Piao’s evaluation was pertinent. "Probably around the level of the first transformation of eerification. A bit stronger than that scorpion, but only marginally."
"Baizu, Thousand-Silk, and Myriad Insects, huh? How interesting..." Chen Zhou sneered at the sight before him, a scene resembling a web-spun cave.
"I hope this spider drops something good."
"Squeak! My lord, trash like this doesn’t require your hand!"
Lord Rat had been itching for a fight. Throughout this journey, it had been all travel and no combat. Although he had scavenged some rotten meat in Chaiwang City, it was barely enough to get stuck in his teeth.
His paws were twitching.
"This rat will go drag it out!"
"Go on," Chen Zhou nodded. "Make it quick."
"By your command!"
With a strange screech, Lord Rat transformed into a shadow and lunged into the dense forest.
Chen Zhou then turned to Piao and said, "You go too. Eat your fill. We have plenty of food at home, no need to be stingy. I can afford to raise a famine."
Chen Zhou was now effectively a wealthy man, so there was no need to be frugal. He couldn't be bothered to haul back low-grade flesh, so he left it for his subordinates to have a snack and boost their strength.
Piao hesitated for a moment before transforming into a swarm of flying locusts and following after him.
Her mother’s words and the master’s orders were the highest-level commands in her execution protocols.
But Mother said to listen to the master, and the master never said to listen to Mother.
Thus, Piao felt that when the two orders were not the same, she should listen to the master.
That way, she was both listening to Mother and listening to the master.
Piao felt she was very clever at this moment.
Indeed, humans had to learn to handle more complex problems. She felt she was becoming more like a human now, having learned to process complex thoughts. It was a good thing.
As the two humanoid natural disasters descended, a piercing scream immediately erupted from the depths of the forest.
"Who dares trespass in my palace grounds!"
This was followed by the roar of collapsing trees, the sizzling of corrosive venom, and Lord Rat’s arrogant laughter.
"Running? Where do you think you’re running?!"
"Heh, playing with poison? You should be calling this rat 'Grandpa Ancestor'!"
"Damn, your face is hideous. Let this rat give you a few more!"
"Hahaha! Does it look good? Do you like it? Hahahaha!"
The battle began abruptly and ended even more so.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the commotion in the forest settled.
Lord Rat walked back swaggering, carrying a spider head that was still dripping green, poisonous blood.
The head was as large as a millstone and resembled a ghastly white woman’s head. Its eight compound eyes had been poked out, making for a truly wretched death.
"My lord, it’s done!"
Lord Rat casually tossed the head at Chen Zhou’s feet, seeking credit. "This broad looked intimidating, but she was actually quite fragile. This rat hadn't even exerted full strength before she collapsed."
Piao then manifested, holding a sphere of deep blue light in her hands.
It was the divinity that had dropped from the Thousand-Silk Demon Envoy’s corpse.
Chen Zhou took the divinity and glanced at it.
【You have obtained a sliver of broken divinity — Lethal Poison】
Not bad. Another sliver of divinity in the bag. It was exactly as he had guessed.
Most of the demons born in the Southern Region had divinity related to toxins.
He put it away and asked, "What about the human pens?"
Piao shook her head, her expression somewhat cold.
"Empty."
"I just devoured quite a few small spiders. According to the memories I digested, the situation here is the same as in Chaiwang City."
"All the human-livestock, dead or alive, were sent away several days ago."
"The destination is also Poison Flame Mountain."
"Poison Flame Mountain again."
Chen Zhou frowned slightly.
"I wonder how big the appetites of these demon kings are. Do they intend to eat every human pen in the Southern Region for a single assembly?"
"Or are they preparing some special ritual that requires a massive blood-and-flesh sacrifice?"
In that case, this Great Demon Assembly might be even more interesting than he had imagined.
Chen Zhou looked up at the nest, which was still draped in thick spiderwebs.
Even though the demon envoy was dead, a nauseating aura still lingered here, and countless tiny spiders were trembling in the shadows.
"Since there are no people here, keeping this place is useless."
Chen Zhou turned to look at the dozen or so human-livestock who had followed them.
These people had fought until their eyes turned red in Chaiwang City. Though they were exhausted, the murderous light in their eyes had not faded in the slightest.
"Go."
Chen Zhou pointed at the remaining small spider demon soldiers struggling on the webs.
"Burn this place down."
"Use your hate to burn this filthy nest to cinders."
Upon hearing this, the human-livestock, led by the young girl, charged forward with torches and blades.
Spider silk was naturally highly flammable, and with the addition of the Hate Fire Chen Zhou secretly applied to fuel it, a single spark instantly became a prairie fire.
Chen Zhou stood amidst the firelight, watching the spider nest turn to ash.
Hatred caused the Hate Fire to grow wildly, cleansing this defiled land. The small spiders made crackling, popping sounds in the sea of flames, and a pungent, burnt stench filled the air.
The human-livestock stood before the fire, watching the demon nest that had once made them tremble in fear crumble into soot.
The firelight reflected on their faces, making their originally numb expressions look somewhat ferocious, yet filled with a new sense of life.
The girl stared intently at the flames, her grip on her blade tightening.
She felt the blood in her body burning as well.
Driven by resentment, the thrill of revenge was more addictive than any spirit pill or medicine.
"Kill!"
The girl suddenly turned around and kowtowed deeply to Chen Zhou.
This was the first time she had spoken of her own accord. Her voice was hoarse but exceptionally firm.
She only knew this one syllable, taught to her by the terrifying skeleton before her.
"Kill... kill... kill..."
Chen Zhou looked at her and nodded slightly.
He knew this was the human-livestock expressing their gratitude to him.
"Let’s go. To the next place."
Chen Zhou turned, his black robes fluttering.
The Great Demon Assembly should have already begun.
But he wasn't worried at all.
He was the protagonist. If he hadn't arrived yet, those demon kings could just wait.
After leaving the Thousand-Silk Forest, Chen Zhou and his group hurried toward their next target without stopping.
Black Marsh Forest, the Snake Den.
This was the territory of the Black-Scaled Snake Envoy, the last of the four envoys.
According to Chen Zhou’s plan, since he had already killed three, he might as well take the last one. Collecting the heads of all four envoys to present as a gift to the Old Toad before sacrificing the Old Toad himself would make for a complete set.
However, when Chen Zhou leisurely reached the Snake Den, he found something was wrong.
It was too quiet.
Aside from the chirping of unknown insects, the place was as silent as a tomb.
"My lord, the scent is gone."
Lord Rat sniffed the air, his brow furrowing. "Forget snake demons, you can’t even find an earthworm in this place."
Chen Zhou spread his divine sense, scanning the entire Black Marsh Forest.
As expected, the place was deserted.
The massive Snake Den was empty, with only a few recently shed snake skins hanging on the rocks, swaying slightly in the wind.
They seemed to be mocking the hunter who had arrived too late.
"He fled?"
Chen Zhou was somewhat surprised.
It seemed news of the Baizu Demon Envoy’s death in Thousand Isles County, or perhaps the massacre at Chaiwang City, had leaked, allowing this fellow to scent the danger in advance.
"Tch, he sure ran fast."
Lord Rat kicked a stone away. "I was planning on trying some salt-and-pepper crispy snake ribs. This rat hasn't had those in ages."
Chen Zhou looked at the empty Snake Den and shook his head with some regret.
"He likely heard some news and fled early to meet up at the Ten Thousand Miasma Valley."
"Very well."
"It seems the four envoys won't be reuniting on the road to the Underworld."
"However, he can run but he can't hide."
"Since he went to the Great Demon Assembly, we’ll find him there. I'll kill him in front of the Old Toad when the time comes."
Chen Zhou took out the three heads that were still dripping blood: those of Lord Chaiwang, the Baizu Demon Envoy, and the Thousand-Silk Demon Envoy.
"Three heads will have to do. It’s the thought that counts."
"Let’s go. To the Black Bone Hall."
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