Chapter 304: Soul Searching and Refining, Shaoyin Corpse Concealment Formation

The entrance to the unnamed underground palace.

“Hm—”

In his invisible state, Wang Yu suddenly turned his head towards a certain direction, the crescent moon mark in his eyes strikingly clear. He then lowered his head and pondered for quite some time.

“Has infighting occurred…?”

With no other option, he could only pursue them to check the situation. The efficacy of his Lunar Ghost Eyes in this environment was even better than he had imagined. Zhuo Wenshi’s soul fire was as conspicuous as a full moon in the dark night.

In a short while, the zombie returned to its coffin. The ghostly green aurora vanished instantly from the spot.

On the other side.

Zhuo Wenshi, her body feeling a chill, hissed softly after burrowing out of the earth. As she frowned and scanned her surroundings, she pulled out a collection of shattered jade tablets.

“They’re all dead? How could Zhuo Shouqing have such capable people working for him?”

As she pondered, she suddenly recalled the person backed by the Three Young Masters of Reverse Spirit, who had caused quite a commotion a few years ago after returning to the Saint Sect’s mountain gate. But just thinking about it, she felt it was impossible. That fellow, Wang Yu, had only recently formed his Core. At best, he’d be at the second level of Core Formation; his Natal Dharma Treasure and divine abilities probably weren't even refined yet. How could he possibly be a match for a cultivator from the Zhuo family?

“Could it be someone from the Yu family or the Zuoqiu family? Is that why he wants to wipe us all out here?!”

Does he not want to reveal the truth about borrowing strength from external forces? Zhuo Wenshi curled her lips in a sneer. After much deliberation, this was the most logical and plausible possibility. Just as she took out a white sheet of paper, preparing to send a message using the Spirit Rhinoceros Secret Art, her body suddenly arched backward, and a fiery red ribbon flew out from within her, coiling around her.

At that moment, an aurora suddenly streaked in from the sky. Suddenly, a blue ice flame transformed into an ice dragon, which, upon impact with the red ribbon Dharma Treasure, caused an explosion that swept across several kilometers. The ground froze, and the eerie mist dissipated.

The stealth attacker was none other than Wang Yu. He had recently learned three top-grade Tier 3 spells: Ice Chain Binding Spell, Illusion Mist Ice Mirror, and Ice Dragon Art! The spell he had just used was the entry-level Ice Dragon Art, and when combined with the Ice Flood Dragon Core Flame, its power was comparable to that of a common divine ability. Yet, it was easily neutralized by Zhuo Wenshi.

A Natal Dharma Treasure crafted in the form of a ‘ribbon’ is quite rare. Even among female cultivators, such a choice is uncommon, making it rather niche. However, its versatile, all-purpose usage allows it to adapt to any situation.

After the ice explosion.

Zhuo Wenshi was enveloped by the red ribbon, with fierce crimson flames igniting around her. With a flick of her hands, a pair of palm-length twin daggers appeared in her grasp. She then provocatively licked her tongue at Wang Yu.

“The one hiding in the shadows has finally revealed himself.”

“Hiding? Indeed, I do enjoy hiding.”

With the Earth-Net Ghost Mask concealing him and only one enemy remaining, even against a seventh-layer Core Formation cultivator, he felt no fear. The actual gap was not as significant as one might imagine. With neither knowing the other's true capabilities, probing and hidden trump cards became crucial.

The next instant.

The figure within the crimson flame ribbon flickered and vanished, instantly appearing behind him, its twin daggers twisting like snakes as they struck towards him.

“Shadow Escape Art?”

Wang Yu’s eyes flickered. He noticed the flame shadows overlapping with her body. This technique was extremely rare, previously only seen on the Shadow Guards of Wanglong City. The counter was relatively simple: close-quarters combat. Few in this era could match him. As he dodged forward, he simultaneously spun his left foot for a back kick.

First Style: Demonic Dragon Tail Whip!

The exploding air caused Zhuo Wenshi’s expression to change drastically. Her twin dagger Dharma Treasure, meant for strangling, shifted to defense. Hissing snake sounds filled the air as her magic power activated the treasure’s might, forming a coiled serpent as imposing as a mountain. Yet, under that mountain-throwing divine power, it was as fragile as tofu.

In an instant, the mountain-like coiled serpent vanished into thin air, and the crimson flame ribbon pulled Zhuo Wenshi by her slender waist, disappearing into the shadows once more.

“The same trick won’t work on me twice.”

“Whoosh—”

The Ice Flood Dragon Core Flame suddenly erupted into a sea of fire, containing extreme heat within extreme cold, covering all the shadows on the ground. Zhuo Wenshi awkwardly escaped, a Blazing Flame Sword isolating the Ice Flood Dragon Core Flame from her body. Her expression grew increasingly grave. She found that Wang Yu’s methods were not only numerous but also incredibly potent. He could break her spells and deliver powerful counterattacks in a very short time.

Zhuo Clan Secret Art: Shadow Serpent Devour!

With a thought, she flung her twin dagger Dharma Treasure into the air. In a breath’s time, they transformed into two thousand-meter-long black serpents, rushing towards Wang Yu again.

Under the illumination of the ice flame sea of fire, Wang Yu unleashed both his fists simultaneously. Two Infernal Demonic Dragons, formed from qi and blood, arrived first despite being deployed later. Although only several hundred meters in size, they fully absorbed the Dharma Treasure’s power without any leakage.

Immediately after, lightning flashed. The Burst Secret Art: Wind-Thunder Spirit Mark was suddenly unleashed. The terrifying thunder qi not only enhanced his speed but also imbued his offensive techniques with potent, masculine thunder power.

Yellow Spring Great Hand Seal!

Lightning intertwined as a murky yellow giant hand extended from the swirling dark clouds, causing Zhuo Wenshi to blanch with shock.

“You’re from the Yellow Spring Temple? How is that possible?!!”

Her mind shaken, overturning all previous conjectures, Zhuo Wenshi retreated, simultaneously unleashing a palm strike upwards.

Superior Divine Ability: Ghostfang Palm!

The two palm prints collided with a booming sound. Amidst the flashing lightning, Wang Yu’s specially hidden Thunder Corpse leaped out, the lightning enveloping its body growing increasingly violent.

Corpse Dao Divine Ability: Summon Thunder and Lightning.

“Boom—” Even with the crimson flame ribbon’s defense, it was ultimately not a dedicated defensive Dharma Treasure. The flames dissipated, and a section of the red ribbon turned scorched black.

Zhuo Wenshi violently spat out fresh blood, gripping the Blazing Flame Sword in her right hand. She fiercely slashed towards the pursuing Thunder Corpse. The scorching sword aura seemed to cleave the heavens and earth, leaving molten lava cracks in the ground. The Thunder Corpse’s arm was nearly severed by this slash, but fortunately, its zombie body was resilient enough.

Though one was repelled, the other Wang Yu, interwoven with aurora and lightning, immediately pursued, unleashing the Yellow Spring Great Hand Seal! Against this move, Zhuo Wenshi dared not use her Dharma Treasure to resist. She could only grit her teeth and unleash a divine ability to retaliate. But just as she mentally activated it, the Sixth Elder, Lunar Malice Corpse, materialized from the eerie mist. An unseen connection allowed her to clearly see its features.

“Another variant zombie…”

Then, along with this thought,—Yin Corpse Descending Malice Curse!

The curse locked on, and lunar malice descended upon her. The crimson flame ribbon was almost shredded into rags by the terrifying lunar malice, and with her divine ability disrupted, Zhuo Wenshi spat out another mouthful of old blood. Meanwhile, the Yellow Spring Great Hand Seal was already upon her. Having no choice, she could only use the power of her Blazing Flame Sword Dharma Treasure to resist.

And then came an extremely unpleasant sensation. With a rush of the Yellow Spring Turbid Flow, the Blazing Flame Sword immediately dropped to a mid-grade Dharma Treasure, its power greatly diminished!

“Seven Heaven-Intercepting Arts, release…”

With all factors—heavenly timing, earthly advantage, and human harmony—at their peak, Wang Yu, with his acute combat intuition, immediately recognized that the optimal moment for victory had arrived.

“Guanghan… Twelve Forms!”

A frosty moon hung in the sky. Zhuo Wenshi’s eyes widened, but she found her body completely unresponsive as a thin layer of ice spread over her. Wherever it spread, not only her muscles, bones, and flesh, but even her magic power was frozen. One of the Ghostfang Zhuo Clan’s ultimate techniques, the Seven Heaven-Intercepting Arts, was completely silenced before it could even display its might. Her life flickered precariously, like a candle in the wind.

The two corpses returned to their positions, and the abnormal phenomena subsided. Wang Yu, with the Glazed Ice Heart Pagoda hovering above him, landed before Zhuo Wenshi. This battle had pushed him to his limits, with his magic power consumption nearing forty percent. The fight was exhilarating, and it also confirmed his own combat strength, which was quite satisfactory.

Approaching the ice, a black paper boat emerged from Wang Yu’s glabella. He began soul-searching with the Soul-Slicing Evil Boat Curse! The memories in her mind appeared before his eyes like a series of silhouette paintings, with the audio and visual slightly out of sync. This was due to her spiritual sense being too potent. The more he viewed, the more damaged Zhuo Wenshi’s spirit became from the black paper boat’s impact. Memories related to the Zhuo clan’s heritage and secrets were skipped, as per usual.

However, he still discovered some issues.

“Spirit Rhinoceros Secret Art?”

After a search, Wang Yu found a white piece of paper tucked in a hidden layer of Zhuo Wenshi’s clothing, its right edge displaying an uneven tear, as if casually ripped off. The white paper read: “Beware of Yellow Spring Temple, there’s cold…”

Wang Yu: “…”

Although this was one of his usual tricks, every time he witnessed it firsthand, he couldn't help but crack a smile. The so-called Spirit Rhinoceros Secret Art must be used on Spirit Rhinoceros paper. Content written on her side, regardless of distance or spatial barriers, would appear on the other half of the paper. If not for this type of paper being relatively precious and the limited content it could transmit, it likely would have replaced the function of sound-transmitting jade slips long ago.

After finding no information that exposed his identity, Wang Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Everyone was dead. Zhuo Shouyun wouldn’t send a second group of people in the short term, as his most capable assets were merely at the peak of Core Formation. Zhuo Wenshi’s team could definitely be considered an “elite” force. While not comparable to Wang Yu, they were indeed true elites compared to Zhuo Shouqing’s forces.

As he pondered.

Wang Yu enlarged the Glazed Ice Heart Pagoda, trapping Zhuo Wenshi at its base. He intended to test the effect of “conversion,” which would also delay Zhuo Shouyun from receiving the news. The life tokens of the Zhuo family’s team were in her possession. As long as she wasn’t dead, even if they received ambiguous information, it would be utterly useless. As long as she wasn’t dead, anything was possible. This would require time for assessment.

Wang Yu planned to cultivate in the mystic realm for a period and, at the same time, explore the true tomb-dungeons. The grand hall he had previously encountered should have been an isolated case. If he encountered another grand hall of similar scale, he simply wouldn't enter. Here, the materials condensed from corpses alone were excellent, all high-grade Tier 3 items, and there were also good spiritual artifacts among the burial goods. He truly couldn’t bear to leave just like that.

Using the Feng Shui compass to locate different tomb-dungeons, he planned to find a node where Yin and Corpse Qi converged, and first advance his two variant zombies. This way, the number of zombies he controlled simultaneously would decrease to one, but their combat strength would increase instead. The power of a variant corpse could rival an inner sect Core Formation cultivator. He still needed to advance them, and besides, his spiritual sense and body refining would also rapidly break through soon. By then, he might not even need to change his combat style.

Half a day later, after emptying Zhuo Wenshi’s Cosmos Ring and stringing it onto his ring cord, he had a clear idea of the location he sought.

“This place should be a naturally formed, ordinary Lesser Yin Corpse-Nourishing Formation—it’s just about sufficient!”

(End of Chapter)