Chapter 678: Reverse Moon Killing Intent, Coiling Across Heaven and Earth

Neither the Captain's arrogant pronouncements nor Xu Qing's earlier statements truly resonated. They were too grand, like distant whispers in the sky, failing to connect with the common people.

Whether it was biting the Scarlet Mother, plundering the Red Moon's essence, or even rescuing the Master's children, these deeds, though astounding, didn't feel personally relevant to the ordinary cultivators of the Inverse Moon Palace.

Regardless of what the prominent figures accomplished, these were matters for the powerful. While inspiring and stirring, such news ultimately lacked the direct, visceral impact that truly moved their hearts.

This is simply human nature; people typically prioritize their own safety and matters that directly affect them.

Just as the people of Fenghai Commandery once cared little about who served as their commander, focusing instead on their own poisoning, Xu Qing had similarly leveraged this very point to gather the fortune and blessings of the commandery capital's populace.

The same held true for the Inverse Moon Palace.

Therefore, Xu Qing's final declaration, revealing his identity as Dan Jiu, utterly revolutionized how everyone perceived him.

The ensuing commotion eclipsed everything that had come before. Nearly all Inverse Moon cultivators were deeply moved, their minds reeling, as they stared at Xu Qing in utter disbelief.

The name Dan Jiu held immense significance for the Inverse Moon cultivators.

His emergence a year prior had ignited hope among them.

Single-handedly, he transformed the market for the "Problem-Solving Pill." What was once astronomically priced and almost impossible to obtain became an affordable medicine for everyone, with its cost plummeting by dozens, even hundreds of times.

This immensely meritorious act created a massive sensation, relieving countless cultivators suffering from curses of their torment. They thanked Dan Jiu from the bottom of their hearts.

From the Palace Master down to the most humble cultivators, everyone in the Inverse Moon Palace held Dan Jiu in deep reverence.

Even the Third Hall Master, who had previously voiced skepticism about Xu Qing, had repeatedly sought out Master Dan Jiu, leaving messages at his temple and pleading for him to join his faction.

As for the others, it went without saying; nearly sixty percent of the surviving Inverse Moon Palace cultivators had taken Dan Jiu's pills.

Master Dan Jiu's creation, the "Curse-Reducing Pill," had especially sent shockwaves throughout the Inverse Moon Palace like a bolt of lightning, being a medicine that could genuinely diminish curses.

The moment this pill appeared, Dan Jiu's fame soared to its zenith. Tales of Master Dan Jiu's enlightened virtues and great benevolence spread not only within the Inverse Moon Palace but were also widely known and heard by cultivators in the outside world.

Even the Red Moon Divine Temple regarded this with extreme importance.

Consequently, as Xu Qing's words reverberated, shouts of surprise and hushed gasps echoed throughout the heavens and earth.

"Master Dan Jiu!"

"Moon Lord... it's actually Master Dan Jiu!"

"This is too monumental! Is this true? If it is, then we truly have hope!"

"If the Moon Lord is Master Dan Jiu, I'll support him wholeheartedly! My life was saved by Master Dan Jiu's pills!"

"I support him too!"

At that moment, the hearts of all Inverse Moon cultivators thundered, and they instinctively drew closer to Xu Qing. The Fourth Hall Master, equally stirred, gazed at Xu Qing, profoundly moved.

The Third Hall Master, meanwhile, was utterly dumbfounded; this revelation was monumental for him.

His subordinates, too, began to waver, their steps toward the Inverse Moon Palace coming to a halt.

Within the crowd, some individuals were noticeably more agitated than the rest, their bodies even trembling as they fixed their gazes upon Xu Qing with an intense glow.

Among them, the most excited was Xu Qing's neighbor, his first follower, who, despite her imposing appearance, was actually a woman. She gazed at Xu Qing in utter disbelief.

She recalled that not long ago, he had asked her if she would recognize Dan Jiu should she ever encounter him.

She remembered her reply, and now, as she looked, though Xu Qing hadn't yet presented proof, she instinctively felt that he... was truly Master Dan Jiu, the one she had always followed.

"My judgment was correct; where there's a white wind in the desert, the Master must be there!"

"The reason I couldn't find him before, the reason my summoning didn't reveal a statue of the Master, is because... the Master possesses another identity!"

Amidst the collective shock, gasps, and uproar, some inevitable hesitation and doubt still lingered. After all, words were cheap; facts were what truly mattered.

Xu Qing naturally understood this. With a swift raise and flick of his right hand, a piece of flesh, accompanied by a multitude of herbs, shot out. Before the assembled Inverse Moon cultivators, Xu Qing began to refine pills on the spot.

As his hands danced, the Curse-Reducing Pills swiftly took shape before him.

Xu Qing had refined these pills countless times and was supremely proficient. Soon, nine pills materialized, and under the watchful gaze of his Poison-Banishing Eyes, their internal structure instantly transformed.

These were no longer pills that merely reduced curses by fifty percent. With Xu Qing's increased cultivation and the formation of his Secret Trove, he had developed new insights into curse alleviation. What he now produced were pills capable of reducing curses by seventy percent.

The moment the nine pills emerged, the heavens and earth shifted, winds stirred, and clouds gathered.

Xu Qing stepped forward, his very form transforming into that of Dan Jiu. With a flick of his sleeve, nine pills instantly shot out: one flew towards Li Xiaoshan, and another towards Shen Quezi.

The third flew to the Third Hall Master, the fourth approached the Fourth Hall Master, two more landed among the crowd, and the remaining ones... soared towards his followers.

His neighbor, the imposing figure, also received one.

The mere emanation from these pills already affected the surroundings, causing the curses within the Inverse Moon cultivators in this area to lose a noticeable degree of their potency.

They didn't even need to consume them for verification; the immediate reduction in curse activity caused all the Inverse Moon cultivators present to start breathing more rapidly than ever before.

Those who had received the pills bore even graver expressions. Without hesitation, they immediately consumed them. Their auras then surged dramatically, and the power of the curses within them visibly diminished!

The Third Hall Master fell silent, while Shen Quezi's eyes glimmered with an unusual light. Most astonishingly, as Li Xiaoshan's curse receded, an aura of Divine Potential actually began to emanate from him.

This sight deeply moved Li Xiaoshan. The primary reason he had failed to achieve Divine Potential was the curse within his body. Now, he distinctly felt that he... might still have a chance to attempt another breakthrough.

"Reducing curses by seventy percent..."

His hoarse voice, echoing through the air, utterly ignited the emotions of everyone present. Xu Qing's neighbor, the imposing figure, was the first to rush forward, bowing deeply to Xu Qing and speaking loudly.

"Greetings, Master!"

Following her lead, the other followers excitedly bowed, and all the surrounding Inverse Moon Palace cultivators did likewise. In an instant, the combined voices of tens of thousands of people surged into an overwhelming roar that reverberated through the air.

"Greetings, Master!"

Li Xiaoshan took a deep breath, fixed his gaze on Xu Qing, and bowed his head in deference.

Shen Quezi nodded subtly, his eyes conveying his approval.

Within the bowing crowd were even some of the Third Hall Master's own subordinates. The Third Hall Master himself was now awash in endless turmoil. He stared blankly at Xu Qing, struggling to form words, but none came out.

Qualifications? The other party certainly had them.

Prestige? The other party had reached its zenith.

The Third Hall Master remained silent for several breaths, then took a few steps forward and spoke in a low voice.

"Moon Lord, you previously mentioned plundering the Red Moon's essence..."

Xu Qing nodded. With a wave of his hand, his Secret Trove materialized behind him, a purple moon shimmering within. The blood, formed from the Red Moon's authority, erupted around Xu Qing, creating a surging tide of crimson.

The Captain, standing nearby, let out a cold laugh and spoke with arrogance.

"Do you see? This is why my junior brother can truly refine the Curse-Reducing Pills. He plundered the divine source; only he can dissolve the Scarlet Mother's curse!"

The Third Hall Master gazed at the purple moon within the Secret Trove, a powerful glint in his eyes, his emotions surging but swiftly suppressed. He spoke again.

"The Red Moon Star is imminent. How can we possibly confront it? We don't even need the Scarlet Mother; merely the Red Moon Divine Temple itself is beyond our resistance, and their Divine Son is already nearing godhood..."

Xu Qing remained silent. The Captain sneered, a cold glint appearing in his eyes.

"What if the Red Moon Divine Temple ceased to exist?"

As he spoke, the Captain raised his hand, and a single white strand of hair appeared in his palm. The moment it emerged, a divine aura abruptly surged forth.

"We, too, have a deity. This is a token; I can open the door at any moment and invite the divine being to intervene!"

The Inverse Moon cultivators instantly fell silent. Li Xiaoshan and Shen Quezi's pupils both contracted.

The Third Hall Master's breathing grew ragged, his internal turmoil intensifying. He forced himself to compose himself and asked another question.

"When the Scarlet Mother arrives, how are we to fight?"

The Captain raised an eyebrow, about to respond, but Xu Qing let out a soft sigh and spoke in a low voice.

"What was your initial purpose in joining the Anti-God Palace? Was it not to resist and stake everything? Now that this opportunity presents itself, even I, an outsider, am willing to risk my life to seize it, yet you remain so hesitant and indecisive?"

"If your resolve falters, you may leave."

These two sentences from Xu Qing struck directly at the hearts of the wavering individuals present. The Third Hall Master clenched his fist, a look of resolve in his eyes, and bowed to Xu Qing, just about to speak.

But just then, the sky rumbled, and a sound like divine thunder exploded across the heavens.

"The moment the Scarlet Mother arrives, my father will live!"

As the voice resonated, a colossal face abruptly appeared against the backdrop of the sky.

The face belonged to a young man of extraordinary demeanor, with long, snake-like hair that continuously spread. It was the true visage of the Heir Apparent.

Beside him stood Princess Mingmei, clad in battle armor. As she stood, the river of time flowed beneath her feet, and her aura was awe-inspiring.

To one side was the Fifth Princess; though aged, the fluctuations emanating from her were utterly bizarre.

And Old Eight, whose raging power spread, affecting all living beings.

Finally, there was one more individual.

This was a young man clad in black robes, whose appearance resembled that of the Heir Apparent. He stood between heaven and earth, his eyes containing visions of the sun and moon's destruction, and an unparalleled malevolence emanated from his entire being.

The intensity of this malevolence was such that he alone seemed capable of overshadowing all his siblings.

His very presence caused the crimson hue of the sky to dim slightly.

He was none other than Old Nine!

The arrival and words of these children of the Master immediately sent tremors through the Inverse Moon Palace cultivators below, causing them all to bow their heads. Li Xiaoshan and Shen Quezi, their minds similarly stirred, also lowered their gazes.

Only Xu Qing stepped forward, bowed, and spoke.

"Greetings, Grandfather Heir Apparent, Third Grandmother, Fifth Grandmother, Eighth Grandfather, and Ninth Grandfather."

Princess Mingmei nodded, Fifth Grandmother offered a faint smile, and Old Eight burst into hearty laughter. Old Nine, standing nearby, fixed his gaze upon Xu Qing.

As for the Heir Apparent, a look of appreciation entered his eyes before he turned to the cultivators below and spoke in a low voice.

"Your ancestors were all subjects of my father, and they once fought alongside him."

"Until the calamity descended, for countless years and through many eras, you... have suffered."

"This time, Xu Qing's appearance has granted us hope."

"Let us go forth and end this fate, conclude this cycle of suffering. We are united."

As the Heir Apparent's words reverberated, every Inverse Moon cultivator present felt a surge of fervent emotion. After experiencing this series of events, their eyes now shone with unwavering resolve.

"Xu Qing, reveal the plan of you, your senior brother, and your Master!"

The Heir Apparent looked towards Xu Qing.

Xu Qing nodded and met the Captain's gaze. In each other's eyes, they saw both unwavering resolve and a hint of madness.

"Annihilate the Divine Temple, revive the Master, use a stratagem of driving wolves to devour tigers, and then carve up the Scarlet Mother!"

"Now, we shall complete the first step: the annihilation of the Divine Temple!"

The moment these words were uttered, the sky roared, the heavens unleashed their killing intent, and stars were displaced.

Mountains and rivers resounded in unison, the earth unleashed its killing intent, and dragons and serpents emerged from the land.

The Inverse Moon cultivators, their killing intent raging, represented the killing intent of humanity, causing the very fabric of heaven and earth to be overturned!

At this very moment, the killing intent of the heavens, the earth, and all living beings converged, rising from all directions, locking onto... the Plains of Repentance!

Locking onto the Divine Temple Headquarters!