Chapter 140: Dan Ding Si—Pharmacist King's Secret Transmission Incubation Base!

On the other side, Dan Ding Si.

The setting sun was blood‑red, the evening wind brushed the smoke‑laden Dan Ding Si, where an indescribable chill and desolation hung in the air; the broken limbs and corpses of the Cloud Rider Army littered the ground, filling hills and valleys, while crows circled the low branches, ready to begin feasting.

Just as a crow spread its beak, repeatedly pecking at an eyeball, sudden footsteps shattered the silence, scattering the flock.

"The battle is truly fierce…" It was his first time seeing such a scene, and San Yueqi instinctively crouched behind Xing.

"It seems that while we were delayed at Gong Zao Si, Lord Tai Bu had already set out," Ting Yun guessed.

"Fortunately the general didn't make us follow the Cloud Riders… war and adventure are really different," San Yueqi shivered, "All these bodies on the ground… I just can't stand such a grand scene."

"The benefactor's words are nothing special, this isn't really a scene…" Ting Yun crossed his arms, glanced sideways at the corpses strewn beneath the steps, and said, "Centuries ago, a prosperous envoy, in a bid to seize the Jianmu, led his troops against Luofu, nearly destroying half the cavern heavens and wiping out the Cloud Rider Army almost entirely."

"Such a past is barely history for the Immortal Species, calling it yesterday wouldn't be an overstatement. Compared to that, what's happening now is just a minor skirmish."

"Wow, you really know how to comfort people!" Hearing Ting Yun say that, San Yueqi shrank even further back.

These Cloud Riders…

Xiuta Erke lowered his gaze; thinking that these Cloud Rider brothers also had siblings, spouses, children, and parents, a sharp pang of sorrow rose from deep within.

…Within the Celestial Boat, there must be those who miss them and those they miss, right? Yet the Demon Shadow Bodies pierced the Cloud Riders' chests with a single strike, snuffing out all hope and beauty in an instant.

Staring at the painful or twisted faces of the dead Cloud Riders, memories of home flooded his mind, and Xiuta Erke seemed to see the corpses burned by the Demon King Army, smelling iron and fire in the air…

He abruptly clamped his hand over his mouth, forcing down the urge to vomit.

As he trembled, a warm current washed away his discomfort; Xiuta Erke turned his head and saw Zan Yin holding a sacred tome, bestowing the goddess's protection upon him.

"What's wrong? Unaccustomed to the grand scene?" After the protection ended, Zan Yin patted his shoulder reassuringly, "If you still feel uneasy, just rest today."

"Such sights are commonplace on the Demon King Army's front line, one could say they happen daily," Fuli Lian reminded from beside, "If we have to cross the northern plateau later, we'll inevitably pass the front line… you should adapt early, Xiuta Erke."

"Hmm." Xiuta Erke lowered his eyes, "Seeing these dead Cloud Riders just brings back some old memories…"

"I wonder whether Tai Bu won or lost this battle?" Walte watched the carnage inside Dan Ding Si, looking rather concerned.

"Conservatively, a 1‑to‑1 draw," Xing guessed.

"…You think this is a match with a draw?" San Yueqi gave her a cold glance, "I see more fallen Demon Shadow Bodies than Cloud Riders; this battle the Celestial Boat should have fought splendidly."

"…Not necessarily." Walte shook his head lightly, "If the march had been a great victory, they'd usually leave a garrison and rear troops, but none are here. Let's search around; perhaps there are clues."

Xing examined several Demon Shadow Body corpses, finding sword marks on their armor; astonishingly, all the marks came from the dead's own weapons. These Demon Shadow Bodies were… suicides.

How could this be? With doubt, Xing and the others walked along the avenue, soon discovering two people in a nearby corridor.

One was dressed as a Dan Ding Si physician, the other a Cloud Rider clutching his head in agony.

It seemed the physician was tending the Cloud Rider's wounds; Xing was about to inquire about the unit's whereabouts, but the woman, upon seeing them, exclaimed in surprise, "Huh, you're not Cloud Riders… what are you doing here? It's dangerous."

Walte: "We were sent by the general as aid. May I ask where everyone else has gone?"

"Hehe…" The physician suddenly let out a sinister laugh, "They actually brought the short‑lived species as reinforcements… hehe, Jing Yuan really has no one left to use."

Her words instantly made the atmosphere feel off to everyone.

Sure enough, the trembling Cloud Rider mustered all his strength, choking out through clenched teeth, "Run! This guy is… the Pharmacist King's Secret Transmission!"

"Talkative!" the female physician said coldly, "If I heal you, you'll become one of us."

Demon Slayer World—

"Oh? So you can turn a gravely wounded Cloud Rider into a Demon Shadow Body?"

"And then let the Demon Shadow Body fight the living Cloud Riders… the Pharmacist King's Secret Transmission aligns with my thoughts."

Inside Infinite City, Guiwu Ji Wu Can nodded approvingly.

For centuries he deliberately sought to turn those sword‑users with the Breath Technique into demons, making them fight the Demon Slayer Corps; the results were outstanding.

Unfortunately, few sword‑users were willing to become demons; some, even after turning, remained loyal to the Demon Slayer Corps, preferring suicide over serving him.

"But Wu Can never considered it his own problem."

—They'd rather die than become demons, which only shows their minds are all defective! They're utterly irrational fools! They abandon near‑infinite life yet cling to a few decades as humans; it's sheer stupidity!

…just like those Cloud Riders behind the light curtain, after becoming Demon Shadow Bodies they'd rather kill themselves than enjoy a perfect immortal body; Wu Can thinks they're as foolish as the sword‑users of the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Jade Jar."

Wu Can lifted his eyelid slightly; a strangely shaped jar appeared before him, its head cautiously peeking out, and after confirming the lord was not angry, it respectfully revealed its whole form: "Lord…"

"After you and Ban Tian Gou go to Blade Smith Village, remember to bring me a living blade smith."

Wu Can looked down from his height, coldly saying, "I will conduct some small experiments on those fools loyal to the Demon Slayer Corps…"

Golden branches burst from the Cloud Rider's body, golden ginkgo leaves sprouted from the hair at his nape, and in the blink of an eye, the Cloud Rider transformed before everyone's eyes into a Demon Shadow Body!

His consciousness seemed wildly confused, swinging his blade at Xing erratically while pleading, "Quick… get out of here…"

"I can't control myself—!!"