Chapter 318: Transformation of the Living

Chapter 318: The Transformation of the Living

Xu Qing did not wish to wait, and after his words were spoken, the disciples of this place immediately obeyed, hastening to guide him. Not long after, Xu Qing arrived at the center of the fourteen corpse ancestor statues.

Here, the defenses were strict and impenetrable, yet the divine aura of the forbidden treasure surged with immense power, constantly scanning the area. Any anomaly would be instantly detected by the forbidden treasure.

Moreover, there were countless arrays and magical artifacts forming a dense network of seals, solidifying the void around them. Xu Qing’s perception was shaken by this sight.

Finally, at the very center of the fourteen statues, beneath the seventh bronze mirror of the seven blood eyes, Xu Qing beheld a colossal eight-sided altar.

On each of the altar’s eight corners sat cultivators whose cultivation levels gave Xu Qing the impression of at least two celestial palace elixir masters. The moment Xu Qing approached, all eight pairs of eyes snapped open.

Their gazes fell upon Xu Qing with curiosity, yet they did not maintain any defensive formations. Instead, they rose from their seats and bowed respectfully to him.

To Xu Qing, they were no strangers; they knew that he could instantly enter the golden core, and once he did, two celestial palace realms would form in an instant. Such a person could not be treated as an ordinary disciple.

Xu Qing also bowed politely in return, then stepped onto the altar.

On the way, he had already understood the method of the forbidden treasure from the jade slip given by the seventh prince. This method could be accomplished by himself, but if the forbidden treasure were to unleash its full power, he would need others to assist.

At this moment, Xu Qing took a deep breath, ascended the altar, and settled into the central position. After cross-legged sitting, he raised his head to gaze at the vast ancient mirror above, then lowered his eyes and gestured with his hands toward both sides.

The golden core guardians also understood their task; each crossed their legs and gestured in unison.

Boom! The altar erupted in a resounding clang. A powerful light erupted from Xu Qing’s position, shooting upward, so intense that Xu Qing’s figure became blurred within it. In an instant, this light pierced toward the heavens.

Shortly after, the eight corners of the altar also emitted beams of light as the eight guardians performed their gestures. These eight rays, red as fire, merged with Xu Qing’s light, blending into a crimson glow that descended like a torrent, plunging into the ancient mirror above.

The mirror trembled violently, its rotation ceasing as it slowly flattened, orienting its surface toward Xu Qing’s side. The crimson light, now transformed into refracted beams, rained down upon the earth, reenveloping Xu Qing in a cocoon of radiance.

Xu Qing’s body convulsed with force. He felt a shocking power surge through him, and at that moment, his form seemed translucent, with a hundred and twenty meridians crystallizing into glowing points, clear as day.

This made it easier for him to seek the hundred and twenty-first meridian. With his spiritual will concentrated, he rapidly searched within his body.

However, this process was not smooth. After more than twenty breaths, the light dimmed and gradually faded, leaving Xu Qing seated in cross-legged meditation, eyes closed. A moment later, he opened his eyes, displaying regret.

He had not found it.

“Please, honored masters, try again.” Xu Qing politely requested.

The eight surrounding figures smiled and nodded, readjusting their postures before the light formed once more, and the mirror refracted the light anew. Familiar with this sensation, Xu Qing immediately began seeking another meridian.

This time, it was still unsuccessful.

Xu Qing furrowed his brows, and as the light dispersed, he recalled the master’s words: in the past, those who opened the hundred and twenty-first meridian had all found it between life and death.

“Indeed, it was still lacking the realm of life and death.” Xu Qing muttered to himself, his mind flashing with a plan.

This plan was somewhat reckless, involving life-and-death peril, but Xu Qing no longer hesitated. He rose, bowed to the sky, and spoke, “Third Master, Xu Qing requests the Sea Corpse Clan… the transformation of life and death!”

The eight guardians exchanged glances at Xu Qing’s words.

The Sea Corpse Clan’s transformation could resurrect the dead, but the revived were no longer of the same lineage, their memories blurred, their nature brutal. Their cultivation base was also lower than before, requiring immense will and constant practice to achieve balance.

This was the common method. There existed a more extreme technique, reserved for those destined for the future throne or those the empire heavily anticipated.

That was… the reversal of life.

This method was extremely painful, yet it preserved memories most perfectly, with lesser loss of cultivation base. However, it required voluntary consent and had a high failure rate.

Considering the pros and cons, not all future heirs or those the empire anticipated would choose this path.

Xu Qing’s knowledge of the Sea Corpse Clan came from the imperial clan’s archives, and since the Seven Blood Eye and the Sea Corpse Clan were ancient enemies, he understood its secrets thoroughly.

This was the plan that had just formed in his mind.

He would artificially create a controllable life-and-death crisis, allowing himself to be transformed. At the moment of becoming a Sea Corpse Clan member, he would find a way to solidify his state, placing himself in the realm of life and death. Thus, he could borrow the forbidden treasure’s power to seek his own meridian again.

The danger lay in the possibility of true transformation into the Sea Corpse Clan or even death if he failed.

“Have you considered this carefully, Xu Qing?” A tranquil voice echoed from the heavens—Seventh Prince, the third peak master, his figure manifesting in the sky, his head bowed in serious contemplation.

“Disciple has considered it.” Xu Qing bowed low, his voice steady.

The third peak master remained silent, gazing at Xu Qing for a moment before sighing softly. He discerned the sorrow in Xu Qing’s demeanor, knowing the bond between Xu Qing and the sixth prince, yet he shook his head.

“This matter, I cannot approve immediately. I must consult your master.” He then retrieved a purple jade slip, transmitting all details to the Seventh Prince.

Soon, the Seventh Prince’s hoarse voice emerged from the purple slip.

“Xu Qing, are you certain?”

“Disciple is certain!” Xu Qing’s reply was resolute.

“Old Third, lend a hand to this disciple.” The purple slip fell silent for a long while before the Seventh Prince’s gentle sigh was heard.

“By the imperial law.” The third peak master respectfully replied, then stored the jade slip and gazed deeply at Xu Qing.

“What must I do?”

“Please block the surroundings and gather the Sea Corpse Clan’s transformative power upon me.” Xu Qing’s expression was calm as he spoke.

The third peak master nodded, and the eight guardians on the altar promptly withdrew, leaving the area empty. Arrays of light then encircled the space, sealing it. Xu Qing, seated alone on the altar, retrieved a black wooden block and placed it before him, then closed his eyes.

In an instant, seven figures materialized in the sky at the third peak master’s gesture. These seven were Sea Corpse Clan cultivators, each at the yameng stage, their auras distinct. They all bowed their heads in obedience to the third peak master’s command.

“Transform one corpse ancestor statue’s power, descend upon the altar to aid in his Sea Corpse Clan conversion.” The third peak master’s voice was indifferent. The Sea Corpse Clan’s transformation required their unique talent, a gift unavailable to outsiders.

Upon hearing this, the seven Sea Corpse Clan cultivators hesitated, glancing toward the altar below but daring not to ask further. They promptly performed their gestures, and in the third peak master’s gaze, the seventh corpse ancestor statue suddenly let out a thunderous roar.

This was the seventh statue, one of the largest, its blue light spreading from the legs to the body, arms, and head, until the entire figure was bathed in azure radiance. Like a sea, the blue glow emanated from the statue, wafting toward Xu Qing on the altar.

The glow enveloped him, and as it descended, it cloaked Xu Qing and the altar in its embrace, slowly invading his body.

Xu Qing’s body convulsed. A piercing pain coursed through him, radiating from his skin. Yet compared to the wounds he had endured before, this was negligible.

Whether it was the acquisition of the mermaid clan’s immortal lamp or the dragon armor’s ferocious opportunity, the pains he had suffered were far greater.

Thus, even this piercing agony, Xu Qing remained unmoved. Gradually, his skin turned blue, and the azure essence rapidly infiltrated his body. His flesh, bones, meridians, and every meridian were being swiftly transformed.

The immortal lamp was ineffective at this moment, and the purple crystal trembled, attempting to burst forth and reverse the process, but Xu Qing tightly suppressed it.

The Golden Gorilla Ancestor trembled, his shadow terrified.

Xu Qing’s breath was rapidly dissipating; his life signs plummeted drastically. Yet after reaching a certain point, the decline slowed.

Xu Qing’s innate instinct for survival flared, especially the purple crystal, which still managed to emit a faint recovery, as if his body were the battlefield, repelling the transformation’s will.

“Third Master, another corpse ancestor statue!” Xu Qing suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze tinged with blue, his voice carrying an eerie tone.

The seven Sea Corpse Clan cultivators in the sky looked stunned, their eyes heavy with gravity, for they rarely witnessed such a phenomenon—only the former throne emperor had done so.

The third peak master remained silent, then nodded after a moment.

“Another one!”

The seven Sea Corpse Clan cultivators immediately obeyed, and the second corpse ancestor statue let out a resonant ring. After the blue light spread across its body, it suddenly dispersed, enveloping Xu Qing in its radiance.

Time passed; the duration of the transformation lengthened. Three days later…

The sculptures glowing with blue light around the surroundings had already increased from the previous two to five!

Xu Qing's life signs still had not reached their limit, though they were still decreasing, yet the speed was extremely slow.

Yet looking at Xu Qing sitting in a cross-legged position, his entire body was permeated with a dense, withering aura of death, as if indistinguishable from the Hai Zhi Clan.

Only the life fire in his heart was not blue.

All of this caused the seven Hai Zhi Clan cultivators to be moved again—how could such a prolonged transformation be encountered before? Even their former emperor had never required so long, nor needed these five ancestral skull sculptures.

And if such a prolonged transformation and these numerous sculptures meant that the other party would be transformed into the Hai Zhi Clan, then it would undoubtedly be an extraordinary genius unseen in the Hai Zhi Clan for countless years!

"What does the Seven Blood Eyes intend to do with such a celestial prodigy?"

"To create a king for my Hai Zhi Clan?"