The entire plaza was filled with jubilation.
At the edge of the crowd, Plague Rat was busy with something major.
He pinned Huo Dou to the ground, punching it over and over.
“Had enough?”
Huo Dou whimpered, struggling desperately.
Plague Rat threw another punch.
“I asked if you’ve had enough!”
Huo Dou finally yielded, lying flat on the ground with its tail wagging like a windmill.
Plague Rat stood up with satisfaction and turned to the little pig.
The little pig let out a squeal and turned to run.
Plague Rat lunged forward and snatched it back.
“Running? Lord Rat is in a good mood today, so I’m going to give everyone a beating!”
The little pig was beaten black and blue, lying on the ground with a look of utter despair.
After finishing with the little pig, Plague Rat turned and saw Poison-Wing.
Poison-Wing was hiding beside Su Xue, peeking out to watch the excitement.
Meeting Plague Rat’s fierce gaze, his expression changed.
“Brother Rat, it’s fine if you’re teaching the new lackeys a lesson, but why are you looking at me?”
Plague Rat chuckled and strode over.
“Don’t think I didn’t see that disgruntled little look on your face earlier at the dinner table when Lord Rat was appointed as a Ghost General!”
“A day without a beating and you’re already acting out!”
“Get over here!”
Poison-Wing shrank behind Su Xue.
“I’m not coming out!”
Plague Rat reached out to grab him. “Little Four, don’t protect him. I’m telling you, spare the rod and spoil the child!”
Poison-Wing shrieked and ran around Su Xue.
“Sister Su Xue, save me!”
Su Xue shook her head helplessly and pointed to the side.
“Stop fooling around. The Lord is coming.”
Plague Rat froze and looked back.
Sure enough, Chen Zhou was walking toward them.
Huo Dou’s eyes lit up, and it scrambled up to rush toward Chen Zhou.
It ran to Chen Zhou, whimpering and wagging its tail rapidly, glancing back at Plague Rat to show it had been bullied.
Plague Rat’s face paled, and he hurriedly scurried over.
He slammed a paw onto Huo Dou’s head, pressing it down to physically stop it from snitching while squeezing himself next to Chen Zhou.
“Lord, your Rat has something to tell you!”
Chen Zhou looked down at him. “Forget the mushy stuff.”
Plague Rat choked. “It’s serious business!”
“It’s the matter I wanted to report earlier but wasn’t too urgent.”
Chen Zhou nodded, and his Ghost Domain expanded, enveloping Plague Rat.
In the next moment, the two appeared on the top floor of the Gathering Fortune Pavilion.
The door closed, shutting out the noise from outside.
Chen Zhou sat by the window and looked at Plague Rat.
“Speak.”
Plague Rat’s expression became serious.
“Lord, this is bad.”
Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow.
Plague Rat scratched his head, organizing his words.
“The thing is... there’s a world-destroying great fiend in your Rat’s head.”
Chen Zhou was taken aback. “What?”
“It’s that True Lord of Purity and Filth.”
“The one who brought ruin to the people of Tianchi Province a thousand years ago.”
Chen Zhou’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The True Lord of Purity and Filth?
The person Wu Gou had mentioned to him.
The Lord of Tianchi Province, who had filtered filth with his own body to protect tens of millions of lives against the plague.
Later, when the Golden Buddha descended, he seized it but was also seduced by it, eventually ending his own life in a state of madness.
This left Tianchi Province in a state more tragic than ever before.
“How did he end up in your head?”
Plague Rat scratched his head.
“Back in the Eastern Region, when your Rat was suppressing the black spots in the sea eye, I almost died.”
“Then this old fogey suddenly popped up. He had been hiding in your Rat’s head sleeping all along.”
Chen Zhou looked thoughtful.
“Does he still have his own consciousness?”
Plague Rat nodded.
“He seems quite clear-headed.”
“Your Rat was scared at first, but after observing for a while, I found this old fogey hasn't done anything out of line.”
“He helped your Rat sublimate my festering divinity and complete the Great Plague Heaven, causing your Rat’s strength to skyrocket.”
“But as soon as the Golden Buddha is mentioned, he becomes a bit crazed.”
Plague Rat lowered his voice.
“This old fogey wants to see you. Your Rat felt something was wrong, so I delayed it until now to see if he would behave.”
“Do you want to see him, Lord?”
“Should we just take him out directly?”
“He definitely isn’t a good person anyway.”
Chen Zhou pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
“No need.”
“I happen to want to meet him as well.”
“Let him out.”
Plague Rat hesitated.
He looked at Chen Zhou and eventually nodded.
With the Lord here, surely that old fogey True Lord of Purity and Filth couldn’t cause any trouble.
Plague Rat closed his eyes.
A moment later, he opened them again.
He leaned back against the chair, rolled his shoulders, and looked down at his hands.
“This little mouse’s body... I’m really not used to it...”
The True Lord of Purity and Filth looked up slightly at Chen Zhou.
Chen Zhou didn't speak, silently observing him.
The True Lord of Purity and Filth watched him for a while before suddenly clicking his tongue.
“A third symbiosis contract?”
“I thought it was some incredible being that could make even this wild little mouse so fiercely loyal.”
He stood up, walked a few steps around the room, and stretched his limbs.
“However, this aura is quite interesting. Are you an evil spirit with self-awareness?”
“Oh, no, should I say a true god?”
He turned around and gave Chen Zhou a somewhat non-standard ancient salute.
“This old man greets the God.”
Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow and asked, “You know of me?”
The True Lord of Purity and Filth smiled.
“I do, how could I not?”
“I’ve seen all the images in this little mouse’s head.”
“Starting from the Dead Man’s Forest, I’ve seen your journey: taking in refugees, slaying demons, building the City of the Wrongfully Dead, fighting the Buddhist Sect, and finally attacking the provincial capital to kill the Judge.”
He sat down opposite Chen Zhou, crossing his legs.
“To be honest, it’s quite surprising.”
“A little fellow at the third symbiosis contract could actually go back and forth with a creation of the God of the Central Province.”
Chen Zhou corrected him, “It wasn’t back and forth. I killed the Judge quite easily.”
The True Lord of Purity and Filth was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“Good, good, good. Quite easily.”
After he finished laughing, he shook his head.
“But don’t boast to me; I saw it all.”
“That battle was not easy.”
“Although you won, you relied on the believers throughout the city who were willing to die for you.”
Chen Zhou did not argue; he simply nodded.
“You are right.”
The True Lord of Purity and Filth was somewhat surprised, seemingly not expecting Chen Zhou to admit it so readily.
Chen Zhou added, “However, there is one more thing you might not have seen.”
“What thing?”
“After the Judge died, a wisp of Vermilion Judgment’s divine sense descended across the realm.”
The True Lord of Purity and Filth’s smile froze.
“What did you say?”
Chen Zhou looked at him and said word by word.
“The Sky-Monitoring Four-Direction Envoy, Vermilion Judgment.”
“His divine sense descended to Gloomlight Province, intending to suppress me.”
“And then I killed him.”
The True Lord of Purity and Filth’s expression changed.
He stood up abruptly, staring fixedly at Chen Zhou.
“Impossible!”
“Vermilion Judgment’s creation and his own divine sense are completely different concepts!”
“No matter how strong a creation is, it only borrows his laws and power, but a divine sense is different!”
“A divine sense descending means a part of his consciousness has crossed over, carrying a portion of his own authority!”
“Let alone someone at the third symbiosis contract, even an eighth-stage Siming wouldn't dare claim a certain victory!”
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