Chapter 377 This poison is refined by the witch Su Miao - Socially Anxious Witch in the Apocalypse

The Earth, polluted! Su Miao gazed at the vast sky, perplexed. When did this eerie gray mist appear on Earth? If it came through those gates, it would be manageable. Humans just need to purify the area more frequently, and with precautions, it wouldn’t pose problems. However, if it came in through the cosmos, things would be bleak, and Earth might turn into another frozen wasteland. A world so forsaken even the evil gods gave up hope—utterly terrifying. There’s another possibility: the eerie gray mist might originate from within Earth itself. If that’s the case, Su Miao couldn't bear to imagine. Speculating without knowing the outcome is futile. Once she confirmed the strange gray mist beneath the cliff had been entirely burned away, Su Miao returned to camp. The event had already unfolded; rather than wasting time here, it was better to return and continue pondering the principles. Future matters could be dealt with later. After some thought, Su Miao posted about the appearance of the eerie gray mist on Earth on the Night App, hoping someone would research it. [The Eerie Gray Mist Appears on Earth] Poster: Kindhearted Witch Recently, I have observed the appearance of eerie gray mist on Earth. This mist is identical to the one found in the frozen wasteland of the decimated world. The gray mist can corrode the human body, causing mental regression and turning people into monsters of pure instinct. After the apocalypse, many ability users on Earth becoming beast-like is possibly linked to this eerie gray mist. Upon encountering this gray mist, everyone should be cautious. ... Post #1, [Xin Meow Meow]: The apocalypse means all facets of the world have entered the destruction phase, meow. Post #2, [Submerged Diver]: So the main cause of our beast-like transformations is this eerie gray mist? Was it already on Earth during the apocalypse's arrival? Post #3, [Death is Eternity]: Even Lady Su Miao says it’s dangerous—how perilous must it be? Post #4, [Lapland834]: Relating it to Lady's previous post, does this mean the starry skies around us are all corrupted? Post #5, [This Cat Isn't Kind]: Why panic? As if we could live a few hundred years anyway. Post #6, [Spirit Jade Tranquil Beauty]: Is there hope in the inner world? Post #7, [Dark Sound]: The door to the inner world opened over a month ago, but no one has returned. Post #8, [TomJang]: Has the Twelve Divisions heard any news from the inner world? Post #9, [Ryogi_Shiki]: Various ability user groups that were active on Earth have vanished, likely all entered the inner world. Post #10, [Thoughtful Starfall Xi Er]: It's terrifying to think Earth is doomed, and there’s no hope in the inner world. How will humanity survive? Post #11, [Dragon Affair and Sashimi]: Imagine if our entire universe is eroded and doomed. Post #12, [Soul Feather Drifting]: It seems like a magnified destruction of cells. Post #13, [Snow Dawn]: The more I think about it, the scarier it feels. Post #14, [Gun Type]: #5 is right, this isn’t our concern; just focus on surviving. Post #15, [Crown of Starlit Night]: I have a river nearby; it’s shrouded in gray mist daily. Is it the eerie gray mist Lady Su Miao mentioned? I’m a bit anxious. ... Perhaps from reading too many of Irene’s posts, Su Miao instinctively added a caution to her post. She didn’t dwell on it much; being the kindhearted witch was part of her nature. The warning was given, and they would look after themselves. “How did it go, Sister Su Miao?” Xia Xiao An asked. Su Miao replied, “What you discovered has been dealt with for now, but the eerie gray mist might still be widespread.” Lin Jiu Jiu asked, “Sister Su Miao, will Earth end up like that?” Su Miao shook her head, “I don't know.” [The apocalypse means all facets of the world have entered the destruction phase, meow.] Su Miao noticed Xin Meow Meow’s comment was, as usual, overlooked by others. Entirely entering destruction, could the eerie gray mist be part of it? Suddenly, Su Miao recalled something. In Shelter No. 1, a mysterious blonde girl once told her, “I hope one day you’ll plant a true World Tree on Earth.” At the time, Su Miao didn’t feel much about it, but now, was it a sign she had already detected the eerie gray mist's presence on Earth? Could planting a true World Tree save Earth? However, this eerie gray mist is something even the gods of the frozen wasteland despair over. The gods foreseeing Earth's end departed early—was it also because of the eerie gray mist? If so, how powerful must a World Tree be to be deemed a true savior of Earth? “Save Earth?” “I’m just an ordinary witch barely comprehending principles, how could I harbor such thoughts?” Staring at her phone, Su Miao couldn’t comprehend. She needed to become stronger first. ... Otherworld, Demon-Slaying Ridge. The inhabitants of Old Tree Town gathered for a meeting, waiting for those inside to emerge. Inside a room, Wang Xuan Dao looked at Tu Gui Hai, who was seated on a mat, and remarked after a long silence, “Master, being a top villain in the eyes of ability users as a Minister of the Twelve Divisions, don’t you think a touch of dignity is in order?” "Ungrateful disciple!" Tu Gui Hai opened his eyes, “How dare you pull such tricks on your master?” Wang Xuan Dao replied, “Master, we have no other choice. We’ve been trapped here; no passage above, no path below.” “Remember when we watched Witch Irene’s live battle with Su Miao? Destructive as gods.” “According to my intelligence, every member of the Twelve Divisions is extraordinary.” “Surely, master, you have more up your sleeve than what’s ordinary.” "..." Tu Gui Hai fumed, “Unworthy disciple, is this why you want me to clash with the demon king?” Wang Xuan Dao responded, “Master, what choice do we have?” Tu Gui Hai said, "Calm down, the Heavenly Sect's Elder Feng Yin is here. If they haven't acted, why the rush? That old monster lived centuries before the apocalypse." Wang Xuan Dao clicked his tongue, “Master, is that true? History notes only Zhang San Feng stood atop humanity.” Tu Gui Hai replied, “They differ; one ascended, the other did not.” Wang Xuan Dao asked, “Master, are there many strong ones from the Tao sect?” Tu Gui Hai said, “Don’t rely on them; you must depend on yourself.” He was about to elaborate, when suddenly the ground shook violently, and war erupted again. Urgently, Wang Xuan Dao stepped out, needing to maintain order in his master’s absence. Without equally capable personnel, Old Tree Town's ability users would be discarded as cannon fodder. Although many Taoist "sages" were present, the place also teemed with hypocritical Taoist defilers. Recently, several smaller ability user groups were sacrificed in battling the demon king. “Big brother, our line has been breached by strong demon soldiers.” Wang Meng entered clutching a duck, reporting, “These demon soldiers are powerful and tough to deal with.” Wang Xuan Dao said, "First, eliminate the commanding demon general." Before leaving, he glanced again at his master's meditative room. Since the inner world’s door opened, Master Tu Gui Hai remained in constant seclusion, confounding others. Minutes later, Wang Xuan Dao reached the frontline, witnessing swarms of demon bugs below, followed by droves of demon beasts, rivaling the scale of mutant beast waves and plagues. Behind the beasts swelled demon soldiers and generals, looking menacingly fierce. A grim battle awaited. “Release the poison!” Wang Xuan Dao swiftly commanded. The toxin came from Zhonghai City’s ruins. During Chen Ming’s assault on Old Tree Town, a massive conflict erupted amidst mutant beast waves and plagues— Endangering Old Tree Town. At a critical juncture, Witch Su Miao poisoned the mutant beast waves and plagues, resolving the crisis. However, Zhonghai City’s ruins became a dead zone. Anticipating future mutant beast waves and plagues, Wang Xuan Dao had some mixed poisonous fluids collected for later use. Since then, mutant beast waves and plagues circumvented the area. Old Tree Town worried needlessly. Little did they foresee using these toxins against demon invaders. “Inform others that the demons have been poisoned. Avoid contact with any demon carcasses—it’s lethal.” Wang Xuan Dao instructed Wang Meng, issuing a vital warning. Wang Meng said, "Alright, I'll notify them right away." On the battlefield, catapults began their operation, launching barrels of mixed toxic liquid towards the dense clusters of demon insects and beasts. Boom! Boom! Boom! The barrels exploded upon landing, splattering the black-green pungent liquid everywhere. The nearby demon insects and beasts curiously sniffed at the liquid, licked it, and sampled its taste. Seconds later, they collapsed like dominos. Seeing their kin fall, nearby demon insects and beasts swarmed over, scrambling to devour the corpses. To the demon soldiers at the rear, the deaths of demon insects and beasts were inconsequential; they were mere cannon fodder—the real strength lay within the soldiers! With a command from the demon general, the demon soldiers trampled forward, charging at the human defenses. In their stampede, they crushed the bodies of the demon insects and beasts on the ground, spreading the toxic liquid across themselves. Some demons fell midway, writhing in agony. Yet, some managed to reach the frontline, igniting fierce clashes with the ability users of Old Tree Town. A brutal battle ensued. The demons exhibited extraordinary strength, fighting fearlessly, attacking with sheer determination regardless of the ability users’ tactics, betting their lives to land each strike. Even after numerous encounters, many still struggled to adapt to this style of assault. "Use ability control! Avoid physical contact with the demons!" Wang Xuan Dao instructed loudly after taking down a minor demon leader. Just as he spoke, several Old Tree Town ability users were splattered with the demons' toxic blood. They acknowledged their fate with grim smiles. More demon soldiers surged forward, leaving no time to ponder; they charged fearlessly until they exhausted their strength or were overpowered. "Chuckle..." A demon soldier tore off an ability user's arm and began to chew it in front of them. Such intimidation tactics had always been effective. However, the battlefield seemed peculiar this time. The human whose arm was devoured showed no fear—instead, they wore an eerie smile, as if they were the true victor. Enraged, the demon soldier shattered the human, sharing the pieces with its comrades. The taste of human flesh was indeed exquisite! Yet, after a while, the fearless demon soldier felt something amiss. Unable to move, he looked down in horror to see his body decaying, dropping toxic, corroded flesh onto the ground. Similar fates befell many victorious demon soldiers, inexplicably poisoned and collapsing. In the distance, the demon overseer, Mad Ghost Dwarf, was observing when he sensed something wrong with the battlefield. "Master Mad Ghost, the battlefield is poisoned!" his advisor, the Male Succubus, reported. Mad Ghost Dwarf glanced at him, "Do you think our demon soldiers fear a battlefield?" The Male Succubus replied, "Master Mad Ghost, it's not fear—it's literal poison. These humans have laced the battlefield with toxins." "You see, our demon insects and beasts have been poisoned, their corpses crushed by our brave soldiers, spreading the toxin and poisoning them." "In less time than we think, all soldiers entering the battlefield might face the same fate." "…" Realization dawned on Mad Ghost Dwarf, "Despicable humans!" Their initial plan was to send disposable demon insects and beasts against the human defenses, followed by demon soldiers. Holding the human elites would ease the victory. Now, their perfect strategy was shattered. "Retreat!" To prevent further losses, Mad Ghost Dwarf ordered an immediate withdrawal. The fierce battle ended in just 30 minutes. Despite its brevity, the damage to Old Tree Town was severe. Fifty ability users perished on the spot; over thirty others, having accidentally touched the poison, didn’t have long to live. "Kill us!" "Monastery Leader, kill us! We beg you!" "…" The ability users tainted by poison lamented in agony, paining Wang Xuan Dao. Contact with the poison meant inevitable death. He was powerless. "Fire." With a wave, Wang Xuan Dao instructed the prepared pulse gun users to release them swiftly. "Bring in the excavator, clear the battlefield, maintain the defense, and beware of the lingering toxic blood." "Alert other factions again about the toxic threat." Old Tree Town's ability users busied themselves immediately. The mass poisoning of demons had drawn the ire of other ability factions. Old Tree Town’s indiscriminate poison endangered not just the demons but any ability user nearby, leading to tragic unintended casualties. "Wang Xuan Dao, do you intend to poison everyone, Old Tree Town included?" demanded an enraged representative. "Looking at your master's immortal-like demeanor, who would imagine you'd devise such venom? Hand over the antidote!" Wang Xuan Dao cast a glance at him, responding calmly, "This poison was crafted by Witch Su Miao." ... (End of Chapter)