"Uh... Forgive me for using the word 'popped out,' because he suddenly appeared from who knows where. He told me not to worry and to quickly come to Dan Province to hide. There will be many things happening later," Zhang Qingzhi said helplessly.

"Speechless... His elderly self must have planned it all along," Zhang Rongfang was also left speechless.

"Indeed... I don't know what he's thinking, but in the end, I obediently brought Xiaohao over." Zhang Qingzhi nodded. "He also told me to write you a secret letter. I thought for a long time and came up with a way to notify you."

"When you were at the Celestial Treasure Palace, during your daily interactions with the master, did you notice anything strange?" Zhang Rongfang continued to ask.

"Strange? What do you mean?" Zhang Qingzhi asked in confusion.

"Like... did he suddenly not seem like his usual self?" Zhang Rongfang couldn't quite find the words.

"Not really... The master has always been kind to me. Previously, he showed regret and sadness over the emperor's passing while talking to me. He and the emperor were good friends once."

"Really?" Zhang Rongfang recalled his experience meeting the Spirit Emperor, feeling it didn't quite match what Zhang Qingzhi described.

"Oh, there is one thing," Zhang Qingzhi suddenly remembered something.

"What is it?"

"It's... it's ..." Zhang Qingzhi paused, "One night, the master suddenly returned to that little attic and began painting portraits of the mysterious mistress. I was in a terrible mood, drinking in the corner, not paying attention.

He seemed to be in a bad mood."

"Mysterious mistress..." Zhang Rongfang inadvertently recalled the women's portraits hanging throughout the attic.

"After that, there was nothing else, just what I mentioned earlier," Zhang Qingzhi continued.

He chuckled bitterly. "Actually, after hearing the news that the master had become extremely powerful and claimed to be unbeatable, I didn't believe it, but in the end..."

"By the way," he suddenly remembered something, "the master also told me to sever ties with Xiaohao, and if I couldn't, to peacefully hide here. As for the position of Sect Leader of Great Dao Teaching, he plans to pass it to you in the future."

"...Did the master really say that?" Zhang Rongfang was surprised.

"Yes, and because you often cause trouble, he frequently sighs privately and curses you for being ignorant. But outside, he praises you to others, saying among the various sect's Daoists and Holy Sons, you are the most outstanding..."

Zhang Qingzhi's words made Zhang Rongfang quickly sketch out Old Yue's contradictory nature in his mind.

In comparison, the enigmatic Xue Tong inexplicably became more elusive in his thoughts.

Which side is genuine?

He didn't know.

However, it seems that Yue Shi's kindness toward him might be genuine.

Of course, he couldn't solely rely on Zhang Qingzhi's account.

He would need to find a real opportunity in the future to verify and test this face-to-face.

But for now... there's no rush.

*

*

*

Sun Holding Peak.

"Golden Toad Skill!!?"

On the mountainside, many Sensing Sect Grandmasters retreated with blood at their lips, forming a semicircle under the leadership of three Grandmasters to confront Yue Dewen again.

The Moon King stood aside alone, staring gravely at Yue Dewen.

"The Three Trials... Literature, Martial Arts, Sincerity; you've passed two. Your Cultivation of Literature is impeccable; you've truly reached the Returning to Void, unmatched in history.

Your martial arts have reached the pinnacle, the Grandmaster's limit.

Now, only the trial of Sincerity remains!"

The Moon King paused, staring intently at Yue Dewen. "Do you need to rest?"

"No need. Proceed," Yue Dewen smiled faintly, remaining as usual, without any sense of danger or threat.

But all the experts present, after the previous trials, no longer dared to underestimate this person.

To cultivate literature to the highest Returning to Void level, such a strong figure had never been heard of before.

Moreover, the martial arts skillfully exhibited preemptive defense and Absolute Defense to the fullest.

In the mysterious realm above Grandmaster, involving spiritual will attacks, he suppressed three Grandmasters instantly, causing them to retreat before engaging.

"In martial arts, above Grandmaster, it becomes a battle of spiritual will. Accumulate power, meditate, find an opening, strike with strength, pierce the enemy's weak spot. Regarding the weak spot of the mind, you are flawless," the Moon King evaluated.

"Enough talking, what is the test of Sincerity?" Yue Dewen demanded.

"It's very simple."

The Master of the Primordial Vein stepped forward.

"Sincerity only requires one thing, which is..."

"Change of God!"

"No need to change." Yue Dewen's smile grew broader. "I have always worshiped the Moon God!"

"!!?!!"

The crowd fell silent instantly, then quickly became agitated.

As the Sect Leader of Great Dao Teaching, Yue Dewen worships not the Celestial Venerable Yujing of his own sect, but the Moon God of Sensing Sect!? This is unbelievable!!?

Not only ordinary experts, but several Grandmasters, even the Moon King, were stunned.

To worship a deity sincerely is exclusive, granting Spirit General status.

Not everyone can receive a Spirit General's gift.

Bestowing Spirit General status places a significant burden on a deity.

Yet now... a man who changed faith midway, Yue Dewen, received the Moon God's Spirit General status!? This...

To achieve Spirit General status, personal aptitude matters, but sincerity is crucial. Although there are no specific conditions, many Spirit Generals worship gods for decades before being bestowed.

Spirit General positions represent authority, status, and power.

Naturally, the gods only entrust those they completely trust.

At this moment, if Yue Dewen becomes a Spirit General of the Moon God, doesn't it mean he changed faith long ago!?

"But if that's the case... who exactly is the Spirit General of the Great Dao Teaching?!?" the Moon Queen couldn't help but ask.

"Jin Yuyan," Yue Dewen replied with a smile. "I was originally the Moon King, merely using the Great Dao Teaching as a temporary front to hide my identity. Now, I am merely returning to the Holy Sect, reclaiming my original position.

So, you all misunderstood me. I was merely enduring humiliation for the greater good."

As soon as these words were spoken, those around began to feel slightly skeptical.

Indeed, from this angle, the 'Yue Dewen' before them might just be an undercover agent that the Sensing Sect had long hidden within the Great Dao Teaching.

"Whether you are or aren't, we shall find out," the Moon Queen said coldly.

"Dare you summon the Moon God?!"

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Yue Dewen responded.

"Fine!" The Moon Queen gave him a deep look.

Immediately, she assumed a solemn expression, raised her right hand, and pointed her index finger towards the sky.

"All God Worshipers, join me in summoning the god!"

Among those present, only she was a confirmed Spirit General of the Sensing Sect.

Only she had the qualification to lead the summoning.

"Yue Dewen, think carefully, if you are lying when we summon the god, the result will be..."

"The result would merely be death," Yue Dewen chuckled, "In fact, why not let me lead the summoning. What do you say?"

The Moon Queen remained silent, not replying, as the raised index finger began to slowly glow with a silver sheen.

Like her, the others who raised their right index fingers also saw a silver glow emerge from the tips.

"Close your eyes!"

The Moon Queen's cold command rang out.

Everyone simultaneously closed their eyes, and peculiarly, in the ensuing darkness, everyone could still see the silver index fingers they had raised.

Countless threads of silver gradually rose from the fingertips.

A dense web of threads, tracing a curve, converged in front of Yue Dewen, weaving the outline of a blurry human face.

A gigantic face, seven or eight meters tall.

Whirlwinds whipped Yue Dewen's robe, pulling it upwards, but he stood tall, maintaining eye contact with the massive face in the darkness.

"With my radiance, illuminate the Divine River."

The silver face bowed slightly, gazing at Yue Dewen, and spoke with a strange tone.

The voice seemed like countless men, women, children, and elders speaking together, perfectly synchronized.

"I greet My God!" Yue Dewen cupped his fists, saluting, and bowed deeply.

The massive face made no response, merely opened its mouth.

The mouth kept opening wider and wider, eventually warping the entire face, with most of its area consumed by the huge mouth.

Resembling a black hole.

Puff!

It suddenly lunged forward and devoured Yue Dewen, enveloping him within its mouth.

*

*

*

January 4th.

In secret, Yue Dewen used the title of Moon King to lead the remnants of the Sensing Sect, re-establishing the name of the Holy Sect.

Prince Yan Shun led his troops towards the Great Capital but was intercepted midway. The Pope of the Black Ten Sect, Sheng Tianyi, allied with the Thousand Teachings Alliance, repelling the invading forces.

Prince's army temporarily retreated a hundred miles, camping and awaiting the right moment.

Meanwhile, Zhang Rongfang had finally gathered the main ingredient and returned to Qingchuan in Ze Province, preparing to refine medicine.

In the mansion of Agarwood Palace, Qingchuan Prefecture.

In the backyard, a bronze alchemy furnace taller than a person blazed with intense flames underneath.

Inside the furnace, steam and heat rose as Zhang Rongfang stirred a viscous, asphalt-like medicinal solution that emitted a dense aroma.

"This time, it's do or die, dragon or bug!"

As the alchemy process reached a critical juncture, Zhang Rongfang focused entirely, maintaining careful control over the fire.

Soon, the flames began to weaken, transitioning to be maintained by charcoal and coal fires.

He continually added a large quantity of season... no, herbs into the pot.

Gradually, a tempting fragrance wafted lightly through the steam.

With a sudden dull clang, Zhang Rongfang grabbed a heat-resistant towel, held the ears of the large furnace pot, quickly lifted it, and placed it into a large tub of cold water prepared on the right.

Tss!

A large amount of white steam and vapor burst forth, obscuring the view.

Something strange occurred.

The entire ointment in the pot swiftly solidified and turned white near the pot walls.

The whiteness crept towards the center.

Until only a fist-sized area remained, where it finally stopped.

Quick-eyed and sure-handed, Zhang Rongfang deftly used a spatula to carve a circle around that small area.

Excavating it from the pot.

It became a medicine ball, white on the outside and black within!

"It's done!" he exhaled deeply, tossed the small ball into an oil jar, retrieved it, and placed it into a basin of molten wax.

Finally, he picked it up, shook it, and tossed it into cold water.

Everything was successfully completed.