It was late at night. Darkness filled heaven and earth. In the mudbrick cities of the Bitter Life Mountains, lantern light flickered in the wind. The wind never ended, and occasionally sent sand swirling through the city streets. Although not a lot of sand and wind reached the cities, there was enough to create an unsettling sound when it scraped past the doors of the houses. However, long-term residents got used to the sound. Even Xu Qing, after about half a year of dealing with the wind, considered it just another part of life. 𝑖𝘳.𝒸ℴ𝑚

At the moment, he was studying curse information, and his eyes were shining. Three days had passed since he visited the Moonrebel Congregation. During that time, he had immersed himself in poring over curse research information.

The people in the Moonrebel Congregation have studied the curse down to the finest details.

Already, he felt that the poison pills and spirit stones he had spent to purchase curse information had been more than worth it.

The information was very comprehensive, and was obviously not the work of just a single generation of researchers. It was clearly the result of many years of study, and included data from countless experiments, as well as a variety of theories and conjectures.

After a lot of experimentation, people confirmed that the curse has life force….

After studying the effects of the curse on over a hundred species, it was determined that it affects different species in slightly different ways. Some species are inherently born with less of the curse, only to have the curse build up in them over time.

Some people focused on studying variations on curse flare-ups, ultimately identifying 137 different types of reactions that can occur. It seems the flare-ups have slightly different effects depending on the species. The curse can inflict specific types of torment on specific species. For example, the Dingyang species have an innately high level of pain tolerance when it comes to their fleshly bodies. As a result, the curse flare-ups affect their souls.

The Moonrebel Congregation research has also confirmed a very interesting theory. And that is… the effects for different species can be mixed together. The curse in the various living beings in the Moonrite Region can change. For example, by taking certain medicines or using blood, it’s possible for the curse effects to overlap.

Xu Qing’s eyes glittered. The new information was already giving him new ideas. Before, it had never even occurred to him that the curse could have so many uses.

For example, people had isolated versions of the curse that targeted the soul, then mixed it with the curse from a species that didn’t fear harm to the soul. The result was a reduction in the curse torment.

The curse is different in different species. And the different versions can be mixed and blended…. So that’s how the painquelling lozenges came to be.

Now he also understood a bit more about why painquelling lozenges were so incredibly expensive and rare.

Each painquelling lozenge contains an amalgamation of different characteristics from different species, which is then used to comprehensively cancel out the curse to a certain degree. Whoever takes the pill will have the flare-up effects of the curse quelled to an extent. More advanced versions of the pill need to be customized by an alchemist, by adjusting the various characteristics to benefit a specific species.

The long story short is that painquelling lozenges mix together the curse power from different species. To be most effective, they need to be customized. It’s using the curse to fight the curse. It’s mutual growth to effect mutual restraint.

Xu Qing sighed. He knew that the information he had was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to the body of knowledge available for sale. But even that little bit gave him a very deep impression of the wisdom of the Moonrebel Congregation.

If I keep up this research, it’s entirely possible that one day in the future I could create a pill that completely negates curse flare-ups. And that might make it possible for people to escape this region. That’s assuming… that Crimson Mother hasn’t changed the curse, and that the information isn’t lost when shē comes.

He took a deep breath. It seemed that painquelling lozenges were going to be key to making further breakthroughs in curse research.

I have the essence of the red moon. So, to a certain degree, I should be able to discharge the curse. Theoretically speaking, my blessing should be able to either strengthen or weaken the curse. I was on the wrong track before. What I really want is to be able to end the curse in one shot. Unfortunately, my violet moon isn’t strong enough for that, so it’s going to be hard. But what if I can at least weaken the curse…?

His eyes shone with determination.

I need to get a painquelling lozenge to confirm some of my speculations.

With such thoughts on his mind, he took out the mirror fragment and went back to the Moonrebel Congregation.

Back at the foot of the huge mountain of the Moonrebel Congregation, the eyes of a statue opened in a small temple.

Xu Qing wasn’t the type to act rashly, so the first thing he did was stay on the altar and check his surroundings. After making sure it was safe, he sent the statue off the altar.

He stretched a bit to get used to the statue form again, and also took time to inspect the statue itself. It was still covered with cracks, and still resembled an old man in a robe, with a huge bottle gourd on his back. Everything looked normal.

Xu Qing pushed the door open and stepped out. He noted the blue sky and bright light, as well as all the statues moving around. Without the slightest hesitation, he joined the crowd.

Having a definite goal this time; he wanted to find a place that had a painquelling lozenge for sale. Along the way, he passed the temple where he had bought medicinal plants with a poison pill. As he did, he looked over curiously. The temple still shone with light, but the owner wasn’t present. He looked away.

There were too many temples to quickly check them all, and even after a good amount of time passed, he couldn’t find a place that was offering a painquelling lozenge at a price he was willing to pay. The temple where he had previously seen one for sale for twenty red heavenfire crystals was closed for some reason. He couldn’t even get inside.

Sighing, he continued his search. Ultimately, though, all he got was more information about curse research.

Time passed.

For ten days, Xu Qing studied curse information, did research on the curse in animals, and spent about half of each day searching for a place in the Moonrebel Congregation to get a painquelling lozenge.

He went back to the place that had offered one for heavenfire crystals, but it remained closed.

Similarly, Xu Qing hadn’t seen the alchemist master who cultivated the Ultimate Poison Resistance Body and had taken one of his poison pills. That said, the alchemist didn’t close his temple. It was just that the statue remained on the altar completely unmoving. Xu Qing went in a few times and found that the sphere of light had not been updated in a long time. Furthermore, there were no more medicinal plants for sale. It seemed that after the deal with Xu Qing, that alchemist hadn’t returned to the Moonrebel Congregation.

There’s no way he actually consumed that pill, and then had some trouble. Is there? Xu Qing was surprised, and also worried that the man might come looking for him to get revenge….

That said, Xu Qing had clearly warned him.

I’m probably overthinking it. If he cultivates the Ultimate Poison Resistance Body, he must be a top expert. It was entirely likely that the alchemist hadn’t come back because of some other reason.

With such thoughts on his mind, Xu Qing left.

A few more days passed, and the alchemist never returned….

One day when Xu Qing was out searching for a painquelling lozenge, the entire Moonrebel Congregation trembled. Dazzling light shone out from the sky, and terrifying fluctuations rolled out over the entire mountain. .𝘤𝘰𝑚

Sensing it, Xu Qing walked out of the temple he was currently in and looked up. He wasn’t the only one to do that. Statues walked out of many of the temples and looked into the sky.

There, a figure emerged from one of the nine temples that hung beneath the sun. When that figure stepped out, the entire Moonrebel Congregation shook. Auspicious signs appeared in the canopy of heaven, and brilliant light shone everywhere.

“Greetings, Vice-Bishop!”

The various statues began to call out respectful greetings, their voices joining together into a massive sound wave that swept out.

Xu Qing joined them. This was his first time seeing one of the leaders of the Moonrebel Congregation. Because of the limitations of the statue form, he couldn’t sense the vice-bishop’s cultivation level. But given the reaction to his presence, Xu Qing could only assume that he had a very powerful cultivation base.

As the vice-bishop’s statue stepped out, boundless light glimmered, and a thunderous voice spoke.

“I have three matters to share with all of you Moonrebel cultivators.

“One. Things are really heating up in the Moonrite Region. In all locations, cultivators are rising up who refuse to accept their fate. Sparks are flying, and they’ll soon turn into a huge wildfire!

“Two. Thanks to our efforts over the better part of the last year, we successfully destroyed five of the Red Moon Cathedral’s church temples. We killed eleven godheralds, dozens of godservants, and hundreds of godslaves!

“Three. Verifiable information has come in which indicates that the Heir Apparent and Princess Brightblossom are recovering from thēir injuries, and are fine. We’re working hard to get in touch with thēm. Once we do, the Moonrebel Congregation will rise to new heights of glory!

“Ladies and gentlemen, the red moon is by no means eternal!”

His words caused many emotions to stir in the hearts of the statues. What was more, many temple doors opened, and more statues walked out. In response to the words he had just spoken, the statues clasped hands and joined voices.

“Hope exists from time immemorial and into forever!”

The deafening sound of their voices stirred even the clouds.

More seeds of hope had been planted.

Xu Qing also felt moved. As he watched, the statue that had made the announcements turned and went back into his temple. Though the statue was gone, the news he had shared was already starting to spread rapidly into the Moonrite Region.

Xu Qing glanced at all the excited statues, then turned to leave. However, that was when he noticed that the temple that wanted heavenfire crystals was open again.

He immediately flew over. Upon entering and inspecting the sphere of light, he found that the painquelling lozenge was still for sale. Without any hesitation, he handed over twenty red heavenfire crystals to complete the transaction. With the painquelling lozenge in hand, he left.

Thanks to the news shared by the vice-bishop, many more statues had already returned, making the place even more bustling than before. From a distance, it looked like a host of devils was buzzing about.

However, the temple where Xu Qing had bought the plants with a poison pill was still empty….

Xu Qing wasn’t sure what to do about that. With a final glance at that specific temple, he flew back to his own temple.

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