The Situation in the Western Region

Chen Zhou passed all the patterns he had summarized to Piao in one go.

"Ordinary physical and spell attacks are very ineffective against black-spot monsters because they are essentially products of divine pollution."

"Therefore, use your power of gluttony more often."

"You are famine; your talent is to eat."

"As long as your divinity level exceeds theirs, they are your food."

Piao listened with partial understanding, finally summarizing it in one sentence: "So as long as I'm fiercer than them, I can eat them, right?"

"Smart."

Chen Zhou continued, "However, the Western Region is the source. The monsters there will inevitably be more ferocious than those in the Eastern Region."

The gluttony within Piao was only broken divinity and might not necessarily suppress the more ferocious black spots.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Zhou made a decision.

"Su Xue should have completed her seclusion by now. Take her with you."

After the trip to the Northern Region, Su Xue had fully grasped the transformation between vitality and death qi. Her cultivation had reached a higher level, already at the seventh-stage.

Even if she hadn't birthed a complete divinity like Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, she at least possessed condensed divinity, which was more than enough to deal with the black spots.

The heavy death qi of the Western Region was actually an advantageous environment for Su Xue.

As long as death qi was endless, vitality would be inexhaustible.

With a top-tier healer present, Piao could devour the black spots without restraint, never having to worry about indigestion.

"Understood," Piao nodded.

"Does the Lord have any other instructions?"

Chen Zhou pondered for a moment before giving a final warning: "The matter of the god's tomb is exceptionally eerie. If you encounter irresistible danger, do not force it."

"It's fine even if you don't complete the mission; prioritize protecting yourself."

"Otherwise, your mother will worry, and I won't be able to face that silly bird Poison-Wing."

Piao obediently agreed, "Okay, I will protect myself and Su Xue."

After cutting off the communication, Chen Zhou opened his eyes.

He turned to look at the somewhat apprehensive Tuoba Feng, patted his shoulder, and spoke with a relaxed expression.

"Everything is arranged."

"Don't worry. I have specifically arranged for a divine doctor to accompany the group, heading to the Western Region a step ahead of you to treat your daughter."

"Your daughter will be fine."

Hearing this, Tuoba Feng's tense shoulders visibly relaxed.

He whispered a soft "Thank you, Exalted One."

Filled with drive and gripping his blade, Tuoba Feng rushed into the crack of the bone pillar ahead as if he had been injected with adrenaline.

"Next floor! Who comes to seek death!"

The two of them were like a hot knife through butter, quickly slaughtering their way through another layer.

Upon entering the next space.

Splash—

The sound of surging waves reached them.

At the base of a bone pillar ahead, a pool of clear spring water had appeared out of nowhere.

A young man dressed in deep blue formal robes stood upon the water.

His current state wasn't great. There were multiple wounds on his body, and his aura was somewhat disordered, clearly having gone through many bitter battles in the previous stages.

However, his azure eyes remained sharp, and with water vapor swirling around him, his momentum was undiminished.

"Who is it!"

Hearing footsteps, the young man turned his head sharply, his gaze wary and fierce.

"You dare to intrude upon this Prince's territory, you seek—"

Before the word "death" could leave his mouth, the expression on the youth's face froze.

"Dragon... Dragon Ancestor?!"

Cangming stared at Chen Zhou as he stepped through the crack, overjoyed. He immediately dispelled the hand seals in his grasp.

He skipped and hopped, and even thinking that walking on water was too slow, he transformed into a streak of water light to rush before Chen Zhou.

With a thump.

He dropped to one knee with a smoothness that was practiced enough to be pitiable.

"I surrender! I surrender! I surrender!"

"Dragon Ancestor, I've finally found you! It hasn't been easy!"

Cangming was so excited he was nearly moved to tears.

God knew what he had been through on this journey.

The bone pillar spaces were far too perverse. There wasn't a drop of water anywhere; before he could cast a spell, he had to create the water himself.

Furthermore, with his black spots only recently healed, he didn't dare use his full power and could only survive by playing it safe.

Chen Zhou nodded and looked him over. "Get up. How are your injuries?"

Cangming chuckled and stood up nimbly, falling into step behind Chen Zhou with the air of a loyal lackey.

"Just flesh wounds, no big deal."

He glanced at Tuoba Feng with curiosity, but sensing the other's 'stay away' baleful aura, he wisely chose not to ask questions.

Cangming took a deep breath, revealing a look of pure intoxication.

Ah... that familiar scent.

The Dragon Ancestor's dragon might had grown even thicker. He could finally serve by his side at all times.

Chen Zhou glanced at him indifferently and asked, "What is the situation in the Eastern Region?"

Cangming immediately turned serious. "Thanks to you, things are much better."

"Father transmitted a message to me earlier."

"He said that with the cooperation of your two subordinates, a poison miasma defense line has been established at the border of the Eastern Region."

"Those black-spot monsters crawling out of the trenches rot into puddles of water the moment they approach the defense line. They can't break through at all."

"The black spots are now firmly controlled outside the defense line. The Sea Race is reorganizing and preparing for a counteroffensive."

Chen Zhou nodded, understanding the situation.

It seemed Poison-Wing and Lord Rat were doing well over there.

Tuoba Feng, standing to the side, felt his heart shake.

The black spots of the Eastern Region had actually been brought under control?

And it was done by this Exalted One's subordinates?

Tuoba Feng's gaze toward Chen Zhou instantly became even more reverent.

This Exalted One had truly not lied to him.

He really had the ability to resolve the black spots.

The people of the Eastern Region bowed to him as the Dragon Ancestor, and just sending two of his subordinates was enough for them to hold their own and control a disaster that even the Western Region was helpless against.

If just two people could build a defense line...

Then if the Exalted One personally took action and led a large force to the Western Region...

The flame of hope in Tuoba Feng's heart burned even brighter.

He clenched his fists and thought silently to himself:

'Dad, Mom, ancestors...'

'Maybe my decision to violate the ancestral teachings and bring a living person into the Western Region was truly right.'

'Maybe the Western Region can finally welcome a transformation and escape this thousand-year curse.'

'Maybe Xiaoyun can truly have a different future.'

"Let's go," Chen Zhou's voice interrupted his thoughts. "After so many rounds, there probably aren't many people left."

"Yin Wudao should be nearby."

After Chen Zhou paid the passage fee, the three of them wasted no more time and stepped into the bone pillar crack.

After clearing two more stages, the final screen of light dissipated.

The scene before them suddenly opened up.

They stepped out of the oppressive bone pillar space and returned to the top of the Star-Picking Platform.

But the Star-Picking Platform was no longer as it was before.

The originally ghost-ridden, dark, and dilapidated imperial palace had undergone a massive change.

Golden light remained in the sky, illuminating the entire palace as if it were a divine kingdom.

The structures that were once filled with ghostly qi and blood-seeping walls were now completely renewed.

Glazed tiles sparkled brilliantly, red walls were as vivid as fresh blood, and faint golden light flowed between the carved beams and painted rafters.

Magnificent buildings rose amidst swirling celestial mists.

Yet, there was an indescribable eeriness.

Because it was too quiet.

So quiet it made one's skin crawl.

In the vast imperial palace, aside from the sound of the wind, not a single noise could be heard.

There was no laughter from palace maids, no patrolling ghost soldiers, and even the civil and military ghost officials that could be seen from time to time had vanished without a trace.