Chapter 161

Chapter 161: Humanity Erased

The Silver Devil Guard, Ming Yan, had said that once the incense burned, the killing would start.

She had even given them a short buffer.

During this quarter hour, most people’s first reaction was to form small groups or cling to stronger ones. Hiding inside a group made people feel safer.

But Li Shuang also noticed something.

Most of those who were eagerly gathering little bands were the people on Ye Zhao Zhao’s list.

Out of these two hundred and fifty one, twenty three had already joined the Heavenly Sovereign Society. They should have gone through this ritual once before.

Winners of this ritual clearly got great benefits, so they came for a second time. But joining a second time could not be free, right?

Li Shuang thought for a moment, then walked toward the man from before.

The man looked at her in surprise and said: “What, you changed your mind?”

Li Shuang shook her head, then pointed at the two boys of about seventeen or eighteen standing near him as she said: “These two look a bit like you.”

The two boys showed clear nerves at once.

The man stayed calm and said: “Good eye, Daoist Friend. They are my two nephews. The Song family had two children with spiritual roots. Their talent is average, but cultivation is still better than being mortals, so I brought them with me and teach them with care.”

[Nephews…]

Li Shuang’s expression did not change.

She walked to a woman next.

That woman was also on Ye Zhao Zhao’s list, already one of the Devil Path. Standing with her were two close friends she had known for ten years.

Li Shuang then looked at Liu Bai and Ye Qing Er.

They were even more obvious.

Liu Bai and Ye Qing Er were clearly Dao Companions.

Understanding settled in Li Shuang’s heart.

Those who had already won once, but wanted to join a second time.

Their ticket in was their dearest and most loved, the people they cared about most.

These twenty three Thrall Wraiths used the trust of family and friends to pull them into the abyss.

Only then could they keep getting stronger.

[Even if they were forced at first, it will not take long before their humanity is erased and they become true fiends.]

Truly, what a Heavenly Sovereign Society.

A cold light flashed in Li Shuang’s eyes.

It was rare for her to feel a rush to destroy everything in front of her.

Right now, those who had been lured here still did not know the truth. They thought the people with them were the same as they were, also victims.

They did not know that those people, clear headed and awake, were pushing their dearest ones into a bottomless pit.

Of course, those people might think that they had experience, and that with their protection, their family and friends would live.

But they themselves could not be sure of victory. How could they protect others?

Even if they survived this round together, what about the future?

Would they bring in the next batch, and the next, again and again?

If it went on like this, then in the Heavenly Sovereign Society’s upper ranks, not a single person would be innocent. All of them would be people who had erased their humanity.

[They all deserve death.]

The quarter hour was almost over.

The field had split into many small circles.

Li Shuang’s group joined none of them. Out in the open, they were seven at the Foundation Establishment Stage, a force that could not be ignored.

Many eyes turned toward them.

“When the incense is lit, we join hands and kick those seven out first.”

“If we leave them alone, after we’ve exhausted each other, they will strike and we will be helpless.”

“Good. Remove them first.”

The small groups spoke with one another and finally aimed at Li Shuang’s team, who refused to mingle.

Liu Bai licked his lips.

“The true blood of the Foundation Establishment Stage tastes far better than Qi Refining,” he thought as he said to himself: “If we kill those seven, the level of this batch of true blood will rise a lot, and my reward will be greater.”

At a time like this, those people still acted aloof. If they were not the first to die, who should be?

Most others wished for the same.

The more others died, the fewer they themselves would die. If they focused their attacks on that seven, their own chances of living would go up.

“See?” Sheng Yuan sneered as he said: “You went and tried to talk to them, but their first target is still us. What you did was pointless.”

Li Shuang did not bother to explain. She only moved her gaze away, calm as ever.

Sheng Yuan felt a flash of anger and gripped his sword tighter. [Li Shuang is still so sure of herself. Is everything she does always right, and everything others say always wrong? I will prove I am not worse than her.]

“Time,” the Silver Devil Guard said lazily.

She blew a gentle breath, and the stick of incense beside her burst into flame.

After a short hush, many of the remaining people charged toward Li Shuang’s group. The seven did not fear them. Even while using only the strength of the Foundation Establishment Stage, the first few to rush in were ground to dust under the sword light.

The Silver Devil Guard watched quietly, a strange light flashing in her eyes. She glanced at the Copper Devil Guard beside her and said: “You were due back in three days. It seems your return was early.”

A tremor ran through the Copper Devil Guard’s heart as he said in a low voice: “I hurried to finish the task the Heavenly Sovereign gave me, so I returned ahead of time.”

“Is that so?” The Silver Devil Guard smiled, her voice warm as she said: “You are truly loyal to the Heavenly Sovereign.”

The Copper Devil Guard quickly said: “Without the Heavenly Sovereign there would be no me today. For the Heavenly Sovereign’s great cause, I am willing to give everything.”

The Silver Devil Guard looked at him and said: “Including your life?”

“Including my life,” the Copper Devil Guard said without hesitation.

“Good,” said the Silver Devil Guard.

He was about to pledge even more when a sharp pain tore through his chest.

He lowered his head in disbelief.

His heart had been ripped out. It lay in the Silver Devil Guard’s hand, still beating.

Mouth wide, the Copper Devil Guard gasped, struggling to speak as he said: “W… why…”

Before he could finish, the Silver Devil Guard’s fingers turned to claws and pierced his dantian.

His last breath fled.

Eyes wide open, the Copper Devil Guard fell straight to the ground.

The Silver Devil Guard glanced at his corpse without expression.

The Heavenly Sovereign’s plan had already succeeded. There was no need to keep this Copper Devil Guard.

The fish had all bitten the hook.

It was time to reel them in.

At the center of the crowd, Luo Ming Yue suddenly opened her eyes.

[The Heavenly Sovereign? I think I found him.]

Strong spiritual power surged up. Luo Ming Yue swung her sword at the great hall.

As the hall split in two, a strange blood red heart rose from underground and flew straight into the Copper Devil Guard’s body.

The aura on his body climbed and climbed. In a blink, it had reached the level of the Nascent Soul Stage.