Chapter 1287: A Meeting Across 4 Million Words

Chapter 1287: A Reunion Spanning Four Million Words

Xu Qing had always remembered the matter of Poison Sovereign.

He had not neglected it, despite all he himself had endured.

That was simply not his nature.

In truth, his original plan had been to first attain the Tenth Pole of Enlightenment, fully stepping into the realm of Summer Immortal—before leaving this Fifth Star Ring…

—to slay Poison Sovereign!

After all, though Poison Sovereign’s scheme to borrow Xu Qing’s path had been severed before it could take root, such an act still forged karmic ties that could not be ignored.

As for the Sovereign’s recent sending of an avatar—and the bronze puppet offered as a gift…

Xu Qing’s gaze settled upon the figure resting in his palm.

Before accepting it, he had scrutinized it thoroughly. Now, with a flick of his hand, he summoned swirling currents of fate-energy, sealed the puppet securely, and tucked it away.

“For me now,” he murmured, “what matters most is waiting for Master Bai…”

Setting aside thoughts of Poison Sovereign, Xu Qing lifted his eyes toward the starry expanse beyond.

Long moments passed. Then, faintly, a ripple of perception stirred within him—soft, yet unmistakable.

“He’s here…”

Rising to his feet, Xu Qing stepped out of the Star-Gazing Tower. The instant he emerged, the heavens shifted. A stream of silvery radiance descended from beyond the stars, cascading like an inverted river of the Milky Way. Where it passed, nebulae rippled outward in concentric waves.

At last, the light settled upon the world below, transforming the firmament into a vast scroll—an ink-wash painting unfurled across heaven and earth.

From the void arose the delicate fragrance of herbs and blossoms, mingled with the sharp, crisp aura of cosmic law.

Accompanying it came ethereal zither notes—echoes of primordial melodies, or perhaps the whisper of sprouting leaves.

Within that living ink-painting, a silhouette slowly bled into focus—

as if stepping forth from the artwork itself.

Growing clearer by the breath.

An old man.

Clad in moon-white robes embroidered with subtle patterns of flora, a medicine gourd hanging at his waist.

His brow bones were chiseled like blades, yet his eyebrows curved downward gently, forming arcs of quiet compassion.

His eye sockets sank deep as frozen pools, and within those pupils swirled miniature galaxies—flecks of stardust gliding like rivers through the abyss of his gaze.

Around him hovered wisps of violet mist, faint yet profound, as though he embodied the very pulse of primordial qi that had coursed through the cosmos since its birth.

Now, he smiled warmly at Xu Qing.

“You’ve grown.”

His voice rang clear as springwater striking jade. With those words, starlight shimmered and settled into Xu Qing’s heart, stirring tides of memory—flooding back scene after scene from days long past.

Xu Qing’s eyes reddened slightly. Bowing deeply, he whispered,

“Master…”

Those two simple syllables carried lifetimes of remembrance and feeling. Hearing them, Master Bai’s eyes softened further.

“Walk with me awhile.”

Gently extending his hand, Master Bai beckoned. Starlight fell upon Xu Qing, weaving a luminous path before him.

Drawing a slow breath, Xu Qing stepped onto that road of stars, joining his master’s side as they walked together into the endless night.

They vanished from the supply-world, emerging instead amid the boundless void.

“Tell me,” Master Bai said gently, “of your time since joining the Seven Blood Pupils.”

Xu Qing nodded softly, drawing memories from the depths of his soul.

“After entering the Seven Blood Pupils, I became a disciple of the Seventh Peak…”

His voice wove visions in the air, unfolding before Master Bai’s eyes:

The trials on Merfolk Isle…

The war against the Sea-Corpse Clan…

The migration across Wanggu Continent…

The Swordbearers…

Fenghai Prefecture…

And Crimson Mother, the Empress, the Swordbearing Emperor…

…

Through the starry sea, Master Bai walked ahead, Xu Qing trailing half a step behind and to his right—

just as they had long ago in the scavenger camp.

Back then, Xu Qing had been but a child, seeking the Destiny Bloom to save Lei’s squad, timidly approaching Master Bai for aid—and secretly studying herbal lore outside the tent until finally called inside for his first true lesson in botany.

Now, that moment echoed anew.

Wherever Master Bai’s feet touched the void, lotus blossoms of emerald light bloomed, instantly greening swathes of barren cosmos. Even desolate worlds burst suddenly into life—dry stones cracked open, dead branches budded anew—as if reborn beneath his passage.

Time flowed onward, unmeasured. At last, Xu Qing finished recounting all he had seen and done in Wanggu.

Master Bai sighed softly.

“The Ninth Star Ring was once no different from the others…

until Shang Huang failed his ascension to godhood—yet became the first to return from the Umbilical Cord of Divinity. He chose to dwell there.

He remained in the Ninth Star Ring. In Wanggu Continent.”

“From that moment, every supreme power across all rings turned their gaze toward Wanggu.”

“We do not know why Shang Huang went there.”

“Other ring-sovereigns have entered the Ninth Ring, seeking to probe Shang Huang’s state—but all outsiders who drew near met signs of doom. Though some seized rare opportunities, none escaped karmic consequence.”

“Take, for instance, the Sovereign of the Fourth Ring…”

“It seems only those originally native to the Ninth Ring may tread there with relative safety—if they proceed with utmost caution.”

“Thus, the Celestial Sovereign charged me: using the Art of Reincarnation, I shed all transcendent power, becoming wholly mortal. I was born anew on a remote island far from Wanggu’s mainland—

with no memory of my past life, forbidden ever to leave that isle, even a single step. Only upon death would my true self awaken to the memories of that mortal shell.”

“Wanggu… has become ill-omened because of Shang Huang.”

“Are you certain… you still wish to return?”

“If you choose to remain in the Fifth Ring, it will not be long before you may glimpse the Celestial Throne itself.”

Master Bai looked at Xu Qing.

Silence stretched between them. After a long while, Xu Qing spoke softly.

“Master, I must return.”

Upon hearing this, Master Bai ceased his persuasion, standing like a reclusive sage who had witnessed the full sweep of mortal dust.

Yet the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen further.

These were no mere furrows carved by time—they resembled the contours of mountains and rivers, each crease holding within it the weight of millennia.

After a long silence, he shook his head, his voice rising and falling like distant tides.

“Before meeting you, I confirmed something within the Fourth Stellar Ring.”

“That place… is where you shall ascend to immortality!”

The moment Master Bai spoke these words, Xu Qing’s spirit trembled violently.

Simultaneously, Master Bai’s figure halted amidst the starry void.

In that instant of stillness, every star in this expanse of cosmos appeared summoned, altering their courses from all directions.

Amidst the ripples of the starry sea, they converged here, arranging themselves automatically—

forming an immense stellar map shaped like an alchemical cauldron!

Outside this celestial diagram, Master Bai lifted his gaze toward the distant Fourth Stellar Ring.

Softly murmuring to himself: “Xu Qing, I shall impart to you one final teaching.

It has nothing to do with herbs or trees—it concerns ‘Beyond.’

These thirty-six ascending stellar rings, including all Venerables, belong to ‘Within.’ What They seek… lies ‘Beyond.’”

“You need not understand these two words now—but remember them. Should you one day attain the rank of Immortal Sovereign or even Immortal Lord through karmic fortune, recall this truth.”

“As for now…”

“To comprehend a higher Law, go to the Fourth Stellar Ring!”

“You once encountered the God of Suffering and immersed yourself in Its illusion, breaking through your limits there and traversing those years of agony.

Though illusory, that realm held genuine essence.

Then why not truly experience it anew?”

“Let the real unfold as reality; let the false become false once more!”

As he spoke, Master Bai gently waved his sleeve. Countless stars within the cauldron-shaped star chart instantly trembled, radiating blinding starlight that coalesced into a unique bridge—

stretching directly toward the Fourth Stellar Ring!

Woven from stardust and spirit-plants, this bridge blurred the boundary between real and unreal, manifesting the profound mystery of creation itself—

echoing the very principle of “illusory yet true” embodied by the God of Suffering.

“Go now. May you return… already an Immortal of Summer!”

Master Bai’s voice resonated, causing the bridge to blaze ever brighter.

Gazing upon it, Xu Qing’s heart surged with emotion.

Memories of his time within that illusion flowed through his mind like a river.

After a long pause, resolve hardened in his eyes.

He bowed deeply to Master Bai, then stepped forward—

onto the bridge woven of starlight and spirit-plants, heading straight for the Fourth Stellar Ring!

As ripples shimmered along the bridge, Xu Qing’s form gradually faded from sight.

Only the cauldron-shaped star chart remained, revolving majestically, emanating overwhelming grandeur—while ethereal Immortal Flames spontaneously ignited, encircling the celestial vessel.

Master Bai appeared atop the star chart, sitting cross-legged.

With his own fortune and cultivation, he fortified Xu Qing’s journey, fulfilling the karmic bond between master and disciple across ages.

Beside him, the void rippled—and an old man wearing straw sandals emerged, stepping calmly to stand at Master Bai’s side, gazing toward the direction Xu Qing had departed.

Perched upon the old man’s shoulder, a golden rat licked its paws.

“Has the item belonging to His Immortal Lordship been properly placed?”

Master Bai did not turn his head, replying coolly.

The old man sighed.

“You still know I am an Immortal Lord… so why speak to me in such commanding tones?”

“That debt is yours to repay!”

Master Bai answered evenly.

The Immortal Lord shook his head. Having known this man for countless eons, he understood well his unyielding nature—and knew too that though Master Bai appeared merely at the Immortal Sovereign level, he could have ascended to equal his own rank many years ago.

Yet for reasons unknown, he had never taken that final step.

Thus, unmoved by the tone, the Immortal Lord sat down casually beside him.

“It’s been placed. Though I dislike entangling myself in karma, how could I possibly withhold that item?”

Hearing this, Master Bai fell silent.

After a while, the Immortal Lord’s voice echoed again.

“Still, even with your aid—and my artifact—Xu Qing’s chances of success remain slim.”

“His Law differs from others’. Advancing further would immediately elevate him to the standard of an Immortal Sovereign.

Such a leap is immense—thus, unimaginably arduous.

Should he fail… what will you do?”

The Immortal Lord turned to look at Master Bai.

Master Bai remained silent for a long time before answering hoarsely:

“He will not fail.”

The Immortal Lord studied Master Bai, then after another prolonged pause, suddenly asked:

“Is he the one Shang Huang seeks? Or rather… is he Shang Huang’s reincarnation?”

At these words, the very fabric of the cosmos seemed to freeze.

“You’ve also visited Wang Gu. If your suspicion were true, with your cultivation, wouldn’t you have seen it clearly? Why ask me?”

Master Bai remained calm as ever.