Chapter 1139: Corpse King (Part 2)
Beneath the lake, a subterranean chamber existed. Though located at the bottom of the lake, it was not submerged in water; it merely felt slightly damp. This was entirely due to a force that kept the lake water at bay.
This place was, of course, not naturally formed but artificially carved out, as evidenced by the excavation marks visible everywhere.
Naturally, this subterranean chamber had been personally carved by the Corpse Sect Door Master. His sole purpose in excavating it was to conceal the Corpse Ghoul in his possession, a creature on the verge of becoming a Corpse King.
Under the Corpse Sect Door Master's guidance, the two stopped before a stone coffin. Even without an introduction from the Door Master, Wan Wu Yi knew that this coffin undoubtedly contained the Corpse Ghoul about to ascend to a Corpse King.
The stone coffin was crude, far from as exquisite as one might imagine, devoid of intricate patterns or other decorative ornaments. It was just an ordinary stone coffin.
However, several Black Talismans were affixed to the coffin's lid. Though Wan Wu Yi was not a Talisman Master, he recognized some talismans, and these specific Black Talismans on the lid were among those he knew.
The Black Talismans were of two types: one was a Soul Suppression Talisman, while the others were all Corpse Suppression Talismans.
Naturally, Corpse Suppression Talismans were the most effective against zombies. However, Wan Wu Yi could still understand why the Corpse Sect Door Master would also place a Soul Suppression Talisman on the lid. The Door Master had mentioned earlier that a wisp of a new soul had formed within this Corpse Ghoul. In Wan Wu Yi's view, the Soul Suppression Talisman on the stone coffin was likely intended to suppress that nascent soul within the Corpse Ghoul.
The Corpse Sect Door Master looked at Wan Wu Yi, his face grim, and spoke coldly.
"Hahahahaha, injure me? The Corpse Sect Door Master truly underestimates me, Wan Wu Yi! That you might be injured, I believe, but to say I'd be injured? I find that quite hard to believe."
Wan Wu Yi burst into boisterous laughter, as if he had heard the most amusing joke, not forgetting to mock the Corpse Sect Door Master in the process. The Door Master's face darkened, but inwardly, he sneered.
"Laugh now, but soon we'll see if you can still crack a smile. Arrogance demands a price."
With that thought, the Corpse Sect Door Master wasted no more words. Although Wan Wu Yi hadn't explicitly urged him to open the stone coffin, Wan Wu Yi's mockery had already provided his answer.
He first retrieved the several Black Talismans from the top of the stone coffin. The power of these talismans had barely been depleted, as they constituted the outermost layer of the seal, and the Corpse Ghoul within the coffin had remained in a deep slumber, never awakening. Since the Corpse Ghoul hadn't resisted or attempted to break free, these outer Black Talismans had naturally expended little of their strength.
These Black Talismans were top-tier Black Talismans that the Corpse Sect Door Master had painstakingly acquired. Knowing that their power remained largely intact, he naturally intended to keep them. It would be a monumental waste to simply discard them; he couldn't bear to do so.
Furthermore, he was currently in dire need of such consumables, especially talismans, given that he was now facing a ruthless character like Wan Wu Yi. He needed them more than ever.
As the coffin lid opened, a nauseating stench assaulted them. Previously, neither had detected the odor because the stone coffin's seal was remarkably tight, and combined with the suppressing power of the talismans and the Corpse Sect Door Master's sealing methods, the stench within had not escaped. Now, with the talismans removed and the coffin opened, the distinctive odor of a zombie naturally emanated forth.
Inside the stone coffin lay a zombie. Due to its sealed state, the zombie remained in a deep slumber, appearing exceptionally still.
Its stillness did little to mitigate the zombie's terrifying and grotesque appearance. It still exuded a deeply unsettling aura; "disgusting" would be a more fitting description than "terrifying."
From its external appearance, this Corpse Ghoul was no different from other zombies. Whether it was the degree of its repulsiveness or the nauseating stench it exuded, everything was identical to any other zombie. Moreover, all its internal power had been sealed away, making it difficult to associate it with the terrifying existence on the cusp of ascending to a Corpse King.
"Corpse Sect Door Master, are you certain this Corpse Ghoul is the target I'm looking for?"
Wan Wu Yi looked at the Corpse Sect Door Master, speaking with a smile. From his words, it was clear that he harbored doubts about the true identity of the Corpse Ghoul before them.
"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 a personal enforcer?"
The Corpse Sect Door Master gazed coldly at Wan Wu Yi, his voice frigid. Wan Wu Yi nodded slightly, seemingly convinced by the Door Master's words.
"Heh, what you say makes perfect sense. If it were just an ordinary Corpse Ghoul, there would be no need at all to seal it here. It's I who. . ."
Before Wan Wu Yi could finish his sentence, the Corpse Sect Door Master's sudden action brought his words to an abrupt halt. The Door Master reached into the stone coffin and began removing the several talismans affixed to the zombie's body.
These talismans, like those on the coffin lid, were both Corpse Suppression Talismans and Soul Suppression Talismans. After he removed them, the zombie, which had been lying quietly inside the coffin, began to tremble slightly.
"What are you doing?"
Wan Wu Yi looked at the Corpse Sect Door Master and asked indifferently. His emotions weren't agitated, but a hint of confusion permeated his tone.
"Since you wish to obtain it, and I've promised to give it to you, I naturally wouldn't go back on my word."
The Corpse Sect Door Master's reply was not at all what Wan Wu Yi wanted. Wan Wu Yi's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of cold light flashing in their corners. He seemed to have guessed something.
At the same time, the Corpse Sect Door Master suddenly swung his hand sharply at the zombie inside the stone coffin. A greyish-white energy howled forth, striking the zombie within the coffin instantly.
This force caused no damage to the zombie within the stone coffin. The moment it struck the Corpse Ghoul's body, the energy immediately merged into the Corpse Ghoul's form. Following this, a terrifying power fluctuation erupted from within the Corpse Ghoul.
The Corpse Ghoul, which had been utterly still, suddenly shot up from inside the stone coffin. The Corpse Sect Door Master's recent move had actually unsealed the bindings planted within the Corpse Ghoul's body, which was precisely why this scene unfolded before them.
ROAR! ! !
A furious roar ripped from the Corpse Ghoul's maw. Its face, too, bore a clear expression of rage. The Corpse Sect Door Master had, at the very first instant, fled towards the entrance, leaving only Wan Wu Yi behind. The Corpse Ghoul, having just awakened from its slumber, naturally regarded Wan Wu Yi as its target. With the anger boiling within it, the Corpse Ghoul snapped its jaws and bit at Wan Wu Yi.
In this situation, Wan Wu Yi's face not only showed no hint of panic; on the contrary, a cold sneer appeared upon it.
The Corpse Ghoul's sharp fangs sank into Wan Wu Yi's neck. However, Wan Wu Yi let out no scream, nor did blood flow from the bitten area. Wan Wu Yi's body distorted and then vanished from the spot.
This occurred because the Corpse Ghoul's bite had not actually connected with Wan Wu Yi; it had merely bitten the afterimage left behind as Wan Wu Yi teleported away.
Having failed to strike its target, the Corpse Ghoul's rage intensified beyond what it had been before. It let out another roar, and ferocious power erupted from its body. The stone coffin shattered explosively under this force, utterly incapable of withstanding such immense power.
After pulverizing the stone coffin, the Corpse Ghoul's gaze swept towards a certain spot, just catching sight of Wan Wu Yi's retreating back. It leaped up, giving chase to Wan Wu Yi.
The Corpse Sect Door Master had suddenly unsealed the Corpse Ghoul, a maneuver he had planned on his way there. His sole objective was to utilize the Corpse Ghoul's power to eliminate Wan Wu Yi. Since this Corpse Ghoul was beyond his control, he had no choice but to resort to a minor ploy to achieve his goal.
In his estimation, once the Corpse Ghoul and Wan Wu Yi began fighting, it would be much easier for him to make his escape. Given the Corpse Ghoul's formidable strength, Wan Wu Yi might even perish at its hands. If that were truly the case, not only would his crisis be averted, but he would also be able to vent his long-held frustrations.
However, things did not go as he wished. Before he could successfully escape the area, his body was suddenly bound by a mysterious force.
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