Chapter 557 - 47: Flayed Alive

The blacksmiths immediately began notifying the underground Sword Casting Manor.

Attack!

The Manor’s gigantic Embers Avatar, on the move!

And this time, do not reveal your identity.

Even if it is exposed, it’s the Human Race’s No-Life Sect that came to the seabed to attack you. What does it have to do with Fish Wine City?

Now that the Sea Race war has erupted, the forces of the Human Race coming here to "support" is only natural!

Actually, even a discerning eye can see this.

This sea domain must be a mix of fish and dragons, Ning Zheng’s old friends are bound to come here to "mess around" sooner or later.

Especially Xin Xichen, Jiu Shui have already started scheming against the Sea Race, they’ve made the first move.

Swish!

A gigantic Manor Master’s synthesized Dharma Aspect rapidly condensed into a smaller figure, quickly entering the "physical body" created by the blacksmiths.

Lately, the young blacksmiths have also developed uses for the great Embers Avatar.

Embers have no physical form... but they can create one.

They use synthesized Immortal Beast, occasionally yielding some semi-finished physical bodies as good vessels for a giant Embers Avatar.

It’s just a one-time use item, and it will be wasted afterward.

Swish!

Embers quietly followed behind.

The current Embers had the hybrid appearance of a tiger-headed Sub-human, with an immense and dense aura, upon closer inspection, you can even feel the rich aura of the No-Life Sect.

While Embers were tracking, the young blacksmiths also sat in the Manor’s mine shafts, at Gao’s mecha driver’s seat, watching the "big screen."

Controlling the giant Avatar, conducting real-time interactive plot movies.

"It’s been a long time since the last control."

"What nonsense, hasn’t it only been a few days?"

"You don’t understand, according to game time, we haven’t controlled it for over a hundred years."

"Follow quickly, but be cautious."

"That’s right, speaking of Gao... wonder how Gao in Ximen City is doing."

"It’s still hard to contact them now."

"Cut the nonsense, focus, secretly track, study intelligence, adapt to changes... see who we can pin this on."

"We should consider how to deal with this Golden Turtle."

"I’ve heard the tortoise shell is made entirely of Magic Coins."

"Really?"

"He just put on clothes, let’s look through them later and see the patterns of his tortoise shell."

"If it’s true, I think my electronic Wooden Fish should be updated! Turtle Shell Wooden Fish, this obviously looks auspicious!"

...

...

Elsewhere.

Ning Zheng examined the small conch-shaped Magical Artifact,

"This thing detects pseudo-human brainwaves, the technology isn’t clear, but the material design probably only costs ten thousand Magic Coins..."

It seems the 2 million Magic Coins major expenditure is still on that Sea Race Ark.

Ning Zheng took out a clam-shaped Magical Artifact and tossed it.

Swish!

The entire clam swiftly expanded, turning into a large milky white arc grinding disk in the blink of an eye.

The interior of the clam can open up, with a whole new world inside.

"The internal area is considerable."

"But the defense is almost nil."

"It can barely drag Ancestor of Embers... but the effect should be poor."

"Yet, surprisingly, it has a power source, can open and close spraying water, allowing movement."

...

After studying for a while, Ning Zheng understood roughly.

It’s just a top-tier Three Elements Realm Magical Artifact.

The feature is big!

That’s all.

The Ark moves relying on the Dharma Aspect Giants of cultivators.

But this shell can move autonomously... it allows low-level forces without Dharma Aspects to move, which is considerate.

However, swimming in the sea is inherently much simpler than moving an Ark on land.

This shell should be a giant deep-sea shell race, refined into an artifact as a rather tragic fate.

There are actually quite a few similar giant deep-sea species.

"Looks like, the Sea Race over here is also no longer passive due to war, they’ve learned from the Human Race forces, entering the age of great navigation, all these moving cities..."

Ning Zheng pondered,

"This huge shell can be used... but it’s unnecessary."

"Fish Wine City doesn’t need to flee, continue to take root here."

Primarily because living in this gigantic shell is too uncomfortable.

And it’s not as convenient as the Ark that can drag the entire force directly, moving in would be very troublesome, needing each house to be moved individually, placing them inside.

It could at most accommodate thirty percent of Fish Wine City’s buildings, and would still require a very crowded layout.

There’s no need to move.

Ning Zheng came to enjoy life, here to slack off... why run while in a shell city?

Fight to the death here.

If it becomes unbearable, let this city perish if necessary.

At worst, take the seventy thousand fishermen and retreat into Sword Casting Manor directly.

"This money has been a waste."

"Fortunately, it can be refunded without conditions."

...

...

Thorn Shell City.

The ground was covered with spiny black sea urchins.

The black roads formed by these spines give a feeling of stepping into hell.

Several city leaders respectfully welcomed Elder Gui.

"Very good, you all understand well."

"Let’s go to the next one."

Elder Gui weighed the 2 million Magic Coins in his hand.

In the distance.

The Manor Master’s Embers Dharma Aspect secretly followed.

"What to do, this old turtle is heading to the next city?"

"Do him?"

"No rush, let’s watch a bit more."

"I have an idea. Directly doing him would easily raise suspicion. How about we intercept him ahead of time, pretend to be this old turtle, and collect protection fees from various cities?"

"How to pretend? We don’t even have two Magical Artifacts to sell to those cities."

"Then let’s pretend to be a Pseudo-human and attack instead."

"I think it works."

"No, no, this plan is still too crude. Let’s lure some Pseudo-humans to ambush this Elder Gui."

"Where to lure the Pseudo-human troops?"

"Wait, quickly hide, look over there, what is that!"

"Damn, someone else is tracking this old bastard too?"

"He has a lot of enemies."

"Wow, the plot is thrilling, like those Immortal Cultivation novels where you track me, and I intercept you."

...

They quietly followed.

Their Manor Master Avatar, tens of thousands of Four Viscera Realm led by a formidable Two-Phase Realm Great Perfection, close to One Heart Realm level of combat power.

Even some masters who just stepped into the One Heart Realm, their split Dharma Aspect is only less than half the strength of the original body.

Just like the Dharma Aspect before them from their Manor Master.

And the One Heart Realm? It’s the contemporary Sect Leader of major Holy Lands, rarely visiting Secret Realms like tomb raiding.

It’s not something that randomly appears here.

Thus, they were confident to follow.

In total, three groups were there: Elder Gui’s group in front, followed by an unknown force ambushing behind, and then the little blacksmiths.

They followed all the way, quickly arriving at the wilderness.

The Two-Phase Realm Cultivator protecting Elder Gui sat cross-legged, suddenly dazed, falling into an Illusion Realm.

"Only one incense stick’s time."

"Act! While he’s in a dream, ambush Elder Gui and possess him!"

...

From the shadows, the group of Pseudo-humans acted with precision, seemingly rehearsed for a long time, saying little, and instantly captured Elder Gui.

"You!!?" Elder Gui’s brain suddenly responded.

The Pseudo-humans ambushed the Two-Phase Realm Cultivator and seemed to complete them to Immortal Spirit Root level, possessing some kind of Illusionary creature ability.

No wonder!

No wonder they used their lives, spent countless prices, just to attack that Two-Phase Realm Cultivator. Because once capturing him, they could possess some core characters under the eyes of the Two-Phase Realm bodyguard.

"Damn!" Elder Gui’s expression suddenly turned scared. Endless pain began to burn his body.

"Tell us some of your core matters, your recent activities." They crazily tortured him.

Elder Gui couldn’t help but scream: "My brain is sealed, can’t speak family secrets!"

"Who wants you to speak family secrets? Speak about who you’ve seen recently, any connections or relations." Those Pseudo-humans were clearly skilled at exploiting loopholes.

Some things couldn’t be said. But some everyday topics could be spoken outwardly.

These Pseudo-humans clearly had means; Elder Gui was tortured to the point he couldn’t take it, living worse than death... screaming until unrecognizable.

In the end, he said everything he could, just seeking a quick death.

"We can possess now."

"Could he still be hiding something?"

"He’s been tortured like this, probably not hiding anything, just wants to die, doesn’t care about the aftermath... Most family Cultivators don’t really have some spirit of sacrificing themselves for the family."

...

Soon, they began possession. Matching Five Elements Spirit Root. Four Spiritual Roots violently surged into the turtle’s brain.

At that moment, a flash suddenly appeared from afar, instantly chopping off Elder Gui’s head, his body taken by a phantom. "Hahaha! On a trip and seeing such a scene, this old turtle is perfect for stew."

The little blacksmiths, having read many absurd novels, followed the rule that villains die from talking too much, so just saying one line was already sufficient, fleeing quickly was the righteous way.

Several Pseudo-human experts watched a gust of wind pass by, faces rigid.

What thing actually snatched food from the tiger’s mouth!

But that Two-Phase Realm Cultivator remained silent for a while, then said: "That guy’s strong; we’re not his match; besides, I have a persistent headache... Not suitable for prolonged battle. The opponent’s probably not from the Dragon Race Court side, otherwise would’ve stopped us directly."

The rough possession, these synthesized pseudo-Immortal Spirit Roots, could only have flawed Pseudo-Immortal Spirit Roots. Not the perfect Yin Yang Cycle, Five Elements Cycle, having defects and gaps, resembling the maddened state of the Human Ancestor in later years, often greatly affecting combat power.

Indeed.

Learning halfway, such simple completion of Immortal Path Foundation, how could there not be some side effects? Spiritual Root cycle having rejection reactions similar to blood or flesh transplantation is normal.

"Humph, probably waiting for us to infiltrate the Court? They reap the rewards like a fisherman?"

"Probably, The Dragon Race dominant, many Great Sea Race forces probably have been dissatisfied for a long time, they might even help us Pseudo-humans. Truly, ugly internal fights."

"But only a head is left, what about the body after possession?"

Several guys gritted their teeth: "We’ll figure it out later!"

...

...

Ning Zheng quickly saw the returning phantom, throwing a headless Turtle Prime Minister corpse onto the manor square, then the entire manor disappeared into bubbles like Embers.

Ning Zheng’s face instantly darkened. You bunch of Xiu’Er, expected to teach a lesson and retrieve things, how come only a corpse remained? Was it necessary to be so ruthless?

This Elder Gui was still useful, could help infiltrate the Dragon Race Court, and obtain quite some intel. Just a little severe torture as a lesson, use him as a turtle shell spinning top, whipping him on the fire would suffice. How could you kill him?

"Calm down, sir." Jiucai Rong smugly said: "We caught a bargain... Elder Gui’s not dead, transformed into a Pseudo-human..."

"We took his body, the Pseudo-human pretending to be Elder Gui must find a way to hide it too, swallow this hidden loss."

"Elder Gui’s line of relations remains. We also want Elder Gui’s corpse!"

"Elder Gui’s Storage Bag, various Magic Coins, and treasures also flowed into our hands."

"Elder Gui suffered painful torture before he died." "The moment you offend us, you die appearing to maximize benefit the next!"

The few little blacksmiths fiercely kicked at the turtle shell, cursing: "This is the result of refusing us little blacksmiths’ plea to call dad!"

Ning Zheng: "..."

Extorting on the front foot, tracking and killing on the back, revenge waits for no night.