Chapter 224 | Demonic Beings? Obviously Auspicious Omens!

On the ground.

The Heavenly Sword Sect was annihilated.

Hatred fire burned for three days and three nights, turning this immortal sect that had stood for a century into scorched earth.

Chen Zhou was not idle, however. He casually tossed the 【Lie】 divinity to Jian Huaishuang.

"Take it."

"Don't waste time. Break through," Chen Zhou said indifferently.

"Yes, Lord."

Jian Huaishuang caught the divinity without many words, simply nodding heavily.

To slay the Moon-Swallowing Wolf Saint next, even a sliver of extra strength would allow him to be of more help to the lord.

Back in the Southern Region, watching the lord be swallowed into the stomach of the Toad Saint while he remained powerless—that feeling once was more than enough.

He was the lord's sword. If the sword was not sharp enough, it was a sin.

Having dealt with Jian Huaishuang, Chen Zhou looked toward the pack of wolves wailing in the ruins.

They were the members of the Heavenly Sword Sect who had been wolfified, along with the wolf demons released from the Sword Tomb.

By now, they had regained some degree of reason, but seeing their own state—neither human nor ghost—and looking at the blood and severed limbs covering the ground, a sense of despair began to spread.

Many could not accept the reality. They picked up broken swords from the ground, intending to slit their own throats.

"I can't go on... I've become a monster..."

"I am a man! How can I be a wolf!"

Chen Zhou did not move to stop their suicidal behavior.

He simply stood at a high vantage point, his cold voice echoing across the field.

"Those who want to die, feel free."

"Dying is fine; dust to dust, earth to earth. It's a form of release."

Their movements froze.

"However."

Chen Zhou's tone shifted, carrying a hint of mockery.

"Are you willing to leave it at that?"

"You've been lied to for a lifetime, eaten for a lifetime, and in the end, you're going to die such a pathetic death without even becoming a ghost who understands why?"

"Has your revenge been taken? The culprits who turned you into this—besides Xu Yunzi, there is still the Moon-Swallowing Wolf Saint. He is still living quite well."

"He's still in the Wolf Court, enjoying the offerings of ten thousand people and contemplating so-called Buddhist dharma."

"If you die just like this, he will be the one laughing."

Chen Zhou did not comfort them like a savior; that was work for Su Xue and Ku Chan.

He simply raised his hand in a blunt, crude gesture. Countless 【Seed of Resentment】 fell like droplets of black rain, merging into the bodies of every wolf demon.

"Keep your lives."

"In this world, where humans don't look like humans and ghosts don't look like ghosts, if you cannot be human, then be wolves that bite."

"Your human skin is gone, but at least you have fangs to tear out your enemies' throats."

"Live on for the sake of the hatred in your hearts."

Chen Zhou's words seemed to possess a magical quality, burrowing into everyone's ears.

Those who had intended to kill themselves slowly lowered their swords.

The despair in their eyes was gradually replaced by hatred.

Indeed.

Why should we die?

We became monsters because of those beasts.

Since there is no going back, then... let's all go to hell together!

"Awoo—!!"

It was unclear who started it, but a wolf howl filled with venomous spite rang out over the ruins.

Soon followed a second and a third.

It was the pack of vengeance, declaring war on the entire Northern Region.

Chen Zhou nodded in satisfaction. Very good, they were full of spirit.

Over the next few days, news of the Heavenly Sword Sect's annihilation spread across the Northern Region as if it had grown wings.

However, what surprised Chen Zhou was that no matter how much noise he made—even after tearing down the Heavenly Sword Sect and slaying Xu Yunzi—the Moon-Swallowing Wolf Saint in the distant Wolf Court and that Ksitigarbha of Great Vows hiding underground showed absolutely no reaction.

"Are they like the Toad Saint, behaving like tortoises?"

Chen Zhou sat on a giant boulder at the peak of Broken Sword Peak, looking at the distant wind and snow, feeling somewhat speechless.

"I've practically rubbed it in their faces. Are these two really so patient?"

"Do I have to kill my way to the gates of the Wolf Court before they're willing to move?"

"Burp—"

A loud alcoholic burp came from nearby.

Wu Gou was clutching a large jar of Forget-Worry dug out from the ruins of the Heavenly Sword Sect, drinking until his eyes were glazed and blurry.

His face was flushed red as he leaned against the rock, chuckling. "What's the rush?"

"It's not that they won't come; they can't."

Chen Zhou glanced at him. "What do you know?"

Wu Gou shook the wine jar in his hand and pointed toward the Wolf Court, his gaze sharp despite his drunken state.

"That old dog Moon-Swallowing is busy in seclusion, pushing for that final step to become a Moon-Howling Arhat. He has no time for you."

"As for that old bald ass Ksitigarbha..."

Wu Gou gave a mysterious smile. "He was naturally blocked by me."

Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow. "By you?"

"What? Looking down on a beggar?"

Wu Gou grumbled dissatisfactorily. "I might not have cultivation, but this flesh of mine is the real deal."

"I just lay down right there and told that old bald ass: if you want to come out, you'll have to walk over my dead body."

"And then he didn't dare."

"Heh, I'm pretty impressive, right?"

Chen Zhou looked at this lunatic who was full of hot air, nodded, and then without any warning, raised his hand.

Puchi!

A sharp bone spike erupted from the ground, skewering Wu Gou right through.

"Ah!!"

Wu Gou screamed in pain, and the wine jar in his hand went flying.

"You... what are you doing?"

He stared with wide eyes, looking at Chen Zhou in disbelief.

A few seconds later.

A golden light flashed, and the bloodied hole in Wu Gou's body healed. He stood up, hopping around, though still grimacing from the pain.

"You devil, that really hurts, you know!"

"I was just testing it out."

Chen Zhou withdrew his hand and said indifferently, "You said Ksitigarbha didn't dare kill you. I wanted to see if I dared."

Wu Gou stomped his feet in anger. "You devil, do you have no conscience?"

"Conscience?" Chen Zhou smiled. "I already said I'm a fiend. What would I need that for?"

"Fine, stop acting."

Chen Zhou stood up, brushing the snow off his clothes.

"Since the mountain will not come to me, I must go to the mountain."

"I'm not waiting anymore. We're going straight to the Wolf Court."

Hearing this, Wu Gou's anger vanished. He retrieved the wine jar that had flown off and, seeing that the wine hadn't spilled, he beamed instantly.

"Let's go, let's go. We should have gone long ago."

"Hurry up and slay Moon-Swallowing too, then the Northern Region will be at peace."

"I'm telling you, the wine in the Wolf Court is even better than this Heavenly Sword Sect stuff. Uh, though it's a bit disgusting, it's got quite a kick!"

Chen Zhou looked at the excited Wu Gou and suddenly asked, "You've been following me all this way, but you weren't this active before?"

"Back in Jiuquan Village, you even advised me to wait and watch the show."

"Why are you so eager for me to kill my way over there now?"

Wu Gou's movements stiffened for a moment, then he chuckled, his smile holding a bit more sincerity.

"Because the Northern Region is already changing because of you."

He pointed down the mountain.

There, the once lifeless Jiuquan Village was now a field of golden wheat.

In the Heavenly Sword Sect, the wolf-men who had previously only known how to wait for death in despair were now gripping their swords, their eyes filled with light.