The flying boat slowly descended, and Chu Feikong flickered into motion, leaping lightly out.
His gaze swept over the wary Yue Household disciples ahead, his voice carrying an inherent authority:
"Chu Feikong of the Condensed Jade Sect. I have come specifically for the Liangshan Stronghold massacre. Please grant us passage."
Upon recognizing Chu Feikong, the Yue Household disciple immediately grew respectful. He hurriedly put away his sword and bowed:
"So it is Island Master Chu. Forgive my discourtesy. Please follow me, Island Master Chu. I will show you the way."
With Chu Feikong taking the lead, the three entered Liangshan Stronghold unimpeded under the Yue Household disciple's guidance.
Yet the instant they stepped through the stronghold gates, an indescribable stench struck them in the face.
Even Di Huaiyi, a well-traveled and knowledgeable disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall, could not help drawing a sharp breath.
The sight before them was beyond anything the word "惨age" could describe.
The village that had once housed over a thousand people had now been reduced almost entirely to charred ruins.
As far as the eye could see, there were only broken walls and crumbling structures. Many houses had collapsed completely, leaving nothing but heaps of rubble and shattered tiles.
Deep claw marks and bloodstains remained on many of the blackened stones.
Bones. Scattered white bones were everywhere.
Some lay strewn across the ground; others were buried beneath the ashes.
In a relatively open area at the center of the village, the sight was even more appalling.
Over a hundred skeletons had been neatly arranged in a bizarre fashion, their bones twisted and dislocated. They had clearly suffered immense torment before death.
As though some sacrificial ritual had been performed, all these bones bore obvious traces of spells.
Hell on earth could be no worse