NOVEL NEXT Chapter 232: Qing Yu Shrinks
August 15th was supposed to be the joyous Mid-Autumn Festival, yet above the celestial sphere of Northern Zhou Divine City, red thunder emerged, becoming a hot topic among the world's people.
In the southern part of Qing Province, a territory once part of the eight provinces of Daqian, it was now under the control of Prince Zhen Shan, Zhang Huchen.
Within Qing Province, the people of Southern Border moved in and out harmoniously with the original Central Plains residents as if they were one family.
Having stationed in Qing Province for many years, Zhang Huchen had long resolved the integration issues between the people of Southern Border and the Central Plains people, and thus, after the secession from the territories of Daqian, Qing Province appeared even more prosperous.
At this time, at the border of Qing Province, there was a figure donned in a deep blue cloak advancing ten paces at a stride towards the interior of Qing Province.
However, upon seeing the distant city, he abruptly stopped.
"North, anomalies have arisen."
The man turned his head to look towards the north, reached into his sleeve, and drew out a compass made of crystal-clear glass, continuously calculating something.
After a short while, he put away the compass into his sleeve and hesitantly turned to dart towards the north.
---
Inside Great Zen Temple.
A middle-aged monk who had been meditating impassively suddenly lifted his head, his face flickering indefinitely. The seven-colored thread in his hand was now a tangled clump with no apparent start or end, and no clear cause and effect discernible.
"The causes and effects have completely gone chaotic,"
Xinyuan couldn't help but reveal a slight smile on his face. At the same time, the likenesses of countless beings appeared beside him, each revealing a genuine smile.
"Chaos is good, it seems this will be a true opportunity for transcendence."
All beings once again merged into Xinyuan's face as a profound, overlapping voice echoed in the quiet room: "Crossing the Sea of Suffering, approaching transcendence."
---
The appearance of the red thunder in the clear sky was observed by all who were proficient in celestial phenomena. However, their reactions and feelings towards this bizarre sight varied.
On Datong Mountain, the Confucian Master, Mountain Master Meng, presently materialized a true physical form from a mist-like bloom of vital energy. Had it not been for his slightly unstable appearance, one might have thought that Mountain Master Meng had personally left his retreat.
"Master," Zhuge Longsu saluted, "Did you need me?"
"Immediately proceed to the Imperial Palace, check if there are any anomalies," Meng Shanhe commanded without hesitation.
"Master, why don't you go yourself," Zhuge Longsu asked in astonishment.
Even this avatar made of vital energy was stronger and faster than him, capable of reaching the Imperial Palace in just a few breaths. Zhuge Longsu couldn't comprehend why Meng Shanhe wouldn't go himself.
"The Great Nine Dragon Sky Array in the Imperial City has been activated again,"
Meng Shanhe's eyes were intently staring at the sky above the Imperial City, "This time, the Nine Dragon Sky Array is triggered to its limits. Any provocative action will be met with an all-out strike, even if it means damaging the Dragon Vein and vanishing alongside the adversary."
"Shh—" Even a composed person like Zhuge Longsu couldn't help but gasp, "Has Feng Jiwu gone mad?"
Talking about the link between the Dragon Vein and the dynasty's fortune was one thing—after all, it's rather mystical and wouldn't cause immediate harm.
However, there was another aspect that would quickly reveal its effects. Since the Dragon Vein is the condensed Earth Qi, once truly damaged, it would cause the Earth Dragon to turn over.
Previously, when the Dragon Vein was wounded by the Heavenly Cluster Cloud Sword, it merely severed the Dragon Vein back into Earth Qi, but this time, it was directly extracting Earth Qi, the consequences of which even Zhuge Longsu dared not contemplate.
"That's why you must first contact Ming Xiao and go with her to inquire," Meng Shanhe said.
"Your disciple understands."
Zhuge Longsu hastily bowed and then flew directly from the summit of Datong Mountain towards Divine City.
---
Within the Imperial Palace, Feng Jiwu, through the Array, entered the underground palace beneath the Imperial City at the first opportunity.
He had already sensed Qing Yu entering the underground palace through the Array in the giant statue. Having just awakened from the recent mental shock, he immediately rushed towards the underground palace.
"Qing Yu, how are you…"
As Feng Jiwu was rushing deeper into the underground palace, he yelled out.
If Qing Yu were deceased, not only he but even his only two-year-old son Feng Xi would face calamity. The curse of the Black Heaven Book afflicts three generations, and Feng Xi was the Second Generation.
Feng Jiwu couldn't bear to imagine the despair of his newfound family crumbling in an instant.
From afar, Feng Jiwu saw a white figure lying across the central plaza of the underground palace, which intensified his ominous premonition.
"Qing Yu—"
Feng Jiwu dashed over and knelt to lift the seemingly lifeless White-haired Taoist.
"Please, I'm not dead yet, no need to wail!"
Suddenly, a child's voice cut through, startling Feng Jiwu into turning back.
Though the voice of a strange toddler, it struck a familiar chord with Feng Jiwu.
Then, he saw a floating child around two years old, similar to his own daughter, enveloped in a dark red swaddle, quietly observing him.
"I just merged with a new body; even the spiritual connection is unstable, no wonder you mistook me."
The child slightly furrowed his brows, a flicker of black and white light passing across his eyes.
In the next instant, Feng Jiwu sensed Qing Yu's presence again, not in the one in his arms, but in the hovering toddler.
"You, you, you…" Feng Jiwu pointed incredulously at the child.
"A new body requires time and energy to grow. Considering the Primordial Energy I absorbed from the Heavenly Giant Statue, I could only age this body to two years.
Feng Jiu, I need more energy," Qing Yu frowned.
As he spoke, he conveyed a force of Thought Power forcefully suppressing the dread and shock within Feng Jiwu.
Feeling the familiar sense of being overridden, Feng Jiwu had no choice but to believe Qing Yu had swapped bodies, and curiously inquired, "What energy do you need?"
Qing Yu's tiny body drifted slightly, his arm pointing towards four golden columns in the underground palace, "Dragon Vein can enable me to grow quickly, but the Dragon Vein alone is not enough, I need other types of energy as well."
With a transfer of thoughts, Qing Yu sent the essence of Blood Soul True Understanding into Feng Jiwu's mind, "Using Xuanyin Sword Energy to filter the essence blood absorbed by the Blood Soul True Understanding, accumulating it in the concentrated Blood Pool, will let me grow swiftly. Once I attain a certain level, I can absorb the essence blood of Blessed Beasts and grow into an adult."
"Hand this Blood Soul True Understanding over to Ji Tang and Blood Bat No.1; instruct them to gather essence blood. The targets should mainly be Purgatory Peak, the Six Gates, and those wild Blood Path Warriors."
Feng Jiwu nodded to indicate he understood, then asked, "What about the red thunder that exploded in the sky?"
Though the red thunder appeared only briefly, the lightning was like a net densely covering the entire sky of Divine City. Everyone regarded this red thunder as ominous, and even Feng Jiwu could sense its baleful and hostile nature.