"An ant demon, and so arrogant at that. Could it be..."
Beside him, E Youwei sank deep into thought, a trace of horror and wariness flashing unconsciously through his scarlet eyes.
He remembered that an ant demon seemed to have stood beside that white-robed youth earlier.
"Come. Take me to see him!"
Lei Liuchi's expression tightened slightly. He slowly rose and followed the blood-armored demon soldier, bringing E Youwei along.
The tree palace fell utterly silent.
Nearly a hundred attendants, maidservants, and guards kept as quiet as cicadas in winter, their heads lowered and eyes fixed on the floor.
Over the years, plenty had tried to steal the fruit, but few had been this brazen.
Seeing thunderous fury rise even in Lei Liuchi, who had long grown numb to attempts at fruit theft, all the creatures trembled slightly. Even their breathing was carefully restrained, making not a sound.
Nearly a hundred creatures stood in plain sight within the ancient tree palace.
Some were demons, others humans.
Eighty percent of the Human Race members in the palace had been abducted.
The remaining twenty percent stayed willingly, choosing to remain for the benefits.
Meanwhile.
In the Heavenly Thunder Wasteland.
With his hands clasped behind his back and a look of contempt for all beneath heaven, Lao Six charged alone into the heart of the enemy formation, crowded with palaces. Every word he uttered dripped with arrogance and provocation.
"Where's Lei Liuchi? This ancestor has arrived, and that little bastard still hasn't hurried out to pay his respects?"
"Have you delivered the message yet? You're crawling along like turtles!"
Lao Six swaggered forward as he cursed.
Nearly a hundred fearsome chicken demons lay sprawled at his feet, howling incessantly.
Demonic figures surrounded him on every side, lightning surging around them.
It was