Chapter 1207: Covert and Overt

As Poison Monarch spoke, his voice transformed into numerous five-colored butterflies that appeared in front of Xu Qing and the other ascendees. They were very unique jade slips. As they flapped their wings, they transmitted information directly into the minds of everyone present.

The Department of Acquisitions was one of the 324 departments in the Reception Universe. The director was tasked with providing special materials for the war. Usually, the department was sent to a specific area with a specific deadline to acquire funds and provisions. They would then be sent back to the Reception Universe, where the profits would be transferred to the Department of Transportation, and beyond that, to the front lines. Because of the wartime situation, everything the Department of Acquisitions did was centered around the acquisitions.

In terms of what the department sought to acquire... it boiled down to one thing! It was something that all Imperial Sovereigns and higher desperately needed: ringsource! Unfortunately, the ringsource needs of the war effort surpassed those of individual cultivators. As a result, there was no way they could go about acquiring ringsource in the way Xu Qing had done in the Inksun Universe, in other words, by fishing.

The focus of the Department of Acquisitions... were the nonhuman universes in the heavens beyond heaven in the Fifth Star Ring. It was extracted from their blood and their life force. That included... the various god prisons located in large numbers in the various heavens beyond heaven.

Of course, there were different types of prisons. Some were operated on the universe-level, some belonged to the heavens beyond heaven. Others were run by clans, and were considered private ventures. The gods held in the prisons served as the origin of ringsource.

As the information poured into Xu Qing’s mind, his gaze hardened. Now he understood why the Acquisitioner squadrons had such strong auras of death. Their main job was killing and extracting! What was more, they did things in a very domineering fashion. After getting used to acting in that way, it was only natural that they would be filled with perverse energy.

The information also provided a clear explanation of who Poison Monarch really was. Poison Monarch had long since performed amazing services. Though he was indeed in charge of the Dao Immortal Sect in the western planetary system of the Immortal Capital, he was also the director of the Department of Acquisitions.

Thanks to the information from the butterflies, everyone now had a much better understanding of the Department of Acquisitions. Up in midair, Poison Monarch looked at the squadron that had clashed with Xu Qing and the ascendees.

“The lot of you go turn in your ringsource.”

The old leader of the squadron bowed along with the other cultivators, and then they flew off into the distance.

The cultivator who had very nearly been stabbed in the forehead by Xu Qing’s iron skewer stopped in the distance and looked back at him. His eyes flickered with both fear and defiance.

Xu Qing could sense that, and committed the man to memory.

After they were gone, Xu Qing and the other ascendees were left alone on the black sea, digesting the information about the Department of Acquisitions.

Xu Qing’s guard was up, and Li Mengtu was feeling nervous. But no one else had ever dealt with Poison Monarch, so as far as they were concerned, he was just an immortal and their future commanding officer. Regardless of the level of their cultivation base, the ascendees all bowed respectfully. After all, failing to respect immortals was a grave crime in the Fifth Star Ring.

“Starting on this very day—” started Poison Monarch, but he paused after only five words. All of a sudden, great pressure swept over the group. He didn’t pay any attention to his own apprentice, Li Mengtu. Nor did he seem to care about Xu Qing. He wasn’t concerned about things that had happened in the past. His previous actions had been little more than a standard test. But as he looked around, everyone bowed their heads.

A moment later, Poison Monarch continued in a raspy voice. “This group of ascendees is all being assigned to posts in the Department of Acquisitions. Since you all have the same assignment... then you might as well be a squadron of your own. As for the captain....”

Poison Monarch looked at Xu Qing, then Sir Star Ring and Yuanshan Su, as well as... Zhou Zhengli.

Of those four, two had Quasi-Immortal cultivation bases, one had Quasi-Immortal battle prowess, and as for Zhou Zhengli... when he realized he was being looked at, he stepped back, seemingly terrified and deferential.

Sir Star Ring looked surprised. Clearly, he had just come to the realization that everything that had just played out was a test. And more importantly than that... someone had been trying to split them up! But thanks to Xu Qing interfering, that effort had failed. It was easy to imagine that if they had been split up, then they wouldn’t have ultimately been put into one squadron. They would have been split up into two or more groups.

It had never occurred to Sir Star Ring that Xu Qing would help him. After a moment of silence, he said, “I’m not interested in the position of captain.”

At almost the same time, Yuanshan Su quietly took a step backward. Her personality had changed. After everything that happened in the Aurora Immortal Palace, she had come to truly revere Xu Qing. One reason was because of his methods. The other... as one of the very last Shining Stars to leave the immortal palace, she knew a lot more than many of them. She also had certain speculations.

For instance, she was certain she knew who had taken the identity of Young Lord Aurora. And she was fairly certain... that the real Young Lord Aurora wasn’t dead. She was also convinced... that the identity she had taken was also still alive! Given all that, she didn’t want to be the leader of their squadron.

Face completely expressionless, Poison Monarch looked at Xu Qing. “Xu Qing.”

Xu Qing looked up with clasped hands. The more he was convinced Poison Monarch had sinister intentions, the more he knew that he couldn’t reveal any weaknesses. That included failing to show respect to immortals.

“You are assigned to be the leader of this squadron. You will leave immediately for your appointed destination to carry out resource acquisitions. Your deadline... is in five months!” He waved his hand, and a ring of holding flew over and hovered in front of Xu Qing. “In there you’ll find your Acquisitioner uniforms, identity medallions, and also the information about your mission.

“And now, all of you can go out and wait outside the Reception Universe, with the exception of you, Xu Qing. You stay behind.”

Poison Monarch flicked his sleeve. Heaven and earth trembled, and everything blurred as all the other ascendees except for Xu Qing vanished. They had been teleported away by an incredible force.

Xu Qing’s pupils had constricted slightly, though it wasn’t easy to tell. He just stood there looking as respectful as possible.

Poison Monarch hovered in the air. He stood on the sea. The atmosphere became as still as death.

Neither of them spoke. A long moment passed, and then Poison Monarch took a step forward, blurring slightly as he appeared in front of Xu Qing.

An immortal filled with evil intentions stood right in front of Xu Qing. The pressure he felt was incredible. Especially noteworthy was the fact that Xu Qing could sense that this was no ordinary immortal. Even though he was a Lower Immortal, it was obvious that he ranked near the very top among that group.

Someone like that could obviously kill Xu Qing with a thought. Thankfully... this was the Reception Universe, in the Nineshores Heaven, a heaven beyond heaven in the Fifth Star Ring. As long as Xu Qing had not committed any crime, then he would be safe. That was why he was making sure to maintain a very respectful attitude.

“You’re clearly an extremely vigilant person,” Poison Monarch said. “You’re uneasy, but aren’t showing it at all. Xu Qing, though this is my first time meeting you in person, I have to admit that you’ve surprised me.”

“I’m grateful for your approval, Arch-Immortal,” Xu Qing said in a tone that was neither supercilious nor obsequious. “Your humble servant is honored to receive such praise.”

Poison Monarch looked at him deeply, then started walking across the black sea. Xu Qing hesitated briefly and then followed. The wind blew, stirring the sea.

A short time passed, and then Poison Monarch said, “Xu Qing, I previously wanted to take your dao to break through into the Immortal Lord level.”

Xu Qing didn’t say anything.

“Many, many years have passed here in the Fifth Star Ring since Immortal Lord Aurora perished. During that time, not a single new Immortal Lord has risen up. The pace of the war is speeding up. Momentum is increasing....” Poison Monarch’s voice seemed to drift along like a helpless sigh.

“The main reason that’s happening is that a new God Lord has appeared in the Fourth Star Ring! That God Lord’s overall strength has pushed us to a point of life or death in this war between star rings! Do you understand, Xu Qing? It is vital for everyone involved... that the Fifth Star Ring get a new Immortal Lord! As for myself....”

Poison Monarch stopped walking. “I am the person in the Fifth Star Ring who is in the best position to break through and become an Immortal Lord among Lower Immortals!”

Xu Qing somberly clasped hands and bowed. “Your humble servant offers congratulations, Arch-Immortal. I hope that your breakthrough comes soon, and that you quickly rise to the glorious position of Immortal Lord!”

Poison Monarch turned to look at him.

Xu Qing’s expression was sincere.

Eventually, Poison Monarch shook his head and laughed softly again. “Although I failed to take your dao, you’re still connected to me by destiny.... I kept you behind today because I have an errand for you to handle for me.

“A few years ago, Immortal Lord Nineshores gave the Department of Acquisitions a mission. We were tasked with finding a mysterious piece of nine-colored ice that was capable of extinguishing the fire of a God Lord. I’ve been looking this entire time for that nine-colored ice, but have failed to find it. I have never entrusted the task to anyone else. But today, I’m giving you a chance. Are you willing to look for it?”

Poison Monarch looked over at Xu Qing. He wanted to see if Xu Qing understood the implications of this offer.

Xu Qing’s eyes glittered, and his impression of Poison Monarch suddenly improved. The meaning in the words was obvious.

He was being given a good opportunity!

There was a tacit understanding among Acquisitioners. As long as they met their acquisition quota... anything left over could be kept for personal use. As long as the Acquisitioner didn’t get too greedy, they could benefit a lot.

What was more, it was a mission from an Immortal Lord... and not just any Immortal Lord, but Immortal Lord Nineshores himself. Given that, Xu Qing would have major protection in carrying out the assignment! With that protection... and his status as an Acquisitioner, he could do just about anything he wanted, and most likely make out like a bandit. In just about any circumstance that arose, he could just say that he was looking for that nine-colored ice at the behest of the Immortal Lord. This also meant he could fast-track his cultivation!

At the same time, it was a double-edged sword. After all, there could be some severe downsides. For example, failing! Poison Monarch could punish him at any time for failing to acquire the object in question.

If he accepted the mission, he would be under the complete control of Poison Monarch.

This entire thing was both a covert conspiracy and an overt conspiracy. If he said he understood, it would be an overt conspiracy. If he said he didn’t understand, it would be a covert conspiracy.