At this moment, in the Moon Rebel Hall, within the nine supreme temples, one temple radiated a resplendent light that illuminated the heavens.
A tall figure that looked like a god walked out, emitting supreme might.
This figure was ten thousand feet tall and its entire body was golden. It had three heads and six arms and each of its hands carried a different-colored mountain. There were also layers of halos stacked on its back. The light was like the sun, reflecting on its body and emitting a dazzling brilliance.
It was extraordinary.
His appearance shook the towering mountain, causing turbulence in all directions. Clouds and mist scattered, and an indescribable oppressive force spread like a mountainous tide, enveloping every corner of the Moon Rebel Hall.
Everyone who sensed it felt their hearts tremble. They lowered their heads and greeted the temple.
"Fourth Hall Master!"
The nine supreme temples in the sky of the Moon Rebel Hall were the highest existences in the Moon Rebel Hall.
While only five of the positions had been filled, with four still awaiting successors, each of these five individuals possessed significant authority within the Moon Rebel Hall and held a pivotal role in its affairs.
Over the years, the entire Moon Rebel Hall had grown under the leadership of the five deputy hall masters, participating in numerous clandestine conflicts against the Red Moon Shrine.
And their true identities were shrouded in mystery. In the past, their arrivals always heralded significant events. As they witnessed one of the deputy hall masters descending at this moment, a sense of suspicion rose in the hearts of all the deities present, waiting for the proclamation of a major event.
"Today, I come not with official tidings but in response to Master Shengluo's invitation. I am here to witness the release of his pill. Carry on as you were, everyone."
In the sky, the ten thousand-foot-long statue sat down cross-legged and calmly spoke. His voice was like a flood, vast and boundless. It transformed into lingering sounds that echoed in the minds of everyone present.
However, his words caused an even greater commotion among the statues. Those cultivators who supported Master Shengluo were instantly excited, and those who supported Pill Nine were shaken.
"Master Shengluo does indeed enjoy great renown and respect. Even the fourth hall master has personally come to witness the ceremony!"
"Don't you know how many people Master Shengluo has graced and saved over the years? Only Master Shengluo can invite the deputy hall master!"
A commotion rose in the Moon Rebel Hall again and all of the sounds were talking about Shengluo. As for Pill Nine supporters, most of them were silent. Even the burly neighbor and the six-eyed statue were a little shaken.
At this moment, on the mountain of the Moon Rebel Hall, a temple made of jade surrounded by countless statues slowly opened. Endless light shot out and the sound of bells echoed.
The bronze cauldron in front of the temple also surged with incense at this moment. As green smoke rose, a statue walked out of the gate.
This statue looked like an angry Vajra with auspicious clouds under its feet. There was an eye at its glabella which emitted a soul-stirring light. There was a pill furnace spinning above its head and the fragrance of medicinal herbs permeated the surroundings.
As it walked out, the statues that had been waiting in the surroundings looked over in unison. Their eyes revealed excitement and admiration.
"It's Master Shengluo! Master is still so punctual!"
"This is Master Shengluo. Self-discipline has always been his style, and strictness is his longstanding approach."
Amidst the respectful comments, Master Shengluo walked out of the temple and into the air. At this moment, countless gazes gathered on him. Countless greetings overlapped and transformed into rumbling sounds that shook the world.
"Greetings, Master!"
Countless statues lowered their heads and bowed. Master Shengluo, who was in the air, was the center of attention. His aura was like a rainbow.
Shengluo was satisfied. He looked around and nodded slightly.
"Fellow Daoists, sorry for the long wait."
As he spoke, he looked up at the fourth hall master and cupped his fists.
"Thank you, Fourth Hall Master, for coming to watch the release of this old man's medicinal pills."
In the sky, the fourth hall master smiled.
"I've been looking forward to Master's pills for a long time."
Shengluo smiled when he heard this and was about to speak again. However, at that moment, at the foot of the mountain in the Moon Rebel Hall, the gate of Xu Qing's small temple slowly opened. A statue with a gourd on its back walked out.
He was Xu Qing.
There was no gorgeous light or even exuberant incense. In fact, the moment he walked out, not many people noticed his figure.
Only his followers, who were paying attention, saw Xu Qing immediately.
The instant they discovered Xu Qing's appearance, these followers were clearly excited and stepped forward one after another.
"Master Pill Nine!"
"Greetings, Master!"
The burly neighbor quickly approached with an excited expression and shouted.
"Master, you're finally here!"
Behind him, the six-eyed statue also rapidly approached. Its six large eyes seemed to be filled with tears and it didn't blink. Its expression was filled with excitement and its voice was even louder, spreading in all directions.
"Master Pill Nine, virtue reaching the heavens, alchemy spanning the seas, benefiting countless realms for countless generations!"
As the six-eyed statue spoke, the momentum suddenly became extraordinary, far surpassing that of others. This instinctively drew the attention of the surrounding followers, who began to echo the same words one after another.
The sound waves echoed in all directions. The surrounding Moon Rebel Hall cultivators who were paying attention to Master Shengluo also turned their heads.
"Is this that Pill Nine?"
"He looks ordinary and doesn't have any aura."
"I want to see what pill he is releasing today. If he's really just deliberately mystifying things, it means that there's a problem with the origins of those cheap curse-resolving pills of his from before!"
Under everyone's gaze, Xu Qing looked at the many statues in the surroundings. He was also a little surprised.
He had been focused on healing these few days and didn't come again. He didn't know that Shengluo had chosen to distribute medicinal pills on the same day as him.
However, Xu Qing didn't mind. At that moment, he lifted his head and looked at the deputy hall master in the sky. His expression was solemn as he cupped his fists and bowed.
The deputy hall master also looked at Xu Qing. He had all his attention on this alchemy master who had caused quite a commotion recently and was controversial. However, this was the first time he had seen him. Hence, he nodded and didn't speak.
Xu Qing retracted his gaze and glanced at the statues outside. He didn't plan to walk out of his temple courtyard. At that moment, he was still pondering about the Golden Crow.
Hence, he lifted his right hand and prepared to take out the pill he wanted to distribute and send them into the ball of light according to the usual method, allowing others to freely check them.
However, before Xu Qing could take it out, the followers of Master Shengluo in the sky laughed mockingly.
"Pill Nine, you really appeared? We thought you wouldn't dare to come anymore."
"Then you're wrong. As a Master, how can Pill Nine let go of this opportunity to use the sparkling fire to gain all the attention?"
"It's just that Master Shengluo has a lofty mind and doesn't care about fame and fortune, so he's unwilling to argue with this person. He actually chose to release the medicinal pill on the same day as Master Shengluo. The dirty thoughts in his heart can be seen by passersby."
These words contained malice and were extremely unpleasant to the ears.
Xu Qing lifted his head and glanced at the statues that spoke, memorizing their appearances.
Xu Qing's followers also glared at them angrily.
"What a bunch of nonsense!" At the same time that the burly neighbor roared, a sharp voice rang out from the side.
"Tell me, how many filthy spirit stones did you receive from Shengluo to spout such nonsense? If the price is right, count me in."
Both sides had heated discussions. Although Pill Nine had far fewer followers than Shengluo, just Six Eyes alone was able to match a thousand people. His eloquence and sharpness had the ability to shift the narrative with just a single sentence.
The scene of him fighting against the group caused the surrounding bystanders to be shocked and they engraved his appearance in their minds.
Seeing that it was turning into a mess, Xu Qing felt a little impatient. He wasn't willing to waste time arguing with others here. Hence, he turned and was about to leave to continue studying the Golden Crow.
However, at this moment, Master Shengluo, who was in the air, had a calm expression as he slowly spoke.
"Noisy!"
As soon as he spoke, the followers in the surroundings fell silent. As for Shengluo, his gaze also landed on Xu Qing, speaking calmly.
"Pill Nine, your Dao is wrong!"
Xu Qing stopped in his tracks and turned around, looking at Master Shengluo who was in the air.
"What do you mean?"
The surroundings fell silent. Everyone's gazes gathered on Xu Qing and Shengluo. It was the same for the fourth hall master in the sky. Under the focus of everyone, Master Shengluo shook his head.
"Someone gave me one of your pills. I was originally filled with joy when I appraised it but in the end, I was truly disappointed."
"You think you're smart. The medicinal pill uses white wind's flesh and blood as a catalyst, but in reality, you're taking advantage of the situation and making up the numbers. Do you know that someone did this 7,000 years ago? The harm is extremely great. All those who ate this pill died within a few years!"
"Pill Nine, you're up to no good!"
As soon as Master Shengluo spoke, it instantly attracted countless gasps. This was especially so for those cultivators who had taken Xu Qing's pills. Their expressions changed drastically and their hearts trembled.
Xu Qing stared at Shengluo. He then turned his head and waved at the burly neighbor not far away.
The burly neighbor also hesitated inwardly, but he automatically rushed over.
"What happened during these few days?" Xu Qing asked.
The burly neighbor suppressed the worry in his heart and told him the information in detail. When Xu Qing heard this, his gaze turned cold and Ling'er's angry voice rang out in his mind.
"Brother Xu Qing, we were the ones who set the time first. They're going too far. Moreover, they're slandering us as soon as they open their mouths. They even said that we have malicious intentions. I think he's the one with ulterior motives!"
Xu Qing was expressionless but his gaze was even colder. He gave up on his plan to leave and walked out of the temple, walking into the air.
Although his followers in the surroundings hesitated, they still crowded over. The burly neighbor guarded on Xu Qing's left and the Six Eyes quickly flew toward the right, snatching the position of the protect and even revealing a groveling smile at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing stopped in his tracks. After looking left and right, he focused on Six Eyes on his right.
He was a little familiar with the other party's gaze. He remembered that the captain had the same gaze when he looked at the heir.
Xu Qing felt strange. Ling'er's voice echoed in his mind.
"Brother Xu Qing, this person's gaze is a little familiar. He looks like Senior Brother Erniu."
Xu Qing didn't speak. He pretended not to acknowledge him and continued walking. He walked all the way to the air and stood in front of Master Shengluo. He looked at him and calmly spoke.
"Compete?"
