OUTSIDE OF TIME

993 Alchemy Star

In the Moon Rebel Hall, there were tens of thousands of deity statues. When Xu Qing stepped forward, although he didn’t emanate any additional momentum, his spoken words seemed to stir up a storm, roaring in all directions.

The surrounding statues immediately paid attention.

Master Shengluo glanced at Xu Qing and calmly spoke.

“Forget about competing. This old man will teach you a lesson. I hope that after you experience what happened today, you can calm down and not delve into heretical methods!”

Ignoring Xu Qing, Master Sheng Luo raised his right hand. The pill furnace atop his head descended into his palm. With a wave, a pill shot out from the furnace, hovering in mid-air.

This pill resembled a crystal, rotating in mid-air on its own. It emitted strands of luminous ribbons, continually swirling around it, showcasing an exquisite beauty. The especially translucent outer layer made the pill look like a precious gem.

Faintly, one could discern the swirling medicinal mist within, as if it contained an immortal land.

With Xu Qing’s profound knowledge of alchemy, at this moment, even with just a glance, he sensed the extraordinary nature of this pill. Simultaneously, he gained insights into Master Shengluo’s prowess in the Dao of alchemy.

‘Indeed a great talent.’ As Xu Qing muttered inwardly, the surrounding people also exclaimed when they saw this pill.

“How is this still a medicinal pill? This is clearly a pill treasure!”

“I didn’t expect Master Shengluo’s alchemy attainments to take another step forward and reach such a level!”

More and more cries of surprise rang out. Just from the appearance of this medicinal pill, anyone could sense how astonishing it was. A follower beside Shengluo walked out at this moment and spoke loudly with eyes filled with admiration.

“Dear fellow cultivators, I’m sure you all know that when it comes to top-grade pills, everything revolves around perfection. The more refined, the more precious. When it reaches the pinnacle, it is said that the Wanggu’s Heavenly Dao will bestow divine radiance. And behold, Master Shengluo’s pill has already stirred divine radiance!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the exclamations and uproars in the surroundings grew even louder. The gazes that looked at the pill contained desire. In an instant, praises rose from everywhere.

Even Xu Qing’s followers felt less confident at this moment. All of them looked at each other. They were originally filled with confidence in Master Pill Nine but after Shengluo spoke about the consumers of the pill dying suddenly after a few years, their hearts wavered.

And after seeing this pill that was close to a pill treasure, no matter how confident they were in Pill Nine, they couldn’t help but hesitate.

The fourth hall master in the sky was also moved and nodded.

“It’s indeed a pill treasure. Master Shengluo, can this pill be mass-produced?”

In the face of the praises from the crowd and the fourth hall master, Shengluo smiled and bowed respectfully to the fourth hall master.

“Fourth Hall Master, this pill can naturally be mass-produced.”

“Good!” The fourth hall master smiled.

Master Shengluo was satisfied. He turned his head and looked at the expressionless Xu Qing as he calmly spoke.

“This is the first lesson I am teaching you. Remember, as alchemists, studying the Dao of alchemy is what we persist in. Put away your little tricks and your improper heart. Otherwise, with a darkened heart, your alchemy will never see the light of divine radiance!”

Master Shengluo’s words carried a reprimanding tone. Those around looked at Xu Qing with various expressions—some shook their heads, some looked disdainful, some sighed with emotion, and some were angry.

Xu Qing didn’t say anything. He only took out his curse-breaking pill and waved his hand to make it float in the air.

This pill looked pitch-black and there was nothing unique about it. Someone among the crowd couldn’t help but laugh.

“Is this a mud ball or a medicinal pill?”

“That’s it?”

Just as the sounds of ridicule rang out, Xu Qing performed a series of hand seals and pointed. Immediately, cracking sounds rang out from the pill and it actually shattered.

In the next instant, as layer after layer of the outer dark fragments separated, an endless divine radiance erupted from within like a surging tide, spreading in all directions.

The boundless light was like the descent of dawn, opening up hope for the world.

Every beam of light inside was like a rainbow, gorgeous and varied.

It illuminated the sky, causing the sky to be filled with peace. It scattered onto the ground, turning the mountain into an auspicious sign.

From afar, it was as though a sea of light had formed with the pill as the center. It continued to spread in all directions and finally transformed into resplendence.

All of a sudden, all the cultivators in the Moon Rebel Hall who were paying attention were in a daze. As for the two medicinal pills in the air, anyone with eyes could see the huge difference between them.

Xu Qing’s medicinal pill shone extremely radiantly. As for Master Shengluo’s pill, it originally shone a little but now that its light was drowned out, it looked ordinary. If one didn’t take a closer look, it would probably lose the meaning of its existence.

Only after a long time did the sounds of inhaling reverberate. After that, there were more and more of them, rising and falling one after another. Finally, numerous involuntary cries of surprise erupted from the crowd.

“The Heavenly Dao bestows endless light?”

“Such brilliance… Isn’t this the supreme pill that Master Shengluo mentioned in the past?!”

“There’s actually such a pill? I clearly remember that only pills that contain fortune and the hope of all living beings can be given such brilliance by the recognition of the Heavenly Dao!”

Amidst everyone’s exclamations and disbelief, Master Shengluo was stunned. He stared at Xu Qing’s medicinal pill in a daze and disbelief appeared in his eyes. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but he couldn’t say anything.

At the same time, the ten thousand-foot-tall statue of the fourth hall master suddenly stood up and stared fixedly at the medicinal pill below. His expression was moved until his chest heaved.

“Master Pill Nine, this pill… is the curse-breaking pill?”

This was the first time he spoke to Xu Qing and also the first time he added the word ‘Master’. When he said it, the meaning was different.

Xu Qing nodded.

The most excited people here were Xu Qing’s followers. Regardless of whether it was the burly neighbor, Six Eyes, or the others, their hearts were extremely moved.

Their previously shaken hearts and hesitant thoughts were completely replaced by determination and excitement at this moment.

This was especially so for Six Eyes. At this moment, he was shouting with all his might.

“Master Pill Nine, virtue reaching the heavens, alchemy spanning the seas, benefiting countless realms for countless generations!”

As these words rang out, the excitement in the hearts of Xu Qing’s followers in the surroundings surged. All of them were cheering.

Seeing this, the few followers beside Master Shengluo spoke with little confidence.

“Although the surface layer of the medicinal pill is important, it’s still something to be eaten after all. Hence, the medicinal effects are the most important!”

“That’s right. The effect of Master Shengluo’s curse-resolving pill is twice that of the original curse-resolving pill and the side effects are extremely low. This pill is a good pill that can alleviate the pain of the curse!”

Their words echoed. At this moment, Master Shengluo also took a deep breath and suppressed the shock in his heart. He looked at Xu Qing with a complicated expression. His gaze was unprecedentedly solemn as he spoke in a low voice.

“If you eat one of this old man’s curse-resolving pills, it can delay the pain of the curse by at least 60 years!”

After saying that, he looked at Xu Qing as though he was facing a great enemy.

When everyone from the Moon Rebel Hall heard this, they also woke up from the shock given by Xu Qing’s medicinal pill. After all, medicinal pills were meant to be eaten, so their effects were the main point. Now that they heard the effect, their eyes revealed a peculiar glint.

Xu Qing didn’t care about Shengluo’s gaze. He looked at his curse-breaking pill and calmly spoke.

“Permanently reduce the curse by 10%.”

Xu Qing’s voice wasn’t loud but it was like a thunderclap that rumbled in the hearts of everyone in the entire Moon Rebel Hall.

In an instant, the Moon Rebel Hall fell silent.

Everyone’s hearts were in extreme turmoil. Even though they had some guesses about this curse-breaking pill previously, after hearing Xu Qing’s words, they still felt that it was inconceivable. They felt that they had heard wrong.

When Master Shengluo heard this, his eyes narrowed as he abruptly looked at Xu Qing’s medicinal pill. At this moment, huge waves surged in his heart. However, after many years of understanding, his mind rapidly made judgments. After that, he spoke in a deep voice.

“Impossible!”

“Unless it contains a huge side effect that causes one to die in a few days after taking it!”

Xu Qing looked at Shengluo and calmly spoke.

“There are no side effects.”

Everyone was shocked again. Shengluo’s body swayed but his eyes were still filled with intense doubt as he stared fixedly at Xu Qing.

“Nonsense. Are you the Red Moon’s divine son? Even the divine son can’t do this, so are you a god? Ridiculous!”

“You’ll know after giving it a try.” Xu Qing’s expression was calm from the start. After he spoke, he looked at the surrounding people.

“Which one of you will try it?”

Everyone hesitated, but Master Shengluo sneered.

“Consuming it poses immense risks!”

As soon as he spoke, everyone became even more hesitant. Even the burly neighbor didn’t dare to rashly walk out. However, at this moment, a sharp voice echoed in all directions.

“Let me do it!”

Everyone looked over in unison and saw a statue with six eyes walking out of the crowd proudly. He arrived in front of Xu Qing and bowed respectfully before speaking loudly.

“Your hesitation towards Master’s pill is clearly a lack of faith, but I am different. I firmly believe in Master. I will be the one to consume this pill!”

Xu Qing felt a sense of strangeness in his heart, glanced at the captain, and remained silent.

At that moment, everyone’s gazes gathered on the captain. Immediately after, the burly dude from the neighbor rushed out and spoke loudly.

“Master, I’m willing to test the pill!!”

“Back then, I listened to your supreme Dao voice for two months. This is fate. After that, I was the first to buy your medicinal pill and consume it. Every time, I was the first. This time is no exception!”

“Master, please fulfill my wish!”

The burly neighbor’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Xu Qing with a sincere expression. He really trusted him.

Six Eyes was a little dissatisfied.

Xu Qing fell silent and waved his hand. Immediately, the medicinal pill headed straight for the burly dude. He didn’t give them to the captain because the captain had too many random things on him. Xu Qing was worried that there would be a bad reaction.

The burly neighbor caught the pill and took a deep breath. His eyes were filled with determination. Finally, under the attention of everyone, including Master Shengluo and the fourth hall master, he placed the pill to his mouth and swallowed it in one gulp.

At the next moment, the fourth hall master raised his hand and grabbed at the air. Immediately, the burly neighbor’s body flew out and was enveloped by the fourth hall master’s power. Not only was it augmenting him, but it also allowed everyone’s perception to be clearer.

The burly dude’s body first trembled and sweat broke out on his forehead. He had a agonized expression on his face. However, in an instant, his entire body shone with a dazzling light and waves of black liquid seeped out of the statue.

This liquid emitted a rotting stench that permeated the surroundings. The burly dude’s body suddenly quivered and his eyes opened, revealing disbelief and shock as he mumbled.

“My curse… has been decreased by 10%!”

As his words echoed, a thunderous roar reverberated in the ears of the Moon Rebel Hall’s crowd. Each person trembled, their eyes revealing a hint of madness. However, skepticism still lingered as they looked towards the fourth hall master.

The fourth chamber master closed his eyes. While everyone was nervously waiting, the fourth hall master opened his eyes and walked down from the sky step by step until he arrived in front of Xu Qing. His gaze was deep as he stared at Xu Qing.

A moment later, the fourth chamber master cupped his fists and bowed to Xu Qing with his noble status.

“Master is virtuous and benevolent. Your merit is immeasurable!”

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like lightning cutting through the world.

All the statues in the Moon Rebel Hall shook intensely. All the hesitation in their hearts disappeared at this instant. They were as fanatical as they had been doubtful earlier.

Endless expectation and excitement filled their hearts, transforming into countless cries that seethed in the Moon Rebel Hall.

At that moment, Xu Qing became the most radiant star here.