Red Dust Heart Inquiry

After the two flew beyond the bounds of Star Dou Forest, Xuan Qing suddenly spoke.

"Zi JI, put me down. I want to take a good look at this world."

Zi JI nodded and slowly descended, then took a ring from her arms.

"Senior, Di Tian asked me to give you this. It's all just worldly possessions, of no use to Soul Beasts like us. You might as well take it."

Xuan Qing accepted the ring and sent his mental power inside. Good heavens—what a haul.

The space inside wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't small either. Gold Soul Coins were piled densely, like a little mountain.

There were also dozens of Soul Bones, stacked neatly in a corner. None had particularly high cultivation ages; the strongest was only twenty thousand years old.

But a Soul Bone was a Soul Bone. Out in the world, these would be treasures worth spilling rivers of blood over.

Di Tian was a real one. If he had something, he really gave it! He'd have to help him evolve his bloodline later, no matter what.

Suddenly, the majestic, awe-inspiring voice of the Azure Dragon echoed in Xuan Qing's mind.

[Azure Dragon God Trial, Third Trial: Red Dust Heart Inquiry.]

[Trial Duration: Unlimited.]

[Reward: One Azure Dragon Exclusive Spirit Ring.]

Before he could react, another voice rang out. This time it was the Qilin God Trial, its solemn tone touched with kindness.

[Qilin God Trial, Second Trial: Red Dust Heart Inquiry.]

[Trial Duration: Unlimited.]

[Reward: Exemption from the Five Decays of Heaven and Man.]

Xuan Qing froze. Both trials were the same? Both were Red Dust Heart Inquiry? What did that mean?

Before he could figure it out, Zi JI asked, "Senior, where are we going next?"

Xuan Qing came back to himself and shook his head. "I don't know. Let's just wander around and see where we end up."

The two of them wandered aimlessly, walking from noon until dusk as the setting sun stretched their shadows long.

As night approached, flames suddenly appeared in the distance. Thick smoke billowed up, mixed with screams.

Xuan Qing's expression changed, and he immediately sped toward the village. Zi JI followed close behind.

The scene before him made Xuan Qing's heart tighten. The village was burning, and dozens of black-clad figures were slaughtering the villagers.

Evil energy radiated from them, and their eyes were crazed.

Evil Soul Masters!

No!

In this era, they should be called Fallen Ones. Even with Spirit Hall constantly hunting them down, some still slipped through the net.

These thirty-odd people were all high-level cultivators. The weakest was a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster, there were two Soul Kings, and their leader was a Soul Emperor.

The villagers screamed as they fled, but there was no escape. Bodies already lay thick upon the ground, and blood had stained the earth red.

Xuan Qing grew angry. He didn't know why, but the sight filled him with fury. A fire burned in his heart.

"Zi JI, cover me. Don't let a single one get away."

Zi JI nodded and stepped aside. She knew Xuan Qing had to be the one to deal with this.

Xuan Qing took a deep breath and activated Martial Soul Possession. The Azure Dragon's phantom appeared behind him and roared at the sky.

His arms instantly transformed into dragon claws covered in azure scales. One yellow, one purple, and one black Soul Ring revolved around him.

The Soul Emperor leading the group grinned when he saw Xuan Qing.

"Another idiot come to die. Hey, kid! Have you even grown all your hair yet? And you're already here to get yourself killed?"

Xuan Qing ignored him and immediately activated his first Soul Skill: "Azure Scale Rain and Marsh."

Dark clouds instantly covered the sky, and raindrops as large as beans fell, blanketing the entire village. Xuan Qing controlled the rain, healing the villagers who were still alive while frantically draining the Fallen Ones' Soul Power to replenish his own.

The Soul Emperor's expression changed. He felt his Soul Power draining—not quickly, but it was definitely decreasing.

"Kid, you're asking to die!"

He roared and lunged at Xuan Qing. Two yellow, two purple, and two black Soul Rings appeared behind him.

The other two Soul Kings moved as well. The three surrounded Xuan Qing in a triangle.

Xuan Qing's second Soul Ring lit up. "Azure Dragon Sacred Body."

His attributes surged by one hundred percent! His strength and speed soared, but he didn't stop there. His Soul Ring lit up once more.

A second layer stacked on top! His attributes increased by two hundred percent!

The third Soul Ring lit up right after. "Azure Dragon Undying Body!"

His attributes increased by another two hundred percent! With two layers stacked, that added another four hundred percent.

Now Xuan Qing's base attributes were six times what they had been! He felt as though his whole body was brimming with explosive power.

"Die!"

Xuan Qing growled. He paid no attention to the three of them and charged straight into the crowd, swinging a dragon claw with a rush of wind.

The Soul Grandmaster at the front didn't even have time to react before the claw tore him to pieces. Blood sprayed everywhere, staining the rain red.

Another tried to ambush him from the side. The moment his Soul Skill activated, Xuan Qing turned and kicked him, breaking his ribs outright.

The man flew backward, crashing through half a mud wall. He twitched twice, then breathed his last.

They panicked. They had never imagined a child could be this fierce. He was a demon who killed without blinking—more demonic than they were!

The Soul Emperor leading them shouted,

"Everyone, attack together! There's something wrong with this kid. Don't fight him alone!"

More than thirty people charged at once. Their Soul Skills came in every shape and form, with flashes of blades, streaks of sword light, flames, and ice spikes all flying at Xuan Qing.

Xuan Qing neither dodged nor retreated. He charged straight in, taking the attacks head-on. The Azure Dragon Undying Body's passive effect activated, reflecting fifty percent of the damage.

Those who hit him spat blood first. Xuan Qing was wounded too, but healed instantly.

The more he fought, the more savage he became. Every swing of his dragon claw brought a spray of blood. The Fallen Ones fell one after another, their screams unending.

The two Soul Kings seized an opening and attacked him from both sides. The Soul King on the left had a giant wolf as his Martial Soul, its claws gleaming coldly.

The Soul King on the right had a greatsword for his Martial Soul, its blade aura fierce.

Xuan Qing dodged the wolf's claws, but the sword struck his shoulder. Blood welled up, only for the wound to heal the next instant.

He turned and punched. His fist slammed into the giant wolf Soul King's chest with a thud. His breastbone shattered, and he flew backward, spitting blood.

The greatsword Soul King swung at him, aiming straight for his neck. Xuan Qing raised his hand to block. His dragon claw clashed with the greatsword, sending sparks flying.

The Soul King swung again. Xuan Qing abruptly changed his move and stepped back. The greatsword smashed into the ground, scattering broken stones.

Xuan Qing spun and kicked the greatsword Soul King in the head, sending him flying. He even spat out a mouthful of blood in midair.

At last, the Soul Emperor made his move. His Martial Soul was a gigantic wild boar, its body packed with bulging muscles.

The sixth Soul Ring on his body lit up, blazing with black light.

He charged like a war chariot, his momentum astonishing. Xuan Qing was knocked back more than a dozen steps, his chest tight.

Before he could recover, the two Soul Kings pounced on him. Though wounded, they could still fight.

The three of them worked together seamlessly, forcing Xuan Qing back step by step.

Xuan Qing's thoughts stirred, and the Azure Sky Demon-Breaking Spear appeared in his hand. He twirled it once, pointing its tip at the three of them.

"Come on!"

He charged forward, thrusting at the wild-boar Soul Emperor. The Soul Emperor's fourth Soul Ring lit up, and a layer of armor covered his body.

But the armor was pierced straight through. The Azure Sky Demon-Breaking Spear's defense-ignoring effect had activated, and its tip sank into the Soul Emperor's shoulder, sending blood spurting out.

"Ahhh!"

The Soul Emperor screamed and staggered backward, his face deathly pale. Xuan Qing pursued him again, his spear flashing like a dragon. Each thrust was vicious and unpredictable, leaving the three of them scrambling.

The three realized something was wrong. Their Soul Power was almost depleted.

Azure Scale Rain and Marsh had been draining their Soul Power all along. The fight had gone on for quite a while, but the three of them hadn't spent much time within its range. Even so, they were nearly drained dry.

"Retreat!"

The Soul Emperor made a snap decision. If they kept fighting, they would all be worn to death.

Xuan Qing didn't move, but gray-white currents of energy appeared behind him.

The Qilin appeared again in its adult form, radiating nine-colored light from its entire body. Its eyes were majestic, and its aura terrifying.

The Qilin raised its head and roared, its cry shaking the four directions. The nine-colored light around its body blazed brilliantly.

"Qilin Heaven-Stamping Seal!"

This was the true might of heaven and earth: taking the sky as a seal and crushing all beneath it.

The sky seemed to collapse, shrouding the three of them. They tried to run, but couldn't move.

"No—!"

The Soul Emperor roared in despair and struggled with all his might, but it was useless. The pressure kept growing stronger.

Boom—!!!

The sky truly came crashing down. Space itself collapsed, and the three were smashed into a pulp.

The remaining Fallen Ones were all cleared out by Zi JI.

Xuan Qing panted heavily, covered in blood—some of it his enemies', some of it his own.

He looked at the surviving villagers.

"Leave as soon as you can. I was able to save you once, but that doesn't mean I can save you a second time."

The villagers came to their senses and knelt, kowtowing. "Thank you, benefactor! Thank you, benefactor!"

They helped the wounded to their feet and supported one another as they left. Soon they vanished into the night, heading for the nearest town.

Once the villagers were gone, Xuan Qing dropped onto the ground. He lay back and gazed blankly at the night sky.

His feelings were tangled—truly tangled. Before, when someone had offended him in Soul Hunting Town, he could simply pull out the Qilin Seal and smash them to death.

At the time, he hadn't felt the slightest burden. This world was simply the law of the jungle.

But when he saw the Fallen Ones slaughtering the villagers, fury surged up inside him—real fury. Even after he slaughtered them all, the anger in his heart still hadn't subsided.

Xuan Qing let out a mocking laugh.

"Red Dust Heart Inquiry? So that's what this is about? You want to see what choice I'll make, is that it?"