Outside Of Time

Chapter 1678: Material Procurer

Editor: Atlas Studios

This iron stick was different from the one Xu Qing had left in the Wanggu Continent.

Firstly, it was its appearance.

The iron stick left in Wanggu had turned into something like a demon-subduing staff.

It was quite different from its original look.

This stick looked exactly like the iron stick at the start.

Its entire body was slender and its tip was extremely sharp.

Purely in terms of power, it was hard to say which was stronger. After all, the previous iron stick had undergone multiple refinements, especially with Old Master Seventh personally intervening, and it also possessed an artifact spirit.

It had many abilities but due to Xu Qing’s cultivation back then, he was unable to display them.

However, in terms of suitability… the one in front of him was naturally more suitable for Xu Qing to display his Ordinance.

After all, Xu Qing’s current focus lay primarily in his Ordinance. This iron stick that had fused with his Ordinance was the most suitable Ordinance treasure for him.

It could follow his laws, entering overlapping universes and countless space-times, resonating with him completely!

Most importantly, its true existence allowed it to not only amplify its power during resonance but also to synchronize with Xu Qing, enabling him to diversify his methods and approaches in the manifestation of his Ordinance.

Furthermore, because it contained the dust of Heaven’s Law, this iron stick held an exceptionally high status, possessing ‘weight.’

This weight commanded reverence from quasi-immortals!

Hence, this iron stick could be considered the strongest Ordinance supreme treasure Xu Qing currently possessed!

Moreover, others couldn’t activate it!

In fact, if they touched it, they would be trapped in space-time, as though it inherently carried Seamless.

They needed to be a Lower Immortal to forcefully suppress it.

“This treasure is not bad.”

“At the very least, it can increase your combat strength by a few times.”

Above the furnace, the red-robed old man gazed at the iron stick he had refined. Satisfaction filled his heart as he admired the treasure.

With a wave of his hand, the iron skin emitted a resonant hum, soaring out of the furnace and flying straight toward Xu Qing.

It paused in front of Xu Qing and floated motionlessly.

Xu Qing’s emotions surged. He raised his hand and grabbed the iron stick.

The familiar feeling of wielding the iron stick from the past surged through his palm, connecting with his mind and spirit. As this iron stick, which displayed kaleidoscopic space-times, resonated with him, it slowly faded from sight.

It fused into Xu Qing’s palm and was hidden in his Space-Time Ordinance, constantly resonating and being nourished at all times.

After using his perception, Xu Qing was extremely satisfied. He then bowed to the red-robed old man.

“Thank you, Senior. May I ask for your esteemed name so that this junior may remember your kindness?”

Xu Qing’s gratitude to this Lower Immortal old man came from the bottom of his heart. Not only did the other party make an exception and repair his Holy Heaven Pagoda, but he also refined such a supreme treasure for him.

Moreover, during the process, the old man had taken out his own items and added them.

Xu Qing understood that these were all favors.

“No need for such formality. This was rightfully yours. You may call me True Monarch Nine Thoughts.”

At this point, the red-robed old man smiled and spoke again.

“I’m Linshan’s second senior brother.”

Xu Qing was stunned for a moment before he understood.

Lower Immortals were all called Monarchs.

As for the term True Monarch, it was even more special. Only the disciples of the Immortal Lords could be called True Monarchs.

Hence, Xu Qing already understood the background of the person in front of him.

Zhou Linshan was the real name of Fairy Spirit Phoenix!

“Junior Sister once sent a message to us senior brothers and asked us to take good care of you.”

“So, if you need anything in the future, you can come here to look for me.”

“You can go now.”

True Monarch Nine Thoughts’ gentle voice echoed. He raised his hand and waved it gently, causing the surroundings to turn blurry. When Xu Qing’s vision cleared again, he was no longer in the Dao Refinement Furnace. Instead, he had appeared on a huge ethereal ribbon.

Although there were many cultivators on it, it was different from the ethereal ribbons from before. The people on this ethereal ribbon were all people who were leaving after completing the refinement of magic artifacts.

Standing there, Xu Qing turned his head and looked at the Dao Refinement Furnace in the distance.

He bowed again.

He sighed with emotion inwardly.

The trip to the Aurora Immortal Palace continued the severed marriage between Young Lord Aurora and Fairy Spirit Phoenix. The lingering traces of this union were now gradually spreading throughout the Nine Shores Heaven.

“I wonder where they are now…”

The scenes in the Aurora Immortal Palace appeared in Xu Qing’s mind. While giving his blessings to them, Xu Qing turned around and followed the ethereal ribbon.

Originally, Xu Qing had allocated ample time for this journey, but its smooth progression had saved him far more time than anticipated.

“Next, I have to make a trip to the Immortal Heroes Tomb!”

Xu Qing decided. Just as he was about to take out the Immortal Heroes Tomb’s teleportation immortal token, a familiar voice rang out from afar.

After Xu Qing heard this, he raised his brows but didn’t teleport away immediately. Instead, he flew toward the source of the voice.

Those voices were still continuing and they were becoming increasingly intense.

“This is too much. Do you really think the two of us are made of clay?!”

“That’s right! To insult the two of us is to insult all the ascenders of this generation. It is to insult our master, the Blue Teal Sword Immortal, and to disgrace the entire lineage of our Sword Immortal Sect!”

The ones who spoke were none other than Qianjun and Piyi, the pair of sword cultivators!

“So… as long as the sword lives, so do we!” the two roared in unison.

Their expressions were filled with fury, their voices resolute and powerful as they drew on every connection they could muster, boldly facing the three figures blocking their path!

Those three, clad in identical gray robes, each adorned with over a hundred sewn pockets, presented an unusual sight.

The so-called “hundred pockets” were literal—each pouch stitched onto their garments seemed to contain its own microcosm, exuding an extraordinary aura.

At the same time, a faint deathly aura swirled around them. It wasn’t emanating from within but rather clung to them as a residue from some external force.

Though their appearances varied, a certain quality bound them together—a resemblance to stray dogs. Greed, malice, and a sinister air seemed ingrained in their very essence, as if it had become their second nature.

Among these three, two were at the peak of the Ruler Realm, and the one in the middle was a Quasi Immortal.

Faced with Qianjun and Piyi’s intense voice, the three of them grinned and didn’t care at all.

The Quasi Immortal raised a pinky finger, casually picked at his ear, and then blew on it in front of them, letting out a chuckle.

“Of course I know that you’re all ascenders from this batch, but… who isn’t an ascender? We’re also ascenders from the previous batches.”

“And besides, once you’re outside, while the sects in the Immortal Capital each have their own connections… who doesn’t have connections these days?”

“Moreover, we were merely negotiating with you, intending to purchase your swords. If you don’t wish to sell, so be it; we won’t force you.”

“However… our duties grant us the authority to issue a conscription.”

“If we conscript you two for cooperation, and you choose to refuse, well, then there’s nothing we can do about it.”

The middle-aged Quasi Immortal shook his head.

Qianjun and Piyi’s expressions turned even uglier.

There were also many cultivators paying attention to this place. At that moment, they were also discussing among themselves.

“These three, from their attire, are clearly those greedy Material Procurers!”

“Hmph, the Material Procurers are nothing but a bunch of stray dogs, roaming through multiple universes under the guise of gathering supplies for the battlefield. Everyone who encounters them despises them!”

“Especially these Procurers. Each team usually has dozens, even hundreds, of cultivators, all corrupted and unified in their schemes. The average person truly doesn’t dare to provoke them.”

“Isn’t that exactly what’s happening today? These three stray dogs have their eyes on the swords of those two brothers. Since the deal fell through and they realized the brothers are newly ascended, they plan to conscript them into their ranks.”

“If they really get conscripted, their lives may not be directly targeted, but their immortal swords will certainly be lost.”

The surrounding crowd discussed spiritedly. However, it was obvious that they didn’t interfere due to the infamy of the Material Procurers.

Qianjun and Piyi were also anxious. They had just arrived and hadn’t had the time to find their fellow sect members who had ascended in the past. Moreover, they understood that leaving the Nine Shores Heaven was equivalent to walking into the sea from the river.

The rule in the Fifth Star Ring had always been that competition was allowed.

Hence, if they didn’t have the ability, then the snatching of the immortal swords would be in line with the law of the jungle.

Hence, the anxiety grew even more intense.

As both sides seemed on the verge of a violent clash, with tension and conflict about to erupt… Xu Qing, hidden in the crowd at a distance, scanned the scene with a distant gaze, contemplating in his heart whether or not to intervene.

After all, those two swords could be considered his in name.

However, before Xu Qing could think about it, a rainbow rushed over in a domineering manner.

The figure in the rainbow wore a black robe and had black hair. His expression was cold and his entire body emitted the aura of a Quasi Immortal. There were also faint chains of order echoing in the surroundings.

Wherever he passed, he attracted countless gazes.

He was Star Ring.

His target wasn’t this place, nor was he here to save anyone. He was just here after refining his magic treasure.

However, the moment he got close, because of his unconcealed aura and domineeringness, Qianjun and Piyi’s eyes lit up. The two of them didn’t hesitate at all and quickly flew out as they shouted.

“Greetings, Senior Brother!”

“Senior Brother, save us!!”

They were from the same batch, so it could be considered somewhat appropriate for them to call him Senior Brother.

Moreover, Qianjun and Piyi were growing anxious, so they even performed a deep bow, causing Star Ring to pause.

He frowned.

He hadn’t been paying attention to the situation here, but after casting a quick glance, he had a rough understanding of what was happening. He hadn’t planned to intervene, yet with Qianjun and Piyi now hiding behind him…

If he left like this, it would be like he was cowering.

Hence, although Star Ring was impatient, his gaze still turned cold. He looked at the three cultivators who were chasing after Qianjun and Piyi and suddenly released the aura of a Quasi Immortal.

The three of them stopped in their tracks. The two peak Rulers looked solemn while the Quasi Immortal narrowed his eyes..

They didn’t continue forward.

Seeing this, Star Ring retracted his gaze and flew forward.

Qianjun and Piyi heaved a sigh of relief inwardly and quickly followed behind.

Just like that, the three of them gradually left.

The gazes of the surrounding people also revealed strange glints.

As for the three Material Procurers, they were all looking at the place where the Star Ring trio had left. The Quasi Immortal among them suddenly spoke.

“The first place among the ascenders in this batch shouldn’t be this person!”

“Looks like we underestimated this batch. This person is definitely not an ordinary person. Go and investigate who he is!”