One month later, in front of the water well at Black Earth Square.

Nearing midnight, twenty-odd people dressed in grey and white robes stood surrounding the well, men and women of various ages, each holding a torch in hand, all standing in silence, with no one speaking.

Around them, over a hundred others of different attires and ages watched the scene, whispering to each other from time to time.

Before long, Hu Ji, clad in a luminous white robe, emerged from the shadows. He did not hold a torch, yet his garment emitted a soft glow that illuminated the surroundings.

The people in grey and white robes all looked up at Hu Ji and instinctively parted to form a path, silently watching as he passed by them and walked up to the well, whereupon the path closed behind him.

The believers formed an inner circle around Hu Ji, their gazes filled with fervor and hope, while the others also ceased their chatter, subconsciously moving closer, forming an even larger circle on the outside.

All eyes were on the well at the center, some faces marked with confusion, others with curiosity, and yet others with disdain.

But at that moment, no one spoke, and the scene fell into utter silence.

"When the Nether Moon rises, all lingering darkness shall be dispersed, all rampant disease shall be healed, all rampant sins shall be cleansed. The Nether Moon God has descended and will grant light to those who look up, blessings to those who follow, and guidance to those who believe. Brothers and sisters, we gather here tonight to witness the miracle of the Nether Moon God!" Hu Ji stood in the center of the crowd, raised his arms, looked around, and slowly spoke, breaking the silence.

The believers around him also raised their arms, looking at Hu Ji in the midst of the crowd, their eyes brimming with reverence.

In that month, Hu Ji had rapidly relieved many mortals afflicted by the Green Poison using the Detoxification Pills given by Yuan Ming, thereby increasing the Nether Moon God's followers.

Unlike the elixirs brought out by the "Black River Divine Envoy," the effects of the Nether Moon God's bestowed elixirs were evident to all. Even if some mortals knew this might be a gift from a Cultivator, they were willingly prostrating themselves under the esteemed name of this Cultivator.

And today, Hu Ji had summoned them, along with many other residents of the square, claiming he was going to show them the miracle of the Nether Moon God.

"Xiansha City has been plagued by the Green Poison for two years now, during which many false gods and evil cults, under the pretense of relieving the suffering of the masses, conducted their crooked businesses. We spent large sums of gold and silver, only to be left with diseases beyond cure."

"We pleaded with the City Lord's Mansion, only to be met with indifference and neglect. We knelt before Immortal Masters, who returned our pleas with disdain and scolding. Only the Nether Moon God heard our cries, saw our agony, pitied our plight, and was willing to extend a helping hand to save us from our suffering," Hu Ji said, his voice rising gradually.

As the believers listened, they recalled their past tribulations, their emotions stirring. Even some onlookers began to nod quietly, agreeing with Hu Ji's words.

They were not blind; they could clearly see who truly helped them and who exploited the opportunity to collect wealth.

"Moreover, the Nether Moon God, pitying the world, also knew that evil must be eradicated. Not only did he bestow elixirs, but he also wielded Divine Power to identify the main culprit behind all this. And today is the day of judgment for that pest."

Suddenly, Hu Ji raised his arms high, and behind him arose a pure white Round Moon, slowly rising as if emerging from the East Sea, and eventually hovering above everyone's heads.

Within the Round Moon, a segment of purplish-black glowing vine suddenly grew out. Countless pale butterflies accompanied the vine, flying out of the moon together. They circled the vine, urging it to grow rapidly and vigorously, quickly turning into a vine ball. Guided by the butterflies, it flew into the well.

The light of the Round Moon was soft and warm; bathed in its glow, everyone felt an unprecedented sense of comfort.

As they looked up at the Round Moon, they suddenly noticed an image appearing within its luminous ring.

It was a green Insect Demon perched on a stone wall, surrounded by countless dreadful corpses, both demon beasts and humans.

The filthy green pus oozed from the Insect Demon's back, mingling with the river water. Seeing this sight, everyone recalled the water they drank daily, with some even unable to suppress their retching.

Just then, the vine ball intruded into the scene, and the butterflies surrounding it also rushed into the ball at this moment.

The vine grew wildly, and soon turned into a Vine Man clad in glowing armor, who went straight forward to battle the Insect Demon. The Insect Demon was vicious, employing a multitude of tactics. Yet the Vine Man always responded appropriately, sometimes the scene seemed perilous, drawing gasps from the crowd, but soon the advantage was effortlessly reclaimed.

After an unknown span of time, the Vine Man finally penetrated the Insect Demon's defenses, impaling it straight through with his arm, causing the onlookers to shout excitedly.

Immediately thereafter, Hu Ji raised his hand, and the Vine Man flew out from the well with the corpse of the Insect Demon hanging from his arm.

"Today, the Divine General of the Nether Moon God has slain the Insect Demon, and from this day forth, the people of Xiansha City shall no longer be troubled by the Green Poison!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd could not help but shout the name of the Nether Moon God in unison, even those who were initially non-believers joined in the chorus.

But just then, from within the outermost crowd, suddenly came a cold snort.

"Hmpf, I thought it was something big, but they just caught an Insect Demon and say it's the culprit behind the Qing Poison Disease. Such trickery, it's laughable."

The Believers all turned their heads to look, only to see a fat man who called himself the "Black River Divine Envoy," standing with a tall man in a black robe, looking down on Hu Ji with disdain.

Throughout this month, while Hu Ji was recruiting Believers, he had been on guard against the Black River Divine Sect's interference. Unexpectedly, they had never made a move, allowing Hu Ji to steal their Believers. He thought they had ceased their antics, but it turned out that they had chosen today to show up.

"Tu Cha, I have already reported to the Nether Moon God about your actions of extorting wealth in the name of the Black River God. The great deity is merciful and was willing to give you a chance to mend your ways. But you are so ungrateful. Today the Divine General is here. If you kneel now and confess, you may still keep your life!" Hu Ji looked at the fat man and shouted.

To his surprise, Tu Cha didn't even glance at him, instead smiling broadly at the man beside him.

"Sir, this is the Hu Ji who conjured up some Nether Moon God and offended the divine might of the Black River God."

The man did not respond to Tu Cha, but raised his head to look at Hua Zhi, then shouted to the surroundings.

"I am Li Xia, an envoy under the Black River God. All the Believers here are under my jurisdiction. Fellow Daoist, you come uninvited, stealing my Believers and destroying my Divine Sect. You're quite domineering. Now that I am here, if you come forth and apologize, then leave, I can let it go. But if you remain deluded, don't blame me for being ruthless and slaying your spirit pet on the spot."

In the crowd, Yuan Ming, who was concealing his presence, frowned. He initially thought this Black River God was just something mortals dreamt up to extort money, but the Li Xia who stepped forward was an actual Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Yuan Ming became secretly vigilant, released his Divine Sense, and found that there were no other Cultivators in Black Earth Square apart from Li Xia. Therefore, he decided to try to learn the truth from him.

He immediately commanded Hua Zhi to attack Li Xia and also began to activate the Moonlight Technique, casting an Illusion Technique.

Upon receiving the order, Hua Zhi's limbs stretched out, growing countless vines, which moved through the crowd towards Li Xia.

The onlookers at the periphery, including the fat man, scattered to avoid the commotion, leaving only Li Xia standing in place.

"Hmpf, seeking death. I'll indulge you!" Seeing this, a vicious look crossed Li Xia's face.

He quickly formed hand seals, mumbling incantations, and from his sleeve, a dark black Round Orb flew out, emitting countless black streams of water like a fountain, enclosing himself and sending tendrils of water flying in all directions.

The dark water streams fell to the ground and immediately a "sizzling" sound was heard, and white smoke rose from the ground.

Witnessing this terrifying scene, the surrounding mortals, including the Believers, screamed in horror and turned to run away. Yet many were splashed by the black water stream and their bodies instantly melted like ice, turning into puddles of blood.

Many of the vines released by Hua Zhi corroded upon touching the black water streams.

Shocked by this turn of events, Hua Zhi quickly tried to retract its other vines.

But at that moment, Li Xia simply reached into the air and the black water streams in front of him interwove, turning into a massive black claw, which grasped down and completely consumed Hua Zhi.

"This is what happens to those who dare offend the Black River God! If you don't show yourself now, I'll drag you out myself!" Li Xia's eyes flashed with bloodthirsty pleasure as he shouted.

No sooner had his words fallen, than his gaze abruptly shifted, piercing through the scattering crowd, landing on Yuan Ming who was mingled among them.

At that moment, Yuan Ming instinctively looked back with a face full of panic, as if he was trying to escape using the cover of the mortals around him, but he ended up meeting Li Xia's eyes.

Li Xia sneered and formed another hand seal. The Round Orb above his head shimmered twice, no longer spewing out black streams. Instead, after a brief pause, it suddenly shot out a jet-black Water Arrow that pierced through Yuan Ming in an instant.

Li Xia smiled smugly upon seeing this, and was about to recall the Round Orb when he suddenly felt a pain on his neck. Then, the scenery around him changed rapidly. The supposedly dead mortals were wrapped in purple-black vines around their waists, hanging in mid-air, not at all swallowed by the black streams.

Yuan Ming stood not far away, looking calmly at him.

Li Xia was shocked, wanting to activate the Round Orb again, but he suddenly felt the world spinning. The mortals had turned upside down, completely inverted.

What is this—

Before he could understand what was happening, he lost consciousness completely.

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