Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 1978 - 956: Ten Thousand Corpses Sealing the Coffin

The elder in the dark robes fixed his gaze upon Mr. Hui, his eyes clouded with age yet possessing the piercing sharpness of a hawk.

Though the Demon Sect leader remained silent, the terrifying pressure of the Evil Dragon aura radiating from his body was enough to strike chilling dread into anyone nearby.

While Elder Xiong’s presence was slightly less overwhelming, he remained a formidable Monster cultivator at the Late Golden Core Stage, possessing a physique as sturdy and savage as a blood-crazed Bear Demon.

For a brief interval, the air grew suffocatingly heavy.

Mr. Hui felt a prickling sensation across his scalp, realizing that he had completely lost control of the situation. With a heavy sigh, he accepted that his very existence was now in the hands of others.

"This is a burial method of extreme malice, referred to as the Ten Thousand Corpses Sealed Coffin Tomb."

"The Ten Thousand Corpses Sealed Coffin?" the black-robed elder repeated in a grave tone.

Nodding while feeling a deep chill in his bones, Mr. Hui explained, "Just as the name implies, it requires the slaughter of ten thousand individuals. Their remains are locked within a colossal coffin to congregate death aura, lingering grievances, and subterranean yin energy for the purpose of raising corpses."

"Ten thousand lives is a staggering sum... the collective resentment of so many dying together would be hauntingly powerful."

"Because of its cruelty, this ghastly burial rite was forbidden in the Cultivation World long ago."

"I only heard whispers of it from my seniors while seeking the Dao at Maoshan; I have never actually laid eyes on one..."

"In this era where the Taoist Court maintains order and cleanses the world of demons, even the most powerful Demon Sects would find it nearly impossible to massacre ten thousand people for a tomb..."

"To think such a grave was constructed within the borders of Qianxue, right under the watchful gaze of the Taoist Court..."

"It is truly... beyond belief..." Mr. Hui stammered, his frame trembling.

The elder in the black robe knit his brows in thought.

Despite his origins among Demon Cultivators, he lacked specialized knowledge regarding funerary rites and yin residences.

This lack of expertise was exactly why he had paid a premium to enlist Mr. Hui, a practitioner of the Maoshan Tradition, to guide them through this Solitary Mountain burial site.

"Does this Ten Thousand Corpses Sealed Coffin Tomb produce that... flesh and blood corpse effigy born of 'malevolent energy'?" the elder inquired.

With a pale face, Mr. Hui shook his head and clarified, "The essence of the Ten Thousand Corpses Sealed Coffin lies in the word 'seal'."

The elder’s eyes sharpened as he grasped the implication immediately. "Are you suggesting... that the Ten Thousand Corpses Copper Coffin is actually a 'seal'? That the massive blood and flesh effigy is merely a 'guardian' stationed to protect it?"

Mr. Hui nodded, his expression turning as cold and still as stagnant water. "It is a lethal formation. The gleaming copper coffin is a deception used to cultivate the ten thousand corpses."

"Even if a group of Golden Core Cultivators were to enter, their deaths would be almost certain."

"And wherever a decoy coffin is placed, a genuine one must exist nearby."

"The decoy acts as the seal for the true coffin, serving as a shroud to keep the truth hidden from the world."

"If the decoy coffin was built on such a grand scale through such massive slaughter, the real coffin must be infinitely more terrifying."

"Furthermore, this sits at the Qian Learning State Boundary. This is a legitimate ‘deceiving heaven’ formation; a scheme of such magnitude and orchestration is far beyond the capabilities of a common cultivator."

"Once such a tomb formation is set, the secret it guards must be monumental. Whatever rests within the true coffin is surely something even more horrific..."

The deeper Mr. Hui’s thoughts went, the more his terror intensified.

If the mere decoy—the bright copper coffin—could produce such a monstrous ten thousand corpse demon, what nightmare was truly hidden in the depths?

This arrangement far exceeded the power of a standard Golden Core cultivator like himself.

However, as soon as Mr. Hui stopped speaking, the black-robed elder’s eyes flashed with greed. "So there is a real tomb? Move quickly and lead us there."

"Senior..." Mr. Hui started to protest, frowning.

"Break the seal of the decoy and take us to the genuine burial chamber," the elder commanded, brookng no argument.

His eyes then turned dangerously sharp. "You are of the direct Maoshan lineage and skilled in the dark arts. Do not try to tell me you lack the ability to undo this seal."

Mr. Hui fell into a silent hesitation.

The gaze of the man in the black robe became increasingly lethal.

Realizing he was trapped, Mr. Hui could only let out a resigned sigh. "Very well."

The elder’s expression softened slightly. "Do not worry, Mr. Hui. We are men of our word. Once we succeed, the treasures and ancient inheritances within shall be split fairly among us."

Mr. Hui gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile. "Why bother deceiving me at this point, senior? My only desire is to walk away with my life; I care for nothing else."

With those words, Mr. Hui took the lead, saying, "Everyone, please follow me."

The group then retraced their steps into the heart of the subterranean palace.

They arrived once more at the edge of the great pit, where the massive and opulent bright yellow copper coffin rested.

The area was still cluttered with mangled remains and the gruesome sight of torn flesh.

Shen Qingsheng, unaccustomed to such carnage, gagged and covered his face, unable to stop himself from retching.

However, his distress was ignored by the others.

The black-robed elder scanned the area, paused to think, and then questioned Mr. Hui, "Is the entrance to the true coffin located beneath this copper one?"

"It is," Mr. Hui confirmed with a nod. "This copper vessel serves as the seal that keeps the real tomb hidden."

"And how do we shatter this seal?"

"It necessitates the use of specific Secret Techniques from my Maoshan Tao."

"Then we shall rely on your expertise, Mr. Hui," the elder stated impassively.

With a look of grim focus, Mr. Hui walked toward the enormous yellow copper coffin.

He began producing his ritual tools: a copper coin sword, a trio of candelabras, Blood Ink, and a complex Taoist Talisman Formation including a Yellow Jade Ancient Talisman, among other specialized Maoshan Taoist items.

It was clear that Mr. Hui was holding nothing back, utilizing the full extent of his hidden heritage.

Under the watchful eye of the black-robed elder, he did not dare to be careless.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua watched the proceedings in secret.

He found himself deeply intrigued by the "Maoshan Tao arts."

From studying Mr. Hui, he gathered that the Maoshan Tradition was an all-encompassing system of Tao Cultivation focused on Corpse Ghosts. It involved a unique array of techniques, Taoist Skills, runes, formations, tools, and esoteric secret arts...

Mo Hua committed every detail to memory.

Though much of it was currently beyond his grasp, he knew that observing such things would broaden his perspective and increase his store of knowledge.