My construction materials are weird

If you were to ask if Qiao Liangyu felt any regret, he wouldn't say he felt much.

In his understanding, nothing came for free. That flash of inspiration might seem wasted, but wasn't it because it wasn't suitable that he avoided a lot of trouble?

He understood the concept of 'borrowing a corpse to return the soul'.

What if that flash of inspiration was a backup plan for 'borrowing a corpse to return the soul'?

No one could be sure.

Maintaining suspicion, maintaining the greatest vigilance—Qiao Liangyu was right to do so.

In this chaotic and confusing world, where strangeness arose everywhere, no amount of caution was too much.

Due to his strange and special nature, there was almost no risk of losing control.

At the mid-stage level, with the help of the clubhouse's abilities, he could rival the late stage of a normal third-order cultivator.

This was the reason he wanted to go out.

Unfortunately, after searching for a long time, he just couldn't find a way out.

Or rather, it wasn't that he couldn't get out, but that trying to get out would bring a life-threatening crisis.

Because there were these two paths that he didn't dare to try, he had tested all other directions and paths, but there was no way back.

And the reason he didn't dare to try the remaining two paths was because crossing these two paths first required undergoing trials.

The trials of two late-stage third-order corpses.

If he won, he would not only obtain divine blood but also the hope of returning.

But if he lost, there would be no future, and he would be killed by the illusory shadows of these two corpses.

"Do you want to train me? But this is not the way to train, there shouldn't be a life-or-death crisis."

Qiao Liangyu cried out silently.

In his eyes, such training was too cruel, there shouldn't be a crisis of death.

Even if he failed, he should be able to start over infinitely, there shouldn't be such a death crisis accompanying him.

It can only be said… EMM.

If the clubhouse had intelligence, it would be depressed to encounter such an unambitious guy, wanting it to provide nanny-style training.

But the most important thing for a true powerhouse is a strong mind and a firm will.

If these two are not possessed, it is impossible to become a powerhouse.

Even if nurtured, they would only be immature children under the protection of the clubhouse.

A mental interrogation or an impact of will would destroy them.

So far, although seemingly very embarrassed, Qiao Liangyu still hasn't decided to take those two paths, and is still continuing to look for other directions.

"I wonder how the clubhouse is doing. Can Rose control the situation?"

Qiao Liangyu thought of the outside world again.

When he chose to delve into the battlefield of gods and demons, he prepared everything and entrusted Rose with the arrangements.

But after so long, he was very worried.

His worries came from two aspects: one was that he was afraid that Rose would not be able to control the situation, and the other was that he was afraid that the newcomers, not seeing him for a long time, would have designs on the clubhouse.

He was more worried about the second point, after all, even if he didn't admit it in his heart, he had to accept reality.

He was the binder of the clubhouse, not the one who merged with and controlled the clubhouse.

If others also discovered the secret of binding, then he would not be the only 'master' of the clubhouse.

He was even more worried about this point.

"Chairman Rose, hasn't the chairman come out of seclusion yet?"

In the council hall of the Strange Clubhouse, a meeting was being held.

There were many new members, or rather, 80% were new members, who Qiao Liangyu had instructed Rose to recruit regardless of reputation.

Previously, they cared about reputation in order to maintain the name of a righteous faction.

After being defined as an evil organization by the Town Demon Department, there were no more concerns in this regard, regardless of whether you were righteous or evil, all were welcome.

Everything was to enhance the losses of the clubhouse.

The previous plan was no longer being implemented.

"Not Chairman Rose, Assistant Rose, it's Assistant. Kumu, I've corrected you many times, the Strange Clubhouse only has one chairman, Chairman Qiao, I'm just an assistant, understand? I don't want to hear you call me that again."

Rose swept her cold eyes over the spirit master named Kumu, icy and bone-piercing.

Qiao Liangyu didn't fail to leave Rose with a backup plan, at least Rose's current late-stage second-order strength was due to Qiao Liangyu no longer being stingy with the bestowal of divine blood.

Before, he was stingy with his subordinates, even with Rose.

Xuanhuang's blow had changed him a lot, at least he was no longer so stingy with the bestowal of loyal subordinates.

The large amount of second-order divine blood left behind had allowed Rose to rise to the late-stage second-order level during this time.

"Haha, my mistake, my mistake, my brain isn't very bright, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Spirit Master Kumu apologized, seemingly sincerely.

But from his eyes, it could be seen that he didn't have a trace of remorse.

This was the constant probing that had been appearing recently.

After no longer caring about evil or justice, without thinking, everyone knew what kind of evil demons and monsters were joining the Strange Clubhouse.

Almost all of them were wanted criminals of various kinds, or they were extremely evil and hated by everyone.

Anyway, there was nothing good.

These people didn't care about the Town Demon Department and Xuanhuang.

Before joining the Town Demon Department, they were also objects that were shouted at and hunted down.

Joining was the same, but they received the protection of the Strange Clubhouse, so joining was a profit, without any loss.

"It's good that you know. The chairmen are only in seclusion to make a strong return, not disappeared. The clubhouse is still here, this is the best evidence, I hope everyone will not make pointless probes anymore. Otherwise, the next time you pass through the teleportation gate, the location you may appear in is Qingyun Mountain, or the headquarters of the Town Demon Department may not be certain."

Rose said directly, threateningly.

It seemed like their own force, such a threat greatly damaged internal unity, and didn't seem like something that should be done inside a force.

But Ms. Rose didn't care, what internal people?

This bunch of goods were not their own people at all, just a mob gathered together.

Where was there any internal unity?

These guys only believed in fists and power, if they talked a little bit of sense, she wouldn't be so domineering and unreasonable.

Directly threatening to teleport them to Qingyun Mountain or the headquarters of the Town Demon Department.

It could be seen that in their hearts, the power of Qingyun Mountain had surpassed the threat of the Town Demon Department.

Qingyun Mountain had become the organization they feared the most.

Especially the deeds of Xuanhuang destroying the entire God Alliance not long ago.

Although 80% of the God Alliance was devoured by the God Lord himself, not killed by Xuanhuang.

But they all believed that it was Xuanhuang who killed them, not the God Lord himself.

Someone still spoke up for the God Lord, saying: The God Lord is already dead, do you still have to put such a big hat on him, will your conscience not be uneasy?

People will only believe what they believe, and will not believe what they do not accept in their hearts.

This kind of stubbornness and concept is difficult to change, and may even be impossible to change.

Spirit masters are not ordinary people, but they are also like this.

They only believe what they believe, and because of their extreme nature, their obsessions and stubbornness are even deeper.

In short, Xuanhuang and Qingyun Mountain are the places they fear the most.

These evil demons and heretics fear death the most, and using Xuanhuang to scare them is more effective than anything else.

As soon as Rose threatened them, everyone immediately stopped talking, and each of them put on a smile, trying to show Ms. Rose that they were good people and very amiable.

Face and shame? … What are those things, can you eat them?

"Humph!"

Rose snorted coldly, but felt endless sadness in her heart.

Using her greatest enemy to threaten 'her own people' was so sad.

"The reason for gathering everyone this time is for the ten-year node, and there is still one month until the ten-year node circulating in the Town Demon Department. Everyone must have seen what happened in the ninth year of the strange revival. The tenth year will definitely not be simple. The circulating news is about external invasion, and possible natural disasters, etc. Everyone, this is our chance."

Rose said.

"That's right, those damned guardians of humanity! It's those disgusting righteous people who do these things. Those hypocrites! They must be exhausted from dealing with all sorts of incidents, which will reduce their vigilance and attacks on us, giving us greater freedom."

Someone echoed in agreement, clearly delighted.

"Not only that, aren't there alien creatures invading? These alien creatures should be very strong, otherwise the Demon Suppression Department wouldn't be so cautious. We can totally unite with the alien creatures. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. If we unite with the alien creatures, we won't have to fear Qingyun Mountain and the Demon Suppression Department."

Someone else said.

"What Fellow Daoists say is absolutely right. This is our chance. I hate the hypocrisy of those righteous sects the most. This world is cruel. It should be about eliminating the weak. Only the strong deserve to live. Why protect the ants? Hmph, these righteous sects bear an unshirkable responsibility for the invasion of alien creatures…"

He continued, "If these so-called righteous sects weren't so hypocritical, and allowed us to devour ordinary people at will, we would become very strong. If we were strong, would we still be afraid of alien creatures? Therefore, the disasters that may arise from the alien invasion are all caused by these damned righteous sects."

Without a single mistake, every word was heartfelt!

After uttering such twisted and evil words, he actually won everyone's approval.

"Fellow Daoist is right. If it weren't for the Demon Suppression Department's pursuit, allowing me to devour ordinary people without restriction to become stronger, I wouldn't be at the second rank now, but the fourth rank! If I were at the fourth rank, would I still be afraid of alien creatures? Hmph, it's all caused by these hypocrites of the righteous sects. They are obstructing my path to power."

"Yes, indeed."

"What everyone said is great. I think so too."

"They think it's benevolence, protecting all living beings, and they self-anesthetize and indulge in it, but they are wrong. Only the survival of the fittest is the essence of this world."

"It's not that they think it's right, but that we think it's right."

"…"

It was rare to hear a group of evil demons agree on something, and it won the approval of the vast majority.

Rose hadn't expected this.

Perhaps, she still retained a little bit of conscience.

After all, she had been part of the 'righteous faction' before, and even if it was just feigned righteousness, pretending for too long would lead to some identification with true righteous people.

This was a kind of self-domestication and self-admiration.

Everyone was discussing frantically, but Rose was a little silent, silently watching her familiar comrades.

At this moment, her heart was connected to Qiao Liangyu in a similar way.

She was wondering when the chairman would appear, while Qiao Liangyu was worried about whether Rose had stabilized the situation at the club.

A different kind of telepathy.

…

On the other side!

The headquarters of the Demon Cult.

The leader, Alexis, the deputy leader, Matthew Lee, the deputy leader, Aisha, and other high-level figures.

Were urgently gathering believers to hold a major meeting.

"The ten-year node is approaching. We have received a divine order to prepare for the descent of the gods, requiring at least ten thousand heretics to be purified. I don't want any accidents to happen, do you understand?"

Alexis said ruthlessly.

His whole body was emitting a dark mist, making him look like a man-eating demon.

Gou Jianren, sitting below the stage, was already numb. At this moment, he finally understood what a cult meant.

The so-called purification of ten thousand heretic lambs meant that at least ten thousand people were to be sacrificed to the gods.

And the fate of those sacrificed was only one: their souls and flesh would be devoured by the gods.

Recently, the Demon Cult had seemed to disappear and had been very low-key.

As one of the twelve hall masters, he naturally understood what had happened.

Including himself, the entire high-level leadership of the Demon Cult had undergone tremendous improvements during this period.

It was hard to imagine, but Alexis, who looked neither human nor ghost, had already reached the late stage of the third rank in cultivation and strength.

The two deputy leaders had also reached the mid-stage of the third rank.

Even he, one of the twelve hall masters, had risen from the early to mid-stage of the second rank to the late stage of the second rank.

Such a significant leap, what was the price?

The price was that there was no price at all.

Yes, for them, there was no price at all. Not only did their cultivation improve, but the strange erosion had also slowed down a lot. There had never been a more comfortable moment than this.

They didn't have to worry about the strange erosion, nor did they have to worry about the invasion of distorted will. They felt very comfortable.

But there had to be a price, right?

There was.

But the price was borne by others.

The bearers were the people who were constantly being sacrificed. They sacrificed to the gods, and the gods granted them power and suppression.

It was borne by others, or rather, by the weak.

Alexis's announcement of sacrificing ten thousand people was imaginable in its cruelty and cold-bloodedness.

Humans, who were already suffering from the revival of the strange and suffering great harm, were facing the help of such evil forces.

Anyway, the ordinary people around their headquarters were long gone, and they were all transported from other places.

They plundered in a way that plundered ordinary people who were unguarded.

Previously, when Xuanhuang first descended into this world, the population reduction in Xia Country was 20%.

Recently, especially with the arrival of the ninth year, even with Xuanhuang guarding one side, it was still difficult to achieve overall balance compared to the infinite area of Xia Country.

In this ninth year, the entire Xia Country lost nearly 15% of its population again.

And it was difficult to specify the outside world in detail. Some countries had already disappeared.

Self-grouping in various places in a state of anarchy had long been the mainstream. In the previous eight years, they had reduced their population by at least 30% to 40%, and after the ninth year, there was a possibility of reducing by half.

According to a population of 10 billion, there were probably only 5 or 6 billion people left on Blue Star.

But how many humans were there in total?

The entire human race mentioned here includes humans integrated from secret realms and small worlds everywhere.

This was much more, probably more than a hundred billion.

Although the human race seemed to be reduced by half, it was the reduction of the Blue Star body.

With the integration of secret realms and broken small worlds everywhere, the human race had increased more than ten times.

This was just a ten-year increase. How many humans would there be in the future? It would probably be difficult to find out.

The loss of Blue Star humans was huge, a loss of half. If there was no external growth and filling, with such a large reduction, to be honest, the entire human race would be in danger of collapse.

But because of the emergence of humans from small worlds and secret realms, Blue Star humans did not feel too deeply.

They even felt that there were more people, which may be an important reason for not collapsing psychologically.

Of course, back to the point, even if you collapsed, so what?

Would you stop living?

Would you give up struggling and become depraved?

Probably not. Those who didn't want to live and gave up struggling died long ago. The deaths of those people didn't make a splash.

The rest were living strong, working hard to live, and being as tenacious as weeds. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, they would struggle to survive.

Death was the main theme of the world, and everything should be viewed from this main theme. One cannot transplant the perspective and understanding of a prosperous world to this world.

People in a peaceful world feel: This is so cruel, why live in such an environment?

But for people in a cruel world: There is not so much sentimentality, not so much self-pity, not so much emotion. Everything is for working hard to live.

The real thing is: I don't want you to think, I want me to think. (End of this chapter)