Chapter 709: The Meaning of the Moon Sacrifice

The transformation of Sacrificial Moon began with the battle between the Scarlet Mother and Li Zihua after she achieved godhood. Perhaps their conflict, spanning across multiple epochs, had never truly ended as the world believed. Perhaps this war had traversed time from ancient eras to the present, continuing for countless ages in ways incomprehensible to mortals, until it finally reached its conclusion.

The gloom that had shrouded this vast domain for countless eons also dissipated with the disappearance of the Red Moon star. As for where the Red Moon went, whether the Scarlet Mother truly died, or if Li Zihua will ever reappear, no one knows the answers to these questions.

Outsiders were uncertain, and even those who participated in the battle shared this uncertainty. For the beings of the Sacrificial Moon Domain, only one thing was certain: this battle would become a legend. It would be passed down through generations. One can imagine that countless eons later, the myriad races born in this domain would find traces of this war in ancient texts. They would learn that the domain where they lived had been cursed for a very long time. And they would also understand that this curse was broken with the end of that legendary battle.

Should descendants living in this domain one day be worthy enough to travel through time back to this very day, they would surely feel the transformation of the entire Sacrificial Moon Domain after the Red Moon's disappearance. Life began to revive, and hope had descended. The Siyin Chang River, which encircled the domain, changed from red to clear. The countless bones buried within it for ages turned into silt and no longer churned.

The Red Moon Curse was gone from the bloodlines of all beings. From now on, they no longer needed difficulty-resolving pills or curse-lifting pills. Their footsteps were no longer confined to this domain; freedom had been restored to the beings of Sacrificial Moon.

After enduring countless epochs of torment and despair, they now stood at the juncture of a new and old era. While cheering and elated, they also found it difficult to shake off the weariness in their bodies and minds. They were exhausted and needed rest. Thus, the Crown Prince stepped forward; at this moment, his identity required him to fulfill his duty and mission. His cultivation was also sufficient for the role. Therefore, the Crown Prince, with the unanimous support of the people, took over the previous authority and became the Lord of Sacrificial Moon.

The new Sacrificial Moon Palace of the Crown Prince was established in the Kusheng Mountains. From then on, he would reside there, guarding this domain. Deep within Sacrificial Moon, there was an ordinary pharmacy. It needed no specific definition, for it would be forever linked to legend, as the pharmacy itself was part of the legend and its very beginning. The owner of the pharmacy was not the Crown Prince, but a person named Xu Qing.

As for the ultimate allegiance of the entire Sacrificial Moon Domain, the Crown Prince chose not to rejoin the human race but to declare its independence. The name 'Sacrificial Moon' remained unchanged, but its meaning had become entirely different. It was no longer an offering, but a sacrifice: sacrificing the Red Moon! This was the choice made by the Crown Prince and his siblings, and also the decision of all beings in the Sacrificial Moon Domain.

Princess Mingmei also had her own duty. She went to the Northern Ice Plains, which was originally her fiefdom. In the north, Princess Mingmei established an academy named Beiming Palace. In the years to come, she would dedicate herself to education, offering everything she had to the people of her fiefdom.

Fifth Princess similarly had a mission. She used her abilities to repair the Inverse Moon Mirror, reassembling it and raising it high to float above the sky of the Sacrificial Moon Domain, becoming its sun. She herself chose to enter the Inverse Moon Mirror, where she would eternally meditate, releasing her authority and her light, so that the entire Sacrificial Moon Domain could henceforth have sunlight.

All things were nourished, thriving with vitality. As for the cultivators within the Inverse Moon Hall, they also regained their freedom and the ability to choose their own paths. Consequently, some chose to sever their ties with the Inverse Moon Hall and return to their respective clans, striving for restoration. Others willingly remained within the Inverse Moon Mirror, becoming sun guardians with infinite life. The last group followed the Crown Prince, guarding this homeland alongside him.

Eighth Brother's choice differed from his siblings. His nature was not suited for long-term residence in one place. His past confinement had given him his own perspective on the changes in the outside world over countless years. Therefore, he chose to roam the mortal world, leaving the Sacrificial Moon Domain. He wished to thoroughly explore the familiar yet strange continent of Wanggu.

As for Ninth Brother, the most powerful among all siblings in terms of combat strength, he entered the Plain of Repentance and approached the Flesh Mountain, formed from his own flesh and blood. Before the Lord of the Forbidden Zone, Ninth Brother sat cross-legged, unmoving. His divine sense permeated the entire forbidden zone and also spread across the Sacrificial Moon Domain. He was seeking his father's former path, cultivating.

The matters of the Sacrificial Moon Domain thus came to an end. The gains from the battle with the Scarlet Mother varied for each participant and would not be revealed to the outside world. However, it seemed every party was satisfied. Emperor Gu Ling no longer sought Xu Qing, evidently believing his gains were immense. Moon Flame and Star Flame also did not reappear, presumably believing their profits were significant. The Crown Prince and his group likewise made no statements regarding this.

However, judging from the outcome, there might have been extra gifts from their father. As for Xu Qing and the Captain... on the surface, they were the ones who gained the least. They had suppressed a Scarlet Mother clone, Zhang Siyun, and had paid a significant price to obtain this gain. Whether it was the function of Xu Qing's Red Moon authority or the Captain's numerous preparations and arrangements from his previous life, all these factors made this gain appear to align with their cultivation distribution. Yet, in terms of value, it seemed somewhat meager compared to what other parties received.

Consequently, the Captain repeatedly approached the Crown Prince and others, displaying a bitter expression. He even resorted to performing rituals to summon Moon Flame God, seeking an explanation. He also urged Xu Qing to press Emperor Gu Ling and Mud Fox for their share. He looked like someone whose wages had been withheld by a landlord. However, Moon Flame God ignored him, and Emperor Gu Ling gave no response whatsoever. As for Mud Fox, Xu Qing considered it but wisely decided against communicating with him. Only the Crown Prince and his group looked at the Captain with a meaningful gaze: "I know what your true gains are, you rascal."

Anyone else, under such a gaze, might have felt some trepidation, but not the Captain. He continued to demand an explanation, though he eventually left with a disgruntled sigh.

Only when they reached a secluded spot did the Captain quickly retrieve the two remaining Suns of Dawn. Finally, he had Xu Qing take out the one he had left. Still not feeling secure, he then spat out large mouthfuls of blood to seal the surroundings, instructing Xu Qing to unleash his Red Moon authority. Although the Red Moon had vanished, Xu Qing's authority remained. These days, it felt somewhat different from before, and Xu Qing still needed to carefully ponder and study it to fully understand its specifics. Nevertheless, through their combined efforts, they finally secured an area where they could divide their spoils.

“Little A Qing, have you learned? We need to make outsiders believe that our gains are very small. That way, no one will be envious. Although gods are omniscient and omnipotent, when it concerns the Scarlet Mother and Li Zihua, their omniscience and omnipotence are suppressed. We must complain and appear as if we suffered a loss.”

The Captain's eyebrows danced, his face filled with excitement. Xu Qing immediately nodded, naturally understanding the Captain's intention. Although he didn't know the exact details of this gain, the Captain's three blinks had given him a rough estimate.

“Little A Qing, this time... we've hit the jackpot!” The Captain's voice trembled slightly, and his breathing quickened. After saying this, he instinctively glanced around, then lowered his voice and spoke, “Our gains this time aren't just the Scarlet Mother clone, Zhang Siyun, but also this!”

As the Captain spoke, he raised his right hand and opened his palm in front of Xu Qing, saying, “Little A Qing, do you know what this is? These are the Scarlet Mother's fingernails! Anything from a deity's body is a supreme treasure. They're far better than the fish bone weapons the old man gave us—there's no comparison.” The Captain was excitedly agitated. “When we go back, the old man will drool when he sees we have fingernails, haha!” The Captain, gloating, quickly darted a glance at Xu Qing with his small eyes.

Xu Qing expressionlessly looked at the three small fingernail fragments in the Captain's hand, then raised his head, his eyes calm and silent. The Captain blinked and coughed. “Little A Qing, do you know what the greatest joy in life is? It's contentment! You should learn from me; I'm a very easily satisfied person. Think about it, the Scarlet Mother is a supreme deity. Our successful neutralization of her threat to us is the biggest gain, and her clone is an even greater one. But the most important thing is this... this big fingernail.”

“This is a family heirloom. But Little A Qing, you're my junior brother, and as your senior brother, I need to look after you. So I'll give you two; one is enough for me.” The Captain, looking incredibly generous, handed Xu Qing two small fingernail fragments, then turned and was about to leave.

Xu Qing's expression remained calm throughout. He took the two small fingernail fragments, put them away, and then took out a bamboo slip and began to carve characters. Seeing this, the Captain's heart skipped a beat. He quickly rushed to Xu Qing's side, his gaze falling on the bamboo slip, and he watched seriously as Xu Qing carved his own name. He blinked and coughed.

“Junior Brother, your senior brother was just joking! Quickly put away that bamboo slip, there's no need, no need!” At this point, the Captain's expression turned serious, and he spoke in a low voice. “How could our true gains possibly be just these three fingernails?!”

The Captain raised his right hand and opened his palm again. Within it appeared three bubbles, each containing a dripping bloody lamb's finger, fused with a feather and flesh. Upon closer inspection, divine power, intensely rich, was present within them.