"Report!"
"Lord of Evil Kings, Bai Zihe has arrived!"
The Evil King, hands clasped behind his back, approached the window of the tower, gazing down from above.
In the distance, several figures clad in Central Plains attire were advancing unhurriedly. The one leading, dressed in white, unstained by even a speck of frost, was none other than Bai Zihe.
"Accompany me to welcome our guest."
The Evil King narrowed his eyes, a flicker of an unusual expression crossing his face.
Below the Sky-Reaching Tower.
"Wow, what a beautiful tower."
Liu Qianxun couldn't help but exclaim.
A wooden structure rose from the ground, piercing the sky, reaching into the clouds.
Before the tower stood ninety-nine steps, flanked by seated lions and crouching tigers, majestic and strangely beautiful, lifelike.
On the walls.
Mysterious and profound stone carvings captivated the onlookers, showcasing the unique culture and essence of Miao territory.
Bai Zihe gazed at the towering structure, so different from the Central Plains style, yet possessing a unique charm, and marveled.
"A truly magnificent Sky-Reaching Tower."
"Its style is elegant, grand, and magnificent, yet retains the distinctive features of Miao territory..."
"Truly a symbol of Miao territory."
"This journey."
"To witness the human sentiment of Miao territory and behold its customs, this trip is not in vain!"
At this very moment.
A sudden voice echoed from the tower's passageway: "The human sentiment and customs of my Miao territory are so grand, I fear you may have the life to see them, but not the life to return!"
The voice was chilling, utterly devoid of any attempt to conceal the killing intent.
Bai Zihe turned his head to look.
The newcomer had the appearance of a pale scholar, delicate and refined, but with an indescribable malevolent aura between his brows. His head was bare and gleaming, embroidered with fierce, strange beasts.
He approached now, his face shrouded in gloom, a sinister smile playing on his lips.
It was the Evil King.
"Bai Zihe!"
"You, a native of the Central Plains, why do you come to my Miao territory to commit acts of slaughter?"
Before Bai Zihe could speak, the Evil King let out a cold reprimand, his voice imbued with a seductive charm.
An ordinary person hearing it would likely fall to their knees and pledge allegiance on the spot.
This technique was truly unfathomable.
Bai Zihe spoke out loudly, easily deflecting the effect: "I come for the Gu King."
"As for those dead..."
"It was not my intention to kill them."
Neither subservient nor arrogant, he met the gaze directly, utterly fearless!
"The Gu King?"
Hearing the name, the Evil King's face instantly darkened.
Dark clouds gathered overhead, obscuring the sun.
The atmosphere became exceedingly oppressive.
Bai Zihe paid it no mind, calmly stating, "I require his assistance for a matter."
The Evil King chuckled sinisterly, "Is it the Gu worm in your sister's mind?"
Before Bai Zihe could reply, he continued, "Actually, I have a method that can help resolve the Gu worm in her mind."
Having said that.
He curled his lips, gazing at Bai Zihe with amusement.
Bai Zihe raised an eyebrow and asked, "What method?"
The Evil King grinned, speaking with ill intent, "It's quite simple, actually."
"Just remove the restrictions and let the Gu worm act freely, feeding your sister daily with things like corpse oil, venomous insects, fresh human flesh, and so on."
"This way, your sister will naturally grow plump and healthy, and the Gu worm will thrive. I will also teach you a secret technique to merge them into one."
"At that point, your sister will be the Gu worm, and the Gu worm will be your sister..."
"Both saving her life and gaining power, isn't that wonderful?"
With each sentence the Evil King spoke, Bai Zihe's expression grew colder.
By the time he finished, the place had become an icy wasteland, brewing an extreme blizzard, and boundless killing intent now enveloped everything.
The Evil King remained unfazed.
He showed a mocking smile and said, "Bai Zihe, what do you think?"
Bai Zihe's gaze swept over him.
Ice crystals had already formed in his pupils: "I will give you three moves."
"After three moves, you die!"
The moment the word "die" was uttered.
A cold wind swept across, vast and boundless!
The killing intent had become almost tangible, poised to consume everything at any moment.
"Hahahaha—"
The Evil King burst into laughter, his voice shattering the heavens.
Arrogant, defiant, and peerless!
He looked at Bai Zihe with utter contempt: "Bai Zihe, you are the most audacious person I have ever met!"
"After three moves, you die?"
He sneered, then roared, "White-Faced Ape, where are you?"
"Bai Zihe's body is quite good, it shall be bestowed upon you!"
As the words fell.
To the bewildered gazes of Liu Qianxun and Yan Zhiyun, a white-faced ape suddenly darted out, kneeling on the ground and speaking human words: "Thank you, Lord of Evil Kings, for bestowing this body upon me!"
Saying this, it bowed again before rising.
Its gaze towards Bai Zihe held admiration, then greed, and finally, it transformed into delight.
With all its movements and expressions, it was astonishingly human-like!
Liu Qianxun and Yan Zhiyun were both startled.
Looking at the creature before them, which was like a human but not quite, a sense of unknown trepidation grew within them.
In fact, the White-Faced Ape was essentially a human being.
Its specialty lay in the art of soul manipulation, also known as soul control.
In Miao territory, this was a rare yet powerful existence.
However, the White-Faced Ape was pursued by enemies who severed its limbs and cast it off a cliff.
At the brink of death, an ape approached, and it abandoned its original, broken body, taking possession of the ape to preserve its life.
And now.
The Evil King, noticing Bai Zihe's fine physique, conceived the idea of having it possess Bai Zihe.
This way, it would eliminate Bai Zihe and gain a powerful subordinate.
A win-win situation, indeed.
"Bai Zihe, do you know who I am?"
The White-Faced Ape leaped before Bai Zihe, suddenly speaking in a deep voice.
Bai Zihe faltered, then fell into a daze.
This was the White-Faced Ape's technique.
When conversing or making eye contact, it would, without anyone noticing, use its spiritual sense to enter the other's sea of consciousness through their eyes.
Then, with swift and decisive action, it would destroy the other's soul and replace it.
That is... possession!
And now, Bai Zihe's eyes were vacant, he was already meat for the slaughter!
The White-Faced Ape was overjoyed.
Its spiritual sense immediately surged towards Bai Zihe's sea of consciousness.
Seeing this, the Evil King's lips also curled into a cold smile.
"Junior Brother, what's wrong?"
Yan Zhiyun, seeing Bai Zihe suddenly freeze, became anxious and moved to help him.
But before she could make a move, Liu Qianxun pulled her back.
"Oh dear—"
Liu Qianxun watched with a playful expression: "Can't you have a little more faith in the Great Demon Lord?"
"Junior Brother, he..."
Yan Zhiyun pointed at the motionless, vulnerable Bai Zihe, her gaze towards Liu Qianxun filled with disbelief.
If she hadn't personally witnessed Liu Qianxun turn that shadowy figure into a puppet, she might have suspected Liu Qianxun was working for the Evil King!
Liu Qianxun smiled mysteriously: "Just you wait and see."
At first, she hadn't understood the origins of the White-Faced Ape.
But when it hopped in front of the Great Demon Lord, and the Great Demon Lord suddenly became dazed, Liu Qianxun understood immediately!
This was just like when she and the Great Demon Lord first met, and she had tried to use a secret technique to control his mind!
The strength of the Great Demon Lord's spiritual sense was something she still remembered vividly.
This big ape before them...
It would likely struggle for a while, only to discover in the end that it was the clown.
Therefore.
She was eagerly awaiting a good show!