"Dead?" Ao Xingyun was also surprised, then turned to look at Ao Haichao beside him.
Ao Haichao furrowed his brow, pondered briefly, and then waved his hand gently, just as Ao Haiping had done before.
The body bags piled like mountains crumbled as if weathered by wind, turning into powder and revealing the corpses within.
Then, everyone discovered several more corpses of Bai Xinghe.
They were all identical in appearance and clothing.
"So that's how it is, so that's how it is..." Ao Haiping murmured softly.
"What?" Although the voice was quiet, Ao Xingyun still heard it and turned back to ask.
"When we met before, Xiao Yue said Bai Xinghe was a bit off, and his scent was also strange. I didn't pay much attention at the time. After all, I had taken a blood oath, so I wasn't afraid of him deceiving me. I never expected him to be fake from beginning to end."
"You can't say that. They are not Bai Xinghe, but they can also be considered Bai Xinghe."
"Is this sorcery, or science?" Zhan Dundun asked curiously from the side.
"It should be a combination of sorcery and technology. I can feel the lingering demonic energy on them," Su Jinxiu said.
"Do you know what the first cloned creature in the world was?" Ao Haichao asked.
"A sheep," Liu Nanfeng replied.
According to official reports, the first cloned creature was a sheep named Dolly, born at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Of course, unofficial reports are another matter. After all, this technology couldn't have been successful from the start. How many nameless, numbered creatures had died before its successful implementation was unknown.
"It is said that Bai Xinghe's true form was a sheep. It gained sentience by chance and transformed into a demon."
"Yes, he is a mountain goat spirit," Liu Nanfeng interjected.
Hearing this, everyone turned to look at him in surprise.
"Uh... I met him once before," Liu Nanfeng explained softly.
"As expected, you are the man I, Ao Haiping, have chosen. You can see through his true form at a glance," Ao Haiping said with admiration.
Liu Nanfeng felt awkward upon hearing this. How could he still be like a chuunibyou at his age?
At this moment, Ao Xingyun, who had been lost in thought, said, "Haiping, activate the blood oath and see."
Bai Xinghe and Ao Haiping had signed a blood oath. Under fair and just conditions, Bai Xinghe would provide clues to the Dragon Gate, and Ao Haiping would offer the Heavenly Star Disk as reward.
If he had only provided clues, the blood oath should have disappeared by now, as both parties had fulfilled their respective needs.
However, out of caution, Ao Haiping had detailed the contract. One of the supplementary clauses stated that Bai Xinghe must help Ao Haiping retrieve the Dragon Gate intact. Therefore, according to the contract, Bai Xinghe had breached it.
This was why the blood oath totems on their hands had not disappeared; the transaction was not yet complete.
But now Bai Xinghe was dead. For those who had signed a blood oath, death was not the end. As long as you entered into a contract, the blood oath would follow you for three lifetimes, ensuring you received punishment.
This was also why everyone was willing to use blood oaths to bind each other. The consequences of breaking faith were simply too great.
However, Bai Xinghe's situation was exceptionally peculiar. This was likely the first time such a thing had happened, and it was unknown if it would even work.
Ao Haiping tried it out of a speculative hope, channeling his magic to activate the blood oath totem in his hand.
Immediately, the toothed serpent coiled protectively within Bai Xinghe's corpse opened its eyes. Its scarlet gaze seemed to fix upon everyone, instilling a sense of dread.
However, the toothed serpent quickly retracted its gaze and began to coil and move within the egg. As Ao Haiping's magic intensified, the toothed serpent broke free from its shell.
It truly broke free, appearing before them from thin air. It was entirely blood-red, its form appearing both real and illusory, as ethereal and unstable as smoke and dust. Its gaze was fixed on Ao Haiping.
Ao Haiping, in turn, stared at the toothed serpent in the air and said solemnly, "The other party has broken his oath. I demand an equal price."
The toothed serpent coiled in the air like a Tai Chi symbol with its head biting its tail, then returned to Bai Xinghe's corpse and circled it.
But then, it moved erratically over all of Bai Xinghe's corpses like a headless fly, as if it had lost its purpose in life.
"Uh, it seems useless," Ao Haiping remarked.
"Ancient methods are good, but times are evolving. We must adapt to the times and not rely solely on ancient methods, believing that anything passed down from antiquity is inherently good," Ao Haichao said from the side.
Liu Nanfeng looked at Ao Haichao with some curiosity.
This Dragon King's eldest son was handsome and spoke little, but whenever he did speak, it left people feeling a bit awkward. There was always something slightly off about his words.
Ao Haiping clearly disliked his lecturing, and his expression turned somewhat displeased.
Just then, the toothed serpent, which had been moving about like a headless fly, transformed into a wisp of green smoke and vanished.
"Huh?"
Ao Haiping's face lit up with surprise.
He then turned to look at Ao Haichao.
But Ao Haichao remained calm, seemingly indifferent to Ao Haiping's thoughts.
Ao Haiping's face stiffened, and his joy quickly faded.
Ao Xingyun, as if he hadn't noticed the subtle tension between the two brothers, asked, "Can you sense its presence?"
Ao Haiping nodded and led the way forward.
Ao Xingyun and Ao Haichao quickly followed. After a few steps, they noticed that Liu Nanfeng and his group were not keeping pace, so they turned back to look at them.
"Old Dragon King, our business here is concluded. We shall take our leave now," Su Jinxiu said, cupping his fists.
Their purpose in coming here was revenge and to destroy the laboratory. The people who needed to be killed had been killed, those who needed to escape had escaped, and the laboratory had been self-destructed.
There was no longer any meaning in them staying.
"Since that is the case, then we part ways. After this matter is settled, I shall visit you," Ao Xingyun said.
However, as he spoke, his gaze was fixed on Liu Nanfeng.
It was clear that he still placed his hope of finding the Dragon Gate on Liu Nanfeng.
There might also be other reasons.
But this was not the time to discuss them. Su Jinxiu cupped his fists, turned, and led his companions away.
Watching their retreating backs, Ao Haichao looked at his father with confusion.
"Father~"
"Enough. I have this matter handled. We must focus on retrieving the Heavenly Star Disk as soon as possible," Ao Xingyun said.
Meanwhile, Su Jinxiu and his group passed through a long corridor and returned to the previous hall.
"Should we check out the other two places?" Su Huamei asked, looking at the passages leading in the other two directions.
"Forget it. With such a commotion, anyone who wanted to escape would have already done so," Liu Nanfeng shook his head.
His purpose in coming here was revenge. The people who needed to be dealt with were dealt with, and those who needed to flee had fled. He didn't want to linger here, especially with the Dragon King and his two sons still present. Liu Nanfeng didn't believe they were there as guests.
Liu Nanfeng now wanted to return the way he came as quickly as possible and collect the remaining experimental subjects into his painting. This would save their lives, and if they possessed any special abilities, Liu Nanfeng could also utilize them to enhance his own strength.
"Wait a moment."
Just then, Zhan Dundun called out to the group.