Corpse Recovery Diver

"Follow the decree!"

Then, collectively, they roared and charged at the dark-clad men.

The stone statues initially used to test young divination children, after being inhabited by underworld spirits, saw a huge increase in battle power. The dark-clad men dared not slacken in facing them, and soon a fierce battle ensued.

Many dark-clad men's clothes tore in the fight, and indeed, there was an animal perched atop their heads.

Even though Li Zhiyuan was indifferent, he disliked this arrangement each time he saw it.

"Run Sheng, let's go."

Run Sheng did not join the fray but cleared the path ahead, leading Li Zhiyuan forward.

On the way to the old temple's main hall, dark-clad men continued appearing from the front to block their path.

But there were several platforms here, and no lack of stone statues. The young man just needed to continue embedding the Blood Seal into the statues, and underworld spirits, who've missed the earlier opportunity, would eagerly rush in.

All the dark-clad men attempting to intercept were blocked.

Run Sheng only needed to keep a slight vigilance of the surroundings, almost unimpeded, protecting Xiao Yuan as they reached the hall.

Inside the hall, a long-haired youth was roaring:

"Why, why, why!"

The long-haired youth initially understood these underworld spirits' resistance to him, thinking it normal, a necessary process full of false pretenses, anticipating that after some time, these spirits would naturally bow their proud heads recognizing the occasion.

But the young man coming along, with wave after wave of spirits flying out from the deity statues to assist, caused the long-haired youth's emotions to completely spiral out of control.

He truly did not understand why, when it came to submission, these spirits acted so smug before him, yet couldn't wait to bow to the young man?

"On what grounds, on what grounds!"

When Li Zhiyuan appeared outside the hall and the long-haired youth saw his face, he was first in disbelief, then desperately grabbed his own hair, shouting hoarsely:

"He's killed so many spirits, over half of the extinguished lamps and shattered statues here are thanks to him! How can you still go to him, he's your enemy!"

The bearded man stepped across the threshold, his gaze fixed on Run Sheng.

Compared to the emotionally broken long-haired youth, he seemed much calmer. Though his eyes still burned with red fury, he managed a nod toward Run Sheng:

"Truly, it's an impressive physique."

Run Sheng watched him coldly.

Once in Lijiang, an ape similarly praised him, but at that time, he was no match for the ape. Now, however, things were different.

The bearded man opened his mouth, letting out a lion's roar, as Run Sheng's Qi Gate activated, countering with a surge of energy waves.

This was the signal of the formal clash, the bearded man stepping forth like a lion leaping through the forest.

Li Zhiyuan gently pushed his finger on Run Sheng's back, signaling Run Sheng to fight freely.

Run Sheng let out a low cry and charged forward.

Both of them collided, exchanging rapid strikes.

This was the bearded man's usual style; a demon beast, most proud of his physique, confident that ordinary people couldn't match his close combat skills.

However, today, he faced Run Sheng, someone who was unlike a normal person.

"Bang!"

With a swipe of his shovel, Run Sheng broke through the opponent's fist attack, side-stepping, closing in, and raising his elbow.

"Crack!"

The sound of bone cracking echoed, as Run Sheng struck the bearded man's jaw, sending him flying backward.

Disappointment showed in Run Sheng's eyes.

The opponents met while traversing Jiang seemed different from those below Jiangxia.

Usually, on their first exchange, Run Sheng would gauge the extent of his own blowback, then prepare to accumulate momentum for a long-haul fight using the Qin's蛟 Observation Method to outlast the opponent.

However, this person before him held a high stance, mere moments ago commending him, yet failed to drive him back in the first round, instead got knocked away himself.

Just this little bit of strength?

Run Sheng thrust the Yellow River Shovel into the nearby floor tile, and bumped his fists against his chest.

Faced with this sort of adversary, he had no intention of using weaponry.

Afraid in an insufficiently exhilarating fight, he would wipe out the foe with a single sweep.

He wasn't being arrogant but was acting on Xiao Yuan's clear instruction to fight freely, trusting Xiao Yuan's judgment.

The bearded man got up, lifting his hand to realign his dislocated jaw.

His breathing grew labored, the redness in his eyes intensified, as golden fur continuously sprouted across his body, his teeth becoming longer, with some fangs protruding past his lips.

"Roar!"

With a lion's roar, he once again charged at Run Sheng.

Run Sheng lowered his center of gravity and thrust his hands forward.

"Boom!"

Such a fierce charge was stopped bare-handed by Run Sheng.

Run Sheng's feet slid along the ground, the force and momentum between them were truly terrifying, and the climbing boots on Run Sheng's feet quickly tore and exploded, the leftover fragments even emitting high-temperature white smoke.

This frowned Run Sheng.

He regretted not removing his boots beforehand.

These climbing boots were custom-made and quite expensive. It could be said that before meeting Xiao Yuan, all the shoes he wore from childhood to adulthood couldn't equal the price of this single boot.

In past team battles, such a pure persistent melee was rare because if Lin Shuyou and the others had the chance, they'd surely go directly into combat. No one would leave Run Sheng in a "tug-of-war" like this.

The destroyed boots aroused anger within Run Sheng.

Once he sensed the opponent's rush momentum waning, Run Sheng stepped forward, fiercely clashing waist and legs, gaining the advantage, then pressing downwards with his arms to hold his opponent.