Chapter 1082: Corpse King (Part 2)
Beneath the lake also lay an underground area. Though situated at the bottom of the lake, it was not actually submerged in water, merely appearing slightly damp. This phenomenon occurred solely because a certain power held the lake water at bay.
Naturally, this place wasn't formed by nature; it had been artificially excavated, as traces of man-made excavation were visible everywhere.
This underground area, of course, had been personally excavated by the Door Master of the Corpse Sect, and his sole purpose in excavating it was to conceal the Corpse Ghoul in his possession, which was on the verge of becoming a Corpse King.
Under the Door Master of the Corpse Sect's lead, the two halted before a stone coffin. Even without the Door Master's introduction, Wan Wu Yi knew that this stone coffin undoubtedly held the Corpse Ghoul poised to become a Corpse King.
The stone coffin was crude, not as exquisite as one might imagine, devoid of intricate carvings or any other decorative embellishments. It was simply an ordinary stone coffin.
However, affixed to the stone coffin's lid were several Black Talismans. Though Wan Wu Yi was no Talisman Master, he did recognize some talismans, and these particular Black Talismans on the lid were among those he knew.
The Black Talismans comprised two distinct types: one Soul Suppression Talisman, while the others were uniformly Corpse Suppression Talismans.
When dealing with zombies, Corpse Suppression Talismans were, naturally, the most effective. However, Wan Wu Yi could still understand why the Door Master would affix an additional Soul Suppression Talisman to the coffin lid. The Door Master had previously mentioned that a wisp of new soul had already taken root within this Corpse Ghoul. In his view, the Door Master had left the Soul Suppression Talisman on the stone coffin precisely to suppress that nascent soul within the Corpse Ghoul.
The Door Master fixed his gaze on Wan Wu Yi, his face grim, and spoke in a cold tone.
“Hahahahaha, injure me? The Door Master truly underestimates me, Wan Wu Yi. Injuring you, I can believe, but harming me? I find that quite unbelievable. ”
Wan Wu Yi burst into hearty laughter, as if he'd heard a supremely amusing joke, and didn't forget to throw a jab at the Door Master. The Door Master's expression turned sour, but inwardly, he sneered.
“Laugh all you want. We'll see if you're still laughing in a moment. Arrogance comes with a price. ”
With that thought in his mind, the Door Master wasted no further words. Though Wan Wu Yi hadn't explicitly urged him to open the stone coffin, his mockery had already provided the answer.
He first collected the Black Talismans from atop the stone coffin. The power of these Black Talismans had barely been depleted, for they comprised the outermost layer of the seal. Furthermore, the Corpse Ghoul within the stone coffin had remained in a deep slumber, never awakening. Since the Corpse Ghoul offered no resistance or attempt to break free, these external Black Talismans naturally expended little of their power.
These Black Talismans were peak-tier ones the Door Master had painstakingly acquired. Knowing their power was largely undiminished, he naturally intended to reclaim them. To simply discard them would be an immense waste; he couldn't bear to do so.
Moreover, he was currently in dire need of such consumables, especially when confronting a formidable individual like Wan Wu Yi. He had an even greater need for talismans and similar expendable items.
As the coffin lid slid open, a nauseating stench assailed them. Previously, neither man had detected the foul odor because the stone coffin was remarkably airtight. This, combined with the talismans' suppressive power and the Door Master's sealing techniques, had prevented the stench within from emanating. But now, with the talismans removed and the stone coffin opened, the distinct, putrid smell of a zombie naturally permeated the air.
Within the stone coffin lay a zombie. Sealed as it was, it remained in a deep slumber, appearing exceptionally still.
Its stillness did little to mitigate the zombie's horrifying and grotesque appearance. The feeling it evoked was still one of profound dread; indeed, "disgusting" might be an even more fitting word than "horrifying".
From its outward appearance, this Corpse Ghoul was indistinguishable from other zombies. The degree of its revulsion, the nauseating stench it exuded—everything was identical to any other zombie. Moreover, with all the power within its body sealed, it was difficult to connect it to the terrifying entity poised to ascend to a Corpse King.
“Door Master, are you certain this Corpse Ghoul is indeed the target I seek? ”
Wan Wu Yi eyed the Door Master, a smile playing on his lips. From his words, it was clear he harbored doubts regarding the true identity of the Corpse Ghoul before him.
“If it were merely an ordinary Corpse Ghoul, would I have gone to the trouble of sealing it here? Why wouldn't I keep it by my side as an enforcer? ”
The Door Master stared coldly at Wan Wu Yi, his voice frigid. Wan Wu Yi nodded slightly upon hearing this, appearing to accept the Door Master's words.
“Heh, what you say holds considerable truth. If it were merely an ordinary Corpse Ghoul, there would indeed be no need for you to seal it here. It's I who. . . ”
Wan Wu Yi's words were cut short by the Door Master's sudden action. The Door Master reached into the stone coffin and proceeded to remove several talismans affixed to the zombie's body.
These talismans, much like those on the coffin lid, were a combination of Corpse Suppression Talismans and Soul Suppression Talismans. As he peeled away these talismans, the zombie, which had been lying quietly within the coffin, surprisingly twitched a few times.
“What are you doing? ”
Wan Wu Yi gazed at the Door Master and inquired calmly. His demeanor was unruffled, yet a flicker of bewilderment tinged his voice.
“Since you desire it, and I promised to bestow it upon you, naturally, I won't go back on my word. ”
The Door Master's reply was precisely not what Wan Wu Yi sought. Wan Wu Yi's eyes narrowed imperceptibly, a cold glint flashing in their corners. He seemed to have divined something.
Concurrently, the Door Master suddenly swung his hand fiercely at the zombie within the stone coffin. A grayish-white power whistled forth, instantly striking the zombie.
This power inflicted no harm upon the zombie within the stone coffin. The instant it struck the Corpse Ghoul's body, it immediately integrated itself into the Corpse Ghoul's form. Immediately thereafter, a terrifying surge of power erupted from within the Corpse Ghoul.
The Corpse Ghoul, which had been utterly motionless, suddenly sprang forth from the stone coffin. The Door Master's recent action had, in fact, undone the seal implanted within the Corpse Ghoul's body, thus leading to the scene unfolding before them.
ROAR! ! !
An enraged roar tore from the Corpse Ghoul's maw. Its face, too, was contorted with clear fury. The Door Master had already made for the exit at the first instant, leaving Wan Wu Yi alone. The Corpse Ghoul, freshly roused from its slumber, naturally fixed on Wan Wu Yi as its target. Driven by seething rage, the Corpse Ghoul opened its maw and lunged to bite Wan Wu Yi.
In this situation, not only did no hint of panic cross Wan Wu Yi's face, but instead, a cold sneer curled his lips.
The Corpse Ghoul's sharp fangs clamped down on Wan Wu Yi's neck. Yet, Wan Wu Yi did not cry out, nor did blood gush from the bitten area. His body rippled and twisted, then vanished from the spot.
This phenomenon occurred because the Corpse Ghoul's bite had, in fact, completely missed Wan Wu Yi. What the Corpse Ghoul bit was merely the afterimage left in the wake of Wan Wu Yi's instantaneous retreat.
Having missed its target, the Corpse Ghoul's fury intensified beyond its previous peak. It unleashed another roar, and a torrent of savage power erupted from its form. The stone coffin, unable to withstand such immense force, instantly shattered.
After pulverizing the stone coffin, the Corpse Ghoul's gaze darted to a certain spot, just catching sight of Wan Wu Yi's retreating back. It sprang upward, giving chase to Wan Wu Yi.
The Door Master's sudden release of the seal on the Corpse Ghoul's body was a maneuver he had conceived during his journey here. His sole purpose was to leverage the Corpse Ghoul's power to eliminate Wan Wu Yi. As this Corpse Ghoul was not under his command, he had no choice but to employ a minor stratagem to achieve his objective.
In his estimation, once the Corpse Ghoul and Wan Wu Yi engaged in battle, his escape would be significantly simpler. Given the Corpse Ghoul's might, Wan Wu Yi might even perish at its hands. If that truly came to pass, not only would his crisis be averted, but he could also finally vent his accumulated frustration.
Alas, things did not unfold as he wished. Before he could successfully escape the area, his body was abruptly bound by an unseen force.
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