Chapter 2427 - 1413: Puppeteering the Lions (Part 2)
The reason monkeys can establish themselves in the Hell Palace is, of course, because there are several Monkey Immortals among them.
Before these Monkey Immortals were taken in, the monkeys could only rely on fish from the river to survive.
Dugu Yan’er watched her clansmen and older brother suffer as soon as they arrived, and although she was a bit worried, she held back and did not help.
She knew that if she kept an eye on them, her family would not be harmed, and besides, she could not help them forever.
They must stand on their own, and this battle might just provide the opportunity.
Dugu Yan’er was worried, and Jiang Tang certainly understood her anxiety. Since his wife didn’t say anything, neither did he.
Moreover, besides Dugu Yan’er, the other wives’ families also joined the divine tribulation, although Cai Xiangxiang’s family was too weak to enter. The rest of the wives and their families came, along with some other teams, each as if fueled by adrenaline, experiencing varying degrees of success or defeat early on.
The Dugu brothers and their family were initially startled, especially as they were worried about the two wives being frightened.
However, with his increased ability, though the two wives’ abilities were not quite on par, they themselves weren’t weak. They were simply caught off guard at first, but soon, they began making defensive preparations for the upcoming battles.
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The Dugu brothers and the Spiritual Pets reacted, with the Spiritual Pets creating a protective shield for their masters, a formation that served as a shield.
Their clansmen did the same; once they came to their senses, they had their Spiritual Pets set up protective covers for them.
Yet the power of the Lion’s Roar was still formidable enough not to harm their senses, thanks to the formation’s defense, and they commenced their battle.
The Dugu brothers and their family, under the protection of the Spiritual Pets, began their counterattack.
Initially frightened, they now turned their fury on the Lions.
Underestimating the cultivators and what they could do was a mistake.
The Dugu family’s favorite tactic was using worm poison, typically saved for when Spiritual Pets were less useful. Before, they rarely used some of their Spiritual Pets.
This technique became part of their cultivation practice, and since meeting Jiang Tang, who taught them more skills, they reserved this ability for preservation, using it only when absolutely necessary.
Their family excelled in using worm poison, and in their anger, disregarded the fact that these were demonic beasts, not humans, bearing no burden of guilt.
Even if there were a Lion King, they wouldn’t be afraid.
They unleashed their carefully nurtured worm insects.
Each worm had different effects, with varying impacts on humans versus demonic beasts.
To kill a person or to kill these demonic beasts, poisoning was all it took.
To manipulate emotions, typically used on people, was to control their thoughts, turning indifference to love.
Alternatively, this method could be used on demonic beasts: to control someone’s soul, or a demonic beast’s soul, commanding them to do what was wanted, turning them into puppets.
This was merely a method of soul control, not poisoning the opponent to death.
The Dugu brothers initially intended to poison these Lions, but later felt it would be a shame to kill the Lions, as some had already transformed shape.
They came here for divine tribulation and could also find allies. Allies were not limited to human cultivators who entered with them.
But also included demonic beasts, for they could be here for an extended time, facing not only demonic beasts, but also human demons and demons, a variety of threats.
If they could control these powerful demonic beasts, making them puppets, they would have assistance when facing human demons and demons later on.
It’s not about fearing demons, human demons, or demonic beasts.
Using worm magic is merely a method.
Any means necessary for victory are justified.
Just like wanting to poison these Lions as a show of force.
Killing could be problematic, since the demonic beasts of the Hell Palace belong to the Saint Master.
Though not forbidden, mass killing of demonic beasts wasn’t permitted!
This lion’s abilities were formidable, and if it were known that they were harmed or killed by humans, they wouldn’t find peace here.
Now, with their Spiritual Pets helping, they won’t lose the battle, but they don’t have many allies here, having separated from other companions. Though they are over a hundred strong and winning against these Lions now, what about after?
By day, they will still encounter other demonic beasts and ghosts by night.
Rumors speak of demons yet to be faced; collecting a batch of puppets seems prudent for now.
This group followed the Dugu brothers’ orders, though there were other voices in the family, since he wasn’t the Young Master.
Relying on his sister’s status as the first Deity in the Cultivation World, current Deity, and one wife’s status elevated his standing in the family; though not the Young Master, he nearly matched that status.
His skills even surpassed those of the Young Master, leading many to follow him into divine tribulation, thanks to his brother-in-law.
Bringing those who listened to him, while those loyal to the Young Master couldn’t enter, perhaps as a benefit from his brother-in-law, supporting him as the big brother-in-law.
This could have been to foster family unity, preventing self-serving dissent over wealth and power.
Or perhaps his brother-in-law considered that united, they wouldn’t betray, as this was his wife’s family, naturally supporting his wife’s relatives.
Conflicts in large families abound, with individuals striving resolutely for power, some even making foolish decisions.
With his brother-in-law’s backing, this divine tribulation differs from before, some choosing to be his subordinates willingly, following him.
Currently, his wife, along with her family, who came to the Saint Sect base, couldn’t enter due to lack of skill.
Perhaps their synergy came from shared thought, leading to swift action.
The Dugu brothers’ two wives weren’t initially from their family but met later and learned to wield worms only after marriage, gaining an additional skill.
While their mastery wasn’t perfect, they were effective against slightly weaker Lions.
They acted too swiftly, and though worms feared the roaring Lions, under legal protection, they quickly entered Lions’ mouths.
In fact, worms could enter through Lion bodies, though the fur’s hardness might slow them down.
Perhaps Lions would notice.
Demonic beasts might host parasites, but no ordinary insect could approach these formidable creatures.
Worm insects entered Lions’ mouths unnoticed, initially without realization.
Gradually, in using the Lion’s Roar skill, they discovered their attacks couldn’t harm humans anymore.
Besides failing to harm humans, employing this skill weakened their power.
Bereft of past potency, their sound turned hoarse, and eventually, they fell silent, by the time Lions realized, it was too late.
Worm insects entered quietly, beginning at the throat, esophagus, then into Lions’ brains.
Seizing control over their souls, the Lions’ roars were silenced, transforming them into puppets under the influence of those in charge.