Chapter 677: I Have No Qualification?

The battlefield in the Bitter Life Mountain Range was brutal. Death struck every moment, and the ground, once a sea of blood, had dried up, forming a massive, deep pit. Heavenly fire engulfed it, spreading widely across the sky.

Under the blessing of the Anti-Moon Temple's domain artifact, the statues from the temple displayed astonishing combat power. Even upon death, the Anti-Moon cultivators would re-emerge from the temple within the mirror, thanks to the Anti-Moon Temple's tremors. They would then rush back into battle, continuing the fierce fight. This meant that even if the Red Moon cultivators employed their curse techniques, the Anti-Moon Temple could quickly suppress them. As a result, the war rapidly tilted in favor of the Anti-Moon Temple.

The twenty-plus ancient cultivators who had been unsealed were all prodigies of this era. They possessed peculiar methods and vast combat experience. They frequently held the power to suppress opponents of the same cultivation level, forcing Red Moon powerhouses to retreat wherever they appeared.

The Palace Emperor, too, faced immense pressure. He confronted the two strongest unsealed cultivators from the Anti-Moon Temple, particularly the foreign woman, Shenque, whose flames sublimated in her hands, shifting in color. Each change in color amplified her power remarkably. Her attacks incinerated heaven and earth, imbued with divine might that even startled the Palace Emperor. While the Palace Emperor could still contend with just her, Li Xiaoshan's presence exerted an equally astonishing oppressive force.

Li Xiaoshan's blade didn't constantly descend. He moved swiftly around the Palace Emperor, dragging his blade in a continuous rotation, creating a clanging sound. Each strike of his blade often shattered the void, creating a terrifying sword energy. This made the Palace Emperor feel increasingly apprehensive as the battle continued.

"This battle should not continue!"

The Palace Emperor narrowed his eyes, raised his right hand, and pointed beside him. A phantom projection of a world formed before his finger, blocking the approaching long blade. Amidst a roar, the Palace Emperor's left hand reached towards the sky, and the Mortal Transformation of the Crimson Mother reappeared. Her reappearance warped heaven and earth, causing the battlefield to tremble. Simultaneously, Xu Qing's gaze sharpened, as the Crimson Mother's Mortal Transformation was precisely what he had been guarding against within the Anti-Moon Temple.

Seeing the Crimson Mother's Mortal Transformation descend once more, Xu Qing immediately exerted his authority. The Captain, standing beside him, did the same. Using their status as Anti-Moon Lords to control the Anti-Moon Temple, they caused the colossal mirror to emit a dazzling light. This light spread in all directions, countering the power of the Crimson Mother's Mortal Transformation.

The two forces collided again, creating deafening sounds that conjured a storm sweeping across the sky. Amidst the churning chaos, the battling cultivators from both sides were separated by this violent force, each retreating. A murderous glint flashed in Xu Qing's eyes. He was about to command the Anti-Moon Temple to unleash its domain artifact's power again, but at that very moment, a wind descended from the heavens.

This wind carried a rank scent, instantly pervading the battlefield. Along with the wind came eerie, ghostly whispers, as if murmuring in everyone's ears.

"Once there was a big doll..."

This sound was the same eerie nursery rhyme that echoed within the Divine Son's Hall. It wasn't the first time Xu Qing had heard it; he'd previously encountered it in the village when saving Fifth Grandma. What resonated most deeply with him was the final line.

"The fourth doll is lost and won't return."

This phrase echoed from all directions as the sky inverted, turning crimson once more. Gradually, a lake of blood appeared in the heavens, like a projection. The blood lake churned as if some terrifying entity within it sought to emerge. A terrifying aura simultaneously descended upon the battlefield.

Xu Qing and the Captain's expressions changed instantly. The Anti-Moon cultivators were even more affected, their minds reeling. Even the unsealed powerhouses felt the same profound disturbance. The blade in Li Xiaoshan's hand briefly stilled. Shenque's flames gently flickered. Their expressions were extremely solemn as they stared intently at the blood lake in the sky.

In contrast, the Red Moon cultivators collectively breathed a sigh of relief. Only the Palace Emperor frowned, gazing at the blood lake, lost in thought. But just then, a voice, like muffled thunder, erupted and drowned out the nursery rhyme.

It was a heartbeat.

Thump-thump, thump-thump!

The moment this sound appeared, many Anti-Moon cultivators shrieked. Their statues uncontrollably crumbled, as if the sound itself could shatter everything it touched. Immediately after, as the blood lake in the sky churned with increasing intensity, a black hand covered in tentacles slowly emerged from within. It was accompanied by world-shaking pressure that caused the world to tremble.

This hand had seven fingers covered in bone spurs, and its tentacles writhed. Wherever it passed, the sky collapsed. Though it appeared to descend slowly, it was continuously expanding. It was irresistible, unstoppable. The appearance of this colossal hand caused anomalous energies to surge, forcing everyone to retreat. Finally, this god-like black hand seized the void where the Red Moon cultivators were located. This included the Palace Emperor and the Crimson Mother's Mortal Transformation, all engulfed within the black hand's grasp. It then slowly ascended, carrying everyone with it, and vanished into the blood lake in the sky. Its arrival could not be impeded, nor its departure prevented.

Everyone, including Xu Qing and the Captain, could only watch helplessly as the colossal hand vanished into the blood lake. Then, a pair of golden eyes emerged from the lake, gazing indifferently across the water at the land below, and then at the distant sky. The golden eyes then closed, and the blood lake projection in the sky dissipated.

The battle was over.

Once the sky returned to normal, the divine hand's oppressive aura and restraint instantly vanished. However, the turmoil in everyone's minds persisted; the sight of those golden eyes had instinctively left them feeling suppressed.

"Who was that...?"

The Anti-Moon Temple cultivators fell silent, yet the question instinctively arose in their minds. They all knew the answer, yet found it impossible to believe.

"The Divine Son..." Li Xiaoshan rasped.

"The Divine Son I encountered in my era was not this terrifying," Shenque said, frowning. "He feels infinitely close to a true deity."

Silence fell around them. Despite being a victory, the emergence of the Divine Son's hand from the blood lake instilled an unprecedented sense of powerlessness in everyone present. Instinctively, they turned their gaze toward Xu Qing and Er Niu. Soon, however, their gazes reflected disappointment and helplessness. While an Anti-Moon Lord had indeed appeared in the Anti-Moon Temple, this Lord's cultivation was simply too weak.

One was at the Spirit Repository realm, the other at Nascent Soul. How could such cultivation levels qualify them to be Anti-Moon Lords, or lead the Anti-Moon Temple cultivators on this path against heaven? Moreover, the distant Red Moon Star already dominated more than half the sky, and the Crimson Mother herself would arrive within one or two months at most. At that point, facing the Crimson Mother's consumption, all beings would only feel bitterness and hopelessness.

Even if these two Anti-Moon Lords possessed authority, their cultivation was too low to inspire widespread confidence or heartfelt loyalty. Gradually, the Anti-Moon cultivators' gazes shifted away from Xu Qing. Some looked at the Fourth Palace Lord, others at the Third Palace Lord, some approached Li Xiaoshan, and still others gathered around Shenque. This also included the unsealed prodigies. Although unsealed, their sentiments toward the Anti-Moon Lords were complex, and they remained unconvinced. Ultimately, they believed Xu Qing and the Captain were simply not qualified.

"Thank you, Moon Lord, for allowing me and my subordinates to enter the Anti-Moon Temple at this crucial moment. However, please release the blessings; I wish to return to North Origin and spend my remaining days with my people there." The Third Palace Lord looked at Xu Qing and spoke calmly.

Xu Qing remained silent. The Fourth Palace Lord, frowning, took a few steps forward and spoke in a low voice. "Third Palace, now that an Anti-Moon Lord has emerged, it is our time to rise. How can you..."

"Fourth Brother, is there any hope?" The Third Palace Lord sighed, his face etched with weariness, cutting off the Fourth Palace Lord. "Given the Moon Lord's cultivation and experience, we cannot possibly contend against the Red Moon. I don't even know this Moon Lord's origins; perhaps he isn't a cultivator of this domain."

This statement immediately caused many Anti-Moon cultivators to look surprised and suspicious. The Third Palace Lord, having said his piece, turned his gaze to Xu Qing. "Moon Lord, please release the blessings. If you refuse, then seal me." His words conveyed his stance: he wouldn't actively resist Xu Qing, but he fundamentally disagreed.

After the Third Palace Lord finished speaking, tens of thousands of Anti-Moon Temple cultivators behind him bowed their heads. They were his loyal subordinates, having followed him relentlessly, and at this moment, they naturally chose to follow his path once more.

"I feel the same way."

"Moon Lord, given the circumstances, there's no meaning in continuing." Among the unsealed cultivators, seven or eight spoke dispassionately.

Li Xiaoshan opened his mouth to speak but, after glancing at Xu Qing and Er Niu, ultimately sighed. Their cultivation was simply too low. Shenque remained expressionless, saying nothing.

The Fourth Palace Lord's breathing quickened. He looked at Xu Qing, then suddenly stepped forward, taking a firm stand by Xu Qing's side. Many other Anti-Moon cultivators remained motionless, their hearts filled with hesitation, choosing to observe.

Seeing this, the Captain raised an eyebrow, about to speak, but Xu Qing took a step forward, looking at the Third Palace Lord. "My cultivation is indeed insufficient, and I am not a native cultivator of this domain."

Xu Qing's words immediately caused an uproar among the surrounding Anti-Moon cultivators. The idea of an outsider becoming the Anti-Moon Lord was, in itself, difficult for many of them to accept.

"You are indeed not from this domain," the Third Palace Lord stated, his voice deep as he gazed at Xu Qing.

"Whether he's a native cultivator or not is irrelevant. If he turned the tide at a crucial moment, then he is the Moon Lord!" The Fourth Palace Lord's expression was stern, and his voice was low, exuding conviction.

The Third Palace Lord shook his head. "I won't debate this with you. While it's true the Moon Lord contributed, his qualifications and prestige are insufficient. I am not convinced, nor are my subordinates, and many fellow cultivators of the Anti-Moon Temple will also find it difficult to be convinced. If we continue down this path, I will have regrets."

The Third Palace Lord shook his head, turned, and began walking toward the Anti-Moon Temple, choosing to return. His subordinates followed behind him. Many other Anti-Moon Temple cultivators around them also sighed quietly, silently heading toward the Anti-Moon Temple. For these last two months, rather than hopelessly following a Spirit Repository realm cultivator, it was better to spend their remaining days in a quiet place, reflecting on their past. As for sealing themselves within the Anti-Moon Temple to escape the catastrophe, the crowd wasn't foolish; they knew this was unrealistic. Otherwise, why would only a single clone of Shenque have survived this era? This was clearly a privilege only the Moon Lord possessed.

The atmosphere was oppressive. One by one, people in the crowd began heading toward the Anti-Moon Temple. Among them were some followers of Master Danjiu, including the giant statue of the neighboring woman. They were heartbroken not to see Master among the statues summoned this time, realizing he had fallen and thus could not be called forth.

Just as these individuals began heading toward the Anti-Moon Temple, Xu Qing's voice calmly resonated. "You say my cultivation is insufficient, and I can accept that. But you claim I lack qualifications and prestige... I want to ask one thing."

"Is it enough that I unsealed the Sovereign's heir beneath the Skyfire Sea, and revived Princess Mingmei in the Northern Ice Plain?"

"If not, is it enough that I helped the Fifth Princess escape from under Black Centipede Mountain, and assisted the Eighth Prince in unsealing within the Gate Clan's ancestral land?"

As Xu Qing spoke, every cultivator walking towards the Anti-Moon Temple was utterly stunned, their expressions shifting dramatically. They all turned to face Xu Qing, their minds reeling as if struck by thunder. The Third Palace Lord also halted, his eyes gleaming as he stared at Xu Qing.

"I had my suspicions about your presence in the Bitter Life Mountain Range. Rescuing the Sovereign's children is indeed a monumental achievement for our generation, but Moon Lord, your rallying power is still insufficient."

Xu Qing listened expressionlessly. He then raised his right hand and, with a wave, shed all his disguises, revealing his true form. He spoke calmly: "Is it enough that, months ago, at the Sovereign's God-Slaying Grounds, I ignited a spirit of resistance, rallying all beings not to abandon hope, allowing a single spark to become a raging wildfire?"

As he finished speaking, the sky rippled, and a brilliant light shone. A colossal God-Slaying Platform roared into existence behind Xu Qing, standing majestically. From a distance, its grand presence shook heaven and earth.

The Third Palace Lord's eyes narrowed. The expressions of all the Anti-Moon cultivators present shifted. One by one, they gazed at Xu Qing's face, then at the God-Slaying Platform, and the scene that had been seared into their minds months ago was vividly recalled.

It was exactly the same!

"It's him!"

"The one who rallied us was the Moon Lord all along!"

"This... that scene years ago spurred us from despair!"

An uproar erupted, uncontrollable amidst the emotional turmoil in everyone's minds. At that moment, the Captain's voice also resonated.

"Interesting, you say we lack qualifications and prestige?"

"Is it enough that I was in this domain in my previous life, and once bit the Crimson Mother?"

"Is it enough that I was once the Grand Priestess, and rebelled against the Red Moon?"

"Is it enough that the Red Moon Divine Temple tore me apart with five horses, using my organs to uphold their temple?"

The Captain's words, combined with the commotion Xu Qing had stirred, echoed through the heavens and earth like a hundred thousand peals of thunder. Their minds were shaken, and every Anti-Moon cultivator's expression changed dramatically, their breaths quickening. The Third Palace Lord's mind reeled violently. Li Xiaoshan, Shenque, and all the unsealed individuals were simultaneously deeply moved.

Finally, Xu Qing raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding Anti-Moon Temple cultivators, and spoke softly.

"Is it enough that I seized a wisp of the Crimson Mother's Red Moon origin and made it my own power?"

"Is it enough that I refined countless pills for Anti-Moon cultivators, alleviating your suffering from curses?"

"And finally, you say I lack prestige... then is it enough that I am Danjiu?"