78: First Battle with Corpse Old Nine

Corpse Old Nine was fiddling with two pale beads in his hands, which looked as though they were polished from human bone, as he spoke in a raspy, ear-piercing voice:

"...This batch of 'materials' is decent. They are all fresh corpses from within the last three years. Their Yin Qi hasn't fully dissipated, and there are still embers of soul fire left, making the refining process easier. They're much better than those old, dried-up corpses we dug up last time."

A Corpse Driver chimed in flatteringly, "Ninth Master has a sharp eye! These were all 'invited' from several new graves according to your instructions, guaranteed to be fresh. There were just two families who kept a close watch, so it took a bit of extra effort."

"Hmph, just make sure you're clean about it. Don't be like that idiot last time who left a trail and let those 'skins' from outside the mountains catch the scent," Corpse Old Nine snorted coldly. "By the way, how is that bald monk? He only paid half of his 'deposit'."

The bald monk! Li Muchen's spirits lifted.

Another Corpse Driver replied, "He's still hiding out in the old spot. I've pressed him a few times, and he says the remaining money and the 'connections' will be settled tomorrow night once he sees the 'goods'. Ninth Master, is that monk reliable? I think his eyes look shifty; he doesn't seem like a real monk."

"I don't care if he's a real monk or a fake one, as long as he pays," Corpse Old Nine said, making the bone beads crackle as he squeezed them. "I've already refined three of the 'Iron Corpses' he wants. Tomorrow, I'll give them one last 'blood meal,' and they'll be ready. With these three Iron Corpses, plus the official cover and the southern distribution routes he promised... hehe, this business is worth doing."

Iron Corpses! Li Muchen's heart sank. These were refined corpses that were more Advanced and more ferocious than ordinary walking corpses. They were impervious to blades and spears, possessed immense strength, and had considerable resistance to common Daoist Spells and Talismanic Incantations. If Corpse Old Nine truly succeeded in refining them and Release Void used them for evil, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Ninth Master, what does that monk want Iron Corpses for? Could it be he wants to learn corpse refining like us?" the Corpse Driver asked curiously.

Corpse Old Nine sneered. "Him? He doesn't have the aptitude or the patience. Seeing how he's overflowing with resentment, he probably wants to use the Iron Corpses for revenge. Whatever, as long as the money is right and the goods are delivered, he can go blow up the heavens for all I care."

He paused, lowering his voice slightly. "Tomorrow is the key. For the final 'feeding' of the three Iron Corpses, using the essence blood of living beings to trigger the corpse baleful energy works best. Go prepare and catch two living things; make sure they're strong."

"Yes, Ninth Master," the two Corpse Drivers quickly complied.

"Also, keep an eye on those 'materials' at the valley entrance. Don't let anything go wrong. Once the transaction is finished tomorrow night, we'll dispose of them together," Corpse Old Nine waved his hand. "Go now, I'm going to rest for a bit."

The two Corpse Drivers stood up and walked toward the valley entrance.

Li Muchen immediately ducked back behind the rock, holding his breath and focusing his mind. He didn't slowly poke his head out until the sound of their footsteps and conversation faded away.

Only Corpse Old Nine remained by the campfire. He still had his back turned to this direction, seemingly resting with his eyes closed.

An opportunity!

A cold light flashed in Li Muchen's eyes. If he could subdue or heavily injure Corpse Old Nine in one fell swoop right now, he would not only neutralize the threat of the three Iron Corpses but also force out the specific location where Release Void was hiding.

He took a deep breath, and the true essence in his body began to slowly accelerate its flow. His right hand quietly pressed against the cloth-wrapped thunder-struck wood on his back. Although using a Talisman or Spell would be more discreet, when dealing with an evil cultivator like Corpse Old Nine—especially near his lair—the supreme Yang and rigid lightning power of the thunder-struck wood might be more effective for a single decisive strike and for suppressing Yin evil.

Just as he was about to launch a sudden attack, Corpse Old Nine suddenly moved!

He didn't turn around, but his scrawny shoulders seemed to twitch slightly. His raspy voice, tinged with a hint of playfulness, rang out abruptly in the silent, foggy night:

"You've been watching for so long, isn't it time to come out? Hiding your head and showing your tail isn't the way to treat a host."

Li Muchen's heart jolted! He had been discovered? How was that possible? He had concealed his aura perfectly and hadn't actively used his Spiritual Sense to probe... but his reactions were lightning-fast. Since he had been spotted, he would no longer hide. With a flash of his figure, he drifted out from behind the rock and landed at the edge of the campfire's light, standing opposite Corpse Old Nine with the fire between them.

Corpse Old Nine slowly turned around.

His face looked like dried orange peel, deeply wrinkled with dark, shiny skin. His eyes, however, were exceptionally small and bright, like two points of ghost-fire flickering eerily in his sunken sockets. He sized Li Muchen up, his gaze particularly lingering on the cloth bundle on Li Muchen's back and his waist, before his mouth split into a hideous smile:

"Oh, a junior Daoist cultivator? You hid your aura well; you almost fooled even me. Unfortunately..." He pointed a withered finger at the ground.

Li Muchen followed his finger and saw some extremely fine, grayish-white powder—almost indistinguishable from dust—scattered on the ground near the rock where he had just been hiding. Now, under the greenish light of the campfire, that powder was emitting faint ripples that were slightly inconsistent with the surrounding Earth Yin Qi.

"Corpse Powder Sensing Array," Corpse Old Nine chuckled proudly. "Around this lair of mine, there is a sentry every ten steps and a post every hundred. As long as it's a living thing carrying Yang Qi, if they step on it, they can't hide from my nose. Youngster, your skills are good, but you're a bit lacking in experience."

So that was it. Li Muchen realized he had relied too much on his Spiritual Sense to detect energy and life force, overlooking these most primitive yet effective physical warning methods.

"Who are you? Why have you sneaked into my Wild Boar Gully?" Corpse Old Nine stood up slowly, the two bone beads in his hand spinning rapidly, the ghost-fire in his eyes dancing. "Looking at the Daoist Qi on you, you don't seem like one of the government's men. Are you an enemy of that bald monk? Or... just some meddler passing by?"

Li Muchen's expression remained calm. He didn't answer the question but instead asked, "Where is Release Void?"

A fierce glint flashed in Corpse Old Nine's eyes. "So you really are here for that monk! Hehe, you want to take someone from Corpse Old Nine's hands? Let's see if you have the ability!"

Before his voice had even faded, his scrawny frame lunged backward, and he simultaneously smashed the two bone beads in his hand onto the ground!

"Bang! Bang!"

Two muffled thuds rang out as the bone beads shattered, exploding into a large cloud of grayish-white smoke with a pungent, foul stench. It instantly spread out, not only blocking vision but also containing poisonous corpse gas and a soul-confusing effect!

At the same time, Corpse Old Nine let out a sharp, hurried whistle!

"Whew—!"

The whistle echoed far into the silent valley.

The next moment, the surrounding mist surged. From the darkness came a heavy grinding sound, as if giant stones were moving, along with the ear-piercing sound of metal dragging on the ground! And from more than one place!

The moment the bone beads exploded, Li Muchen had already held his breath, circulating his true essence to protect his body. Simultaneously, he pushed off the ground, his figure moving like lightning as he retreated rapidly, trying to escape the range of the poisonous mist.

But he had only retreated a few steps when two tall, dark shadows suddenly charged out from the thick fog on his left and right!

They were two zombies with bodies of a dull iron-gray, bulging muscles, and blood-red eyes! Broken iron chains still hung from their hands and feet, clanging as they moved. Their speed was startling. Accompanied by a foul wind, they swung their pitch-black, sharp claws and pounced at Li Muchen from both sides!

Iron Corpses! And more than one!

Corpse Old Nine actually had refined Iron Corpses hidden near his lair as guardians!

With poisonous mist in front and Iron Corpses attacking from the sides, Corpse Old Nine's figure had already vanished into the billowing mist and darkness, leaving only his sharp, triumphant, eccentric laughter:

"Youngster! Taste the power of my Iron Corpses! Stay here for me!"

The battle erupted in an instant!