"My Lord, it's him. His name is Xu Qing.
"He also has a companion who is his Senior Brother. His name is Chen Erniu. As for the third person, she is the Saintess of the Departing Daoist Altar in the Emperor Welcoming State. Her name is Qing Qiu. She is also on her way and will arrive soon.
The old man had a strange look on his face as he continued to speak.
"What the three of them did accelerated Mystery's madness. So, according to my judgment, they should be the people Mystery hates the most now.
The middle-aged man nodded.
"Don't worry. Let's try it ourselves first. If we can't make Mystery collapse in the end and successfully search her soul, we'll bring the three of them to stimulate Mystery."
"Also, this Xu Qing is not bad. His temperament is also good. If he has the ability to become a Sword Wielder, he will be a good seedling."
"Recently, the Upper County is preparing to reactivate the Ancient Immortal Restriction in order to deal with the frequent signs of recovery in the various provinces. Therefore, you can add more bloodshed in this test. Times have changed. We want pigs, not dogs."
The old man's expression changed when he heard the words "ancient immortal restriction".
"Reactivate the ancient immortal restriction?
Isn't it said that an unknown God was found sleeping there? "
"That's right. The world thought that the catastrophe of the Ancient Gaze Continent was caused by the broken faces of the Gods. But they didn't know … According to the records, in the era when the ancient sovereign had to leave, there were more than just broken faces of the Gods that came. There were more hidden ones."
"I don't know what they are waiting for. Maybe the Upper County has the intention to reactivate the restriction because they are ordered to verify it."
The middle-aged cultivator shook his head and turned to leave.
Only the old man stood there with a complicated expression. He sighed softly and his body slowly dissipated.
Time gradually passed. Seven days passed.
In these seven days, Xu Qing returned to his normal life. He went to the Daoist Altar every day and listened carefully to the lessons there to learn more about plants and trees.
No one challenged him again. This made Xu Qing the second person that no one dared to challenge.
During this time, the Daoist of the Taisi Immortal Sect also returned.
His return set off a sky full of multicolored light. It seemed that he had just mastered a spell and was not completely restrained. So, he attracted a lot of attention. Xu Qing also raised his head and looked at the sky.
He felt a sense of pressure from the multicolored light around the Daoist.
After this Daoist returned, everything in the Taisi Immortal Sect was normal. He didn't do anything because of Li Ziliang's death. It seemed that in his heart, Li Ziliang had nothing to do with him.
"Is it him?" Xu Qing murmured. He wasn't sure, but this didn't affect his vigilance.
In addition, in these seven days, Xu Qing's greatest gain was his advancement in alchemy.
That was especially so for the old man at the Dao Altar. During one of his lectures, he brought up a concept. The old man said that this concept was not very mature, and that the terracotta statue was only a supporting role.
That was how to differentiate herbs that he didn't recognize.
Analyzing the subject based on the subject, analyzing the habit based on the subject, analyzing the medicinal effect based on the habit, and determining the Yin and Yang based on the medicinal effect. This series of identification methods opened up an unknown path for Xu Qing.
As he sped up his understanding of plants and vegetation, he discovered that although this method of identification was not completely correct, it was at least eighty percent correct.
In the path of the Dao of alchemy, the slightest difference could be the difference between the heavens and the earth. But to alchemists, having a few more methods of distinguishing between different medicinal plants was extremely useful when it came to discovering new medicinal plants.
In addition to this, Xu Qing also heard about divine vegetation from the old man at the Dao Altar.
Xu Qing was not unfamiliar with divine vegetation, but was also familiar with it. He was unfamiliar with it because Grandmaster Bai's ancient records of plants and vegetation didn't contain much information about it. But he was unfamiliar with it because, from the moment he had come into contact with plants and vegetation, he had been searching for a divine medicinal plant.
Even after Lei Dui had passed away, he still hadn't found it.
That was the Heavenly Mandate Flower, which could extend one's life.
"The Heavenly Mandate Flower is also known as the Life-Extending Flame," said the old man. "It is a Divine Spirit Plant, a variant of the Divine Compound Tree. There are no fewer than seventy-three variants, but only the first can be used as a medicinal plant. It can grow in any location in the Forbidden Zone, and is very rare.
"It can regenerate severed limbs, and reignite a suspended life. With the exception of injuries to the soul, it can be used to treat everything."
The old man sat cross-legged on the Dao Altar, speaking coolly to the seven or eight cultivators who were listening to him speak.
He was passing on his teachings.
To him, the knowledge of plants and vegetation and the Dao of alchemy was both his and the human race's. Therefore, even though not many people were listening, he still persisted in teaching the Dao.
In fact, in the early years, he would travel the world to spread his knowledge of plants and vegetation and the Dao of alchemy in different human regions. However, in recent years, he had grown too old, and his lifespan was nearing its end. Therefore, he didn't go out.
Instead, he stayed at the Sword Ruling Court to teach the rogue cultivators about plants and vegetation.
Because he had seen so many students, he didn't pay much attention to the cultivators who came and went to listen to his lectures. Whether they came or went, he didn't care.
"Therefore, the root of the Divine Compound Tree is a change in the level of life. In fact, I've been researching a topic for many years now, and that is that plants seem to be more suited to the world after the arrival of God than flesh and blood races.
"Therefore, I often think that perhaps the Divine Compound Tree is the direction in which other races study God."
When Xu Qing heard this, his body trembled. He suddenly thought of Zhu Zhao, and Bai Li.
Bai Li had a spirit plant on him, and when he fused with the spirit plant, he had exploded with Divine Compound fluctuations. Then he thought of Master Shengyun.
He wasn't sure if the Divine Compound Tree test subject during the Shaosi Battle also had a spirit plant inside of it. He planned to ask his master about it later.
After all, the Divine Compound Tree test subject was currently being studied by his master in the Seven Blood Eyes.
Having reached this point in his train of thought, Xu Qing continued to listen. Sometimes, the old man would talk about too much and too profound a topic for him to ask about. Therefore, he would take out the Medicinal Compendium of Plants and Vegetation and record it down for future research.
The other cultivators listening to the lecture did the same, occasionally taking notes.
It was in this way that another half a month passed.
By now, Xu Qing was completely immersed in his studies. However, there was still a time when he would finish. One evening, after the old man finished his lecture on Divine Compound Trees and Vegetation, he looked up at Xu Qing and the other eight cultivators listening to his lecture.
"You don't need to come here in the future," he said coolly. "I've finished lecturing on the basics of plants and vegetation. When your Dao of alchemy has reached a higher level, you can come find me. I'll teach you the next chapter.
"Furthermore, I will not accept any apprentices in my life, because I won't hide anything from my lectures. Whether you become an apprentice or not makes no difference. There is no Karma involved."
The old man's gaze swept over the crowd. He didn't look at anyone, but at the Medicinal Compendium in Xu Qing's hand.
Xu Qing and the other cultivators quickly rose to their feet and clasped hands respectfully toward the old man.
Although they weren't truly master and apprentice, they were still indebted to the old man for the past month of lectures.
However, there were three cultivators who had regretful expressions on their faces. Clearly, they wanted to use their serious performance to fight for a chance to be apprenticed to the old man.
After all, everyone who had been able to listen to the lecture up to this point had some understanding of plants and vegetation. They were well aware that the old man's skill in the Dao of plants and vegetation had reached the pinnacle.
For such a person to be lecturing here in the Sword Ruling Court indicated that he was definitely an extraordinary figure.
Actually, it wasn't just this Daoist Platform. In the other Daoist Platforms in Arambha City, where magical techniques were taught, people who listened to the lectures had similar thoughts.
However, now that the old man had spoken, they knew that it was hopeless.
"Many thanks, senior," they said in low voices. After bowing three times, they left.
Xu Qing also bowed three times before leaving.
After they had disappeared off into the distance, the air next to the old man on the Daoist Platform rippled, and a sword-bearing cultivator walked out.
His Cultivation base was extraordinary, and his Nascent Soul aura rippled out. His expression was one of respect as he bowed to the old man.
"Your excellency, I'm here to take you back."
The old man nodded and slowly rose to his feet. He was about to leave when he looked in the direction Xu Qing had left in, and the Medicinal Compendium of Plants and Vegetation that Xu Qing had taken out to record his lecture appeared in his mind.
He pointed at it and said, "Investigate that kid's background."
The sword-bearing cultivator stared in shock for a moment, then pulled out a jade slip and began to make some inquiries.
"That kid's name is Xu Qing, and he's from the Seven Blood Eyes of the Eight Sect Alliance. He's a Quasi-Dao Child of the Eight Sect Alliance and had killed a genius from the Taisi Immortal Sect outside the city."
"Seven Blood Eyes?
That small sect in the Southern Phoenix Prefecture, right? "The old man's eyes flickered.
He recalled.
"It's the Southern Phoenix Prefecture," the sword-bearing cultivator replied respectfully.
"Southern Phoenix Prefecture?
No wonder he has that Medicinal Compendium. "
The old man murmured. He didn't know who Xu Qing was, but he recognized that Medicinal Compendium.
Many years ago, he had been to the Southern Phoenix Prefecture, and when he was there, he met a young man in the Violet Lands.
That young man was very studious and had high talent, causing the old man to want to take him in as a disciple. However, when he asked the young man if he was willing to leave with him, the young man declined, saying that he wanted to stay in the Southern Phoenix Prefecture, in the Violet Lands.
The old man didn't force him, and before he left, he gave the young man a Medicinal Compendium of Plants and Vegetation as a form of encouragement.
Now, sixty years had passed, and when he saw the Medicinal Compendium of Plants and Vegetation in Xu Qing's hands, he felt that it was very familiar.
The old man sighed, but he didn't ask Xu Qing about his thoughts. After all, it was all in the past. Shaking his head, he took a step forward and headed back to the Sword Bearing Hall.
As for Xu Qing, after he returned to the Sword Bearing Hall, he reorganized all the knowledge he had learned during this period of time, memorizing it in his heart. Only then did he close his eyes and begin to meditate.
At daybreak, Xu Qing opened his eyes and stared at the Absolute Beginning Pillar.
"It's time to climb it."
After being here for over a month, he already had a very detailed understanding of the qualifications and the true test. Among them, obtaining the qualifications for the first stage of the test would give him many additional points.
For example, comprehending the nine Battle Spirit Seals, as well as reaching a certain height on the Absolute Beginning Pillar.
The more insights one gained, the higher one climbed, and the more points one would receive.
In addition, although there were still some Gengjin Qi for sale in the market, the price was too high. Xu Qing couldn't bear to buy it. Hence, no matter what, he felt that he had to try climbing the Absolute Beginning Pillar.
After all, the disciples of the Eight Sect Alliance, with the exception of him and the captain, had all climbed to a certain height.
"Has the captain gone missing?"
Xu Qing walked out of the Sword Bearing Hall. On the way to the Absolute Beginning Pillar, he looked around. During this period of time, he couldn't find any trace of the captain even after searching for a long time.
Seeing that the captain still hadn't appeared, Xu Qing could only put away his thoughts of searching and gradually arrived at the Absolute Beginning Pillar.
His appearance immediately attracted the attention of everyone here.
"It's Xu Qing!"
"He's finally here!"
"I wonder how high this Xu Qing can climb!"
Amidst the discussion, the crowd opened up a path. Xu Qing calmly walked through until he reached the bottom of the Absolute Beginning Pillar.
Compared to this pillar, the cultivators on the ground were incomparably small and insignificant like ants.
Xu Qing raised his head and looked at the enormous pillar in front of him. The rules of climbing the Absolute Beginning Pillar that he understood during this period of time surfaced in his mind.
On the Absolute Beginning Void Pillar, there were two things that would affect a cultivator's climb.
The first was the impact of resentment.
The Absolute Beginning Pillar itself was a murderous weapon. The Ghost Emperor had used this murderous weapon to kill countless living beings. This caused the Absolute Beginning Pillar to be filled with the resentment of countless races before their deaths.
This resentment was incomparably strong. It was just that it was suppressed by the battle intent and wasn't as terrifying when exposed. However, if one's body came into contact with it, they would still suffer some of the resentment impact.
The higher one climbed, the more intense the resentment impact would be.
When it was intense to the extreme, it would form the resentment soul of an ancient cultivator who had died at the hands of the Ghost Emperor in the cultivator's sea of consciousness.
This was the second difficulty.
The cultivator could only continue climbing if they drove it out of their sea of consciousness.
If they failed to drive it out, they wouldn't be possessed. However, they would be thrown out of the Absolute Beginning Pillar and the challenge would be over.
The higher one climbed, the more lifelike the resentment soul of an ancient cultivator would be and the harder it would be to drive it out. Moreover, they were born from the Absolute Beginning Pillar and seemed to be one. Therefore, they were all in an indestructible state.
Therefore, if one spent too much time, the cultivator would undoubtedly lose.
This information appeared in Xu Qing's mind. He looked at the Absolute Beginning Pillar in front of him and took a deep breath.
Even as Xu Qing stood there, he could clearly feel the boundless pressure coming from the pearl. The Ghost Emperor Mountain in his Sea of Consciousness began to glow.
A moment later, Xu Qing's eyes flashed. Under the gazes of tens of thousands of people, his body flashed and he stepped onto the Absolute Beginning Pillar.
The Absolute Beginning Pillar.
With one step, he was 100 feet away. Xu Qing's eyes lit up. He could feel the impact of the resentment, but it was very weak and wasn't enough to be feared.
Therefore, he didn't stop. He quickly stepped up and continued forward.
400 feet, 800 feet, 130 feet … In just three to five breaths of time, Xu Qing's figure appeared at a height of 200 feet. At this point, his body stopped for the first time.
In his mind, the countless resentment from the Absolute Beginning Void Pillar quickly gathered into a blurry figure.
An ancient aura with madness and greed spread out from this figure. Terrifying roars echoed in his sea of consciousness.
This figure was about to be completely formed.
But in the next moment … as the Ghost Emperor Mountain in Xu Qing's sea of consciousness shook, the figure suddenly trembled and collapsed. Faint, shrill screams echoed from within. It was as if this resentment soul's indestructible state had been changed and it was completely destroyed.
"Ghost Emperor!!!"