20demayo Chapter 19: The Rats Emerging from the Ground
Chapter 19: The Rats Emerging from the Ground
When the light of the blood moon was completely swallowed up by the thick clouds;
Only a few dark red patches peeked out from the distant horizon, like dried, blackened bloodstains haphazardly smeared on the inky sky;
This winding procession, resembling a dying giant serpent, finally reached the southwest direction indicated by Xuan Tianyi's divination.
In a desolate valley surrounded on three sides and relatively sheltered from the wind, we stopped our weary journey.
Because the order was issued in the afternoon, the chaos and doubts caused by the forced detour consumed too much time and energy that could have been used to get on the road.
The rugged and unfamiliar mountain path, the jagged rocks and withered trees, and the faint, damp, and fishy smell in the air, unlike the smell of rotting wolves and dogs, made the already tense team even more uneasy.
As the last rays of sunlight were swallowed by the valley, most people collapsed onto the cold, hard ground, exhausted even of complaining, and were dragged into a deep sleep by their heavy fatigue.
Snoring, suppressed sobs, and nightmare murmurs echoed softly through the valley.
Only the patrol soldiers responsible for guarding the area and the temporarily assigned guards, with their eyelids almost glued shut, set up sentry posts in the shadows outside the camp.
They gripped their cold weapons tightly, straining their ears to catch every unusual sound in the darkness—
The wind howled through the cracks in the rocks, the distant, drawn-out howls of an unknown beast echoed, and even the dull throbbing of my own heart from excessive tension.
Several bonfires were lit, and the crackling sound of dry branches was the only lively noise in this deathly silence.
The flickering flames cast distorted and swaying shadows on people's numb or terrified faces, like a group of silent, restless ghosts, foreshadowing that this night would not be peaceful.
Xuan Tianyi was assigned to guard duty during the second half of the night.
At this moment, he sat leaning against the shade of a huge, sheltered rock, his eyes slightly closed, as if he were dozing.
In reality, the visualization method of the "Eight Views Mysterious Life Lamp" was already slowly operating in his sea of consciousness. The faint light emitted by that illusory lamp not only nourished his soul, but also kept him in a mysterious clarity and alertness that far surpassed that of ordinary people.
At the same time, a subtle yet pure and refined power of lightning flowed gently through his meridians, following the unique breathing rhythm of the "Mysterious Thunder Guiding Technique."
With each breath, the sounds of wind and thunder echoed deep within his body, continuously tempering his physical body, which had already reached the peak of the second level of body tempering.
Beneath the skin, pale golden lightning patterns appeared and disappeared with the surge of blood and qi, endowing this body with a strength far exceeding that of other bodies of the same level, and astonishing resilience.
However, Xuan Tianyi's mind was not completely absorbed in cultivation.
A nameless unease, like cold spider silk, coiled around his senses.
"It's too quiet..."
He whispered to himself.
It wasn't that there were no sounds; the wind, the howls of distant beasts, and even the faint footsteps of sentries at the edge of the camp could be faintly heard.
But beneath this silence lies an eerie sense of fullness.
It was as if something was brewing beneath this seemingly peaceful surface, ready to strike.
Especially the earth beneath our feet.
The body is tempered by the "Mysterious Thunder Guiding Technique" and the spiritual sense is enhanced by the "Eight Scenery Mysterious Fate Lamp".
Xuan Tianyi caught a faint yet incredibly dense rustling sound.
The sound came from deep underground, like countless tiny feet scraping against the rock and soil, approaching the center of the camp from all directions—
In the most densely populated areas, people silently converge and surge upwards!
This wasn't the vibration of a wild animal running on the ground, but rather an organized movement coming from beneath one's feet!
The scale and speed of their activity far exceed those of ordinary rats and ants!
Xuan Tianyi quietly poured more of his thoughts into his sea of consciousness, fully activating the "Qi Observation Technique".
In ordinary view, the aura above most people in the camp is still mainly gray-white and pale red, intertwined with fatigue and fear.
But when his "gaze" fell upon the ground beneath his feet—
Underground!
Vast swaths of murky, blood-red light, a mixture of ghastly green and crimson, resembled festering sores and venomous blood that had been suppressed for too long and finally found an outlet.
It is surging wildly from deep within the soil around the camp and even in the central area!
The halo twisted and writhed, carrying a nauseating aura of greed and savagery, its target clear: the unsuspecting, vibrant life above!
"wrong!"
Xuan Tianyi's eyes snapped open, a cold light flashing within them, and the pent-up energy erupted from his throat in a sharp shout:
"There's something underground! Be careful..."
The word "bottom" has not yet been uttered.
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft..."
Like the rapid drumbeats of death, dozens of ground surfaces in the center and near the edge of the camp suddenly exploded without warning!
Soil mixed with gravel shot into the sky, like a small volcano suddenly erupting!
A strong, suffocating stench of decay and stench instantly filled the air, replacing the original cool night breeze.
Accompanied by a tooth-chilling screech, streaks of black shadows, like ghosts from the deepest abyss, shot out from the dark pits!
It's a rat!
But these are definitely not ordinary rodents!
Each one was as strong as a half-grown calf, its glossy fur a sickly, deathly gray-black, reflecting an unsettling greasy sheen in the firelight.
Pairs of small eyes lit up with countless scarlet dots in the darkness, devoid of any living spirit, containing only the purest, most primal bloodlust and madness.
What's most terrifying are their enormous, curved, sickle-like incisors exposed outside their lips.
Not only was it sharp enough to gnaw through sheet metal, but it also had a dark, purplish-green hue.
The tips of the rat's teeth were even coated with viscous venomous saliva, which dripped onto the gravel on the ground, immediately making a hissing, corrosive sound and sending up white smoke with a sweet, fishy smell.
Rotten Poison Gopher!
A first-tier mid-level social beast, bloodthirsty and gluttonous, with poisonous claws and teeth, especially skilled at digging and sneaking underground, often hunting in packs, leaving nothing but blood and flesh in its wake!
"Enemy attack! Underground!"
"Rat! So many poisonous rats!"
"Ah—! My leg! Help me!"
A piercing scream instantly shattered the silence of the night, followed by more horrified howls and the chaotic sounds of weapons being hastily drawn and striking hard objects!
The tragedy happened in an instant.
Many soldiers and refugees didn't even have time to fully wake up before excruciating pain shot through their ankles and calves.
The rat's fangs, gleaming with poison, easily tore through flesh, injecting toxins with incredible speed. Those bitten would almost instantly feel their limbs go numb and lose consciousness.
The wound burned with intense pain, making his vision blur. He collapsed to the ground unconscious before he could even utter a sound.
The camp instantly descended into primal chaos and panic.
The crowd was like an anthill being doused with boiling water, crying out for their parents, running in all directions, and trampling each other.
The burning campfire was knocked over, igniting the makeshift tents and debris. The firelight and shadows danced wildly, making the hellish scene even more horrific.
"Form ranks! Don't panic! Move closer to me!"
Xuan Tianyi's sharp shout rang out like a thunderclap amidst the noise.
Despite his surprise, he remained calm and stood up the instant the rats burst from the ground. The black iron armor-piercing spear that had been resting beside him emitted a deep, muffled hum.
A cold star exploded from the tip of the spear, and the blood and qi in his body surged, unleashing a force of five thousand jin without reservation!
"die!"
The spear moves like a dragon, without any unnecessary frills, only the most concise and deadly thrusts!
A venomous groundhog that lunged at a terrified old woman was precisely pierced through its gaping maw by a spear tip, its head protruding from the back of its head, splattering with foul blood and brain matter, and it died instantly.
[Slaying the Tier 1 Poisonous Groundhog, gaining 18 Life Points.]
The system notification was cold and punctual, but Xuan Tianyi was clearly too preoccupied to pay attention to it at the moment.
With a single step, he moved with lightning speed. Under the ultimate insight brought by the Eight Views Mystic Fate Lamp, the rats' swift movements seemed to be slowed down, and he could always find the most tricky angle.
The spear transformed into a deadly black lightning bolt, thrusting, sweeping, smashing, and slashing with direct and ruthless moves, each strike inevitably taking the life of a poisonous rat.
As the "Mysterious Thunder Guiding Technique" was fully activated, subtle lightning power naturally manifested at the tip of the spear, causing tiny sparks to fly.
The poisoned rats that are hit not only suffer a tremendous impact, but also become stiff and paralyzed, thus losing their chance of survival.
Occasionally, poisonous rats would swarm him from blind spots, taking advantage of their numbers. He would not flinch or dodge, letting them bite his arms and thighs.
However, the rat teeth, which were strong enough to gnaw through ordinary leather armor, only left a few shallow white marks when they bit into Xuan Tianyi's leather membrane, which shimmered with a pale golden lightning pattern, and could not truly break through the defense!
This scene, witnessed by several guards and refugees who were frantically battling the swarm of rats and facing perilous situations, was nothing short of a miracle.
"My goodness! Is Xuan Xiao the fortune teller made of iron?!"
"I used to think his fortune-telling was mysterious, but... his actions are even more mysterious!"
"Don't just stand there! Move closer to Brother Xuan! Back to back! Form a circle!"
Their survival instincts drove them to quickly move toward the suddenly appearing, solid barrier.
Xuan Tianyi fought and moved, using himself as the spearhead, his spear swirling like a black vortex of death, carving out a small, relatively safe area amidst the chaotic horde of rats.
The injured were dragged to the center, while those who were still able to move spontaneously formed a circle, igniting anything they could and waving it to drive away the rats.
[Slaying the Tier 1 Poisonous Groundhog, gaining 16 Life Points.]
[Slaying the Tier 1 Poisonous Groundhog, gaining 20 Life Points.]
……
System notifications rang out one after another, and the Life Source Points steadily and rapidly increased, bringing a chilling sense of comfort in this bloody killing field.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the camp, the main force of the patrol army finally regained its footing after the initial attack.
"Form a tortoise formation! Spearmen, advance! Shield bearers, protect the flanks! Drag the wounded to the center! Use fire, these beasts hate fire!"
The stern roar acted like a stabilizing force, suppressing some of the panic.
He did not carry his signature long spear, but instead drew a massive black iron sword as wide as a door panel from somewhere, and did not even draw it from its sheath, only wielding it from its scabbard.
Each swing produced a dull, thunderous sound as it pierced the air, and a surge of immense blood and qi burst forth, transforming into a visible pale red wave of energy.
Wherever the shockwave passed, the venomous groundhogs that pounced were as if they had crashed into an invisible wall. They were shaken so badly that their bones were broken and they were sent flying backward. Some even exploded into a bloody mist in mid-air!
His fighting style is bold and unrestrained, full of indomitable and fierce momentum.
Although the giant sword was not drawn, it seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and each sweep could clear a large area, making it invincible.
On the other side, Liu Ruyan's figure was like a phantom drifting in the dark night.
The long sword in his hand transformed into streaks of clear, bright light, flickering uncertainly in the firelight and darkness.
His swordsmanship was so precise, swift, and ruthless that there was not a single superfluous movement. With each strike, a poisonous rat would instantly die, its brow or heart gushing blood.
Even more astonishing was the faint green light that occasionally flickered at the tip of her sword.
It seems to have a special effect on rat poison; the wound of a poisoned rat will quickly spread a withered, grayish color, and the rat will become stiff and fall to the ground.
She was not only busy fighting the enemy, but also would always appear beside the wounded and fallen soldiers in the blink of an eye, and with a light wave of her hand, sprinkle medicine powder to temporarily suppress the spread of the poison.
His movements were fluid and graceful, so calm that it was as if he were tending a medicinal herb garden in his own backyard, not on a bloody battlefield.
Other patrol officers also displayed their skills, with swords flashing and blood surging, cooperating with the hastily formed battle formations of the soldiers;
In a very short time, they managed to barely contain the rats' sudden and frenzied attack and began to gradually push back and wipe them out.
Just as the chaotic scene was about to be brought under control, the panicked crowd began to shrink back towards the center at the soldiers' shouts...
An unexpected change occurred the moment everyone breathed a sigh of relief!
Moreover, it came from the most unexpected direction—from inside the crowd!
"laugh!"
"laugh!"
"laugh!"
The faint yet sharp sound of something cutting through the air was almost inaudible amidst the squeals of the rats and the screams of the people.
Several figures, like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, suddenly sprang up from the panicked and jostling crowd of refugees!
Their speed was uncanny, their movements were elusive like ghosts, and their attacks were extremely cunning and ruthless.
The attacks were aimed directly at Yan Jun, Liu Ruyan, and several other strong officers who were focused on clearing out the rat beasts and whose attention was mostly diverted!
The timing was also perfect, just when the group had exhausted their old strength and had not yet generated new strength, and they were facing away from the refugees!
"puff--!"
A dull thud as a sharp weapon pierced flesh, followed by a short, painful groan.
A young officer who was cleaving a poisonous rat in two with his knife suddenly froze.
He looked down in disbelief at the tip of a poisoned blade, barbed and gleaming with a ghostly blue light, protruding from his chest.
He opened his mouth, but only a stream of dark, foul-smelling blood gushed out. The light in his eyes quickly dimmed, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Watch out behind you!
"There's a traitor!"
Exclamations erupted!
But it was too late!
Two other figures, like maggots clinging to bones, moved swiftly along the ground, their poisoned daggers viciously stabbing towards the backs of two other officers who had their backs to the refugees!
The two officers were more experienced, and in the instant of the imminent danger, they forcibly twisted their bodies and avoided vital organs;
However, his shoulder blades and thighs were still severely injured by the fierce attack, blood gushing out, and he staggered backward with a scream, instantly losing his fighting ability.
"Commander Liu!"
"Lieutenant Wang!"
Amidst gasps and roars of alarm, a fatal breach appeared in the defense!
On the other side, the tattered cloth covering a "child" who had been curled up in the woman's arms and appeared to be seriously ill and unconscious was suddenly lifted!
What was inside wasn't a child at all, but a dark-skinned, distorted puppet!
The attacker, disguised as a sickly woman, instantly transformed her sorrow into venomous hatred. Her five fingers turned into claws, her nails swelled to a deep blue, and she viciously plunged them into the puppet's chest!
"Using blood as a catalyst and souls as sustenance, the Heart-Corroding Poison Puppet explodes!"
A crimson light flashed on the puppet's chest, and thick, dark green poisonous smoke suddenly spewed from its seven orifices, carrying a pungent, sweet, and putrid stench, enveloping Liu Ruyan, who was standing nearby, and the truck loaded with important supplies next to her!
Wherever the toxic fumes passed, the ground and vegetation instantly turned black and rotted!
"Be careful, Dr. Liu!"
Amid the gasps of surprise, Liu Ruyan's cool face frosted over, but she remained composed.
A seemingly ordinary jade pendant at his waist suddenly emitted a soft glow, forming a thin protective shield around his body;
At the same time, her delicate body flew backward at an incredible angle, narrowly avoiding the densest part of the poisonous smoke. With a backhand slash, her sword, like a white rainbow piercing the sun, went straight for the woman's throat!
However, the attacks did not end there.
Another attacker seized the opportunity to throw several whistling scythes, blocking Liu Ruyan's escape route.
Even more shockingly, a sharp whistle rang out from somewhere, and the ground shook violently once again.
More, larger, and more ferocious venomous groundhogs, and even a few rat kings comparable to Star Sea Realm warriors and as strong as calves, swarmed out of the expanded burrow!
These newly emerged rat-beasts no longer attacked indiscriminately, but instead, like a commanded army, they gathered in a tide and fearlessly pounced on the officers and experts such as Yan Jun and Liu Ruyan!
"Driven by rat spirits, lurking in burrows... it's you! The rats of the Seven Saints Cult!"
Yan Jun used his sword to repel two men in black who were attacking him. His eyes flashed like lightning as he swept over the attackers' sinister faces and strange attack methods.
Especially the tricks of controlling the rat swarms and poisonous smoke—a name that was both disgusting and terrifying slipped out of his mouth, his voice filled with boundless rage and murderous intent.
"The Seven Saints Cult!"
These three words were like ice water poured into a hot oil pan, exploding in the ears of the surviving patrol soldiers and the few knowledgeable refugees!
Fear, hatred, despair... a whole host of emotions overwhelmed them in an instant.
The Seven Saints Cult!
A wicked cult active in this region, feared by all!
They worship the so-called "Seven Saints," but in reality, they are seven powerful and bizarre Gu spirit beasts with many branches. They act mysteriously and ruthlessly, often using living people as sacrifices to cultivate evil magic. They are the recognized mortal enemies of the city of Sanctuary!
Among them, the Rat Spirit branch is the most skilled at repelling rats with poison and is known for its elusive and difficult-to-defend movements!
No wonder it could drive such a massive rat swarm!
No wonder he was able to infiltrate the refugees without leaving a trace!
All of this was a conspiracy against their team from the very beginning!
In the center of the camp, the main battlefield was instantly in grave danger due to the tethering of skilled players and the concentrated onslaught of rats.
The pressure on the edge area where Xuan Tianyi was located also suddenly increased.
The rat swarm that had initially drawn the officers' fire seemed to have received some kind of instruction as well.
They began to surge even more frantically towards the various defensive points, including the small circle that Xuan Tianyi and his group had just stabilized.
In Xuan Tianyi's hands, the black iron spear had transformed into a black lightning bolt, with countless spear shadows, each strike inevitably taking the life of a poisonous rat.
Blood and bits of flesh splattered all over his soft armor, quickly congealing into dark red scabs.
In my mind, the system's notification sounds rang out frequently, and my Life Source Points increased slowly but steadily.
[Slayed a Tier 1 Poisonous Groundhog, Life Points +17!]
[Slayed a Tier 1 Poisonous Groundhog, Life Points +15!]
……
"Brother Xuan! They're coming from the left again!"
"Hold on! Back to back, don't separate!"
Uncle Lin, Ali, and other guards roared and wielded their weapons, fighting alongside Xuan Tianyi.
Xuan Tianyi's ferocity and his almost superhuman defensive abilities have become the spiritual pillar of their small circle.
However, the real danger often comes from behind the person you trust most.
"Um?"
Xuan Tianyi, who had been paying close attention to the entire scene, especially to those few "dark" targets, suddenly felt a sense of alarm!
From the perspective of the Qi Observation Technique, a faint red aura of fortune belonging to Zhao Tiezhu, which was originally hovering at the edge of the battle, was visible.
Without warning, they were completely swallowed up by thick, inky black energy, surging with greed and tyranny!
Within that black mist, the faint phantom of a ferocious giant rat was gathering!
Almost at the same time, Zhao Tiezhu, who had been seemingly fighting against the rats and gradually moving closer to Xuan Tianyi, suddenly changed his footing!
That honest and simple temperament vanished instantly, replaced by a cold and cunning agility, and an undisguised bloodthirsty killing intent in his eyes!
His figure moved like a ghost through the gap between the two poisonous rats, and the ordinary waist knife he had used to chop was suddenly enveloped by a layer of eerie blue energy.
The blade emitted a foul, eerie wind and, with lightning speed, pierced straight into Xuan Tianyi's unsuspecting back vital point!
This attack was meticulously planned, its angle cunning and ruthless, and its timing flawlessly executed.
It was at the very moment when Xuan Tianyi pierced through the rat king in front of him with his spear, the spear's momentum waning and new strength yet to arise!
"Xuan boy! Watch out behind you!"
Uncle Lin caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye, his eyes widened in fury, and he roared hoarsely, trying to rush to the rescue, but it was too late.
A chilling murderous intent and a stench of blood had already reached my back!
Xuan Tianyi's pupils suddenly contracted.