Chapter 609: That Person Looks a Bit Like Erniu

Within the Anti-Moon Palace at this moment, high above in the sky, one of the nine supreme temples radiated brilliant light, illuminating all realms.

From within, a tall, god-like figure emerged, exuding supreme majesty.

This figure stood a thousand zhang tall, entirely golden, with three heads and six arms. Each hand cradled a mountain of a different color, and layers of halos overlapped behind him. Sunlight-like radiance reflected off his body, emitting a dazzling and extraordinary aura.

His appearance shook the colossal mountains, caused everything in all directions to churn, and scattered clouds. An indescribable, overwhelming sense of oppression spread like a tidal wave throughout every corner of the Anti-Moon Palace.

All who felt it were deeply shaken, bowing their heads in reverence towards the celestial temple.

"Fourth Hall Master!"

The nine supreme temples in the sky of the Anti-Moon Palace represented its highest authority at present. Although only five were occupied, with four still awaiting successors, each of these five Hall Masters held immense power within the Anti-Moon Palace and served as its principal administrators. Over the years, the entire Anti-Moon Palace had continuously grown stronger under the leadership of these five Vice Hall Masters, engaging in repeated covert confrontations with the Red Moon Divine Palace. Their true identities remained shrouded in mystery; their previous appearances had always signaled major announcements. Now, witnessing the arrival of a Vice Hall Master, all the divine statues present felt a surge of surprise and doubt, awaiting the declaration of an important matter.

"I have not come today to make an announcement," the thousand-zhang deity spoke calmly, sitting cross-legged in the sky. "Instead, I am here at the invitation of Master Sheng Luo to observe his pill release ceremony. You may proceed as you wish." His voice, like a vast flood, echoed boundlessly, reverberating in everyone's minds.

However, his words caused an even greater uproar and clamor among the divine statues of the Anti-Moon Palace. The cultivators who supported Master Sheng Luo were instantly excited, while those who supported Dan Jiu felt a jolt in their hearts.

"Master Sheng Luo truly lives up to his reputation and is highly respected; even the Fourth Hall Master has personally come to observe the ceremony!" "Just look at how many people Master Sheng Luo has benefited and how many cultivators he has saved over the years. Only Master Sheng Luo could invite a Vice Hall Master!" Instantly, a wave of voices erupted within the Anti-Moon Palace, with the vast majority favoring Sheng Luo. Most of Dan Jiu's supporters remained silent, and even the neighboring big man and the six-eyed statue began to waver.

At that moment, a temple made entirely of jade, situated mid-slope on the Anti-Moon Palace mountain and surrounded by countless divine statues, slowly opened its doors. Endless brilliant light shot out from within, accompanied by echoing bell chimes.

The bronze cauldron in front of the temple also saw its incense offerings surge at that moment, becoming incredibly robust. As green smoke rose, a divine statue emerged from the opened doors.

The statue resembled an angry Vajra, with auspicious clouds beneath its feet and an eye at its brow that emitted soul-stirring light. Notably, a rotating pill furnace floated above its head, its medicinal aroma permeating all directions.

As he stepped out, the surrounding statues, who had been waiting for a long time, all looked over, their eyes filled with excitement and reverence.

"It's Master Sheng Luo! Given his status, he's actually so punctual!" "This is Master Sheng Luo. Self-discipline is his consistent style, and meticulousness has always been his approach."

Amidst these waves of respectful remarks, Master Sheng Luo exited the temple and ascended into mid-air. At this moment, countless gazes converged upon him from across the Anti-Moon Palace, and innumerable greetings overlapped, forming a thunderous roar that shook the heavens.

"Greetings, Master!"

Looking around, countless divine statues bowed their heads in homage. For a moment, Master Sheng Luo, standing in mid-air, was the focus of all attention, his presence like a magnificent rainbow.

Sheng Luo felt satisfied. He glanced around and nodded slightly.

"Fellow Daoists, you have waited long," he said, then looked up at the Fourth Hall Master and bowed with cupped fists. "Thank you, Fourth Hall Master, for coming to observe this old man's pill release."

In the sky, the Fourth Hall Master smiled.

"This Hall Master has also long awaited Master's pills." Sheng Luo smiled upon hearing this and was about to speak again. Just then, below the Anti-Moon Palace mountain, the door of Xu Qing's small temple slowly opened, and a divine statue carrying a gourd emerged from within.

It was Xu Qing.

His appearance was not accompanied by dazzling light or surging incense. In fact, when he emerged, few people even noticed him.

Only his followers, who were constantly watching, noticed Xu Qing immediately.

The moment they saw Xu Qing appear, these followers were visibly excited and rushed forward.

"Master Dan Jiu!"

"Greetings, Master!" A neighboring big man quickly approached, his face filled with excitement, and shouted loudly.

"Master, you're finally here!" Behind him, the six-eyed statue also rapidly approached, its six large eyes seemingly brimming with tears, unblinking, its expression full of fervor, and its voice even louder, spreading in all directions.

"Master Dan Jiu, your virtue reaches the Nine Heavens, your pills serve the Ten Seas, you benefit a hundred realms for a thousand autumns and ten thousand years!" As the six-eyed statue spoke, its momentum became extraordinary, far surpassing others, causing other surrounding followers to instinctively glance over and then shout out the same words in succession. The wave of sound echoed in all directions, and cultivators from the Anti-Moon Palace who had been focused on Master Sheng Luo also turned to look.

"So this is that Dan Jiu?" "He looks ordinary, with no particular presence." "I want to see what kind of pill he'll present today. If it's just a show, then his previous cheap problem-solving pills must have a questionable origin!" Under the gaze of the crowd, Xu Qing looked at the many divine statues around him, feeling a little surprised himself.

He had been focused on healing these past few days and hadn't returned, unaware that Sheng Luo had chosen to release his pills on the same day as him.

But Xu Qing paid it no mind. He looked up at the Vice Hall Master in the sky, his expression solemn, and bowed with cupped fists.

The Vice Hall Master also looked at Xu Qing. He had heard about this controversial pill master who had recently caused quite a stir, but this was his first time seeing him. He nodded without speaking.

Xu Qing withdrew his gaze and looked at the divine statues outside. He had no intention of leaving his temple courtyard; at that moment, he was still contemplating the matter of the Golden Crow.

So he raised his right hand, preparing to take out the pill he intended to release and place it into a light cluster as usual, allowing others to freely inspect it.

Before Xu Qing could take it out, mocking laughter erupted from Master Sheng Luo's followers in the sky.

"Dan Jiu, you actually showed up? We thought you wouldn't dare come." "Then you're mistaken. As a Master, how could Dan Jiu pass up this chance to bask in the glory of the sun and moon with his meager flame? It's just that Master Sheng Luo has lofty aspirations and is indifferent to fame and fortune, so he chose not to stoop to this person's level. To choose the same day as Master Sheng Luo to release his pills—anyone can see his contemptible intentions." These words were filled with malice and were very unpleasant to hear.

Xu Qing looked up, glanced at the speaking statues, and remembered their appearances.

At the same time, Xu Qing's followers glared back.

"Nonsense!" the neighboring big man roared, while the sharp voice of the six-eyed statue beside him pierced through the air.

"Tell me, how many tainted spirit stones did you take from Sheng Luo to twist the truth like this? If they're offering a lot, count me in!"

The exchange of words was fierce. Although Dan Jiu had far fewer followers than Sheng Luo, the six-eyed statue alone was a match for a thousand. His sharp remarks could often turn the tide with a single sentence. The scene of one fighting a crowd left the surrounding observers aghast and deeply impressed by the six-eyed statue.

Seeing the chaos, Xu Qing grew a little impatient. He did not want to waste time arguing here, so he turned to leave and continue his research on the Golden Crow.

But just then, Master Sheng Luo, serene in mid-air, spoke slowly.

"Silence!"

As he spoke, his followers instantly quieted down. Sheng Luo's gaze fell upon Xu Qing, and he spoke in a faint voice.

"Dan Jiu, you have chosen the wrong path!"

Xu Qing paused, turned around, and looked at Master Sheng Luo in mid-air.

"What do you mean?"

The surroundings fell silent, and all eyes converged on Xu Qing and Sheng Luo. The Fourth Hall Master in the sky also watched intently. Under the scrutiny of all, Master Sheng Luo shook his head.

"Someone sent me one of your pills. I had initially been delighted to appraise it, but in the end, I was utterly disappointed. You consider yourself clever, using white wind's flesh and blood as an ingredient, but in reality, you're merely cutting corners and faking quality. Do you know that seven thousand years ago, someone tried this, and it caused immense harm? All who consumed that pill died violently within a few years! Dan Jiu, your intentions are impure!"

As Master Sheng Luo's words rang out, countless gasps immediately followed. Especially those cultivators who had consumed Xu Qing's pills, their expressions changed drastically, and their minds became unsettled.

Xu Qing gazed at Sheng Luo, then turned and beckoned to the neighboring big man not far away.

The neighboring big man also felt a flicker of doubt, but instinctively rushed over.

"What happened these past few days?" Xu Qing asked.

The neighboring big man suppressed his worry and recounted the full story. Xu Qing's gaze turned cold upon hearing it, and Spirit'er's indignant voice echoed in his mind.

"Brother Xu Qing, we clearly set the time first. They're going too far, and they're slandering us right from the start, even saying our intentions are impure. I think *his* heart is truly wicked!"

Xu Qing remained expressionless, but his gaze grew colder. Abandoning his plan to leave, he stepped out of his temple and walked towards mid-air.

Although his followers felt hesitant, they still gathered around him. The neighboring big man guarded Xu Qing's left side, while no other statue could contend with the six-eyed one for the right side; it quickly arrived, guarding Xu Qing's right, and even gave him an ingratiating smile.

Xu Qing paused, looked left and right, then specifically at the six-eyed statue on his right.

He found the other's gaze somewhat familiar, recalling that it was the same look his captain gave the Young Lord.

Xu Qing felt a strange sensation in his heart, and Spirit'er's voice echoed in his mind.

"Brother Xu Qing, that person's gaze looks familiar, like Senior Brother Er Niu."

Xu Qing said nothing, pretending not to recognize him, and continued walking. He eventually reached mid-air, stood in front of Master Sheng Luo, looked at him, and spoke calmly.

"Shall we compare?"