Eternal Heavenly Emperor

Chu Hao was the calmest among the ten people.

Because he was not only a Star Force Cultivator but also a Body Cultivator, this part of his combat power was equivalent to mid-stage Two Meridians. Although not extremely powerful, the benefit was the enhancement of his physique, significantly increasing his defensive power. Moreover, the stamina consumption differed from Star Force consumption, making his endurance in battle stronger.

This gave him a slim chance to turn the tables.

Swish, swish, swish, swish, more tendrils shot out from the soil, wrapping towards Chu Hao and the others.

Seeing that the tendrils only bound their bodies without piercing into their spines, Chu Hao did not resist and let the tendrils wrap around him. He was not worried about breaking free because he had a Fire Attribute physique; once he ignited flames, these tendril creatures would likely fear him.

He vaguely felt that the truth was about to be revealed.

——It wasn't surprising that those Corroders were bound by the tendrils before, but how did they get buried underground? Moreover, who sowed so many Spirit Grass seeds? There must be human involvement.

"Someone's here!" Leng Deshan suddenly said.

Everyone turned their heads and saw a person walking from the depth of the valley.

It was a girl in white clothes, looking no older than 20, with an exceedingly delicate appearance. However, watching her walk calmly without a single tendril attacking her, it was clear she had a profound connection here, if not the owner of this place herself.

But looking at all the Corroders on the ground, so disgusting and cruel, how could they be associated with such a pure girl?

A tendril gently reached towards the girl, and she extended a slender hand. Upon touching her delicate hand, the grey tendril behaved like a spoilt kitten, gently rubbing against it.

This scene left everyone astounded, unable to believe these creatures that tortured people to death had such a gentle side.

"Little Gray, you've worked hard!" The girl spoke sweetly.

The tendrils seemed to understand, swaying as if cheering excitedly.

It was too bizarre.

The girl seemed to notice their confusion and began to explain: "Little Gray is a grey vine. Two years ago, when I first arrived here, it was only this big."

She gestured to indicate a length, no more than a foot tall.

Grey Vine!

Hearing this name, Chu Hao and the others turned pale.

They had all heard of this miraculous plant.

On Sky Martial Star, there were not only ferocious beasts but also many aggressive plants, like the man-eating grass and trees on Earth, with Grey Vine being among the most terrifying.

When grown to its limit, Grey Vine could become a War God level existence! Fortunately, the growth rate of this plant was extremely slow, taking tens of thousands of years to reach the War God level; it might be destroyed hundreds or thousands of times in such a long period.

But it was precisely because it grew slowly that its combat power was exceptionally strong.

How so?

One tendril equals one Martial Artist of the same level!

——In other words, although the tendrils that attacked Chu Hao and the others earlier were overwhelming, they were just the root feelers of a single Grey Vine. Similarly, a War God level Grey Vine could even battle a host of War Gods.

How terrifying was that?

But then, they pondered another question: two years ago, this Grey Vine was only a foot long; how could it grow to the Martial Sect Realm in just two years?

"Good Little Gray!" The girl smiled, as if praising a child, gently patting the Grey Vine's tendrils, making the fearsome plant sway all its tendrils joyfully.

After communicating with the plant for a while, the girl gently pressed down, and a tendril immediately moved to her feet, lifting her into the air to face Chu Hao and the others.

Chu Hao and the others were now suspended in midair, bound hand and foot, making escape difficult even if their Star Force was restored—it would take some time.

"Who are you?" Chu Hao asked solemnly.

"My name is Xiaocao." The girl replied, looking at each of the ten faces. "Since you already know the secret of this place, I cannot let you leave."

"I will interrogate you. The wicked ones will end up like those Corroders!" She pointed to the Corroders.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, the Grey Vine reacted, dragging these people back into their original pits, the Corroders still flailing their limbs in resistance.

But clearly, their Star Force was sealed; with only ordinary human physiques, how could they resist?

Just covering them with soil would restore the scene to its previous state.

Xiaocao tilted her head and glanced over everyone again, pointing at Du Sheng: "Let's start with you!" Her gesture made the tendril beneath her move, sending her to Du Sheng.

"What are you going to do?" Even Du Sheng, ranked 42 on the Fledgling Dragon List, started trembling and stuttering. After seeing the Corroders' fate, who could remain calm?

Xiaocao lightly shook her right hand, producing a green jade pill bottle, removed the cork, and poured out a pill: "This is a Life Pill. Consuming it will make you recount everything that ever happened in your life."

She said calmly: "So, whether you're a good or bad person will be known immediately!"

"What if I'm a good person, and what if I'm bad?" Du Sheng asked.

"Bad people naturally become fertilizer for my flowers and plants. Good people, I'll give you a Purification Pill that will make you forget everything from this past year." Xiaocao said.

A whole year!

The people were horrified, as they definitely did not know of this Medicine Valley before this time limit. This timeline seemed very safe for the girl but extremely perilous for them.

Their cultivation wouldn't regress by a year, but what about the martial arts insights gained during this time? Those would be completely lost.

Was the girl trying to scare them? No, no, no, she could command the Grey Vine, indicating she was not ordinary and had some bizarre methods.

"Were those people victims who accidentally entered the valley?" Chu Hao suddenly spoke.

"Victims?" Xiaocao snorted, showing an expression of disgust: "They were vile scoundrels. I visit Hundred Flavors occasionally to gather information on evil doers, capture them one by one, and bring them back to the valley for punishment."

"Do you have such power?" Chu Hao couldn't help but laugh. The girl's aura was similar to his, likely also at the Three Meridians Martial Sect level, though it was unclear if it was from Eight, Nine, or Ten Meridians breakthroughs.

Xiaocao glanced at Chu Hao and said lightly: "Villagers said I was born different with a birthmark like a Medicine Cauldron on my back. From a young age, I could communicate with plants and naturally knew how to make various pills. Not just Martial Sects, even Warriors and War Generals could only be at my mercy after smelling my concoctions."

This statement left everyone shocked without suspicion.

Now she was in absolute control; there was no need for her to lie. Moreover, her interactions with the Grey Vine were also genuine.

She didn't fear her secrets being revealed since wicked people would become fertilizer, while good people would have their memories erased.

But everyone couldn't hide their amazement, thinking what impact such a girl could have if she ever emerged in the world.

Just speaking of her, even Warriors and War Generals could be drugged, and with a Grey Vine aiding her, it would be adding wings to a tiger. Fortunately, Grey Vines could not move until reaching the War Venerate level, meaning it couldn't follow her out. Once it crossed that threshold, it could freely move underground, amplifying her terror tenfold.

Even Yuan Tiangang, first on the Fledgling Dragon List, would be insignificant before her.

Chu Hao couldn't help but think of Su Wanyue. If the two girls fought, who would win?

If Su Wanyue struck first, she would undoubtedly defeat Xiaocao with one sword strike. But if Xiaocao struck first, even War Generals could be brought down by her elixirs, and Su Wanyue might not escape unscathed.

Suddenly, he wondered if this girl also had Gu Clan bloodline.

No one dictated that Gu Clan descendants must be born within the clan. Sky Martial Star had existed for so long, many ancient clans had fallen into decline, becoming no different from ordinary people.

But if any descendant suddenly had an ancestral bloodline resurgence, it would be extraordinary.

Using tendril-like hands, the Grey Vine pried open Du Sheng's mouth, and Xiaocao flicked her finger, sending the pill into his mouth. The pill liquefied upon contact with moisture, quickly flowing down his throat.

After a moment, Du Sheng's pupils dilated, but not fatal; he seemed to lose consciousness.

"Tell me about all the conflicts you've had in your life!" Xiaocao demanded.

Du Sheng didn't hesitate, immediately recounting: "When I was five, I fought with a cousin over toys and got beaten. Three days later, I pushed him into a well, drowning him. At seven, a maid broke my favorite vase, and I beat her to death. At eight..."

Without holding back, he revealed his secrets. As a super genius, he rarely faced bullying, mainly during early childhood. From ten onwards, he encountered only smooth sailing, bullying others instead.

In his 22 years, he had killed over a thousand people, often non-martial artists angering him.

It took three hours for him to finish speaking.

Du Sheng shuddered, his eyes returning to normal. He looked at the girl: "What did you make me eat? Ptuh, ptuh, ptuh!" He spat frantically, unaware three hours had passed.

The rest were all horrified.