After all, in the post-apocalyptic world after the arrival of the God Mask, most of the cultivators were Qi Condensation cultivators. There were not many Foundation Establishment cultivators, so they were not common in the cities outside.
Only in large sects like the Seven Blood Children would there be a large gathering of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
As a result, Xu Qing's appearance naturally caused a certain commotion. Even as the guards greeted him respectfully, Xu Qing sensed a ripple from the city lord's residence in the distance before he even reached the Teleportation Formation.
Xu Qing frowned. He was on his guard as he looked over coldly.
In mid-air, a long rainbow whistled and approached. It stopped three feet away from Xu Qing, revealing a middle-aged man wearing a luxurious robe.
The middle-aged man looked ordinary. His Foundation Establishment Dharmic power spread out as he sized up Xu Qing.
Xu Qing was also looking at his neck, trying to determine how many Dharmic apertures he had opened.
"Fellow Daoist, may I ask why you are here?
I am Zhou Hengli of the Purple Earth Zhou Family. I have been appointed as the city lord of this city. This city is jointly managed by the Purple Earth Sect, the Seven Blood Children, and the Departure Sect.
"I was just passing by."
Xu Qing said casually. He could faintly sense that the man did not have many Dharmic apertures. He had not reached the stage where he could form a vital fire.
The middle-aged cultivator in mid-air, Zhou Hengli's expression looked normal, but he was already on his guard. He could feel a strong murderous aura from the sallow-faced cultivator in front of him.
It was clear that the other party was someone who had killed many people. Judging from the other party's clothes, he could not tell the other party's background. This made him extremely vigilant, especially when the other party's gaze seemed to have landed on his neck. This made his hair stand on end instinctively.
What shocked him the most was that he could not see the cultivation level of the man in front of him. He was worried that he had met someone with a vital fire.
"Please!"
Zhou Hengli's heart trembled, but he did not show it. He spoke in a low voice and immediately made arrangements.
Immediately, all the pedestrians in front of Xu Qing were driven away. At the same time, a path was opened that led to the teleportation formation.
Xu Qing's expression was calm. He knew that the other party did not welcome him. They obviously wanted him to leave quickly. He also felt strands of Qi coming from the city.
It was not from cultivators, but more like a formation that was being activated.
Xu Qing thought that this sort of vigilance was normal. After all, for a city in the wilderness, it was natural for them to be on high alert if a Foundation Establishment cultivator from outside entered.
Xu Qing nodded. He decided to stop walking. With a burst of speed, he flew into the air and headed for the Teleportation Matrix. He was so fast that he stirred up a gust of wind that kicked up dust.
Zhou Hengli's eyes narrowed, and he immediately followed.
It didn't take long for Xu Qing to reach the teleportation portal. It had already been cleared out, and there were no other people around. There were only a few guards in charge of maintaining the operation of the teleportation portal. Trembling, they clasped hands in greeting.
"Greetings, Senior. The array has been adjusted. Where do you want to go?
Xu Qing looked at them, and then glanced at the City Lord, who was following them from a distance. He appeared to be normal, but was actually extremely vigilant. He deeply felt the status of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Thus, he walked to the side of the teleportation array and calmly spoke.
"Seven Blood Child's main city.
As soon as he spoke, the guards in charge of maintaining the teleportation array quickly nodded and began to adjust it. After confirming that there were no problems, they respectfully retreated about a hundred feet away.
Xu Qing's gaze swept over the teleportation array. He didn't understand teleportation arrays, but after seeing them for a long time, he could tell that there were some tricks to them. After scanning the array, he stepped in. As the teleportation array shone, he disappeared.
It wasn't until Xu Qing's figure disappeared from the teleportation array that Zhou Hengli let out a sigh of relief. Although he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he didn't want to provoke someone with such a murderous aura.
"The Seven Blood Child doesn't welcome Foundation Establishment cultivators from outside, but he still dared to go there. That means he's most likely not a wanted criminal. Could he be a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Seven Blood Child?"
Zhou Hengli touched his neck and shook his head. He didn't want to think about it anymore. To him, all Foundation Establishment cultivators from outside were extremely dangerous. If there was someone with a Life Fire among them, he would lose his life in the Profound Brilliance Form. Therefore, it was best to send him away as soon as possible.
Otherwise, if a conflict really happened, he would die in this remote city in the wilderness. Even if the clan found out, it would be difficult to investigate.
At this moment, in the eastern part of the Southern Phoenix Continent, where the Mountain Range of Truth connected to the sea, Xu Qing's figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the teleportation array in the center of the bustling main city.
As soon as he appeared, he didn't even have time to look around before looking up. His expression changed slightly.
He felt a powerful ripple coming from all directions in the main city. It enveloped him, and although it didn't do anything, it felt like it was being monitored.
Xu Qing was no stranger to this ripple. It was the power of the Seven Blood Child's teleportation array.
In the past, Xu Qing had never felt anything like this.
But now that he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he immediately understood why Foundation Establishment cultivators from outside didn't dare to casually come to the Seven Blood Child's teleportation array.
Obviously, Foundation Establishment cultivators took precedence over disciples. Xu Qing's identity medallion flashed, but because he hadn't gone up the mountain to register his Cultivation base, he couldn't dispel the feeling of being watched.
Xu Qing took a deep breath, looked away, and then calmly walked out of the teleportation array.
The teleportation array didn't attract the attention of any cultivators or commoners. After Xu Qing left, he changed into the Daoist robe he had prepared.
His trip to Ocean Lizard Island had given him some experience, and therefore, he had prepared several sets of Daoist robes.
Currently, he was wearing the gray Daoist robes of the Seven Blood Child disciples. Xu Qing walked down the street, attempting to conceal his Cultivation base and see if there were any changes to the teleportation array.
However, even though he had concealed his Cultivation base to the extreme, making it impossible for any passing cultivator to detect him, the spell formation was still able to lock onto him and monitor him. Because of that, Xu Qing gained a deeper understanding of the Seven Blood Children's spell formation.
"I wonder if I can use my shadow to conceal myself from the teleportation array.
Xu Qing muttered to himself for a moment. He didn't want to test it out. As far as he was concerned, there was no need to do such a thing. Regardless of whether he succeeded or not, there were still risks involved.
"Well then, let's go up the mountain.
"
Xu Qing muttered in his heart. He lifted his head and looked at the seventh summit in the distance before walking over.
Along the way, he passed numerous shops. He looked at the cold, hurried pedestrians, and the occasional grey-robed disciple. He couldn't help but think back to everything that had happened with the Seven Blood Children.
He sighed inwardly, but even more than that, he was filled with anticipation at the prospect of receiving at least 5,000 Spirit Stones per month.
Even as he quickened his pace, he caught sight of a familiar figure off in the distance.
As soon as he appeared, the commoners in the area began to move out of his way. As for the Seven Blood Children disciples, they were even more respectful, and it was difficult to conceal the envy in their eyes.
The newcomer was a young man wearing a dark violet Daoist robe. As he walked through the crowd, the violet color of his robe indicated his noble status. Combined with his extraordinary appearance and powerful Cultivation base fluctuations, he looked like a Son of God who had descended into the mortal world.
It was none other than Zhao Zhongheng.
Xu Qing saw him, and he saw Xu Qing.
If it were any other time, Zhao Zhongheng would have immediately turned around and left, unwilling to say another word to Xu Qing. But today, he snorted and pointed up into the sky.
Instantly, a Forbidden Sea Dragonwhale magically appeared in mid-air. It threw its head back and roared, then vanished.
Cries of alarm rang out in the area, and quite a few of the disciples at the foot of the mountain exclaimed in praise.
Zhao Zhongheng looked over at the expressionless Xu Qing and proudly said, "Forbidden Sea Dragonwhale magically appeared.
"Forbidden Sea Dragon Whale, I've also mastered it!
Xu Qing's expression didn't change at all, and he ignored Meng Hao as he continued on toward the seventh peak.
Zhao Zhongheng frowned. Xu Qing didn't seem surprised, and he felt a bit uncomfortable. However, everything that had happened on the sea had left a deep shadow in his heart. Therefore, he decided not to show off any further, and instead, headed toward the seventh peak.
The reason he had left the mountain was because he had asked someone to forge an exquisite phoenix hairpin for him, which he planned to give to Elder Sister Ding.
However, as he walked along, he noticed that there were fewer and fewer people on the south side of the city. A look of surprise appeared on Zhao Zhongheng's face as he looked over at Xu Qing.
From what he could tell, Meng Hao's goal seemed to be the entrance to the mountain.
Although he was curious, Zhao Zhongheng was too proud to ask. However, as time passed, and Xu Qing was less than three hundred meters away from the stairs leading up to the seventh peak, Zhao Zhongheng couldn't hold back any longer.
"Xu Qing, where are you going?" Zhao Zhongheng quickened his pace and asked after catching up with him.
"Up the mountain."
Xu Qing frowned. Dan Dan said.
"Up the mountain?
Gray-robed disciples aren't allowed to go up the mountain unless they're summoned. Even if they're summoned, they need someone to guide them!
Only Conclave disciples can go up the mountain on their own!
Zhao Zhongheng looked Xu Qing up and down, but couldn't see any ripples coming off of him. He also didn't see anyone waiting up ahead.
Xu Qing ignored Zhao Zhongheng and continued onward until he reached the stairs.
When Zhao Zhongheng saw this, he began to laugh coldly.
"If disciples from the foot of the mountain try to climb up the mountain for no reason, they'll be thrown out by the spell formation. Xu Qing, what are you going to do next …?"
Before Zhao Zhongheng could finish speaking, Xu Qing's expression was the same as ever as he stepped onto the first step.
As soon as his foot touched the ground, the stairs leading up to the seventh peak suddenly seemed to turn into a lake. An invisible force swept toward him, as if confirming something.
Xu Qing looked up toward the mountain. His Cultivation base exploded with power, and the aura of Foundation Establishment roiled out. Bells tolled out from the top of the seventh peak.
Xu Qing walked up the stairs, one step at a time. Behind him, Zhao Zhongheng felt the Foundation Establishment aura exploding out from Xu Qing. He staggered backward, his body trembling, his face pale, his eyes on the verge of popping out of their sockets. Waves of shock battered his heart.
"Foundation … Foundation … Foundation Establishment!