<h4>Chapter 2043: Chapter 2043: Devouring</h4>


    "What happened?" Pranay Martinez immediately walked over, scrutinizing the slightly disheveled Julius Reed, and asked, "Why did you disappear earlier?"


    He was sure he hadn’t seen it wrong.


    Julius Reed had just vanished into thin air.


    Meanwhile, the Caldwell Family’s guards gathered around, continually asking about their youngdy’s situation.


    "Mr. Turtle, the cat is in the cave, let’s quickly go in and catch it!" Julius Reed took a step forward, ready to charge in!


    "A cat?" Pranay Martinez rushed in directly.


    Boom!


    A loud explosion.


    Pranay Martinez drew his sword at lightning speed and struck down with all his might!


    Moo!


    A bull’s roar echoed.


    Pranay Martinez was knocked dizzy, staggering back out of the cave entrance.


    "Western Emperor, you’ve tricked me again." He felt as if his whole body hade apart, but it wasn’t a major issue.


    After regaining control over his body, Pranay Martinez indeed became stronger.


    With one sh, he forced the golden bull inside the cave to retreat, being shaken back.


    "Thank you, old brother." Julius Reed took a deep breath, steadying his inner qi, then charged into the cave once more.


    The bull’s strongest attack was neutralized by Pranay Martinez.


    Having just broken the seal, the Bull King was very weak, and if he rushed out, he would surely be difficult to deal with in the future.


    Inside the cave, the bull shook its head, eyes filled with anger.


    Whoosh!


    Julius Reed ignited Evil Qi, swinging the Break Sky Knife forward once more!


    mes shot out but were shattered by a bull’s roar.


    The bull appeared extremely furious!


    It stomped its feet constantly, charging forward!


    At this point, bullfighting was clearly unwise.


    But regardless, it could not be allowed to escape.


    Julius Reed swung the Break Sky Knife in a wide arc, forcefully striking the bull.


    But strangely, the bull actually deflected the Break Sky Knife, which had in Darin and the Guilt Emperor.


    Julius Reed reached out with both hands, gripping the bull’s horns tightly, his feet digging in with all his strength!


    Sizzle sizzle...


    The bull charged Julius Reed, forcing him to retreat continuously.


    Soon, it would exit the cave.


    The bull lifted its head, tearing Julius Reed’s clothes.


    In an instant!


    The white tiger gave a low growl!


    Julius Reed vaguely heard the sound of a snake flicking its tongue.


    The bull’s roar ceased, and its strength weakened significantly.


    Aware of something strange, Julius Reed released his grip, letting the bull m into his chest!


    At the position of the white tiger on his chest!


    "Roar!"


    The white tiger was intensely furious!


    It opened its bloody maw right on Julius Reed!


    And the Green Snake at his back surged forward, extending to his front, opening its maw as well!


    An eerie scene unfolded.


    The bull’s body was actually being devoured bit by bit!


    As if disappearing into thin air.


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    The bull struggled continually!


    Desperately trying to retreat into the cave in fear.


    But it was already toote.


    Its head was entirely swallowed by the white tiger. The Green Snake and the white tiger’s maws ovepped, leaving it unclear whether it was the white tiger or the Green Snake devouring the bull.


    The bull struggled incessantly!


    But it was to no avail.


    Soon, half its body was swallowed.


    Drawing upon unprecedented strength, the bull forcibly pulled its body out!


    Yet ultimately, it remained consumed by the white tiger.


    The whole processsted ten minutes.


    Throughout, Pranay Martinez stood behind Julius Reed, witnessing the scene with his own eyes.


    "Western Emperor, you tricked me! Tricked me so miserably!" He smiled bitterly and said, "Do you think now is the best chance to take you down? But I won’t do that; I want to see just how crazy you can get!"


    "The temple’s divine beast actually serves you without any sign of bacsh!"


    He was stunned.


    It was utterly incredible.


    Finally.


    The bull waspletely swallowed.


    On Julius Reed’s right chest, a golden bull tattoo appeared.


    The bull bowed its head, full of killing intent.


    Julius Reed felt waves of power surging within him!


    He nearly fainted.


    Totally drained, he had never felt so weak before.


    "Is the cat dead?" Pranay Martinez asked after confirming the Bull King had vanished, entering the cave to find a cat’s corpse on the ground.


    Decaying.


    Merrill Caldwell stilly asleep, but her vital signs were gradually returning to those of a normal person.


    "That cat likely came from the temple. In the final moments, to allow the Bull King to break the seal, it sacrificed itself." Julius Reed sat inside the cave, speaking wearily.


    His lips were pale, soaked in sweat.


    Utterly exhausted.


    Fortunately, the upheaval within was gradually subsiding.


    "Can that really happen?" Pranay Martinez carefully checked, confirming no anomalies in the cave, then swiftly went to Julius Reed’s side. "What on earth is going on? Those tattoos on your body, where did theye from?"


    Too terrifying!


    That white tiger and snake could actually devour a divine beast!


    "It’s a long story; I’m quite tired now and n to rest for a while." Julius Reed had no intention of answering and effectively issued an eviction notice.


    "Using me and then turning on me, is it?" Pranay Martinez snickered, sitting down beside him. "Well, I’m not leaving!"


    As night fell.


    Merrill Caldwell had recovered but remained asleep.


    The Dusty tform was eerily silent.


    "Mr. Turtle, I’ve discovered something." Julius Reed turned his head, ncing at Pranay Martinez. "This thing went through all the trouble to leave the temple, yet it opted to dissipate just to free the Bull King?"


    "What are you implying?" Pranay Martinez somewhat grasped Julius Reed’s meaning but sought further confirmation.


    "I think there’s something off about this matter." Julius Reed nced at the golden bull on his chest, which looked lifeless.


    Completely still.


    More exquisite than a tattoo.


    "Let me ask, would you sacrifice yourself for your subordinate?"


    Upon hearing this, Pranay Martinez shook his head and replied, "Impossible. At our level, our own life is what matters most. Acting impulsively only leads to a worse death."


    Having said that, he nced at the bull on Julius Reed’s chest and countered, "Are you suggesting that what emerged from the temple holds a lower status than the divine beast?"


    "Perhaps everyone was misled. What came out of the temple might not be the so-called god. Only a servant would sacrifice for its master, indicating the formidable entity from the temple regarded the Bull King as its master." Julius Reed exined, "This also exins why Merrill Caldwell has been pilgримmaging here for days."


    "If that’s the case, it’s truly bizarre." Pranay Martinez mused, resting his chin in his hand, "The temple theoretically canmand divine beasts. Yet now, the entity from the temple sacrifices itself to aid the Bull King. What exactly is still in that temple? Or, who or what was it we once called gods?"


    "By the way, I once witnessed a scene akin to a human purgatory beneath the Dusty tform. Many people had their bodies stripped away, then were left like in a factory, with just hands, feet, and scalps remaining." As he spoke, he lowered his voice, "It’s the monks Darin brought."