Chapter 530: Chapter 438: Might of the Immortal Tower, Earth Evil Refines the Spirit

"What is that?!"

Fatty Tiger and the two demons immediately became vigilant.

Unable to investigate this place and having to guard Zhang Kui, they dared not move rashly, staring intently behind them.

The sound of footsteps, dull and heavy, echoed alongside the clinking of chains dragging on the ground. A massive shadow emerged from the darkness—it was the ancient corpse of the Heritage they had seen earlier. Blood-red flames flickered in its three hollow eye sockets, and the sinister killing intent was so chilling that the ground around it began to freeze.

Fatty Tiger was stunned, "A zombie?"

The faces of the two Spirit Corpse Sect demons turned serious, "No, it’s a mutated demon corpse!"

Seeing Fatty Tiger’s confusion, the Spider Spirit brother explained, "If a corpse is infiltrated by evil Qi for a long time, it becomes a zombie. If it regains Spiritual Wisdom and learns a Cultivation Skill, it becomes a demon corpse."

As he spoke, his expression turned somewhat bitter, "If a demon corpse’s Divine Soul shatters again and falls, yet the corpse remains intact, over long years it can mutate. It becomes uncontrollable, releasing toxic evil Qi that pollutes the space. Even an Immortal wounded by it could face the collapse of their Little World."

"The sect records mention this. I thought it was nothing more than a myth. I never expected to see it here..."

Indeed, upon closer inspection, Fatty Tiger noticed that the space around the demon corpse was distorted and filled with rolling evil Qi, leaving a long, lingering trail wherever it went.

The sight made Fatty Tiger shiver, "Good grief, forget about a Little World’s collapse, without a strong body, just getting close seems impossible. How could such a wicked creature exist?"

Their situation was truly awkward.

The space here was peculiar, impairing the flow of mana, effectively halving their Cultivation. They had to stay and guard Zhang Kui instead of fleeing.

Fortunately, the two demons had other means.

The Spider Spirit brothers simultaneously chanted a spell, gritting their teeth as they expanded their Domain Power. Instantly, a row of sinister bronze coffins appeared, inscribed with bizarre blood-red talismans, pulsating like breathing with evil Qi.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The lids of all the bronze coffins flew open with a crash, and fierce, bloodthirsty figures leapt out, enveloped in endless evil Qi, charging towards the mutated demon corpse.

The Spider Spirit brother, with a painful expression, said, "These are the top-quality zombies from the Bluestone Ancient Path. Their bodies are extremely tough—they should hold for a while, but they might be completely wasted afterward."

He wasn’t wrong; these Immortal-level zombies instantly reached the mutated demon corpse, becoming shadows that flitted up and down, their claws howling with an evil wind, shredding flesh and bone.

The zombies controlled by the two demons were mostly from the Ancient Race and Demon Race. The mutated demon corpse, however, was a hundred-meter-tall Three-Eyed Giant from the Heritage, its massive size contrasted with the zombies’ speed. In this place where mana was suppressed, it was a battle of pure physical might—like a giant trying to swat a fly, only to miss every time.

Though awkward, they at least impeded the demon corpse’s advance. However, the zombies controlled by the two demons were tainted by the evil poison, black smoke hissing from their bodies.

"They won’t hold for much longer..."

The Spider Spirit brother’s multifaceted eyes filled with urgency, "Quickly wake up Taoist Friend Zhang and leave!"

"No way!"

Fatty Tiger snorted coldly, "My Taoist can sense danger. If he hasn’t awakened, it must be a critical moment. We can’t disturb him until the last moment!"

The two demons exchanged worried glances, striving to control the zombies as best as they could. Even Fatty Tiger spat out thunder strikes, landing them on the demon corpse.

Despite the mana being hard to circulate, it was still a battle between Immortal levels. The space trembled, the ground shook, and dust continuously fell from the ancient hall’s ceiling.

Unbeknownst to them, the intense commotion seemed to awaken something. Many giant corpses on the stone pillars began to glow with blood-red flames, and even the scattered Star Beast and Disaster Beast bones trembled and floated...

...

Inside the Dark Void of the Immortal King Tower.

Just as Fatty Tiger predicted, Zhang Kui was indeed at a critical moment.

He had just imprinted golden Dao Rhythms, attempting to refine these Ancient Divine Statues. Yet, the "Black Calamity" was unusually fierce, swiftly erasing the Dao Rhythms.

Helpless, Zhang Kui tried various means—Purple Level Sword Light, Yin Yang True Fire, Little World Power—but regardless of the method, they persisted for varied durations, ultimately being ground away by the "Black Calamity" within the statues.

This entity’s nature was unknown; it seemed that all laws and Dao Rhythms became nothing upon contact.

As Zhang Kui was about to give up in disappointment, the stars of the Celestial Gang and Earthly Fiends in his Little World suddenly shone brightly.

A flash of insight struck his mind.

Though the Netherworld Realm was far inferior to the Main Cosmos, it was still a complete cosmos. If these black crystals were formed post-Netherworld creation, they could be innate divine materials born after the cosmos’s birth.

Ordinary Dao Rhythms likely wouldn’t work, but with the profound mysteries in the Celestial Gang and Earthly Fiends stars, perhaps they could. Furthermore, with one hundred and eight statues... there might be a predestined opportunity.

With this in mind, Zhang Kui hesitated no longer.

After chanting a spell, a star from his Little World’s Earthly Fiends floated out, gently descending onto the Ancient Divine Statue’s forehead...

Boom!

Instantly, visions burst in Zhang Kui’s mind.

He saw radiant orbs explode, he saw Yin and Yang disperse, and he witnessed endless rivers of souls traversing the void, crossing the Bluestone Ancient Path, bewilderedly heading towards the Netherworld...

After an unknown period, Zhang Kui suddenly shivered, hearing Fatty Tiger’s anxious voice, "Taoist, wake up quickly, trouble has arrived!"

Zhang Kui’s Divine Soul swiftly returned. Without reflecting on the visions he had just witnessed, he rose, scanning the surroundings.

In the dark space around him, the massive, heavy footsteps and clanking of chains filled the air. The sinister and eerie killing intent was like a tide, already enveloping the area.

Roar!

In front, the Three-Eyed Heritage demon corpse emitted a soul-shaking roar, grabbing the last zombie and biting it into two pieces.

The Spirit Corpse Sect brothers were about to cry, having collected so many corpses for free in this Ancient Netherworld, only to lose them all in such a short time.

Fortunately, Zhang Kui was now awake.

"Taoist Friend Zhang, let’s get out of here!"

The Spider Spirit brother, looking around with a trembling voice, said, "These things have just awakened and aren’t fast. If surrounded, we’ll struggle to escape."

"Don’t panic!"

Zhang Kui’s face remained calm as he summoned the brilliant Immortal King Tower. It expanded, glowing fiercely in the air, resembling a Scorching Sun, illuminating the dark space.

With the Immortal Light from the Immortal King Tower, Fatty Tiger and the others finally saw the surroundings. Indeed, towering figures had surrounded them completely, along with Star Beasts and Disaster Beasts whose violent will manifested tangibly, turning into Evil Spirits wrapped around their bones, floating up and down.

Buzz!

A massive black hole appeared again at the base of the Immortal King Tower.

Zhang Kui’s composure was due to the Immortal King Tower being the nemesis of such remnants. If it could suppress even the Starry Sky Evil God Divine Fiend, what chance did these creatures stand?

Indeed, as turbulent as the evil wind, the mutated demon corpses and Star Beast Evil Spirits struggled in vain, being sucked into the Immortal King Tower like clouds being swept away, expanding the surrounding space.

Fatty Tiger and the two demons finally exhaled in relief, unable to help but admire the display of power from the Immortal King Tower, "What a treasure indeed, no wonder the Nine Calamities Divine Monarch and Celestial Ghost Buddha both desired to seize it..."

Zhang Kui merely smiled without comment.

At that moment, he was still focusing half his Divine Thought on the void inside the tower.

There, the massive mutated demon corpses and Star Beast Evil Spirits were swiftly captured, as golden chains emerged from the void, binding and subduing them.

Zhang Kui watched with satisfaction. Though these creatures couldn’t rival the Starry Sky Evil God Divine Fiend, collectively they could trigger a Time Freeze.

Beside the suppressed entities, a void stood with an Ancient Divine Statue, its forehead adorned with a shining star, resembling a massive puppet, now entirely under Zhang Kui’s control.

Soon, the surroundings fell into an empty silence.

Zhang Kui waved his hand, retracting the Immortal King Tower, and looked toward the dark depths on the left, speaking solemnly, "Let’s go. I’ve determined the way."

Fatty Tiger’s eyes lit with excitement, "Finally, we can leave. Taoist, what is this place?"

Zhang Kui took a deep breath, "This is a hidden space beneath the Netherworld, folding down into seven layers. Its name is simple..."

"Purgatory!"