Chapter 391: Devouring the Dark Empyrean
Chapter 391: Devouring the Dark Empyrean
As soon as the person invited by Zhuang Erchang appeared, they immediately destroyed Wu Gong Clan Leader's Venom Basin, showing no respect for him.
When a Blood Xiu Guardian gets close to a Venom Master, it's as if they've lost half their life. Moreover, with his Venom Basin destroyed, it's as if his skills are rendered useless, just like a Blood Xiu Guardian losing their cultivation. If they still treated him as a formidable enemy, it would be a joke.
Unexpectedly, Wu Gong Clan Leader suddenly lifted his head, his face filled with resentment, and glared at them with intense hatred, speaking with anger.
Zhuang Erchang, the mine chief, smiled at him and said, "Elder Brother Wu, it was you who harbored ambitions first. You sent people outside to spread venom, and then you came to our mine pretending to be a good person. You were acting alone, both inside and out. Do you think I couldn't see through your act?"
"Now that you've suffered a loss here, it's your own doing. There's no need to feel so wronged."
"..."
Wu Gong Clan Leader clenched his teeth and said in a low voice, "But by destroying my venomous bugs, no one can control Wu Song anymore. He won't let you off the hook..."
"Wu Song?"
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Erchang, the mine chief, suddenly laughed and pointed at the few sorcerers who had been thrown off their horses, saying, "In the past few days, weren't these the ones spreading venom outside?"
"At this point, you're still trying to talk your way out of it. That son of yours, whom no one has ever heard of, is just a figment of your imagination, right?"
"You pretended that there were people spreading venom outside to pressure us, just to prevent us from discovering your secret dealings in this valley. Every penny and cent from the Blood Meat Mine, I have it all memorized. You used the excuse of venom crafting to steal evil spirits, do you think I'm unaware?"
"..."
"..."
Listening to his somewhat mocking skepticism, Wu Gong Clan Leader's face turned ashen, and he slowly closed his eyes. After a long while, he slowly opened them and spoke softly, "The venom spread in the past few days was indeed arranged by my clan members."
"But Wu Song is also real. He was the one who initially blocked your Blood Meat Mine."
"However, when we decided to come over, he suddenly and inexplicably stopped. I had no choice but to arrange for my own clan members to spread venom to avoid arousing your suspicions..."
"But now, the venomous bugs I crafted have been destroyed, and I no longer have anything to restrain Wu Song. With his madness, you..."
"..."
"What nonsense?"
Seeing the sinister expression on Wu Gong Clan Leader's face, the first reaction of the crowd was to laugh, but his expression was so serious that they couldn't help but suppress their laughter, and their faces became slightly complex.
Ever since the secret helpers from Zhuang Erchang's sect and the One Coin Sect arrived, Wu Gong Clan Leader's carefully planned layout seemed like a joke.
His strategy of openly building a road while secretly transporting goods was seen through, and even the people he arranged outside the forest to spread venom and collaborate with him were discovered. He had lost all face.
At this point, instead of admitting defeat, he continued to speak as if it were a joke. The elder in the brocade robe, surrounded by people, slightly focused his mind and coldly laughed, then instructed Zhuang Erchang, "At this moment, we should first go and see the Skeleton Head."
He glanced at the people beside him and said, "You killed these crazy sorcerers, but you didn't even count the number of people in your own village. Relying on your venom-spreading skills, you're provoking the Skeleton Head, truly inviting disaster upon yourselves."
As he was about to move forward, the two people who had followed him from the side each stretched their muscles and approached Wu Gong Clan Leader.
These two also seemed to be Blood Xiu Guardians, appearing to be in their thirties with sturdy bodies and an eerie aura. Their appearance indicated they had seen bloodshed.
When they revealed their murderous intent, the sorcerer youth beside Wu Ya suddenly shouted and tried to jump up to fight them.
However, these two men casually glanced at him, and with a loud shout, a beam of blood-red light shot out from their mouths, hitting the sorcerer youth in the chest. He was sent flying and fell to the ground, dead, with a bloody hole in his heart.
Seeing the youth's death, both Wu Gong Clan Leader and Wu Ya were filled with shock and anger. But the two men didn't seem to care; they smiled faintly and walked forward, ready to strike.
As soon as this group appeared and acted so viciously, with an air of disregard for everyone, Zhou Datong and the others were startled and eager to help, but Old Abacus glared at them, temporarily stopping them.
With the Blood Xiu Guardians approaching, the two Venom Masters were helpless, and everyone's faces turned pale. Suddenly, in the dead silence outside the valley, a bamboo flute sounded.
The flute's sudden appearance was jarring, and its strange tune seemed to come from just outside the valley, separated only by a wall, a distance of ten zhang.
Wu Ya, whose eyes were already red, suddenly lifted her head, tears welling in her reddened eyes, but her voice carried a hint of joy, "Elder Brother?"
Wu Gong Clan Leader's face changed, and his voice trembled, "He finally came?"
"Is there really someone nearby?"
As the flute's melody played on, Zhuang Erchang and the five followers of the Brocade Robe Elder also felt a sense of surprise. They halted their steps and exchanged glances, having checked the surroundings before entering the valley and finding only the poison handlers.
The flute's tune was clear and distinct, nearby, and its style undoubtedly belonged to a sorcerer. They could even identify it as the very bamboo flute used to control the venomous bugs.
The sound of the flute gradually drifted closer, approaching the valley, and the hearts of the group grew colder and more oppressed. It was as if the melody possessed a magical power that stirred up their deepest fears.
The Brocade Robe Elder, listening intently, suddenly inhaled sharply, his ears twitching as if detecting something unusual beyond the flute's melody.
Despite his initial calm since entering the valley, his voice now carried a hint of urgency. He spun around and shouted, "Be cautious of any anomalies!"
"... "
Before he could finish, everyone witnessed a black windstorm rushing into the valley from outside. Its speed was intense, but how could wind, an invisible force, be seen? It was only when the wind drew near that they realized it wasn't wind at all but a swarm of densely packed, dark bees.
Each bee brandished its stinger, vibrating its wings, creating a deafening buzz as they swarmed in, causing everyone's skin to crawl. The endless buzzing filled their ears, making their hearts itch.
"Venom Bees..."
Even the old abacus, usually unflappable, was terrified and screamed, "Run for your lives, quick!"
As he yelled, he dashed towards the wooden house. After a few steps, he saw Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, and Zhao Zhu ahead, running faster than him.
"Stand behind me!"
At that moment, the Brocade Robe Elder also reacted. He took a firm step forward, his right foot thudded onto the ground, creating a clear indentation. He inhaled deeply, then rapidly chanted an incantation.
The air in front of him seemed to darken, and an eerie mist emerged. The bees, which had been swarming overhead, collided with his body, falling one by one.
However, the bees were relentless, and their numbers were endless. The Brocade Robe Elder could only forcefully hold his ground, enduring the onslaught despite the vast disparity in strength. He struggled to protect his disciples and the Dharma King who followed him.
"It's Wu Song..."
At that moment, Wugong, the clan leader, had a defeated expression, his lips quivering as he whispered, "He's indeed here..."
"Only he can craft toxins like nightmares..."
"... "
His words seemed directed at Wu Ya, but he no longer looked at her. Instead, he rushed forward, his gaze fixed on the venomous bug impaled on the ground, motionless in the venom basin. His face hardened with determination.
"To deal with Wu Song, there's only one way..."
As he spoke, he seized the opportunity to struggle towards the side. There, a pile of Dark Empyrean lay, which they usually cleared regularly to prevent interference with harvesting.
Wugong, the clan leader, suddenly crawled over, drew his curved sword, and began slicing off pieces of the Dark Empyrean. Taking advantage of the chaos, he dragged the pieces to Wu Ya's side and piled them in front of her.
"Wu Ya, eat it!"
"... "
Wu Ya jerked her head up, her expression filled with terror. She shook her head repeatedly, her eyes conveying fear and resistance.
"Eat it!"
Wugong's voice rose, startling Wu Ya, causing her to tremble. Sensing her fear, he softened his tone and whispered, "This is the will of the Shaman God."
"It's your destiny, Wu Ya!"
"Your brother is almost here. Only by awakening the Shaman God can you kill him and take his toxins..."
"... "
Wu Ya's face contorted with pain and fear, but the freshly cut Dark Empyrean emitted a pungent scent that invaded her nostrils.
For a moment, her eyes transformed into snake-like vertical pupils, though it was fleeting. Wu Ya seemed to make a sudden decision, grabbing a small piece and stuffing it into her mouth. She immediately grabbed a larger piece and began devouring it.
After a few bites, her face turned pale, her expression manic, but she ate faster, a far cry from her previous charming demeanor.
Wugong observed her with a hint of relief. He slowly lifted the pierced venom basin from the ground, sensing the bug within slowly reviving.
He took a deep breath and began chanting softly, "With three souls, nurture the toxin's energy. Invoke the Shaman God's embodiment, protect our sorcerers for a thousand generations, and ensure a bountiful valley free from blades."
"Eat, Wu Ya. You will become the Shaman God's venom handler..."
(End of Chapter)
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