Chapter 556: Eyes Fixed on the Flying Swan, the Journey to the Horizon Is Long

The moment Xu Qing saw the eyeball, his gaze sharpened. Ling'er, standing beside him, blinked without speaking and moved a few steps closer to Xu Qing.

The eye in Duanmu Zang's palm immediately turned to Ling'er, but quickly refocused on Xu Qing. Brown blood vessels pulsed within the eye, emanating a sense of decay, and a foul stench spread, enveloping the entire house, while faint, piercing screams echoed around them.

"What is this?" Xu Qing asked, looking at Duanmu Zang.

"This eye is a strange item I acquired when I first came here. Its fire-warding ability is astonishing, but you'll need to subdue it. That shouldn't be difficult for you, and it's quite timid. A few more threats and it won't dare cause trouble."

"I once used its power to explore beneath the lava."

"The area beneath the Sea of Heavenly Fire is full of mysteries, so if you cultivate there, it's best not to approach within a thousand zhang."

"Below a thousand zhang, there are restrictions placed by the Red Moon Temple. No one can breach them, not even slightly. I've even seen exotic beasts from within the Sea of Heavenly Fire collapse at the thousand-zhang boundary due to these restrictions."

Duanmu Zang's expression was solemn as he finished speaking and tossed the eyeball to Xu Qing.

After Xu Qing caught it, the eye continued to stare intently at him, emanating an ominous and malicious aura. Xu Qing's expression remained calm. As he idly held the eye, he spoke softly. "Senior, are there many places with restrictions like those beneath the Sea of Heavenly Fire, established by the Red Moon Temple in the Moon Sacrifice Domain?"

Duanmu Zang took out a pot of wine Xu Qing had given him, sat down, took a sip, and nodded with a complex expression. "Quite a few."

"For the Moon Sacrifice Domain, the Red Moon Temple is supreme. Their will dictates the life and death of all beings. Any tribe that shows even the slightest disrespect meets a miserable end."

Xu Qing, deep in thought, sat opposite Duanmu Zang and continued to inquire. "Senior, I wish to know more about the Red Moon Temple. Would you be willing to tell me more?"

Duanmu Zang looked up and scrutinized Xu Qing for a few moments. "Young man, in the Moon Sacrifice Domain, the Red Moon Temple is like a deity; it cannot be desecrated in the slightest."

"So, don't provoke them. Otherwise, not only can they easily kill you, but they also have ways to sacrifice you, curse you, and ensure you can never leave this place."

Duanmu Zang appeared stern but was warm-hearted. Especially during their interactions over this period, his life experience allowed him to discern much, and his impression of Xu Qing steadily changed. Thus, despite his strict demeanor, his words carried a warning.

Xu Qing nodded. He understood the boundaries and knew that even with his Violet Moon, he couldn't underestimate any Red Moon dependents. However, he was well aware that since he had come here, there would be times when avoiding trouble might not be possible, even if he wanted to. Learning more about the Red Moon Temple would increase his chances of avoiding danger, so he asked for more details.

Hearing this, Duanmu Zang thought for a moment before speaking slowly. "It's good that you want to know more; it will help you understand just how formidable the Red Moon Temple is here."

"The Red Moon Temple, acting on behalf of the Crimson Mother, shepherds the Moon Sacrifice Domain. Periodically, each tribe must voluntarily offer sacrifices."

"As for the Red Moon Temple, they don't care about the death of tribes because every time the Crimson Mother arrives, most of the living beings in the entire Moon Sacrifice Domain are devoured."

"Therefore, the Red Moon Temple's mission is to continuously collect and store food before the Crimson Mother's arrival. And after the Crimson Mother leaves, they cultivate the various tribes repeatedly, making them grow like crops, harvest after harvest."

Duanmu Zang's tone was calm, as if he were recounting someone else's story, not his own destiny.

Xu Qing listened silently.

Ling'er watched them drink. After some thought, she ran to the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and prepared to cook a meal for them both. This was something her acquaintances, older sisters and aunts, had taught her: when men drink, a good wife should cook a few dishes to show her virtue.

Ling'er's actions made Xu Qing glance up, wanting to say something but then hesitating. Seeing Ling'er's enthusiasm, he remained silent. Although Duanmu Zang also noticed, he naturally paid no mind to such trifles. He continued to drink his wine, elaborating on everything he knew about the Red Moon Temple. For the locals, their understanding of the Red Moon Temple far surpassed any external intelligence.

Xu Qing listened intently until, a moment later, Duanmu Zang's hoarse voice resonated. "Judging by the time, the Red Moon Temple should be arriving soon. When you leave later, remember to bow your head if you see them from afar. They are easy to recognize—a mass of crimson."

"Generally, as long as you don't provoke them, the Red Moon Temple won't bother with other tribes or rogue cultivators, much like an elephant doesn't care about ants." Duanmu Zang chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"All they care about is whether each tribe has prepared its sacrifices. Those who fail will have their tribes used to make up the numbers."

"For instance, over forty years ago, the Baidian Tribe, which lived in the north, failed to meet the temple's requirements. So, a divine envoy descended with some divine servants and harvested seventy percent of their tribesmen to fill the quota."

"What is the cultivation level of a divine envoy?" Xu Qing asked.

"Outsiders don't know the exact number of divine envoys of the Red Moon Temple. They come from various tribes, and their cultivation level is all Spirit Void. Divine servants are Spirit Storage, and those below Spirit Storage are divine slaves."

Xu Qing pondered, then spoke. "Are there divine scions?"

"Yes!" Duanmu Zang's eyes showed apprehension. "The Red Moon Temple has a divine scion. It is said he is the true dependent of the Red Moon, his cultivation level unknown. In fact, for him, cultivation is no longer important; what matters is the divine power he wields."

"And... he can exempt chosen individuals from the fate of becoming food, ensuring they are not devoured when the Crimson Mother arrives." Duanmu Zang sighed softly. "This alone can drive countless powerful individuals mad, willing to pay any price to gain this exemption."

Upon hearing this, a faint, imperceptible glint flickered in the depths of Xu Qing's eyes. He didn't continue to inquire about the Red Moon but instead asked about the strength of the two-tribe alliance in the Sea of Heavenly Fire. After all, his most immediate concern here was the search by these two tribes.

"These two tribes have six Spirit Storage cultivators, including their respective patriarchs. As for Spirit Void..." Duanmu Zang shook his head. "None."

"Because Spirit Void grand cultivators taste the best, as soon as one appears, they are marked by the Red Moon Temple. You can imagine it like fruit ripening; they won't be processed immediately, but it's equivalent to being on the menu."

"That's why those Spirit Storage Grand Completion cultivators in the Moon Sacrifice Domain restrain themselves, avoiding breakthroughs whenever possible."

"Once you're on the menu, death is certain. If you're not on the menu, there might still be a slim chance of survival. Although this probability is extremely low, to live, that's the only way."

Xu Qing understood. He had previously wondered why the two tribes lacked Spirit Void cultivators; now he had his answer.

Duanmu Zang continued. "As for the Mirror Shadow Tribe and the Sky Face Tribe, they are just two small tribes. Among their six Spirit Storage cultivators, only the two patriarchs have truly condensed a complete Secret Treasure."

"Others, like that National Preceptor, are still in the process of nurturing their Secret Treasure Heavenly Dao, undergoing the 'Nurturing Dao and Enlightenment' stage."

Xu Qing didn't know much about Spirit Storage cultivators, as that realm was too distant for him, so he had never asked his master. This was also the first time he heard a description of Spirit Storage. "'Nurturing Dao and Enlightenment'?" Xu Qing noted these four words.

Duanmu Zang nodded. "Only by giving birth to one's own Heavenly Dao and raising the Enlightenment Star within one's Secret Treasure can one manifest one's law power, truly completing a Secret Treasure and becoming a genuine Spirit Storage expert."

"This stage is incredibly difficult. Cultivation and abundant resources are only part of it; comprehending the power of laws to give birth to the Heavenly Dao is the main focus."

"Therefore, most Spirit Storage cultivators actually remain at this stage, known as 'Nurturing Dao and Enlightenment'."

"To a Nascent Soul cultivator, Spirit Storage cultivators at the Nurturing Dao stage are indeed powerful. But to those who have truly completed their first Secret Treasure, a cultivator still 'Nurturing Dao' is considered to have an incomplete Dao and is not worthy of attention."

"It's like the difference before and after establishing the Foundation Life Flame."

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. "I don't know how it is in the outer domains, but in the Moon Sacrifice Domain, only one or two out of a thousand Spirit Storage cultivators successfully give birth to their Heavenly Dao and complete their first Secret Treasure."

"As for the others, they remain in the Nurturing Dao stage. If they are severely injured during this stage, because their Secret Treasure is not fully formed, it will collapse, and their cultivation will also plummet."

Xu Qing glanced at Duanmu Zang, recalling the collapsed Secret Treasure he had seen rising behind Duanmu Zang earlier over the Sea of Heavenly Fire. "That's what happened to me. That's why I'm even more aware of the fine line between strength and weakness for Spirit Storage cultivators in the Nurturing Dao and Enlightenment stage," Duanmu Zang stated calmly, noticing Xu Qing's gaze.

Xu Qing nodded. Just as he was about to speak, Ling'er scurried over with two plates of rather dark-looking dishes. After placing them on the table, she looked expectantly at Xu Qing and Duanmu Zang. Xu Qing smiled, picked up a mouthful with his chopsticks, chewed slowly, then showed an expression of appreciation before taking a sip of wine.

Duanmu Zang was momentarily stunned. He looked at the dark dishes, then at Xu Qing's appreciative expression, and finally, when he looked at Ling'er, he saw her looking back at him. So, Duanmu Zang also took a bite. His expression remained normal. After slowly swallowing, he took a sip of wine and glanced at Xu Qing. Xu Qing also glanced at Duanmu Zang. Duanmu Zang's expression turned to one of admiration, then he looked at Ling'er approvingly. "Very good."

Ling'er immediately beamed with happiness.

Xu Qing smiled and continued to eat. Seeing this, Duanmu Zang cleared his throat. "I have a batch of pills to check on. I'll take my leave now." With that, he rose and swayed, his figure blurring as he vanished from the house.

"Is it that good? I want to try some too!" Ling'er exclaimed excitedly. Just as she was about to take a bite, Xu Qing put the last morsel into his mouth.

Ling'er felt content. Seeing Xu Qing about to meditate, she ran to the side, took out a half-finished piece of clothing, and continued working on it. This was knowledge she had learned from her older sisters and aunts. "I must make sure Brother Xu Qing wears the clothes I make." Imagining the future scene, Ling'er felt delightful and became even more diligent.

In this way, the last ten days swiftly passed. Perhaps sensing the impending departure, the Old Ancestor of the Vajra Sect stopped breaking off his stories, speeding up his narration. Finally, before the heavenly fire dissipated, he brought a complete story to a close. Even Ling'er, despite her carefree nature, gradually sensed the impending separation and felt a pang of reluctance in her heart. After more than two months of interaction, she had developed some affection for this place, so she left behind many of the pills she possessed.

The little girl, too, was reluctant to part with Xu Qing and visited more frequently. Until the third day before his departure, Xu Qing called out to her as she was about to leave. "Pan Yan, sit opposite me." Xu Qing spoke gently. Shi Panyan was the little girl's name.

"Yes, Teacher!" The little girl trusted Xu Qing deeply and sat directly in front of him.

Xu Qing raised his hand and placed it on the little girl's forehead. "Don't resist." Hearing this, the little girl simply closed her eyes.

After a long while, Xu Qing secretly shook his head, feeling a touch of regret. He had wanted to try and see if he could resolve the Red Moon's curse within her body, and also to research the principle behind the curse. But unfortunately, Xu Qing's current abilities were insufficient to undo a bloodline curse; he would need more research and experimentation. Such experiments, however, would inevitably involve gore, dissection, and the inch-by-inch examination of flesh and blood. Xu Qing did not wish to conduct such trials on a human.

"Pan Yan," Xu Qing said softly. The little girl quickly opened her eyes. "I will be leaving in a few days."

The little girl fell silent, her eyes reddening, and she lowered her head without speaking. She had known this day would come and had prepared herself, but the moment Xu Qing's words reached her, her heart still trembled. Watching her, Xu Qing's mind replayed her diligence and seriousness over the past two months, her fervent desire for knowledge, which felt very familiar to him. After a long pause, Xu Qing made a decision. He took out a pharmacopoeia from his storage bag. After gently stroking it a few times, Xu Qing thought of Master Bai, then handed it to the little girl. "This was left to me by my teacher. Today, I'm giving it to you."

The little girl trembling raised her small hands, took the book, hugged it tightly to her chest, and looked at Xu Qing with deep reluctance, wanting to speak but holding back. But she knew that her teacher and she belonged to two different worlds. So, her thousands of words ultimately condensed into a kowtow. She kowtowed nine times towards Xu Qing.

Xu Qing accepted it calmly and offered some advice. "You must study this pharmacopoeia diligently from now on. Go back home. You don't need to come here anymore."

The little girl silently stood up, her small, thin figure walking forlornly to the doorway. Standing there, she turned to look at Xu Qing again, and tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes. "Teacher, will I ever see you again?"

Xu Qing looked up at the eleven- or twelve-year-old girl before him. He understood her feelings because a similar scene had once played out in his own life. So, a gentle smile appeared on his face, and he nodded. "Heaven and Earth are the guesthouse of all beings, and time is the transient guest of past and present. As long as we live, we shall meet again. I hope that on the day we meet again, you will have achieved great things."

The little girl memorized these words, etching them firmly into her heart. She took a deep breath, bowed to Xu Qing, and slowly left the house. Walking under the night sky, her spirits were low. She hugged the pharmacopoeia tightly to her chest, as if holding onto hope, muttering to herself, "As long as I live, we shall meet again!"

Xu Qing gazed at the little girl's retreating back. He thought of Master Bai and of his past self. "Teacher, I've taken in a disciple of flora and fauna. Her name is Shi Panyan, and this little one studies very hard." Xu Qing murmured softly to himself and closed his eyes.

There is no feast that does not end. As the heavenly fire outside returned, Xu Qing, accompanied by Ling'er, departed from the Firefly City within this dark world three days later. As they left, Ling'er hugged the older sisters and aunts, crying. Many listeners also surrounded the Old Ancestor of the Vajra Sect, each silently showing deep reluctance to part. Duanmu Zang stood by Xu Qing's side, watching it all with a soft sigh in his heart.

Xu Qing looked up at the crowd. He saw Shi Pangui, with his wife and sister, standing in the distance, bowing in farewell. The little girl lowered her head, seemingly not wanting Xu Qing to see her tears, and her body trembled.

Gazing at everything, Xu Qing was silent for a moment, then spoke softly. "Senior, please see me out." With that, Xu Qing turned and walked into the distance.

They left the city, left the tomb. Ling'er ended her transformation and returned to Xu Qing's collar. The Old Ancestor of the Vajra Sect also returned to the fish bone, feeling a little melancholic. Outside the abandoned mine pit, Xu Qing not only left behind the wine but also gave most of the spirit stones, pills, and some magical artifacts from his storage bag to Duanmu Zang. The two looked at each other, nodded, and offered each other blessings. Then, one turned back into the mine pit, and the other rose straight into the sky.

In the sky, the flames were no longer visible; it had returned to its former dimness. Only in the direction of the distant Sea of Heavenly Fire could one see towering blazes. The land was scorched and withered, the mountain peaks became more irregular, piled up in crumpled heaps. No vegetation could survive. As the entire world lay desolate, a residual warmth permeated the air.

Xu Qing sped through the sky, slowly suppressing the thoughts of departure in his heart. He had grown accustomed to separation; it had been that way his whole life. Yet some things, no matter how accustomed one becomes to them, still cause ripples. It's just that with age, one learns to hide them deeper.

Days later, Xu Qing saw the Sea of Heavenly Fire. That vast sea was unchanged, as it always was. Lava flowers occasionally bloomed, emitting booming, cracking sounds. Flying over the Sea of Heavenly Fire, Xu Qing saw no figures along the way. For the cultivators of nearby tribes, the heavenly fire had just ended, and their first task was to participate in reconstruction. Thus, very few, like Xu Qing, came to the Sea of Heavenly Fire immediately. On the empty Sea of Heavenly Fire, Xu Qing sped along, as if he were the only one left in the entire world. But he remained cautious, intending to go to a more distant, secluded area before beginning to refine his life lamp.

And so, another seven days passed. When Xu Qing had fully ventured into the Sea of Heavenly Fire, on the evening of the seventh day, he saw a crimson light. The source of the light was an incredibly gigantic heart. It was pulsating, emitting thumping sounds that reverberated through heaven and earth, creating an astonishing pressure that caused the sky to change color and winds to churn. Upon this massive heart, a crimson palace stood, ancient in design. As blood energy permeated it, a dense divine power of the Crimson Mother surged within. Most striking was the statue erected in front of the palace. It was a statue of a figure kneeling, hands covering its eyes, with blood flowing from its seven orifices. Around the heart, dozens of meteorites of varying sizes floated. Their original color was black, but due to being covered in blood, they had turned purplish-red. On each meteorite, a cultivator sat cross-legged, from various tribes. They were motionless, hands raised to cover their eyes, blood flowing from their bodies and spreading over the meteorites. No one spoke; only the sound of the heart, as the bloody light expanded, replaced all other sounds. The Red Moon Temple.

Xu Qing, seeing it from afar, immediately sank into the lava, his eyes narrowed as he silently gazed. The massive heart slowly approached from the sky, carrying the surrounding meteorites. It disregarded everything, sweeping across the Sea of Heavenly Fire, its destination unknown. In the Moon Sacrifice Domain, they were deities. Any tribe that saw them would either worship or avoid them; no one dared to obstruct them.

After a long while, as they departed, Xu Qing emerged from the lava and looked towards the distant horizon. After a prolonged pause, he continued his journey.

Another three days passed. Xu Qing finally selected an area where he decided to begin his refinement. He then took out the eyeball Duanmu Zang had lent him and looked at it. The eye stared back, showing no submission. Xu Qing remained silent. He recalled Duanmu Zang's words about subduing it, so to be safe, he summoned his shadow. Instantly, the shadow materialized around Xu Qing, forming a black curtain that ultimately floated in mid-air. The flickering stars within it widened into countless eyes, all staring intently at the eyeball in Xu Qing's hand. The eyeball clearly trembled upon seeing so many eyes. Xu Qing's expression turned cold, and he tossed it towards the black curtain. "Communicate with it." All the eyes within the black curtain blinked instantly, emitting an evil spiritual fluctuation, enveloping the eyeball. When it was released a moment later, the eyeball was noticeably withered, trembling, and exuding fear. Xu Qing glanced at it, then called out the Old Ancestor of the Vajra Sect and used its fish bone to rub the eyeball. With every rub, the Old Ancestor of the Vajra Sect let out a sinister chuckle, while the eyeball continuously shivered. Finally, when Xu Qing picked it up and entered the lava, the brown blood vessels on the eyeball immediately spread out docilely, rapidly enveloping him and isolating him from the surrounding heat. Although it showed fear and appeared weak in front of the shadow and the Old Ancestor of the Vajra Sect, its ability to neutralize the intense heat beneath this sea of fire—heat that even Xu Qing couldn't withstand—was truly peculiar. The principle of mutual generation and mutual overcoming in all things was clearly demonstrated in this eyeball.

Xu Qing pondered, then continued to descend with the help of the eyeball. As for his shadow, Xu Qing kept it out at all times to prevent the eyeball from suddenly having any malicious intentions.

In this manner, when he reached a depth of about a hundred zhang, Xu Qing stopped. After sitting cross-legged, he cautiously inhaled a wisp of fire that had not been isolated from the outside. Even just a wisp brought a sense of existential threat, as if his life was about to be incinerated. Fortunately, the amount was tiny, and his purple crystal flashed, rapidly devouring it. Subsequently, a light far more intense than before shone into Xu Qing's sea of consciousness, instantly illuminating the Remnant Immortal Slaying God Lamp with perfect clarity. The next moment, the lamp began to melt. The rate of dissolution far exceeded previous times. Seeing this, Xu Qing's heart stirred with excitement. While he focused intently, his shadow also exerted itself immensely, staring fixedly at the eyeball and continuously emanating a hungry aura. The eyeball was terrified, diligently dispelling the intense heat beneath the lava.

Time slowly passed. Seven days later, Xu Qing's Remnant Immortal Slaying God Lamp completely melted. As his sea of consciousness churned and a thousand-zhang vortex spread beneath the lava, the fourth sundial life lamp appeared! Its gnomon moved, and different times surged within Xu Qing, affecting the outside world. However, being a hundred zhang beneath the lava, although the fluctuations here were significant, they only created ripples on the lava's surface. Coupled with the remote location and the current emptiness of the Sea of Heavenly Fire, it didn't attract any attention.

Another seven days passed. Xu Qing opened his eyes. A thousand-zhang vortex formed around him once more, and within his sea of consciousness, five sundial life lamps had fully materialized. A terrifying fluctuation surged from Xu Qing as the fifth sundial appeared. On the five sundials, the pointer shadows rotated, each showing a different time, separated by intervals of seven hours!

Gazing at them, Xu Qing fell into thought until several hours later, when the pointer shadow of the first sundial life lamp, which had appeared earliest, settled at noon. Its light stopped rotating, and its pointer ceased moving. A sense of enlightenment dawned upon Xu Qing. "Next, the other four lamps should also stop at noon in succession, and when their times align, a special ability should manifest..." What this ability was, Xu Qing wasn't entirely sure, but he knew from an ethereal intuition that it would be a major eruption of sundial power.