In the cold and dark night, they would huddle together for warmth, willing to share their own warmth with more of their cold kin.
But now…
Xu Qing closed his eyes. The killing intent in his heart didn't decrease because of the massacre earlier. Instead, it grew even thicker and stronger, piling up in his heart, pressing down on his ferocity, making it difficult for him to breathe.
This was because he saw half a face among the minced corpses in the seventh cage.
Shi Pangui's Dao companion, the face of the woman who made delicious snacks…
Her body had already mixed into mush.
Xu Qing silently left. After opening the last cage, amidst the crowd, his gaze stopped at the corner at the bottom of the cage.
There was a corner of a book there.
The moment he saw this, Xu Qing shuddered. He waved his hand; the minced meat in that area was slowly pushed aside, revealing a little girl.
Her clothes had fused with the minced meat, and only half of her small and skinny body was left. Her small upper body held a pharmacopeia tightly with both hands.
She hugged her very tightly.
It was as though this was her last obsession and last hope.
She, who was in the corner, had her head lowered. Her pale face looked like she had fallen asleep.
Xu Qing felt his heart being torn. He tried his best to take a deep breath but his body was still trembling. The scene from two months ago uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.
In the scene, a skinny figure timidly held a sweet potato and asked him about herbs.
In the scene, the child took out a piece of grass and asked him about his knowledge.
That gaze that thirsted for knowledge left a deep impression on Xu Qing. Hence, he gave away his pharmacopeia and accepted his first student in the Dao of Medicine.
"Teacher, will I still see you?"
This was the little girl's last sentence.
At that moment, in Xu Qing's eyes, the sleeping little girl seemed to have lifted her head and looked at him timidly, asking the question again.
"As long as we don't die, we will meet again."
Xu Qing mumbled. This answer was very beautiful but… if dead, they wouldn't be able to see each other again.
Xu Qing stood there for a long, long time.
This lasted until Ling'er's cries and the Diamond Sect's ancestor's indignant roars echoed in his ears. They slowly became clearer and pulled his thoughts back to reality.
"Ling'er…" Xu Qing's voice was extremely hoarse. He turned his head and looked at the crying Ling'er.
Ling'er ran over and hugged Xu Qing. Her body twitched. She had rarely seen such a tragic scene and it was hard for her to endure it.
The crowd in the surroundings slowly recovered. The sounds of sorrow and crying gradually increased until a figure staggered over and knelt in front of Xu Qing.
"Senior…"
The person who came was Shi Pangui. His body was weak and his eyes were red with bloody tears. His expression was distorted and his madness was being suppressed. He trembled as he looked at Xu Qing.
He knew that his wife and sister had died and even he had the intent to die. However, he endured it.
This was because he knew that he had to tell Xu Qing about the king's whereabouts.
"Senior, please save the king…"
"The king was captured by the state preceptors of the two races and brought to the holy city. At that time, I heard them saying that they wanted to refine the king into a blood artifact to repair the mirror treasure."
Xu Qing looked at Shi Pangui. After a few breaths, he turned his head and looked at the little girl.
Shi Pangui also looked over. His body trembled even more and he clenched his fists tightly. The grief in his heart transformed into a mouthful of blood and he revealed a bitter smile.
Xu Qing silently walked over and arrived in front of the little girl. He squatted down and covered her eyes.
"Pangui, your sister is asleep. Don't disturb her. You guys wait for me here."
"I'll go and bring your king back."
Xu Qing spoke softly. After he stood up, his voice was calm.
"Ling'er, can you protect them here?"
"I can do it!" Ling'er wiped her tears and nodded vigorously.
Xu Qing didn't say anything. He left the shadow behind and summoned D132's stone lion and head. At the same time, he spread out the poison mist and enveloped the surroundings, sealing this place.
After doing all this, Xu Qing took a deep breath and patted Shi Pangui's shoulder.
"Pangui, wait for me to return."
After saying that, Xu Qing lifted his head and looked in the direction of the holy city.
It was as though he was looking at a land of death. There were no waves in his heart, only the intent of death that continued to gather and grow denser. Finally, it spread throughout his body and enveloped the surroundings.
He didn't continue speaking and took a step forward. When he reached the sky, he waved his hand and the spirit liner appeared.
The terrifying figure of the black-robed old woman appeared in the sky.
Xu Qing stood on her head. The old woman's face revealed death and killing intent as she moved.
Xu Qing lowered his head. As the liner moved forward rapidly, the Poison Restriction in his body spread behind him.
It didn't spread out in a disorderly manner but gathered together.
More and more.
Gradually, a thick black fog formed behind Xu Qing.
This fog contained the Poison Restriction, causing everything around it to distort. As the surroundings rumbled, the fog grew larger and denser.
Under Xu Qing's continued release, the Poison Restriction Nascent Soul in his body erupted with full strength, causing the poison produced in his body to rise unprecedentedly.
Xu Qing rarely released Poison Restriction with all his might. However, at this moment, the killing intent and oppression in his heart made him want to completely erupt.
Just like that, time flowed by. Three days later.
500 kilometers away from the holy city of the two races, a sandstorm appeared in the sky. The range was 50 kilometers wide.
