Spiritual energy? Flesh and blood?
After Mu Anxiao meticulously pondered these terms in her mind, she realized the situation was far more complicated than she had imagined. At the same time, she instantly understood why Xi'er had been so indifferent to the terrain map; it was likely that Xi'er had already thoroughly explored this area.
However, this very speculation led Mu Anxiao to understand that the immortals within this tower were far more numerous than she had anticipated. But before that, she still wanted to clarify what exactly had happened to them. XXS1
Thus, after a few seconds of silence, she spoke, "Have you all seen Ouyang Ye?"
"Of course, it was he who tricked us here. If it weren't for him," the woman said, her voice clearly filled with hatred, "I would never have suffered these hardships. Once I get out, I will kill him."
Following the woman's reminder, the other immortals also began to echo her words, "Kill him, kill him."
Mu Anxiao listened to their shouts, then looked down at the terrain map in her hand, realizing that she truly couldn't reveal her identity yet. After they fell silent, she asked again, "Are all your kind imprisoned in this tower?"
"No," the woman said, striking the tower gate with force. "Five immortals were captured by Ouyang Ye."
"Captured? Do you know where they were taken?" Mu Anxiao had initially thought it would be enough to return and inform the man about this place, but she hadn't expected the matters involved to be so complex, causing her nerves to tighten.
"We don't know..."
"I know," a man interrupted the woman.
Mu Anxiao's eyes brightened at his words. "Where?"
The man replied, "In a place called... Rongguang Palace. I overheard it by chance. If possible, could you please look for them?" He was very polite.
Mu Anxiao had never heard of Rongguang Palace. As soon as the man spoke, she fell into thought. At the same time, she knew she couldn't waste any more time. She quickly said, "I understand," and turned to leave.
Inside the tower, after Mu Anxiao departed, they exchanged glances and began discussing whether Mu Anxiao would come to rescue them...
Meanwhile.
Mu Anxiao returned to the shore of the lake where the demon-devouring beast resided at her fastest speed. Just then, the demon-devouring beast poked its head out and asked, "What's wrong with you?" It could tell Mu Anxiao was preoccupied.
"Tell me," Mu Anxiao thought over the words of the immortals, then continued, "Why were they captured?" Before going to the tower, she had believed only three or four gods were imprisoned inside. She hadn't realized until she went there that everything had exceeded her expectations. All the way here, she couldn't figure out this question. Now, the only one she could talk to was the demon-devouring beast, so she had no choice but to return.
The demon-devouring beast asked, "You saw them?"
Mu Anxiao shook her head.
The demon-devouring beast looked confused. "You didn't see them, so why are you asking this question?"
"To say I saw them, is not entirely true; if I say I didn't see them, we did discuss some matters," Mu Anxiao said. "But I just can't figure out why so many gods are imprisoned in that tower."
"Many?" the demon-devouring beast asked.
Mu Anxiao replied, "Yes."
"Then this matter is complicated. I was originally a celestial beast, and I'm here too. Those gods..." The demon-devouring beast mulled over Mu Anxiao's words and then countered, "Do you know what this place was before?"
"A forest?" Mu Anxiao thought the demon-devouring beast was referring to the woods around them.
The demon-devouring beast clicked its tongue upon hearing this and said, "I'm not just talking about the woods, I'm talking about this entire demon realm."
"Demon realm," Mu Anxiao repeated, her brow furrowing slightly. "But speaking of which, I've been to the demon realm before, and it's completely different from here."
"You've been to the demon realm?" the demon-devouring beast exclaimed.
Mu Anxiao said proudly, "Naturally. Who am I? I'm a renowned demon catcher, so of course, I've been everywhere."
"You're becoming narcissistic," the demon-devouring beast chuckled.
Mu Anxiao retorted, "I'm stating facts, what does that have to do with narcissism? But speaking of which, what exactly was this place before?" She suddenly became curious about everything here.
The demon-devouring beast sighed.
Mu Anxiao frowned. "Why are you sighing again?" she asked, fanning the air in front of her face.
The demon-devouring beast explained, "Ouyang Ye forbade me to speak, and I've never dared to. I was thinking about it," it opened its monstrous maw and continued, "and now I suddenly feel afraid to say."
"This way of building suspense is quite boring, isn't it?" Mu Anxiao had gained a new impression of the demon-devouring beast.
"It's not about building suspense; I'm afraid I'll endanger those immortals if I say too much," the demon-devouring beast said earnestly.
Conversely, Mu Anxiao completely rejected the demon-devouring beast's reasoning. She snorted coldly and said, "Don't make yourself out to be so noble; you're just afraid of Ouyang Ye." She then sighed again. "Fine, I won't ask you then, lest I implicate you." With that, she turned to leave.
Seeing this, the demon-devouring beast quickly called out to her, "Wait."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao halted her step and looked at the demon-devouring beast, which had suddenly called out to her, asking, "What is it now?"
"Besides this, aren't you going to ask anything else?" the demon-devouring beast asked, trying to salvage the situation and not wanting Mu Anxiao to be completely disappointed in it.
Mu Anxiao smiled.
The demon-devouring beast looked confused. "What?"
"If you're afraid to say such a small thing, can you answer other questions I might have?" Mu Anxiao said, placing one hand on her hip. "Don't try to be brave."
"Although I've been staying in this forbidden forest, if there's anything you wish to know, you can ask me. I'll certainly be more precise than the terrain map," the demon-devouring beast said calmly.
Mu Anxiao's lips curved upward. "Forget it, I have the terrain map..."
"The terrain map isn't necessarily precise. If you don't believe me, go ahead and check," the demon-devouring beast said confidently.
"Fine, I will," Mu Anxiao, annoyed by the demon-devouring beast's confidence, took out the terrain map and unfolded it, frowning.
The demon-devouring beast observed Mu Anxiao's reaction and said calmly, "You couldn't find it, could you?"
"How is that possible?" Mu Anxiao mumbled. She put away the terrain map and looked up at the demon-devouring beast. "Have you seen the terrain map?"
The demon-devouring beast nodded.
Mu Anxiao frowned deeply. "When did you see it?"
"I caught a glimpse of it unintentionally when you were lying there. At that time, I noticed that many places I know were not marked on it," the demon-devouring beast confessed truthfully.
Hearing what the demon-devouring beast said, Mu Anxiao immediately understood why Xi'er had been so indifferent to the terrain map. "So that's how it is," she said, then looked up at the demon-devouring beast again.