Outside Of Time
chapter-1154

Every move of Xu Qing and the others was being watched at all times in this capital with a complex power structure.

Everyone was observing.

From the moment they stepped into the Grand Imperial Capital Region, such observations had been carried out. This was even more so in the Imperial City.

Hence, after Kong Xianglong arranged for a Sword Holder to go out, many gazes immediately locked onto this matter. It was only when they noticed that the Sword Holder had gone to the Tenth Prince's residence that most of the people in the Imperial City knew the reason through various clues and channels.

Some valuable items had been lost from the Twelfth Prince's mansion, taken without notice by the Tenth Prince.

The Tenth Prince's domineering personality was also one of the reasons why the First Heavenly King didn't like him. With this personality, there was a high chance that he would choose to ignore the message token sent by the Sword Holder of Fenghai County.

"Interesting. Let's see how Xu Qing deals with it."

"He just arrived in the Imperial City. Will he choose to keep a low profile or will he choose to be high-profile? We can see his style of doing things from this."

"However, although the Tenth Prince isn't liked by the First Heavenly King, he's not an outsider after all. This matter is going to be interesting."

Most of the various forces and departments in the Imperial Capital chose to wait and see. Towards unknown and unfamiliar existences, their actions were instinctive and relatively the correct thing to do.

Xu Qing had already sensed this the moment he entered the capital. As everyone settled down, it was still early and Xu Qing chose to head out.

As he walked on the streets of the capital, Xu Qing could sense the attention from all directions. Regardless of whether it was the spy in the crowd or the envelopment of the divine sense, everything he did in the capital was transparent.

Regarding this, Xu Qing could understand the reason and also understood that it was inevitable. At that moment, his expression was as usual and there were no changes.

As for the message token that he got someone to send to the Tenth Prince, Xu Qing didn't care much about the outcome. This was because the moment he sent it, he had already thought of the outcome.

If the items were returned, it would naturally be best. If they weren't…

Xu Qing's eyes turned cold. He chose to be high-profile.

This was the experience he had gained after experiencing the misery of the human world when he was young. It was just like how he had killed someone with ulterior motives in the slums when he was young and hung his head at the door.

He was a wolf.

The wolf was patient and ruthless. It would display its prowess according to different occasions and timings. According to Xu Qing's experience, many times when he was new at some place, it was easier to end disputes by being high-profile than by keeping a low profile.

This was also the reason why he didn't stop Big Circle in the array formation earlier.

Hence, Xu Qing chose to ignore those spies who were observing him and were now following him. He calmly walked on the streets and looked at the unfamiliar capital city. He then looked at the number one city of the human race and engraved it in his mind.

Zi Xuan and the captain also went out of Ning Yan's residence. However, they weren't with Xu Qing.

Before Zi Xuan left, she glanced at Xu Qing. Xu Qing understood that Zi Xuan wanted to sense the lantern in the Imperial City and Zi Xuan's personality was completely different from Ling'er's.

If Ling'er was here, she would definitely follow him at all times. However, Zi Xuan was different. She had her own matters and thoughts.

As for the captain, his shifty eyes before he left had already revealed everything. Xu Qing didn't need to guess to know that the other party must have gone to investigate what treasures there were in the Imperial City.

Or he was going to go see the places where he put things in his previous lives.

Xu Qing shook his head. Under the afternoon sun, he walked past many buildings and streets, arranging everything in the surroundings in his mind and searching for a way to leave in the future.

This was an instinctive action of him in any unfamiliar place.

Wariness and vigilance existed on his body. It didn't decrease because of the increase in his status.

However, it wasn't displayed openly but was achieved by truly embodying the teachings he received during his stay in the Seven Blood Eyes.

Appear relaxed outside, but focused inside, with thoughts hidden.

From the outside, everything was calm.

At the same time, he was also thinking about the situation in the Imperial City that Princess Anhai had told him about. It wasn't just those influential people but also the descendants of the Human Emperor.

Coupled with Ning Yan's introduction on the way, Xu Qing had his own measurement in mind.

"Three princesses and twelve princes."

"The eldest princess and the second princess are married to foreign races… They aren't in the Imperial Capital."

Xu Qing fell silent.

To a certain extent, the 15 princes and princesses of the Human Emperor were one of the origins of the capital's forces. Many of them were inextricably linked to these imperial descendants.

"In the Imperial City, the only princess left is Anhai. She has the qualifications to open a mansion but she didn't make such a choice. Instead, she followed the Human Emperor. The power behind her isn't small. The ancestor of her maternal clan is the second Heavenly King of the human race, King Dong Ding."

"He is the commander in the ongoing war with the Black Heaven Race."

"After the princesses are the princes…"

Xu Qing looked in the direction of the Black Heaven Race and fell into deep thought.

"The Eldest Prince is good at fighting and is brave, but he is a crude person. Moreover, his mother's race is the Flame Moon Mystic Heaven Race, so his status in the Imperial City is very awkward. He has tasted jealousy, suspicion, and even the Human Emperor doesn't seem to like him. Therefore, despite being a capable warrior, he hasn't been assigned to the battlefield and has always been kept in the Imperial City."

"The Second Prince is low-key, humble, and gentle. His maternal grandfather is the current Grand Chancellor, who, many years ago, wholeheartedly assisted Human Emperor Mystic War in ascending the throne. Despite not having produced any Heavenly Kings in the clan, the prestige of the Grand Chancellor's family is widespread in the Imperial Capital."

"The Third Prince is exceptionally talented, well-versed in all kinds of knowledge. In his mansion, there are many guest officials from all directions, including individuals from various races, each with their own talents. Additionally, the Third Prince serves as the deputy head of the Imperial Academy."

"The Fourth Prince is refined and gentle, amiable, and always ready to help. His siblings all speak highly of him. His maternal clan is ordinary, but he has gained the approval of the Supreme Moon Purple Sect, and he is even apprenticed to the State Preceptor."

Xu Qing pondered inwardly. His gaze then landed on the distant Star-Picking Tower.

Xu Qing lacked understanding of the mysterious State Preceptor, so it wasn't easy for him to judge.

"The Fifth Prince… shares the same mother with the Seventh Prince. He is second only to the First Prince in terms of martial prowess among all the princes. Brave and skilled in battle, he has garnered the attention of the Imperial Father. He is apprenticed to the First Heavenly King. Alongside the First Heavenly King, he has spent a considerable amount of time stationed at the borders of the Flame Moon, rarely returning to the court."

"Because of the Seventh Prince's matter, this person should be a potential enemy."

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and continued to analyze.

"As for the Sixth Prince, whether it's Ning Yan or Anhai, they both say he is naturally charming, but he doesn't oppress the kind-hearted. His mansion is filled with women, each one infatuated with him. Anhai even mentioned rumors that even the female Heavenly King, King Yuelan, seems to have an ambiguous relationship with him."

"There's also the Seventh Prince… Because of the death of King Tian Lan, he rarely went out after returning to the capital."

Xu Qing sneered.

"The Eighth Prince is known as the wealthiest among the princes. His maternal clan is the richest merchant family in the human race, providing support to various factions and possessing wealth that can rival a nation."

"The Ninth Prince, gifted with intelligence, is indifferent to external affairs. He is completely immersed in creation. The Human Emperor sent him to the Creation Palace, where his main responsibility is… the Sun of Dawn!"

As for the Tenth Prince, Xu Qing's thoughts spun. However, his focus was on the eleventh and twelfth.

The Eleventh Prince and Ning Yan were biological brothers. However, the Eleventh Prince passed away, leaving only Ning Yan alive in the entire mansion.

The source of all this was his mother.

That was a taboo in the Imperial City.

On the way, when Princess Anhai said this, she had informed him with voice transmission, not letting Ning Yan hear her.

"Ning Yan's mother is a mortal!"

"She had no aptitude for cultivation, but her talent and beauty were extraordinary. She was the beloved of the Imperial Father. After her death, her portrait remained in the palace. Whenever the Imperial Father gazed upon it, a sorrowful expression would cross his face. Since then, he had no more descendants and didn't attend to any consorts or companions."

"Her death also became an unsolved case. Even I don't know the details."

These were Princess Anhai's words.

Xu Qing's eyes flashed. On his way here, he had long sensed that the source of the story about Ning Yan was his mother.

As for the matter about his mother, it probably involved many aspects and there must be secrets hidden.

At the thought of this, Xu Qing rubbed his forehead and looked at the sky. At that moment, the sun was gradually turning red and starting to set. Unknowingly, he had been walking in the city for four hours and had even gone through several teleportation arrays.

As the information about the princes flashed through his mind, he had a preliminary outline of everyone in his mind. However, he was well aware that there were some things that couldn't be seen on the surface.

After all, everyone had a mask. It came from attitude and was a manifestation of one's heart.

Xu Qing instinctively touched his face.

"I have one too, right?"

Xu Qing mumbled and stared at the sky.

The setting sun today was exceptionally red, illuminating the clouds with multicolored light.

It was beautiful but at the same time, it also revealed a hint of blood. This reminded Xu Qing of the day when he saw the tragedy in the Seven Blood Eyes.

Xu Qing fell silent. His gaze landed on the huge statue in front of him.

Unknowingly, he had already walked to the east of the city, in front of the rainbow path, and under the statue of the Sword Holding Emperor.

Standing here, Xu Qing looked at the statue. He recalled his Heart Inquisition in the past and thought about what the other party had shown him at that time… the fragmented-face's true body that surrounded the entire Wanggu Continent.

He also thought of the words the Sword Holding Emperor had told him in the end.

I hope that you won't change your mind no matter what.

When Xu Qing stared at the sculpture of the Sword Holding Emperor, many obscure gazes in the crowd behind him locked onto it, transmitting everything Xu Qing saw and actions on the way to their respective affiliations.

At the same time, wisps of divine sense spread out. Many departments also used various methods to project Xu Qing's figure on the magic artifact and pay close attention.

After all, that is a walking Sun of Dawn.

"The target passed by Area Three and stopped in front of 19 buildings."

"The target appears to be recording the route and the layout of the capital."

"Target has used teleportation."

"The target is standing in front of the Sword Holding Emperor's statue and staring."

"The target… is paying respects to the Sword Holding Emperor."

"The Sword Holding Emperor's statue… is shaking!!!"

"How is this possible? The Great Emperor… appears to be about to revive!!"

As this information spread, the instant the various forces found out, intense fluctuations spread out from the Imperial City.

Countless gazes filled with surprise focused on this place.

From afar, the Great Emperor's sculpture stood tall in the east and towered into the clouds, protecting the human race all its life. On the ground, Xu Qing, who is dressed in blue, bowed with respect.

One big and one small seemed to be separated by time.

An ancient voice seemed to come from the void. It carried an ancient feeling and the intent of time, echoing in the world. It is vast and astonishing, like the might of heaven.

"You're here."