Jiang Yan fixed his gaze on the Gu-Eating Daoist Child. Although the man had never acted entirely normally, he had at least looked human.
How had he become so hideous now?
Even Daoists who cultivated the Sinew-Shifting and Bone-Transmuting Dao mostly chose the bloodlines of powerful exotic beasts to strengthen themselves.
Their bodies might take on some bestial features, but they would never look this horrifying.
Countless thoughts swirled through Jiang Yan's mind, but he forcibly held them back and asked without changing his expression:
"Fellow Daoist Gu-Eating, may I ask what caused you to become... like this?"
Beside him, the Xipi Daoist Child hesitated, seemingly reluctant to bring it up.
The Gu-Eating Daoist Child on the bed, however, seemed to have given up trying to salvage a shattered pot. He no longer hid his head behind his body.
He simply poked his head out, a miserable smile appearing on his face.
"You needn't spare my feelings, fellow Daoist. Becoming this monster actually saved my life."
Despite his words, the many insect legs flailing beneath his body made it clear that he was not entirely untroubled.
They did not keep Jiang Yan waiting long. They could hardly conceal the truth while asking for help.
Seeing Gu-Eating fall silent, the Xipi Daoist Child continued:
"Earlier, Gu-Eating's entire body was struck in two. Though he fought desperately to make it back to town, with injuries like those, how many days could he have lived even with methods to keep him clinging to life?"
"We had no other options and thought we could only wait for death. But unexpectedly, someone came knocking."
At this point, the Daoist Xipi ground his teeth.
"It was Jade Bottle Daoist, who teaches the Witchcraft and Gu Ritual Path. She said she happened to have a technique that