Chapter 164 Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey
Witnessing the two Cloaked Figures behaving so strangely, the Martial Artist closest to them quickly moved aside.
One of them was a little slower in retreating, and a Cloaked Figures rushed towards him. Left with no other choice, the Martial Artist blocked the attack with his spear.
Unexpectedly, the Cloaked Figures struck with his palm, bending the iron-forged spear shaft in one blow.
The Martial Artist used the momentum to roll away, barely managing to dodge the sharp claws that came lashing out at him.
The Cloaked Figures was so strange and powerful that, unaware of the situation, everyone naturally retreated.
Deng Qing took a Collapse Step and sped away a great distance.
At such a crucial moment, he felt that the stage had to be handed over to renowned performers like Cao Chun and Huang Bingyao.
Unexpectedly, a few breaths later, more than thirty people rushed out from where the stone tablet had broken.
These people, some wearing cloaks and others with red headscarves, quickly gathered in the square as they waded through the rubble and dust.
"Remnants of the Donghuang Cult!"
Someone exclaimed.
People who were initially only near the broken part of the stone tablet were backing away, but after this sound, even those behind them started moving.
Cao Chun's face was ashen, and he shouted sternly, "No retreat! Form ranks and meet the enemy!"
Several men beside him immediately drew their weapons, but no one from either flank came forward for a long time.
The Martial Artist who had been scrambling to kill the Wasteland Beast were now retreating faster than anyone else.
They either used the Stone Pillar for cover or simply went around to hide behind the stone statues.
Nobody's a fool. At this point, everyone can see that Cao Chun is all talk and no action, and he'll just use everyone else as scapegoats when things go wrong.
In addition, none of them are officially employed; they're just here to take advantage of favorable situations and reap the benefits.
After this battle, Cao Chun was promoted and made a fortune, but most of the Martial Artist still had to return to their hometowns.
It's not surprising that this outcome was produced when a group of slick, seasoned veterans encountered Cao Chun, who only knew how to make empty promises.
Sure enough, no matter how Cao Chun shouted, no one was willing to step forward to meet the enemy.
Deng Qing hid behind a Stone Pillar, while Su Yun Deng Qing behind him, chuckling softly, "Who isn't a fool? For something as big as nailing the Wasteland Veins, if the Command Center really wants to get it done, it will naturally rely on their own core personnel. The Wasteland Spike isn't here, so the people who are actually handling the matter certainly aren't here either."
Cao Chun gathered us together but only made empty promises; who would believe him?
As he spoke, he pointed to the two Cloaked Figures in front of him and whispered, "Those two strange men are clearly Blood Corpse; they are not living beings at all."
"Who would be willing to fight to the death against such a dangerous thing?"
Deng Qing asked in a low voice, "What's this about the Blood Corpse?"
Su Yun said, " Blood Corpse and Qi Beast are similar; both are things Mutation by Wasteland Qi. However, Blood Corpse are created by refining humans after they have been corrupted by Wasteland Qi using Secret Method."
At this stage, human consciousness is long gone, leaving only the instinct to kill. They are incredibly strong, fast, and their meticulously trained bodies are as tough as refined iron, making them extremely difficult to harm.
The Donghuang Cult sent out these things, clearly intending to fight here. I counted carefully, and there are about eight Blood Corpse."
Xiao Jinglin said, "No, it's Nine Heads. Look, the man in the middle of the Donghuang Cult, although he's not wearing a cloak, his eyes are glazed over, and there's a large bulge in his spine. He's most likely a variant of the Blood Corpse."
Su Yun shook his head, "No, this isn't the way Blood Corpse works. It's more like Martial Artist refined Wasteland Blood Wasteland Blood but didn't control it properly, resulting in Mutation and turning into Mutant. Brother Deng, hey, Brother Deng, what happened to you...?"
Su Yun called out repeatedly, but Deng Qing did not respond.
It wasn't until Xiao Jinglin gently patted his shoulder that Deng Qing snapped out of his daze and told the two that he was alright.
However, both Su Yun and Xiao Jinglin sensed something unusual in Deng Qing's extremely solemn expression.
But the two realized that Deng Qing was unwilling to talk about it, so they stopped asking.
It turned out that what caused Deng Qing's expression to change drastically was the Mutant with a bulge on his back that Su Yun had mentioned.
The Mutant was none other than Zhang Yan.
At this moment, Zhang Yan was caught in the middle of a group of Donghuang Cult.
He was shirtless, revealing a lean and fit physique, looking no different from any other person.
But if you shift your gaze even slightly, you can clearly see a prominent bone protruding from his back.
The bone extends downwards from the back of the neck, its large joints forcefully pushing up the skin and flesh.
Several sharp points had even ruptured the skin on his back, revealing grayish-white bone tips.
From a distance, it looked like a deformed dragon skeleton embedded in his back.
Zhang Yan's eyes were bloodshot, his jaw was clenched, the muscles on his face twitched from time to time, and a low growl came from his throat.
It took Deng Qing a long time to recognize that familiar face, now so grotesque.
Deng Qing's mind was in turmoil.
He suddenly remembered that the last time he saw Zhang Yan, Zhang Yan always carried a straw hat on his back.
At that time, Zhang Yan didn't even take it down from his own tent.
Deng Qing was so happy at the time that he saw Zhang Yan was much stronger and assumed that his cultivation had greatly improved.
When he asked Zhang Yan about his recent situation, Zhang Yan said that he was doing well.
He wanted to transfer Zhang Yan to the Deployment Office, but Zhang Yan politely declined.
Before parting, Zhang Yan left a letter for him to give to his wife.
Deng Qing remembered very clearly that before leaving, Zhang Yan suddenly opened his arms to hug him and patted him on the back.
At the time, Deng Qing didn't understand this action, but now he realizes that this thing might have been hidden under that straw hat all along.
Zhang Yan patted his back, likely testing whether he too had undergone a change.
Deng Qing's breathing became increasingly heavy.
Wasteland Blood.
The problem must lie with the Wasteland Blood.
The Pure Jade Method passed down by Li Dashan was completely incapable of refining the Wasteland Blood. Those substances remained in the body, accumulating over time, and eventually became the root of the disaster before us.
The fact that he himself did not exhibit any unusual symptoms was likely due to the presence of the Devour Heaven Scripture, which allowed him to refine the Wasteland Blood.
Now, all the clues have come together. Deng Qing stared at Zhang Yan's distorted face, his anger growing stronger.
At this moment, the last bit of tenderness he had for Li Dashan vanished completely.
That old man, though not Doctor Mo, is even better than Doctor Mo. His generosity and magnanimity, his compassion for the poor and suffering, he acted them off like a god.
Deng Qing stared intently at Zhang Yan, his heart heavy.
Of all the Celebration Hall, his closest friend was Fan Sheng, and besides Fan Sheng, it was Zhang Yan.
Now that Zhang Yan is in trouble, he cannot turn a blind eye.
However, the current situation is complicated, and he doesn't have the ability to overturn the whole situation, so he can only endure for the time being and make his move slowly.
Strangely, the people of the Donghuang Cult did not take advantage of the chaos to kill the scattered Command Center Martial Artist.
Eight Blood Corpse, cloaked and with legs straight, rushed to the north side of the square, forcing aside several Martial Artist blocking their way, and the cult members behind them quickly followed.
They seemed uninterested in anything on the scene and headed straight for the Northern Side entrance to the corridor.
Zhang Yan was also caught in the crowd, and was moved in that direction as if he were being manipulated.
"These guys got a death mission."
Su Yun whispered something.
Xiao Jinglin said, "Since both sides are competing for the Wasteland Veins, these guys are definitely going to reinforce it. The remnants of the Donghuang Cult are in a bad situation."
Cao Chun flew into a rage and roared, "Stop them! Each team pursue them, don't let a single one escape!"
Clearly, one of his tasks was to prevent reinforcements from the Donghuang Cult.
However, he had lost his authority, and no matter how loudly he roared, no one in the arena made a move.
The group of Martial Artist had a clear plan: no one gets up early without a reason. At least they got Fortune Meat from killing the Wasteland Beast earlier.
Now that the Fortune Meat is gone, a group of elites from the Donghuang Cult have appeared, along with several Blood Corpse that are impervious to swords and blades.
Who would risk their life for a mere, uncertain reward?
What are we waiting for?!
Suddenly someone shouted, " The Donghuang Cult members have all gone inside! We're too late; they'll get all the treasures. Are we just going to stand here and wait?"
This remark drew a chorus of agreement.
"All the good stuff in the Divine Hall is going to be taken by others!"
"If we don't leave now, we won't even get to drink the soup!"
The people who had been gathered near the Stone Pillar and statues all stood up and looked towards the north side of the square.
The Martial Artist on the east side exchanged glances and began to move towards the north side of the corridor.
Most people were unwilling to risk their lives for the Command Center, nor were they willing to return empty-handed, so they naturally wanted to find another way out.
The noise in the arena grew louder and louder, and the various teams gradually dispersed, with the numbers on everyone's Armband long since torn off.
Cao Chun gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and shouted sternly, "Anyone who dares to disobey will be punished Military Law!"
As soon as the shout fell, the six guards behind him stepped forward in unison, and instantly, there was a chorus of sounds of weapons being drawn.
These guards were all experts at the Bone-Tempering Two. They had been training together for a long time, and when they put on a show together, their combined power was quite overwhelming.
The shouting Martial Artist immediately fell silent.
Soon, several guards rushed forward and blocked the entrance to the north corridor, their blades raised, stopping the Martial Artist who wanted to escape in the chaos.
The Martial Artist' faces were grim, but they ultimately did not move forward.
While the crowd dared to join in the commotion, none of them dared to break through the guards' obstruction in front of Cao Chun. For a moment, the situation reached a stalemate.
Huang Bingyao whispered, "Brother Cao, this won't do. These guys have become too ambitious, and their eyes are dazzled by this ancient palace."
Cao Chun's heart stirred, and he said, "Brother Huang must have something to teach me."
Huang Bingyao said, "The only solution now is to make an example of someone."
"Who is the chicken? How do we kill it?"
Cao Chun frowned deeply.
Huang Bingyao said in a low voice, "Do I even need to say that?"
Cao Chun's eyes turned cold. "You mean Deng Qing?"
Huang Bingyao said, " Elder Jian disregarded Commander Feng's reputation for this boy, damaging the prestige of the generals at the front. This is a grave sin."
"If we can't do anything to Elder Jian, can't we at least do something to Deng Qing?"
He hated Deng Qing to the core.
Moreover, he had received strict orders: either bring Deng Qing back or bring Deng Qing's body back.
Now, he's only willing to stay by Cao Chun's side for Deng Qing's sake.
Cao Chun said in a low voice, "This is not appropriate. When we pin down the Wasteland Veins later, this person will still be a backup blood pack. Besides, Elder Jian's temper is terrifying to me."
Why risk going against someone surnamed Deng when we can establish our authority over anyone else?
Huang Bingyao thought to himself, "This guy is really not easy to fool."
He quickly changed his mind and said, "I won't lie to you, my master said that Deng Qing's corpse is essential for the success of this mission."
Cao Chun's face turned deathly pale. At this moment, his mind was filled with Jian Ruyu's overwhelming murderous Sha Qi.
Huang Bingyao said, "Don't worry about it. Just observe from the sidelines, and I'll handle the rest."
If we truly fail, it has nothing to do with you; I will bear all the blame.
Cao Chun was still uneasy, but Huang Bingyao pressed on, saying loudly, "Gentlemen, please listen to me. The fact that the Donghuang Cult was able to suddenly break through the Sealing Wall proves that there must be a traitor among us."
The room fell silent immediately after he said that.
As Huang Bingyao spoke, Deng Qing was looking at him, and he was looking at Deng Qing in return.
Suddenly, Huang Bingyao pointed directly at Deng Qing, "The traitor is Deng Qing of the Celebration Hall!"
These words caused an uproar in the room.
" Deng Qing?"
"It was him?"
"Impossible. This person is highly regarded by Elder Jian. Isn't this a joke?"
"
Instantly, everyone looked at Deng Qing.
Those who were close to Deng Qing deliberately kept their distance, except for Xiao Jinglin and his three guards, as well as Su Yun.
Deng Qing remained unmoved, his gloomy expression still lingering as he coldly looked at Huang Bingyao.
Huang Bingyao still pointed firmly at Deng Qing, his expression extremely confident, as if he had already grasped some irrefutable evidence. Before Deng Qing could react, Xiao Jinglin stepped forward first, angrily saying, " Huang Bingyao, stop talking nonsense here!"
Is it something you can just casually accuse someone of being a mole? Without any evidence, you're just throwing this label at someone—what are you trying to achieve?!
The murmurs subsided slightly, and everyone turned to look at Huang Bingyao, wondering how he would respond.
Huang Bingyao remained calm, withdrew his hand from Deng Qing, and bowed to Xiao Jinglin, saying, "Young Master Xiao, I, Huang, never speak without evidence."
As you all saw just now, the Mutant taken away by the Donghuang Cult had bone spurs growing on his back and was no longer recognizable as human.
This person was none other than Zhang Yan, Li Dashan's Personal Disciple, the Celebration Hall.
He was also Deng Qing's Senior Brother.
Huang Bingyao had a very comprehensive grasp of the information about the Celebration Hall lineage.
Apart from Deng Qing, he was the only one in the room who recognized Zhang Yan.
The entire audience erupted in uproar. After all, "Mutant" was a terrifying term, and being associated with Mutant was tantamount to being tainted by something unclean.
Huang Bingyao stared coldly at Deng Qing: "A Personal Disciple of the Celebration Hall, how did you end up like this? And why did you get involved with the Donghuang Cult? Deng Qing, do you really know nothing about the reasons behind this?"
Just as Deng Qing was about to speak, Huang Bingyao's attacks came like a barrage of arrows. He pointed at Deng Qing and said, "Also, you all might as well take a look at Deng Qing."
For no apparent reason, he had a package on his back, which he had been carrying ever since he entered the venue, and he hadn't taken it off.
"May I ask everyone here, who is like Deng Qing?"
Everyone's gaze shifted and turned to look behind Deng Qing.
The bundle on Deng Qing's back was quite large, indeed covering most of her back.
Huang Bingyao's voice continued to rise, "Before entering the Underground Palace, the Command Center specially set up a storage area so that everyone could unload their burdens and enter lightly."
With so many people present, who wouldn't try to bring as little stuff as possible? But he, of all people, kept carrying this huge bag.
What is he trying to cover up with this burden? Do I need to spell it out?
As Huang Bingyao finished speaking, everyone involuntarily pictured Zhang Yan Yan's prominent spine.
Looking at the bundle on Deng Qing's back, the few bulges that were originally inconspicuous now seemed extremely suspicious.
Even Xiao Jinglin had some doubts, but he still didn't move an inch.
Su Yun, on the other hand, wore a disdainful sneer.
A prominent spine is indeed a characteristic of Mutant, but it is only one of the characteristics. With his family's profound knowledge of martial arts, just by looking at Deng Qing's clear eyes, he knew that Huang Bingyao was talking nonsense.
" Zhang Yan is my Senior Brother, that's right."
Deng Qing finally spoke up, "But based on this alone, and the fact that I'm carrying a package on my back, you can conclude that I'm Mutant, a traitor? Isn't that absurd?"
Deng Qing knew that his defense was somewhat weak.
Even he didn't expect that Huang Bingyao would associate the package he was carrying on his back with Mutation.
The package on his back contained the clothes he was going to wear when he changed skins and ran away.
Huang Bingyao sneered, "No matter how much you say, it's all just your side of the story."
If you have nothing to hide, why don't you take off your clothes and let everyone examine you? Whether you're a person or a ghost, the truth will be revealed." The room fell silent, and many people were already nodding in agreement.
Huang Bingyao stared at Deng Qing, already feeling completely confident.
He knew very well what had happened to Zhang Yan.
He knew better than anyone what Li Dashan was doing.
Once Li Dashan makes his move, it will affect the entire Celebration Hall lineage, and will certainly not just fall on Zhang Yan alone.
Both being Li Dashan's Personal Disciple and having consumed the Wasteland Blood, Zhang Yan had already grown something on his back, so Deng Qing naturally wouldn't be without it either.
As for why Deng Qing was still able to remain conscious and act normally, it was simply because Deng Qing had mastered the Pure Jade Method.
But once you take off his clothes, you'll definitely see something unusual on his back.
When the time comes, even if he has a hundred mouths, he won't be able to clear his name in the face of irrefutable facts.
Huang Bingyao had been holding back, waiting for this very moment.
Once Deng Qing's identity Mutant is confirmed, he can be blacklisted, leading to a situation where everyone will want to kill him.
Whether Deng Qing should be killed or tortured is entirely up to Huang.
At this moment, not only Huang Bingyao was excited, but Cao Chun was also thrilled. He quietly asked, "Are you confident?"
Cao Chun saw an opportunity to drag Jian Ruyu Offal with him. As Feng Xiuquan's confidant, how could he not know how furious Feng Xiuquan would be by Feng Xiuquan's Jian Ruyu's Actions Today?
If Jian Ruyu's protection ends up protecting an Mutant, then things will get really interesting.
At that time, no matter how much face or ability Elder Jian has, she won't be able to escape unscathed.
Huang Bingyao said in a low voice, "It's a done deal."
Cao Chun suddenly stood up and said loudly, "I am the one who calls the shots here. If there are any doubts, they must be investigated. Today, whether you allow it or not, it must be investigated. You have no choice."
Now that the Donghuang Cult has infiltrated the Underground Palace, we absolutely cannot allow any more Spy to remain among us!
As soon as he finished speaking, the guards behind him stepped forward simultaneously, their hands all resting on the hilts of their swords.
The arena fell silent instantly.
Xiao Jinglin took a deep breath and said, "Investigation is certainly possible. But what if we find no evidence in the end?"
I listened carefully to Huang Bingyao's explanation. In the end, it was just because Deng Qing's Senior Brother Zhang Yan Mutation, so he also labeled Deng Qing as a suspicious person.
You should know how powerful the Wasteland Qi is here; you have all experienced this along the way.
The exact cause of Zhang Yan's Mutation remains unclear.
Moreover, to come up with another excuse that's just absurd is utterly ridiculous.
In short, if we only suspect people without holding them accountable for false accusations, wouldn't anyone who wants to harm others only need to open their mouths?
Cao Chun's brow twitched, and he was about to speak when Xiao Jinglin added, "Also, please don't forget, Director Cao, what exactly we came here for?"