Chapter 2057 - 551: Far Beyond the Demon King's Expectations_3

"I think this friend has made a reasonable analysis. For predators, fresh prey is far more appealing than that in a cage. Besides, Earth Cave Spiders prefer to lay eggs inside their prey, perhaps they plan to deal with these 'breeding grounds' later."

The knight heard the prince's affirmation, scratched the back of his head embarrassedly, and showed a faint trace of pride on his face, unaware that he had been exploited by the Demon King.

After pausing for a moment, Luo Yan interrupted everyone's thoughts and continued speaking.

"Instead of analyzing where those spiders went... we should rescue the people in front of us first. With Saint Sis above, I'm afraid the priests in Cold Crow City may not be enough."

Soul and flesh are things that grow together.

Magic can cause rotten flesh to grow anew, but healing a necrotic soul is a long and painful process.

Especially seeing these people's reactions like a startled bird, Luo Yan knew very well that the damage they suffered was far more than just physical.

Luo Yan's voice pulled Erin's thoughts back.

She took a deep breath, her eyes becoming firm and sharp again, regaining the composure a commander should have, she looked at the knight beside her and ordered,

"You take half the people to stay here and treat these wounded, then immediately send a fast horse back to the camp to report, ask Your Majesty to send more reinforcements!"

The number of people she had on hand was far from enough to rescue so many captives.

Besides, no one knew if those spiders would come back, she had to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The knight thumped his chest armor heavily, accepted the order, and left.

After arranging the rescue work, Erin turned around, casting her gaze deeper into the dark passage of the cave, and said resolutely,

"The rest of you, follow me and continue forward!"

Responding to her was a low roar suppressed with anger.

"Yes!"

...

Passing through the suffocating "pigsty," the group arrived at a spacious natural cave, which had been transformed into a laboratory, with some things that wouldn't be found in a place run by ratmen.

However, the ratmen had still incorporated some of their own characteristics here, such as the giant grindstone standing in the middle of the cave.

The grindstone was a full ten meters long and wide, heavy like a mountain.

Its surface was covered with dried blood scabs and cracks, and deep within those cracks was layered with fresh red intertwined with shadowy runes.

Above the grindstone were connected two thick wooden push rods, which even had deep claw marks, clearly moved by giant beasts usually.

"...I finally understand what those suture monsters are used for." Theresa whispered.

Standing next to her, Erin said nothing.

She simply took a step forward, glanced at the couple of ratmen corpses lying beside the grindstone, drained dry.

These guys should be ratmen overseers or the laborers in this laboratory. As for their death, it was obviously the handiwork of the Earth Cave Spiders.

Fortunate for these guys.

Not only Erin didn't speak, but the knights standing beside her were also equally silent.

Even though they knew nothing about magic, seeing the glowing powder accumulated in the stone grooves under the grindstone, and the pools of sickening dark red flesh mush, they could guess what cruel deeds had occurred here.

Ratmen were processing parts they harvested from the Ryan people here.

And at the end of the groove, a few crude oak barrels were placed.

The barrels contained some kind of turbid and viscous liquid, its surface shimmering with an eerie oily sheen - it seemed to be unrefined 'raw material.'

Sarah quietly walked to Luo Yan's side, handing over a handkerchief that had been tucked in her pocket for a long time. Luo Yan gently shook his head, indicating he didn't need it, and then moved to a wooden table beside the altar.

The table was also stained with blood, but amidst the messy torture tools, there were a few pages of manuscript paper preserved in good condition scattered around.

Luo Yan reached out to pick them up, glanced at them briefly, his brow slightly raised.

The handwriting was elegant and neat, even carrying a hint of scholarly sophistication, entirely out of place with the bloody and savage surroundings.

"What does it say?" Theresa leaned over, unable to resist asking.

"Some experimental records. Or perhaps... a slaughter manual."

Carefully reading the contents on the manuscript, Luo Yan continued expressionlessly, "They detail the extraction process of 'components' from different parts of the human clan, and how to maximize the purification of soul elements within."

Erin blinked in surprise, instinctively asking.

"Purification? How do you purify a soul...?"

Clearly this was beyond a knight's knowledge scope.

But to the prince who had studied in the Academic State, this wasn't something profound.

"Grinding, then filtering."

Luo Yan turned around, his gaze falling on the huge blood and flesh grinding plate nearby.

"Literal grinding, for example, here is one of their workshops... as such."

"Ugh..."

Finally, several young knights couldn't bear it anymore, rushed to the corner covering their mouths, retching violently. Even Erin, who was used to life and death, turned pale instantly, her stomach churning.

Luo Yan continued reading the manuscript in his hands, but he didn't read it out loud anymore.

The remaining content was filled with obscure academic terms, which these rough brutes who hadn't received systematic education in the Academic State surely couldn't understand. Frequent questioning would only interrupt his thoughts.