With the help of the King Kong Sect's patriarch, Xu Qing found a storage bead hidden on the patriarch's corpse. It had been buried in the flesh of the patriarch. There were not many things in it, only three.
The first was a spirit ticket with a face value of five hundred spirit stones.
The second was a jade box that seemed to have the function of nourishing elixirs. There was a purple elixir inside that was being nourished.
The third item was three jade slips that recorded the King Kong Sect's cultivation method and the weapon spirit's incomplete cultivation method that he mentioned before.
As for the storage pouch that was used to conceal it, it was filled with miscellaneous items that were worth about a hundred spirit stones.
As if worried that Xu Qing would be dissatisfied, the King Kong Sect's Patriarch quickly spoke in a low voice.
"The second prince was too ruthless last time, so there isn't much left now."
"The storage pouch in your sect's treasure vault was also used to conceal it?" Xu Qing asked slowly.
"Yes …" The King Kong Sect's Patriarch's body trembled as he whispered.
Xu Qing didn't say anything. After destroying the body, he went to the ruins of the King Kong Sect's mountain gate to search. He found the secret chamber that the King Kong Sect's Patriarch had mentioned. It was also empty, except for a formation crossbow that looked like an artifact.
Just as the King Kong Sect's Patriarch had said, this thing was specially used on the spiritual boat and could only be activated by a specific array. Xu Qing glanced at it and put it away.
Then, he searched the King Kong Sect. However, this place was too poor, and the dead disciples didn't have anything valuable on them. Only the sect master and the elders were slightly better off.
"Master, you killed them well. These traitorous disciples have been secretly working together recently, preparing to betray the sect while I was in seclusion. I originally planned to deal with them myself after some time."
Xu Qing didn't care whether the King Kong Sect's Patriarch was telling the truth or not. After a round of looting, he left and gradually disappeared into the wind and snow.
The black sky was filled with countless snowflakes that fell from the sky and covered the entire Red Plains. The original red color of the earth had disappeared and turned white.
The wind was even more bone-chilling, sweeping up the snow as if it wanted to seep into every corner of the earth.
Many people would die this winter.
Xu Qing pulled his collar closer and sped through the wilderness. He didn't return to the scavenger camp, but hurried through the night to the city at the edge of the Red Plains.
"I have to return to the Seven Blood Pupils as soon as possible. I can't stay here for long."
Xu Qing said softly. As he spoke, a dark light flashed in his eyes. He glanced at the leather pouch containing the black iron skewers.
As for the Vajra Sect's patriarch, who had turned into an artifact spirit, Xu Qing hadn't decided whether to completely destroy him. As he sped along, he weighed the pros and cons in his heart and calmly asked about the Departure Sect.
Sensing that his life was still in danger, the Vajra Sect's ancestor felt bitter and nervous, but he didn't dare to hide anything. He truthfully told everything he knew.
"The Divine Path Sect is a hegemonic power in the Southern Phoenix Continent, on the same level as the Seven Blood Eyes Sect, the Violet Earth Sect and the True Spirit Sect. Their roots are also in the Ancient Gazing Sect. This branch in the Southern Phoenix Continent is a branch of the Divine Path Sect."
"Foundation in Ancient Gazing?"
Xu Qing glanced at the old ancestor of the Vajra Sect. Although he knew of the major powers in the Southern Phoenix Continent, it was clear that he didn't know as much as the old ancestor of the Vajra Sect who was at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Hearing the doubt in Xu Qing's voice, the old ancestor of the Vajra Sect instantly felt that it was time to show his worth, so he quickly spoke.
"Master, among the four major powers in the Southern Phoenix Continent, other than the Purple Earth Sect which is a true local power, the other three are not based in the Southern Phoenix Continent."
"Among them, the Seven Blood Pupils where you are at is the most typical. The seven peaks in the Seven Blood Pupils seem to be one, but in reality, each peak is self-governing. They just agree to the rules of the Seven Blood Pupils and act according to the rules. After many years, they gradually merged together."
"The reason for this is because the seven peaks of the Seven Blood Pupils are actually branches of the Seven Sect Alliance in the human territory of the Ancient Gazing Continent. The seven largest sects have joined forces to build branches in the Southern Phoenix Continent!"
"Branches like this can be found on other human islands in the Endless Sea. However, the Southern Phoenix Continent is considered one of the largest islands in the Endless Sea, so the branches here are very powerful."
"As for the Truth of Truth, it is extremely mysterious. I'm not very clear about it either."
Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. This was the first time he had heard of this.
"The Seven Sect Alliance of the Ancient Gazing Continent?"
"The Ancient Gazing Continent is too big. The human race only has a small part of it. Even so, it's still very vast. As I've never been there, I don't know exactly how big it is. However, I heard that the Seven Sect Alliance is only a relatively strong superpower in the coastal region of the human race. However, I think … compared to the entire human territory, it shouldn't be the strongest."
"Of course, this is relative. To me, a peak of the Seven Blood Pupils in the Southern Phoenix Continent is already a huge monster …"
Hearing the words of the King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor, Xu Qing's heart was in turmoil. He lifted his head to look at the sky and earth in the distance. His understanding of this world had increased by another level.
"However, I know about the Departure Sect. This sect has believers in countless races in the world. They are extremely powerful and all of this is because of their teachings …" the King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor continued.
"The Departure Sect's teachings are to leave this cruel world.
They fervently believe in the Ancient Sovereigns who left when the Ancient God Mask arrived. They believe that one day, the sacred land established by the Ancient Sovereigns will take them away. "
"The reason why the Departure Sect has so many branches is because in their scrolls, it is recorded that a total of nine Ancient Sovereigns left to establish the sacred land."
"Therefore, the Departure Sect itself is divided into nine major factions. They believe in different Ancient Sovereigns in the sacred land. The various factions do not agree with each other. They all believe that the sovereign they believe in is the one who can truly take them away.
Among those great Ancient Sovereigns, there are not only humans but also other races. This is also why the Departure Sect's believers are spread across all races. "
Xu Qing was shaken by these words. As he quickly digested the information, he asked a question.
"What kind of existence is the Ancient Sovereigns?"
The King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor was taken aback. He didn't know the answer to this question himself, but he didn't want Xu Qing to reveal his ignorance while he was still weighing his own life.
"I can't fathom the Ancient Sovereigns' realm, but I've seen descriptions in some ancient scrolls … They once united the Ancient Gazing Continent and suppressed all races. They are called Ancient Sovereigns."
"Although they didn't unify the Ancient Gazing Continent, their own forces are heaven-defying. They are called Sovereigns."
Xu Qing's eyes shone with fascination, but he didn't speak.
The King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Xu Qing's reaction. In fact, he didn't know whether this was true or not. After all, the ancient scrolls he'd read were mostly stories …
Thus, he quickly changed the topic and continued to introduce the Departure Sect.
"The highest existence in the Departure Sect is called Arbiter of Life. Legend has it that he's not a cultivator of this world, but a spiritual leader from the sacred land. He's extremely mysterious."
"The leaders of the nine factions call themselves Holy Disciples."
"The Southern Phoenix Sect is only a branch of the Profound Nether Sect. The real Profound Nether Sect is in the Ancient Gazing Continent. They believe in the Ancient Sovereign of the human race, the Profound Nether Ancient Sovereign!"
"According to ancient scrolls, before the Divine Spirit Fragment descended, there was an epoch called the Profound Nether Epoch. It was founded by the Profound Nether Ancient Sovereign. He once led the human race to unify the Ancient Gazing Continent."
Xu Qing's thoughts were in turmoil as he listened to the King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor. He sped all the way until dawn was replaced by the rising sun. As the red clouds of dawn appeared in the sky, Xu Qing saw his destination in the distance.
It was the only city in the Red Plains that had a teleportation formation.
At this point, Xu Qing had already made up his mind on how to deal with the King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor.
"What kind of pill is that pill of yours?"
"Ah, that's a Spirit Whale Pill. There's a special way to consume it. It can't be swallowed immediately. It needs to be stored in a jade box for a hundred days until it melts. Now, it's only three days away," the King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor said hurriedly as he looked at the city in the distance.
"I like it quiet," Xu Qing suddenly said after asking about the pill.
The King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor shuddered. Just as he was about to reply, a suppression from his Life Origin Spirit suddenly came and covered the black metal skewer. As the artifact spirit, he was heavily injured and sealed.
After sealing the first layer, Xu Qing was still worried. He increased the strength of his perception, suppressing it layer by layer. Only then did he feel safe.
Within the layers of suppression and seal, the King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor was extremely weak. He was on the verge of dissipating and fell into a deep slumber.
In the end, Xu Qing chose not to kill the King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor. The value of the artifact spirit made him decide to keep him to perfect his black metal skewer.
However, before he had more means to keep him in check and before his cultivation reached Foundation Establishment, Xu Qing did not intend to awaken him. At the same time, he was prepared to erase him if he disobeyed.
After doing all this, he took a deep breath. In the early morning snow, he did not enter the city ahead. Instead, he turned around and sped off in another direction.
The reason he had muttered that he wanted the Seven Blood Pupils back in the night was for the King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor to hear. Although the other party had turned into an artifact spirit and had been honest and sincere all the way, Xu Qing would not believe him so easily.
Therefore, the words about the elixir were to verify, while the words about returning the Seven Blood Pupils were to confuse him.
If the King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor had lied about the elixir, Xu Qing would have killed him. As for the latter … if the King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor had some special means to reveal his whereabouts, Xu Qing would have no effect after being confused.
That was because Xu Qing did not intend to return to the Seven Blood Pupils any time soon.
In the snow, Xu Qing sped up. He even used a flight talisman and sped off.
When night came, he finally found a hidden hole in the ground. He scattered poison powder at the entrance and covered it up. Only then did he sit down cross-legged and take out the jade box that the King Kong Sect's Old Ancestor had used to store the elixir.
"Whether I live or die will depend on whether the elixir is as you said!"
Xu Qing lowered his head and looked at the jade box. He placed it in the distance and took a few steps back to observe his surroundings. Then, he pointed at the box.
Suddenly, the jade box slowly opened with a click. A strong medicinal fragrance wafted out.