The next morning, Xu Qing opened his eyes. Ling 'er had been taking care of him. When she saw that Xu Qing had woken up, she hurried over with a worried expression.
"Brother Xu Qing …"
"I'm fine." Xu Qing smiled and raised his hand to touch Ling 'er's head to feel his injuries.
Most of his injuries had recovered under the power of the purple crystal, but he still felt weak.
This was mainly due to the backlash of the Sea Dragon's self-destruction on his soul.
However, the remaining head of the Sea Dragon contained even more power of destiny than before, and the level was also different. Therefore, in the process of its recovery, it was a kind of improvement for Xu Qing.
Xu Qing could feel that once this feeling of weakness disappeared, his soul would become more resilient and stronger than before.
"I should be able to fully recover in about 20 days. At that time, my combat strength will also increase a lot. If I encounter a Path Nurturing cultivator again, I will be able to handle it more easily."
Xu Qing took a deep breath and sat up. At this moment, the captain also appeared from the door. While eating a peach, he glanced at Xu Qing and smiled.
"You went out for a while. Why do you look a little different when you come back? Your eyes are sharper than before."
With that, the captain threw an apple to Xu Qing.
Xu Qing took a bite and walked out of the back room to the medicine shop.
Ning Yan was wiping the floor and sighing. When he saw Xu Qing, he forced a smile.
Youjing was boiling water in frustration. He could use his cultivation base to support it, but it was obviously not allowed. So, he could only squat there and stare at the stove and iron kettle in front of him.
As for Li Youfei, he was eagerly introducing pills to a trembling Qi Condensation cultivator.
Wu Jianwu was still at the door. He had already gotten used to his identity. At this moment, he was wearing a rough hemp shirt and reciting a poem with his head raised.
There was also the old grandpa sitting behind the counter of the medicine shop, twirling a bead in his hand and watching all this with a smile. On his shoulder was a hairless parrot full of grief and indignation.
"Grandpa, I suspect that Chen Erniu did it …"
The parrot's head drooped. After glancing at Xu Qing and the captain, it immediately glared at the captain and complained to the crown prince.
The captain smiled and didn't care. Instead, he walked to the door, took out a sword, crossed his arms, raised his chin, and guarded the medicine shop.
Warmth rose up in Xu Qing's heart. Everything was exactly the same as when he had left. The warmth he felt in the small medicine shop made him feel even more at peace.
At this moment, Youjing finally finished boiling the water. She hurriedly carried it to the old man and made tea for him.
The Crown Prince picked up the teacup, took a sip, and nodded slightly. Then, his gaze fell on Xu Qing.
"Twenty days later, your training will continue."
Xu Qing respectfully acknowledged. He was also looking forward to it. He could foresee that this kind of training would definitely be very dangerous every time, but as long as he could endure it and comprehend it, then his improvement would be incomparably huge.
Just like that, time passed. Several days passed.
Xu Qing's injuries were still slowly recovering, but he could already feel the difference in his Spiritual Strength. There was a clear change in the speed at which he thought.
In the past, he needed to ponder deeply, but now, he only needed to ponder slightly to understand.
Because of that, Xu Qing resumed his research on curses while he was recuperating.
Because of this, Li Youfei was going to be busy.
Finally, ten days later, Xu Qing used the growth of his Spiritual Strength, as well as the results of his previous research. Using Li Youfei's blood as a guide, and the remaining Chaotic Growth flesh and blood as a foundation, he fused it with his own Purple Moon power, and improved the Disaster Relief Pill.
This improvement was different from the previous ones. Thanks to Xu Qing's solid foundation, he was finally able to reduce the amount of curses by a bit.
The previous Disaster Relief Pill had been able to do the same, but the reduction was only one ten-thousandth, which was negligible.
But now, if the curses in a person's body were divided into a hundred, then after consuming the Detoxification Pill, the reduction would be ninety-nine.
Because of that, the Disaster Relief Pill's effects were even more shocking.
At the same time, Xu Qing could foresee that after this Disaster Relief Pill was sold, someone would definitely discover its true use.
"It's a pity that the amount of curses reduced is still too little. However, I'm on the right track. If this continues, I should be able to gradually increase the efficacy of the pill until I can create a pill that can truly dispel curses."
After some thought, Xu Qing headed to Defiant Moon Hall.
It had been several months since he had last entered Defiant Moon Hall.
This time, Xu Qing wasn't alone.
Ling 'er had been worried about Xu Qing's injuries for the past few days, and had stopped trying to settle accounts. Instead, she had stayed by Xu Qing's side. She was very curious about Defiant Moon Hall, and therefore, Xu Qing brought her with him.
Within Defiant Moon Hall was Xu Qing's temple, where seven or eight idols from the outer temple sat in meditation.
They were either his neighbors or fanatics, and each and every one of them had bought Xu Qing's Disaster Relief Pills.
Therefore, even though the Grandmaster hadn't come for several months, the sadism in their hearts caused them to come every day. It was as if just sitting there in meditation was an invisible suppression of curses.
That was especially true of the burly, bare-chested man. He was a Cultivator who had completely listened to the sounds of the Dao, and had successfully created a new persona for himself. Normally, he would refer to himself as a follower of the Grandmaster.
Furthermore, he was extremely disgusted by all the comments made about the Grandmaster in the outside world. At the moment, his expression was dignified as he spoke calmly to his other followers.
"The Grandmaster hasn't returned recently, but as his followers and former beneficiaries, we must remain steadfast in our faith. We must not blindly listen to the comments of the outer temple.
"I firmly believe that when the Grandmaster returns, he will bring an even greater Disaster Relief Storm to Defiant Moon Hall!"
The burly man's voice echoed out, and his other followers nodded solemnly. However, one of the female Immortal idols hesitated for a moment, then spoke out in a low voice.
"Although there are quite a few Cultivators who specialize in medicine who criticize the Grandmaster, it doesn't matter. However, recently, Grandmaster Sheng Luo has also raised many questions …."
As the woman spoke out, the others fell silent.
The name Sheng Luo held a great deal of weight in the hearts of the Cultivators in Defiant Moon Hall.
This was because the Grandmaster was the seller of the most Disaster Relief Pills in Defiant Moon Hall. In fact, according to some estimates, at least thirty percent of the Disaster Relief Pills sold in Defiant Moon Hall came from the Grandmaster.
Therefore, his questions had a different meaning.
However, it was at this moment that the altar trembled.
The tremor caused all of the idols in the temple to stare in shock. Their hearts and minds were filled with great waves, and they quickly looked toward the altar.
On the altar, the old man with the bottle gourd on his back suddenly opened his eyes, which hadn't been opened for a long time.
"Grandmaster!"
"Grandmaster Dan Jiu!"
The hearts and minds of the seven or eight idols trembled violently. They immediately rose to their feet and bowed in greeting toward Xu Qing. The neighbor was especially excited.
"Grandmaster, you've finally returned, old man!"
Xu Qing stared blankly for a moment, but didn't act rashly. He stood on the altar, looking down at the people who were bowing toward him.
"Who are you?"
"Grandmaster, we are people who have received your kindness," said the burly man respectfully. "In the past few months, we have volunteered to stand guard here. We hope that we can follow in your footsteps and become your followers!"
Said the burly neighbor respectfully.
Outside, green smoke billowed out of the square bronze cauldron, which rose into the air in spirals. It looked like a flourishing incense stick.
Further off in the distance, dozens of idols could be seen meditating at different distances.
However, they should at least give it a try. If it really did suit the Grandmaster's intentions, then their status as followers would be of great significance.
With that in mind, they carefully observed Xu Qing. After about ten breaths of time passed, Xu Qing's face was expressionless, and his heart was completely calm. He stood on the altar and looked down. His gaze swept over the deity statues, and he spoke coolly.
He thought for a moment, and was just about to take out the new medicinal pill he had concocted when Ling 'er's angry voice suddenly echoed out in his mind.
"Elder Brother Xu Qing, if you have a new medicinal pill, why don't we borrow their mouths to promote it in advance? We can set a date for the pill to be released.
"If we do that, it will definitely arouse some skepticism. When the time comes, Elder Brother Xu Qing, you can take out the pill and humiliate those skeptics!"
Ling 'er whispered.
"In ten days, I will release an improved Affliction Dispelling Pill," he said. "It will be very different from the Affliction Dispelling Pill of the past. It will be called the Curse Dispelling Pill.
"In the next ten days, you will spread the word to the outside world. When the pill is released, I will give each of you a pill."
After he left, the idols in the temple gasped and exchanged glances. They could all see the astonishment in each other's eyes.
"The effect of the pill is very different from the past?"
"It's not called the Affliction Dispelling Pill, but the Curse Dispelling Pill?"
"This name …"
The seven or eight statues were all moved. From this name, they tasted something that they didn't dare to believe.
"The Curse Dispelling Pill?"
No matter how fanatical the neighbor was about Xu Qing, he couldn't help but hold his breath. Disbelief rose in his heart.
What if it was true?
After a long while, one of the idols suddenly spoke.
As soon as he said that, the other idols' breathing quickened.
"If it's true … then from now on, the Grandmaster Dan Jiu we follow in the Defiant Moon Hall will become a true god!"
The neighbor's heart was in turmoil as he muttered.
— — Later, there's more!