Piao continued to describe what she had seen and heard in the West Region.
It was a boundless sea of sand, devoid of water, plants, or even spiritual energy.
There was only the yellow sand filling the sky and a death qi so thick it wouldn't dissipate.
She could consume some of the death qi, but the concentration there was too high; her body had been severely eroded and assimilated.
"As I went further, I saw many graves."
"Many, many grave mounds, growing out of the sand like steamed buns."
"Then, as I continued deeper, large patches of black spots began to appear on the sand and the graves."
Black spots again?
Chen Zhou's heart tightened.
Lord Rat had just reported that a large number of black spots had appeared in the endless sea of the Eastern Region, leading to a massive migration of the Sea Race.
Now, the same black spots had appeared in the deserts of the West Region.
One in the east, one in the west; one in water, one in sand—two completely different environments, yet the same pathology was manifesting.
Was this the 'dirty thing' beneath the earth that Wu Gou had spoken of?
As for the dirtiest thing imaginable, Chen Zhou could only think of death qi.
Chen Zhou asked Piao, "So the black spots are the source of the death qi? Is that where the death qi of the West Region is leaking from?"
Piao thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"I don't know."
"It feels a bit like death qi—it can cause mutations and drive people mad."
"But it's also a bit different; I can't eat those black spots."
Piao's tone was somewhat confused. "I am famine. I can eat anything, even death qi."
"But those black spots... I couldn't bite through them. I managed to gnaw off a tiny bit with great effort, but after eating it, my stomach hurt and started to melt."
"And then?" Chen Zhou pressed.
"Then I prepared to continue deeper, wanting to see the area where the black spots were most dense."
"But the black spots suddenly surged and turned into monsters."
"They were very strong. My attacks were useless, and eating them made my stomach rot."
"I couldn't beat them and was surrounded, so I was eaten."
Piao narrated her own death process very calmly, as if she were merely telling a bedtime story.
"However, before I died, I think I saw someone arrive."
"Amidst the swirling yellow sand, a person was walking toward that graveyard."
"I didn't see clearly, but it should have been a humanoid figure. I saw him carrying a very large coffin on his back."
A person from the West Region?
A Coffin-Carrier?
Chen Zhou fell into deep thought.
Walking in such a harsh environment where even Piao could not survive, this person's strength was not to be underestimated.
Furthermore, the other party seemed to have been immune to the attacks of the black spot monsters.
"The waters of the West Region run deep as well."
Chen Zhou looked at the locusts in front of him, still diligently gnawing meat to divide themselves, and sighed inwardly.
Piao had suffered this great disaster this time to help him scout the path.
"You did well," Chen Zhou said gently. "For now, rest well in the Gathering Fortune Pavilion and eat plenty of food."
Piao cheered and replied obediently.
"Okay!"
"Do not worry, My Lord. The fifth-stage meat is very delicious. I will grow back very quickly."
Chen Zhou was relieved and did not rush to disconnect.
He sensed the auras within the Gathering Fortune Pavilion, intending to check on the dragon carp while he was at it.
Then, Chen Zhou noticed a sneaky figure at the entrance of the Gathering Fortune Pavilion.
It was a paper person, holding a large pot of steaming hot soup, instructing a netherflame to quietly deliver the soup and meat into the Gathering Fortune Pavilion.
The paper person looked guilty, like a thief, and was ready to slip away after delivering the items.
It was Ugly Hag.
"Stand still," Chen Zhou called out softly.
Ugly Hag's figure froze.
She had been caught by the Lord while trying to deliver food secretly. Knowing she couldn't hide it, she stopped trying to avoid him.
She turned around, straightened her paper clothes, and performed a standard ancient salute to Chen Zhou with proper decorum.
"This old one greets the Lord."
Ugly Hag's voice was uncharacteristically flustered.
"You know?" Chen Zhou looked at the pot of soup with purple bubbles rising from it.
Ugly Hag smiled slightly and said frankly.
"I have made a fool of myself before the Lord."
"They say a mother's heart is linked to her daughter's. When my own silly girl is in trouble and her body is gone, if I, her mother, were still completely unaware, wouldn't I be far too dull?"
Ugly Hag looked at the window of the Gathering Fortune Pavilion, her eyes full of heartache.
"I specifically asked Miss Su Xue for some herbs to add to this soup and simmered it over a gentle heat for six hours."
"In the end... it might help her gather her essence a bit faster." Ugly Hag's voice was very soft, as if she were afraid of disturbing the being inside the pavilion.
"Please do not blame me for acting on my own, My Lord, and I also beg you not to tell her that I know."
"Since she wants to hide it from me for fear of worrying me, I, this old woman, will pretend not to know. It is better to respect her intentions."
Chen Zhou remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
"But to say it doesn't hurt my heart would be a lie." Ugly Hag's gaze became distant.
"A perfectly good daughter was lively and healthy when she left, but only this much was left when she returned."
"How can a mother's heart feel good about that?"
Ugly Hag spoke with a smile, her tone frank.
"But I understand even better that she didn't go out to cause trouble or fight and brawl with others."
"She was acting on the Lord's orders, scouting the path for all living beings, risking her life for ideals and order."
"In the past, we mother and daughter were monsters in the eyes of the world, but now we are people with dignity."
"Therefore, while what Piao'er did today may have been following orders and fulfilling her duty in her eyes..." Ugly Hag's eyes shone brightly.
"In my eyes, she was practicing the Great Dao and protecting order. I am proud of my daughter."
She leaned forward slightly in a respectful posture, then looked at Chen Zhou expectantly.
"May I ask the Lord... did my dull daughter manage to share your burdens this time?"
"Did she... contribute even a meager amount of strength?"
Chen Zhou nodded solemnly. "She was a great help and performed a meritorious deed."
"She is a hero."
Upon hearing this, a smile curved on Ugly Hag's rough paper face, looking very content.
"That is good... in that case, it is good."
"The children in the school are likely waiting for me to give today's lesson. I shall take my leave first."
With that, she picked up the pot of soup and placed it gently in a prominent spot by the door, then turned and slowly walked away the way she had come.
Though her steps were somewhat staggering, her back was ramrod straight.
This is probably what it means to be a parent.
Watching Ugly Hag depart, Chen Zhou felt a slight pang of emotion.
In the City of the Wrongfully Dead, there were many monsters and ghosts, but there was also much human warmth.
He collected his thoughts and walked slowly toward the Pool of Fortune and Longevity.
When the dragon carp sensed Chen Zhou's aura approaching, the pool water instantly began to boil.
Splash—
The largest dragon carp leaped directly out of the water, supported by black smoke beneath it like a small black dragon, and circled Chen Zhou several times.
It appeared exceptionally restless, its tail constantly slapping Chen Zhou's arm, and it even tried to tug at his sleeve to pull him toward the east.
Chen Zhou patted its young horns soothingly. "What is it? Are you in such a hurry to go east?"
"You want to come with me? Is the opportunity for your dragon transformation in the east?"
The dragon carp nodded vigorously, its eyes full of longing.
Chen Zhou pondered for a moment.
He was currently in an incarnation state, using Jiu'er's body. Although Jiu'er was an Auspicious Noble, he was still a mortal body after all; taking him directly to the provincial capital was not very convenient.
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