Chapter 873: 470 Pouring In

"Phew…"

Unaware of the upheaval unfolding within the Death Realm, Li Ang swallowed a piece of the Dog God's "flesh," felt his soul rapidly replenishing, and let out a long breath.

Though the process was slightly nauseating, at least his hollow soul had been filled; that earlier sensation—like a gust of wind could scatter him entirely—had been deeply unsettling.

Picking up the small knife again, he carved a strip of pitch-black muscle from the Dog God's hind leg, thicker than three men could embrace, then turned to the female journalist with an invitation.

"Want a bite?"

"No…."

"Your soul has been digested too—have a bite to replenish it!"

Seeing the female journalist's awkward expression, Li Ang urged sincerely:

"Trust me, it looks disgusting, but it has almost no taste—not fishy, not foul, just like chewing unsalted beef jerky; you just need to chew a bit, otherwise it's like chewing cold water."

"But…"

"Trust me, really, it's fine."

After shoving another strip of Dog God flesh into his mouth and feeling the soul energy rapidly spreading through him, Li Ang smiled contentedly, then pressed on:

"You know, the Dog God's body isn't pure flesh—seven-tenths is solidified death qi, the remaining three-tenths is pure soul energy. Think of it as pure energy, and you won't feel weird eating it."

"Then maybe just a little… uh… no, never mind…"

At first, the female journalist had been tempted by Li Ang's words, but when she saw his teeth stained red with dog blood, she instantly abandoned the idea, frantically shaking her head:

"I… I have a weak stomach—I can't eat raw food. Let's just forget it!"

"Fine, it's your call."

Stunned by her excuse, Li Ang nodded silently and stopped pressing.

But after eating a bit more, he grew puzzled: his soul had become extremely dense, yet that strange sense of emptiness remained—a persistent hunger, as if something vital was missing.

"I don't understand soul matters well, but if I had to guess, your original soul hasn't been recovered yet."

After Li Ang's question, the female journalist hesitated, then replied uncertainly:

"The Dog God's body is too large. The soul you lost was scattered throughout its entire form. So while your soul's strength is now full, very little of your original soul has returned."

And your soul itself has always yearned for that original wholeness—that's why you feel empty, as if something's missing."

"I see…"

Feeling the instinctive longing within his soul, Li Ang frowned and pressed further:

"I remember Water Bottle went through hell to repair his soul. If I don't recover my original soul, will it affect me later?"

"Probably not."

After thinking it over, the female journalist answered:

"Though both of you lost most of your souls, he was directly killed—parts of his soul were destroyed. Yours is still intact; the situation is very different."

Think of it like this: suppose both your souls are a single word. His is like half the word being erased—'Good-Evil' becomes 'Good'; without restoring it, the meaning changes entirely.

Yours is like writing the word on paper; over time, the ink fades, but the whole word remains legible. You just need to trace over it with ink again—it's still your own soul."

"But can a restored soul be as good as the original?"

"Uh… if you're worried about that…"

The female journalist pondered, then pointed at the Dog God and tentatively suggested:

"What if you go inside and eat it?"

"?"

"I mean, the Dog God's core isn't its flesh—it's its heart, brain, things like that.

After digesting your soul, it scattered only a small portion into its limbs; most of it gathered in deeper core areas. If you want to recover your soul, eating those places will be far more effective."

"I see… I'll try!"

Hearing her suggestion, Li Ang considered it sensible, took the small knife left by Water Bottle's director, sliced open the Dog God's belly, and crawled toward its heart.

Just as the female journalist sighed in relief, glad she wouldn't have to witness Li Ang's grotesque feasting again, the nests on the cliffs flanking the 【Gate of the Dead】, labeled "Death," suddenly glowed bright.

Moments later, two crow-human hybrids with blood-red crow heads and jet-black wings emerged from two massive Death Crow nests, watching warily toward the colossal corpse of the Dog God outside the 【Gate of the Dead】.

When they spotted the female journalist standing beside the corpse, her face relaxed, they froze—unprepared for the "murderer" of the god to still be present, instinctively trying to retreat.

But under the cacophony of countless Death Crows' cries, they climbed out of their nests, clutching their wings tightly against their backs, and marched stiffly to a spot near the journalist, bowing deeply before speaking:

"May we ask… you… are you the one who killed the Guardian of Death?"

Those crow heads… are they Crow Granny's kin? The Death God's emissaries?

"No no no! Not me!"

Surprised by the Death Realm's swift reaction—the Dog God had barely died, and already the realm's ruler had sent emissaries—the female journalist waved her hands frantically.

"I was just… just passing by, saw it was dead, so I came to check! Yes! I'm only here to look!"

"…"

Someone finds a true god slain, doesn't run away, but comes over to take a look? Have humans become this idle now?

After hearing her answer, the two crow-human hybrids exchanged glances—clearly skeptical.

But her panicked expression and hurried denials made her seem utterly incapable of killing a god; they both exhaled in relief, straightening their bent backs.

"Then did you see the one who killed the Dog God—"

"Gul-gul-gul"

Just as the crow-human hybrids prepared to continue, a roar erupted from the Yellow Springs River beneath the Path of No Return—turbid yellow water surged upward, carving a new turbid tributary across the black ground of the Death Realm.

Immediately, dozens of giant yellow fish, eyes tightly shut, surfaced from the tributary, opening identical closed mouths toward the Dog God and the female journalist.

"May we ask…"

After staring at the female journalist for a moment, the fish suddenly opened their eyes, revealing full mouths lined with tongues and teeth, and spoke in soft, synchronized voices:

"Was the Guardian of Death slain by you?"

"No… I was just passing through…"

"Then did you see the killer—"

"Huuu!!"

As the yellow fish prepared to press further, a chilling black wind swept from the depths of the Death Realm, coalescing into figures draped in jet-black robes—gaunt, faceless, indistinct.

Simultaneously, the dead along the Path of No Return screamed as their bones erupted from their flesh, blinking with nonexistent eyes, turning back toward the 【Gate of the Dead】.

And far beyond, the colossal stone statues lining the Path of No Return—each as large as a mountain—began trudging forward with heavy, thunderous steps…

"…"

Blood-headed Crows, Yellow Springs Fish, Silent Wandering Souls, Shedding Evil Bones, Silent Stone Statues…

Watching the death emissaries—normally unseen, impossible to find, now popping out like dumplings boiling in water—the female journalist's scalp prickled with dread.

Li Ang, for heaven's sake, stay hidden inside! Don't you dare come out now—if you do, we're finished!