"Poison-" Fillia spoke softly, but her voice echoed like thunder, "Refined from the Ebony Silken Mite- a magical beast so small, it cannot be detected by the naked eye when it uses its shrinking technique to hide. It lives within the folds of one of our secret realms, surviving only on ghost-attribute essence. Its venom... is not a toxin of the flesh but of the soul."
She walked slowly along the length of the table, untouched by the aroma of the food, her eyes landing on each person as they struggled to breathe.
"It is odorless, invisible, and seeps into the body through the air or food without leaving a trace. Once consumed, it binds itself to the victim's soul essence, undetectable by one's senses until it is too late. Indeed, this poison is the absolute bane of a Ghostly Crow. Even our own Treasury has some of it in case used."
needs to be
Grand Elder's eyes widened, "You... Fillia, you would... betray your own...?"
"You betrayed us first." Her voice trembled only slightly before it steeled, "You sent us to die. No support was given. No negotiation was held. You barred the others from helping and let my husband be nearly slaughtered in front of my eyes. Even now, you plot to steal what little he has left."
She stopped before Ankuui, whose body was shaking violently as he tried to channel his energy but could barely lift his head.
Fillia knelt, face inches from his.
"Although I hated you for your underhanded tactics, you don't deserve this. However, your family went too far this time around. You will never become a Realm Master."
"Bitch...!" He cursed.
She stood indifferently and gazed around as more blood stained the floors and soft gurgles filled the air.
*Thud!~*
The door was once again forced open, and innumerable guards rushed inside. A minority of them were in the Autarch Stage, while the majority were at the peak of the Immortal Emperor Stage, most of them geniuses. They rushed and stood before this family, pointing their spears at their foreheads before stabbing through their souls in one single motion.
*Puchi!~*
The sound of flesh tearing apart could be heard at multiple points within the dining hall.
Grand Elder Drovas died along with the others. The poison used affected the soul, so there was no way they could run. It was not something that would kill in the first place, but it certainly keeps a Ghostly Crow's soul paralyzed for a long time.
Fillia walked out of the dining hall.
She stared at the wall as her eyes turned moist. The head guard appeared before her and knelt as he cupped his hands.
"Lady Fillia, sixteen members from Grand Elder Drovas's family, has died. Their line is exterminated, leaving none alive. However, this is a crime worthy of having three generations executed. Are you sure this was the right way?"
"It's isn't the right way but the only way..." Fillia uttered, her gaze forlorn.
"Then please escape right now. Even the Realm Master, your husband, our respected warrior, will be hard-pressed to defend you when he is down. Please-"
*Pui!~*
..!"
The head guard was alarmed as he saw Fillia coughing out blood. Was she also affected by the Ebony Silken Mite's soul poison!?
However, he saw her stand firm and still control her body, although she was pale-faced. She wiped the blood off her mouth and replaced the veil with a new one. With a renewed look, she started walking out to surrender when, abruptly, the Ghostly Crow Realm Master appeared at the turning point of the hallway.
She held her breath as he saw her rushing towards him before he embraced her.
"Fillia... no... why...? I told you to wait..."
The Ghostly Crow Realm Master still didn't have eyes. He was blindfolded by bandages as they slowly reformed. However, he was already able to use his soul sense well, so he saw the gruesome scene within the dining hall.
Using poison against one's own was extremely frowned upon and would result in the harshest of punishments.
As a righteous person, he would never use it against his own even if he had been compelled but he had finally decided to do so after undergoing that suffering and being betrayed. However, his first wife didn't listen to his words. She went ahead and did it, becoming the greatest sinner of the Ghostly Crow Clan.
He was scared that he would be unable to protect her. He clenched his teeth, feeding himself some courage when-
"Because my time... has run out..."
Fillia's voice was soft. However, it sounded exhausted, causing the Ghostly Crow Realm Master to be shaken. He quickly injected his soul sense into her body and found that she was ravaged by death energy.
"Death poison...!"
He shuddered as he roared, wondering when this happened when he abruptly remembered the shoulder injury she received from the arrow.
His soul sense quickly brushed over and found it- pitch-black skin and blood that looked festered and dried black,
"Fillia...!"
Fillia went limp in his embrace and blacked out, blood leaking from her lips. He quickly brought her out and flew away from the Ghostly Crow Clan. At the same time, he called many apothecaries and one of his own wives to treat her since she was an
apothecary.
She had also come to rescue him from the clutches of the Divine Emperor of Death at
that time.
Three hours passed.
Fillia opened her eyes, finding herself sleeping under an unknown ceiling. She couldn't feel her body. It was as though she was floating in a pool but lifeless. She was so weak. Her lips were beyond pale, and she could hear vague sounds of crying around her.
She supposed she was accompanied by her sisters now.
"Yu..." She barely breathed out a word, causing everyone to turn attentive to her.
Yughen walked towards her and held her hand. Her veins were all black, and her body barely had any energy to sustain itself. She was continuously being fed with pills to keep her alive. At this rate, she would pass away within a week. The death poison had even affected the soul.
"Fillia... why did you keep quiet about the death poison...?
The Ghostly Crow Realm Master asked softly, but his expression wasn't good. He touched her forehead to directly use physical soul transmission.
"Dear... the moment I got struck by the arrow, I knew my life was coming to an end. Perhaps the Divine Emperor of Death never intended to leave me alive. Someone had to suffer the consequences, so let it be me. If I'm dying, then I need to take those who wish harm on us with me."
Fillia's voice was prideful but, at the same time, full of fear, "Regardless, there's no need for you to stain your hands with the blood of those hypocrites who use underhanded tactics when it's convenient and cry when we retaliate using the same method. It should be my responsibility. If there's any regret, I guess it would be my parents. Please protect them. I am a sinner who brought shame to my lineage."
"No... you didn't. I already sent them away to a safe place, so don't worry." He comforted her as he rubbed her hand.
"I see."
Fillia closed her eyes, her breathing strained.
"..." Yughen's expression twitched. He had healed his eyes forcefully in these few hours and opened them. It was still bloodshot. His sight was blurry, but he wanted to see her
no matter what.
However, he couldn't see her in this state, nearly losing himself to sorrow.
"Yughen! Come out and bring your first wife to justice. She used such a disgusting
poison to murder Grand Elder Drovas and his family."
"This crime will not be forgiven no matter what!"
"You are also at fault! Take responsibility for this matter and the other mistakes you
have made! Step down right now! Or else...!"
Abruptly, many furious and powerful voices echoed from outside, causing his expression to turn cold as he turned to look in their direction.
"Don't... force... me..."
Blood tears ran down his wretched face, filled with scars. It was unknown if he was
maddened or because his eyes were still recovering. However, he radiated an immense aura right now. His soul started undergoing a rapid change, becoming filled with treacherous darkness, something even the Ghostly Crow would frown upon. If Davis was here, he would quickly know that it was the Darkness Malevolent Soul
Physique.