That valiant and formidable woman was actually Xu Qing’s neighbor from the Moonrebel Congregation. The statues there didn’t just conceal one’s facial features, they could also keep one’s gender a secret. Before the resistance movement kicked off, nobody knew the true identity of that ‘bare-chested burly man’. As it turned out, ‘he’ was actually a woman. That said, this woman actually had a very manly personality, which was obvious given the words she had just spoken.

She was the very first and most original follower of Grandmaster Pill Nine. She had listened to his two months of dao reverberations, and had also been the one to organize his followers. Given all of that, this neighbor of Xu Qing’s was actually quite well-known. She was skilled at organizing large groups, which was indisputable considering that there were now thousands of Pill Nine followers. And those were only the core members. There were even more followers who had spread out into Moonrite. As a result, more and more cultivators were coming to hear the name Pill Nine. The core members were now attached to Fourth Vice-Bishop’s forces, and were getting closer and closer to the Greenhair Badlands.

Meanwhile, Xu Qing was being paid a formal visit by Patriarch Inkrule.

The Heir Apparent and his siblings were gone, which meant that Xu Qing was in charge. And since Patriarch Inkrule was an employee of the Green Spirit Pharmacy, he didn’t dare to be rash when dealing with whatever issues popped up.

That said, deep in his heart, he was still a bit resentful at having to take orders from Xu Qing. It wasn’t necessarily because of Xu Qing’s status, but rather, his age. As far as Patriarch Inkrule was concerned, it just didn’t make sense for a child to have such important responsibilities.

“Young Lord, this is a bit different compared to last time,” Patriarch Inkrule said to Xu Qing, his expression somber. “Last time, the Heir Apparent and his siblings were here, which is why we could open the defenses and let Fourth Vice-Bishop and his forces inside. But now… Fourth Vice-Bishop is being chased by a cathedral army. That’s why I highly suggest that we do not open the gray wind defenses.”

Because of the discussion, the atmosphere inside the medicine shop was tense. Ning Yan wasn’t scrubbing the floor. Wu Jianwu wasn’t reciting any poetry. Li Youfei and Nethersprite were both looking at Xu Qing.

Li Youfei was the only one who looked outright nervous. Ning Yan had a serious expression on his face. He had been one of Xu Qing’s subordinates from the very beginning, and had been present to witness all of the amazing things he’d done, and the way he won the hearts of countless species. Because of that, he knew that Xu Qing had ample experience in dealing with this kind of situation.

Although Wu Jianwu didn’t know as much about Xu Qing as Ning Yan did, he had heard plenty of stories. Nethersprite had seen Xu Qing in action on the field of battle, and later on, had heard stories about the Lieutenant Governor’s Coup. Therefore, she knew there was a lot more to him than met the eye.

Clearly, Patriarch Inkrule didn’t know what they knew, as he looked straight at Xu Qing and forcefully said, “Young Lord, please make your final decision!”

His expression was very solemn. The situation had reached a critical point outside the desert. If they did open the defenses, it would make the desert very vulnerable to danger.

As everyone looked on, Xu Qing sat in the same spot where the Heir Apparent usually sat. His eyes were closed in thought.

Ling’er knew that it was a delicate situation, so she just stood quietly behind Xu Qing.

Time ticked by. Xu Qing didn’t speak. Gradually, an imposing and dignified air seemed to build up around him. He was currently thinking back to Sea-Sealing County, and how he’d stood in for Palace Lord Kong to lead the Swordsage Palace. Back then, he had far fewer trump cards than he had now, yet still managed to turn the entire situation on its head.

“What’s the current state of our armed forces?” he asked calmly, opening his eyes.

“The desert forces were weak to begin with,” Patriarch Inkrule replied. “Though the gray wind does serve as a defense, that doesn’t make our armed forces here strong. In all of the Greenhair Badlands, there are only three Void Returning cultivators. There are nine in Spirit Trove, including members of the Wind Guardians. We have over a hundred Nascent Soul experts, with the rest being low-level cultivators. And that doesn’t count the Green Spirit Pharmacy.” Somewhat surprised at how calm Xu Qing was, Patriarch Inkrule decided to add a final warning. “Compared to the Red Moon Cathedral, our forces are like one hair from among nine oxen. Unless the Heir Apparent returns… we aren’t strong enough to fight back.”

Patriarch Inkrule seemed about to continue speaking when he suddenly took out a jade slip and checked it. A look of surprise appeared on his face.

“Young Lord, I just got some news. Fourth Vice-Bishop’s army is changing directions. They’re not coming toward us anymore. They’re going in a different direction on the periphery of the desert. It looks like they’re trying to find a spot to make a last stand. They don’t want to cause trouble for us….”

Inkrule eventually trailed off, his facial expression complex and somewhat helpless.

Xu Qing nodded and picked up a cup of tea. He didn’t drink. Instead, he just looked at the tea inside. Within the tiny ripples, he felt like he could see a person from his memories. Years ago, that person stood on the border of Sea-Sealing County, burning to death as he single-handedly blocked an army. At that time, Xu Qing’s heart had filled with pain, and yet he had been powerless to save that person. Today… there was a similar person that needed help. A moment passed.

Xu Qing stood. “First, have all of our cultivators come into the Bitter Life Mountains. This is going to be our main gathering point. Without orders from me, no one is to leave the mountains. Second. Notify Fourth Vice-Bishop that he’s not to change directions. Tell him to come right into the desert.”

Patriarch Inkrule heard his orders but hesitated.

Xu Qing looked up at him, his expression placid. “The red moon has already taken over half the sky. True calamity is only months away. If we just sit idly by and watch Fourth Vice-Bishop fight with the Red Moon Cathedral, then what exactly would be the point of calling ourselves Moonrebels?

“Besides, if Fourth Vice-Bishop and his people are captured, will the Red Moon Cathedral just forget about the desert? Regardless of that, we’re connected to Fourth Vice-Bishop. As the saying goes, without the lips, the teeth feel the cold. And therefore… we will fight! There won’t be any more debate about it! Ning Yan!”

“Here, sir!” Ning Yan said, shivering as he stepped forward and stood with his back straight. He suddenly felt like he was back in Sea-Sealing County.

“As a member of my Secretariat Division, you will work with Senior Inkrule to relay my orders.”

“Yes, sir!” Ning Yan replied loudly.

“Wu Jianwu!”

“Here!” Wu Jianwu was already getting swept up in the moment.

“I want you to send all your children out into the desert, especially the parrot. They’re in charge of reconnaissance!”

Wu Jianwu didn’t dare to act disobediently, and immediately nodded his head.

“Nethersprite!”

Nethersprite didn’t say anything, but she looked up at Xu Qing.

“You keep Ling’er safe, and stand guard over the Green Spirit Pharmacy. Li Youfei, same for you.”

“Great!” Nethersprite agreed, and Li Youfei nodded vigorously. The latter could already sense that Xu Qing was different from before.

Having given his orders, Xu Qing took out a jade slip and gave it to Ling’er. “When the God Decapitation Altar appears in the sky outside, crush this jade slip!”

With that, Xu Qing strode out of the Green Spirit Pharmacy. He waved his hand, and a host of clucking sounds could be heard as the chickens flew out from the backyard. Light glittered around them as they all transformed into huge chickens. Those who had performed well previously now had dazzling feathers, making it obvious they had been promoted. In fact, beneath their feathers you could see their actual bodies. Clearly, they had been rewarded with some freedom. After a brief bit of squabbling over position, they clustered around Xu Qing as he flew up into the sky.

Patriarch Inkrule looked on, moved. He could tell that Xu Qing was planning to take the flock of chickens and go personally receive Fourth Vice-Bishop.

“This….” Although Inkrule actually agreed with Xu Qing’s decisions, he still hesitated. Then he glanced at Ning Yan and the others. Considering how low their cultivation bases were, he disdained them. And yet, he had no one else to get information from.

“Does the young lord—”

“Don’t worry,” Ning Yan said proudly. “This entire situation isn’t a very big deal to our exalted leader. Back in Sea-Sealing County, he single-handedly quelled unrest in two forbidden grounds in order to levy millions upon millions of troops to send to the front line. You know what type of cultivators were in that army? First-stage Void Returning. And second stage. And third stage. What species out there wouldn’t follow his orders?

“Ultimately, during the Lieutenant Governor’s Coup, he brought peace to the entire county. Our human emperor issued a proclamation of approval, and even named him as the governor-elect. As a result, our exalted leader is probably the most famous person in Sea-Sealing County, and has long since won the hearts of the people.”

When Inkrule heard all of that, his pupils constricted. He could tell that Ning Yan wasn’t lying, yet the things he’d just said left the patriarch feeling shaken to the core. “Quelled unrest in two forbidden grounds? Levied millions upon millions of troops? The governor-elect?”

As he reeled in shock, Xu Qing stood atop the head of a huge bird as it shot through the dome of heaven over the desert.

As he moved along, his eyes turned pitch black, and his gaze filled with taboo poison power. As that power spread out and was carried by the wind, the gray wind around him turned black and ghastly. The roiling poison within it caused all of the chickens to tremble fearfully.

However, Xu Qing’s face remained expressionless. As the taboo poison power grew stronger around him, he reached the border of the desert. There, he waved his hand, causing the wind ahead of him to split apart and create an opening. Deafening rumbling sounds spread out everywhere.

From a distance, the gap in the sand and wind looked like a valley with a road in the middle of it. Off in the distance, it was already possible to see Fourth Vice-Bishop’s army being pursued by the cathedral cultivators. Intense fighting was already playing out, and people were dying.

However, the rumbling sound caught the attention of both parties to the conflict, and countless eyes shifted to focus on Xu Qing.

That included all of the Grandmaster Pill Nine followers.

As Xu Qing stood in the gap in the sand and wind, he raised his right hand and pointed straight out.

“Poison!” he said. The poison wind around him erupted, sweeping forward, its poison and mutagen causing everything around it to blur. Few people qualified to avoid that poison as it rolled over the army from the Red Moon Cathedral.

From a distance, it looked like a huge sea of poison spreading out, to the astonishment of all onlookers. The ground rotted, turning black. The red light from the sky couldn’t pierce through the poison cloud. This basically counted as the first time Xu Qing had actually used the taboo poison in his gaze.

Within the taboo poison was Xu Qing, his face expressionless, his eyes cold, godliness rising within him.

“God cultivator!”

It was hard to say who said it first, but soon countless people in the crowd were echoing the same words.

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