Red Dust Heart Inquiry

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

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

Zi Ji nodded, descended slowly, and then retrieved a ring from her bosom.

"Senior, Di Tian asked me to pass this on to you. It's all just worldly goods that we soul beasts have no use for, so it's better to leave them with you."

Xuan Qing took the ring and probed it with his spiritual power. Good heavens, it really was something.

The internal space wasn't particularly vast, but it wasn't small either; Gold Soul Coin were piled up like a dense mountain.

There were also dozens of soul bones neatly stacked in the corner. Although their age wasn't high—the strongest being only twenty thousand years—a soul bone was still a soul bone. If these were left out in the open, they would be treasures of blood and river capable of inciting a great war.

Di Tian was a man one could get along with; he truly gave when he had things! He would have to help him evolve his bloodline later, no matter what.

Suddenly, the majestic and grand 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 exclusive Azure Dragon soul ring.]

Before he could react, another voice sounded. This time it was the Qilin God Trial, its tone majestic yet filled 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 was stunned. Both trials were the same? Both were Red Dust Heart Inquiry? What did this mean?

Before he could figure it out, Zi Ji asked, "Senior, where shall we go next?"

Xuan Qing snapped back to reality and shook his head. "I don't know. Let's just wander; wherever we end up is fine."

The two walked aimlessly, from noon until dusk, the setting sun stretching their shadows long.

Just as it was getting dark, firelight suddenly erupted in the distance, thick smoke billowed upward, and the sounds of screaming filled the air.

Xuan Qing's expression changed, and he immediately accelerated toward the scene, with Zi Ji following closely behind.

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

They radiated an evil aura, their eyes filled with madness.

Evil Soul Masters!

No!

In this era, they should be called Fallen Ones. Even though Martial Soul Hall had been purging them, there were always those who slipped through the net.

These thirty-some individuals were all of high rank; the weakest were two-ring Soul Grand Master, there were two Soul Kings, and the leader was even a Soul Emperor.

The villagers screamed as they tried to flee, but they couldn't escape at all. The ground was already littered with dense corpses, and fresh blood stained the earth red.

Xuan Qing felt a surge of anger. He didn't know why he felt such intense fury at this sight, but a fire was burning in his heart.

"Zi Ji, guard the perimeter for me. Don't let a single one escape."

Zi Ji nodded and stepped aside; she knew that this matter had to be resolved by Xuan Qing himself.

Xuan Qing took a deep breath and activated Martial Soul Possession. The phantom of an Azure Dragon emerged behind him, roaring toward the heavens.

His arms instantly transformed into dragon claws covered in cyan scales. One yellow, one purple, and one black soul ring circled his body.

The leading Soul Emperor saw Xuan Qing and grinned.

"Another one here to die? Kid! Have you even grown your hair out yet, and you're already here seeking death?"

Xuan Qing ignored him and directly activated his first soul skill: "Azure Scale Rain and Marsh."

The sky instantly filled with dark clouds, and heavy raindrops fell, covering the entire village. Xuan Qing controlled the rain to heal the villagers who were still alive while simultaneously draining the soul power of the Fallen Ones to replenish his own.

The leading Soul Emperor's expression changed. He felt his soul power slipping away; although it wasn't fast, it was certainly decreasing.

"Kid, you're courting death!"

He roared and lunged toward Xuan Qing, two yellow, two purple, and two black soul rings appearing behind him.

The other two Soul Kings also moved, the three of them forming a triangle to surround Xuan Qing.

The second soul ring on Xuan Qing's body lit up: "Azure Dragon Sacred Body."

All attributes increased by one hundred percent! His physical strength and speed skyrocketed, but he didn't stop; the soul ring lit up again.

Second layer stacked! All attributes increased by two hundred percent!

The third soul ring followed closely: "Azure Dragon Undying Body!"

All attributes increased by another two hundred percent! With two layers stacked, it added another four hundred percent.

Now, Xuan Qing's base attributes were six times their original value! He felt his entire body filled with explosive power.

"Kill!"

Xuan Qing let out a low growl, ignoring the three of them entirely as he charged straight into the crowd, his dragon claws swinging with a sound that tore through the air.

The Soul Grand Master in front hadn't even reacted before he was shredded to pieces by the dragon claws, blood splattering everywhere and staining the rain red.

Another man tried to launch a sneak attack from the side, but just as his soul skill activated, Xuan Qing spun around and kicked him, snapping his ribs instantly.

The man flew backward, crashing into a mud wall and collapsing it; after a few twitches, he breathed his last.

They panicked, never imagining that this child could be so ferocious—he was a cold-blooded demon, perhaps even more so than they were!

The leading Soul Emperor shouted, "Attack together! This brat is freakish; don't try to fight him one-on-one."

Over thirty people lunged at once, unleashing a chaotic array of soul skills; blades, shadows, flames, and ice shards all rained down upon Xuan Qing.

Xuan Qing didn't dodge or evade, instead charging headlong into the onslaught as the passive effect of his Azure Dragon Undying Body triggered, reflecting fifty percent of the damage back.

Those who struck him coughed up blood first; though Xuan Qing was injured, he healed in an instant.

He grew more manic with every strike, his dragon claws drawing blood with every swing as the Fallen Ones fell one after another, their screams filling the air.

Two Soul Kings found an opening and flanked him; the one on the left possessed a giant wolf martial soul, its claws gleaming with a cold light.

The Soul King on the right wielded a great blade, his blade aura sharp and biting.

Xuan Qing side-stepped the wolf's claws but took a slash to the shoulder; blood gushed out, only to heal a second later.

He spun and threw a punch, slamming it into the giant wolf Soul King's chest with a loud thud; the man's sternum shattered, and he flew backward, spraying blood.

The great blade Soul King swung down, aiming straight for Xuan Qing's neck, but Xuan Qing raised his hand to block, sparks flying as his dragon claws collided with the blade.

The man swung again, but Xuan Qing suddenly shifted his stance, stepping back as the blade struck the ground, sending gravel flying.

Xuan Qing delivered a roundhouse kick to the great blade Soul King's head, sending him flying through the air, a mouthful of blood erupting from his lips.

The leading Soul Emperor finally made his move; his martial soul was a massive wild boar, his body bulging with muscle.

His sixth soul ring lit up with a brilliant black glow.

He charged like a war chariot with terrifying momentum, forcing Xuan Qing back a dozen steps and leaving his chest feeling stifled.

Before he could recover, the two Soul Kings lunged again; though injured, they were still capable of fighting.

The three coordinated perfectly, forcing Xuan Qing into a steady retreat.

Xuan Qing's thoughts shifted, and the Azure Sky Demon-Breaking Spear appeared in his hand; he spun the spear, pointing the tip at the trio.

"Come!"

He took the initiative, charging forward and thrusting the spear at the boar Soul Emperor, whose fourth soul ring lit up, manifesting a layer of armor over his body.

But the armor was pierced through instantly; the armor-ignoring effect of the Azure Sky Demon-Breaking Spear triggered, the tip driving into the shoulder as blood sprayed out.

"Ahhh!"

The Soul Emperor screamed and retreated, his face deathly pale, while Xuan Qing pursued relentlessly, his spear strikes as agile and vicious as a dragon, forcing the three into a frantic scramble.

The trio realized something was wrong—their soul power was bottoming out.

Azure Scale Rain and Marsh had been draining their soul power the entire time; although they hadn't been in the area for long, they were already being sucked dry.

"Retreat!"

The Soul Emperor made a split-second decision; if they kept fighting, they would be drained to death.

Xuan Qing didn't move, but a grayish-white aura emerged behind him.

The Qilin appeared once more in its adult form, radiating a nine-colored light, its eyes majestic and exuding a terrifying pressure.

The Qilin let out a roar that shook the wilderness, its nine-colored light flaring brilliantly.

"Qilin Heaven-Stamping Seal!"

This was the true might of heaven and earth—using the sky as a seal to suppress and kill all.

The sky seemed to collapse, enveloping the three men, who found themselves unable to move.

"No—"

The Soul Emperor roared in despair, struggling desperately, but it was useless; the pressure only grew stronger.

BOOM—!!!

The sky truly descended, the space itself collapsing, and the three were crushed into a pulp of flesh and blood.

The remaining Fallen Ones were cleaned up by Zi Ji.

Xuan Qing panted heavily, covered in blood—some his enemy's, some his own.

He looked toward the surviving villagers.

"Leave quickly. I can save you once, but that doesn't mean I can save you a second time."

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

They helped the wounded up and hurried away, quickly disappearing into the night as they headed toward the nearest town.

Once the villagers were far away, Xuan Qing collapsed onto the ground, lying back and staring blankly at the night sky.

His mood was complicated right now, truly complicated. Back when someone offended him in Soul Hunting Town, he could have simply whipped out the Qilin Seal and smashed them to death.

At the time, he had felt absolutely no psychological burden, because this world was one where the weak were prey to the strong.

But seeing the Fallen Ones slaughter the villagers this time, anger surged within him—genuine anger. Even after butchering them all, the fury in his heart remained unquenched.

Xuan Qing let out a scoff.

"Red Dust Heart Inquiry? So that's how it is? Are you trying to see what choice I would ultimately make?"