Chapter 70: Terrifying Nether Corpse Elder

The moment the slap descended, the body of the Nether Corpse Sect elder exploded into a cloud of blood.

The scene was so sudden that many cultivators did not even have enough time to react.

One moment, a Soul Transformation expert was still standing proudly in the sky.

The next moment, his flesh, bones, organs, and cultivation body had all vanished.

Only a crimson mist remained drifting above Silent River Hill.

The Heaven Cleaving Sect elder immediately retreated several hundred meters.

The surrounding Nascent Soul cultivators all felt chills running down their backs.

Even the disciples who had come merely to watch immediately lowered their heads.

The Deity had attacked again. Yet unlike before, something unexpected happened.

The blood mist suddenly twisted. Then condensed. Then twisted again. Soon, a translucent figure emerged from within the crimson cloud.

It was the soul of the Nether Corpse Sect elder.

His appearance was slightly transparent.

His face was pale.

Yet there was not a single trace of fear on his face.

Instead... He was laughing.

Loudly, madly, and Condescendingly.

The laughter echoed throughout Silent River Hill.

"Hahahahahaha!"

"Hahahahahaha!"

The soul of the elder pointed toward the heavens.

His eyes were filled with arrogance. His voice echoed across the mountains.

"Deity!"

"You truly are powerful!"

"Your physical strength is beyond anything I have ever seen!"

"You can destroy flesh!"

"You can destroy treasures!"

"You can destroy sects!"

"But can you destroy souls?"

The surrounding cultivators immediately became silent.

Many of them carefully looked upward. Many of them secretly observed the Deity’s reaction.

Meanwhile, the soul of the elder continued laughing.

His laughter became increasingly unrestrained. Increasingly arrogant. Increasingly confident.

"Do you know why we cultivators strive so desperately to reach the Nascent Soul Realm?"

"Do you know why countless geniuses spend centuries chasing this realm?"

"It is because once the Nascent Soul is formed, death is no longer simple!"

"You can destroy our bodies!"

"You can crush our flesh!"

"You can erase our treasures!"

"But our souls can still survive!"

The elder laughed again.

This time even louder than before.

The Nether Corpse Sect disciples immediately became excited.

Many of them began cheering.

Several elders even nodded repeatedly.

Their confidence slowly returned.

After all, the greatest fear they had regarding the Deity was his overwhelming destructive power.

Yet if that power could not destroy souls...

Then perhaps the Deity was not truly invincible.

The soul of the elder floated higher into the sky. His expression became increasingly smug.

"In fact, we have already studied you."

"We have observed you."

"We have discussed you."

"We have analyzed every action you have taken."

The Heaven Cleaving Sect elder immediately frowned.

Several cultivators became interested.

Meanwhile, Clayne tilted his head.

The elder continued speaking.

"You are powerful."

"Extremely powerful."

"That much is undeniable."

"But your actions are obvious."

"Far too obvious."

The elder smiled.

A smile filled with confidence.

"You protect Silent River Hill."

"You continuously place treasures here."

"You continuously nourish this place."

"You continuously return to this place."

"You continuously watch this place."

The elder slowly spread his arms.

"As though it is your home."

"As though it is your foundation."

"As though it is your anchor."

The surrounding cultivators immediately exchanged glances.

Many of them had already reached the same conclusion.

The elder continued.

"And most importantly..."

"You are desperate."

The entire region became silent.

The elder pointed toward the rivers.

Toward the mountains.

Toward the countless treasures that had appeared over the past days.

"You continuously poured treasures into this place."

"You continuously improved this place."

"You continuously expanded this place."

"You continuously put resources in this place to absorb spiritual Qi."

"You probably continuously cultivated."

"Everything about your actions suggests urgency."

"Everything about your actions suggests pressure."

"You are preparing for something."

The elder’s smile widened.

"And whatever that thing is..."

"It is forcing a being as powerful as you to hurry."

The surrounding cultivators became increasingly shocked.

Several elders slowly nodded.

The reasoning actually made sense.

Meanwhile, Clayne was genuinely surprised.

This old man had completely guessed the wrong answer.

Yet somehow...

He had still reached a conclusion dangerously

close to the truth.

The elder continued speaking.

His voice became softer. More persuasive. More confident.

"You are young."

"Very young."

"I do not know your origin."

"I do not know your race."

"I do not know your world."

"But I know one thing."

"You lack experience."

The elder pointed toward the surrounding cultivators.

"We have cultivated for thousands of years."

"We have fought countless enemies."

"We have survived countless calamities."

"We know how to build power."

"We know how to manage forces."

"We know how to manipulate enemies."

"We know how to survive."

The elder smiled warmly.

Almost like an old teacher.

"Young Deity."

"Why not cooperate with us?"

"Send us some treasures."

"Send us some water."

"Send us some heavenly fruits."

"In return, we will teach you."

"We will teach you experience."

"We will teach you wisdom."

"We will teach you methods."

"We will teach you how to deal with your enemies."

The elder spread his arms.

"After all..."

"You look like you seem to need help."

The surrounding cultivators immediately looked upward. Many secretly agreed. Many secretly hoped. If the Deity accepted... Perhaps they could benefit too.

Meanwhile...

Clayne remained silent.

For several moments. Then several more.

The cultivators thought he was considering it.

The elder thought he had succeeded.

What nobody knew...

Was that Clayne was genuinely shocked.

Not because of the proposal.

Not because of the threat.

Not because of the analysis.

But because the old man had somehow figured out he was in trouble.

Of course, the elder knew nothing about the apocalypse.

Nothing about undead.

Nothing about insects.

Nothing about survival.

Yet somehow, he still reached a similar conclusion.

The soul of the elder smiled proudly.

"So?"

"What would you like?"

"Knowledge?"

"Experience?"

"Wisdom?"

"Power?"

"Guidance?"

His smile widened.

The surrounding cultivators all waited.

Then Clayne shook his head.

Indeed, this old man seemed knowledgeable. But being an old man who was not on his side was terrifying. And wanting to use him too? Clayne realized he had to make him disappear. Who knew what scheme the old man would carry out against him someday?

So he spoke.

"No need."

The elder blinked.

"What?"

Before anyone could react, Clayne reached into his pocket.

Then he pulled out something.

A tiny shard.

A small fragment of mirror.

The fragment looked completely ordinary.

At least...

To Clayne.

The moment the mirror fragment appeared inside Silent River Hill...

Every cultivator present suddenly felt something.

A strange feeling.

An instinctive feeling.

A dangerous feeling.

The Heaven Cleaving Sect elder immediately stepped backward.

The soul of the Nether Corpse Sect elder frowned.

Several Nascent Soul cultivators retreated.

Many disciples felt their souls trembling.

Nobody knew why.

Yet everyone felt the same thing.

Something was wrong. Very very wrong.

Meanwhile, Clayne casually placed the mirror fragment onto the ground.

Then pointed at the soul.

The soul of the elder immediately laughed.

"What is that supposed to do?"

Yet his laughter soon weakened.

Because the mirror had started glowing.

A faint light emerged from its surface.

The air became cold.

The surrounding cultivators immediately became uneasy.

The Heaven Cleaving Sect elder widened his eyes.

The soul of the Nether Corpse Sect elder suddenly felt his scalp go numb.

For the first time...

Fear appeared in his eyes.

Then it happened.

A strand of light shot out from the mirror.

Connected directly to the elder’s soul.

The elder froze.

His laughter stopped.

His expression changed.

Then his body slowly began moving toward the mirror.

At first...

Only slightly.

Then more.

Then more.

The soul immediately struggled.

"What is this?"

"What is happening?"

His voice lost its arrogance.

The surrounding cultivators watched in horror.

The elder tried resisting.

His soul energy erupted.

His cultivation exploded.

Countless demonic techniques appeared.

Yet nothing worked.

The mirror continued pulling.

Slowly.

Relentlessly.

Like an invisible abyss.

The elder’s expression gradually changed from confusion...

To panic.

Then from panic...

To terror.

Meanwhile, every cultivator watching felt their blood run cold.

Because they could clearly see it.

The mirror was devouring the soul.

Slowly.

Patiently.

Inevitably.

And for the first time since the appearance of the Deity...

The cultivators surrounding Silent River Hill became truly horrified.