Chapter 750: Various Ants

Qi Xia recalled the time he had encountered those Luantu.

They truly had no facial features; their eyes and mouths were hollow voids, all seeping blood. These so-called Luantu weren't aggressive at all; they just groped around in the darkness, as if searching for something.

These creatures, having lived in perpetual darkness without any exposure to light, had skin that was deathly pale. Without faces or the ability to speak, they were mere shells...

Had they once been the mighty Shengxiao?

These people had once gained Huixiang and Shenli, but because they failed to win the favor of Tianlong and Qinglong, they ended up like this.

They started as Participants, then became Shengxiao, and now had degenerated into Luantu.

In other words, ever since arriving here, their lives had been toyed with by Tianlong and Qinglong. They had diligently followed the rules set by these two, repeatedly convincing themselves that hope was within reach, only to ultimately fall into an inescapable monstrous existence.

Qinglong stretched his neck a little and continued, "But later, Tianlong told me that they didn't really look like Luantu anymore—they still resembled humans. People who offended us don't deserve to stand like humans. So, we had to arrange for others to dislocate their limbs, twisting their hands and feet in the opposite direction. Thanks to the robust physical constitution of Diji, these individuals healed quickly, but their limbs could never bend back properly, leaving them to crawl on the ground. Ha ha ha ha!"

Qinglong seemed to be sharing a hilarious joke with the two of them, but Qi Xia and Chu Tianqiu just stared at him with expressionless faces.

Some things might sound absurd at first, but upon reflection, in this place under the influence of Tianlong and Qinglong, everything made perfect sense.

This was clearly something they were capable of.

"This is absolutely fascinating!" Qinglong said. "How did Tianlong come up with such a brilliant idea?! I was worried at the time... I asked him, 'What if these people can't walk anymore? What if they keep getting slower?' But Tianlong assured me that they'd find ways to move faster on their own. I didn't take his words seriously at first, but soon I realized he was absolutely right."

After saying that, he turned his head, looking at Qi Xia with eager anticipation: "Go on! Qi Xia, guess how they made themselves move faster?"

Qi Xia's pupils shifted slightly as he pondered for a few seconds before replying: "By climbing walls."

"That's right!!" Qinglong burst out laughing. "You're just so likable—you guessed it again!! It's by climbing walls! Those people can only crawl on the ground now, with their hands and feet splayed out like a spider's, which drastically slows them down. But many of them, having been Diji before, quickly discovered a trick—if they wanted to get somewhere faster... they shouldn't think about standing up, but about digging their fingers into the walls. That way, even if some Chouma are hidden in tall buildings, these fellows can climb up and retrieve them. That's how the fully formed Luantu came into being! Is this just a coincidence, or is it fate? Creatures called Luantu ending up moving just like real ants... It's too funny... Hilariously funny!!"

Qi Xia let out a soft sigh and said: "But there's a flaw."

"Oh?" Qinglong raised his eyebrows expectantly. "What flaw? Did I not explain it well?"

"The number of Diji Shengxiao couldn't possibly be that large," Qi Xia said. "Collecting all the Chouma from the cities would require a huge number of people, and it's not enough to rely solely on the rule-breakers among the Shengxiao."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because Diji Shengxiao fear death more than anyone," Qi Xia explained. "These individuals not only possess unprecedented power and retain plenty of memories, but they also mistakenly believe they're closer to the end than anyone else. As soon as a Luantu appears, it would ring alarm bells for these Diji, triggering the Bana Mu Xiaoying."

"Ha." Qinglong widened his eyes even more. "It's been ages since I've heard that term. Qi Xia, based on what you've seen, how could we ensure there are enough Luantu?"

"I don't know," Qi Xia shook his head. "I only know that you and Tianlong must have used Huixiang to create an endless supply of Luantu."

"That's correct," Qinglong nodded in agreement. "We just used this method to create the first batch of Luantu. After all, the first ability Tianlong selected was Hun Qian. If he realized more were needed, he could always use corpses to generate a continuous stream of real Luantu. The Luantu you see now are quite a mixed group."

Qi Xia still furrowed his brow after hearing this.

He knew his most crucial memories hadn't returned yet, and now there was a paradox he couldn't explain.

If offending Tianlong and Qinglong meant being turned into a Luantu, then why was he still standing here unharmed?

He had clearly heard Zhuque tell him before: "You offended Tianlong."

So, what exactly had happened that allowed him to offend Tianlong and not become a Luantu, but instead end up as an ordinary Participant?

"Qi Xia, you know as well," Qinglong said again. "To make something go smoothly, you need a prime example first. You once told me something about this... what was it called? Fen Ma Ding Lv?"

"I haven't seen any Fen Ma Ding Lv," Qi Xia retorted. "All I've seen is the Po Chuang Xiaoying. Once you start using your abilities recklessly, it spirals out of control—the holes in the window keep growing, letting in the cold wind and turning this place into a true hell."

"Is it...?" Qinglong chuckled lightly. "Qi Xia, I still don't get it. What exactly have Tianlong and I done that's so unforgivable that you all think this is hell?"

"You've told a massive lie," Qi Xia said. "This lie has manipulated everyone."

"No, the one who lied isn't me," Qinglong said, widening his eyes and shaking his head. "It's Tianlong...!"

"So, you're shifting the blame?" Qi Xia asked. "Are you saying all of this has nothing to do with you—that it's all Tianlong's doing?"

Qinglong just smiled in response, saying nothing.

Chu Tianqiu chimed in from the side, his voice low: "So, this is what Gods are? Could I pull you two down from your thrones and do whatever I want, just like you?"

"Mind your words," Qinglong snapped, turning his head sharply. "Do you really think you can challenge me with your current strength?"

Although Chu Tianqiu wore a smile on his face, he had been secretly gripping Tianxingjian in his hand all along.

Even he wasn't sure if this eye would work against Qinglong.