Ying Chen stood like a reef in a storm, unwavering.
All the demons and monsters clawed at him, yet strangely, as they reached their prey, there was no sign of biting.
Instead, their mouths gaped, like a dog biting a hedgehog, unsure where to sink its teeth.
Ashiya Douman frowned.
Just as he was about to forcibly command these specters to eliminate Ying Chen, he heard screams emanating from Ying Chen's body.
At first, Ashiya Douman thought the specters had finally attacked, and Ying Chen could no longer endure the pain.
But upon closer inspection, he saw Ying Chen's skin shimmering with a golden light. The moment this light touched the demons and monsters, it instantly dissolved them!
In the blink of an eye, all the specters clinging to Ying Chen turned into wisps of smoke!
The remaining demons and monsters, who had been eagerly lunging at Ying Chen, froze in place upon witnessing this.
Then, they all turned and fled in unison!
Ying Chen let out a cold laugh. "Run?"
He then lightly stomped his foot on the ground.
A ripple like water spread outwards, encompassing all the fleeing demons and monsters.
Within the ripples, these specters writhed as if undergoing unbearable torture, losing all strength to escape, their bodies trembling, their mournful cries echoing in all directions.
With a splash!
The ripples surged, creating a small wave.
This seemingly insignificant wave swallowed over a hundred demons and monsters!
Without even a single scream, they vanished without a trace.
The remaining specters exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting deep fear.
Without a word, they all knelt before Ying Chen in unison!
As if paying homage to their new king!
"Nani?"
Witnessing this, Ashiya Douman was furious.
The spirits he had painstakingly nurtured for years, at immense cost in wealth and effort, had ultimately rebelled and surrendered?
How could he possibly accept this?
"Omae ni shinjimasu! Omae ni shinjimasu! Hyakki yo! Kiko!"
Ashiya Douman bit his finger, drawing a strange rune in the air, his hands forming seals that trembled continuously.
He was attempting to forcibly recall these demons and monsters.
Alas, despite Ashiya Douman's desperate efforts, not a single specter moved.
They remained kneeling on the ground, like loyal martyrs.
Had he not just witnessed their betrayal, Ashiya Douman might have been moved by their spirit!
"Damn it..." Ashiya Douman cursed harshly.
Yet, he was utterly helpless.
Ying Chen watched Ashiya Douman's maneuvers, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Want them?"
"No problem, have them."
With that, Ying Chen stomped his foot again.
Instantly, all the demons and monsters seemed freed, surging towards Ashiya Douman like a tide.
Each specter wore an expression of guilt on its face.
As if to say: We were not in control moments ago, our betrayal was not genuine.
Now that we have returned to your side, Master, please forgive us.
Ashiya Douman breathed a slight sigh of relief.
After raising these spirits for so many years, it seemed they still had some affection for him.
However, what Ashiya Douman never expected was that the specters, who had just moments ago been expressing guilt towards him, suddenly turned violent. A fierce, bloodthirsty intent emanated from them.
They intended to devour Ashiya Douman, to make him their sustenance!
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Ashiya Douman was enraged, uttering "damn it" three times consecutively.
The anger in his heart reached its breaking point. He held no more illusions or sentiment for these demons and monsters.
Just as humans feed and care for dogs, it does not grant dogs the right to tear at humans or become their masters!
A dog that dares to bite its master must be punished!
Boom!
An surging aura erupted from Ashiya Douman.
The thousand blood moons in the sky trembled in unison with his rising aura.
Vast swathes of bloody moonlight poured down from the moons, drenching Ashiya Douman.
In the blink of an eye, the blood-red moonlight merged with Ashiya Douman's aura, forming a colossal puppet resembling a giant god!
The puppet's face was ferocious, horns sprouted from its head, and its lantern-like eyes snapped open, emitting two beams of blood-red light as tangible as substance.
The blood-red light swept across the space before Ashiya Douman.
Screams erupted in succession.
The demons and monsters lunging at Ashiya Douman were struck one by one by the blood-red light, exploding in mid-air like ripe berries.
Blood splattered across the ground, forming a winding river of blood.
The puppet opened its mouth and inhaled.
The blood river rose into the air, like a rainbow bridge, and poured entirely into the puppet's mouth.
The puppet's crimson hue deepened, and clusters of flame-like blood energy erupted from its body.
Snap!
The puppet extended its arms, its two mountain-sized palms clapping together forcefully.
The remaining dozens of demons and monsters were crushed like swatted mosquitoes, turning into a pool of blood stuck to the puppet's palms.
The puppet raised its palm, licked the blood clean, and let out a seemingly unsatisfied burp.
"Not full yet?"
Ashiya Douman looked at the puppet, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
"Don't worry, I've prepared a feast for you!"
"See that bipedal sheep ahead? Its entire soul is yours! But its body must be left for me!"
The puppet's eyelids flickered as it looked at Ying Chen.
Immediately, a greedy glint appeared in its eyes.
It seemed dissatisfied with Ashiya Douman only allowing it to consume Ying Chen's soul, shaking its massive head and baring its teeth at Ashiya Douman.
Seeing this, Ashiya Douman wasted no words, immediately forming hand seals.
A flame lightning whip materialized out of thin air and lashed out at the puppet,
causing the puppet to let out a pained cry.
"Know your place! Eat what I give you! You are a dog, and you have no right to choose your food!"
The puppet whimpered and nodded.
Ashiya Douman then retracted the flame lightning whip.
He then pointed coldly at Ying Chen.
"Destroy him!"
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The puppet strode forward, its footsteps pounding the ground with a deafening roar as it advanced towards Ying Chen.
Upon reaching Ying Chen, the puppet bent down and extended its hand, attempting to scoop Ying Chen up as if gathering a moon from the water.
But before its fingers could touch Ying Chen, a playful voice from Ying Chen echoed, "If I were you, I wouldn't do that."
"Instead, like those demons and monsters just now, I would obediently kneel and show my submission."
"Otherwise... you won't just lose this puppet body, but even the soul imprint within it will be destroyed."
The puppet's hand, which had been about to touch Ying Chen, froze instantly.
A divine light flashed in its eyes, and it fell into a daze.
Ying Chen's words seemed to have jogged something in its memory!
However, it couldn't quite recall what it was, only feeling a vague, fuzzy memory drifting in its mind, causing it immense irritation.
Seeing this, Ashiya Douman in the distance grew anxious and quickly urged, "Don't listen to him! You have only one identity, and that is - Tsukuyomi no Kodomo! You were born from the Sea of Blood Moons, you have a contract with me, you are a celestial spirit, a god of nature, your identity is undeniable!"
"Hurry and destroy him! After consuming his soul, you can ascend to godhood and be free from anyone's control, including mine!"
"The contract between us will become fair and just! From then on, I can only request your help, not command it!"
"Eat him! You will be free! Why are you hesitating?"
Under Ashiya Douman's seductive voice, a fierce glint gradually appeared in the puppet's eyes.
Its paused hands suddenly exerted force, lunging towards Ying Chen!