Chapter 1674: Little Brother, You’re So Naughty

Editor: Atlas Studios

Time slowly passed just like that.

In the Nine Shores Heaven, a month went by.

This ‘month,’ however, was measured relative to Nine Shores Heaven’s universes and not specific to individual starfields, vortices, or star systems.

In truth, the boundless Nine Shores Heaven, with its countless universes, experienced differing flows of time. Each civilization and races within its domains recorded time according to their unique cultural contexts.

However, this wasn’t important.

Any race residing within Nine Shores Heaven inherently followed multiple parallel systems for measuring time.

In addition to the time flow of their own star, they also recorded the cycles of their star system.

Larger races further incorporated the rotations of star vortices, starfields, and even universe time into their measurements.

Thus, while Xu Qing spent a single month in Ink Land, for many beings who lived among the countless stars scattered like grains of sand, this translated to decades or even centuries.

The longer their perceived time span, the smaller their corresponding star systems, which often reflected incomplete natural laws, fragmented rules, and a scarcity of absorbable energies like immortal energy.

Likewise, the beings who inhabited these slower time regions often bore inherent flaws—whether in their souls, bloodlines, or karmic ties.

Even after hundreds of years, their progress remained staggeringly slow in absolute terms.

In a sense, this phenomenon embodied a form of equality and balance.

Xu Qing, who was sitting cross-legged in Ink Land and chose to fish like Kunwu, could sense this very clearly.

During this month, through the Space-Time Ordinance, he gained a deeper understanding of the operation of the universe.

At the same time, he had also attempted to enter the black hole. However, he managed to descend less than a hundred feet before being forced to halt due to the terrifying repulsive force within.

Despite this, he did not leave the area. Instead, he settled down cross-legged outside the black hole, alternating between fishing and conducting research.

His divine sense could only penetrate so far and the energy essence within the black hole proved difficult to extract, so it left Xu Qing with a distinct feeling—like sitting atop a treasure mountain yet struggling to claim its riches.

However, when he cultivated here, he could sense that his immortal embryo was clearly growing faster than when he cultivated elsewhere.

“Even though the origin essence doesn’t spew out, some of the stray, rising emanations of it are still effective.”

“Kunwu’s fishing method should also have reference value.”

Xu Qing fell silent and lowered his head to look at the fishing rod in his hand.

During this month, he learned how to fish like Kunwu. Although he didn’t manage to fish out the origin essence, Xu Qing felt that this action shouldn’t be useless.

“Maybe because it hasn’t been long. Fishing requires patience…”

Xu Qing fell into deep thought. His gaze moved from the fishing rod to the black hole in front of him.

“Since the old man from the Immortal Palace called the Ink Yang Universe a strategic resource, there must be something precious about it…”

Originally, Xu Qing thought that the special thing about the Ink Yang Universe was that there was origin essence here.

However, in the battle with Kunwu a month ago, Xu Qing saw some clues from the other party’s words and reaction.

Firstly, the other party had said that this universe that was once glorious had now become ordinary.

Secondly, it seemed that he didn’t know about the rankings of the trial.

The latter could be explained by the fact that Kunwu was immersed in cultivation and didn’t have much information about the outside world.

However, if he included the premise that the other party was also an ascender, it was impossible for him not to know that the previous first place would be rewarded with a strategic resource universe.

Hence, through these few conditions, Xu Qing obtained an answer.

Kunwu didn’t think that the Ink Yang Universe had strategic resources. Even with the origin essence, his thoughts were still the same.

Hence, he didn’t expect that the person who obtained this universe would be the number one among the ascenders in this batch!

“He doesn’t know much about this universe.”

“Then what exactly is special about this Ink Yang Universe?”

Xu Qing looked at the black hole in Ink Land and had a faint guess.

“Perhaps the answer lies in this black hole!”

“Other than the origin essence, there might be other things in the black hole that can surprise me…”

“Unfortunately, I can only descend a hundred feet for now. Maybe if I have another Quasi Immortal beside me, working in coordination, we might be able to explore further.”

Xu Qing pondered while fishing. At the same time, he was organizing his future path.

“First, the short-term goal: one year from now, I must head to the Reception Universe to obtain a role within this Nine Shores Heaven.”

“As for the long-term goal, I require vast quantities of origin essence. With it, I can fully mold my immortal embryo, step into the Quasi Immortal realm, and continue refining it even after reaching that stage. This will hasten the embryo’s complete maturation, allowing me to comprehend the tenth extremity and become an immortal!”

“Finally, I will return to Wanggu!”

“There are only 20 years left… I wonder if I can make it in time.”

Xu Qing raised his head and looked into the distance.

“Unknowingly, I’ve been in the Fifth Star Ring for nearly ten years.”

Wanggu was too far away from here and Xu Qing couldn’t confirm its exact location. He could only vaguely judge the general direction through his subconscious senses.

“No matter what, I have to return when the time is up. It would naturally be best if I can become an immortal. If I can’t… I can also borrow some external forces!”

Xu Qing fell silent.

“Therefore, I need to repair my Holy Heaven Pagoda. I can make use of the reward opportunity I obtained this time.”

Xu Qing decided on the plan before focusing on the origin essence.

Origin essence determined the level of his future cultivation.

“Actually, there’s another way to obtain origin essence…”

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes as a dark glint appeared in them.

“Gods. Gods are inherently the primary beings of the upper star rings, born from the origin essence itself. Their very process of growth involves absorbing origin essence.”

“And because they are native to the upper star rings, they are far better suited and more efficient in absorbing origin essence than cultivators.”

“Their bodies contain origin essence to begin with!”

“So, devouring gods is also a method. However, it’s not pure. On one hand, the process requires consuming more gods and comes with great risks. On the other hand, Their influence might linger.”

“But… this is also the fastest path.”

“Especially since I possess a divine clone, such influence… is not something I cannot dispel.”

Xu Qing pondered, his mind drifting to the memory of the god prison he encountered when he first arrived at the Fifth Star Ring.

“In that prison, gods were continually suppressed and converted through formations, forcing Them to release spiritual energy. This was a method of utilization, aimed at enhancing the concentration of spiritual energy to facilitate the cultivation of lower-tiered cultivators.”

“And as the number of cultivators increased, the spiritual energy They emitted also grew, gradually forming a virtuous cycle.”

“When the spiritual energy becomes sufficiently dense, it transforms into immortal energy. This, I imagine, is the purpose and value of the various nonhuman races within the universe.”

“Relying on the endless nonhumans to nourish the path of cultivators.”

“At the same time, the more lives that tread this path of cultivation, the more majestic and boundless it becomes.”

Xu Qing recalled all that he had seen and heard, and a profound understanding settled in his heart.

“However, the level of the gods imprisoned in the god prisons in the four starfields isn’t high. In that case, high-level gods… must have Their own prisons. There’s a high chance that the method to make use of Them is to squeeze out the origin essence.”

“I can find an opportunity to try this path.”

“As for now, the most important thing is still this Ink Land!”

Xu Qing looked at the black hole in front of him again.

“The origin essence contained here…”

A hint of hesitation appeared in Xu Qing’s eyes. A thought rose in his heart and he gradually closed his eyes.

A long time later, when he opened his eyes again, they revealed determination. He raised his left hand and waved it, causing a green bowl to fly out.

In the bowl, there was a fist-sized lump of mud.

It was crimson in color.

This item was one of the treasures Xie Lingzi had given Xu Qing back then, the divine mud!

It was one of the many methods cultivators in the Fifth Star Ring used to control gods. One could mold the god’s appearance and control It with this mud.

Staring at the mud, Xu Qing raised his hand and grabbed. Immediately, the blood-colored mud flew out and floated in front of Xu Qing. Under the integration of his divine sense, the shape of the mud changed.

Slowly, it was molded into the shape of a fox!

After doing this, Xu Qing spoke.

“Why aren’t you coming out!”

As his words echoed, a soft, delicate voice reverberated across the surroundings.

“Hmph, you heartless man! You used to call me High God, but now? Not even a title!”

“As if the lack of a title weren’t enough, you didn’t even give me your yang essence. Worse yet, you want to use this item to control me! You ungrateful person, after everything I’ve done for you—hmph!”

“I’m not coming out.”

Xu Qing was calm. He flicked his sleeve and a pill bottle flew out. There was a drop of blood in it.

The moment it appeared, the starry sky rumbled and thunder seemed to roar in the void.

The surroundings instantly distorted and everything became blurry.

This was the drop of Lord God’s blood that had a power similar to the clay fox’s divine authority!

The clay fox’s breathing immediately became hurried.

Xu Qing’s voice rang out at this moment.

“This Fifth Star Ring prohibits the presence of gods. It was fine when you were in the Divine Fire Realm, but once you absorb this blood and break through to the Divine Platform Realm… I can’t guarantee you won’t draw attention. There’s even a chance that at the moment of your breakthrough, obstructions could descend.”

“Even though you obtained an identity and gained a foundation in the Aurora Immortal Palace, I’m not sure if the degree of recognition this identity gives you can be perfect.”

“That’s why I shaped your form using this divine mud. On the surface, it seems like I am controlling you, but in truth, it’s just a contingency—something to explain your existence should any accidents arise.”

“This way, your advancement can proceed with minimal risk of interference.”

“I’m asking you to endure this inconvenience for now.”

Xu Qing calmly spoke.

The clay fox was clearly tempted but She still snorted.

“Call me Sister and I’ll listen to you.”

Xu Qing fell silent. He thought of the companionship of the clay fox along the way and the support in the Aurora Immortal Palace… After a long time, he sighed.

“Sister.”

As this word rang out, the clay fox clearly felt comfortable and let out a coquettish laugh.

Her figure transformed into strands of starlight that flew into the fox formed from the divine mud.

This fox statue was still inanimate a moment ago, but in the blink of an eye, it seemed to have come alive and colors appeared on it. Immediately after, it came alive and became a charming woman.

She walked toward Xu Qing.

Her ample bosom responded to the waves, and Her hourglass figure, with its incredibly slender waist and curvaceous hips, instinctively made people gasp and their hearts race.

Her figure could be considered perfect.

Her translucent skin and shapely figure, moving gracefully, exuded a tantalizing allure that seemed to plant a seed of desire in anyone’s heart, ready to take root and grow.

She got close to Xu Qing and spoke in a soft and coquettish voice.

“Little brother, you’re so naughty… When you were molding my body, why didn’t you make me some clothes?”

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