Wing-Fire Snake came to a halt at the edge of the stone forest, its hundred-foot-long skeletal frame casting a stark, white shadow upon the gray-green sandy earth.
Chen Zhou vaulted down from the top of the snake’s head. The moment his feet touched the ground, his legs felt slightly weak.
This was the first time he had overextended himself so severely. His death qi was almost entirely depleted, but he kept his expression neutral, merely raising a hand to pat the Wing-Fire Snake’s frame.
“Shrink down. Don't frighten everyone.”
The flames within the Wing-Fire Snake’s eye sockets flickered as if it were considering the command. Then, the skeleton began to contract. Bones folded inward one by one with a series of sharp clicks.
After a few breaths, the hundred-foot giant snake had shrunk into a small serpent barely three feet long. It coiled at Chen Zhou’s feet like a piece of white hemp rope.
Chen Zhou reached down, picked it up, and wrapped it around his wrist.
The bone snake’s frame was ice-cold, and while flames flowed through the gaps in its bones, they were not scorching. Instead, they emitted a gentle warmth, making it feel like he was carrying a hand warmer.
He looked around. The stone forest remained unchanged, with various bizarrely shaped stone pillars jutting from the ground like tombstones.
In the distance, several small black dots were moving. They were the little demons from the underground cave, busy transporting something.
Chen Zhou had just taken a step when he heard a shrill cry of alarm.
“Lo—Lord?!”
He turned to see a three-foot-tall Scorpion Demon scurry out from behind a rock. Its tail was arched high, and its two pincers were raised in front of its chest, looking ready to fight for its life.
But as soon as it saw who the newcomer was, that defensive posture instantly collapsed.
Chen Zhou’s figure was reflected in the Scorpion Demon’s eyes, and its voice cracked. “Lo—Lo—Lord! You’re back!”
It scrambled over, tripping halfway and falling face-first into the dirt, but it immediately scrambled back up and kept running.
Once it reached Chen Zhou, it stood still. Not knowing where to put its pincers, it finally raised them above its head in an awkward, clumsy salute.
“This humble one greets you, Lord! You must have had a grueling journey. I’ve been waiting here in the stone forest with bated breath, and finally, you’ve returned!”
Chen Zhou gave a slight nod. The Scorpion Demon’s eyes darted upward, trying to gauge Chen Zhou’s expression, but upon meeting those cold eyes, it quickly looked back down.
It swallowed hard, its throat feeling dry.
Good heavens, after a trip to the Royal Capital, the Lord seemed even more unfathomable. Even the temperature around him had risen. It was so hot that the demon felt like he was burning, and even the tip of his tail was going numb.
“Mm. You’ve worked hard during this time,” Chen Zhou said calmly.
Upon hearing this, the Scorpion Demon nearly burst into tears.
“It wasn't hard at all!” it said quickly. “Being able to serve the Lord is a blessing from eight lifetimes of merit!”
As it spoke, it stole glances at Chen Zhou’s face. Seeing no reaction, it emboldened itself to continue claiming credit.
“Lord, you have no idea. I’ve been so diligent these past few days, patrolling the stone forest day and night without a moment’s rest!”
“In the Hundred Corpse Wilderness to the east of the stone forest, the hundred corpse patchworks were becoming a bit numerous. I led a team to clear them three times until not a single one was left. They can be purified at any time now.”
“As for the herbs you ordered to be brought, I’ve had them all collected and sorted into categories. Lady Su Xue can use them whenever she wishes.”
“I also—”
Chen Zhou cut it off ruthlessly. “Where is Jian Huaishuang?”
The Scorpion Demon looked blank. “Lord Jian hasn't returned. I’ve been guarding the stone forest day and night, and I haven't seen him come back.”
Chen Zhou frowned. “I brought a group of surviving demon tribes from beneath the Royal Capital. They haven't arrived yet?”
The Scorpion Demon looked even more confused. “Demon tribes? What demon tribes? I haven't seen any. Not even a single bird feather has flown into the stone forest these past few days.”
Chen Zhou fell silent for a moment before waving a hand. “I see. Go back to whatever you were doing.”
The Scorpion Demon felt as if it had been granted a reprieve and nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes! I’ll go right now! If you need anything, Lord, just give the word. I’ll be there in an instant!”
With that, it turned and ran, its eight legs moving rapidly as it shouted at the top of its lungs.
“The Lord is back! Everyone get the hell out here to welcome him!”
Chen Zhou quickened his pace, attempting to communicate with Jian Huaishuang through his sea of consciousness.
However, several attempts were unsuccessful.
Chen Zhou stopped, his frown deepening.
He closed his eyes and sensed carefully. The faith connection was still there, and the contract with the General-Summoning Platform showed no abnormalities, yet he simply couldn't make contact, as if something were blocking the connection.
This feeling was familiar.
It was just like when he had entered the Golden Buddha’s bone trial back in the provincial capital of Gloomlight Province.
Had something happened?
Chen Zhou continued forward.
There wasn't much powerful combat strength left in Tianchi Province; the strong had already died off in waves. The only one who could possibly stop Jian Huaishuang was Wan Xiu.
But given Wan Xiu’s personality, he would never reveal himself easily.
That old thing was incredibly cunning, always hiding in the shadows and letting his pawns do the work. Even the two times he had appeared, he had only dared to use a projection.
If he actually dared to show his face, Jian Huaishuang could immediately summon Chen Zhou to descend. With the Perfect Vessel and his ultimate ability, that old thing wouldn't be able to escape.
But Jian Huaishuang hadn't contacted him, and now he was unreachable. Things were very wrong.
Chen Zhou remembered what Wan Xiu had said during his second appearance.
“Someone betrayed you.”
The first person he thought of was Tao Tuantuan.
While in the underground city, Chen Zhou had vaguely felt that there was something strange about her.
She seemed to prefer that the little demons be offered as sacrifices to Central Province. When he had suggested not performing the sacrifice to heaven, although she didn't object, she had clearly hesitated.
Then there was the matter of Purity and Filth.
In the underground city, the story of Purity and Filth was no secret. The little demons had passed the truth down through generations, and they all addressed him as “Lord.”
Yang Dingding was the same; whenever he mentioned Purity and Filth, his eyes were full of respect.
But Tao Tuantuan was different.
She always referred to him as the “True Lord,” and her tone lacked any sense of respect or affection. It was as if she were speaking of a stranger.
If there had to be a traitor, Chen Zhou couldn't think of anyone else besides Tao Tuantuan.
Chen Zhou had suspected something before, which was why he had planted a Seed of Resentment within her.
Tao Tuantuan hid it well, but the towering hatred beneath her calm surface was no lie.
Every time Central Province or Wan Xiu was mentioned, that hatred was so thick it was inseparable. It could even rival Jiao Mu Jiao’s hatred over his fallen kingdom, resonating with Chen Zhou’s own divinity of hatred.
Since she hated them so much, Chen Zhou couldn't think of a reason why she would be willing to betray them.
Furthermore, Jian Huaishuang was with them and hadn't sent any message, so there was likely more to the story.
As he thought, Chen Zhou reached the entrance to the stone forest’s underground cave.
Just as he came to a stop, he saw large numbers of little demons crawling out from underground.
Rats, beetles, Mingchan, bats... they were dense and overwhelming, surging out like a tide.
When they saw Chen Zhou, they all knelt in unison.
“The Lord is back!”
“Lord! The Lord is back!”
“Quick! Go notify the others!”
The little demons shouted all at once, some running back into the cave and others flying into the air.
Those who couldn't run fast or fly simply prostrated themselves where they stood, their foreheads thumping loudly against the stones.
Rate on N.U.
