It turned out that this wretched place wouldn't experience an earthquake.
Or rather, it might, but an earthquake wasn't what was happening this time.
For as soon as You Siqi finished speaking, several people clearly saw a huge, somewhat blurry shadow slowly approaching them from beyond the mountains of monster corpses they had slain.
With each step the shadow took, the ground would tremble violently. Thus, no explanation was needed; the answer was clear—
This so-called earthquake was merely the disturbance caused by the monster's immense size as it walked.
With the appearance of this colossal shadow, that detestable malice surged to a new peak.
Liu Buli was ready to attack, but to ease his mood slightly, he glanced back at You Siqi and asked with a smile, "Do you have any explanation for this monster?"
You Siqi shook his head resolutely.
As he had said, this was a plot point not yet written in the novel. Even if he tried to explain, he wouldn't be able to make sense of it.
However, sensing the increasingly potent aura emanating from the shadow, You Siqi pointed in the direction he had initially indicated to Liu Buli and earnestly suggested, "I don't think we're a match for it. This thing is different from the previous monsters. Just its mere presence makes me feel sick. I don't know what you all think, but if we're on the same page, perhaps... we should just run for now?"
This suggestion was indeed typical of You Siqi.
But Liu Buli was never a reckless fool.
After observing the monster's condition and weighing the gap between them, Liu Buli quickly reached a conclusion and nodded at You Siqi, saying, "I'll count to three, and then we..."
Before he could finish, Lu Wuming, who had always been obedient and never voiced any objections, spoke up, interrupting Liu Buli's plan. "Master, please wait a moment. I don't sense any fighting intent from that shadow. It seems... it's not here to deal with us."
Not here to deal with them?
Then, was it here to fight the other monsters to the death?
Liu Buli was indeed filled with doubt, but Lu Wuming had said it. So, after a moment's hesitation, he naturally chose to comply and trust him.
Even though he found Lu Wuming's statement somewhat strange, even comical, as his master and his dao companion, he ought to believe him. Liu Buli thought this, his eyes fixed on the approaching monster.
The surrounding light was too dim for the crimson lotus fire lit by Shen Muzhi to reach the monster. Therefore, they couldn't see its appearance clearly, only vaguely discerning that the monster... didn't seem to be a complete entity?
Upon reaching this conclusion, Liu Buli's doubts deepened. He turned back to the people beside him with a dazed expression, seeking an answer from them.
Then, You Siqi quickly spoke up, articulating what Liu Buli had thought. "Hey, look at that shadow. If I'm not mistaken, why do I feel like it's something pieced together from the bodies of those monsters... This... this is too disgusting, isn't it?"
No one responded to his statement.
Instead, as if to confirm You Siqi's guess, the monster's massive shadow approached the corpses of the monsters they had just slain. Those corpses, as if drawn by some force, all moved towards the shadow and successfully merged with it, causing its already colossal body to expand even further.
This time, there was no need for explanation, nor for wild speculation. The shadow had proven its existence through its actions. The scene stunned everyone into silence, leaving them in a state of bewilderment as they watched the shadow absorb all the corpses. Then, with earth-shattering tremors, it turned and slowly retreated back into the profound darkness.
Lu Wuming was not wrong. The shadow had never intended to attack them. Not only had it not harmed them, but it had also not harmed the surrounding monsters that were menacingly eyeing them.
And unlike their excessive reaction, the monsters seemed accustomed to the shadow's presence. From its arrival to its departure, the monsters' gazes didn't linger on it for a moment, their attention remaining fixed on Liu Buli and his group. Clearly, the only beings they considered enemies or prey were Liu Buli and his group of humans.
Still reeling from the shock, Liu Buli remained silent for a moment before turning to Lu Wuming and asking, "Wuming, what was that shadow just now? Do you know?"
Lu Wuming shook his head.
He knew very well that when Liu Buli asked him such questions, it meant that the author, You Siqi, had lost his ability to help them.
Although he wished he could shake his head as decisively as You Siqi and say he had no idea what was going on, his damned competitive spirit made him want to appear more capable in Liu Buli's eyes. After a moment of contemplation, Lu Wuming finally decided to reveal everything he had perceived.
"I don't know how to describe it. Its aura was indeed oppressive. Even more disgusting than the feeling the Evil God gave me before. It was as if that shadow was the deepest darkness in this world, and any adjective describing malice would be fitting. Yet, despite being such an entity, I felt no killing intent from it. It wasn't planning to attack either side. Perhaps, for it, this visit was simply to clear the battlefield?"
Lu Wuming sounded confused even to himself as he spoke.
You Siqi, listening from the side, suddenly thought of something. His eyes lit up as he said, "Perhaps, what we just saw was the center of the dead zone."