The moment the blood waterfall thinned and finally dried up, the mountain that was composed of countless corpses crumbled like a sand sculpture left out in the wind. It disintegrated in an instant.
The gravity field was the first to fail. Then, bodies began to tumble down en masse and scattered in all directions.
The giant corpse that had once stood proudly at the summit, still clutching its war axe, slowly fell backwards. In the end, it vanished beneath the mountain of falling corpses, completely buried and consumed.
A sudden burst of sinister wind swept across the area. Everyone could hear faint, sorrowful howls and roars of vengeful spirits. It was as if countless resentful souls were spiraling, howling, and clawing their way through an unseen dimension toward the world of the living.
The bone-chilling cold returned with a vengeance. Everyone shuddered uncontrollably, and without hesitation, turned into streaks of light to flee.
When they dared to look back, they saw that the corpse mountain had vanished entirely. But in its place, a massive tide of roiling corpses surged like a vast ocean, drowning the surrounding space. It was a grotesque, terrifying sight.
“What did you do?!” Song Yu couldn't hold back and glared furiously at Xia Zi.
Everything had started because of Xia Zi’s blood extraction. The sudden transformation was bizarre, full of unknowns, and potentially dangerous.
Yet Xia Zi’s violet eye-mask remained expressionless. He responded coolly, “If I hadn’t disrupted the corpse mountain’s fengshui formation, that living corpse would have transformed into a real demon once it fully evolved into a true Sea of Blood and Corpses.”
His voice remained calm as he continued, “It would have walked out of the Purple Nebula Forbidden Zone... and turned this entire star domain into a land of death.”
Fengshui formation? Li Xiaofei’s heart stirred. Could it be that this mountain of corpses had been deliberately constructed?
He couldn’t help but glance again at Xia Zi. This mysterious man with the strange violet eye-mask, could it be that his purpose in entering the Purple Nebula Forbidden Zone wasn’t as simple as treasure hunting?
Husi, the bearded warrior, was full of suspicion. He growled, “Was it you who controlled the living corpse just now and killed my brother?”
Xia Zi replied calmly, “What would I gain from killing him?”
Husi snapped back, “Then why could you draw the corpse’s blood without backlash, yet my brother was killed just for approaching it?”
Xia Zi shrugged. “Maybe it’s because he was ugly but had beautiful dreams?”
“You—!” Fury twisted Husi’s expression.
He and Fei Lun, the two remaining members of the Mythic Mercenary Group, glared at Xia Zi with murderous intent. But Xia Zi didn’t even look at them. He simply continued to gently swirl the jade bottle in his hand, as though refining or activating something within it.
“Peace is precious.” At that moment, Chu Xiang, the striking red-haired woman, stepped in to mediate. She said, “We’re all here for fortune, not a fight. Whatever grievances you have, settle them after we leave this place.”
In the end, Husi and Fei Lun restrained themselves and did not strike. The old Chancellor carefully examined the surrounding terrain and celestial positions, eventually selecting a direction and leading the group forward.
They were all martial arts powerhouses and moved swiftly.
During their journey, Song Yu suddenly turned and asked, “Miss Chu, why did you enter such a dangerous place?”
Walking beside Hua Dongcheng, Chu Xiang responded, “I heard there’s Nine Yin Bone-Rebirth Grass here. I need it.”
Nine Yin Bone-Rebirth Grass was spoken of in legend. It could revive the dead, regrow flesh and bone. According to legend, this miraculous spirit herb had the power to resurrect the deceased. It was considered a myth-tier treasure. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
Rumor had it that there was a slim chance such a heaven-defying herb might grow in places corrupted by evil spirits within the Purple Nebula Forbidden Zone. But that was just a theoretical possibility. To seek it out here was to knowingly walk into danger. Which could only mean that Chu Xiang must have someone very important she wanted to save.
Song Yu turned to look at Hua Dongcheng. He simply held Chu Xiang’s hand and said nothing. Well then. It was clear at a glance, he was a pure-hearted warrior risking everything for love.
Song Yu shifted her attention to Husi and his companion and asked, “What about your Mythic Mercenary Group? Why are you here?”
Husi initially didn’t want to explain. But for some reason, they felt an overwhelming pressure from Song Yu’s gaze that left them unable to resist. They dared not show even a hint of defiance.
“We were hired by a client,” Husi finally said. “He’s looking for a lost treasure hidden somewhere in this forbidden zone. It’s of little value to others, but it was handcrafted by his late wife, so it holds deep sentimental meaning for him.”
Mercenaries did what they were paid to do, even if it meant risking their lives.
“And what about you?” Husi asked in return.
“You don’t need to know,” Song Yu replied coldly, her tone proud and distant. Clearly, she didn’t think much of the others.
In truth, she saw them as nothing more than cannon fodder. If danger arose, or if they encountered evil spirits, these people would serve as disposable tools.
Husi ground his teeth in frustration.
Half an hour passed. Then, Chu Xiang suddenly spoke, “Has anyone else noticed it’s getting colder?”
Husi frowned and replied, “Now that you mention it, I do feel like I’m freezing.”
He looked down and was startled to find a faint layer of frost forming on the outside of his armor.
Glancing around, he saw that a thick white mist had descended around them at some point. It swirled and rolled in every direction, like a chilling breath from the land of the dead.
“Everyone, be careful,” Hua Dongcheng growled suddenly. “This is ghost fog. Evil spirits are near.”
Everyone instantly tensed. Li Xiaofei glanced at the mute girl. Her eyes were already alert; it was clear she had sensed the change earlier than anyone.
“Stay close to me,” Li Xiaofei said.
He activated his cultivation method, letting energy circulate quietly through his body, ready to explode into action at any moment.
At the same time, a question surfaced in his mind.
Evil spirits? Do ghosts... really exist in this world?
Suddenly, a streak of bone-chilling cold rushed up from behind. Li Xiaofei didn’t even turn his head as he swung his arm backward, slashing with a saber. He used the Dual Sacred Body of Blade and Sword.
This strike unleashed the power of the Flame Saber. Fire surged violently and a sharp, piercing shriek rang out as something retreated in pain. When Li Xiaofei glanced back, he saw a pale cyan ghostly figure engulfed in the blade’s searing flames. It screeched and writhed in agony before disintegrating into ash within seconds.
Li Xiaofei felt his mind reel, What the hell, there really are ghosts!
It was like he had just discovered a whole new world. Meanwhile, the others were also under attack from ghostly entities.
Hua Dongcheng quickly took out a treasure resembling a circular compass and let it hover above his head. It radiated intense heat, forming a barrier that protected him and Chu Xiang. No ghost could get near them.
Song Yu and the old Chancellor each unleashed powerful techniques, driving back the ghostly attackers. By comparison, Husi and Fei Lun were having a far harder time fending them off.
Xia Zi, however, remained utterly calm. He now held a curved silver blade in his hand. He effortlessly cut through the ghosts as if they were solid beings, dispatching them with ease.
Meanwhile Li Xiaofei was free to get a good look at the ghost creatures. They were pale cyan phantoms, their faces indistinct, cloaked in an aura of chilling cold. If they touched a living person, they would freeze flesh and soul alike.
Husi wasn’t fast enough and had his arm grabbed by one of them. In an instant, half his arm was frozen solid and it turned into a lifeless sculpture of ice. He gritted his teeth and made the decisive choice to sever the limb to survive.
Suddenly, the old Chancellor’s voice rang out in Li Xiaofei’s mind through a sound transmission. “These are water ghosts. They’re evil spirits born from the pollution of the Heavenly River. But their appearance is actually good news for us. Where there are water ghosts, the Heavenly River must be close. And if we can find the river... we can find Heaven.”
Li Xiaofei’s spirit surged with renewed energy.