Beyond the Timescape

Chapter 65: A Secret Worth One Hundred Spirit Stones

Figures collided outside the gambling den. Xu Qing simultaneously channeled the Sea Transformation Scripture and the Sea Mountain Technique. Seeking a swift execution, he held nothing back. He threw a devastating punch.

A thunderous boom erupted. The obese man shuddered, his expression twisting as he realized his fatal miscalculation. The sheer, terrifying physical force of Xu Qing’s body crashed into him.

He scrambled backward, but his speed was agonizingly slow compared to Xu Qing. The fist buried itself in his gut.

Bang.

Instead of flying backward, the fat man’s body hollowed out. He collapsed into an empty, fleshy membrane that flared open like an octopus, lunging to engulf Xu Qing.

Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed. Droplets of ambient moisture materialized around him, snapping into razor-sharp diamond formations. They shot forward like a volley of arrows, shredding the fleshy sack with a sickening series of wet thuds.

A monstrous silhouette tore its way out of the ruined skin and scrambled back.

It was a humanoid creature covered in slime, with green hair and scales covering its body. Its eyes gleamed with ferocity, and a forked tongue flicked between rows of needle-like teeth.

It gave Xu Qing a deep, wary look, then turned to flee without further engagement.

Xu Qing watched coldly. With a wave of his right hand, a curtain of water materialized in front of the fleeing foreign cultivator, forcing it to stumble back. Its eyes burned with even greater savagery.

“You’re courting death!”

As it spoke, the foreign cultivator charged Xu Qing, its hands weaving through the air to summon tendrils of black mist. The mist coalesced into wailing, vengeful spirits that shrieked as they lunged at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing’s expression remained impassive. He released a pulse of his vital Qi outward. The spirits’ shrieks turned into agonized wails before dissipating against his overwhelming life force. In one fluid step, Xu Qing closed the distance. The foreign cultivator’s face paled in terror as Xu Qing’s hand shot out and seized it by the throat.

The foreign cultivator gasped, madness flashing in its eyes.

In a desperate move, all the scales on its body detached at once, transforming into a swirling storm of razor-sharp blades that swept toward Xu Qing.

Instead of fleeing, it channeled its fury into a vicious lunge, its sharpened nails aimed straight for Xu Qing’s neck.

“Die!”

But in the blink of an eye, the foreign cultivator’s eyes widened in disbelief and horror.

Xu Qing paid no heed to the storm of scales. His hand pierced through the whirlwind of blades unimpeded, seizing the foreign cultivator’s wrist.

Crack!

Xu Qing twisted the arm upward with brutal force, snapping it at an unnatural angle. He followed through by driving his forehead into the creature’s skull. A pained scream erupted, but the foreign cultivator couldn’t retreat—its hand was locked in Xu Qing’s iron grip.

“Fellow Daoist, I am—”

Before it could finish, Xu Qing calmly twisted its arm again, forcing its own sharpened fingers to plunge into its own forehead.

The sound of tearing flesh and bone echoed. The foreign cultivator let out a despairing, blood-curdling shriek, its eyes filled with primal fear.

Its physiology differed from a human’s—the wound wasn’t immediately fatal. But it was grievously wounded. As blood poured out, its aura rapidly weakened. Xu Qing hoisted it by the neck until it fell unconscious, then dragged it away like a corpse.

Silence fell over the gambling den. Gamblers and guards alike trembled, having witnessed the brief but brutal confrontation. They recognized the foreign cultivator—Sun Dewang—and understood his fearsome reputation. That made Xu Qing’s overwhelming display of power all the more terrifying.

No one dared speak. Just as Xu Qing was about to disappear into the distance, he paused and looked up.

A figure approached from the dark, empty street ahead.

As it stepped into the dim light outside the gambling den, its features became clear—a young man in pale violet Daoist robes. Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed.

The newcomer was a youth with black hair, handsome features, a tall frame, and an air of arrogance. His robes alone marked him as someone of high status.

A powerful aura of the Sea Transformation Scripture at the eighth level of Qi Condensation radiated from him. Droplets of water materialized around him, each one sharp and poised, locking onto Xu Qing.

“Which branch of the Homicide Department are you from? Release him. If you do, I’ll pretend I never saw any of this.”

His voice was icy, leaving no room for argument.

Xu Qing remained silent. He had seen this youth before—during his first patrol with the Captain, he had watched from afar as this person descended like a celestial being.

He knew this was a core disciple of the Seventh Peak.

Xu Qing frowned slightly. He had taken precautions, but facing a core disciple, those measures would likely prove ineffective. For the sake of 40 Spirit Stones, provoking a core disciple seemed unwise—unless the potential gains were greater.

But just then, a cold, mocking voice drifted from behind the violet-robed youth.

“Quite the display of authority, Core Disciple. Interfering with official Homicide Department business right in front of us.”

The violet-robed youth whirled around. Xu Qing looked up to see a figure strolling leisurely from the shadows, munching on an apple. It was the Captain of the Sixth Team.

The violet-robed youth’s expression tightened. Xu Qing was also surprised—not by the Captain’s arrival, but by his decision to show himself at this moment.

In truth, Xu Qing hadn’t fully trusted the old man from Banquan Road. In the treacherous main city of Seven Blood Eyes, it was entirely possible the old man had given him a trap—a way to eliminate a rival. Especially since a gambling den operating here likely had powerful backers.

On his way over, Xu Qing had sent a message to the Captain, offering half the bounty in exchange for intervention if needed. Whether or not trouble arose, he intended to pay.

The first tip had been a dead end, so the Captain hadn’t appeared. Now, with a core disciple involved, Xu Qing had assumed the Captain would stay away.

Noticing Xu Qing’s surprise, the Captain took another bite of his apple and winked. Then he turned to the grim-faced violet-robed youth.

“According to the Third Regulation of the Homicide Department, obstructing official duties during an investigation warrants severe punishment.”

“He’s a wanted criminal. We’re conducting official business.”

“Are you planning to obstruct us?” The Captain smiled amiably at the violet-robed youth.

In Xu Qing’s eyes, even though the Captain wore plain gray robes, his commanding presence and the violet-robed youth’s strained expression made it seem as if their roles were reversed.

This shocked Xu Qing deeply.

The violet-robed youth’s breathing grew slightly ragged as his mind raced. Sun Dewang had been a generous source of tribute, and this gambling den was one of his assets. Initially, he couldn’t allow anyone to take Sun Dewang away.

But this Captain of the Sixth Team gave him pause. He knew of this man and his reputation. About two years ago, this Captain had clashed with another core disciple. Not long after… that core disciple vanished.

The incident had left him deeply wary. What shocked him even more was that the Sect had conducted no follow-up investigation and had sealed all discussions. Few people in the lower ranks seemed to know about it.

The disappearance of a core disciple was a major event in Seven Blood Eyes, yet that time… it was quietly buried.

After a tense silence, the violet-robed youth snorted coldly. Without another word, he turned and strode away.

This dramatic turn of events sent waves of shock through Xu Qing. He looked at the Captain, his mind swirling with speculation.

“My Spirit Stones,” the Captain said, grinning at Xu Qing.

Without hesitation, Xu Qing handed over 20 Spirit Stones.

The Captain pocketed them with a satisfied nod, glancing at the retreating figure.

“That’s Zhao Zhongheng. A useless fool. If his grandfather weren’t an Elder of the Seventh Peak, he’d have been killed long ago. No way he’d still have his core disciple status.”

“I heard his grandfather arranged for him to come down from the mountain and take a supervisor position in the Dispatch Department. Probably to give him some real-world experience.”

The Captain started walking. Xu Qing followed in silence as they headed toward the Homicide Department.

Along the way, Xu Qing kept glancing at the Captain. Just before they reached the department gates, the Captain turned to him with a curious look.

“You’re really holding back, kid. Aren’t you going to ask why I’m so formidable? Why a core disciple would back down from me?”

“Why?” Xu Qing asked.

The Captain stared at him, then sighed in disappointment.

“You’re no fun… Fine, since you’re my team member, I’ll tell you. Two years ago, I offended a core disciple. I was ready to flee Seven Blood Eyes, but guess what? Hahaha!”

“That core disciple had an unfortunate accident at sea and died. The Sect investigated and confirmed it was truly an accident, so they dropped it. Then, somehow, rumors spread… and some of the core disciples up the mountain started thinking I’m some kind of mysterious figure.”

“So now, most of them avoid me when they see me.” The Captain waved a hand dismissively, still smiling.

Xu Qing nodded.

“You actually believe that?” the Captain asked, surprised.

“No,” Xu Qing replied, shaking his head.

“Then why did you nod…”

Xu Qing remained silent.

The Captain sighed, seeming disappointed again. After a long pause, as they approached the Homicide Department gates, his face grew shadowy and indistinct in the dim light.

“The truth is, I killed him. That’s my secret, Xu Qing. This secret is worth… let’s say, one hundred Spirit Stones!”

The Captain winked.

Xu Qing didn’t have a hundred Spirit Stones.

The Captain sighed again, muttering under his breath. He made Xu Qing verbally agree to owe him the sum before finally stretching and heading into the Homicide Department’s Xuan Division.

Xu Qing rubbed his temples, watching the Captain leave. He felt no frustration over being forced into debt—only relief.

Throughout their walk, he had remained quiet because he had sensed a faint, flickering killing intent emanating from the Captain. The Captain’s cultivation seemed to be at the ninth or tenth level of Qi Condensation, as Xu Qing had previously judged, but now Xu Qing had a strong feeling that the Captain was hiding his true strength. His actual combat power was undoubtedly far greater.

That killing intent had faded only after Xu Qing agreed to the debt.

Now, with his mind at ease, Xu Qing glanced back toward Banquan Road, his eyes turning cold.

He soon turned away and entered the Homicide Department. He handed Sun Dewang over to the intake division and collected the bounty.

Before leaving, he discreetly slipped some spirit coins to the disciple handling the intake and politely inquired about Zhao Zhongheng.

The disciple accepted the coins with a thin, insincere smile and shared what he knew. His account matched the Captain’s in broad strokes, though with less detail. Xu Qing thanked him and left.

As he walked back toward the harbor berths, Xu Qing pondered the night’s events.

“The Captain is strong, and he’s dangerous. He seems to treat me differently. What’s his goal?”

Lost in thought, Xu Qing returned to his berth, his guard heightened. He pulled out an old bamboo slip from his pocket—clearly well-used—covered in rows of names that had been crossed out. Only one remained untouched: Vajra Sect Patriarch.

Xu Qing picked up an iron stylus and began carving. He added the words “Old Man from Banquan Road.”

Then he wrote “Captain.” After a moment’s thought, he added a question mark after it.

He carved the name because of the Captain’s earlier killing intent. The question mark was because that intent had been dispelled by the debt of a hundred Spirit Stones.

He buried his thoughts about the Captain. He had no desire to pry into the Captain’s secrets. Instead, he opened Sun Dewang’s storage pouch. A quick scan left him silent.

He remembered Sun Dewang’s words upon exiting the gambling den.

The pouch was indeed empty—not even worthless trinkets remained. Frowning, Xu Qing tossed it aside and settled into a cross-legged position to cultivate.

Days passed. With 20 Spirit Stones now in hand, Xu Qing avoided Banquan Road. The old innkeeper’s tip had likely been an attempt to use him as a weapon. Xu Qing began planning how to eliminate the old man quietly and without drawing attention.

But it was a difficult task, so he decided not to act rashly and risk alerting his target.

During this time, aside from cultivation, he focused on using his Spirit Stones to purchase expensive materials to upgrade his Dharma Boat.

His second-tier Dharma Boat improved by two levels, reaching the fourth tier in sturdiness.

The boat’s appearance had transformed dramatically. It was now longer and wider, and its hull was no longer adorned with mere scale patterns—it was covered in actual scales.

Layer upon layer of scales gave the boat the appearance of a massive crocodile gliding across the water. Its ferocity was palpable, especially in the carved crocodile head, which seemed to possess a lifelike glint in its eyes.

Xu Qing had replaced the eyes with two pieces of fortified Pan Rock, enhancing the boat’s overall defense.

The old black canopy had been replaced with a small cabin, complete with a door, significantly boosting Xu Qing’s sense of security.

A fourth-tier boat was a rare sight in the harbor. Even though Xu Qing had chosen lower-grade materials, it still attracted attention in the 79th Harbor.

There was no avoiding it. Even though he had asked the craftsmen to downplay its appearance during construction, the effect was minimal. Xu Qing could only remain more vigilant and cautious.

Fortunately, vigilance and caution were habits ingrained in him over the years—a natural part of his life.

Meanwhile, the rapid upgrade of his Dharma Boat accelerated his plans to set sail.

All of this made Xu Qing increasingly eager about his boat. The cost had been high, but he deemed it worthwhile.

As for Zhao Zhongheng, the past few days had passed in absolute, undisturbed silence. It seemed the Captain’s heavy-handed intimidation had successfully suffocated any lingering schemes.

Meanwhile, though the Homicide Department had officially halted its overt manhunts for Night Dove, a suffocating tension coiled beneath the surface. The very air in the precinct felt dense, thrumming with suppressed violence. Xu Qing could sense it—the invisible net was finally tightening around Night Dove’s throat.

Two days later, just as Xu Qing’s shift ended and he turned to leave, a precinct-wide lockdown order crashed down: the gates of the Homicide Department were sealed shut. No personnel were permitted to leave. Every squad was confined to their designated sectors, strictly commanded to hold their positions and await further instructions.

Even the spiritual arrays powering their communication jade slips were brutally severed, plunging the department into absolute operational isolation.

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes. The truth was glaringly obvious—the execution was set for tonight.

Sure enough, an hour later, just as the bleeding hues of dusk surrendered to the encroaching dark, the heavy doors to their team’s quarters groaned open. The Captain stepped over the threshold.

“The Department has decided to launch a coordinated raid on Night Dove across all seven districts tonight. In the Harbor District, we’ve confirmed 17 Night Dove hideouts. All teams from the Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Huang Divisions will be deployed in mixed groups.”

“Xu Qing, the location you provided is confirmed. Our team will be working with the Third Team from the Earth Division to hit that target.” The Captain gave Xu Qing a brief smile before his expression turned serious, sweeping his gaze over all the team members.

“This hideout contains two cultivators at the Grand Perfection of Qi Condensation, four at the ninth level, seven at the eighth level, and several others—25 in total.”

“The Department is taking this very seriously. For each hideout, every member of the team that eliminates the leader will receive 10 Spirit Stones. The one who personally kills the leader will receive an additional 80 Spirit Stones!”

“On top of that, every Night Dove member’s head is worth 10 Spirit Stones. Brothers, it’s time to earn some extra income!”

Xu Qing’s eyes sharpened. To upgrade his fourth-tier Dharma Boat to the sixth tier using lower-grade materials would cost around a dozen Spirit Stones. But if he used the mid-grade materials he truly desired, it would cost about 80 Spirit Stones. As for high-grade materials, he hadn’t even considered them—they were astronomically expensive.

He had been worrying about how to acquire more Spirit Stones these past few days. Hearing the Captain’s words, a fierce glint flashed in Xu Qing’s eyes.