Outside of Time - Chapter 1316

Chapter 1294 Encounter with the Green Ox

Fate is truly wondrous.

That familiar figure, that disheveled appearance, and the madness in his expression.

Most importantly, even though only his head remained, he still swallowed the scattered dust of heavenly principles, a seemingly self-contained cycle of behavior…

These scenes stirred a powerful ripple in Xu Qing’s heart.

He never imagined he would encounter his senior brother here…

And upon seeing Erniu, Xu Qing suddenly understood the cause and effect.

He thought of the teleportation array that appeared within the Heavenly Secret Realm.

“The use of that array requires two specific conditions: possessing Star Ring Grass and possessing a Golden Rat. Besides me, only my senior brother possesses both.”

Similarly, Xu Qing also thought of the Immortal Venerable’s scheme, using the Desolate Cause and Effect to conceal the Fourth Star Ring God Venerable’s omniscience. Looking at it now… that concealing power, besides himself, must also include his senior brother.

He had also played a role. At the same time,

Xu Qing also remembered what the Aurora Young Master had said when he bestowed the Desolate Destiny Godhead upon him.

He said that someone was supposed to appear to receive his divine gift, but for some reason, that person never came.

“Was it Senior Brother who didn’t come?”

As these scenes flashed through Xu Qing’s mind, everyone in the funeral procession looked at him.

Li Mengtu, who was most familiar with Xu Qing and whose identity as a close attendant in the Aurora Immortal Palace mirror image was like a brand shining in his mind, stepped forward and bowed excitedly before explaining why they had come.

“Young Master, we received a plea for help from Xing Huanzi. The Heavenly Principle Dust he reforged was stolen by a mysterious thief.”

“And that thief is cunning, good at hiding, and possesses many strange techniques. Zhou Zhengli even suspects that this thief may have accomplices!

Now that thief is trapped in that universe ahead, we are planning to refine that universe so that the thief has nowhere to escape, and at the same time, we are preparing to see if his possible accomplices will come to our aid!”

Hearing Li Mengtu’s words, Xu Qing’s expression became even more strange.

If we’re talking about accomplices… Xu Qing felt it must be himself.

He glanced at Zhou Zhengli,

whose expression shifted.

The others, having arrived, also stepped forward to greet Xu Qing.

Xie Lingzi, in particular, was extremely respectful, not daring to be negligent, while secretly pondering,

“Why did this person look like that when he looked at that universe?”

Qian Junpi trembled. The two brothers weren’t focused on Xu Qing’s expression, but on themselves.

They were filled with unease, trying their best to dim their own light, fearing that with a wave of Xu Qing’s hand, they would transform into immortal swords and fly away.

Despite their efforts to conceal it, the instinct of immortal swords deep within their souls uncontrollably revealed their joy at meeting their master.

This only increased their anxiety.

Yuan Shansu, as always, remained calm and silently bowed.

Xing Huanzi, after greeting Xu Qing, noticed the strangeness in his expression, but his mind had been preoccupied with chasing the thief.

So his gaze quickly turned to the universe he had sealed off, his killing intent towards the one who had stolen his Heavenly Principle intensified.

As for Zhou Zhengli, his expression suddenly turned solemn, and he spoke in a low voice.

“Young Master, I believe that fellow Daoist did not steal intentionally. There are clues to this matter, and it is even possible that this fellow Daoist’s cultivation is related to order, and perhaps the Heavenly Principle dust was attracted to it and actively approached.”

Upon hearing this, the others seemed to understand, while Xing Huanzi’s eyes flashed with a cold light as he looked sharply at Zhou Zhengli, then at Xu Qing, a bitter understanding dawning on him.

Zhou Zhengli ignored Xing Huanzi’s gaze; his eyes were only on Xu Qing, and he continued,

“As for his companion…”

Xu Qing coughed, raised his right hand, and pointed towards the universe ahead.

With this gesture, a storm seemed to suddenly erupt from that universe, sweeping in all directions, causing cosmic waves, and countless stars scattered brilliant starlight, converging into a force of opening and closing.

The next instant, the starry sky trembled, and the seal dissipated.

In the depths of the universe, a meteorite appeared, and on it, the figure of Er Niu, his expression blank and filled with disbelief.

However, due to their cultivation levels, Xu Qing and the others could see Er Niu clearly, but to Er Niu’s perception, it was all blurry.

The moment they saw Er Niu, Xing Huanzi’s eyes flashed with killing intent.

Xu Qing sighed helplessly and spoke softly,

“That’s my senior brother…”

Upon hearing this, Li Mengtu’s eyes widened, Zhou Zhengli’s heart trembled, and Xie Lingzi gasped.

Qian Junpi was stunned, and Yuan Shansu’s eyes also gleamed.

As for Xing Huanzi, he fell silent, withdrawing his gaze from Er Niu and turning to stare at Xu Qing,

awaiting his decision.

Xu Qing’s sense of helplessness grew stronger. If Xing Huanzi were still in his former state, Xu Qing wouldn’t care.

But they had come a long way, and things were different now; they were comrades-in-arms.

Moreover, for Xing Huanzi, the Heavenly Principle Dust was crucial to his path to becoming a Xia Immortal.

Xu Qing knew his senior brother’s personality all too well; once

he left, he either didn’t pick it up or lost it… getting back what he’d swallowed was incredibly difficult.

So, after a moment’s thought, Xu Qing raised his hand and waved it. His power erupted, layers of cosmic energy materialized, and from within emerged a vast amount of Heavenly Principle Dust.

With Xu Qing’s current cultivation and understanding, coupled with his previous research on Heavenly Principle Dust, this was not difficult.

In an instant, wisps of Heavenly Principle Dust appeared, solidifying and floating before Xing Huanzi.

At the same time, Xu Qing also took out the Heavenly Principle Dust he had previously kept and gave it to Xing Huanzi.

“A misunderstanding,”

Xu Qing said softly.

Xing Huanzi gazed at the Heavenly Principle Dust he had regained, now in greater quantities, his heart filled with countless thoughts. Finally, he bowed deeply to Xu Qing.

“Thank you!”

With that, he turned and vanished, but his voice echoed just before his figure disappeared into the distant starry sky.

“I will never forget the kindness of the entire Dao and the camaraderie of my comrades along this journey.

I know you are not a fifth-star ring cultivator… When you return to your hometown, I will go with you.”

Xu Qing nodded, and after Xinghuanzi’s figure disappeared, he looked at Zhou Zhengli and the others.

“I am indeed about to leave, and I came here to see you all one last time.”

” Xu Qing said calmly. “

Li Mengtu’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. After meeting Xu Qing’s gaze, he immediately spoke.

“I will go with you!”

Zhou Zhengli smiled. He had already seen through what Xing Huanzi had seen.

“Wherever Young Master goes, I will go.”

“As for now, we will not disturb Young Master and his fellow disciples’ reunion.”

After speaking, Zhou Zhengli clasped his hands in a fist salute and turned to leave with Li Mengtu.

Yuan Shansu remained silent, Xie Lingzi hesitated, while Qian Jun Pi Yi was overjoyed. Thus, they left with their own thoughts.

Watching their departing figures until they all disappeared, Xu Qing turned to look at the universe, at the excited Er Niu, a smile rarely seen on his face.

That was his senior brother, one of the people he cared about most.

So he took a step forward.

Crossing the starry sky and stepping over the void, he appeared in front of Er Niu.

“Little A Qing!!”

Er Niu was excited, feeling a strong sense of dreamlike wonder.

“Senior Brother…”

Xu Qing coughed, simultaneously imagining the scene ahead where his senior brother would feel endless bitterness upon realizing what was happening, yet feign resentment.

“How nostalgic,”

Xu Qing smiled.

—More

to come…