In a world so filthy, there were still pure white flowers that bloomed in the mire, and rebels who were willing to take the weight of calamity upon themselves.
Fine.
I’ll handle the cleanup.
Who else but the successor of the divine path? They were his own people now, and being protective was his passive skill.
He would just have to pluck some more from the unaging pine when he got back. The old tree had thick bark; a few more handfuls wouldn’t hurt.
Chen Zhou sighed and flipped his wrist again.
This time, besides a pine cone radiating intense vitality, another object appeared in his palm.
It was a golden toad egg, nestled within a translucent orchid petal.
It was only the size of a thumb, yet it pulsed with pure, flawless soul fire.
"This is..." Su Xue’s eyes widened, shimmering with disbelief.
"This is the remnant soul you risked your life to protect just now."
Chen Zhou tossed the pine cone and the toad egg to Su Xue, his tone casual.
"The soil of evil may have watered the flower of evil, but once the flower withers, it might still bear a new fruit."
"His life was steeped in sin, but it wasn't without cause."
Chen Zhou paused, recalling the criminal laws from his past life.
"I believe that although the old toad committed crimes, according to certain laws, those forced into criminal activity should have their punishment reduced based on the circumstances."
"I sentence him to death with a reprieve and lifelong deprivation of political rights. Let him start over from scratch."
"Inside this egg is a sliver of his remnant soul. It’s the only clean thing left of him in this life," Chen Zhou added as he watched Su Xue, who was trembling while holding the egg.
"Take it back and raise it well. What kind of creature it hatches into, whether good or evil, depends on your guidance."
Furthermore, Chen Zhou did this to ensure the Heavenly Doctor’s loyalty. He wasn’t losing anything, after all.
Since they were now his subordinates, he couldn’t let them be completely disheartened.
Su Xue was in disbelief. Holding the warm egg, tears streamed down her face.
She bowed deeply to Chen Zhou, her forehead striking the ground with a heavy thud.
"Thank you, Lord! Thank you for your mercy!"
Su Xue knew that this lord didn’t exactly have any deep affection for Jade Toad.
Yet, he was willing to go through the trouble of preserving a spark of life for Jade Toad and even return the egg to her.
It was exactly as Lord Rat had said back at Poison Flame Mountain.
His lord was indeed a very merciful and powerful god, dedicated to saving all living beings from suffering.
Filled with gratitude, Su Xue carefully tucked away the toad egg and consumed the pine cone. Like a withered tree meeting spring, her youth was restored once more.
The dust settled.
The Black Bone Hall was reduced to ruins, and the sky over the Southern Region finally brightened.
The process of taking over went smoothly.
Or rather, exceptionally smoothly.
After the battle at the Black Bone Hall, the upper echelons of the Southern Region's demon race were nearly wiped out. Those remaining were nothing more than a few stragglers.
After witnessing Chen Zhou’s god-like and ghost-like methods, no one was foolish enough to stand out as a troublemaker.
The Poison-Wing Eagle King was currently sprawled on the ground in an extremely awkward posture, allowing a wisp of Chen Zhou’s divine sense to roam through his body.
He was heavily injured, but it was a blessing in disguise. The ancient bloodline in his body had awakened, which, combined with his unique malevolent qi destiny, had piqued Chen Zhou’s interest.
"Tsk, interesting."
Chen Zhou withdrew his divine sense and looked at the giant, balding bird.
"The malevolence entered your body, yet it didn’t damage your sanity. Instead, you can turn it to your own use."
Chen Zhou felt that this foolish bird was also a talent worth molding, though he couldn't yet tell exactly what Poison-Wing’s destiny was.
But this fierce, exposed malevolence certainly didn’t belong to the category of an Auspicious One.
It was likely a malefic star.
But there was no need to panic. There was a Test Immortal Stone back home; he would know for sure once they tested it.
Even if he were a Lone Star of Heavenly Malice, Chen Zhou would dare to take him in. He had the Heavenly Doctor, after all.
So, Chen Zhou casually tossed him a Flesh-Reconstitution Pill.
The flesh-and-blood energy in the pill was pure. It could not only increase cultivation but was also excellent for healing, even capable of regrowing severed limbs.
"Eat it. From now on, you are the gatekeeping bird of my City of the Wrongfully Dead."
Poison-Wing caught the pill and swallowed it without a second thought. Then, he shamelessly sidled up to Su Xue with a fawning expression.
"I’ll go wherever Big Sis Su Xue goes. As long as the lord lets me follow her, I don’t care if I’m a gatekeeper or a toilet cleaner."
To revive the remnant soul of the Toad Saint in the orchid and to repay Chen Zhou’s kindness, Su Xue had already gladly agreed to join.
She didn't even need Chen Zhou to coax her; she had already convinced herself and become a Devout Believer.
Watching this scene, the nearby Plague Rat was very dissatisfied.
Extremely dissatisfied.
He crossed his arms, his tail swishing irritably behind him, lashing the ground and leaving deep marks.
'Why are there two more?'
Plague Rat felt his status was under serious threat.
In the beginning, he was the only Ghost Attendant, the only Auspicious One, and the only divine messenger by the lord's side.
Then came Piao. Although she could eat a lot, she was fortunately a bit dim-witted and a decent person, so he accepted her.
But now? A healer who planted grass and a featherless plague chicken were coming to divide his status?
Plague Rat felt his status drop by one.
"Lord!"
Plague Rat scurried onto Chen Zhou, pointing at Poison-Wing and Su Xue.
"These two don't look like good sorts at all! Especially that bird. He’s so ugly; it’ll be embarrassing to take him back!"
Chen Zhou glanced at him and couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, you're the leader. Look after these two idiots from now on."
One was self-sacrificing, the other was thick-headed; both were quite foolish.
Plague Rat was shocked.
"Huh? How can they be compared to Lord Rat? I am an Auspicious One!"
"Could it be that they are too?"
Chen Zhou lied through his teeth, casually humoring him. "Yes. The twelve zodiac signs, as the name implies, are twelve Auspicious Ones."
"She is Maotu, and that bird... counts as Youji."
Plague Rat was dazed, counting on his fingers.
Su Xue was fine. She looked gentle and was a healer. Although he hated the smell of herbs, she could barely count as an Auspicious One.
But on what grounds did that balding plague chicken count?
That thing reeked of poisonous smoke and spat poisonous fire. He looked more like a villain than Lord Rat did. How could he be an Auspicious One?
Plague Rat hurriedly asked, "What’s the rank? What are their ranks?"
Chen Zhou was currently busy directing Zen Master Wu Hai to organize the rescued human-livestock. He also had to have the surviving great demons bound for a later reckoning. He was swamped.
Without even turning his head, he casually answered Plague Rat:
"The rabbit is fourth, and Poison-Wing is tenth."
"Then what about Lord Rat? Is Lord Rat really the first?" Plague Rat’s eyes widened, and he rubbed his paws in anticipation.
"Yes, Zishu is the leader," Chen Zhou replied offhandedly.
Having received a definitive answer, Plague Rat immediately puffed up with pride.
His eyes shone, his back straightened instantly, and he put on airs as he walked toward Su Xue and Poison-Wing.
The two had recovered quite a bit and were huddled together in conversation.
Plague Rat walked with his hands behind his back, strutting with an arrogant gait, his tail pointing to the sky and his nose in the air.
"Ahem."
Plague Rat cleared his throat as he stood before them.
"Listen up, Little Xue and Little Baldy."
"Since you’ve joined us, there are some rules Lord Rat needs to explain to you."
Plague Rat patted his chest. "The lord said it himself: I am the leader, ranked first."
"You are number four, and you are number ten."
"In this family, Lord Rat will be looking out for you from now on. If anyone dares to bully you, just say my name. It carries weight!"
Rate on N.U.
