My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

The face remained silent for a moment.

"It's not your fault...it's that Taoist priest..."

"A Taoist priest?" Chen Wanghai looked up.

"He ruined my plans... I wanted to possess his body... that body was excellent... excellent..."

For the first time, the voice on that face carried a certain emotion—not anger, but regret, and even a hint of longing.

"Unfortunately... this world doesn't allow me to project too much power... I can only watch helplessly..."

Chen Wanghai asked cautiously, "My lord, where is that Taoist priest now?"

"I don't know... I took advantage of the chaos to activate the spatial turbulence... and sent him away..."

The face paused, and the voice became even deeper:

"Send him to a very far place... He won't be able to come back for the time being... It won't affect the layout here..."

Zhou Huai-ren and the others exchanged glances, a hint of relief flashing in their eyes.

The face continued, "However... although Jin Guang Temple is destroyed... the plan remains unchanged..."

"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty," Chen Wanghai said respectfully.

"No need for blood sacrifice anymore..."

All five of them were stunned by these words.

No more blood sacrifice?

What they've done over the years, the people they've arrested, the children...

The face seemed to read their minds, letting out a few low laughs.

The laughter sent chills down your spine, like countless insects crawling on your skin.

"Flesh and blood...have a better use..."

Suddenly, a large amount of flesh and blood surged out from around the altar!

The flesh and blood seeped out from the cracks in the walls and the gaps in the floor tiles, wriggling and gathering like living things.

They surged around the altar, piled up, merged, and gradually grew into fleshy flowers.

Those flowers had no roots, no stems, no leaves, only clumps of trembling flesh.

Their surfaces are covered with bluish-black blood vessels, which pulsate slightly, as if life is flowing within them.

The most bizarre thing is that at the top of each "flesh flower" is a tiny face.

Those faces had no features, only a mouth.

His mouth opened and closed, emitting faint groans.

Chen Wanghai stared wide-eyed at the fleshy flowers, his throat dry: "My lord, this is..."

"My flesh and blood..." the face said, "If I eat it... I can take root inside them..."

Zhou Huai-ren swallowed hard: "Does the Lord mean... that those people... should eat this?"

"right……"

The voice on that face became even more seductive:

"If one person eats it... I plant a seed inside them... If one hundred people eat it... it's one hundred seeds... If ten thousand people eat it... it's ten thousand seeds..."

"The more seeds I have... the stronger the power I can project... Once the seeds are spread throughout the city... this world will no longer be able to stop me..."

Chen Wanghai's eyes grew brighter and brighter: "Your Majesty is wise! This way, we won't have to risk arresting people anymore!"

The face gradually faded away, leaving only one sentence:

"The sooner the better... I can't wait..."

The light faded, and the underground space returned to its dim state.

The five people knelt on the ground and did not get up for a long time.

After a long while, Zhou Huai-ren finally stood up, supporting himself on his knees, his voice trembling: "My lord, what the Lord said... about making those people eat this..."

He looked at the still-wriggling flesh and felt a wave of nausea wash over him.

Wang Defa also stood up, wiping the sweat from his brow: "But... how are we going to get them this meat? We can't just deliver it door-to-door, can we?"

Li Mao stroked his beard and suddenly said, "I have an idea."

Several people looked at him.

Li Mao said, "Think about it, what's the price of meat on the market now? A pound of pork costs thirty coins. It's considered good if a poor person can eat meat once a month."

He pointed to the fleshy flowers.

"We can sell this meat of our Lord's for a very low price—ten coins, or even five coins a pound—without cost. Won't those who can't afford meat rush to buy it?"

Zhao Sihai slapped his thigh: "That's right! Who wouldn't want a bargain?"

"And this meat..." Li Mao paused, carefully considering his words, "...should taste good. How could the Lord's food be bad?"

Those people who tried it once wanted to try it again. If we raise the price slightly then, they'll be willing to pay.

Wang Defa nodded: "My bank can provide the silver for working capital. Consider the initial phase as... doing charity by distributing soup.

Zhou Huai-ren hesitated: "But... what if someone gets sick from eating it..."

Chen Wanghai suddenly spoke up: "What problem could there be?"

He turned around, looked at the four people, and said with a deep gaze: "The lord said that eating this meat will plant seeds inside their bodies."

It's not like we're taking their lives. Once the seed sprouts, they'll be ours—no, they'll be the Lord's.

He paused, then a strange smile crept onto his lips.

"At that time, the entire Jingyang Prefecture will be ours. Who would dare to say no?"

Zhou Huai-ren was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

Wang De laughed.

Li Mao stroked his beard and nodded with a smile.

Zhao Sihai laughed the loudest, his face trembling with fat.

Chen Wanghai turned around, looked at the still writhing fleshy flowers, and said softly:

"That's settled then. Starting tomorrow, put it on the shelves at all the butcher shops. Set the price at eight coins per catty. Sell it for a few days first, and then gradually raise the price once people get used to it."

"As for the origin of this meat..." He thought for a moment, "Let's say it's a new product transported from the north, and what's it called... let's call it 'Wanfu Meat'. Eating it brings good fortune."

Zhou Huai-ren cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Excellency is truly wise."

Chen Wanghai waved his hand and walked towards the door.

He stopped abruptly at the door and glanced back at the succulent flowers.

The light from the oil lamp shone eerily on the trembling flesh. Those small faces continued to open and close, emitting faint groans.

He withdrew his gaze, pushed open the door, and went out.

Behind me, those fleshy flowers are still growing.

One after another, they crowded the entire altar.

Like a garden of flesh.

......

The next morning, notices were posted in front of butcher shops of all sizes throughout Jingyang Prefecture:

"Newly arrived Wanfu pork, 8 coins per catty, first come first served, while supplies last."

Some people didn't believe it and went over to take a look.

The butcher shouted, "Really! Eight coins a pound! Much cheaper than pork! Buy some and try it, or your money back!"

Someone tried buying half a pound.

I cooked it when I got back, and the aroma wafted down half the street.

A neighbor came over, drawn by the aroma: "What are you having for dinner today? It smells so good!"

The man brought out a bowl of meat: "Wanfu Meat! Cheap! Eight coins a pound!"

The neighbor leaned over and took a bite, his eyes lighting up: "This meat...it's fucking delicious!"

The next day, the neighbor also went and bought a pound.

On the third day, half the street's population went.

By the fourth day, the whole city knew.

There was a butcher shop that sold meat that was cheap and delicious, costing only eight coins.

Old Man Li from the west of the city also heard about it. He hesitated for a few days, but still went and bought half a jin.

His grandson, Gou Dan, went missing three years ago, and now he lives alone. Living alone, he tries to save money wherever possible, avoiding meat whenever possible. But meat costs eight coins a pound… cheaper than vegetables.

He bought half a pound and cooked it when he got home.

The meat was very tender and fragrant, and the soup was also delicious.

He sat alone under the old locust tree, holding his bowl, and ate his food bite by bite.

After finishing his meal, he smacked his lips and thought to himself: I'll buy another pound tomorrow.

He didn't know where the meat came from.

All he knew was that it was cheap, delicious, and could fill his stomach.

This is enough.

In the distance, beneath the manor in the east of the city, those fleshy flowers were still growing.

One by one, silently.

Waiting for the wind to come.