16
The two tore open the the void and vanished from the spot together.
Xiao Qing stood in place, watching them leave, and it was a long while before he withdrew his gaze.
He looked down at his palm, where the lingering warmth of the Heavenly Emperor Sword still remained.
That strike of World Extermination had exhausted nearly half of his Spiritual Qi.
Currently, he could execute at most two strikes of such power!
After two strikes, his Spiritual Qi would be bottomed out.
He had to become stronger.
Xiao Qing turned and continued on his way.
The journey that followed was peaceful; Heaven-Slaying Demon Emperor did not appear again, and there were no other anomalies in the the void.
Occasionally, a few blind the void beasts would sense his aura from afar and immediately turn to flee, not even daring to show their shadows.
As Xiao Qing traveled, he reviewed the battle that had just taken place.
After the Avatar of Heaven-Slaying Demon Emperor was repelled, the Evil Race seemed to have temporarily abandoned their plan to intercept and kill him.
However, Xiao Qing knew this was only the beginning.
The Extraterritorial Evil Clan had set their sights on him; this time it was a projection Avatar, but next time it might be the true body itself.
He needed to improve his strength as quickly as possible, at least to have the power to protect himself before the next assassination attempt arrived.
Although the projection of Heaven-Slaying Demon Emperor only had one-tenth of the power of the true body, it was still a combat capability at the level of a Late Stage Saint-Rank Heavenly Sovereign, capable of pushing out nearly two-tenths of its strength at the limit.
He was able to withstand that palm strike because of his Immunity to All Laws Physique.
He was able to strike back with a sword because of the power of World Extermination.
But what if it wasn't a projection that came, but the true body?
If Heaven-Slaying Demon Emperor took action personally, with the terrifying emperors pressure of a Late Stage Saint-Rank Heavenly Sovereign, could he still handle it?
Xiao Qing shook his head and temporarily suppressed this thought.
Thinking about these things was useless; he had to handle the immediate tasks first.
He also needed to rush toward the Immortal Grade Middle Stage, Late Stage, and even breakthrough to Saint-Rank Heavenly Sovereign as soon as possible!
Only when his cultivation was raised would he be qualified to stand before a Saint-Grade.
Not like today, where just receiving an attack from a projection had nearly exhausted all his strength.
Xiao Qing flew in the the void for five days and finally saw the silhouette of the Western Heaven Continent from afar.
That continent was much livelier than when he had left.
Several newly built cities had sprung up, their walls carved with Formation patterns that shimmered with a faint spiritual light under the sun.
The streets in the city were bustling with people; there were Cultivators setting up stalls to sell Medicinal Pills...
There were merchant caravans loading and unloading goods, and children chasing and playing in the alleys.
The distant Jiuzhou Continent was the same, the Spiritual Qi was even denser than it had been half a year ago, and the figures of Cultivators could be vaguely seen shuttling between the mountains and rivers.
Some were Cultivating on mountain peaks, some were sparring in valleys, and others were fishing by the river, carefree and content.
Xiao Qing accelerated and headed straight for the Heavenly Emperor Palace.
Chapter 351, Return to the Heavenly Emperor Palace, an Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign pays a visit 【Please follow and read!】
It was five days later when he returned to the Heavenly Emperor Palace.
Xiao Qing had just stepped out of a crack in the the void.
Qing Xuan was standing not far away, wearing a pale purple dress, her face expressionless.
Seeing Xiao Qing look over, she slightly turned her head away, though the tips of her ears were red.
Gu Xun'er stood beside her, covering her mouth and giggling.
Zi Yan was even more direct, putting her hands on her hips and shouting: "Xiao Qing!"
"You came back way too slowly!"
"We have been waiting for you for many days!"
Ying Huanhuan, Little Fairy Doctor, Qing Lin, Ling Qingzhu, and Ying Xiaoxiao were all standing behind, with smiles on their faces, but their eyes hidden with indescribable emotions.
Xiao Qing walked toward them.
After taking two steps, he stopped and glanced at the crowd.
In the crowd, Qing Yanjing stood in a corner, wearing a pale cyan dress, looking at him.
Meeting his gaze, she was slightly stunned and instinctively lowered her head.
Xiao Qing didn't think much of it, withdrew his gaze, and continued walking forward.
Qing Yanjing stood behind the crowd, watching him being surrounded by everyone as he walked forward, and an indescribable feeling surged in her heart.
When the news of Maha Tian being defeated arrived that day, she had sat alone in the Spirit Array Pavilion for a long time.
To say she wasn't happy would be a lie, but beyond the happiness, there was an even more complex emotion.
It was as if the sword hanging over her head had finally been removed, but the person who removed that sword left her not knowing how to face them.
"Big Sister Qing!"
Xiao Xuan'er didn't know when she had run to her side and asked: "Why don't you go and gather with Daddy?"
Qing Yanjing came back to her senses, shook her head, and smiled: "Your Daddy just returned, let him rest first."
Xiao Xuan'er tilted her head to look at her, suddenly smiled, and said: "Big Sister Qing, are you shy?"
Qing Yanjing blushed and laughed helplessly: "What nonsense are you talking about."
Xiao Xuan'er didn't expose her, pulling her hand and walking into the crowd: "Come on, come on!"
"I'll introduce you to Daddy!"
"We know each other..."
Qing Yanjing was pulled by her, her steps stumbling slightly.
"Then get to know each other again!"
Qing Yanjing couldn't resist her, so she had to follow her forward.
The night grew deep, and the lights of the Heavenly Emperor Palace lit up one by one.
Xiao Qing sat in the pavilion on the back mountain, holding a cup of tea in his hand, looking at the twinkling lights below the mountain.
Qing Xuan sat beside him, not speaking.
Xiao Qing said: "You have worked hard during this time."
"It is not hard work."
Qing Xuan placed a stack of documents in front of him and said: "These are the visiting cards and letters of allegiance submitted over these past few days, take a look."
Xiao Qing flipped through a few, and the more he read, the more satisfied he became.
There were small and medium-sized forces local to the Western Heaven Continent.
There were also Sects and noble families from surrounding continents, and even a few ancient forces from tens of millions of miles away.
The wording was very polite, some even carrying a hint of fawning.
"The Heavenly Emperor's power shakes the Great Thousand Worlds, we have long admired you, and are willing to lead our entire clan to submit to the Heavenly Emperor Palace and offer our humble services."
"The Heavenly Emperor defeated Mohe with one sword, the Great Thousand Worlds are shaken, and all of us Cultivators yearn for it."
Xiao Qing put down the documents and rubbed his brow.
He didn't expect that the impact of the battle at the Holy Abyss would be so great.
Defeating Maha Tian was indeed an accident.
His original intention was just to make the other party retreat in the face of difficulties, he didn't expect Maha Tian to be so fragile, cracking his Dharma Body with one sword.
"This matter is a bit troublesome."
He said in a low voice.
Qing Xuan looked at him and asked curiously: "How so?"
"It's too flashy."
Xiao Qing leaned back in his chair and continued: "There were already quite a few people in the Great Thousand Worlds watching us... after this battle, there will only be more."
Qing Xuan was silent for a moment, then whispered: "But you have already won."
Xiao Qing turned his head to look at her.
"How is the situation in the Holy Abyss?"
Qing Xuan suddenly asked.
"It's fine."
Qing Xuan gave a soft "Mm", and didn't ask further.
In the distance, in the direction of the Heavenly Emperor Palace, the laughter of Xiao Xian'er and Xiao Xuan'er could be vaguely heard.
The two girls had been making a fuss all day, and they weren't tired yet.
Xiao Qing listened to the laughter and suddenly said: "The Maha Ancient Clan won't just let it go like that."
Qing Xuan looked up at him.
"I know."
Her voice said very calmly: "So?"
"So—"
Xiao Qing looked down at her, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, "I have to hurry up and cultivation."
"In case they come knocking one day, I can't let you block them."
Qing Xuan rolled her eyes at him.
Although she said that, her hand quietly gripped his sleeve.
Xiao Qing smiled and didn't pull away.
The night breeze blew up from the foot of the mountain, carrying the sweet scent of Spiritual Qi.
Xiao Qing put down his teacup and looked into the distance.
The stage of the Great Thousand Worlds had only just begun.
Three days later, in the Council Hall, Xiao Qing summoned all the core members.
Xiao Xian'er and Xiao Xuan'er stood at the very back, peeking inside, but after being glared at by Qing Xuan, they shrank their necks, but still didn't leave.
Xiao Qing sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone.
"The patrol of the Holy Abyss has ended."
He went straight to the point, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"There are some things I need to tell you."
Xiao Qing needed everyone to know that the current situation in the Great Thousand Worlds was more urgent than imagined.
"The Holy Abyss is not peaceful."
He looked around and said in a steady voice.
"The movements of the Extraterritorial Evil Clan at the border are becoming more frequent, and the Great Thousand Palace is already preparing for war."
"Although the Western Heaven Continent is far from the border, it is not absolutely safe."
The atmosphere in the hall became a bit heavy.
Xiao Qing looked at Xiao Xuan and said: "Keep a close eye on the Eastern Region of the Western Heaven Continent."
"The forces that have submitted must be screened, don't let people with ulterior motives mix in."
"The border defenses also need to be reinforced, especially in places bordering surrounding continents, deploy Formation Restrictions, and guard against infiltration."
Xiao Xuan nodded and replied: "It is already being done."