As he listened to the cheers of the surrounding people, Master Shengluo stood in a daze.
"Can it really… reduce the curse?"
Shengluo mumbled as intense unwillingness rose in his heart. Even now, even though the fourth hall master had verified it, he still didn't believe it.
This was because since ancient times, no one had been able to do this.
As for him being able to modify the curse-resolving pill, this was already an extremely difficult thing. He had spent half of his life's effort and studied a large number of documents on curses and ancient books left to accomplish it.
The more he knew about the curse, the more he understood that if he wanted to permanently reduce it, only a miracle could do it!
Just as Shengluo's mind was churning and his eyes were faintly red, Xu Qing, who was standing not far away, glanced at him. He then lifted his right hand and waved it, sending a curse-breaking pill toward Shengluo.
Shengluo started and instinctively caught it before looking at Xu Qing.
The others also looked over one after another with different thoughts. This was especially so for Master Shengluo's followers. At that moment, they felt bitter in their hearts. They understood that there would probably be a lot of humiliation next.
However, Xu Qing didn't do it.
He calmly looked at Shengluo and spoke softly.
"Master Shengluo, both you and I are cultivators of the Dao of Alchemy, so we can better understand that within this Moon Worship Region, those of us who specialize in alchemy have dreams in our hearts."
"While others cultivate, we delve into curses. While others indulge in pleasures, we immerse ourselves in studying ancient texts. Because we want to break the curse, even if we can't, we still record our research for future generations. We place our hope in the generations to come."
"This is the mission of alchemy cultivators in the Moon Worship Region."
Xu Qing's gaze was clear. He understood Shengluo's heart and there was no mockery in his words.
Shengluo's body trembled as he looked at Xu Qing. He wanted to say something but couldn't say anything.
His emotions had fluctuated many times today. At first, it was arrogance, then shock, and then intense doubt and unwillingness. However, now… all these emotions fused together and transformed into dense complexity.
This was because Xu Qing's words spoke his thoughts.
He did indeed appreciate fame and fortune, but behind this appreciation, he also harbored his own dreams.
"Master Shengluo, I offer you this pill. The path to dispelling curses is challenging to traverse alone. Let us work hard together…"
Xu Qing cupped his fists and bowed.
Shengluo could sense Xu Qing's sincerity. This sincerity caused him to have mixed feelings. His emotions surged and he felt ashamed. His followers were all moved and all of them had mixed feelings.
The fourth hall master also took a few more glances at Xu Qing and his expression revealed respect. He could naturally tell that this Master Pill Nine's words weren't fake. He genuinely held such sentiments.
Meanwhile, Shengluo took a deep breath. At this moment, he solemnly walked a few steps forward, gazing at Xu Qing, and bowed deeply, clasping his fists.
"Master Pill Nine, this old man… Sigh."
Shengluo shook his head and bowed again.
Xu Qing nodded and didn't say anything else. He then turned and walked toward his temple.
He wasn't particularly fond of such overly enthusiastic situations. If it weren't for Shengluo deliberately causing trouble earlier, he wouldn't have been so conspicuous. In the blink of an eye, Xu Qing returned to the temple.
He took out ten curse-breaking pills and placed them in the light clusters in the temple. Before he left, he fulfilled his promise and gave each of his followers a curse-breaking pill.
His departure didn't reduce the excitement in the hearts of everyone from the Moon Rebel Hall. In the entire history of the Moon Worship Region, there had never been a reduction in the curse.
The conversation between Pill Nine and Master Shengluo was even more memorable.
Hence, very soon, everyone from the Moon Rebel Hall walked into Xu Qing's temple with respect in their hearts. They checked the price of the curse-breaking pill. This price… caused the respect in everyone's hearts to intensify.
It wasn't much different from the selling price of the curse-resolving pill from before. All he was asking for was some herbs and information.
"This is a true master…" It was unknown who sighed after seeing the price, but it echoed in the hearts of all the cultivators from the Moon Rebel Hall.
From this moment on, the name of Pill Nine became deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people in the Moon Rebel Hall.
One could imagine that as Xu Qing continued to take out medicinal pills in the future and the number of people who ate his medicinal pills increased, his name would be engraved into their souls.
Xu Qing had predicted this but he didn't pay much attention to it. After returning to the apothecary, he placed his focus on his study of the Golden Crow.
He had been wondering what the essence of an emperor-level cultivation art was and how he could dig out more potential of the Golden Crow.
Although the clues seemed elusive, and the process was not entirely smooth, Xu Qing could sense that, with his research and the transformation of the Golden Crow, the duration he could persist inside the bead had noticeably increased.
From the instant he died at the start to the seventh time, he could already last for more than six breaths.
"But… there are only two attempts left."
Several days later, in the early morning, Xu Qing, who was sitting cross-legged in the apothecary, opened his eyes. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. After taking out a pill and swallowing it, an uncontrollable sense of restlessness surged within him.
This emotion was uncommon for him. Failures were nothing new, but if the subsequent two attempts still didn't meet his satisfaction, on the tenth attempt, he would lose the Golden Crow.
He could sense that the malice and greed of Master Black Pupil in the bead towards him were becoming increasingly intense.
"If it really doesn't work, I have to stop at the ninth time." Xu Qing took a deep breath and stood up to walk out of the back room to the main hall of the apothecary.
He wanted to relax.
As soon as he walked out, Xu Qing saw Ling'er there, tallying accounts. It seemed that, for Ling'er, there were endless accounts to settle. Xu Qing had noticed this before and found that much of Ling'er's joy came from the repeated calculation of accounts.
Ning Yan was wiping the ground, Li Youfei was organizing the pills, and the captain was guarding. As for Wu Jianwu, he was standing beside the heir and reciting a poem to him.
"Elder opens his eyes, the world brightens. The ladies guard, none shall be arrogant!"
The heir was drinking tea. When he heard this, he glanced at Wu Jianwu and smiled.
Wu Jianwu quickly bowed and grinned, his face full of flattery. Then, he glanced sideways at the captain and Nether Fairy burning the water, a hint of arrogance in his eyes.
During this period of time, he finally found a way to curry favor with the old man. That was to recite poetry to the old man every morning. Day after day, with his hard work, he felt that the effect was remarkable.
After saying that, he hurriedly ran to the door and continued to recite poetry outside.
Xu Qing was already used to the daily life of the apothecary. After nodding at Ling'er, he sat beside the heir.
"Do you have any clues?" The heir looked at Xu Qing. The parrot on his shoulder also looked at Xu Qing proudly.
Xu Qing shook his head.
"Senior, what exactly is an emperor-level cultivation art?"
Xu Qing asked. This was the first time he had asked the heir in these few days.
The heir didn't say anything. His gaze moved away from Xu Qing and landed on Chen Erniu. Xu Qing also looked over.
The captain cradled his sword, ignoring the gazes of Xu Qing and the heir. He glanced at Wu Jianwu outside, thinking that the latter was such a filial son. He couldn't be bothered to argue with him about his behavior. Instead, he focused on the Nether Fairy and scolded her.
"Burning water every day, but you still haven't gained any experience. Why so slow? Use your mouth to blow on it!"
Nether Fairy's body trembled. Her tolerance for Chen Erniu had reached the extreme.
She wanted to explode, but because of the heir, she could only grit her teeth.
Her mind kept fantasizing about how to cut that damn Chen Erniu into pieces.
'One day, I'll tear him in half. Half will be used as firewood to boil water, and the other half will be rolled into meatballs. Then, I'll chew on them viciously!'
'While biting, make this wretch scream. Once the water boils, cook it a bit, and I'll go drink the soup.'
This was what Nether Fairy thought every day. Every time she thought this way, she would feel extremely comfortable. At this moment, as she continued to fantasize, the captain snorted coldly.
"Why are you trembling? You only know how to tremble every day. Can't you see that the water is boiling? Hurry up and make tea for the elder!"
"You flaunt that big butt of yours every day, like a peach, tempting who? Aren't you annoying enough? You eat the most every day!"
As soon as the captain finished speaking, Nether Fairy suddenly stood up. Her cultivation base was about to erupt. When her eyes turned red, Ning Yan brushed past her, speaking impatiently.
"Move aside!"
Nether Fairy's body trembled again, but in the end, she had no choice but to endure it again. She carried the kettle and walked toward the heir. After making tea for him, she stood at the side angrily.
"Xu Qing." The heir pushed the hot tea in front of him to Xu Qing and tapped his finger on it.
"Tell me, what is water? Why does it become hot? And what about tea? Why does its color change and its taste differ when soaked in water?"
Xu Qing's gaze froze as he looked at the teacup in front of him.
"That's because…"
"That's not important." The heir interrupted. His gaze was deep as he lifted his right hand and placed it in front of the little seedling on the table.
As the little seedling swayed, it obediently dropped a leaf. After the heir caught it, he placed it in Xu Qing's teacup.
That small leaf floated in the tea and swayed slightly.
"Do you understand?"
Xu Qing fell silent and closed his eyes to think. Ning Yan, who was wiping the ground, also paused. He was also thinking. He felt that the guidance of the Soul Accumulation was extremely rare, so he wasn't willing to let it go.
The captain was the same. A look of contemplation appeared in his eyes, and it was even more so for Li Youfei.
A long time later, Xu Qing's body suddenly trembled. He opened his eyes and looked at the leaf in the teacup. A strange glint appeared in his eyes as he suddenly remained up.
"Senior, I understand!"
Xu Qing cupped his fists and bowed. His breathing was slightly hurried. He knew what his problem was and also understood the answer. At that moment, he turned and headed straight for the back room.
The heir smiled and nodded slightly. He felt that Xu Qing's comprehension ability wasn't bad and he understood his guidance.
When the captain saw this scene, he also let out a long breath, as though he understood it as well. Ning Yan blinked and also revealed a dazed expression of understanding.
Only the parrot on the heir's shoulder was stunned at this moment. It looked at the tea and then swept its stare across the leaf on it. Finally, it looked at everyone and its eyes revealed confusion as it spoke in a low voice.
"Grandpa, what did he understand? What did you say to him? Why don't I understand…"
The heir picked up the teacup and took a sip before speaking calmly.
"I'm telling him to learn coexistence. Like tea and water blending together, it's also good. Just like a young seedling shedding leaves, it's a form of both letting go and accepting."
The parrot understood, Ning Yan nodded, and the captain took it to heart.
However, in the back room, Xu Qing, who was sitting cross-legged, was immersed in his thoughts. His eyes gleamed and his mind was rumbling with the answers he had comprehended as he mumbled.
"The blending of tea and water is a manifestation of the Great Dao returning to one, but all living beings can return to their true self. Everything has its origins, so the heir pointed out to me that they can actually be separated."
"For example, the leaves of the little seedling are like this. After falling, they are still a part of its origin… This is telling me that they are still one!"
"He was instructing me to delve into a deeper level of research, to magnify, to dissect the Golden Crow repeatedly. To split it each time, to peel it away, and to find the source of the Golden Crow!"
"I understand. This is the origin of the emperor-level cultivation art and also the essence!"
"My previous research was wrong. I shouldn't have gazed outward at the macroscopic changes. I should have looked inward, delving into the microscopic details!"
Xu Qing's expression changed. He raised his head and gazed in the direction of the main hall, the respect he had for the heir growing even more intense.
In the main hall, the heir, lifting the teacup with composure, hesitated in his actions after sensing Xu Qing's murmur. His expression noticeably stiffened for a moment.
"What did he comprehend?"
