(Happy New Year!)
Lanke Temple had reportedly first refined Corpse-Guarding Worm during a struggle with a branch of the Southern Demon Cult skilled in using gu poison. Its original purpose was to ward off that poison.
These creatures could also stand in for the powers of Fu Shi and Non-Toxin, clearing toxins, illness, and stagnation from the body.
Of course, none of that was much use to Tang Changsheng.
The two Shaman Barbarians on the ground groaned awake. For a long while, they could not make sense of their situation. Being captured after descending had gravely damaged their Primordial Spirits, and now that Corpse-Guarding Worms had taken root in them, the toll was greater still. If they had not already attained Illusory Spirits, all this torment would have scattered their souls to ash.
Tang Changsheng asked evenly, "Which of you is Gu Junjie? Which is Zhang Qiuping? I'm Tang Changsheng."
Tang Changsheng had changed bodies long ago, so naturally neither recognized him. They were doubtful, suspecting a trick. Then the Primordial Yang Divine Lamp appeared in his palm, its warm light shining all the way into their Seas of Consciousness.
Only then did they recognize him. One cried, "I'm Wang Yanwen, and this is Lu Rongguang... my Senior Brother—my Senior Brother is dead..."
Wang Yanwen's senior brother was Zhang Qiuping. He was actually dead!
Tang Changsheng was mildly surprised. He had thought that, apart from himself, Gu Junjie and Zhang Qiuping had the highest cultivation, the broadest experience, and the steadiest judgment of the five.
Privately, he had believed that if any of the other four survived, it would surely be those two.
He had never imagined that the ones he rescued would be Wang Yanwen and Lu Rongguang, while Zhang Qiuping was dead!
"What about Gu Junjie?" Tang Changsheng