The Corruption Dragon God: Lust System Chapter 426 disgusting little thing...

A secluded forest sat tens of thousands of kilometers away from Valemont. Tucked deep within the Rose Empire, this remote woodland was part of a flat, agriculturally prosperous territory.

A young girl wandered through this forest, clad in a simple commoner's dress. Her eyes sparkled with joy and a wide grin stretched across her face as she busied herself gathering herbs.

Because it was a borderland, the region saw frequent military movement. Vicious beast hordes often launched invasions from the west, while dark necromancers lurked in the shadows, staying far from the Rose Empire's central seat of power.

Despite the dangers, the child moved through the area with a carefree attitude.

Her bare feet pressed into the plush grass as she knelt, plucking another herb to add to her woven basket.

She flexed her scraped knees, preparing to stand and search for the next plant.

Suddenly, she froze in place.

The atmosphere grew heavy and suffocating; the refreshing breeze that had been blowing just moments ago vanished entirely.

She gasped for air, but her lungs refused to fill. Her small legs began to shake, and she collapsed onto the ground.

"Ah... ah..." She struggled to cry out, but no sound followed her breath—only faint, dry crackles emerged from her throat.

With agonizing slowness, she turned her head.

The older village children had often shared legends with her. They spoke of dark monsters that stalked the woods to prey on children.

She had never actually believed those tales.

Even if she had, she considered herself a courageous girl.

She used to puff out her chest and brag that she could take down any monster with just one punch.

But now, she was staring right at it.

A primal, ancient horror manifested before her. A pair of crimson eyes locked onto hers. It was a grotesque, distorted entity with bones protruding and intestines spilling from a gaping hole in its stomach.

Its face resembled a man over a century old, though the left side was a crawling mass of maggots. On the right, blackened skin clung tightly to the underlying bone.

It was more than a demon; it was a malevolent evil spirit that sustained itself on souls and terror.

Tears poured down the girl's cheeks in an endless stream. She fought to squeeze her eyes shut, desperate to block out the sight of the approaching nightmare.

Tragically, her body no longer obeyed her will.

It felt as though the world had ceased its rotation. Everything in her surroundings had suddenly turned to ice, except for that monstrous thing.

Just as the creature came within a single step of the child, it abruptly stopped, becoming as paralyzed as the girl herself.

Its strength vanished instantly. Before it could comprehend what was happening, a tide of shadows surged around it.

"What a repulsive little wretch..." A masculine, aristocratic voice resonated through the air, tinged with a low, resentful growl.

In that same instant, a hand materialized from the dark shadows, seizing the spirit’s skull and shattering it. A torrent of flames immediately consumed the entity.

The creature’s final sight was a pair of deep purple eyes, cold and ruthless, looking down on it as if it were a mere bug rather than a legendary terror.

"It’s alright, little one, look away..." A woman’s voice whispered from behind the girl. She shielded the child's eyes and pulled her into a warm, protective hug. Ruxue produced a mental calm pill—one of the few items from the temple safe enough for a mortal to consume without their body exploding. With a tender touch, she placed the medicine in the girl's mouth.

She helped her swallow the pill and tightened her embrace slightly.

Qingyi observed the scene briefly before turning his head to survey the area with a slight nod.

He could sense numerous entities watching them from the darkness.

There were dozens, perhaps hundreds. These were beings of twisted proportions, their forms ravaged by decay. Rotting guts trailed on the dirt and bare bones clattered as they advanced toward him.

Qingyi felt no trace of fear. Instead, a faint, elegant smile touched his lips as he summoned the flames of primordial chaos.

"You wish to witness terror? Fine... I shall show you what true fear looks like," Qingyi growled. His frame was instantly swallowed by a sea of gray fire that rapidly expanded outward.

The gray flames acted like a volcanic wave, drowning the spirits. For the first time in thousands of years, these monsters experienced agony.

It wasn't an illusion or a trick of the mind. It was visceral, absolute pain.

Their very souls were being incinerated. The Foundation of their existence—the very thing that allowed them to haunt the world and harvest mortal lives—was being unmade.

Their shrieks of misery and hopelessness were just as piercing as the cries of the victims they had slaughtered.

Once the gray fire dissipated and the wind began to blow again, Qingyi turned his attention back to Ruxue and the child she held.

Slowly, the girl's bravery returned as the pill Ruxue provided began to soothe her mind.

She peered up at the mysterious woman holding her. She was stunningly beautiful, possessing violet eyes and a regal, slightly haughty expression that was nonetheless comforting.

Then she looked at the man walking toward them. He was equally handsome, possessing a protective aura and a kind smile.

Both individuals were dressed in unusual attire and clearly commanded incredible powers.

"Tell me your name, child," Qingyi said as he knelt down, gently brushing her golden hair.

"A-Alice..." she stammered, her voice still shaky and her eyes damp with tears.

Her gaze drifted over Qingyi until it landed on his chest. She stared at the pendant he wore, the gold glinting brilliantly against his sophisticated black robes.

"A-are you a hero? My auntie told me that only heroes carry necklaces like that..." she asked, her courage growing as she pointed toward the jewelry.

"Oh? Have you encountered someone with a similar necklace before?" Qingyi inquired, his eyes flashing with interest.

"M-hm..." Alice nodded. "The scary auntie has one... she’s been staying at the church for a few days..."

"I see... could you lead us to her? Don't be afraid, I will keep you safe."

Alice paused for a second, but then she nodded firmly, mustering her resolve.

She was the most daring of all her siblings. She wouldn't let herself be intimidated now.

Pointing her small finger, she indicated the direction and led Qingyi through the woods toward the church where she lived. The building was a few miles from the town and doubled as an orphanage.

It was a structure made of white stone and concrete, featuring the standard architecture common to the region.

Qingyi arrived at the church alongside Ruxue. As he stepped through the main gate, he stopped abruptly and turned his head to the right. There he saw her: a pair of eyes as vibrant green as a sunlit forest locked onto his own.

The woman possessing those eyes had flowing blonde hair decorated with a crown of flowers and vines. Pointed ears poked through the golden locks that framed her sharp, aristocratic face. Qingyi stared into her eyes for a moment before his gaze traveled downward.

She was tall and lithe, standing nearly as tall as Qingyi himself. Her slender frame was evident, with the faint outlines of her ribs and hips visible beneath her clothes, yet she possessed soft, toned muscles.

A steel breastplate protected her chest, and beneath that, she wore a dark, form-fitting garment that hugged every curve of her body perfectly, from her narrow waist to the full, rounded shape of her rear.

Qingyi felt his throat go dry as his eyes moved from her hips down her well-defined thighs and long legs before returning to her face. She was a vision of perfection, possessing curves in all the right places—her chest, her thighs, and her seat.

He wondered how such a woman could simply be found wandering among common mortals.

The woman moved her hand toward the elegant sword at her hip. It was a slender, exquisite weapon of masterwork elven design, featuring a silver blade etched with glowing runes.

Her expression remained detached and cool as her full, pink lips began to move.