C603 Yin Corpse King!
Enshrouded in mist, a group of practitioners from the Ancient Desolate Sect were clustered around the colossal carcass of a crocodile. They were using the residual life force within the creature to temper their bodies with the sect's secret physical techniques when their faces suddenly registered shock.
"Puff!"
Du Huang violently coughed up blood, laced with traces of the corpse aura he had inadvertently absorbed.
In a mere moment, the lingering Qi and blood within the crocodile, which hadn't fully dissipated, underwent a transformation. This remnant life force was rapidly altered by some mysterious power, morphing into a thick, potent corpse aura.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Billowing streams of white corpse aura burst forth from the crocodile's remains, flowing like rivers of misty white into the depths of the fog.
Du Huang's complexion drained of color as he realized the gravity of the situation. "Someone has unleashed a formidable Dao Spell, reversing the Qi and blood of this massive crocodile!"
It wasn't just their location; from various points, plumes of white corpse aura erupted skyward. In a brief span, the crocodile was completely drained of its Qi and blood.
Du Huang quickly understood that, being dead, the crocodile's body would naturally undergo changes over time as its Qi and blood were exhausted. Yet, this process should have been gradual. In the unique realm they were in, it might not have occurred at all.
Tan Yuan had brought them here to harness the crocodile's life force for their cultivation, to refine their bodies. They were supposed to be able to prevent the Qi and blood from changing after the creature's death.
But now...
Gazing into the distance, Du Huang contemplated the situation before addressing his companions, "The Sword Prison must have opened. The Yin Corpse King, once confined there, has likely broken free."
"Yin Corpse King?" a disciple of the Ancient Desolate Sect exclaimed in alarm.
"Yes," Du Huang affirmed, his tone grave as he elucidated, "Centuries ago, a formidable Evil Demon from the Boundless Land was resurrected from an ancient tomb. He thrived on collecting corpse energy to augment his power. Legend has it that the Yin Corpse King could instantly convert the residual Qi and blood of the newly deceased into corpse energy for his cultivation."
"He was notorious for his massacres, prompting the five great sects to issue a decree for his execution. Upon learning this, he fled to the Outer Star River."
In the vast expanse of the Outer Star River, he remained unable to break free, ultimately tracked down and confined within the Sword Prison.
Du Huang watched as strands of pale corpse aura meandered through the air, drifting towards the murky depths. Through Tan Yuan, he surmised that the Sword Prison must have opened.
"We need to get out of here, now!" Du Huang commanded.
...
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Billowing clouds of white smoke swirled around Chi Hongyi as she cradled the lute, her fingers moving gently across its strings.
The music of the lute rose and fell—now spirited as if echoing the clash of battling armies, now mournful and desolate, now swelling with a surge of fighting spirit and intent for battle.
The clouds of white smoke converging upon Chi Hongyi abruptly transformed into a horde of wailing souls and skeletal remains, as if intent on engulfing her.
Deep within Chi Hongyi's soul, an endless number of corpses piled up, forming mountains and seas of the dead that besieged her spirit.
The Yin Corpse King, having slipped out of the Sword Prison, vanished into the ghostly white mists.
The shadow of his soul was nowhere to be found.
"The Yin Corpse King must have penetrated the depths of that red-clothed girl's soul," someone surmised.
Xi Quan, wielding the Withered Sword, listened to Yan Qiling's piercing screams, Yu Yuan's astonishment, and Chen Qingyan's soft gasps. With a furrowed brow, she remarked, "Many foreign corpses have also been dragged here, playing right into the Yin Corpse King's hands."
The Yin Corpse King could harness the dead, be they demonic beasts, human cultivators, or alien beings from the far reaches of the galaxy.
The Yin Corpse King's strength was drawn from these very corpses.
Watching the thickening white mists of corpse aura converge from all sides towards Chi Hongyi, Xi Quan realized that the Yin Corpse King was swiftly regaining his power.
Given the Yin Corpse King's realm and combat prowess, it would be effortless for him to conceal himself within the corpse mist, slip into Chi Hongyi's soul undetected, and strike directly at her spirit.
Yet...
Xi Quan glanced at Yan Qiling and the silent master of the Sword Prison above, a shadow of foreboding darkening her heart lake.
She couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom.
After her initial outcry, Yan Qiling fell into a hushed silence and stealthily positioned herself beside Yu Yuan.
Zhan Yun, the leader of the Bright Sect, watched him with a wary gaze and said icily, "In business, one must maintain the proper demeanor. I haven't even named my price yet, so don't be in such a hurry."
"Trade?" Yan Qiling inhaled deeply, paying no mind to Zhan Yun. Instead, he turned to Yu Yuan and advised, "Look for an opportunity to leave when the time comes. Stick with me if you can; I'll do everything in my power to ensure your safety."
Boom!
In an instant, Zhongli teleported, materializing abruptly before Yan Qiling, suspended in midair, and directly in Zhan Yun's path.
He refrained from unleashing his fist intent or further restraining Yan Qiling. With a grave demeanor, he inquired, "Mr. Yan, isn't it? I'm curious about the origins of the Sword Prison statue."
The master of the house fell silent. The Sword Prison, sculpted from moon essence, had transformed into this immense dual-faced statue, and the dramatic transformation of Yan Qiling filled Zhongli with unease.
He held back from striking Yan Qiling, instead showing him respect and seeking his counsel.
He was, in truth, unaware of Yan Qiling's background or status, but something told him instinctively that this man with the unusual aura must recognize the statue.
Crack!
The statue, hewn from the Sword Prison, featured a small cavity in its chest area.
Nestled within the hollow was a statue crafted from blue-brown wood.
It bore an uncanny resemblance to the larger statue carved from the Sword Prison.
The wooden statue, nestled like a bizarre little heart in the chest of its stone counterpart, faced Yan Qiling with a benevolent, smiling visage.
The statue was indeed smiling; a subtle tug at the corners of its mouth was visible.
As the wooden statue smiled, so too did the stone statue, transformed from the sword soul, its gentle smile sending shivers down the spines of all present.
"He was once confined within the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area. His mere presence there had the potential to shift the balance of power across the Profound Sky Continent, which is why he was taken from the Fallen Moon and brought beyond our world," Yan Qiling explained, his gaze fixed on the statue, his voice a mix of awe and trepidation. "When his front faces the Profound Sky Continent, there's a relative peace; empires recuperate, and wars cease."
"However, if it's his back that gazes upon the continent, nations are driven to frequent and devastating conflict, leading to the deaths of countless soldiers and civilians."
"His existence constantly sways the fate of the Profound Sky Continent—peace and chaos hinge upon his dual aspects."
"Even suppressed within the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, as long as he exists within the Boundless Land, he retains the power to alter the continent's destiny. The grand formation of the Forbidden Area may confine him, but it cannot fundamentally sever his influence over the continent's peace and turmoil."
Yan Qiling's voice echoed eerily, as if he were speaking from within a dream, his words laced with complexity.
"That's the abomination forged by the Divine Soul Sect!"
Upon hearing Yan Qiling's revelation, the ancient dragon, whose life span exceeded all others present, began to shake violently.
The small palanquin he was seated on rocked fiercely.
Loong Jie abruptly reached out, yanking his daughter Loong Yang toward him. His eyes, burning with rage, darted to the white robe suspended in midair, his dragon claw radiating a divine brilliance.
With a swift strike of his claw, the palanquin soared into the air and sped away.
"Loong Jie!" Zhan Yun exclaimed in alarm, "You were after the boy, weren't you? Don't rush off—there's room for negotiation on the price!"
"Negotiate my tail!"
Loong Jie spat out curses, disregarding Zhan Yun's attempts to stop him. He rapidly steered the palanquin away, no longer insisting on claiming Zhao Yafu, his only focus to escape.
"I once believed that man truly intended to rescue and liberate us. But what he truly sought to unleash was that monstrosity crafted by the Divine Soul Sect. We were merely incidental to his plans. Moreover, he saw us as slaves, aiming to control us with that device!"
The old dragon's roars, punctuated by bursts of rage and panic, echoed through the air. It was clear that the venerable leader of the Naga knew the statue's origins and feared its might, prompting his desperate flight.
Zhongli, Xi Quan, the portly elder, and the small green serpent from the Demon Palace all visibly paled at the old dragon's declaration.
"The Divine Soul Sect!"
Though unaware of the statue's history, they were all familiar with the Divine Soul Sect's formidable reputation that resonated throughout the Outland Star River. They recognized it as the behemoth that had long overshadowed the three great upper sects, the Devil Palace, and the Demon Palace, reigning supreme over the Boundless Land.
In a sudden rush, the thick white miasma of death coalesced, revealing the gaunt figure of the Yin Corpse King.
The Yin Corpse King and Chi Hongyi stood together behind the statue, their battle unexpectedly ceased, existing in an uneasy truce.
They observed the scene with a calm demeanor, their faces unexpectedly gentle and smiling softly.
The mood was unspeakably chilling, a macabre tableau that hung in the air.
The Yin Corpse King, a being of dread and darkness, ruled over the Sword Prison with an iron grip, commanding legions of Demonic Beasts that roamed the Boundless Land. Above, the Outer Star River sparkled with distant stars, a celestial river of dreams and destinies.
