Chapter 558: The Sorrow of Parting; Disappearing Over the Horizon (part 1)
The moment Xu Qing saw the eyeball, his gaze hardened. Off to the side, Ling’er blinked a few times and quietly edged closer to Xu Qing.
Duanmu Zang glanced at Ling’er then back at Xu Qing. The brown eye was covered with blood-red veins, and it emanated a faint sensation of decay. A caustic aroma pulsed off it, quickly filling the small room. The faint sound of screaming could be heard.
“What is it?” Xu Qing asked, looking up at Duanmu Zang.
“It’s a gruish item I picked up when I first discovered this place,” Duanmu Zang said, looking very serious. “It has spectacular fire-resistance qualities. However, you first have to subjugate it. I doubt that will pose a challenge for you. It’s timid. Just frighten it a few times, and it won’t dare to cause any problems. I used its power to explore some of the deep areas in the lava.
“The depths of the Heavenfire Sea are full of profound mysteries, so I recommend not going lower than 3,000 meters. Past that, you’ll run into warding spells set up by the Red Moon Cathedral. Few people can get past such things. I’ve even seen a few mutant beasts swim down past 3,000 meters and end up shredded to pieces.”
With that, he tossed the eyeball to Xu Qing.
After Xu Qing caught the eyeball, he found it was still staring at him, all while emanating a vile, malicious sensation.
Xu Qing’s expression didn’t change. Rolling the eyeball in his hand, he said, “Senior, has the Red Moon Cathedral set up other warding spells in the Moonrite Region, similar to the ones in the Heavenfire Sea?”
Duanmu Zang sat down, hefted one of the alcohol jugs Xu Qing had given him, and took a drink. He nodded, a complex expression on his face.
“Quite a few, actually. In the Moonrite Region, there is no higher authority than the Red Moon Cathedral. Their whims determine life or death for all living beings. Any who lack respect, even by the tiniest of margins, will end up suffering a tragic fate.”
Xu Qing digested that and then said, “Senior, I’m interested in knowing more about the Red Moon Cathedral. Do you mind telling me a bit more?”
Duanmu Zang peered at Xu Qing. “Boy, in the Moonrite Region, the Red Moon Cathedral is like a god. You absolutely cannot blaspheme it. In other words, be cautious about provoking them. Otherwise, they won’t just kill you. They have ways to turn you into an offering. To curse you. And if that happens, you’ll never leave this place.”
Duanmu Zang’s face was cold, but his heart burned. Given his interactions with Xu Qing, and his life experience, he had come to understand Xu Qing a lot more. And his impression of him had changed a lot. Although his expression seemed solemn, his words were obviously a reminder and a bit of a warning.
Xu Qing nodded. He was no fool. Though he had his violet moon, he obviously couldn’t afford to underestimate anyone or anything related to the red moon. What was more, he also knew that there were some things that would be difficult to avoid in the Moonrite Region. The more he knew about the Red Moon Cathedral, the better chance he would have to avoid some of those things. Therefore, he asked for some more details.
Duanmu Zang considered his request, then said, “The more you know, the better. It’ll help you understand how truly terrifying the Red Moon Cathedral is around here. Members of the Red Moon Cathedral are like herdsmen for Crimson Mother. Every so often, the various species here have to voluntarily bring sacrifices to them.
“The Red Moon Cathedral doesn’t care the least bit about the lives of the species here. Every time Crimson Mother comes, the majority of the living beings in Moonrite Region end up being devoured. Therefore, the mission of the Red Moon Cathedral is to gather food and put it into storage before Crimson Mother arrives. After Crimson Mother leaves, the species need to proliferate again. They’re almost like crops, constantly being harvested and regrown.”
Duanmu Zang spoke as calmly as if he were recounting a story that didn’t affect him at all, as opposed to explaining his own doom.
Xu Qing listened carefully.
Ling’er watched them drink for a bit, then after some thought, she hurried to the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and started preparing a meal. That was what the other women had taught her. When the men drank, then she, as a good wife, should prepare a few dishes to make it obvious how able and virtuous she was.
Xu Qing looked over at her and seemed like he wanted to say something. In the end, he didn’t. When he saw how excited she seemed, he just couldn’t say anything.
Duanmu Zang also noticed what was going on, but didn’t take it to heart. He just continued drinking and explaining the Red Moon Cathedral to Xu Qing. As a local, his understanding of the Red Moon Cathedral would obviously surpass anything that might show up in an intelligence report.
Xu Qing listened attentively. Eventually, Duanmu Zang reached the end of his explanation.
“Based on my calculations, the Red Moon Cathedral will be coming soon. After you leave this place, if you ever see them, keep your distance and stay out of sight. They’re easy to spot, considering they dress in all red. Normally speaking, as long as you don’t provoke them, they won’t bother you. They don’t care about random rogue cultivators, any more than an elephant cares about ants.” Duanmu Zang laughed self-deprecatingly. “What they do care about are the species that don’t have enough offerings prepared. Any species that isn’t sufficiently prepared has to make up for the difference.
“For example, over forty years ago, the Whitelaw species in the north didn’t meet the demands of the cathedral. Therefore, a godherald came with some godservants, and ended up harvesting seventy percent of their species to make up the difference.”
“What kind of cultivation base do the godheralds have?” Xu Qing asked.
“No one knows exactly how many godheralds the Red Moon Cathedral has. They come from all species. All are Void Returning experts. The godservants are in Spirit Trove. Anyone lower than Spirit Trove are godslaves.
Xu Qing thought about everything he had learned so far. “Are there godchildren?”
“Yes,” Duanmu Zang said, his eyes flickering with fear. “There’s one godchild in the Red Moon Cathedral. Supposedly, he’s an actual blood relative of the red moon. No one knows his cultivation base, but in reality, cultivation base is irrelevant to him. What’s important is that he commands the power of a god. Therefore... he can exempt anyone from the fate of becoming food, and allow them to survive the coming of Crimson Mother.” Duanmu Zang sighed. “Because of that, countless powerful experts go crazy trying to impress him. Given they have the chance of earning exemption, they’ll do anything he asks them to.”
Hearing that caused an imperceptible glimmer to pass through Xu Qing’s eyes. After that, he didn’t ask any more questions about the Red Moon Cathedral. Instead, he asked about the Twofold Alliance. After all, that was the most pressing issue he had to deal with.
“The Twofold Alliance has a total of six Spirit Trove experts, two of which are patriarchs. As for Void Returning....” Duanmu Zang shook his head. “They have none. Void Returning experts are the most flavorful, so when one appears, they’ll be marked by the Red Moon Cathedral. Think of them as ripe fruit. Although nothing happens to them immediately, they’re most definitely put onto the menu.
“Because of that, most cultivators in the Moonrite Region stop at the great circle of Spirit Trove. If they can avoid breaking through, they do.
“Once you’re on the menu, your fate is sealed. You’ll die eventually. In contrast, if you stay off the menu, then you have a chance of surviving. Although that chance is small, it still exists. And most people would rather have a shot at staying alive.”
Xu Qing had previously suspected the Twofold Alliance didn’t have Void Returning experts, and now he had confirmation.
Duanmu Zang continued speaking. “The Mirrorlings and Skyfaces are really just minor species. Of their six Spirit Trove experts, only the two patriarchs have complete secret troves.
“The others, including that royal preceptor, are in the process of growing heavenly daos for their secret troves. They’re still in ‘dao begetting and dawnstar raising.’”
Xu Qing didn’t know very much about Spirit Trove. Considering how far away it was, he hadn’t bothered asking his Master any questions. So this was his first time hearing a description of it.
“Dao begetting and dawnstar raising?” Xu Qing asked. Those words had stuck out to him.
Duanmu Zang nodded. “To truly unlock the power of magical laws within your secret trove, you have to generate a heavenly dao, and also cause a dawnstar to rise. Only then will your secret trove be considered complete, making you a true Spirit Trove expert. [1]
“It’s an extremely difficult stage. Having the proper cultivation base and lots of resources are only one element of success. You also need enlightenment of the power of magical laws to be able to generate a heavenly dao. That’s the most critical aspect. In reality, most Spirit Trove cultivators don’t proceed past the stage called ‘dao begetting and dawnstar raising.’
“To Nascent Soul cultivators, Spirit Trove cultivators in that ‘dao begetting’ phase are actually extremely strong. But to someone in the true first stage of Spirit Trove, dao begetting cultivators have not achieved their dao, and are thus unworthy. It’s similar to the ‘before and after’ difference of life flames in Foundation Establishment.”
Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m not sure how it is in other regions,” Duanmu Zang went on, “but here in the Moonrite Region, for every thousand Spirit Trove cultivators, there are only one or two who generate a heavenly dao and actually complete their first secret trove.
“The rest stay in the dao begetting phase. Many of them ultimately suffer severe injuries, the reason being that if your secret trove collapses before being completed, your cultivation base drops significantly.”
Xu Qing looked at Duanmu Zang and thought back to what he had seen back at the Heavenfire Sea. He had personally laid eyes on Duanmu Zang’s collapsed spirit trove.
Noticing the look in Xu Qing’s eyes, Duanmu Zang coolly continued, “That’s what happened to me, so I can tell you firsthand how dramatic the difference is between a Spirit Trove cultivator in dao begetting and dawnstar raising, and one who has passed that phase.”
Xu Qing nodded and was about to continue with more questions when Ling’er bustled out with two plates of blackened food. She put them down on the table, one in front of each of them, then stared at them expectantly.
Xu Qing smiled, picked up some chopsticks, and started slowly eating. A moment later, a look of praise appeared on his face, and he took a drink.
Stunned, Duanmu Zang looked at the blackened food, then the approving look on Xu Qing’s face, and finally Ling’er, who was looking at him with hopeful expectation.
Duanmu Zang also took a bite. His expression did not change. After slowly chewing and swallowing, he took a drink and looked at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing looked back at him.
Duanmu Zang’s expression became one of admiration. Turning to Ling’er, he said, “Excellent.”
Ling’er burst with joy.
Xu Qing smiled and continued eating. Seeing that, Duanmu Zang cleared his throat.
“I have a batch of medicinal pills I need to check on. See you later.” With that he stood, blurred, and disappeared from sight.
“Is it that good?” Ling’er said. “Now I want to try!” Ling’er went to take some of the food, but Xu Qing quickly put the last bit into his mouth.
Ling’er looked very pleased. Seeing that Xu Qing was going to start meditating again, she hurried over, picked up the set of clothes she was working on, and started sewing again. I definitely have to get Big Bro Xu Qing to wear the clothes I’m making for him.
Thinking of that future scene, and how wonderful it would be, Ling’er focused completely on her work.
In that manner, the final ten days passed.
1. The ‘dawnstar’ mentioned here is the classical Chinese word for Venus. This name obviously comes from the time before the understanding of planets, when all the planets were believed to be stars. Venus has other names in Chinese. The common modern name is different, and there’s another name for Venus as a mythological part of Chinese cosmology. In my dictionaries, I found at least 8 different words for Venus (there are different names for Venus both as a morning star and an evening star). And there are different names for Venus as a being from Western mythology. In any case, in this usage, the meaning of the word is obviously that of a “morning star.” ?