Chapter 2020: Seeking Benevolence, One Finds Benevolence

That net covered the sky and earth; the woman braced her hand on the ground and slipped through from beneath the net.

However, her field of vision was suddenly filled by a black-and-white figure that had abruptly appeared.

A giant spider, standing as tall as a foal.

It lunged forward in an embrace, its eight legs tightly coiling around the woman, its fangs mercilessly biting into the back of her neck.

The burning pain, transmitted through the skin sack, caused Him to let out a loud "Ah!" cry.

Usually, damage to the skin sack—whether from blades, spears, or divine abilities—would not be felt by the possessing deity. But this time was different!

This toxin can actually directly damage the soul!

She convulsed violently from the pain, her struggling strength greatly diminished.

In just that brief moment, the spider tightened its grip, flipped the prey twice, and wrapped it in a thick layer of silk, especially careful not to let the tips of her fingers touch each other.

The woman's palm ignited a cluster of azure fire, intending to burn the spider silk.

But this net itself is dark red, woven from Zhu Xiuer's heart's blood, and is insulated against most divine abilities.

Swelling began on her face and body, as if mice were scurrying beneath her skin. This is the spider queen's toxin beginning to decompose the prey's body—it can not only turn a human body into a pool of pus within thirty breaths, but also block divine consciousness from controlling the body. Simply put, its paralyzing effect is extremely strong.

The woman's speed in reciting the incantation thus slowed; the short three syllables, due to swollen tongue and mouth, could not be uttered clearly.

Sixty-six also flashed over, without a word, and forcibly tore off her head!

They wanted no confession at all, only her death!

Blood spurted everywhere, and a point of green light burst from the corpse, flying toward the horizon.

This is the heavenly demon's incarnation descended into the mortal realm. With its shell shattered, it cannot remain and must return swiftly to its true form.

Zhu Xiuer threw out a jade purification bottle from somewhere; the bottle spun once and then stabilized, its mouth erupting with powerful suction.

The green light struggled desperately to evade, but could not resist the pull and was still sucked into the bottle.

Without a physical form, its power is weak and cannot contend with immortal artifacts.

Yes, this jade purification bottle was lent to Zhu Xiuer by the Immortal Liu Qingdao of the Phantom Sect; he originally intended to use it against the Zhao You God in the Overturned Sea, but He Lingchuan got there first and seized the spoils with his divine bone necklace.

Only now did he realize that this item also possesses great power.

The eyeball spider on Zhu Xiuer's head stuffed a stopper into the bottle's mouth, then somehow took it away to an unknown place.

It lowered its head to look at the headless corpse on the ground, then extended its divine sense to scan the surroundings, confirming no danger before

saying: "Come out."

The effect of the divine technique had already faded, and the snail toad emerged from underground.

Dong Rui jumped out of the snail shell, shouting angrily: "They actually came for me!"

This divine incarnation is real, and it has been following Guo Bai Yu all along, yet it was not used on the Miancheng battlefield. Only after the battle ended and Guo Bai Yu was beheaded did the heavenly demon secretly descend, knocking on Dong Rui's door.

Clearly, what the heavenly demon cares about is not the ownership of Miancheng, nor Guo Bai Yu's battle, but Dong Rui himself!

This is truly beyond expectation! He nearly capsized in the gutter.

Zhu Xiuer naturally asked him: "What did you do?"

The issue lies here; Dong Rui fumed: "I didn't do anything at all!"

He still felt some lingering fear: "Thanks to your timely arrival."

Zhu Xiuer was also somewhat pleased. She had rushed both fast and slow but failed to reach the Miancheng battle in vain, feeling regretful, yet here she slew a heavenly demon incarnation and incidentally saved Dong Rui.

Speaking of which, these heavenly demons have become increasingly cunning—not only taking advantage of the imperial fluid eruption period to descend to the lower realm to increase their power, but even attempting to capture Dong Rui, for unknown purposes.

The spoils inside the bottle must later be handed over to He Lingchuan for thorough interrogation.

From behind the ruins came a clattering sound; one person and one spider turned their heads, discovering movement in the courtyard.

In such a cramped place, immortals were fighting, yet Fan Shuang miraculously remained unharmed. During the automaton and heavenly demon battle, he had always curled in a corner with his hands over his head, waiting until both sides moved out, then he rushed across the courtyard to gather the fallen bricks and timber.

After moving two bricks, he saw the leg that Tudu Shanfang had placed, so he dug even more energetically.

A shadow flickered beside him; Fan Shuang jumped in fright, but it was Automaton Sixty-six also coming over, and in a few moves they dug open the ruins.

Beneath lay a person.

Tudu Shanfang.

Blood still stained the corner of his mouth, his eyes wide open, his hand still gripping a battle-axe tightly, but his chest was completely caved in.

The heavenly demon's furious strike—even the Black Armor Army warriors could not withstand it.

"Tud brother!" Fan Shuang immediately knelt beside him.

Dong Rui lightly pressed his fingers to the man's neck, and after a while shook his head.

"This is Tudu Shanfang, and also the commander who has always led Miancheng's resistance against Guo Bai Yu! Earlier, thanks to his interception of the heavenly demon and his warning to me, otherwise..." Dong Rui said to Zhu Xiuer, "You would truly have arrived too late."

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At that time, Dong Rui had already relaxed, and was tinkering with materials in the house; if not for Tudu Shanfang's fearless sacrifice, the heavenly demon would have broken in earlier, and he wouldn't even have had time to summon the snail toad!

Calculating with intent against unintentional, his escape was truly a fluke.

Zhu Xiuer then said: "Then you should properly repay his family, and fulfill this karmic bond."

It has fought this way all along, having seen countless brave warriors bleed on the battlefield, yet each time it also secretly sighs.

Sixty-six lifted Tudu Shanfang and gently placed him on the relatively intact cot inside the house.

Dong Rui bowed solemnly to him, his fingertips touching the ground.

Fan Shuang beside him had already burst into tears.

Tudu Shanfang had clearly said he joined the Black Armor Army only to earn money; yet why, when facing the heavenly demon alone, could he rush forward without hesitation?

This person truly has a dissonance between heart and mouth.

At this moment, a large troop also rushed from the street corner. Although the battle between the heavenly demon, the automaton, and Zhu Xiuer was intense, its duration was too short; Wan Qi Liang and others heard the commotion and only now arrived.

Dong Rui patted Fan Shuang's shoulder, sighed, stood up, and went to find Wan Qi Liang to explain the situation.

Miancheng was again placed under citywide lockdown, arresting foreign spies.

Fan Shuang paid no mind to what was happening outside, and cried her heart out for a good while, then went to the outer room and fetched a jug of wine and two cups, filling them up.

"You said we'd drink another day, and that day is today." He picked up one cup and lightly tapped it against the other, "Thank you, for saving my family once again!"

He drained his cup in one gulp, then gently poured the other cup of wine onto the ground.

The next day, Miao City plunged into tense postwar reconstruction, and the Fan father and son were busy to the point of not having their feet touch the ground.

In this way, five days passed, and Dong Rui sent him a message:

The Nine Nether Great Emperor arrived at Ci Hua County.

He immediately went to the relay station to borrow a horse and galloped off at full speed.

Ci Hua County was indeed different from half a month ago, with a sentry every five steps and heavy troops guarding it.

As a minor county official, he naturally had no qualifications to meet the Nine Nether Great Emperor face to face, but fortunately he still had the Silver Wood Token; after submitting it to the authorities, he anxiously awaited a response.