The five beasts controlled by Mu Tiancao were all extraordinary. Although they couldn't reach the level of the Nine-Headed Dragon, they were among the top in the Golden Elixir stage.

 

Even cultivators of the same level would find these five beasts challenging.

 

Unfortunately for them, their opponents were disciples of the Seek Tao Sect, the best of the Foundation Establishment stage.

 

In the past, Tao Yaoye and Man Gu would have struggled against beasts of the Golden Elixir stage, but after continuous trials and tribulations, their strength had greatly improved.

 

In Lu Yang's words, they were at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.

 

If Tao Yaoye and Man Gu were already like this, not to mention Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou who were a step ahead. They had long surpassed the Foundation Establishment stage.

 

These five beasts of the Golden Elixir stage posed no threat!

 

Lu Yang's opponent was a four-armed black gorilla, even its pupils were black.

 

With the sound of a sword cry, one of the gorilla's arms was severed. It was enraged and let out a loud roar.

 

Roar—

 

"What are you yelling about, Arhat Fist!" Lu Yang threw out an Arhat Fist with one hand. Although its power was slightly inferior, its effect of causing hair loss was not diminished.

 

The gorilla felt a chill on its head. It reached up to touch and found its head bald, nothing was there.

 

What did this human do?!

 

"What a bald black gorilla, a beast I've never seen before!" Lu Yang was on high alert. Cultivators feared the unknown the most. This black gorilla, which had not been recorded by the world, must be extremely powerful!

 

"What?! It's the legendary bald black gorilla!" Meng Jingzhou, who was also in battle, noticed Lu Yang's opponent and his face changed drastically.

 

"It is said that the realm of the bald black gorilla can be measured by the number of hairs on its head. One hair represents the Qi Refining stage, also known as the One-Hair Realm. Two hairs represent the Foundation Establishment stage, also known as the Two-Hair Realm. Three hairs represent the Golden Elixir stage, also known as the Three-Hair Realm!"

 

"What realm is this black gorilla in?!"

 

Lu Yang's face was so gloomy that it seemed like water could drip from it: "The realm of not plucking a single hair!"

 

Song Hua: "Can you two stop acting while we're fighting? I get easily distracted."

 

"Oh, sorry, it's a habit."

 

Song Hua: "…"

 

Fortunately, the people from the Meng family and the Seek Tao Sect were all capable fighters. They dared to joke around even when fighting above their level. If it were anyone else, they would have been scared stiff.

 

"Lu Yang, save me!" Song Wuguo, who was sweeping the battlefield, was targeted by a beast. The beast's tail swept across his body, breaking half of his ribs.

 

Knowing that it was no match for Lu Yang, the beast roared and took advantage of the situation to continue attacking Song Wuguo.

 

"Hold on!" Lu Yang pushed off the ground and rushed towards the beast, blocking it from Song Wuguo.

 

His Qingfeng Sword was held horizontally in front of his chest, and no matter how hard the beast tried, it couldn't move forward an inch.

 

Just as Lu Yang was about to get serious and finish off the beast with one move.

 

Pfft—

 

A sharp dagger pierced through Lu Yang's chest.

 

Lu Yang slowly turned his head, looking at Song Wuguo in disbelief: "Why…"

 

Seeing this scene, Meng Jingzhou's eyes were filled with rage, his eyes instantly filled with bloodshot: "Lu Yang!"

 

He wanted to rush over to help Lu Yang, but the beast attacked like a madman, leaving Meng Jingzhou no chance to break away.

 

"Song Wuguo, you deserve to die!"

 

The others were the same, blocked by the beasts.

 

Song Wuguo's expression changed from his previous timid and fearful one, shaking his head: "The dagger is poisoned, even an Elemental Infant stage cultivator would die. It doesn't hurt to tell you before you die."

 

"You are the nourishment."

 

"You are the strongest among these people. Once you are controlled, the others pose no threat."

 

Song Wuguo flipped his palm, and a seed appeared in his hand, which he slapped towards Lu Yang's dantian.

 

"This is the seed of Mu Tiancao. Relax, soon you will become a servant of the master."

 

"No, why can't the seed of Mu Tiancao enter your body?!"

 

Song Wuguo's face changed, realizing that something was wrong. He tried to escape, but saw a creepy smile on Lu Yang's face.

 

A mini Lu Yang crawled out from Lu Yang's arms.

 

The mini Lu Yang grew in size with the wind, soon becoming as big as the original. He took the Qingfeng Sword and killed the beast that was preparing to attack.

 

At the same time, the poisoned Lu Yang fell backward, merging with the earth.

 

"A clone?!" Song Wuguo's eyes widened in disbelief.

 

For the past half a month, Lu Yang had been shrinking in his arms, controlling his clone to fight, training his divine sense and improving his proficiency in using clones.

 

"I've been waiting for you to make a move for a long time." Lu Yang smiled.

 

"How did you find out about me!" Song Wuguo was shocked. They had only interacted for a short while, and he thought he had been perfect, not revealing any flaws. How was he discovered?

 

"Song Wuguo, what the hell is going on!" Song Hua was even more shocked than Song Wuguo, "You've been parasitized, when did this happen!"

 

Seeing that Lu Yang was unharmed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. With a burst of energy, they defeated the other four beasts.

 

Everyone surrounded Song Wuguo, filled with anger.

 

Lu Yang sneered, not minding letting Song Wuguo know how naive his actions were.

 

"When you introduced Mu Tiancao, you said that it controls beasts and uses them as nourishment. All the beasts we encountered were controlled by Mu Tiancao."

 

"So the question is, if Mu Tiancao uses beasts as nourishment, why would it let the beasts kill people?"

 

"The answer is simple, because humans are also nourishment for Mu Tiancao."

 

"Since humans are nourishment for Mu Tiancao, is it possible for Mu Tiancao to control humans? The answer is yes."

 

"If that's the case, why didn't you explain it clearly? Is it because the Body Fusion stage alchemist master is not smart enough and didn't write the whole book? Or are you worried that we would think in this direction and deliberately not introduce it!"

 

Lu Yang kicked Song Wuguo over: "Nine truths and one lie, these are all leftovers from my play. Playing these in front of me, you're underestimating me, aren't you?"

 

"I didn't expose you all along because I wanted you to lead us to Mu Tiancao."

 

The depths of the dense forest were vast, and without someone to lead the way, it would be difficult to find Mu Tiancao.

Song Wuguo wanted to deceive Lu Yang and the others to go over. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou decided to turn the tables on him.

 

Only after Lu Yang explained did Tao Yaoye understand where the inconsistency lay.

 

Meng Jingzhou was not surprised by this. The two shouts he had made earlier were all for show.

 

"Song Wuguo has been controlled by the Sky Shepherd Grass. You all are also under suspicion. Please cooperate and return to the Demon Suppression Station for inspection," Lu Yang said coldly.

 

The Song family had a traitor, and Song Hua and the others knew they were in the wrong. They could only obediently return for inspection to prove their innocence.

 

"Heh, heh, heh." Song Wuguo let out a few dry laughs, his voice not sounding human, "So what if you've discovered it? Do you still think you can leave this place?"

 

As he spoke, the swamp kept spewing bubbles, like a pot of boiling water. One after another, muddy figures emerged from beneath the swamp. There were demons and humans. Judging from the aura they emitted, they were all at the Golden Elixir stage, at least fifty or sixty of them!

 

Lu Yang suddenly remembered the words of the guild servant when they first met: "People disappear in the dense forest every day, especially recently, the number of missing people has increased."

 

"Could this be the reason for the recent disappearances of cultivators?"

 

"No, wasn't it said that the Sky Shepherd Grass can control at most ten living beings?"

 

Not to mention the humans and demons that emerged from the swamp, just now, there were ten demon beasts and one Song Wuguo.

 

That's already eleven!

 

"Fairy, what's going on?"

 

The Immortal Fairy frowned: "Song Wuguo didn't lie to you. The ordinary Sky Shepherd Grass can control at most ten living beings."

 

"But the one in front of you is not an ordinary Sky Shepherd Grass, or rather, it's not an ordinary spiritual plant."

 

"It has gained spiritual intelligence, just like the Time Fairy, it's a spiritual plant that has gained sentience."

 

(End of the chapter)