Chapter 35: Ma Yuanyi
Luoshui Execution Ground.
This was a large execution ground.
Thousands of Yellow Turban rebels had once been executed here.
Now, it was the most heavily polluted place in the entire region.
The sky was drizzling with a rain as red as blood, the air was filled with thick crimson mist, and the ground was covered by a strange fleshy fungal carpet; most trees had mutated, sprouting many wriggling, tumor-like masses of flesh.
A man dressed as a eunuch, exuding an effeminate aura, walked in.
His eyes were pitch-black and hollow, his pale skin was covered with black cracks, resembling a plaster statue that could shatter at any moment, and from each crack, the aura of the Abyss seeped out.
If players like Black-Eyed Rui Ge and Chimera Wraith were present, they would certainly recognize this person, because he was none other than the humanoid boss Xu Feng whom they had encountered at He Ting Village.
At this moment, Xu Feng walked expressionlessly through the core polluted area, shrouded in black mist; his steps seemed slow yet were in fact eerily erratic, constantly teleporting as black fog, making his movement extremely fast.
Moments later.
Xu Feng entered a camp.
This camp looked dilapidated, yet countless Yellow Turban Fiend Soldiers and various twisted and mutated Abyssal creatures roamed inside and out.
Xu Feng did not pause and continued forward.
Passing by these powerful and frenzied monsters.
He finally stopped in front of a lake that seemed to be formed from thick coagulated blood.
Near this bloody lake, the aura of the Abyssal creatures was exceptionally strong, and there were even several Abyssal Fallen Ones like Xu Feng who had retained their intelligence, memories, and cognitive abilities.
"Why have you come here?"
A sinister voice echoed.
A Fallen One appeared in front of him.
Although this person was also dressed in a eunuch's attire like Xu Feng, his robes were tattered beyond recognition, his flesh dried up and skeletal, and a strange green flame burned fiercely between his chest and abdomen.
Feng Xu.
He was the same as Xu Feng.
Once a Regular Attendant in service of Emperor Ling of Han.
Xu Feng spoke calmly, "Reporting an important matter."
Feng Xu said no more and silently stepped aside.
At this moment, the blood-red lake in front of them underwent a bizarre change; endless crimson mist billowed and spread wildly, and then a humanoid silhouette slowly rose from the surging blood.
Although only a blurry figure could be seen, the sense of oppression it created was more terrifying than all the Abyssal creatures and Fallen Ones present combined, dimming even the heavens and earth.
From his appearance.
He could no longer be called human.
At first glance, he looked like a giant nearly three stories tall.
This giant was extremely grotesque, bloated, and twisted, constantly emitting a filthy and profound aura; from his body, it was as if one could hear the mad wails of millions falling into despair.
The shadow in the blood mist was none other than.
The former grand leader of the Yellow Turban Army, Ma Yuanyi.
As the first to fall into the Abyss, he was also the source and core of all the nightmares and pollution in this place, and after twenty years, he had mutated beyond recognition.
He had become a true monster!
The most terrifying part was that this mad monster still retained his former memories and thinking abilities, although his behavioral logic and thought patterns had been utterly corrupted and twisted by the Will of the Abyss.
"General!"
Xu Feng spoke in a hoarse voice, "A group of the Stars' hounds have appeared at He Ting Village; it is feared that a Lord of the Stars has already descended here."
Upon hearing this news.
The blood-red lake churned violently.
Ma Yuanyi let out a great laugh that shook heaven and earth.
His voice seemed to blend countless heart-wrenching whispers that corroded the mind.
Feng Xu immediately said, "If we can obtain the Lord Core of a Lord of the Stars, the General would be equivalent to acquiring a pass to traverse the Abyss; we would be able to break the restrictions and move to other regions of this world."
Xu Feng said, "I am willing to carry this out for the General!"
A deep voice from Ma Yuanyi rumbled, "This Lord of the Stars has only just descended and will surely be protected by the Will of the Stars; you will not be able to approach his territory yet."
After a pause.
He continued, "I sense that the fate barrier over Hexi Village is disappearing; perhaps the Stars’ hounds have already conquered that place. Let those ignorant fools feel the greatness of the Will of the Abyss."
"Yes!"
Xu Feng accepted the order and withdrew.
Ma Yuanyi’s enormous figure still stood tall amidst the dense mist, as ancient memories sealed away for many years surged into his mind; he remembered that the village chief of Hexi Village was his former sworn brother Wei Ji.
This fool remained so stubborn and ignorant!
As his brother, he had never forgotten the promise made in the past!
If he could drag all the people of the world into the Abyss and make them become like himself, they could survive without the need for food!
Through the Will of the Abyss, Ma Yuanyi vaguely sensed the presence of the Grand Teacher; he must have already fallen deeper into the Abyss, awaiting their reunion somewhere.
As long as they defeated the Lord of the Stars.
As long as they seized the Heart of the Stars.
Ma Yuanyi would have the chance to return under Zhang Jiao’s command.
Even though he had become like this, Ma Yuanyi still believed that the Celestial General and Grand Teacher could create a magnificent new era during the age of the Abyss.
Unfortunately.
The Day of Ultimate Darkness had not yet arrived.
As the core of the Abyssal nightmare in this region, Ma Yuanyi could not leave the core polluted zone except on that day; for now, he could only send Xu Feng to probe and test the enemy.
...
The next day.
Main Camp.
Hang Yu asked, "What are the players doing?"
Xiao Ba replied, "Reporting to Master, most of your players are diligently farming monsters and doing quests; only a few are interacting with villagers at Hexi Village, trying to trigger missions."
Hang Yu said, "What about Yan Ling? She didn’t attend the bonfire party last night; many players were disappointed by that!"
Xiao Ba answered, "Your employee Yan Ling is currently researching new equipment and has already made considerable progress. New weapons and armor will soon be available for players to use."
"So that’s how it is!"
The Calamity Legion had hunted down a large number of Skeletal Mountain Goats and Scorpion-Tailed Wild Bulls.
Thus, large quantities of materials like Skeletal Goat Horns and Scorpion-Tailed Bull Leather had flowed into the territory.
These were all excellent materials for crafting equipment, but each material had unique properties, requiring Forgers to study them before they could be turned into equipment.
Yan Ling’s work attitude was truly commendable!
Although her level and abilities were still low, she held great potential for cultivation!
Just as Yan Ling needed to first understand the properties of Skeletal Goat Horns and Scorpion-Tailed Bull Leather to craft gear, each Lord’s territory had different local materials; it was best not to easily replace a long-term chief Forger.
He would observe for a while longer.
If Yan Ling continued to perform well.
She would be formally promoted as the chief Forger of the territory.
"Since employees are working hard and players are working hard, I, as the Lord, must not slack off either. After all, Abyssal creatures could pose a threat at any time; the planning and construction of the territory must proceed quickly!"
This trip to Hexi Village.
Hang Yu had also gained greatly.
It was time to begin the further development of the territory.