense that his body was being nourished and becoming stronger!
As the anomalous substances fused into his body, the golden threads in his body also rapidly stretched and circulated. As they became more active, they also absorbed the anomalous substances that fused into his flesh and blood.
They then produced a wisp of golden spiritual energy.
It looked like spiritual energy but wasn't spiritual energy. Xu Qing swept his divine consciousness over and could vaguely sense the aura of a god.
"This is…" Xu Qing's breathing was hurried and his heart trembled.
Although this golden spirit energy-like existence was only a wisp, the moment it appeared, the Poison Restriction, Purple Moon, and Ghost Emperor Mountain in his Heavenly Palaces trembled at the same time and suddenly spread out to absorb it, as though they wanted to grab the golden energy.
Especially for the Poison Restriction Pill, it was like a withered land encountering sweet nectar, or a famished person finding a delicious meal. It went completely berserk, emanating a terrifying aura.
This aura actually caused Purple Moon and Ghost Emperor Mountain to pause slightly.
Hence, the Poison Restriction was able to grab most of the energy. A total of 50% was absorbed by it. Purple Moon swallowed more than 30% and the Ghost Emperor only got over 10%.
After absorbing it, the recovery of the Poison Restriction Pill became even more obvious. Purple Moon's purple light also flickered and became increasingly resplendent, as though it was nourished. It was as though it had been a long time since it had truly been replenished.
The Ghost Emperor Mountain was the same. Its eyes gleamed.
All of this caused a huge commotion in Xu Qing's heart. At the same time, the desire from his body grew even more intense.
Hence, he gritted his teeth and let go of another portion of the suppression. Immediately, a vortex appeared around Xu Qing and the anomalous substances in all directions rumbled over.
When the fog in the surroundings flowed rapidly, the wails and roars that filled the surroundings suddenly stopped at this moment.
Xu Qing's heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly suppressed himself.
The captain abruptly turned his head and looked at Xu Qing in disbelief.
Ning Yan also stopped in his tracks. The gaze he used to look at Xu Qing was filled with surprise.
Xu Qing blinked and was about to explain when the ground trembled at the next instant. Clouds surged crazily in the surroundings and groups of mutated beasts actually rushed over from everywhere.
Their roars contained greed and were filled with madness, as though an indescribable delicacy had appeared before them.
An intense sense of danger erupted in Xu Qing's heart.
Ning Yan's body swayed and he instantly got close to Xu Qing and the captain. After grabbing them, he leaped forward and disappeared.
Very soon, the place they were at was filled with countless malevolent and anxious mutated beasts. Waves of even more mournful roars continued to spread out, as though they were searching but to no avail.
It was only after a long time that their anxiety slowly calmed down. When they dispersed, Ning Yan's figure was revealed 50 kilometers away with the captain and Xu Qing.
As soon as they appeared, the captain immediately looked at Xu Qing and hurriedly spoke.
"Junior Brother, you, you, you…"
"Shut up!" Ning Yan glared.
The captain hurriedly lowered his head.
Ning Yan let out a cold snort. When he turned his head to look at Xu Qing, his expression changed. He became amiable and his eyes were filled with admiration as he spoke softly.
"Fourth, was it caused by your body?"
Xu Qing was also trembling with fear. Earlier, he had sensed that those mutated beasts were clearly irritable. The feeling of wanting to devour him was extremely intense.
"That's right, Master. I told you guys before that this body of mine has been modified by the god's finger." Xu Qing hurriedly spoke. There was no need to pretend not to recognize his master.
Back then, when Old Master Seventh arrived and Xu Qing described his scheme, he told him everything. After all, he had to explain why he knew that Red Moon wanted to devour the Immortal Forbidden's god.
"Master, I'll do my best to restrain myself and not trigger the predatory instinct of the mutated beasts."
Xu Qing drew in a deep breath. At that moment, his heart was still palpitating.
"Fourth, you're wrong. The reason those mutated beasts came here is not to devour you, but rather, it's their instinct driving them to be devoured by you. It's because they themselves were formed from the source of your body."
"However, it's not suitable to do that now. This is because the source of that finger, which is the god sleeping here, isn't dead yet."
"When It dies, you can devour them without worry. Otherwise, there will ultimately be hidden dangers due to the god's will."
"Also, has divine essence been born?"
Old Master Seventh's eyes revealed a strange glint.
"That's a golden spirit energy-like existence."
As Old Master Seventh spoke, he lifted his right hand and a wisp of faint golden energy appeared in it.
"This is it."
Old Master Seventh looked at Xu Qing with dense anticipation in his eyes.
Xu Qing lifted his hand and activated the Heavenly Palaces in his body. A long time later, a trace of golden energy that was much smaller than Old Master Seventh's but had an even denser color appeared.
Old Master Seventh looked at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing looked at Old Master Seventh.
A long time later, Old Master Seventh laughed loudly.
"Very well, indeed my worthy eldest disciple. In the future, the two of us, master and disciple, shall dominate the world together, hahaha."
When the captain heard this, he also raised his hand. After a long while, he silently retracted it and coughed.
"Master, there's still me. I'm your eldest disciple…"
