The little demons looked at each other, then climbed onto the wooden platform one by one.
They stood on the wooden platform, trembling, yet trying to appear calm.
Chen Zhou watched them and suddenly asked, “Are you not afraid of death?”
The little demons froze for a moment, then someone whispered, “We are afraid…”
“What good does fear do?”
It was the little gecko who spoke. He raised his head, looking at Chen Zhou, his eyes red, but he wasn't crying.
“My lord, I’ve lived in the underground city for so many years and seen too many ways to die.”
“Starved to death, sick to death, used as sacrifices, dragged away by Wan Xiu…”
“To live to a hundred years old is already a blessing from our ancestors.”
He sniffed and continued.
“I’m useless, my cultivation is low, I’m bad at everything, and I eat everything without leaving a scrap.”
“But I thought, if I could use this life to let my younger brothers and sisters live a few more years, it would be worth it.”
A little rat demon beside him nodded and whispered, “Yes, my younger brother is only thirty, he’s still small.”
“He’s smarter and more diligent than me; he’ll definitely live a long time in the future.”
“If I die, he’ll get an extra share of mushrooms and live a few more years.”
Another little demon also said, “My sister too, she’s only twenty, just learned to speak. It’s fine if I die, she has to live.”
Chen Zhou listened, silent for a moment.
He looked at these emaciated little demons, at how they were terrified but still trying to appear calm, needing to exchange their lives just for the right to live.
Seeing Chen Zhou remain silent, the little gecko thought he was worried about the ritual and quickly said.
“My lord, please don’t worry. We are volunteers, it’s alright.”
“If we don’t offer sacrifices, more people will die.”
“Last time, the sacrifices weren’t enough, and Wan Xiu sent people down, taking away several hundred of our kin. We could hear their screams, they were truly miserable.”
As he spoke, his body trembled, as if recalling something terrifying.
“This time we’ve gathered enough, so it should be fine.”
The little rabbit also said, “Yes, yes, yes, it’s fine if we die. My lord, don’t mind us, quickly hide.”
The other little demons also nodded, chattering all at once.
“My lord, quickly hide.”
“You’ve been good to us, giving us food. We remember it, you’re truly a good person.”
“Don’t mind us!”
Chen Zhou looked at them, then suddenly reached out and patted the little gecko’s head.
“No need to worry.”
The little gecko was startled.
Chen Zhou chuckled, “This lord is here. Didn’t you just say this lord subdued you in one go and was terrifyingly strong?”
“Then we won’t perform the heaven worship ritual. Let Wan Xiu come; this lord can just slay him.”
Tao Tuantuan’s expression was serious as she looked at Chen Zhou: “My lord, are you serious?”
Chen Zhou nodded.
Tao Tuantuan was silent for a moment, then said earnestly, “My lord, if you don’t have absolute certainty, then… then let’s not.”
“The demon race in the underground city can no longer withstand any upheaval. For a thousand years, too many of us have died.”
“Every single one who has survived until now has done so with great difficulty.”
“If my lord makes a move and angers those beings from Central Province, the consequences…”
She didn't finish, but her meaning was clear.
Chen Zhou looked at her and suddenly asked, “You wish for them to die so badly?”
Hearing this, Tao Tuantuan’s face changed slightly.
Yang Dingding jumped out in fright, “My lord, Tuantuan doesn’t mean that!”
He said anxiously, “Tuantuan is truly thinking of everyone’s well-being. My lord, you haven’t seen Wan Xiu; you don’t know how terrifying he is.”
“That thing is simply unkillable.”
“Back then, the True Lord of Purity and Filth and the Three Dukes joined forces, yet they all died by his hand.”
Chen Zhou listened, then smiled faintly.
“No need to worry, this lord has his own methods.”
He looked at the cracks; the eerie blue light grew brighter and brighter, and two phantom figures were vaguely visible.
Yang Dingding was stunned, not knowing what to say, and subconsciously looked at Tao Tuantuan.
Tao Tuantuan’s expression remained calm, showing no emotion.
Chen Zhou noticed something: ever since earlier, Tao Tuantuan had been urging him to hide and urging the little demons to hide in the Jianmu Hall.
She seemed to be very eager for the heaven worship ritual to proceed quickly?
Why?
Chen Zhou pondered.
Was it because she worried about too many casualties among the little demons, so she hoped the ritual would conclude smoothly with the smallest price? Or was there some other reason?
He subtly glanced at Tao Tuantuan, then, while the two weren't paying attention, he quietly activated his death qi.
A wisp of extremely thin and faint death qi seeped from his fingertip, forming a Seed of Resentment, which silently burrowed into Tao Tuantuan’s body.
Unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to use such a method to control her.
After all, this woman had left a good impression on him; she was responsible, had a sense of duty, and was devoted to her kin.
But, it was better to be prepared.
Just as an extra safeguard.
The moment the Seed of Resentment entered her body, Chen Zhou felt a strong surge of emotion.
Hatred.
Deep-seated, bone-piercing hatred.
It was so intense that it was enough to form an obsession.
Where did such profound hatred come from?
Especially when Chen Zhou had previously mentioned Wan Xiu and Central Province, that hatred intensified.
Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly, deciding to probe. He looked at Tao Tuantuan and suddenly spoke.
“This lord has slain the creations of a false god, a Judge, who, like Wan Xiu, also came from Central Province.”
Tao Tuantuan was startled.
Chen Zhou continued, “And personally destroyed a wisp of Zhu Pan’s divine sense.”
He looked at her with a half-smile, “You should know that this lord isn’t lying.”
“As long as Wan Xiu dares to appear, this lord can personally slay him.”
Tao Tuantuan was silent for a moment, then nodded.
Her abilities told her that everything Chen Zhou said was true.
He really had slain Zhu Pan’s creations.
And really had destroyed Zhu Pan’s divine sense.
So what he said about being able to deal with Wan Xiu, perhaps… was also true?
Tao Tuantuan lowered her head, remaining silent for a long time.
Chen Zhou noticed that when he mentioned Wan Xiu and Central Province, Tao Tuantuan’s hatred grew even stronger, causing the divinity of hatred within him to stir.
So her hatred, it was directed at the false gods of Central Province, at Wan Xiu?
That was understandable.
Seeing Tao Tuantuan implicitly agree, Yang Dingding suddenly grinned, “Alright, since my lord has said so, then I, Yang Dingding, will risk my life to accompany a gentleman!”
He threw the cloth bag from his shoulder onto the ground with a thud.
“Did you all hear that? No need to be sacrifices anymore!”
He shouted at the little demons, “My lord said he’ll deal with Wan Xiu; none of you have to die!”
The little demons froze, then began discussing animatedly.
“Is it true?”
“Can my lord really defeat Wan Xiu?”
“I don’t know… but the pills my lord gave us were really delicious…”
“Then… we don’t have to die?”
They looked at each other, the fear in their eyes gradually replaced by anticipation.
Who wants to die? If they can live, who would willingly choose death?
They had no choice before, which was why they chose self-sacrifice.
But now, someone said there was a way.
Someone said they didn't have to die.
The little gecko raised his head, looking at Chen Zhou, his eyes suddenly reddening.
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