Chapter 133 - 117: Divine Sense
After a long moment, a dark figure shot out from the Boiling Pot Spring Water.
Its humanoid body stood over ten feet tall and was charred from head to toe. Black blood and pus oozed from its festering flesh. Its green, fanged face was contorted with surging fury as it glared with ghostly green eyes at the cultivator who had disturbed its slumber, hungry for the kill.
On the bank, Lü Zhong had been waiting for a long time.
He stepped forward, the ground cracking like a spiderweb beneath his foot, and forcefully hurled the Entropy Light Spear.
With a SIZZLE, the golden Light Spear formed from Yang Qi pierced through the corpse’s supposedly iron-hard skin, igniting the Corpse Qi overflowing from its body like a torch.
But soon, with a roar from the corpse, the burning Golden Flame was extinguished.
Seeing this, the corner of Lü Zhong’s eye twitched.
’It’s actually an Armored Corpse!’
The so-called Armored Corpses were zombies that had refined bone armor within their bodies. Iron Armored Corpses possessed strength comparable to the Qi Refining Stage. Above them were Copper Armored Corpses, equivalent to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and Silver Armor Corpses, equivalent to the Core Formation Stage.
Realizing this, he couldn’t help but inwardly praise the wisdom of his previous action.
If he hadn’t made the Iron Wolf Mechanical Beast self-destruct just now, he would have had to fight an Iron Armored Corpse at its peak.
Given the thick hide of an Armored Corpse, he likely wouldn’t have been able to harm it even after exhausting all his Spiritual Power.
But now...
A smile touched Lü Zhong’s lips. His hands shifted through a Sword Mantra, and a golden shadow shot past him with a SWOOSH. Mid-flight, the surface of the Golden Devourer Sword blazed with golden light as the Armor-Piercing Divine Technique activated.
Meanwhile, the Iron Armored Corpse sprang into action.
Its single step shattered the ground in a web of cracks several yards wide. Its speed, completely belying its size, instantly matched that of a galloping horse. Red light pulsed from its roaring mouth as it charged, swinging its long, sharp-nailed arms and unleashing a storm of roiling Corpse Qi.
In an instant, the Golden Devourer Sword was upon the Iron Armored Corpse.
Its steel-hard nails clashed repeatedly against the sharp edge of the sword.
Sparks flew, accompanied by a grating screech that set the teeth on edge.
The Iron Armored Corpse’s strength was immense, far exceeding Lü Zhong’s expectations. Fortunately, he had anticipated that his Magical Artifact would be no match for it; after all, the Golden Devourer Sword weighed no more than a hundred pounds and was, in essence, a Light Spirit Magic Sword.
He waved his right hand, scattering a cloud of Fiery Sun Stone powder.
As he formed hand seals and began Chanting, another Entropy Light Spear materialized.
This time, Lü Zhong also affixed an Evil-breaking Talisman to it.
With a single throw, the Iron Armored Corpse was once again engulfed in Golden Flame. Empowered by the Evil-breaking Talisman, the fire surged, forming a terrifying Yang Flame that ignited the roiling Yin Qi as if it were cotton.
The Iron Armored Corpse was both shocked and enraged. This Light Spear condensed from Yang Qi was its perfect counter, to say nothing of that Evil-breaking Talisman. It had planned to smother the Yang Flame with a massive amount of Yin Qi, but then its crimson vision caught the detestable cultivator performing another Magic Skill—he was already forming another golden Light Spear.
’The pain from that Light Spear was soul-searing!’
’The Evil-breaking Talisman burned one’s very Divine Soul.’
Its Spiritual Wisdom not yet extinguished, it knew that defeat was certain if this continued.
"ROAR!"
The Iron Armored Corpse threw its head back and howled.
From its mouth, it suddenly spat out a black Treasure Bead.
This was a treasure it guarded with its life, but to survive now, it had no choice but to spit it out.
Forcibly enduring the pain of the Yang Flame burning its body, the Iron Armored Corpse spat a mouthful of its life-source Corpse Qi onto the rapidly spinning black Treasure Bead. After receiving this mouthful of supremely yin and pure Spiritual Qi, the Treasure Bead began to glow brightly.
At the same time, an intense wave of malice washed over Lü Zhong.
The source of the malice was unmistakable—it came from the black Treasure Bead.
His heart hammered in his chest, and he was gripped by an intense sense of danger.
Without a second thought, he activated his Water Pattern Shield and Light Body Skill as his Dharma Robe began to flash with light.
He crouched slightly, ready to sprint at a moment’s notice.
Taking a deep breath, Lü Zhong hurled the Entropy Light Spear in his hand, aiming it at the Treasure Bead flying toward him.
Instantly, a dazzling golden light illuminated the area.
The rock walls steeped in Yin Qi, the black water of the still-bubbling spring—everything was coated in a layer of golden light.
Whatever its origin, the Treasure Bead radiated intense Yin Qi, yet it showed no fear of the Entropy Light Spear whatsoever.
It surged against the spear’s light, creating a shockwave as it advanced.
...
「Lanyue Realm. An unknown location.」
Within the Underground Palace, the flames of ever-burning lamps flickered.
In the center of the vast Golden Hall rested a Giant Bronze Coffin. On a soft cushion woven from Golden Threads and silver cloth lay a majestic man with a ruddy complexion, dressed in a suit of jade.
At that moment, it suddenly opened its eyes.
"Locust Tree Slave."
At the front of the Golden Hall, a host of figures knelt on the floor.
Their appearances varied, but without exception, they all exuded Corpse Qi. Among them were beings similar to Iron Armored Corpses, though they were at the very end of the line, as if their strength was at the absolute bottom of the hierarchy.
At the head of the line, a being shaped like a withered tree responded to its master’s call.
"Locust Tree Slave is here!"
"The Black Muzhu has appeared in the world. Bring it back," the man in the coffin commanded, his tone allowing no refusal.
"As you command!"
With a rustling of falling dust, the figure called "Locust Tree Slave" slowly rose from the floor.
Perhaps it had been kneeling for so long that its knees had fused with the Mo Yu floor. Only after a series of loud cracks and snaps did it finally manage to stand up.
Behind it, a great door rumbled open.
Locust Tree Slave bowed deeply to the man in the coffin, then turned and walked outside.
...
「A nameless, deep valley.」
Lü Zhong leaned on his sword, gasping for breath.
His Dharma Robe was covered in large stains, and the metallic tang of blood hung in the air.
Not far away, the black Treasure Bead lay quietly in the sand, devoid of its previous Divine Wondrous power.
As for the Iron Armored Corpse, its once-invulnerable body had been incinerated by the Yang Flame as it continuously channeled the black Treasure Bead, leaving nothing but a pile of white ash on the ground.
HUFF... HUFF... HUFF...
After panting for a long while, Lü Zhong finally caught his breath.