Plague Rat was thinking when one of Lian's black-spot monsters bit off a body from the beetle corpse.
The body fell from the beetle corpse, landing on the ground and still struggling.
It was a pitch-black mountain goat, covered in black scales, with two massive curved horns on its head. Its eyes were blood-red, and its mouth opened and closed, emitting incoherent sounds.
“Purity and Filth... Purity and Filth... Purity and Filth...”
The voice was raspy and shrill, like a wail coming from the depths of hell.
The black-spot monster lunged forward and devoured the goat corpse.
Plague Rat's pupils constricted. He remembered that Old Man Purity and Filth had Three Dukes under him. Among them, Duke Martial's tribe seemed to be the legendary Ghost Ram Clan.
It was said that this race possessed strength comparable to ghosts and gods; a single stomp could shatter mountains, and a single cry could bring down birds from the sky.
They were one of the most powerful demon tribes in Tianchi Province during ancient times. Later, they followed the True Lord of Purity and Filth to conquer the world, achieving great military merits.
But now, they had been refined into hundred corpse patchworks, becoming mere pieces of rotten meat on a monster's body.
Plague Rat looked at the other two hundred corpse patchworks.
Jiao Mu Jiao and Wing-Fire Snake had fierce gazes, but their fighting was remarkably restrained.
Every time they attacked, they would deliberately avoid the struggling corpses on the opponents' bodies.
Jiao Mu Jiao could clearly have bitten off the head of Tianyou's Corpse, but it didn't. Instead, it only used vines to entangle the opponent's limbs, trying to restrict its movement.
The same went for Wing-Fire Snake. Every time it breathed fire, it would aim slightly off, fearing it would burn the fire-attribute demon beast corpses on the Red Banded Snake Corpse.
Plague Rat knew that Wing-Fire Snake had been the monarch of the Ancient Binghuo Kingdom in life.
Looking at the Red Banded Snake Corpse, it was almost entirely composed of fire-attribute demon beast corpses, mostly snakes.
So, these three hundred corpse patchworks were all composed of the refined former subjects of the monarchs?
Not just their physical bodies, but their divine souls as well?
Plague Rat looked at Jian Huaishuang and sent a soft transmission: “Did you already know something?”
Jian Huaishuang nodded.
Plague Rat asked again: “Do you guys have some kind of plan?”
Jian Huaishuang didn't answer, continuing to defend.
Plague Rat stopped asking.
He wasn't completely brainless; now was not the time for explanations.
If it were anyone else, he definitely wouldn't have trusted them. But given this deadpan face's absolute loyalty to Master, he must have something to rely on to dare act like this.
Then he would do as he said.
Plague Rat spat and charged forward again.
“Fine! I'll play along and stall with you today!”
As he spoke, Wan Xiu's voice surged from all directions once more, carrying a hint of surprise.
“Oh? How can two completely refined beasts still possess their own consciousness?”
Jiao Mu Jiao looked up and let out a hiss—low, angry, sharp, and shrill, like muffled thunder rolling across the sky.
Wing-Fire Snake also stopped its movements. The flames in its eye sockets flickered violently as it opened its mouth and spat a blast of transparent fire toward the direction of the voice.
The flames tore through the air but hit nothing.
Wan Xiu's laughter rang out again. “Why the anger? I am merely speaking the truth.”
“Forget it, it doesn't matter. They are just useless chess pieces discarded by Lord Qing Lu anyway.”
“So, are you happy to see your former subjects?”
“They are living quite well now—neither alive nor dead, neither human nor ghost, forever trapped in pain.”
“Isn't this what you wanted? To be together forever, never to be parted.”
“How touching, isn't it? Lord Qing Lu went to great lengths to collect your subjects and refine them into this form.”
“You should be thanking the Lord.”
“Why are you reluctant to strike?”
“Oh, I almost forgot. Is it because their divine souls and physical bodies are all within the hundred corpse patchworks?”
“You have already slaughtered your own subjects once, so now you're afraid and can't bring yourselves to do it again?”
“Then I must kindly remind you: if you kill them with your own hands again, their souls will truly be scattered.”
“Hahahahahahaha!”
Jiao Mu Jiao's eyes turned red. It suddenly lunged at Tianyou's Corpse, black vines erupting from its body to bind the opponent tightly.
But as soon as Tianyou's Corpse exerted force, the vines snapped.
Wing-Fire Snake was also enraged. Transparent flames surged from the cracks in its bones, turning into a sea of fire that flooded toward the Red Banded Snake Corpse.
But at the last moment, it still held back.
The flames veered slightly, merely singeing the Red Banded Snake Corpse's body as they passed.
Wan Xiu laughed loudly. “Interesting, truly interesting. Even in this state, do you still think of yourselves as the monarchs of old?”
“Then I shall give you a helping hand.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the three hundred corpse patchworks let out deafening roars simultaneously, their attacks becoming even more frenzied.
Tianyou's Corpse slammed a punch into Jiao Mu Jiao's head, sending it flying back to crash into the stone wall, creating a massive crater.
The Red Banded Snake Corpse opened its mouth and spat crimson flames, forcing Wing-Fire Snake to retreat step by step.
Purity and Filth’s beetle corpse went completely berserk. Its six legs exerted force at once, stomping six deep pits into the ground as its massive body bore down on Jian Huaishuang and Plague Rat like a mountain.
Jian Huaishuang gritted his teeth, holding his greatsword horizontally before him to block the beetle corpse's forelimbs.
“Bang!”
The immense force numbed his arms, and the ground beneath him cracked. He was pressed down into a half-kneeling position.
Wan Xiu admired their struggle for a moment before his voice rang out again.
“Animals with feelings, indeed.”
“Then watch closely. Watch how your subjects are used up by Lord Qing Lu.”
Having said that, his tone shifted, becoming cold and indifferent.
“Tao Tuantuan, you may begin.”
“Respectfully inviting Lord Qing Lu.”
Tao Tuantuan looked up, her face expressionless.
She bowed toward the void with elegant and composed movements. “Yes, Lord Wan Xiu.”
Then she raised her hand. Countless green threads surged from between her fingers—thin as spider silk, yet incredibly tough.
The threads drifted into the air, entangling a group of little demons from the Peach Clan.
Those little demons were all of Tao Tuantuan's own race; like her, they were peach tree spirits.
They were suspended in mid-air by the green threads, struggling in terror.
“Big Sister Tuantuan!” one little demon screamed. “What are you doing?!”
“Tuantuan, we are your kin! Have you gone mad?! Let us go!”
“Let us go! You traitor! How could such scum come from the Peach Clan, descendants of Duke Wen!”
Tao Tuantuan remained deaf to their cries. With a gentle flick of her finger, the threads tightened.
Several little demons of the Peach Clan were dragged down by the threads, falling from mid-air and screaming as they plummeted toward the ley line. Their bodies instantly exploded, turning into clouds of blood mist.
The blood mist was absorbed by the ley line. The emerald light flared intensely for a moment before quickly dimming.
“Tuantuan, why?!”
“You will get your comeuppance!”
“We trusted you so much! How could you—”
Another group of little demons was blown into blood mist.
The other little demons trembled in fear; some wept and begged for mercy, while others cursed loudly.
“Tao Tuantuan! You beast!”
“You will die a horrible death!”
“Master will save us! Master will definitely save us!”
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