Trading system, I exchanged vegetables for golden pills.

Ye Chen could not hide his joy; he was finally about to successfully transform into a Nascent Soul!

However, it is still in its early stages and has not yet been truly successful; it can only be considered to have succeeded more than halfway.

Like an embryo, not yet fully developed into a baby.

The remaining process is equally important.

The process that determines whether the nascent soul is perfect.

This is also a process that tests one's patience to the extreme.

But I've already grasped the hardest parts, so what's a little patience?

Ye Chen has plenty of patience now, so he would never make a mistake at this time.

Although he was quite excited inside.

But it's still holding steady.

Anyway, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage is a done deal; all that's left is the final finishing touches.

Judging from this pace, Ye Chen should be able to successfully form his Nascent Soul in eight or nine days at the fastest, and more than half a month at the slowest.

His journey has been incredibly simple; it's like he's cheating, it couldn't be simpler.

So there's no so-called heartbreaking history.

Reaching the Nascent Soul stage will not be his end point; it will simply be another ordinary breakthrough in his life.

Ye Chen quickly adjusted his mindset after making empty promises.

It's just a Nascent Soul cultivator, let's take it!

He quickly cast aside his inner restlessness, calmed his mind, and stood still like a stone statue.

It was as if this breakthrough had nothing to do with him.

......

Meanwhile, a rather strange scene has also occurred on Sakura Island these days.

Since the monsters retreated, the corpses that had suffered in the disaster have gradually withered away.

Regardless of whether they had actually breathed their last, they all breathed their last.

They looked as if all the moisture had been drained from their bodies, leaving them shriveled and withered.

At first, people didn't pay attention and thought that the shriveling was caused by the fire.

However, this phenomenon became more and more common, and people began to discover that all the corpses were exactly the same.

In the end, it shriveled up until only skin and bones remained.

This strange phenomenon is indeed quite puzzling.

Ultimately, even the survivors encountered the same situation.

One in every two suddenly collapses to the ground as if their soul has been ripped out, their body slowly shriveling up, just like the dried-up corpses in the movie whose life force has been drained.

The fear of death lingers in everyone's heart.

Even some of those in charge were starting to lose confidence.

Things had spiraled out of their control and were beyond their comprehension.

Some people thought this was a curse from God, and for a time people were filled with fear.

Having suffered a drastic change, the surviving population of Sakura Island is now less than 3000 million, three-quarters less than in previous years.

If things continue like this, the nation's fate will be sealed, and it could perish at any moment.

......

In front of an altar, several leaders of the Little Cherry Blossom Temple were praying devoutly.

"Orochi, your most loyal subjects offer their fervent sacrifices; please awaken!"

Ironically, the so-called sacrifices were eight tightly bound young boys and girls.

"We humbly beseech the great god to bestow upon our people prosperity and strength!"

"Orochi Ootengu, please protect me!"

"Orochi, if you have any other needs, please issue your divine decree, and we will fulfill them all. We only ask for your protection."

"..."

The people in charge bowed repeatedly, appearing very sincere.

They've offered up both young boys and girls; at this point, they'd probably be willing to pay any price!

Faced with a problem beyond human control, they had no choice but to take it seriously, and the only thing they could think of was to seek help from the gods.

Just as everyone was prostrating themselves in worship, no one noticed that the eight boys and girls suddenly froze, and then their bodies began to gradually wither and die!

When the people in charge finished their worship and looked up, they saw the withered offerings...

A bolt from the blue struck everyone's mind!

Qi Qi froze, their faces ashen!

This is a withered way of dying that haunts everyone's mind like a nightmare...

How could a sacrificial offering die in such a way?

How is that possible?

No, no, impossible! Absolutely impossible!

Could it be that the mastermind behind all of this is Orochi?!

A thought suddenly popped into everyone's mind.

Everyone's head was buzzing.

In that instant, it was as if everyone's great faith had collapsed...

The murderer turned out to be the Yamata no Okami, whom they had always respected and worshipped.

The people in charge looked at each other, none of them knowing what to do.

People can't believe it, and they don't want to believe it!

The god they've always worshipped actually raised them like pigs, and then slaughtered them once they were grown?!

This reality is so hard to accept!

"Lord Orochi, why? Why are you treating your people like this?" one of the leaders immediately began to question.

Perhaps he wasn't being disrespectful; he simply wanted to find out the truth.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, his whole body stiffened instantly, and then his body slowly shriveled up in front of everyone.

Finally, he fell to the ground with a thud!

The scene was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.

He died, just like that?

this......

He just asked one question, and he died?

Everyone was silent, not daring to even breathe.

Time passed by, and for everyone, each second felt like an eternity, each second an ordeal.

But no one dared to leave first, and they stood there like wooden statues.

Quietly awaiting the decree of the Great God Orochi.

Half an hour later, a voice finally rang in their minds: "I used my source energy to drive away the two great demons and recover some of my source energy. Do you have any objections?"

Everyone present was stunned. Lord Orochi had appeared?!

Holy crap, it really is Lord Orochi appearing in spirit!

"Orochi Oogami, is that you? Have you manifested yourself?"

"Orochi Ootengu, thank goodness! Have you come to save us from our suffering?"

"Ah, is it really the Orochi God? This is the first time I've ever seen the Orochi God manifest!"

"Great deity, you've finally shown your power!"

The crowd couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

"You haven't answered me yet. Do you have a problem with me?" the voice continued to ask calmly.

No one dared to speak.

Have a problem with that? You're kidding, would you dare have a problem with that?

The one who had a complaint just now is now a dried-up corpse. How could they dare to have any complaints now? Even if they did, they wouldn't dare to say them.

Moreover, you've drained tens of millions of people dry, and you call that restoring a little bit of your original power?

You're kidding me! What kind of primordial power requires the blood essence of tens of millions of people? You're just looking to eat meat, aren't you?

Perhaps sensing everyone's thoughts, the voice continued to speak slowly.

"Rest assured, I will not harm my people. With me here, the Sakura Kingdom will not perish, and you will remain the high and mighty rulers!"

"As long as the country doesn't perish, isn't population growth just a matter of minutes?"

That voice even knew how to give a slap on the wrist and then offer a sweet treat.

Now, they're directly offering words of comfort.

But to everyone else, these words sounded like Orochi was raising piglets.