novelraw Chapter 194
Chapter 194
Midnight.
It was the moment when the Lunar Yin Fiend Qi was at its thickest between heaven and earth.
Wang Yu sat cross-legged before the corpse. One after another, corpse-refining incantations were cast, each imprinting deeply into the living corpse’s body. His tongue brushed against the sharp fangs on the roof of his mouth, and he spat out a mouthful of blood mist.
“Lunar Yin refines the form, moon fiend refines the soul.”
“Earthly turbid curse, return to the corpse body.”
“Heaven dark, earth spirit, yin fate long and distant, living soul hard to descend, all specters turn into evil, stiffen and release the body.”
“By command, rise corpse.”
In an instant, the lunar yin fiend qi, thick as boiling white smoke, was sucked into the corpse’s abdomen. The final trace of life, fragile as a dying candle flame, instantly transformed into a surging tide of corpse qi.
“Roar…”
The howl was like that of a demonic beast, shaking the ears with pain. Wang Yu soon felt the backlash of divine sense. Even though this was a Lunar Yin Fiend Corpse refined with all his strength, due to his cultivation base and mastery of secret arts, it was nearly impossible to perfectly recreate the power it had in life. By his estimate, at most it would be equivalent to third-rank early stage.This result was within his expectations.
However, its ferocity was greater than what was recorded in the Yin Fiend Corpse Refining Technique. Even with his divine sense comparable to Foundation Establishment peak, suppressing it was very difficult.
“It should not be like this. The corpse-controlling imprint can handle a refined corpse one realm higher than my own divine sense. Could it be this Lunar Yin Fiend Corpse is a mutated zombie?”
Wang Yu stepped forward, stamping on the corpse’s chest, forcing the just-upright figure back down.
He sat cross-legged to suppress the corpse, pressing two fingers of his right hand to its brow, while his left hand locked its armpit. His divine sense surged forth.
Perfect Realm, Divine Sense Secret Art, Soul-Shattering Finger.
This was an extremely forceful method. He smashed the newly-born bloodthirsty consciousness of the corpse into mush, stirring it with near-tangible divine sense, and struck a fresh set of corpse-controlling imprints into it.
Finally, the struggling Fiend Corpse quieted down.
Wang Yu let out a long breath, wiped imaginary sweat, and examined his refined corpse.
Fiend corpses are divided into four grades: Hair Zombie, Green Zombie, Flying Zombie, and Yaksha Zombie, corresponding to Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, and Nascent Soul.
A Flying Zombie-level fiend corpse lacks the golden corpse armor of an Armored Zombie.
But it still possesses great strength, copper skin and iron bones, the ability to fly through the skies and burrow through the earth, immunity to blazing sunlight, and all the basic qualities of that grade.
Moreover, a Flying Zombie has a unique divine ability belonging only to fiend corpses. Just like the golden armor of an Armored Zombie, this is an innate ability. Its strength depends entirely on the corpse’s fiend supernatural power.
The ability brought by the lunar yin fiend qi was its inborn talent, existing as instinct.
It was called:
“Yin Corpse Descending Evil Curse.”
Wang Yu murmured aloud. If Armored Zombies are comparable to fearsome Body-refining cultivators, then fiend corpses are like spellcasters skilled in corpse arts.
Their shells are strong, but they specialize in corpse spells in combat.
The Yin Corpse Descending Evil Curse is like a spell of malediction. Once its gaze falls upon a target, evasion is nearly impossible. It places lunar yin fiend qi upon them.
It weakens true essence, diminishes magical tools, blunts supernatural powers, and corrupts the fleshly body.
It is a versatile ability. Without superior protective methods, once struck by the Descending Evil Curse, at least half of one’s strength will be stripped away.
“A fine yin corpse, a fine divine ability.”
Wang Yu grinned. With this corpse in hand, and another helper, even two rogue cultivators at early Core Formation would be no match for him.
Furthermore, since lunar yin fiend qi is of high grade, all corpse arts a Flying Zombie normally has, such as blood-sucking at a distance, fiend control, and corpse-step techniques, were all strengthened.
Among third-rank early stage fiend corpses, this one was definitely top-tier. Even the true disciples of Heavenly Corpse Peak would be tempted.
“You look far too unsightly, old man. As City Lord, I will give you a new face.”
Wang Yu applied corpse-refining methods. The shriveled and aged Lunar Yin Fiend Corpse had its wrinkles filled by corpse qi. Its face was further altered, leaving only a pair of ghostly green eyes. No one could recognize the corpse’s former identity. This prevented accidents should it encounter its old acquaintances.
Such concealments and modifications were necessary. Corpse Dao cultivators were especially skilled in this. These rules existed only because of lessons written in blood.
Wang Yu took out a first-rank magical robe that concealed aura and put it on the corpse. At this point, the preliminary refinement was complete.
Then he took out a jade bottle from his storage bag.
It contained the demon blood of the Snow Jade Fox. Newly-born zombies must drink blood. Using his own was unlucky, so the blood of a three-tailed snow fox was just right, strong and plentiful.
Once finished, Wang Yu sealed the corpse into slumber with a corpse-suppressing talisman and left it beneath the skylight in the secret chamber to bask in moonlight.
“You still need a coffin to live in.”
He did not have a corpse-collecting bag, and even if he did, storing a third-rank fiend corpse required a third-rank pouch. Better to purchase a coffin with shrinking ability.
He would fill it with lunar yin fiend qi. It could then be shrunk and hung at his waist as an ornament, easy to carry around.
…
The next day, Wang Yu arranged for someone to go to the Golden Abundance Tower to place the order. If they did not have one in stock, it could be transferred from another branch.
Inner space, shrinking ability, and aura concealment were the basic requirements. The more functions the better. If possible, third-rank. At minimum, second-rank supreme-grade.
City Lord Wang’s purse was always full. Spirit stones were not a concern.
At this moment, Xu Ruzhou came quickly.
“City Lord, True Personage Qingyang has come to visit.”
“True Personage?” Wang Yu’s eyes sharpened. He had originally intended to invite Elder Golden Flower of the Scent-Perceiving Sect, but perhaps True Personage Qingyang was even more suitable.
It had already been four years since the two last met. To have broken through so quickly? Wang Yu remembered that when Wei Zhong broke through to Core Formation, it had taken him ten years, with another year or two spent stabilizing his realm.
Qingyang’s breakthrough was simply too fast.
“Yes, City Lord. Senior Qingyang recently succeeded in Core Formation. He should be here to invite you to his Core Formation celebration. From the Ink-Water Sect side, only he came.”
“Where is he?”
“I invited him to the guest hall.”
“I understand. You may leave.”
“Yes.”
When Wang Yu stepped into the guest hall, Core Formation cultivator Qingyang still rose to greet him, showing none of the displeasure common among other Ink-Water Sect members.
Indeed, no matter what, his interests had not been harmed. On the contrary, he seemed to have gained much. From Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, this was a major breakthrough.
In the cultivation world, countless people were stuck at this very step.
“Daoist Brother Qingyang, congratulations, congratulations.”
This youthful and refined Core Formation cultivator wore a full smile.
“My success is also thanks to you, Brother Wang. The intelligence from Golden Abundance Tower’s was of great help to me.
“On this trip, I not only recovered our sect ancestor’s corpse and relics, but also obtained a Core Formation spirit item from the ancient ruins of the prince’s mansion. What great fortune!”
“So that is the case. This was your destined opportunity. As long as I did not hinder you, there is no need to place the merit upon me.”
Hearing this, Wang Yu’s smile became more sincere. His form of address shifted, showing greater closeness. With curiosity he asked.
“After four years apart, Daoist Brother must have endured countless trials to achieve Core Formation in such a short span. Would you be willing to share a little of your experience?”
“That is exactly my intention.”
When speaking of these years, Core Formation cultivator Qingyang sighed with emotion.
At first, after leaving the City Lord’s residence, he had planned to go straight to Eastern Extreme Capital. At that time, the anomalies had only just appeared, and no great sect disciples had yet arrived to reap the benefits.
But upon entering the ruins, he was immediately targeted by a corpse fiend. He barely escaped with his life, and when he returned to Jade Spirit City, he saw Wang Yu’s name on the stone monument at the eastern square.
After reading it carefully, he felt both displeasure and relief.
By combining three pieces of intelligence, he quickly devised a new route.
The fact that he was able to obtain a Core Formation spirit item in the prince’s mansion was thanks to the information from Golden Abundance Tower. That place had originally been Jin Miaoshan’s intended target, but she was tied down with sect affairs, leaving Qingyang to take the lead.
With such a great opportunity and other gains, his displeasure toward Wang Yu turned into gratitude. After all, although Wang Yu had revealed much, he had also concealed some crucial details.
Qingyang had only managed to be one step ahead. Later, he was extremely fortunate to find the remains of the Ink-Water Sect ancestor and take all of his belongings.
Among them was a special tribulation-avoiding treasure.
Its name was “Heavenly Thunder Descending Diagram.”
This was the treasure once used by the Ink-Water Sect ancestor to endure his Core Formation lightning tribulation. It was perfectly suited for Qingyang.
The so-called “tribulation-avoiding treasure” was specially refined for lightning tribulations. It had no other effect and could only be used during tribulations, but it enhanced the ability to withstand lightning to the utmost.
Some could block, some could disperse, some could strengthen one’s resistance to lightning.
The Heavenly Thunder Descending Diagram was extremely rare. Its effect was to absorb tribulation lightning until reaching its limit, after which it would turn into a “tribulation lightning bomb.”
Its area of effect was vast, a tool of mutual destruction, since it accumulated the lightning tribulations of countless people.
This was the secret behind Qingyang’s rapid breakthrough.
He had been stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment for years, his cultivation already polished to perfection. The only thing lacking was a Core Formation spirit item. This time, fortune brought all conditions together.
He went to another city, rented a third-rank cave residence, and broke through. Everything flowed naturally. The Core Formation lightning tribulation was completely absorbed by the Heavenly Thunder Descending Diagram.
He then spent a year stabilizing his realm and only recently returned to the Ink-Water Sect.
The contrast with Wei Zhong was clear.
Wei Zhong had only prepared hastily. He unexpectedly obtained a suitable Core Formation spirit item from offerings presented by his subordinates. He then applied to the sect for a cave estate and a tribulation-avoiding treasure and rushed into seclusion.
But his own state had not yet reached perfection, so it took him over ten years to succeed. He had been too impatient.
Now, Qingyang recounted his experiences in detail. Wang Yu revealed a look of admiration.
“Daoist Brother, with such fortune, it is only natural that you achieved Core Formation. You were destined to receive this blessing. I wonder about that thunder diagram…”
“Hahaha, Brother Wang, no need to praise me further.” Qingyang habitually raised his hand to stroke his beard, only to realize that with five hundred years of lifespan newly added, the signs of middle age had disappeared. He sighed.
“A Core Formation cultivator lives eight hundred years. It truly feels strange to adapt.
“As for the thunder diagram, Brother Wang need not worry. It is still far from reaching its limit. If you ever need to use it in the future, just ask me and I will surely lend it to you.”
“Daoist Brother is truly open-handed.”