Xu Qing shook his head. He grabbed Ning Yan's neck and stepped into the Sword Holding Palace's teleportation formation. While Ning Yan was bewildered, the teleportation formation shone and enveloped the two of them.
In the next moment, Xu Qing and Ning Yan's figures quickly appeared in a Sword Administration Palace transportation formation built on a plain in the province capital near the desert, surrounded by a layer of protective light.
There were many teleportation formations in the Sword Holding Palace in the county capital. Not all of them were built in the city. Some of them were built in the wilderness and required special methods to operate. They also had their own defenses.
The teleportation formation here was one of them.
When the two of them became completely clear, Xu Qing looked around warily.
Even though he had already sensed the Sword Holding Palace's teleportation formation and confirmed that this place was safe, his instincts still made him confirm it again.
When he felt that everything was safe, Xu Qing walked out of the protection of the teleportation formation. He stood on a stone slab that was overgrown with weeds and looked up at the sky.
It was still late at night. The dark clouds that covered half of the county capital also shrouded this place. Rain fell on the withered grass on the plain, emitting a bone-piercing cold.
Furthermore, there were no tall buildings in the surroundings, so the whistling wind blew unscrupulously, stirring up the rain, and echoing in their ears with a sobbing sound.
"Senior Xu Qing, where … where are we going?"
Ning Yan was very nervous. He looked at the desolate plain with a heart full of anxiety.
"Ning Yan, when we came to the county capital to report, I saw you nearby."
Xu Qing said calmly.
"Ah?"
"Yes."
Ning Yan was stunned and quickly nodded.
"At that time, you were in Senior Qing Qin's claws. Now, bring me to the place where you met Senior Qing Qin."
Xu Qing's gaze swept across the dark clouds in the sky as he spoke softly.
"This …" Ning Yan's body trembled. He was afraid of Xu Qing and the big bird. Back then, the bird looked like it was going to eat him, causing him to have nightmares for a long time.
At this moment, when he instinctively wanted to think of a way to tactfully refuse, Xu Qing turned his head and looked at Ning Yan in the wind and rain with a solemn expression.
"Ning Yan, this matter concerns the safety of the 100,000 Sword Holding Palace and the millions of human cultivators in the Sea Sealing County. Help me find Senior Qing Qin. I will report this matter to the Palace Master and record it as a great merit for you!"
"Yes."
"But …." Ning Yan hesitated. Seeing this, Xu Qing spoke up.
"Otherwise, I'll get someone to send you to Chaoxia Province to reunite with Joyful Flower.
"
Hearing this, Ning Yan's expression suddenly turned solemn and he spoke solemnly.
"Senior Brother Xu Qing, you're underestimating me. Since it's related to the Sea Sealing County, I'll definitely do my best.
"
"When I was flying in the sky not far from here, I met Senior Qing Qin. Senior Martial Brother Xu Qing, I'll lead the way!
Ning Yan's expression was solemn, as if he was worried about Sea Sealing County. His body soared into the sky in the rain.
Xu Qing followed behind him expressionlessly.
Just like that, the two of them sped through the sky and soon arrived at the place where Ning Yan had met Qing Qin. Looking around, it was empty all around. There were no mountains, no forests, and it didn't seem like there were any big birds resting here.
Xu Qing had a suspicious look on his face.
Ning Yan's heart trembled. He was afraid that Xu Qing would discover the truth, so he quickly spoke.
"Senior Brother Xu Qing, it's really this place. When I flew past this place, I saw a storm and was captured.
"
Xu Qing glanced at Ning Yan. Under Xu Qing's gaze, Ning Yan instinctively avoided his gaze.
Xu Qing was silent. He had brought Ning Yan here to find traces of Qing Qin. He had no other intentions toward Ning Yan.
However, now he felt that he was being too kind. Thus, after retracting his gaze, he took a deep breath and suddenly shouted to the surroundings.
"Senior Qing Qin, Junior Sword Bearer Xu Qing is here to pay his respects!
"
"To express my sincerity, I've brought Sword Bearer Ning Yan, who offended you last time, here to apologize to you in person.
"
As soon as he said that, Ning Yan's expression changed. He had indeed lied to Xu Qing and didn't bring Xu Qing to the place where he had met Qing Qin. On one hand, he was afraid of Qing Qin. On the other hand, it was related to his own safety.
It was very secretive.
The last time Qing Qin had appeared and captured him, he had told the public that he had met her inexplicably, but in reality, that was not the case … However, when he thought about how far away this place was from Qing Qin's nest, Ning Yan calmed down and began to think about how to justify himself.
However, before he could come up with an explanation, an extremely unpleasant and ear-piercing squawk suddenly came from the black sky. He didn't know whether it was because of him or because of his mood.
As soon as this squawk came out, the sky changed color, and the wind and clouds surged.
The sky exploded, and countless black clouds collapsed and spread in all directions. As rain poured down violently, a bird's head that was ten thousand feet in size appeared from the collapsing clouds.
Its red eyes shone in the sky, and its gaze seemed to have turned solid as it locked onto the place where Xu Qing and Ning Yan were.
Immediately after, a second head and a third head also appeared from the black clouds in the distance. Each head was ten thousand feet in size, and it was extremely shocking.
It was the big bird, Qing Qin.
It was actually perched in the black clouds.
As the way it appeared was too violent, the clouds around it exploded and formed countless lightning bolts. As they moved in all directions, they outlined its huge belly in the black clouds.
It was too big.
As far as Xu Qing's eyes could see, at this moment, half of the sky seemed to be covered by it.
Perhaps because it was disturbed in its deep sleep, the big bird Qing Qin's temper was a little irritable. As it screeched, it inhaled.
Instantly, the rain that fell in all directions due to the collapsing clouds actually flowed backward, turning into three long rivers that were sucked into its mouth.
This scene made Xu Qing's heart tremble. He realized that this time, Qing Qin seemed to have appeared in its true form, so it was much bigger than before.
Especially now, compared to when he first came to the county capital, his cultivation had increased by a lot. He had also experienced many things, so he had a better judgment of Void Return powerhouses.
At this moment, he saw with his own eyes that the big bird Qing Qin that appeared from the black clouds had countless Dao marks and threads in the eyes of its three ferocious heads. There were even overlapping shadows on its body, and within the lightning bolts around it, small worlds were formed and destroyed one after another.
Although it hadn't reached the level where it could merge into one, the pressure emitted by its majestic body that was close to ten thousand feet was enough to shake the world.
Great waves rose in Xu Qing's heart, and Ning Yan, who was at the side, was already frightened. His eyes were filled with disbelief, because this was not the place where he first found Qing Qin.
Qing Qin's nest was very, very far away from here …
"Why is it here? This isn't right. Qing Qin is very lazy and usually doesn't go out!
Could it be … Could it be that it has its eyes on me?!
"
Ning Yan's entire body trembled, and his heart was in turmoil. Xu Qing took a deep breath and withstood the great pressure from the sky. He took a few steps forward and clasped his fists toward the three huge heads in the sky.
"Sword Wielder Xu Qing greets Senior Qing Qin."
"
As Xu Qing spoke, the three heads in the black clouds let out a squeak at the same time. This sound was like countless heavenly thunders exploding, rumbling in all directions and setting off a storm. This caused Xu Qing to involuntarily retreat, and Ning Yan to rapidly howl in grief.
"It's over. What Qing Qin hates the most is being woken up from its sleep. We're done for!
"
"Shut up!"
Xu Qing roared. After barely managing to stabilize himself, he bowed toward the sky again.
"Senior Qing Qin, now that the Holy Billow Tribe is invading, Sea Sealing County is in danger. I implore you to come out. If you don't want to go to the battlefield, it's fine. If you don't want to fight, it's fine. You just need to follow me temporarily and allow me to borrow your power."
"
Xu Qing's words were sincere. After he finished speaking, he bowed again.
However, Ning Yan, who was beside him, was on the verge of tears. He ignored Xu Qing's reprimand and quickly reminded him.
"Senior Brother Xu Qing, it's useless. I actually guessed what you were thinking. In fact, although Qing Qin's ancestor followed Ancient Emperor Xuan You and eventually died in battle, this was a beautiful description given by later generations."
"
"The truth is that Qing Qin's ancestor was a peerless ferocious bird back then. He was originally enemies with the Ancient Emperor. Later, due to the circumstances and the Ancient Emperor's promise to protect his descendants, he fought for the Ancient Emperor."
"He died."
""
"When the remnant face of the deity arrived, the Ancient Emperor left the Ancient Gazing Continent and didn't fulfill his promise.
""
"As for Qing Qin, although she was friends with the previous county governor, it was also because the previous county governor had helped her greatly. After he left, the karma between them was severed. This was also the reason why Qing Qin didn't leave with him."
""
"I've read the records of Sea Sealing County. Although Qing Qin wasn't an enemy of the human race, she didn't help them either. Everything was based on her personal preferences."
""
"And Qing Qin's temper has always been irritable. This is publicly acknowledged. The ancestor of the Desolate Age's bloodline was a ferocious bird that was famous in the world for devouring thousands of races!"
""
"We disturbed her slumber. To Qing Qin, this is the source of her anger."
""
"Also, when you saw that I didn't die in her claws, it wasn't because my physical body was strong. It was because of the bloodline in my body that she was wary of. I …"
Ning Yan, who was at the side, hurriedly told him everything he knew. His voice was trembling. He even said some things that he couldn't say. It was obvious how flustered he was.
Xu Qing's expression was solemn. He could hear many questions in Ning Yan's words. However, this was not the time to probe because a huge pressure came from the sky.
Qing Qin's three huge ferocious heads hung down from the clouds and approached Xu Qing and Ning Yan with fierce intent.
At such a close distance, Xu Qing could clearly see that the three ferocious heads didn't have many feathers. Their wrinkled purple-red skin was full of cracks and ugliness. Their red eyes were full of annoyance at being disturbed. Their huge and sharp beaks emitted a terrifying pressure.
Looking from afar, in the sky, compared to Qing Qin, Xu Qing and Ning Yan were like tiny dots. At the same time, the visual impact of this scene was also shocking.
Ning Yan hurriedly unleashed the power of his bloodline in an attempt to resolve the crisis. As for Xu Qing, he couldn't care less.
Xu Qing's breathing was rapid. He didn't move, but the purple moon in his body had already risen from the Sky Palace. Just as he was about to speak, Qing Qin's three heads sniffed at him and the annoyance in their eyes dissipated.
The right side of his head suddenly sank down and reached Xu Qing's body. Then, he lifted his head and gently lifted Xu Qing's body onto his head.
Xu Qing was stunned.
Ning Yan's eyes widened completely. His heart was in turmoil. He couldn't believe it and cried out in surprise.
"This... this..."
Ning Yan's mind was turned upside down. He was completely dumbfounded and stood there in a daze. He only felt that his mind was blank at the scene in front of him.
It seemed that even his ability to think had come to a standstill at this moment.
The scene in front of him was simply too shocking, to the extent that it was appalling.
His origin was mysterious, so when he was at the Ten Intestines Tree, he recognized most of the things that the captain took out. He also knew many things that Xu Qing didn't know. He also understood Qing Qin's ferocious intentions and her relationship with the Human Race.
That was why he had told Xu Qing that before. In his opinion, to the detached Qing Qin, it didn't matter whether the Human Race controlled Fenghai County or not.
Even if the Holy Billow Tribe occupied this place, they wouldn't easily do anything to it. Basically, it would be the same as it was now.
Therefore, he knew very well that Qing Qin wouldn't help or fight.
But now...
He saw that the arrogant Qing Qin actually lifted Xu Qing with her right head and took the initiative to let Xu Qing stand there.