Cultivation System: Stronger with Age

Yuan Butong's heart suddenly became somewhat agitated, but seeing the eager eyes of the two female Martial Cultivators, he could only sigh, touch the Blood Saber at his waist, and say magnanimously, "I definitely cannot reveal the identity of the Conical Hat Guest to you! However, I have seen what he looks like; he has sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, exuding an extraordinary aura. He is truly no ordinary person!"

The woman with the bun hairstyle asked, her eyes flickering, "How does he compare to this Mu Shiba?"

Yuan Butong's face turned solemn as he looked at Lin Xuankong. "Although this Brother Mu is indeed handsome, the Conical Hat Guest exudes a heroic spirit that none in Great Marsh Prefecture can match!"

Lin Xuankong was speechless. When did you ever see what I look like? How did I not know?

Lin Xuankong decisively shook his head. "Sect Leader Yuan, your words are mistaken! This appearance of mine is a mere mortal shell; how can it compare to the soaring heroic spirit of the Conical Hat Guest?"

...Amid their idle chatter, they had traveled nearly two hundred miles. These Martial Cultivators were all at the early, mid, and late stages of the Fourth Layer, with some even at the early stage of the Fifth Layer. Naturally, their speed was extremely fast.

A moment later, Yan Yunfei checked their position and called the group to a halt. He and a few others each took out a map from their robes, compared them for a while, then said,

"Ahead should be the first potential location for the Heavy Water Spiritual Object! At this place, several Corpse Scorpions gather all year round, making it hard to approach. We will definitely need a fierce battle to get into the Cold Pool to search for the Spiritual Object!

"Additionally, we are not the only team searching for Heavy Water Spiritual Objects at this spot, so everyone, stay vigilant. If we encounter a group with similar strength, we can discuss teaming up to deal with the Corpse Scorpions.

"But if we meet a more powerful team, it's best to avoid direct confrontation and search for Spiritual Objects elsewhere. What do you all think?"

Everyone murmured in low voices before nodding in agreement. After all, in such a Secret Realm, killing and looting were common occurrences. The reason they formed a team was partly to deal with the Corpse Scorpions together and partly because a larger group offered better protection against those with ill intentions.

Lin Xuankong was secretly shaking his head amidst the crowd. He was only following Yan Yunfei and the others because they had a map. As for banding together for defense? These people came from all over, each harboring their own suspicions. If they faced a strong enemy, they would likely scatter like loose sand, each fleeing for their life. Who would risk their life for a stranger, another Martial Cultivator!

After pondering for a while, he looked in the direction Yan Yunfei pointed, his eyes revealing a Double Pupil.

The next moment, his expression changed. Under the Eight Gates Celestial Eye, he saw distinctly that by a Cold Pool near a gorge dozens of miles away, several Martial Cultivators were fighting strange, black corpses amidst a swirling black mist.

Those corpses had purple-black faces and hands, and their eyes were a ghastly pale green. They were clearly dead, yet they moved with surprising nimbleness and could wield the Martial Dao, using True Qi to attack!

The three people being attacked by the corpses were Li Baimei of the Holy Dragon Association, Chu Yuhui, Vice Gang Leader of the Spirit Snake Gang, and Young Gang Leader Chu Qing—all of whom he had seen in Demon-Suppressing Valley.

Li Baimei and Chu Yuhui were both Fifth Layer experts, their strength formidable. With each of them activating a Demon Fox Demon Pearl, they managed to fight those corpses on relatively even terms.

However, Chu Qing, being only at the late stage of the Fourth Layer, could not use True Qi for attacks. Even with the support of the Demon Pearl, he was defenseless against the attacks of two black-purple corpses. Li Baimei and Chu Yuhui had to protect Chu Qing constantly, putting them in a passive position. Gradually, they were surrounded by twelve corpses.

Moreover, those corpses were enveloped in a thick, black demonic mist that was clearly Highly Poisonous, making close combat impossible. They could only use True Qi for long-range attacks to suppress their foes. Due to the sheer number of corpses, before long, all three were afflicted by the poison, continuously swallowing Zhengyuan Grass and Elixirs...

After careful observation, Lin Xuankong couldn't help but frown. That Li Baimei is a renowned late-stage Fifth Layer expert in Great Marsh Prefecture, his strength comparable to the Main Hall Masters of the top gangs. Even someone as powerful as him is struggling so fiercely against these corpses controlled by Corpse Scorpions. The Corpse Scorpions in this Ba Mountain Secret Realm are truly formidable! If I hadn't refined those Golden Body Treasure Elixirs back in the Ye Family's residence in Ba City, I'd find it incredibly difficult to contend with that dozen or so corpses!

Even with those Golden Body Treasure Elixirs, dealing with twelve Fifth Layer expert corpses would still be arduous. I'd have to use a number of my trump cards! Although I don't fear corpse poison, those purple-black corpses were once Fifth Layer experts...

Yan Yunfei and the others, obviously unaware that Lin Xuankong had already seen the battle ahead, continued to move towards the Cold Pool.

Lin Xuankong silently pondered strategies. When they were twenty miles from the gorge, his eyes suddenly flashed, and he gripped the Silver Saber tightly.

At this moment, Yan Yunfei, Yuan Butong, and Zheng Yunrui—all early-stage Fifth Layer cultivators—suddenly showed changed expressions as they carefully looked ahead.

Within a few breaths, from amidst an area filled with jagged boulders, a figure blurred, rushing towards them. It was Li Baimei, his face already turning purple.

Around him, fourteen purple-black corpses closed in from all directions, including Chu Yuhui and Chu Qing... Chu Yuhui and Chu Qing were now completely purple-black, transformed into half-dead bodies controlled by Corpse Scorpions!

Seeing this, Lin Xuankong's brow raised. In the short time I was considering how to deal with those twelve Fifth Layer corpses, the Vice Gang Leader and Young Gang Leader of the Spirit Snake Gang were already controlled by the Corpse Scorpions? These Corpse Scorpions are indeed peculiar; once you can't suppress them, they grow stronger, and the number of Poison Corpses increases!

"Save me! I am Li Baimei, the Steward of the Holy Dragon Association! Save me quickly! Does anyone have spare Zhengyuan Grass? Give me one!"

As he fled for his life, Li Baimei shouted loudly, clearly having exhausted the Zhengyuan Grass he carried during the battle!

He frantically circulated his True Qi, trying to suppress the invading Corpse Scorpion Venom.

But at this moment, the corpse poison had invaded his body. His running speed was visibly slowing, and the concentration of his True Qi was rapidly decreasing. Evidently, the corpse poison was suppressing his Cultivation Realm, causing it to drop!

Yan Yunfei and Yuan Butong saw this scene, and their faces changed dramatically.

Zheng Yunrui frowned and reached into her robe.

She took out a Zhengyuan Grass and threw it towards Li Baimei, then quickly retreated.

"It's a dozen Fifth Layer Poison Corpses! While they haven't surrounded us yet, everyone retreat quickly! We are definitely no match for them!" she shouted while retreating rapidly.

The dozen or so Martial Cultivators around them all turned pale.

They were all Fourth Layer Martial Cultivators, capable of dealing with one or two Tier Five Corpse Scorpions together. But facing more than a dozen Fifth Layer corpses meant there were more than ten Tier Five Corpse Scorpions inside those bodies. Even if they were all early-stage Fifth Layer experts, they would be no match for these Poison Corpses and Corpse Scorpions!

When Zheng Yunrui swiftly retreated to Lin Xuankong's side, she reached out to pull him. "Retreat with me! What are you spacing out for?"

Lin Xuankong, however, sidestepped, dodging her hand. He could ignore Chu Yuhui and Chu Qing; after all, the Spirit Snake Gang and Yin Talisman Sect had always been at odds! But the Cold Pool ahead might hold Heavy Water Spiritual Objects, crucial for his advancement to the Fifth Layer. It's possibly within reach now—how could I retreat!

Seeing this, Zheng Yunrui sighed, no longer bothering with him. Her face showed fear as she retreated alone.

At this point, Yan Yunfei, Yuan Butong, and the others also quickly retreated.

Li Baimei, still running, caught the Zhengyuan Grass and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing. Only then did his complexion ease slightly. His Cultivation Realm had already dropped to the early stage of the Fifth Layer, nearly falling to the Fourth Layer...

However, despite having the antidote and temporarily not needing to worry about corpsification or his Realm dropping, he continued to flee desperately. He didn't dare to look back towards the Cold Pool, nor did he dare to stop for even a moment!

In a few breaths, the group bolted past Lin Xuankong's position, leaving him standing alone, one eyebrow raised as he faced the dozen or so encircling Poison Corpses!