The instant he saw the eyeball, Xu Qing's gaze froze. Ling'er, who had already arrived and was beside him, blinked but didn't say anything. She then took a few steps closer to Xu Qing.
The eye on Duanmu Zang's palm glanced at Ling'er but immediately looked back at Xu Qing again.
The flickering brown blood vessels in the eye revealed an aura of decay. There was also a stench spreading out, enveloping the entire house. At the same time, there were faint mournful screams echoing in the surroundings.
"What is this?" Xu Qing looked at Duanmu Zang.
"This eye is the bizarre entity I obtained when I found this place back then. Its fire-repelling ability is astonishing, but you have to subdue it. This shouldn't be difficult for you. Moreover, it's very timid. If you terrorize it a few more times, it won't dare to cause trouble."
"I once borrowed its power to explore under the magma."
"The Heavenly Fire Sea is filled with mystery, so if you want to cultivate inside, it's best if you don't sink beyond 10,000 feet."
"There are restrictions of the Red Moon Shrine below 10,000 feet. It's difficult for anyone to enter at all. I've even seen the mutated beasts in the Heavenly Fire Sea die from the edge of the restrictions at 10,000 feet."
Duanmu Zang's expression was solemn. After he finished speaking, he threw the eyeball in his hand to Xu Qing.
After Xu Qing caught it, the eye continued to stare fixedly at him, emitting evilness and malice.
Xu Qing's expression was calm as he played with it.
"Senior, in the Moon Worship Region, are there many places with restrictions and arrangements of the Red Moon Shrine like in the Heavenly Fire Sea?"
Duanmu Zang took out a flask of wine Xu Qing had given him and sat at the side before taking a sip. He nodded with a complicated expression.
"Quite a bit."
"In the Moon Worship Region, the Red Moon Shrine is supreme. Their will determines the life and death of all living beings. If any race shows the slightest disrespect, their outcome will be extremely miserable."
Xu Qing fell into deep thought. He sat opposite Duanmu Zang and continued to ask.
"Senior, I want to know more about the Red Moon Shrine. I wonder if it's convenient for you to tell me more?"
Duanmu Zang sized up Xu Qing a few times.
"Kid, in the Moon Worship Region, the Red Moon Shrine has the same status as the god. It can't be blasphemed at all."
"So, you shouldn't provoke them. Otherwise, they can easily kill you and even have ways to sacrifice you, subjecting you to a curse that keeps you trapped here forever."
Duanmu Zang's expression was cold but he spoke with good intentions. This was especially so after he had interacted with Xu Qing during this period of time. With his life experience, he could make out many things and his impression of Xu Qing kept changing.
Hence, although his expression was stern, his words carried a hint of reminder.
Xu Qing nodded. He knew his limits and understood that although he had the Purple Moon, he couldn't underestimate any dependents of the Red Moon. However, he was aware that since he had come to this place, there might be situations where avoiding them wouldn't be so straightforward.
More understanding of the Red Moon Shrine would increase the possibility of him avoiding it. Hence, he asked for some details.
When Duanmu Zang heard this, he thought about it and slowly spoke.
"It's good for you to know more. It'll make it easier for you to understand how terrifying the Red Moon Shrine is here."
"The Red Moon Shrine, on behalf of the Crimson Goddess, oversees the Moon Worship Region. Periodically, each race is required to offer tributes."
"The Red Moon Shrine doesn't care about the death of the races because every time the Crimson Goddess comes, more than half of the living beings in the entire Moon Worship Region will be devoured.
"Therefore, the mission of the Red Moon Shrine is to gather food and store it before the Crimson Goddess arrives. Also, after the Crimson Goddess leaves, it will once again nurture the various races, causing them to be like crops that keep growing."
Duanmu Zang's tone was calm, as though he was talking about someone else's story and not his fate.
Xu Qing listened silently.
Ling'er watched the two of them drink. After some thought, she ran to the kitchen and rolled up her sleeves, preparing to make a meal for the two of them.
This was taught by the elder sisters and aunties. When men drank, a virtuous wife should cook a few dishes to show her virtue.
Ling'er's actions caused Xu Qing to involuntarily lift his head and sweep his gaze over. He wanted to say something but hesitated after seeing Ling'er in high spirits.
Although Duanmu Zang had also seen it, he naturally wouldn't take it to heart. At that moment, he drank the wine and told him in detail what he knew about the Red Moon Shrine.
The locals' understanding of the Red Moon Shrine exceeded the intelligence obtained by other regions.
Xu Qing listened attentively. A moment later, Duanmu Zang's hoarse voice echoed.
"Calculating the time, the Red Moon Shrine should be here soon. After you leave, remember to lower your head when you see them from afar. They're very easy to recognize. They're all red."
"Generally speaking, as long as we don't take the initiative to provoke them, the Red Moon Shrine won't care about the various races and rogue cultivators. It's like an elephant doesn't care about ants."
Duanmu Zang mocked himself.
"What they value is only whether the various races have completed the preparations for the offerings. If they can't complete it, their race will be used as an offering."
"For example, more than 40 years ago, the Baidian Race, who lived in the north, didn't fulfill the requirements of the temple. Hence, a divine envoy descended with some divine servants and harvested 70% of their race to make up the numbers."
"What's the cultivation level of the divine envoy?" Xu Qing asked.
"Outsiders don't know the exact number of envoys from the Red Moon Shrine. Their races are all different and their cultivation levels are all at the Nihility Realm. As for the divine servants, they are in the Spirit Repository. As for those below the Spirit Repository, they are divine slaves."
Xu Qing fell into deep thought and spoke after some thought.
"Is there a divine son?"
"There is!" Duanmu Zang's eyes revealed fear.
"There's a divine son in the Red Moon Shrine. It's said that he's Red Moon's true family and his cultivation level is unknown. Actually, to him, cultivation level is no longer important. What's important is the power of the god he has mastered."
