Within a sprawling valley on Ox Heart Mountain, waterfalls thundered and streams roared, yet both banks were filled with stifled wails and sobs.
A closer look revealed that the rocks and forests along both banks were packed with human captives strung together by ropes. Most were able-bodied young adults, with quite a few boys and young girls as well, but hardly any elderly people were to be seen.
At a rough glance, there were at least several hundred thousand human captives here, while water demons constantly carried in more humans captured from the mountains in the distance.
Quite a few grotesque water demons with green faces and fangs prowled among them, kicking the captives from time to time. Occasionally, several water demons were overcome by lust, dragging over a woman without a care for anything else, tearing her clothes to shreds, and committing bestial acts amid the torrential rain.
Every now and then, some water demons secretly dragged away an able-bodied young man, not even bothering to strip him before intending to swallow him whole as blood food. Yet before they could eat him, a water whip lashed them until they shrieked miserably.
"Have you eaten Crown Prince's orders too? When you hunt in the mountains, no one stops you from eating able-bodied young men. But these captives concern Crown Prince's great undertaking. Do it again, and I'll whip you to death!" A short, wiry water demon with a demon's body and human head emerged from the void and berated them.
Concealed within the rain and mist, Ye Zhen swept his gaze around impassively before looking toward the mountain river.
At such close range, he had long since clearly sensed the Dragon Fish Water Lord's location: within the rushing river below.
Moreover, in Ye Zhen's senses, several hundred immensely powerful