Chapter 648: New Ideas for the Land of Great Aspirations

Seeing the captain so excited, Xu Qing smiled. He felt indifferent about the identity of the Revered Moon Palace Lord. After all, his senior disciple brother had been preparing for this for a long time, so if he truly became the palace lord, Xu Qing wouldn't be too surprised.

"Then I'll congratulate Senior Disciple Brother in advance," Xu Qing said with a smile.

The captain laughed heartily. "What's mine is yours, junior disciple brother. Let's go!"

As he spoke, the lens flashed brightly, enveloping them both in a brilliant light. A roar echoed, and Xu Qing and the captain vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, the Revered Moon Palace was desolate. The mountain body remained as grand as ever, but most of its temples were dim. The vast scene of thousands of divine statues traversing the heavens and earth, once common, was now rarely seen due to the war. Thus, at this moment, only a small number of Revered Moon Palace cultivators were present, temporarily there to exchange information and conduct transactions, fewer than a few hundred. They moved in a hurry, often departing immediately after completing their tasks, with no time to waste.

However, at this moment, in the sky, a sudden change occurred. Above the nine colossal temples in the sky, the awe-inspiring Divine Hall, standing at the highest point of the Revered Moon Palace, suddenly shimmered with dazzling light. A deafening roar reverberated as well. The appearance of this light and sound spread throughout the entire mountain of the Revered Moon Palace, causing the mountain body to tremble violently and the temples to sway. All the cultivators present were shaken to their core. Instinctively looking up, once they discerned the source of everything, a sense of shock erupted.

"The Supreme Hall!"

"What's happening? The Supreme Hall, which represents the Lord of the Revered Moon Palace, is no longer dim. It's actually shining brightly!"

A clamor immediately rose, as this scene was truly too astonishing for the Revered Moon Palace cultivators. That was the Supreme Hall! The Supreme Divine Temple representing the Lord of the Revered Moon Palace! For countless years, the Revered Moon Palace had never seen a true Supreme Lord; all affairs were managed and decrees issued by the Deputy Palace Lords. Therefore, this naturally held immense significance.

However, for some of the elders, while their hearts were stirred, it wasn't to an earth-shattering degree. This was because, although similar scenes had been rare over the years, they had witnessed them and understood that another prominent figure had initiated the Palace Lord's trial. "I've seen this happen twice," one remarked. "Unfortunately, the Supreme Divine Temple's doors never opened, and it would simply dim again after a while."

"I also saw it once," another added, "and eventually, the Fifth Palace Lord emerged from his temple."

These elders spoke with emotion, and after their remarks, the newer Revered Moon Palace cultivators present began to understand. Nevertheless, the anticipation remained strong. Although they didn't believe a true Supreme Lord would appear, there was a high probability of a Deputy Palace Lord emerging, which was also a significant event for the Revered Moon Palace in its current state. After all, the Revered Moon Palace was currently engaged in a real conflict with the Red Moon Divine Palace. The emergence of a new Deputy Palace Lord at this time would greatly boost morale.

News quickly spread. Figures swiftly returned from outside the Revered Moon Palace. Numerous divine statues emerged from their temples, looking up at the sky amidst a rising tide of discussion and clamor. Even the temples of several Deputy Palace Lords in the sky began to shine. Two of the five Deputy Palace Lords appeared, looking up at the Supreme Divine Temple.

Amidst the anticipation of the Revered Moon Palace cultivators, beyond the sky of the Revered Moon Palace, in a place where others could not voluntarily arrive, there was utter void. This void was like mist, spreading boundlessly, churning thickly. At its far end, a lake existed. More precisely, it was a colossal mirror surface, covered by a layer of lake water. The lake water was crystal clear and transparent, and the mirror surface beneath was perfectly lucid. It was a scene of purity.

Above this mirrored lake, a tall figure floated. It was an old man, dressed in a long white robe, his hands crossed within his sleeves. His head was bowed, gazing motionless at the lake surface. Only his robes and white hair occasionally swayed. On the water surface where his gaze rested, ripples now echoed, and a faint, blurred image was gradually forming beneath the water. It seemed as though the forming figure was on the other side of the mirror, separated from the void where the old man resided.

After an unknown period, the figure beneath the water became increasingly clear. It was Xu Qing. Xu Qing's expression was solemn, and his mind was turbulent as he looked down at his feet. In his memory, after he and his senior disciple brother were enveloped by the lens's light, everything turned blank. The next moment, when everything returned, he found himself in this mirrored lake area. There was nothing around him but void, except for the mirror beneath his feet, which seemed to contain another world, reflecting the figure of the old man in white robes. Separated by the mirrored lake, their gazes met. What appeared in Xu Qing's eyes was a pair of indifferent eyes, imbued with coldness.

Xu Qing was vigilant. He had already scanned his surroundings and did not see his senior disciple brother.

"The one who arrived with you is on another mirrored surface, contemplating how to undergo the trial," a calm voice emerged from the lake mirror beneath Xu Qing's feet. The calm voice echoed within the void, generating countless reverberations and imparting a sense of vastness. "All cultivators who enter this place, regardless of their cultivation level, are eligible for the trial. If the trial is successful, you will become the Lord of the Heavenly Eye, and also my master. Failure results in a secondary contract, with limited authority. So, will you undergo the trial?"

The voice, devoid of emotion, coldly entered Xu Qing's ears. Xu Qing pondered, not immediately confirming, but instead asked a question. "What kind of trial is required?"

"Make a grand vow," the white-robed old man beneath the water surface said faintly. "Through the power of a grand vow, a contract will be formed. If you demonstrate the qualification to fulfill it, you will pass. Afterwards, you must complete your vow within a set timeframe." The Heavenly Eye authority gained after passing depends on the magnitude of the vow. If the vow is mundane, even if you pass, you cannot ascend to the Lord of the Heavenly Eye and will remain under a secondary contract. "Only a grand vow carries great karma." However, one must not act recklessly.

As the white-robed old man spoke, he raised his hand and waved. Instantly, a great roar sounded, and the water surface rippled. Dozens of ice sculptures materialized within it. These ice sculptures, male and female, each exuded impressive auras, but their life fluctuations were sealed. These were the past failures of this epoch. They either made vows that were too grand and exaggerated, deemed false, and punished here, or they were unable to fulfill their vows and have been bound until now. Xu Qing's gaze swept over them quickly. Not seeing the captain among them, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"So, what is your grand vow?" The white-robed old man beneath the mirrored lake gazed indifferently at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing thought for a moment. He figured since the captain had been preparing for so long, there was a high probability he would be fine. After all, though Senior Disciple Brother could sometimes be unreliable, he was sufficiently audacious when it came to important matters. Therefore, he didn't really need to risk too much by talking about annihilating the 'Crimson Mother.' He only needed to follow his true intentions. Xu Qing pondered, then met the white-robed old man's gaze across the lake.

"I don't have a grand vow to make," he began slowly. "Within this Sacrificial Moon Great Domain, what I once most wished to achieve was to refine a pill that could resolve the curse affecting all living beings here, especially humanity." Xu Qing spoke slowly. This matter was precisely why he had come to the Bitter Life Mountain Range and joined the Revered Moon Palace—to better obtain research information on curses.

As his words spread, ripples appeared on the water surface, and the white-robed old man's expression shifted. If another trial participant had spoken this way, he would have deemed them disingenuous. However, as the Artifact Spirit of the Revered Moon Palace, he had observed all of Xu Qing's actions within the palace, including his work on the anti-curse pill. All of Xu Qing's actions seemed to genuinely align with this vow.

Thus, a moment later, the white-robed old man raised his hand and waved. Immediately, the water surface in front of Xu Qing churned, and a massive pill furnace materialized from within, rising up. "Everything here can be created from nothing, transforming into all things. Though they are illusions, as long as you request it, I can manifest them. You may refine here and begin your trial. You must refine a pill that reduces the curse by at least 20 percent. If you do, you will have passed the assessment." Having spoken, the white-robed old man's figure dissipated, leaving no trace.

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, looked at the pill furnace before him, and observed it closely. A ripple stirred in his heart. The pill furnace was incredibly real; it didn't seem like an illusion.

"It can manifest all things?" Xu Qing suddenly spoke. "I need ten Heavenly Fate Flowers!" As he spoke, ripples immediately appeared on the surrounding water surface, and ten drops of lake water rose. After floating in front of Xu Qing, these ten drops of water each rotated, ultimately truly forming ten Heavenly Fate Flowers. Both their herbal scent and the medicinal properties they contained were incredibly real.

Xu Qing was moved. He took one, observed it carefully, and after a moment, decisively ate it, savoring its taste. "Everything feels real, including the medicinal effect. However, these are all perceptions; they don't actually exist. It's just that I *feel* like I've eaten it. This place possesses a power that can almost alter one's own perception, yet it's different from that of the old man, the Young Lord's grandfather. The former is a power one possesses oneself, actively released to affect the outside world. Here, it's more like this authority has been stripped away and permeates this place, acting as a tool that can be used here by others! And it seems to be even more formidable."

Xu Qing was stirred. Looking around, he suddenly felt this place was exceptional. He then recalled the difficulties he had encountered previously while researching the anti-curse pill. "The environment of the Sacrificial Moon Great Domain means many herbs aren't found here..."

Xu Qing's eyes gleamed with curiosity, and he spoke again. "One thousand stalks of hundred-year-old Earthly Single Spiritual Bamboo. Three thousand portions of Sky Mist Immortal Cage Grass! Ten thousand tender leaves of Thunderstruck Dragon-Soaring Wood! And also Cloud Mist Half-Illusion Flowers, Nine Withered Seven Decaying Grass, and thousand-year-old Mulberry Root..."

Even in Feng Hai County, these rare heavenly treasures and earthly materials were seldom seen. Xu Qing, in one breath, listed dozens of types, and soon, a vast quantity of all the requested herbs appeared. This delighted Xu Qing, so he spoke again, requesting hundreds more, and they all materialized one by one. Even if there was an error in the initial manifestation, as long as Xu Qing described its appearance and medicinal properties, it would reform. With his continuous adjustments, the emerging plants perfectly matched his requirements.

Xu Qing's heart surged with emotion. He had profoundly realized that this place was a dream come true for an alchemist. It didn't matter if he failed; he could simply start over. Herbs were infinite. This unconcerned indulgence in resources made Xu Qing incredibly joyful. Immersed in the process, he tried out every refining method he could conceive.

"I already have a plan for the anti-curse pill. Refining one that reduces the curse by 20 percent isn't difficult, and it's even possible to achieve more... Moreover, this place has another extremely important use for me: creating poisonous herbs!" Xu Qing's eyes burned with fervor. "Every poisonous herb I desire can be formed here. Though they are illusions, the perception is real, and the instincts of this body will also form accordingly! This way, the Poison Ban Integration Eye Technique, which I had to abandon due to a lack of poisonous herbs, can now be fully completed here."