Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 1957 - 949: Corpse Fiend

Xun Ziyou stood there, momentarily stunned.

To him, Shen Shouxing seemed both enigmatic and slightly peculiar. However, because Shen Shouxing had given his consent, Xun Ziyou found no grounds to decline. After all, his original intention was to enter the mine for Mo Hua’s sake.

Xun Ziyou retracted his Sword Qi, cupped his hands respectfully, and said, "Very well, I am grateful for your help, Elder Shen."

With a vacant expression, Shen Shouxing gave a slow nod.

He then commanded an attendant to fetch the mine’s layout map and began leading the way toward the Shen Family’s mine, followed by a large contingent of Shen Family cultivators.

Xun Ziyou narrowed his eyes slightly as he trailed behind the group.

Master Gu followed suit immediately, showing no signs of doubt.

Fan Jin, however, stood frozen, his legs feeling as heavy as if they were cast in lead. Deep down, he desperately wanted to avoid this chaotic situation.

Yet, seeing the representatives from the Shen Family, Taixu Gate, and the Gu Family all moving forward, he realized that failing to fulfill his duties as Solitary Mountain City’s Records Officer would lead to disastrous results later. Forget his career as an official; he feared he would be hunted out of the entire Qianxue region.

Watching the others vanish into the distance, Fan Jin’s anxiety peaked. Finally, he gritted his teeth and forced his heavy feet to carry him after them.

As Shen Shouxing’s party disappeared into the mine, more cultivators from Solitary Mountain began to congregate at the site, causing the situation to spiral into further complexity...

Deep within the tomb, Mo Hua remained focused on his compass, navigating the path for Mr. Pi and the four mysterious figures in black robes.

During their trek, Mo Hua came to a sudden halt.

"Is there a problem?" Mr. Hui questioned.

"I have a persistent feeling that we are being followed..." Mo Hua admitted, his voice laced with tension.

Mr. Pi and the rest of the group scanned their surroundings. Everything was shrouded in an impenetrable darkness where nothing could be seen.

"Your mind must be playing tricks on you," Haozi remarked dismissively.

Mo Hua scowled but kept his thoughts to himself, resuming his pace. Yet, in the murky shadows behind them, a faint rustling sound seemed to linger, unnoticed by the others as they pressed on...

...

After a period of walking, another massive gate blocked the end of the corridor. The group was forced to stop.

"Another one?" Mr. Hui grumbled with a frown. "Why are there so many gates inside this tomb passage..."

No one offered a reply. Mr. Hui shook his head and gestured toward Mo Hua. "Young brother, we are relying on you."

"Understood," Mo Hua replied with a nod. He repeated his previous routine, producing his compass and formation pen to begin analyzing the patterns and seeking a way to break the seal.

Mr. Hui and his companions waited nearby with forced patience. Mo Hua scanned the formation patterns on the gate several times, mentally calculating the solution. He already knew exactly how to dismantle the barrier.

However, to maintain his disguise as a "typical Formation Master," he kept a neutral face and pretended to struggle with the work. He moved his pen across the blank formation paper with deliberate strokes, looking focused while actually performing the deduction with minimal effort.

Suddenly, Mo Hua’s hand stopped, and his brow furrowed.

"It seems... something really is there..."

From the dark tunnel they had just traversed, the rustling grew more tangible. It wasn't exactly a physical sound, but rather a sensation triggered by "synesthesia" through his Divine Thought. It felt as though something malevolent was slithering through the blackness toward him.

But... what could it possibly be?

Mo Hua’s confusion grew. If something was truly lurking in the dark, how could Mr. Hui, the tomb robbers, and the four black-robed strangers fail to notice? They were all Golden Core Cultivators.

Even though Mo Hua followed the path of Divine Sense Proving the Dao and possessed exceptionally strong Divine Thought, his cultivation was only at Foundation Establishment with a Divine Sense at the Peak of Nineteen-Pattern. He didn’t believe his senses could truly surpass those of a Golden Core expert—let alone seven of them combined.

If something was wrong, surely these seven wouldn't be completely unaware...

Mo Hua steadied his heart and continued his fake calculations. As he drew, the eerie sensation intensified, drawing closer and becoming more vivid. He paused for a heartbeat, a sudden realization hitting him.

He stayed quiet, remaining still for a moment, before his eyes widened and he instinctively looked upward. This sudden movement drew the attention of the others.

Everyone followed his gaze, but they saw nothing but the ceiling of a pitch-black tunnel, devoid of any life or movement.

"Kid, what's your problem? Stop making such a fuss—"

The tomb robber named Haozi, whose face was as sharp as a monkey’s, started to scold him. Suddenly, his face drained of color as he gasped, "...Mr. Hui!"

Mr. Hui was confused at first, but his expression quickly turned to one of pure horror. He felt something cold and wet pressed firmly against his back. It felt sticky and repulsive, like a mass of rotting meat clinging to bone.

Not daring to turn his head, Mr. Hui shifted his gaze to the corner of his eye. He saw a decayed, filth-covered hand gripping his shoulder. Simultaneously, a putrid stench blew past the back of his neck, as if a set of jaws had just opened wide behind his head.

In a desperate reflex, Mr. Hui ducked his head, narrowly avoiding a bite from behind. This movement allowed Mo Hua and the rest to see the horror perched on Mr. Hui’s back.

It was a decomposing corpse. The creature was twisted and skeletal, dripping with foul, black blood. Its face was a mangled mess of flesh, unrecognizable as human except for a mouth that split into three parts, filled with ghastly white teeth resembling those of a giant earthworm.

The sight sent a shock through everyone present. Having missed its initial strike, the blood-soaked monster shredded its own face further, opening its triple-fanged maw like a parasitic maggot, lunging once more for Mr. Hui’s head. It clung to his spine with such agility and stealth that Mr. Hui was momentarily paralyzed, unable to shake it off.