Chapter 555: Fireflies in the Night

In the dim cave, Duanmu Zang floated in mid-air, turning to look at Xu Qing.

His voice echoed, lingering in the surroundings.

Xu Qing stood up, bowed to Duanmu Zang, and nodded.

"Thank you."

Earlier, Duanmu Zang had thanked him because he had embellished the outside world, giving the people here hope.

Xu Qing thanked Duanmu Zang for his trust.

Duanmu Zang waved his hand, and a vortex appeared before him. He stepped in, waiting for Xu Qing within the swirling energy.

Xu Qing took a step forward and entered the vortex.

This was his first time leaving the first tomb chamber in a month. As he entered the vortex, a mundane world unfolded before Xu Qing's eyes.

It was still underground, but the area was far larger than where he had been; it was an underground city.

Bustling activity, laughter, and joyous sounds drifted from the city, reaching Xu Qing's ears. Ling'er also peeked out, looking towards the city.

The city was populated entirely by humans, numbering well over a hundred thousand.

This was the first human city Xu Qing had seen since arriving in the Sacrifice Moon Domain, and the first time he had seen so many people of his own kind.

Even with some preparation, Xu Qing's heart still stirred at this moment. He saw that the earthen dome here was covered by a vast blue canopy.

This enormous canopy stretched across the 'sky,' resembling a blue sky.

It even had white clouds painted on it, creating a sense of beauty and serenity.

Although there was only this single underground city, it contained green plants, and in the open spaces further away, crops were growing.

Between the ground and the 'sky,' there was a massive ball of light. Inside it was Heavenly Fire, sealed in a bottle using a special method, transforming it into a sun.

As light cascaded down, a vibrant sense of prosperity permeated the cave, accompanied by the sound of children reading aloud.

Throughout his journey, the humans Xu Qing had encountered were either numb or treated as food, their status incredibly low.

Therefore, Xu Qing understood very clearly that establishing such a human city here and protecting so many of his kin required immense courage and broad-mindedness.

After all, not all powerful individuals were willing to protect mortals. For many mighty experts, their own well-being often mattered more than anything else.

"This is my home," Duanmu Zang said softly.

Respect rose in Xu Qing's heart, and he bowed again.

His perception of Duanmu Zang had changed over time, especially at this moment. What he saw and felt brought about a profound shift in his understanding.

Duanmu Zang gazed at the city, his expression gentle, a reflection of the Heavenly Fire in his eyes, and a smile on his face.

He looked like a benevolent elder watching over his descendants.

"For historical reasons, humans in the Sacrifice Moon Domain have an incredibly difficult life, filled with suffering. I was the same when I was a child."

"Most of what you see before you are unfortunate souls who endured torment and suffering within the Two Races Alliance."

Duanmu Zang spoke softly. In this moment, he was a completely different person from when he fought against foreign races on the Heavenly Fire Sea.

It was as if, upon returning here, all his cunning, all his malice, and all his ruthlessness instinctively vanished.

All that remained was warmth.

"My abilities are limited; I cannot save everyone. I can only do my best to help as many as I can. Gradually, it grew to this size."

Duanmu Zang's words and the scene before him profoundly moved Xu Qing. He understood even more clearly that in the Sacrifice Moon Domain, such a human sanctuary undoubtedly existed by a thread.

For powerful individuals, this often meant a burden.

With his heart churning, Xu Qing followed Duanmu Zang into the city.

Most of the buildings in the city were simple, and people's clothes were mostly plain, without any luxury. There were no shops to be found.

There was no trade here, only mutual assistance.

Smiles adorned the faces of every human Xu Qing saw. He saw middle-aged people, young people, and children.

The only ones missing were the elderly.

"The elderly willingly chose death; they didn't want to waste food."

As Duanmu Zang spoke these words, a trace of sadness crossed his expression, but it quickly faded amid the excited voices of the people around him.

"Lord of the Nation!"

"Greetings, Lord of the Nation!"

"It's Grandpa Lord of the Nation, hello Grandpa."

"Grandpa Lord of the Nation, I've been watching the clouds in the sky for so long, why don't they move?"

Crowds surged from all directions. The middle-aged individuals showed respect, the young people were filled with excitement, and the children ran over quickly as if seeing a beloved relative, playing by circling around Duanmu Zang.

Duanmu Zang, his face full of smiles, picked up a small boy and spoke with a chuckle.

"Of course the clouds in the sky move; they're just asleep right now. When they wake up, they will move, they definitely will."

Amidst the laughter, everyone's gaze fell upon Xu Qing. There was some nervousness, but mostly kindness; it seemed that anyone brought by Duanmu Zang was considered family to them.

Xu Qing followed silently, walking with Duanmu Zang through the city. He saw many similar scenes along the way, and he also noticed that there was a school within the city.

"History must be passed down, and civilization must continue. Even if humans in the Sacrifice Moon Domain live in misery and hardship, I still want more of our people to understand our past glory."

"We must not forget."

Duanmu Zang looked at the school and spoke with emotion.

Xu Qing looked up at the school, where the sound of reading filled the air, recounting the past history of the human race.

Much of it was inaccurate, having been romanticized.

Additionally, there were places within the city that taught cultivation and herbal knowledge, providing mortals with the opportunity to master extraordinary powers.

More children gathered there.

As they walked by, Xu Qing heard a little girl's voice from within.

"Teacher, I know about the Seven-Leaf Grass you mentioned, but I've looked everywhere and haven't found any! And the Bull-Soaring Wood, I haven't found that either!"

Duanmu Zang also heard the voice and spoke softly.

"Some of the cultivation techniques and herbal knowledge here I know myself, and some I've acquired from outside, either by force or trade. Most are ancient texts and no longer hold much practical significance. For example, most of these herbs don't exist in the Sacrifice Moon Domain anymore."

"But it's still knowledge, after all. Who knows… it might be useful in the future."

Xu Qing nodded silently upon hearing this.

The two left, having walked through the entire city. Xu Qing also saw many low-level cultivators like Shi Pangui; they were the city guards, responsible for venturing out to trade for necessary supplies when there was no Heavenly Fire.

Time slowly passed.

As the blue canopy in the sky gradually darkened with the fading Heavenly Fire, turning black and revealing many twinkling, star-like objects, Xu Qing finished his tour of the city.

Those 'stars' were actually mirrors created by the Mirror Shadow Tribe.

Under the cover of night, Duanmu Zang stood outside an empty residence, turning to gaze into Xu Qing's eyes for a long moment before speaking hoarsely.

"So, what do you think of my home?"

"Elder, your virtue is immense!"

Xu Qing said solemnly.

"I don't deserve such high praise," Duanmu Zang shook his head.

"What you see is me protecting them, but in truth… they are also keeping me company."

"That's why I say this place is my home."

Duanmu Zang spoke softly and started walking away. Just as Xu Qing was about to follow, Duanmu Zang's voice echoed.

"The Heavenly Fire will still be overhead for another two months. You can stay here for now."

Xu Qing paused. He understood the weight of these words, as for Duanmu Zang, this was akin to inviting him to live in his own home.

His expression became serious, and he clasped his hands in a respectful bow.

Duanmu Zang departed, and Xu Qing remained in the city. After Duanmu Zang's figure vanished from sight, Xu Qing turned to look at the residence behind him.

The simple building, in his perception, exuded a warmth that was absent elsewhere in the Sacrifice Moon Domain.

And so, Xu Qing settled in.

Ling'er also temporarily transformed, her small face beaming with happiness as she arranged the little house, seemingly trying to show Xu Qing through her actions that she was indeed capable of housework.

Watching Ling'er's busy figure, Xu Qing smiled, and he himself slowly relaxed, trying to integrate into the city.

The integration process was not difficult.

The goodwill from everyone melted away all barriers, making Xu Qing's state of mind increasingly calm.

The sky transitioned between dark and blue, the Heavenly Fire waxing and waning, and half a month passed.

During this half-month, Shi Pangui visited seven or eight times, each time bringing delicious food. His wife was an excellent cook, and Ling'er particularly loved the pastries she sent.

Initially, Ling'er didn't appear in her human form in front of others, but as she became more familiar, she began to show herself to Shi Pangui.

After noticing Ling'er, Shi Pangui was momentarily stunned. When he next arrived, he wasn't alone but brought a woman of similar age and a little girl.

"Elder, this is my wife and my younger sister."

Shi Pangui spoke respectfully. The woman beside him and the little girl were clearly nervous, bowing slightly to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing's expression softened. He had previously asked Shi Pangui about why he had gone out that day, and the latter had truthfully explained that he had gone to buy medicine for his wife.

His wife was frail and frequently ill; her condition had worsened two months prior. Shi Pangui was anxious, so even knowing the Heavenly Fire was approaching, he risked venturing out to other tribal cities to purchase medicine.

It was a dangerous endeavor, but he had no other choice.

"The old Lord of the Nation protects over a hundred thousand humans; not everyone can seek him out every time they have a problem."

That's what Shi Pangui had said when answering Xu Qing's inquiry.

The people here were grateful and respectful of Duanmu Zang, so they didn't want to distract him with every minor issue; they could take care of themselves.

Xu Qing hadn't encountered much kindness in his life. After his gaze swept over Shi Pangui's wife, he pondered for a moment, then took out some medicinal pills from his storage bag and gave them to Shi Pangui.

"Your wife's condition is caused by the accumulation of Yin toxicity from the cave and Yang evil from the Heavenly Fire, creating an imbalance. These pills can neutralize it. Continuous use, while not completely resolving it, can suppress it to a certain extent."

Shi Pangui was excited, and his wife was likewise grateful. The couple began to kneel in thanks to Xu Qing, but he waved his hand to stop them and helped them up.

"I've enjoyed your pastries so many times; these pills are merely a small reciprocity. There's no need for such formality."

Shi Pangui and his wife were even more touched, while the little girl beside them secretly watched the storage bag from which Xu Qing had taken out the pill bottle, deep in thought.

Soon, the family departed; they were taking the little girl to her lesson.

After they left, Ling'er happily picked up a pastry and took a bite, then looked at Xu Qing, her eyes curving into crescent moons, feeling proud.

"My Brother Xu Qing is the most upright person; he never acts superior just because someone's cultivation is low. He's very kind-hearted."

Seeing Ling'er looking at him like that, Xu Qing was surprised.

"What's wrong, Ling'er?"

"Nothing," Ling'er's face flushed. She ran to Xu Qing's side, tugged his arm, and whispered.

"Brother Xu Qing, let's go for a walk, okay?"

Xu Qing looked up at the sky; it was around noon outside. He nodded and walked out of the house with Ling'er to stroll through the city.

Along the way, Ling'er skipped joyfully beside Xu Qing like a child, and her endearing demeanor brought smiles to the faces of the city residents who saw her.

Some households even offered their own food, and Ling'er happily greeted everyone she passed, thoroughly enjoying her snacks.

Watching Ling'er's innocent and carefree demeanor, Xu Qing smiled.

They walked on, past street corners and long streets, until they reached the school.

Today's lesson in the school was also about herbs and plants. As the sounds drifted out, Xu Qing paused and looked over.

The school was open to all children in the city. The person teaching about herbs was a middle-aged woman without the use of her lower body, sitting in a wheelchair, explaining with a serious expression.

The children around her, ranging from seven or eight to thirteen or fourteen years old, listened attentively. In particular, one little girl's eyes were wide as she listened and took notes, completely absorbed.

This little girl was Shi Pangui's younger sister.

Looking at these children, Xu Qing remembered himself in the scavenger camp. Back then, after Master Bai's permission, he had also studied with immense earnestness and desire.

He watched for a while before quietly leaving.

Days passed, and another half month went by.

The Heavenly Fire had been overhead for three months; Xu Qing spent one month in the first tomb chamber and one month in this city.

He disliked lively crowds, so he spent most of his time quietly meditating and cultivating in his residence. However, Ling'er couldn't sit still. At first, she begged Xu Qing to join her, but after she became familiar with the city's residents, she would rush out enthusiastically every day.

Although he wasn't too worried about Ling'er, Xu Qing still arranged for the Vajra Sect Ancestor to accompany her.

Ling'er's popularity in the city far surpassed Xu Qing's, especially after Shi Pangui's wife introduced her to many older sisters and aunts.

Everyone liked her, and they were all curious about her relationship with Xu Qing.

Whenever this happened, Ling'er would blush shyly.

So, those older sisters and aunts began to teach her various methods. Someone told her she needed to learn to cook, as the way to a man's heart was through his stomach.

Ling'er was intrigued and studied diligently.

Others told her that as a woman, mending and sewing were essential, and her man shouldn't wear clothes mended by others. This resonated even more with Ling'er.

She decided that all of Brother Xu Qing's clothes from then on would be made by her.

And so, on the fifth day after Ling'er learned to cook, Xu Qing tasted Ling'er's cooking for the first time in his life. She had been busy for over an hour and finally made a few dishes for Xu Qing.

Looking at the blackened vegetable leaves, Xu Qing looked up at Ling'er's eager yet nervous eyes and took a bite.

He chewed slowly and swallowed it after a moment.

"How is it, Brother Xu Qing? Is it good?" Ling'er was nervous.

Xu Qing was silent, then a smile appeared on his face.

"It's delicious."

Ling'er was instantly happy.

"Then eat more, Brother Xu Qing."

Xu Qing hesitated but ultimately ate everything. Just as he was about to meditate, Ling'er excitedly announced.

"Brother Xu Qing, I'll continue tomorrow!"

Xu Qing was silent for a few more breaths, then nodded.

Furthermore, Ling'er wasn't the only one popular in this city. After transforming, the Vajra Sect Ancestor slowly gained recognition from everyone, eventually even surpassing Ling'er in popularity.

The reason for this was that while protecting Ling'er, he passed a storytelling area and heard the storyteller endlessly rambling. Disgusted, he decided to transform and tell a story he had read.

For the people of the Sacrifice Moon Domain, the stories told by the Vajra Sect Ancestor were remarkably fresh, especially since he interwove some of Xu Qing's own experiences into them.

This made the stories even more vivid and garnered continuous applause.

The audience was significant from the start and grew larger day by day. The Vajra Sect Ancestor, who had lived in constant fear by Xu Qing's side for years, hadn't been so highly praised in a long time.

Driven by his desire for attention, he secretly went to tell stories multiple times while Ling'er was learning to cook and sew.

For instance, at this very moment, he sat in a pavilion, surrounded by hundreds of people.

Gazing at the crowd, the Vajra Sect Ancestor cleared his throat and spoke calmly.

"Last time, the story ended with tens of thousands of Dharma Boats from the Seven Blood Eyes Sect launching simultaneously, completely surrounding Mermaid Island."

"And that Mermaid Island Ancestor was by no means a benevolent individual; this cultivator..."

As the crowd was engrossed, the Vajra Sect Ancestor narrated fluently, his voice rising and falling, easily drawing everyone in. Even Duanmu Zang, hidden in mid-air, was listening and nodding along.

As dusk approached and the blue canopy of the sky dimmed, the Vajra Sect Ancestor paused, clearing his throat.

"To know what happens next, please listen to the next installment. I will continue here at this time tomorrow."

The crowd, having reached a crucial point in the story, immediately grew anxious upon hearing this and began to protest.

"Oh, come on, just finish this part!"

"It's so short, incredibly short!"

"What did you even say this afternoon? I don't remember a thing!"

"No, one more part! You can't just stop here!"

The Vajra Sect Ancestor smiled upon hearing this.

"This old man has read ten thousand volumes of stories. This part might seem plain, but it actually holds a hidden mystery. You shouldn't just swallow it whole; you must savor it carefully to truly appreciate its depth."

With that, amidst the protesting laughter of the crowd, the Vajra Sect Ancestor hummed a little tune, walked away with his hands behind his back, and continued to secretly protect Ling'er.

The Vajra Sect Ancestor and Ling'er each had their own exciting endeavors. The shadow was very envious; it also wanted to go out and play but dared not. Every day, it could only lie on the ground, wistfully watching Xu Qing, who sat in meditation like a block of wood.

However, Xu Qing also had visitors. Besides Shi Pangui, occasionally his younger sister, the little girl, would also run over.

Each time this eleven or twelve-year-old girl came, she would bring some food, like sweet potatoes, for Xu Qing, dutifully placing them to the side.

Then she would look at Xu Qing, a little nervous, unsure how to speak, and ultimately, she said nothing.

After several visits, she finally couldn't hold back and asked a question.

"Big Brother, do you… do you refine pills?"

She remembered the day Xu Qing gave pills to her sister-in-law.

Xu Qing nodded upon hearing this.

The little girl immediately brightened, took out a small notebook, and asked a question about herbs.

"Seven-Leaf Grass, also known as Spirit-Dispelling Grass, is the whole plant of *Monostachyum*. It's a perennial herb that grows in shady areas and moist wildlands. It does not grow in places directly exposed to remnant spirits."

Xu Qing gently explained.

The little girl immediately wrote it down, then quickly asked a second question. All her questions were about the herbs she was learning about, many of which her teacher hadn't been able to answer.

Xu Qing patiently explained in detail. The little girl's questions came one after another, and while explaining, Xu Qing also noticed her dedication to herbs and her excellent memory.

The latter was fundamental to studying herbs.

This question-and-answer session lasted for two hours before it concluded.

A few days later, the little girl returned, this time bringing more sweet potatoes. She respectfully placed them to the side and began asking questions.

Xu Qing looked at the sweet potatoes, smiled, and explained in detail.

As dusk fell, the little girl sighed contentedly and left happily. However, that very night, her brother brought her to Xu Qing and scolded her for disturbing an elder.

Seeing the nervous family, Xu Qing was about to speak but noticed a hint of stubbornness in the little girl's expression. He thought for a moment, then simply nodded without saying more.

Xu Qing wanted to see if the little girl would continue to come and ask questions.

Several days later, she returned again.

This time, she changed her approach, carefully taking an ordinary herb from her pocket and timidly asking.

"Teacher, is this the Golden Button Grass you mentioned?"

Xu Qing's expression was strange; it was just an ordinary small plant.

He then looked at the little girl, a profound look in his eyes, and explained about Golden Button Grass and how to distinguish it from similar herbs.

In the following days, perhaps feeling this method was effective, the little girl came almost every day, deliberately asking about other herbs.

Each time, Xu Qing explained in great detail.

Time continued to pass, and soon the Heavenly Fire overhead was nearing its end.

By calculations, in at most ten more days, the sea of fire would return to its original position. The next time the Heavenly Fire passed overhead would be decades later.

"It's time to leave."

Xu Qing murmured, looking at the residence. His perception spread, covering all directions, finding Ling'er learning embroidery with some aunts, and the Vajra Sect Ancestor endlessly storytelling in the pavilion.

Gazing at the humans within the city, Xu Qing remained silent for a long time, then could only let out a soft sigh.

"Are you leaving?"

Duanmu Zang's voice echoed in Xu Qing's ears, and his figure silently appeared inside the residence, looking at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing nodded.

Duanmu Zang was silent, then sat down after a moment.

"Your wine is good."

Xu Qing smiled, took out most of the wine he had prepared in his storage bag, placed it in another storage bag, and handed it to Duanmu Zang.

Duanmu Zang took it, glanced at it, a smile spreading across his face. He looked at Xu Qing and suddenly spoke.

"I won't take your wine for nothing. I saw you traveling through the Heavenly Fire Sea before; you must have been using the fire there to cultivate some technique."

"I'll lend you a secret treasure. This treasure can ward off fire to some extent, allowing you to descend deeper into the magma. That way, you won't be exposed and will be much safer."

As he spoke, Duanmu Zang raised his right hand and opened his palm.

Resting in his palm was an eyeball, permeated with brown blood threads, exuding an eerie aura, staring directly at Xu Qing.