While the four-armed brawny man and the others were trembling with unease, Yuan Yao still had yet to recover her senses.
"Wh-what exactly happened? How did that Sacred Nest suddenly explode? And who was activating the Linglong Brocade Ball?
"More importantly, how did this puppet come running out from behind me?"
"Fellow Daoist Yuan, please show mercy! We will never come to trouble you again!"
In Zi Youzi's eyes, he too could see only a desert. Yet the sand beasts emerging from it attacked only the others, completely ignoring him.
He immediately realized that they had all fallen entirely into Yuan Yao's illusion technique.
Although Yuan Yao had not attacked him out of consideration for their past friendship, Zi Youzi did not wish to see Shang Xuzi and the others perish either. Thus, he could only plead on their behalf.
"Calling me 'demoness' with every other breath—do you really think I would spare them?
"Leave. Take my words back with you. If the Mayfly Race wants them alive, bring Netherworld Sacred Marrow and the Nine-Spider Emperor Brain in exchange!"
Though Yuan Yao herself had not yet figured out what was going on, she still spoke with imposing authority.
Strangely enough, the moment her words fell, the Wolf-headed Puppet seized Shang Xuzi, who had already lost all ability to resist, and brought him to her side.
At the same time, the Mayfly Race Grand Ascension cultivators trapped in the illusion all stiffened, then fainted.
The scene before Zi Youzi changed, returning him to Styx Land. Seeing that Shang Xuzi and the others had all been captured, he could not help but reveal an anxious expression.
"Fine, fine, everything can be discussed! Fellow Daoist Yuan, give me some time. I will certainly give you a satisfactory answer!"
The simultaneous loss of eight