Not even Chu Xingran, Jian Buâer, or the Demonic Vine knew what was going on, much less Jiang Kui and the old zombie. They were still uncertain even after Jiang Kui realized heâd fallen into a trap. Lu Yun hadnât told the trio he was setting up a trap to lure the twentieth level sequence zombie to the yin tomb.
Itâd all been part of his calculations and reality had developed just as he planned. The Corpse Refiners were here.
With Chu Xingran and the thirty-six golden warriors blocking the way, the Corpse Refiners wouldnât break through their defenses no matter what. Eighteenth level sequence was the strongest battle strength in the tomb. If it wasnât for Jiang Kui holding Haidong Lin hostage, Chu Xingran wouldâve killed him on sight.
No secret could remain forever keptâif Lu Yun had spoken of his plans, the Corpse Refiners would somehow be on their guard. It wasnât that he didnât trust his companions, but that the idiom was very true. Hongjun had personally gone to the world of immortals to tell Qing Yu that Earth was the seed of nothing, but itâd still become public knowledge in the end.
In the secondary worlds, Lu Yun was most wary of that old zombie. It possessed twenty levels of sequence, yet didnât display any ripples of sequence. They would be in for many sleepless nights if he couldnât take it out with one blow.
His hell battleship ran at full power while the hell cannon crafted for the zombie pulled from the other three hells. Appalling destruction brewed when all four hells were coalesced into one. As the zombie on the ground came to terms with its lack of a leg, Lu Yun directed the ship to run right over it.
âBastard!â Jiang Kui howled with fury. This zombie was their greatest support in the Abyssal Tomb and the reason why the sect could take the initiative in the secondary worlds. If Lu Yun destroyed it, vengeance would swiftly arrive from others in the outside realm.
Corpse Refiners were eccentric and short-tempered. Not only did they refine the denizens of the Land of Reincarnation, so had they refined some of the genius disciples of factions from the outside.
âCharge that ship!â Jiang Kui could easily tell that though the main cannon was formidable, it was too unwieldy. The zombie had only been hit because it was so big. If heâd been the target, he wouldâve easily evaded the shot. After all, the cannon fired pillars of light that couldnât make turns.
Meanwhile, the cannon had consumed its energy banks and needed to accumulate energy for another blast. Despite that, the hell battleship was uncommonly sturdy and rolled right over the zombie. Jiang Kuiâs command sent countless battle zombies in a berserk charge at the vessel, trying to halt it. But when they neared it, the overwhelming power around the ship crushed them to pieces.
A hell battleship was a moving hell, and not just any of the six hells, but the core essence of hell. It incorporated the strength of all six and still operated smoothly while the main cannon built up its next charge.
Zombie after zombie flew apart, but couldnât stop the vesselâs advancement. The hell battleship rammed the old zombie, drawing an anguished roar as orange corpse water splashed everywhere. Clouds of corpse flies and ghostface maggots crawled out of its body to scatter in all directions.
âLu Yun!!â Jiang Kui rushed over and dangled Haidong Lin in front of the ship. âIâll kill him if you dare touch this zombie and then refine him into a zombie!!â
He burned with fury as the old zombie was already in poor shape. One of its legs was just a stump, a large cavity gaped in its chest, and the shipâs last blow had almost crushed its body to pieces.
Jiang Kui stared down Lu Yun as he tightened his hand around Haidong Linâs neck.
âThereâs no need for you to do the deed, Iâll kill him myself,â Lu Yun sneered.
Kaboom!
A secondary cannon suddenly activated aboard the ship and fired upon Haidong Lin.
âWhat?!â Jiang Kui staggered with shock. Who wouldâve thought that thereâd still be operational cannons on the ship?? He didnât have time to respond before Haidong Lin and his entire right arm was blown to pieces.
This was the last thing that Jiang Kui had ever thought would happen!! Haidong Lin was supposed to lure Lu Yun into their trap, but Lu Yun had killed the man himself!
âDeath by my hands is better than becoming a zombie by yours,â Lu Yun leered. âJiang Kui, is it? You got away last time, so Iâll have your head today no matter what! Chu Xingran, ready your curses!â
Jiang Kui was here in replica form; only Chu Xingranâs curse dao could kill a primary body through a replica.
âIâve been ready.â Chu Xingran appeared next to Jiang Kui like he was a ghost and bestowed a beaming smile upon the man. âIâll take it that youâre not meant to die today if you have another Lifeline Talisman on you.â
Hummmm.
A tiny black ripple snaked over Jiang Kuiâs body and his physical form began to decay at a visible pace. Instead of panicking, he simply stared at Lu Yun with a deep hatred. He didnât fault Chu Xingran for this since they shared a grudge to begin with, and now that hatred extended to Lu Yun.
âLooks like you do indeed have another Lifeline Talisman⊠Why are you so rich?â Chu Xingran stroked his smooth chin with annoyance.
A Lifeline Talisman could die in place of the owner, and it used to be that everyone could use such a talisman only once. Possessing more was meaningless since additional uses were ineffective.
In recent times, a stunning genius had emerged out of nowhere to improve upon the talisman. Infinite uses were possible and the new talisman went for astronomical prices. It was also impossible to replicate, no matter through refinement method or ingredients. In all of the worlds throughout the realm, only that person could refine the new and improved Lifeline Talisman.
Jiang Kui had two such talismansâone of the original variety, and the second was the new version.
Chu Xingran wouldnât be able to buy the second type even if he sold himself.
âŠâŠ
The Corpse Refiners in the tomb erupted with confusion after Jiang Kui died. His battle zombies milled around aimlessly and the other sect disciples fled.
âGet in!â Lu Yun sneered to see Corpse Refiners running off. Jian Buâer and the Demonic Vine quickly boarded the ship, no longer daring to alight after witnessing how powerful it was.
After Chu Xingran came aboard, the ship roared with power.
BOOM!!
Pillars of black light sprayed everywhere, disintegrating everything it touched. Eight thousand new Corpse Refiner Infernum then appeared on the ship.
etvolare's Thoughts
A sudden genius out of nowhere... improving upon old stuff... guys, does this sound suspiciously familiar?