novelraw Chapter 173
Chapter 173
Chapter 173 – Five Days of Preparation
The moment the agreement was reached.
The tense atmosphere in the back forest loosened slightly.
But no one truly relaxed.
Because everyone understood one thing clearly.
These five days were not a truce.
They were merely a delay before the inevitable storm.
The Corpse King
The enormous Corpse King sat motionless in the center of the forest.
Its body resembled a small mountain made of rotting flesh and bones.
Countless corpses were fused together to form its body.
Arms protruded from its torso.
Skulls formed a twisted crown.
From its chest radiated thick corpse qi that poisoned the surrounding trees.
Even standing hundreds of meters away, the pressure was suffocating.
Medicine Master Wen narrowed her eyes.
“Fourth Stage.”
Blood Minister nodded slowly.
“Probably late Fourth Stage.”
Beiyou added calmly.
“Perhaps even half a step into Fifth.”
The group fell silent again.
That level of monster was something that even Third-Stage Messengers rarely faced directly.
Si Wuxie truly left behind a terrifying trial.
The First Test
“Let’s probe it.”
Blood Minister stepped forward first.
He raised his blood-colored spear.
Scarlet spiritual power gathered around the weapon.
Then—
BOOM!
A spear beam shot forward.
It struck the Corpse King directly.
The forest shook violently.
But the Corpse King didn’t move.
Not even slightly.
The attack only blasted away a few layers of rotting flesh.
And then something horrifying happened.
The destroyed flesh regenerated instantly.
Boreuo frowned.
“Corpse regeneration.”
Beiyou added.
“And extremely strong corpse qi protection.”
Medicine Master Wen spoke calmly.
“Unless we destroy the core in one strike, it will keep regenerating.”
The group exchanged glances.
That meant something very simple.
They needed overwhelming burst damage.
Bunny Heroine’s Observation
Bunny Heroine remained silent.
But Yan Qing was already analyzing everything rapidly.
The Corpse King’s aura.
The regeneration speed.
The corpse qi density.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Inside the monster’s chest.
There was a faint fluctuation.
A corpse core.
If that core was destroyed, the monster would collapse.
But the problem was obvious.
The core was buried under layers of flesh thicker than castle walls.
Even Thunderstorm Time might not be enough.
Unless…
Multiple bursts were combined.
Yan Qing glanced at Medicine Master Wen.
She seemed to be thinking about the same thing.
The Temporary Alliance
Beiyou spoke first.
“For the next five days, we cooperate.”
Blood Minister scoffed.
“Temporary cooperation.”
Boreuo nodded.
“Amitabha. Hatred can wait until after the Corpse King is dead.”
Medicine Master Wen looked at Bunny Heroine.
“Agreed?”
Bunny Heroine simply nodded.
Yan Qing understood the situation clearly.
If they fought now.
Everyone might die.
If they cooperated.
At least the Corpse King could be eliminated.
The Strategy
Soon the group gathered to discuss tactics.
Beiyou proposed the first plan.
“Three attackers.”
“Two support.”
Blood Minister would serve as the main damage dealer.
Boreuo would suppress the corpse qi using Buddhist techniques.
Beiyou would control the battlefield.
Medicine Master Wen would provide medical support.
And Bunny Heroine…
Beiyou looked at her.
“You are the key burst.”
Yan Qing smiled faintly behind the screen.
That was exactly what he expected.
Night Preparations
The group retreated to the inner hall.
Everyone began preparing.
Blood Minister practiced spear techniques repeatedly.
Beiyou examined formation diagrams.
Boreuo recited Buddhist scriptures to strengthen his token.
Medicine Master Wen refined pills.
Meanwhile—
Bunny Heroine stood alone in the courtyard.
Yan Qing opened his inventory.
Three spirit items glowed faintly.
Heavenly Gang – Whip-Mountain-Move-Stone Seal
Earthly Fiend – Wind-Borrowing Leaf
Earthly Fiend – Reviving Branch
Yan Qing whispered softly.
“Foundation Building…”
He was already qualified.
But this was not the right moment.
Once he advanced.
The entire balance of the team would collapse.
And the others might attack him immediately.
So the only choice was…
Wait.
At least until the Corpse King died.
The Hidden Threat
Late that night.
Medicine Master Wen quietly approached Bunny Heroine.
Her voice was very soft.
“We may have another problem.”
Yan Qing replied.
“The Three Guardians?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Her eyes looked toward the sky beyond the secret realm.
“The Helan Family.”
Yan Qing paused.
That name was dangerous.
One of the most powerful cultivation families in the empire.
Medicine Master Wen continued.
“If Helan Shou learns about this place…”
Her voice became colder.
“He will definitely come.”
Yan Qing remained silent.
But inside his mind.
The alarm bells were already ringing.
Five Days Begin
The next morning.
The group returned to the forest.
The Corpse King remained motionless.
But the corpse qi surrounding it had grown stronger.
As if it was slowly awakening.
Beiyou looked around.
“Day one.”
Blood Minister tightened his grip on the spear.
“Let’s start.”
The battle preparation had begun.
But none of them realized something.
Far outside the secret realm.
A Foundation-stage True Person had already begun traveling toward Shu Mountain.
And once he arrived—
The situation inside the secret realm would change completely.
Five days of preparation.
Five days before betrayal.
Five days before an immortal descends.
The calm before the storm had begun.