Volume Two: The Map of the Nine Provinces Revealed, Entering the Spirit Ruins Chapter Ninety: The Purple Corpse of the Tomb Mound

Before they could rejoice, a vast surge of baleful yin energy suddenly burst up from the earth below, driven by the purple-jointed corpses to sweep toward the clusters of flame.

“Not good… fall back, now!” Chen Yu cried out, slashing open the surging yin energy with a single strike.

Perhaps sensing the danger in his sword force, the purple-jointed corpses let out deep, grim howls, wary and uneasy.

Only then did Chen Yu and the others notice the field of bones strewn across the tomb chamber in tangled heaps. Even Xiao Gu and the others were wounded. Only thirty-four or so were still alive, and most of them were cultivators at the first realm or above. Very few had reached the ninth breath of the dantian.

Chen Yu’s expression darkened. He thought: What exactly is buried in this tomb?

“Senior Brother Chen Yu, what do we do now?” Xue Ren and the other two asked in alarm. That purple-jointed corpse possessed the strength of the first realm—how could they possibly contend with it?

Chen Yu surveyed the surroundings. All eleven coffins had been opened, and yet only seven purple-jointed corpses remained here. Could the others already have been destroyed?

Then another doubt arose in his mind: What about Wang Ji, Liao Ji, and the others? Where had they gone? Could there be another way out from here?

“Let us watch the situation first. If we cannot handle it, we will withdraw from the tomb at once,” Chen Yu said.

“All right, we’ll listen to you,” Xue Ren and the others replied in low, nervous voices.

Just then, Wu Yue of the Spirit Ruins spoke up. “Everyone, now that seven purple-jointed corpses are blocking the way, if we wish to obtain the opportunities within this tomb, we have no choice but to join forces and kill them before we can move forward. What does everyone think?”

Yet no one answered. After all, they were not of one mind; who could predict what accidents might arise in the midst of battle?

Seeing that no one spoke, Wu Yue’s delicate brows knit slightly, but he could do nothing. Lowering his voice, he said to Xiao Gu and the others, “It seems we can only rely on ourselves.”

Xie Liang of Bright Spirit Peak sighed. “But the talismans we have left for spewing flames and summoning thunder are already few. How are we supposed to hold back these purple-jointed corpses?”

“Are we really going to give up like this? I’m not willing to accept it,” Yuan Shan of Wonder Heart Peak said.

Everyone spoke over one another, yet no solution could be found.

From their discussion, Chen Yu also understood that this tomb truly had more than one level, and the passage to the next lay in that scarlet coffin.

Chen Yu thought to himself: We can’t waste any more time. Otherwise, even if this tomb holds opportunities, they’ll all be taken by others.

So Chen Yu brought Xue Ren and the other two to find Xiao Gu and the rest.

“Senior Brother Xiao, Senior Sister Wu, I have a method that may break through the purple-jointed corpses’ blockade,” Chen Yu said.

“Junior Brother Chen, you have a way?” Xiao Gu asked in surprise.

Although Chen Yu possessed only the power of the ninth breath of the dantian, Xiao Gu knew full well how formidable he was and would not underestimate him.

“Hmph, someone with only the ninth breath of the dantian and still you claim to have a way. Better think first of saving your own life,” Dong Dong of the Unpolished Peak said scornfully. Already irritated by the purple-jointed corpses blocking the path, he could not help but sneer when he saw that Chen Yu intended to turn his attention on them.

Chen Yu’s eyes flicked upward, but he ignored him and instead pressed Xiao Gu, “What does Senior Brother think?”

“You really have a way?” Xiao Gu asked uncertainly.

When he saw Chen Yu nod earnestly, Xiao Gu had already made up his mind. But before he could say so, Gao Ye of Clear Intent Peak frowned and said, “Wait… even if you truly have a way, are you saying all of you are going in?”

Chen Yu thought: Isn’t that obvious? If we’re not going in, would I have come to find you for fun?

To speak bluntly, with the way things stand here, even you lot are barely holding on. As for what lies inside, do you think you have any chance of surviving?”

Gao Ye’s words were clearly aimed at Xue Ren and the other two.

Though unpleasant, they were the truth. Xue Ren and the others’ expressions darkened. Perhaps they truly were unwilling to give up and wanted to go down to take a look. But they had also wondered whether Chen Yu would really be able to protect them.

“Senior Brother Chen, why don’t the three of us leave first?” Xue Ren said. “This tomb really isn’t somewhere we can come.”

Chen Yu considered for a moment. “Very well. When we begin the spell, you three should leave the tomb immediately.”

“Junior Brother, what method do you have?” Xiao Gu asked quickly.

“Does Senior Brother remember the sea of lightning we used back then to deal with that ice-ring serpent demon?” Chen Yu asked.

At first Xiao Gu’s face lit with delight, but soon he sighed. “That method could indeed drive back the purple-jointed corpses, but we ourselves would have no way to pass through the lightning.”

“Don’t worry. I have a way to cut through the thunder,” Chen Yu said. “It just won’t last long.”

At his words, everyone immediately recalled the scene earlier when Chen Yu had split the yin energy apart, and they understood his plan.

“Can it really be done?” Wu Yue asked, visibly excited.

Chen Yu nodded.

“Good… In that case, let us try,” Xiao Gu said, equally excited. “Please, fellow disciples, activate the Cloud Summoning, Wind Borrowing, and Rain Praying talismans.”

“Understood…”

Three yellow talismans flew toward the purple-jointed corpses ahead. At once, wind rose and clouds churned, the heavens turned dark, and thunder seemed to gather within the gloom.

The cultivators still locked in combat with the purple-jointed corpses tightened their expressions. Something was wrong. They hurriedly dodged away.

“Xiao Gu, what are you Spirit Ruins people trying to do?” someone demanded.

“Since none of you intend to cooperate, then we can only each use our own methods,” Xiao Gu said in a deep voice. “Let me remind everyone: the coming attack will not distinguish friend from foe. You’d best retreat for now.”

“You Spirit Ruins people sure are bold. Are you threatening us?”

“Think of it however you like. If you’re injured because of this, don’t blame me,” Xiao Gu said, his aura condensing as lightning flickered within his sword.

The crowd instantly understood what they intended.

“Xiao Gu, have you all gone mad? With such a huge range, even if you can injure these purple-jointed corpses, what about us?”

“That is why you’d best leave first,” Xiao Gu said sternly.

Before the other side could respond, Xiao Gu’s aura had already climbed to its peak. He shouted, “Tranquil Thunder Sword Art!”

A bolt of lightning struck toward the artificial thundercloud above the tomb, while lightning serpents howled within it, ready to descend at any moment.

“Damn it, lunatics, you’re all lunatics…” many cried out in alarm, unable to wait any longer as they fled toward the tomb’s exit. Xue Ren and the others had already left.

The seven purple-jointed corpses also sensed the thunderous aura and became even more agitated. They wanted to rush over and kill Xiao Gu and the others, yet feared the power of the thunder. After all, that force of supreme yang was their natural nemesis.

Howling, the purple-jointed corpses quickly retreated back into their coffins, hoping to avoid it there.

“The purple-jointed corpses are in their coffins! Xiao Gu, stop at once!” someone shouted joyfully.

But by then it was no longer something they could control. Once the thunder had been gathered, it was bound to fall.

“Bastards, you really are all疯…” one cultivator after another shouted in fury.