Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 1958 - 949: Corpse Fiend (Part 2)

The flesh monster’s three-lobed maw was inches from sucking on the back of Mr. Hui’s head when the nearby black-robed young man flicked his sleeve. A sharp longsword whistled through the air, trailing a blood-colored sword light that impaled the creature’s face directly.

Driven by immense power, the blade moved with incredible speed.

The potent sword qi tore through the monster’s skull, the force of the strike pinning the beast against the stone wall of the corridor.

Despite having its head pierced, the creature continued to thrash and struggle. Within moments, it tried to stand, letting out a bone-chilling shriek. It paid no mind to the splattering black blood or its shredded anatomy; instead, it forcibly yanked its deformed, bloody head off the longsword.

It was like a meatball being pulled from a skewer.

Seeing the beast preparing to pounce once more, the stout tomb robber known as "Stone" charged. Channeling his spiritual power, he encased his right arm in a layer of earth and stone armor, delivering a punch that shattered the flesh monster into fragments.

The creature's severed limbs continued to twitch upon the ground.

However, they failed to reform or resume their assault.

The group began to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

But before the tension could fade, Mo Hua cried out: "Above!"

Mr. Hui glanced upward just as a mass of flesh dropped onto his face.

It was another corpse-like entity, slightly smaller but just as putrid and foul, possessing the same three-lobed mouth.

Two of these monsters had been lying in wait.

One had stalked them from behind, while the other clung to the ceiling of the passage.

The party had let their guard down after the first was slain, allowing this second predator to drop onto Mr. Hui’s head without warning.

This sudden turn of events left Mr. Hui with no time to defend himself as the thing latched onto his face.

The monster’s insectoid mouth opened, revealing three rows of jagged fangs that bit down hard into Mr. Hui’s forehead.

However, the expected spray of gore did not happen. Though the monster strained its three-lobed mouth, it could only open it slightly.

While its teeth were sharp, the creature was merely second grade; it lacked the power to chew through the resilient flesh of a Golden Core Realm cultivator.

The ghastly fangs left several punctures on Mr. Hui’s forehead, causing a thin trail of blood to leak out.

Even so, the monster refused to let go, greedily trying to suck his life force.

Once his initial shock passed, a surge of fury rose within Mr. Hui.

He reached up with both hands, seized the monster, and ripped it apart. Suppressing his revulsion, he tore the three-lobed mouth from his skin.

Stone produced a flask of mysterious spiritual liquid and passed it to Mr. Hui.

Mr. Hui doused his head with the liquid, rinsing away the bits of rotten flesh and foul blood.

Taking no further chances, he quickly applied a layer of azure medicinal powder to the puncture marks and swallowed several pills. He then sat briefly to inspect his internal state, ensuring his flesh and spiritual power remained untainted by corpse poison. Only then did he exhale a long breath.

Watching this, the black-robed young man narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are you okay?"

Mr. Hui nodded, feeling a lingering sense of dread. "Fortunately, that thing was only second grade. Had it been third grade, I might have met my end right here."

Being consumed by such a creature would have been a horrific fate, leaving him without even a corpse to bury.

"What exactly is that thing?" the black-robed youth asked with a frown.

Mr. Hui’s expression was dark. "It is likely a type of 'corpse demon' native to the tomb..."

"A corpse demon..."

The young man in black robes reflected for a moment, his brow furrowed. "This corpse demon seems fundamentally different from the copper or iron corpses created through the corpse refinement techniques of the Demon Path..."

Having spent years navigating the gray world of tomb robbing and dealing with various demon cultivators, Mr. Hui was well-versed in such matters. He nodded in agreement.

"Copper and iron corpses are 'zombies' manufactured by corpse cultivators. However, these corpse demons are distinct; they usually arise naturally in dark, subterranean places. They are birthed from corpse transformation fueled by a convergence of evil qi, yin qi, and the qi of death. They are sinister and unpredictable."

"While zombies follow their masters, these corpse demons are generally confined to burial grounds. You would almost never see them outside of a tomb."

The black-robed youth gave a small nod before asking curiously, "All things between heaven and earth possess a signature breath. Demons have demonic qi, and monsters have monster qi. Since this is a 'corpse,' it should naturally emit 'corpse qi.'" He continued, "Furthermore, these corpse demons have been trapped underground with concentrated corpse qi and rotting flesh. The stench should be overwhelming. Why did we fail to sense them?"

"That..."

Mr. Hui frowned, unable to provide an answer.

Corpse demons were highly variable.

Many reeked of decay and radiated a thick corpse qi that could be detected from a great distance.

Yet, the reason these specific tomb-dwellers could mask their presence so perfectly remained a mystery.

Suddenly, an elder dressed in black robes within their ranks spoke up.

It was his first contribution since they had entered the tomb. His voice sounded ancient and was heavy with the aura of death.

"Life and death are both manifestations of the Dao of heaven and earth. These 'corpse demons' are formed when innate grievances, earthly yin qi, and the evil qi of the departed merge and transform under unique circumstances."

"They are, in essence, a creation of the world itself."

"Natural creations, whether they belong to the living or the dead, possess distinct properties. Because of this, they often have elusive traits that far surpass any artificial constructs created by cultivators, such as copper or iron corpses."

The black-robed young man thought about this for a moment, then nodded and bowed with respect.

"This junior has gained new insight."

Even Mo Hua was struck by the elder's explanation.

This black-robed elder, whose face was hidden, clearly possessed a profound grasp of the Dao of Heaven and Earth.

I wonder who he really is...

Mo Hua mused silently.

Regardless of his wisdom, these corpse demons remained a significant threat to the group's survival.