Hiss, hiss, hiss—!
The strange sound rang out continuously within the Darkness Clan's core territory, growing ever more shrill.
Yet no one panicked. Their eyes, swollen red from weeping, were filled with joy.
The Ancestor was gone.
And the Flesh-Weaving Machine had begun its true evolution.
This meant their plan had advanced another step, and humanity's hope had increased by another measure.
The Flesh-Weaving Machine's rate of expansion exceeded everyone's expectations.
From breaking through the Tiered Platform stage to becoming a Thousand Petals-level entity, the Flesh-Weaving Machine, originally only the size of a room, had already grown to half the size of a football field.
Yet countless new petals continued to grow without end.
"Fall back! Leave the core territory!" The Clan Chief struggled to his feet, and the Punishment Councilor beside him hurriedly supported him.
Ignoring the bloodstains on his body, he shouted to the others as he retreated outside.
They had previously consulted Wu Heng and roughly calculated the relevant dimensions, but none of those figures had anticipated changes on this scale.
At this rate, if the Flesh-Weaving Machine reached the Ten Thousand Flowers stage—
It would likely fill the entire core area of their territory.
"Clan Chief, will there be enough space here? It seems too late to start excavating now. Should I use bombs to blast open the walls blocking the way?" another councilor beside him asked.
"If we blast through the partitions separating this place from the secret chambers, research rooms, and clan hall, we can expand the area by at least three times!"
The Clan Chief stared at the Flesh-Weaving Machine and sensed it slightly before shaking his head. "No need."
"The Flesh-Weaving Machine's strength upon reaching the final stage of evolution will be enough to withstand every Great Evil Spirit that attacks us.