Could it be that I am the cruel villain?-Chapter 798 - 458

"What's wrong with her..."

"It's nothing serious, move first!"

Without hesitation, he picked up Cen Yueyue and ran.

The four immediately returned the way they came. The underground passage echoed with terrifying howls, fierce winds surged, and rocks flew around like cannonballs. The Hou Clan Leader was once a master at the Mahayana stage, a prowess renowned not only in the East Sea Clan but also throughout the entire world.

"Die, die... you vile wretches..."

Boom!

He forcefully smashed the giant stone blocking the way.

Even though the current Hou Clan Leader's divine soul has long since dissipated, leaving behind only some obsessions wandering in this place, it still wasn't something these young cultivators could resist. Torrents surged, and all kinds of Daoist skills bombarded them relentlessly.

The movements became more violent. When the Water Ape first possessed the stone statue, it barely retained a sliver of reason, but as countless Blood Evil Qi poured into the body, that tiny obsession gradually twisted and assimilated.

Even four cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage couldn't confidently say they could escape unscathed from such a situation.

Xiao Yu volunteered to stay at the back of the team, covering their retreat. This scene seemed a bit strange; three Core Formation Stage cultivators turning and running, leaving a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator to cover them. It didn't seem like something a human could accomplish. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But in reality, she was the only one present who could intimidate the Hou Clan Leader.

Sss—

She opened her little mouth and spewed thick poisonous mist.

Not to mention a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, even a master at the God Transformation Refining Void realm wouldn't pay this bit of poisonous mist any mind. Yet, eerily, the Water Ape's previously rampaging body suddenly halted, raising a hand to shield its face.

A look of fear and cautiousness surfaced from the residual soul, as if in the past life encountering something terrifying, retreating repeatedly. But quickly, an angry glint flashed in its eyes, and it raised the remaining hand again.

"Ape... clan members, hear my command..."

"We, by the Emperor's decree, guard Water Gate Pass... This is indeed a critical moment of life and death, the descendants of the Yuan family must... unite and repel strong enemies with the Clan Leader..."

"Do not fail... the Emperor..."

The disjointed words prompted people to frown tightly.

"This Water Ape Clan Leader is truly loyal."

"Even if the Divine Soul is obliterated, and the body is destroyed, the remaining obsession is still so dutiful. It seems there are many loyal generals in Dongyue."

"However, it seems different from what Qingluan mentioned earlier. If I recall, didn't she say this was caused by the Heart Monkey's greed before we entered the cave?"

"Doesn't seem like it..."

Even Jiang Feng, the fastest runner, couldn't help but pause for two seconds, secretly sighing with anger towards the Hou Clan Leader. After all, after blocking the waterway completely, they could only return to the surface. Regardless of how many days they would be delayed, the dangers along the way were enough for the two to endure a lot.

On the other hand, there was helplessness. After all, no one could help but admire such a powerful being, loyal even after death. But the next second.

"Take away the Emperor's bone blood remaining on them, take it away! Seize it! Quickly!"

Stunned.

The expression of a wisp of residual soul with a plain, steady face suddenly turned hideous, as if returning to that great battle a hundred years ago, nostrils flaring as if sensing the faint celestial aura in this world.

"If I got this bone blood, I... will surely transcend the Mahayana stage. Mahayana, Mahayana cannot stop me!"

"I've guarded for the Emperor at Water Gate Pass for three hundred years! Loyal, never having any complaints, what does that brat count for, he's only four hundred this year, in terms of seniority he has to call me uncle. What right does he have to divide Water Gate Pass in two? What right does he have to put that watchdog on equal footing with me, what right, what right!"

"If I could cross the tribulation successfully, why would I have to listen to his orders..."

The voice carried immense resentment, and an eerie smile emerged on the face.

"Young master, what are you standing there for, hurry up and go, don't be beguiled by his words here."

"No, didn't you just say they were loyal to the Imperial Family just a stick of incense ago..."

"But that story I only told halfway, didn't finish it. It was later discovered that the Hou Clan Leader and the entire Yuan family were just loyal on the surface, actually trying to earn the Imperial Family's trust. The key is that Water Gate Pass was also opened by them proactively, merely later they fought with the Southern Border people due to uneven spoils, sealing off the waterway along with the actively entering Imperial City people from both sides to annihilate them all!"

"Ah?"

Boom—

A domineering fist swung up.

The lips moved rapidly, yet Qingluan, despite speaking, exhibited no distraction, a hefty strong snake tail emerged from under her long skirt. Not that little servant girl Xiao Yu, she wasn't capable of this, the one revealing her true form to block the enemy was Qingluan.

Stone fists and snake tail collided.

A frontal clash, nearly bringing Qingluan to tears with the pain, if she reverted to human form now, perhaps only bruises on her buttocks and thighs would be visible.

In this snake-tailed posture, she swiftly slid in the over three feet deep channel, continuously twisting and advancing rapidly, but the Hou Clan Leader's state was rather unnatural, spouting mindless words, somewhat fearful of the poisonous mist, and noticing the painted faces on Jiang Feng's party, clearly hesitant to make a deadly move.

Fear engraved in the bone blood could never change.

"Ahhhh! Descendants of the Yuan family, heed my command!"