Beyond the Timescape

Chapter 1187: There’s Nothing Embarrassing About Losing to Him

Waves raced across the surface of the God Blood River, and the wind carried the stench of gore across the shore of the southern planetary system. It seemed connected to the blood-red aurora in the sky overhead.

Within all of the redness was a ferry boat with no one on it, slowly drifting into the depths of the river, never to be seen again. Xu Qing stood on the pier, looking at the ferry boat disappearing into the distance. The gift from Immortal Fairy Spirit Phoenix was not something he could take with him. It had to stay on the God Blood River. However, it would be waiting there for him if he ever called out to it.

After a while, Xu Qing looked down at the mote floating above his palm.

“Heaven’s principle….” he murmured. That was the item he had taken from Sir Star Ring’s body after killing him!

It seems like canon or law. But at the same time, it doesn’t. It’s more like something that came out of imagination. It exists, but also doesn’t exist.

He looked at the mote thoughtfully. He had not absorbed it, as he intended to use it externally. And he had spent his time on the river studying it.

As for Sir Star Ring…. Because of the unique properties of the God Blood River, whenever he came back to life after dying, he was still on the ferry boat. And he got weaker each time. All Xu Qing had to do was wait for him. After dying the seventh time, he was truly destroyed in body and soul.

Although I did get Sir Star Ring’s Immortal Capital permission medallion, his death served another purpose. After all, the fact that I was able to just sit around waiting for him to show up was a clue in and of itself.

Xu Qing’s eyes glittered as he put away the mote of heaven’s principle, then walked off the pier. With the wind against his face, he proceeded into the southern planetary system.

After a while, he ceased to mask his permission medallion, whereupon a terrifying stream of energy emerged from him, becoming a red pillar of light that shot up into the sky. When it reached the aurora above, it became a swirling vortex that was visible to the naked eye. Rumbling sounds echoed out as Xu Qing’s aura surged to an astonishing level, causing everything around him to ripple and distort.

Some of it came from him, but some came from the Immortal Capital permission medallion. As a result, the star chart in the sky over the south became clear and visible. Instantly, it was obvious that there were three stars in the south that were brighter than all the others.

One belonged to Xu Qing, and the other two… were the other two Shining Stars from the south! They were Jiang Fan and Yuanshan Su!

Sir Star Ring obviously hadn’t taken many other permission medallions. After killing him, my ranking only rose to 73. At least I’m in the top 100, though.

Xu Qing was certainly surprised to find his ranking so low, although he had some ideas about the reason for it. It was most likely that Sir Star Ring had been focused on cultivation rather than going around collecting medallions. He had probably intended to focus on the medallions after he went to the Aurora Immortal Palace and became a Quasi-Immortal.

Xu Qing looked up at the sky.

Those two clearly did things differently than Sir Star Ring. They worked hard to collect medallions earlier, and they’re continuing to do that now that we’re in the third round.

There are two ways for Fifth Star Ring cultivators to get into the Immortal Capital. One is by means of the Trial of the Hunt. As long as you can get into the top 100, you’re almost certain to get in. The other way doesn’t require participating in the trial. However, it’s harder. After reaching Quasi-Immortal, you have to get to Lower Immortal within 500 years!

Obviously, I’m not going to use that second method. And that means my only option is the first….

Xu Qing’s narrowed eyes gleamed. Getting into the top 100 virtually guarantees that you’ll get to the Immortal Capital. However, your exact ranking determines the resources you’re given when you arrive!

Xu Qing was fully aware that, going forward, his cultivation focus wouldn’t be just on improving his canon. He needed to acquire ringsource!

With enough ringsource, I can form my immortal embryo more quickly. And ringsource is also the key to fully completing my immortal embryo! This makes it obvious that my true goal… is to take 1st place! I’ll step into the Immortal Capital as the winner of the trial!

Having made his decision, his aura surged, and he shot off into the distance. He appeared to be going in the direction of Grand Immortal Mountain. That was where one of the south’s two Shining Stars called home. And that person was… Jiang Fan!

If I eliminate all of the other Shining Stars, and take their permission medallions one by one, then I’ll definitely be able to take first place. And I’ll start with ‘Li the Chosen.’

Xu Qing’s eyes glittered as he raced toward Grand Immortal Mountain.

***

Ten days later, he appeared in the central region of the southern planetary system. From a distance, he could see an endless mountain range filled with rising and falling mountains that numbered in the hundreds of thousands at the very least.

The place was filled year-round with white mist that seemed filled with occasional drifting forms of immortal beings. Sometimes the wind would blow, thinning the mist and revealing spectacularly beautiful palaces and temples crafted from the finest jade.

It really did seem like an immortal paradise. The immortal spirit energy here surpassed any other area in the south, as this place was the capital. This place was the main orthodox organization in the southern planetary system, Grand Immortal Mountain. And it was Jiang Fan’s sect!

Xu Qing did not just barge into the mountains. Though his battle prowess was considered incredible in his own generation, and he could even fight a Quasi-Immortal… the reality was that Grand Immortal Mountain had many Quasi-Immortals. There was even an aura that was far more terrifying than that. It was the might of a Lower Immortal.

That said, according to the rules of the Trial of the Hunt, Quasi-Immortal Grand Emperors cannot participate or interfere. The same goes for Lower Immortals. This fight… will be fair and aboveboard.

Xu Qing let his energy surge and unleashed the aura of the permission medallion. Combined, it formed a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering battle spirit. It was also a battle challenge issued to Grand Immortal Mountain!

“Will you fight me, Jiang Fan?” he said in a cold voice that thrummed with the desire to do battle.

Numerous streams of divine will issued forth from Grand Immortal Mountain, locking onto Xu Qing to inspect him. Among those streams of divine will were several from Quasi-Immortals. None of them did anything to oppose him.

Xu Qing had issued a challenge in a fair and honest way. There were countless people who could bear witness, and the rules set forth by the Immortal Capital were inviolable. This was the Trial of the Hunt, and it was a struggle to get to the Immortal Capital!

Xu Qing’s expression remained neutral as the divine will inspected him. He simply hovered in place as he waited for Jiang Fan’s response.

***

In a hall in Grand Immortal Mountain, Jiang Fan sat cross-legged and silent. He could sense Xu Qing’s energy, and had heard him clearly. He knew that Xu Qing was challenging him to fight. No one in the sect would push him to accept the challenge. If he wanted to, he could simply hide and refuse to fight. After all, he knew that he wasn’t a match for Xu Qing.

And yet, he rose to his feet, his eyes gleaming and his energy building. Then he walked out of the hall, whereupon he found someone standing outside.

Jiang Fan ducked his head and bowed. “Master.”

Standing there was an impressive middle-aged man with handsome facial features and a robe embroidered with a cloud motif. In Grand Immortal Mountain, he ranked second only to Immortal Monarch Vastpeak. His name was… Lan Yun. And he was Jiang Fan’s Master.[1]

“You’re not a match for him,” Lan Yun said coolly. “Given your ranking, you can just stay here in the sect. When the third round is over, you’ll definitely get into the Immortal Capital.”

Jiang Fan thought for a moment and then shook his head. “Master, I don’t mind losing. And I won’t refuse a challenge. Although it’s very important to me to get to the Immortal Capital… shrinking from a fight is not something I’ll ever do!”

With that, he bowed to his Master, then floated up into the air and off Grand Immortal Mountain. Shortly after… he appeared in front of Xu Qing!

When Jiang Fan looked at Xu Qing, he thought back to the fourth world of the immortal palace, and everything that had played out there. Taking a deep breath, he waved his right hand. Using his canon, he sent his Immortal Capital permission medallion flying off to the side.

“Beat me and you can have it!”

Jiang Fan began to power up, causing swirling mist to build up around him. It covered the area, and then spread out as if to weigh down on all creation. And it bore down on Xu Qing. Jiang Fan’s canon had clearly improved since his time in the immortal palace. The mist seemed mighty enough to devour anything in its path, and to cover over all things and beings. Xu Qing was quickly surrounded by it, and it began to permeate the space-time around him.

But then… before Jiang Fan could even launch an attack, he stopped in place, a bitter feeling rising in his heart. He could see… that the sky, the land, and everything around him was filled with numerous instances of Xu Qing’s space-time.

It was like looking at a kaleidoscope. Of those innumerable space-times, there was only one that had his mist in it. In all the others, Xu Qing was simply staring calmly at him.

Then one version of Xu Qing walked over to him, reached out with his right hand, and patted Jiang Fan on the shoulder. There was nothing Jiang Fan could do to stop him. Rumbling sounds filled Jiang Fan, and a loud cracking sound rang out. That sound didn’t come from the air or the ground, but rather… the space-time he was in. There was no need for Xu Qing to do anything other than that.

Walking past the immobilized Jiang Fan, he picked up the Immortal Capital permission medallion, then waved his hand to dispel all the space-time instances. He walked away without saying a word.

***

On the highest peak of Grand Immortal Mountain, there was a holy throne in a hall filled with silver light. There was currently a performance going on including singing and dancing. Some sandalwood incense was burning, the smoke curling through the hall and making everything seem hazy and mysterious.

Seated in the position of honor was an old man wearing a silver robe.

“He first understood space-time, and then parallelism. While only an Imperial Sovereign, he developed canon befitting of a Grand Emperor. This kid… is nothing short of spectacular. No wonder the Immortal Paragon has taken a liking to him.”

***

Jiang Fan hovered there quietly. He knew that he was no match for Xu Qing. But he hadn’t realized that he was so far beneath Xu Qing that he couldn’t even put up a fight. It filled him with bitterness.

Some time passed, whereupon his Master, Lan Yun, stepped out of thin air. Hovering next to Jiang Fan, he looked at Xu Qing disappearing in the distance.

“There’s nothing embarrassing about losing to him,” he said calmly.

1. Lan Yun was introduced in chapter 1100 and mentioned again in chapters 1102 and 1136. Immortal Monarch Vastpeak was introduced in chapter 1120. ☜

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