When the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation Map transformed into the tattoos of Xu Qing's Heavenly Demon Body, Xu Qing's Tai Shi Demon Qi erupted with a bang.

This eruption was not a collision of energy, but a deeper level of mystical derivation.

Perhaps for an instant, perhaps for a millennium.

Xu Qing's heart flashed with the changes of mountains and rivers over the years, feeling as calm as grass, wood, bamboo, and stone, without stirring a ripple. In this deathly tranquil state of mind, the Inner Heaven and Earth and the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation Map merged.

Finally!

Xu Qing's thoughts revived once again.

He gazed at the formation map within his body, a sudden realization blossoming.

To be precise, it was the mirage from the giant turtle of the Xuantian Treasure Vault that became a wonderfully unique adhesive, connecting Xu Qing's Inner Heaven and Earth and the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation Map.

Within the Inner Heaven and Earth, the Forbidden Technique of Beidou Sealing God and the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation Map unexpectedly had commonalities.

"Beidou, Ziwei, End of Fortune..." A marvelous Taoist Enlightenment arose in Xu Qing's mind.

And deep within Xu Qing's Heavenly Demon Body, the Innate Divine Fire erupted fiercely.

This action completed the final tempering of the Inner Heaven and Earth and the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation Map.

A terrifying painted scroll magical treasure was born from this.

Mountain and River Map!

Xu Qing finally understood the deep intention of the old Black Mountain Demon to set up the incomplete Nine Curves Yellow River Formation through the hand of the Snowfield Living Buddha. It was to use Xu Qing's power to forge this—Mountain and River Map.

A terrifying magical treasure belonging to mythology.

As the Mountain and River Map was born, Xu Qing naturally felt a blood connection.

Because the other half of the Mountain and River Map was Xu Qing's Inner Heaven and Earth.

However, Xu Qing clearly noticed that under the influence of the Innate Divine Fire and that part of the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation Map, Xu Qing's control over the Mountain and River Map was swiftly slipping away.

An unbeatable intention descended into the map, almost snatching away control over the Mountain and River Map.

The old Black Mountain Demon!

A barely noticeable smile crept onto the corners of Xu Qing's lips.

As if he had long been waiting for this moment.

"Your Majesty, you may act now!" Xu Qing murmured.

Suddenly, golden light erupted, illuminating half the sky.

It was already nighttime, precisely when the bright moon shared its radiance with the river.

Golden light like a blazing sun dimmed the galaxy, and the moonlight became even more hazy.

Within the golden light, the Emperor of Longevity appeared holding a Jade Seal in the void.

This Jade Seal was the Imperial Jade Seal.

Of course, it was no longer the Jade Seal passed down from the First Emperor, but a Jade Seal recreated by the Great Yu Emperor. Yet, the Imperial Jade Seal concerned the Human Dao Qi Fortune, not the Jade Seal itself.

In the hands of the old Emperor, it was the genuine Imperial Jade Seal, even if it was just an ordinary carved jade stone, backed by the old Emperor's authority and recognized by the entire Yu Dynasty, then it was!

This could also be referred to as the Human King Seal.

The old Emperor, as a first-generation Human King, appeared holding the Human King Seal above the Yellow River.

He naturally received the mandate from heaven, holding the Yellow River Ancestor Vein.

With the overwhelming Qi Fortune of humanity added, a lofty aura swept in.

The Mountain and River Map was enveloped in golden light.

Therein, the invincible intention of the old Black Mountain Demon was melted away like ice under the erosive golden light infiltrating the Mountain and River Map.

Ultimately, it was only an intention.

Facing the expansive and grand golden light of humanity, it was ultimately unmatched.

In an instant.

The intention from the old Black Mountain Demon dispersed completely.

Yet, the golden light from the old Emperor remained incomparably powerful within the Mountain and River Map.

Just needed to continue exerting effort.

This could also erase Xu Qing's intention from the Mountain and River Map.

The golden light paused and hesitated.

At this moment, a single breath seemed as long as a century.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...

After ten breaths.

The golden light quietly withdrew.

In the sky, the bright moon shone in the heavens, in the water, its clear glow everywhere!

Xu Qing finally fully gained control of the Mountain and River Map.

Those ten breaths just now were the longest and most important ten breaths in the Great Yu Dynasty's history.

If the old Emperor turned against Xu Qing and seized the Mountain and River Map.

Indeed, he could reign supreme for a lifetime.

Yet it was also when Xu Qing would withdraw from this great catastrophe.

Xu Qing always strived for his fate to be determined by himself, not by heaven; only this time, he handed the choice over to the old Emperor.

If the old Emperor takes the Mountain and River Map, Xu Qing would have no psychological burden, would return directly to South Zhili, take all his relatives and ancient friends, wait for this catastrophe to pass, watch the old Emperor and the old Black Mountain Demon succeed or fail, then find an opportunity to make a comeback.

And the grievances they had with the old Emperor and himself would be written off in this instance, no debts owed by anyone.

He even secretly hoped the old Emperor would make a decisive choice befitting a qualified emperor, seizing this once-in-a-lifetime chance.

After all, the sky cannot have two suns. How can the old Emperor, as an emperor, tolerate another existence equal to his status or even surpassing him?

The old Black Mountain Demon cannot, Xu Qing certainly cannot.

Yet in this moment, the old Emperor surprisingly put down his obsession with power.

Xu Qing could perceive the old Emperor's inner thoughts.

He was more obsessed with Longevity, for which he could give up the exclusivity of power.

If he could attain Longevity, whether it's the ultimate power of the Great Yu Dynasty or the future Immortal Dynasty, the old Emperor could abandon it, treating it as worn shoes.

Holding onto his true beliefs, persisting on his path.

The old Emperor was never planning for the welfare of all under heaven, nor for ever holding mountains and rivers in his hands.

He only loved himself!

This retreat also placed the burden of the mountains and rivers back on Xu Qing's shoulders.

Xu Qing felt somewhat disappointed, yet he was more exhilarated.

Because it was he who step by step took on the entirety of the Great Yu Dynasty, he who was progressively changing this world.

This was his lifelong career; it was the purpose of his existence.

After the old Emperor's retreat, Xu Qing further solidified this point.

His Tai Shi Demon Qi rose another notch.

Xu Qing almost instantaneously gained complete mastery over the Mountain and River Map.

This had already become his Lifebound Treasure.

At the same time, the Mountain and River Map transformed into a robe, draped over Xu Qing's Heavenly Demon Body.

The retreat of the old Black Mountain Demon's intention just now, anticipated to incite a definitive split between the old Emperor and Xu Qing, unexpectedly saw the old Emperor suppress his desire for power, solidifying his desire for the Dao.

Destiny arises from choice.

In this struggle, the old Emperor, Xu Qing, and the old Black Mountain Demon all made their own choices.

…

…

The Snowfield Living Buddha's four Guardian Vajras were respectively subdued by four Martial Saints.

Seeing the unfavorable situation, he attempted to flee.

But suddenly, the surrounding space was confined.

Clusters of End of Fortune Immortal Flowers entwined around his Buddha body.

From afar, Xu Qing waved his sleeve, and the Snowfield Living Buddha involuntarily slipped into Xu Qing's sleeve.

The Mountain and River Map completely compensated for Xu Qing's Sleeve Universe's shortcomings.

Previously, he struggled to handle powerful existences with Sleeve Universe.

However, the Mountain and River Map possessed characteristics of the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation, capable of weakening the opponent's magical power.

Thus, Xu Qing used the Mountain and River Map to employ the Sleeve Universe, coupled with the Snowfield Living Buddha who was now a stray dog, worn out, completely unable to resist Xu Qing's Sleeve Universe.

Once Xu Qing trapped him in the Mountain and River Map using Sleeve Universe, the Beidou Sealing God, based on the old Wutong Tree, was activated to seal the Snowfield Living Buddha.

A golden box appeared beneath the old Wutong Tree in the Mountain and River Map.

The golden box twisted unceasingly, with the Snowfield Living Buddha inside attempting to break free of the seal.

But piece after piece of Wutong tree leaves fell like Talisman Paper, adhering to the surface of the golden box, and the commotion of the golden box gradually subsided.

Naturally, because Xu Qing sealed the Snowfield Living Buddha, the power of the Mountain and River Map was slightly diminished.

Yet to outsiders, Xu Qing simply waved his hand, sealing a top-tier master of the era.

This kind of shock had an immensely terrifying impact on the heart of any strong individual.

At this moment in everyone's minds, Xu Qing already possessed the qualifications to challenge the old Black Mountain Demon, the world's number one expert.

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