Chapter 1822: Starlight Blooms, Twin Suns in the Sky!
Chapter 1822: Starlight Blooms, Twin Suns in the Sky!
Editor: Atlas Studios
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the Mount Morning Glow.
This peak, which had lost its dawn radiance decades ago only to have it rekindled in recent years, now shimmered with a kaleidoscope of colors under the twilight.
It also slowly separated two figures.
Beyond the radiant light, Xu Qing walked further away.
Within the glow, Zi Xuan gazed into the distance.
"He wasn’t wrong. His mysterious big brother has indeed been waiting for him for a very long time."
On Mount Morning Glow, ripples appeared in the void beside Zi Xuan as Old Master Seventh emerged, joining her in looking toward the horizon.
"That is their battle of destiny. From what I observed outside the Sky Devouring Region, his brother has reached the limit of his patience."
"So what we must do is guard this place well."
Old Master Seventh’s voice echoed as Zi Xuan nodded softly.
Outside Mount Morning Glow, Zhou Zhengli, Star Ring, Xie Lingzi, and the others sat cross-legged around the peak, each meditating to maintain their peak condition.
They waited in silence.
...
Time flowed. Three days passed.
Xu Qing’s journey to the Sky Devouring Region could have been completed in a single step, but he chose to walk slowly.
As he traveled, he observed the heavens and earth of the ancient lands, taking in everything while reminiscing about his childhood.
Along the way, he reflected deeply—his early years, his parents’ fading figures—all resurfaced in his heart as he walked.
Naturally, these memories included his big brother.
Finally, on the third day, at the same twilight hour when he had left Mount Morning Glow, Xu Qing arrived at the northern border of the Sky Devouring Region under the setting sun’s glow.
An endless range of black mountains stretched before him.
Standing atop the peaks, the celestial winds blew as Xu Qing faced the gale, looking into the distance.
On this side of the mountains, churning black mist shrouded the sky and earth, sealing everything away.
This fog permeated the entire Sky Devouring Region, occasionally emitting piercing shrieks as if teeming with countless demons, chilling the soul and instilling fear.
Anomalous substances of unprecedented density saturated the region, surpassing even that of the Brilliant Heaven world Xu Qing had visited
Moreover, these anomalous substances pulsed with life, as if sentient, ready to devour at any moment.
To Xu Qing, it felt eerily similar to the Peerless City when the fragmented-face opened Its eyes.
"That place harbors mortals tainted by divine aura, and it has birthed countless bizarre entities."
A low voice sounded behind Xu Qing.
Jade Flowing Dust’s figure emerged from the void, arriving beside Xu Qing and bowing.
"Greetings, Immortal Lord."
Xu Qing turned to regard the god, unsurprised by his appearance. He had not concealed his journey, and he knew well that Jade Flowing Dust’s ascension was tied to him.
"I am no Immortal Lord."
Xu Qing shook his head.
Jade Flowing Dust also shook His head.
"Not in name, but in essence—the difference is negligible."
Xu Qing said no more, returning his gaze to the Sky Devouring Region.
Jade Flowing Dust continued,
"Where gods dwell, bizarre entities inevitably follow."
"Mortals and even many cultivators misunderstand, believing bizarre entities to be companions of gods. Many gods Themselves think the same. But in truth... as the Immortal Lord must have noticed..."
"Bizarre entities are not companions of gods."
"In a way, they might even be called a curse upon gods."
Listening, Xu Qing spoke calmly.
"You speak of the Bizarre Realm."
Jade Flowing Dust’s eyes gleamed with golden light.
"Bizarre preceded gods, perished because of Them, thus becoming a curse—shadows that linger, coexisting with gods."
"Therefore... gods at the Divine Platform realm and above have no..."
Suddenly, Jade Flowing Dust shuddered as if struck by backlash, coughing up a mouthful of golden blood.
"The upper star rules forbid me from speaking this truth—an answer that upends the cognition of all upper star beings. Only by virtue of my unique divine authority could I glimpse it..."
Wiping his lips, Jade Flowing Dust met Xu Qing’s gaze.
Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, raising his right hand to unleash his Ordinance Law, enveloping the area before nodding to Jade Flowing Dust.
"Try again. Continue."
Jade Flowing Dust sensed their surroundings, then took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.
"Think carefully—have you ever seen a Divine Platform god or higher... with a shadow?"
The moment these words left His mouth, Xu Qing’s eyes flashed with realization.
"Because shadows are vessels of the Bizarre Realm—and also the curse upon gods."
"This truth has been obscured by the upper star rules, diverting all attention."
With each sentence, Jade Flowing Dust’s body trembled violently, drenched in sweat.
Xu Qing fell into thought. Recalling every Divine Platform god he had encountered, none had shadows—yet he had never noticed this before.
"Fascinating..."
Xu Qing murmured.
"And your purpose in telling me this?"
Jade Flowing Dust bowed deeply.
"Immortal Lord, I anticipated your arrival in the Sky Devouring Region. Over these decades, I crafted 370,000 stories about this place..."
"But without exception, each tale was distorted by bizarre entities mid-narration, preventing me from reaching the ending."
"This region is likely linked to the Bizarre Realm. Immortal Lord, your big brother... his identity may conceal more than one layer."
Xu Qing studied Jade Flowing Dust for a long moment before nodding.
Jade Flowing Dust exhaled in relief, having accomplished His goal. With no further reason to stay, He faded into the void.
Only a final blessing lingered in Xu Qing’s ears:
"May your journey be smooth, your heart’s desires within reach."
On the mountain peak, the wind howled louder as Xu Qing whispered to himself,
"My heart’s desires... within reach..."
A few breaths later, he stepped forward—
Into the black mist of the Sky Devouring Region.
Into... the Purple Green Kingdom!
The moment he appeared, the earth quaked!
The endless black mist shrouding the region churned violently, transforming into a raging sea.
Each crashing wave carried piercing shrieks, repelling Xu Qing with intense hostility.
Countless sinister auras surged from the mist, brimming with malice and madness, converging toward Xu Qing.
Amid the fog, Xu Qing’s expression remained impassive as he raised his right foot and stamped the ground.
The impact was like a million heavenly thunderclaps detonating simultaneously.
Amid the deafening roar, a unique fortune erupted from Xu Qing’s body, manifesting as half an imperial crown hovering above his head.
An invisible pressure radiated outward, suppressing all in its path.
This fortune... shared its origin with the Purple Green Kingdom!
Where it passed, the mist rolled back, revealing decayed earth and a desolate world.
The malevolent auras in the fog froze mid-convergence before rapidly dissolving, their hostility replaced by jubilant welcome!
For the fortune forming Xu Qing’s half-crown was none other than the fortune of the Purple Green Kingdom!
Years ago, during Crown Prince Purple Green’s schemes, Old Master Seventh had resurrected Xu Qing and claimed half this fortune for him!
Now, that half had returned.
Like a half-emperor reclaiming his realm.
Thus, the Purple Green Kingdom—this ancient place that had replaced the Sky Devouring Region—erupted in turmoil, its black mist churning as violently as when it first descended.
Amid the kingdom’s upheaval, Xu Qing took his second step.
A single stride carried him across vast distances, bringing him to... the capital of the Purple Green Kingdom!
There, he beheld a city utterly drowned in mist and anomalous substances—and its people.
The capital resembled an ink-wash painting, its outlines blurred, its architecture archaic. The citizens were the same—their figures sketched in brushstrokes, men and women, young and old alike.
Xu Qing’s arrival was like a splash of color in the monochrome, drawing every gaze.
Those eyes burned with hatred and madness, yet also confusion.
They seemed torn between attacking and bowing—for as entities sustained by the kingdom’s fortune, they had no choice but to lower their heads before its rightful heir.
Xu Qing took it all in silently before shifting his gaze to the distant imperial palace and taking his third step.
This step landed him at the heart of the capital...
Before the Imperial Palace!
He stood on the blackened plaza facing a colossal, sacred statue—
The only effigy of the fragmented-face Desolate in this world!
Though lifeless, the statue exuded terrifying pressure, silencing the entire palace.
Behind it lay the wide-open doors of the grand hall.
Inside, atop the dragon throne, sat a figure.
Clad in imperial robes, crowned, with flowing violet hair and peerless beauty—yet radiating palpable wickedness.
Crown Prince Purple Green!
Resting his chin on one hand, he regarded Xu Qing on the plaza with a gentle, charming smile.
His voice, soft and warm, cut through the eerie atmosphere.
"My clever little brother, just as sharp as when you were young."
"How prudent not to appear before me in your fused immortal-divine state, nor to bring your divine form into our kingdom."
"But that matters little. What does matter is... you’ve finally come, brother."