The waves of astonishment smashing at Xu Qing forced him to stop walking. The terrified shrieking of the god’s finger was clearly based on speculation. The finger was asleep most of the time, and had no idea what was happening on the outside. Īt could only gain a very cursory surface understanding.1

But even when Xu Qing first arrived in the county capital a year ago, he remembered hearing occasional rumors that Forbidden by the Immortal would be opened. Nothing ever came of it. That was one reason why he found it suspicious that it was actually being opened right now, at a time of war. But the explanation provided by the god’s finger now caused everything to click into place. In Xu Qing’s mind, numerous puzzle pictures connected, and he came to a very clear realization. It caused him to immediately leave the capital city, go back to his sword pavilion, and sit down cross-legged to get his thoughts in order. The god’s finger jabbered the entire time, and was clearly deeply shaken by what humans were doing.0

Eventually, Xu Qing got all his thoughts in order. Gradually, a general outline of things formed.0

It all starts with Zhang Siyun.... Back at the Supreme Beginning Netherflight Pillar, the Captain and I both climbed to 9,000 meters. Because of the mark of the cultivator who died in a god domain, we were both affected to different degrees by Crimson Mother, the red moon. The Captain got the aura, but I also got... the godsource!7

These were details that he had pieced together after the fact.0

Zhang Siyun also climbed to 9,000...2