A Mountain-Suppressing Artifact!

This was an exceptionally special type of Magical Artifact.

It was not a single Magical Artifact, but a colossal creation built from a massive number of Magical Artifacts and Array Foundations.

Linked to the Earth Veins and connected to the heavens, it drew upon the thick and turbid power of the earth and the Clear Spirit energy of the Celestial Vault. It was the Sect’s final, ultimate barrier and counterattack measure, second only to the Mountain Protection Array.

Having been nourished and scoured by the dual powers of the Earth Veins and the heavens year-round, the Mountain-Suppressing Artifact would naturally contain both of these forces.

If one could collect and refine a sufficient number of fragments from a Mountain-Suppressing Artifact...

...one could derive one of the four fundamental wonders necessary for a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Master to break through to the Middle Stage: [Purity and Turbidity]!

Not only that, but the power of a Mountain-Suppressing Artifact itself was absolutely terrifying.

After all, it was a Sect’s last resort. Even snatching a portion of its wreckage and performing a bit of Sacrificial Refinement on it...

...would yield enough power to create a trump card capable of turning the tide of battle at a critical moment.

Therefore, the moment the Chaotic Heaven Black Coffin, the Zombie Alliance’s Mountain-Suppressing Artifact, erupted from the earth and revealed its menacing form, the breathing of the various Foundation Establishment Masters, who had been relatively restrained, instantly grew heavy!

Whether it was for the precious aura of [Purity and Turbidity]...

...or for the supreme power the Black Coffin itself might possess, it was worth risking their lives for!

’This treasure... its Daoist Intent resonates with my Human Emperor Banner.’

The throbbing sensation in Qi Yun’s heart, originating from the Human Emperor Banner, grew increasingly distinct.

In an instant, Qi Yun made his decision.

’I must fight for this Black Coffin!’

However, just as his figure was about to move, that irritating voice from the side spoke up again:

"Nephew Qi, please wait."

He Sha’s portly figure moved like a specter, taking a half-step at just the right moment. It seemed unintentional, yet it precisely blocked the path between Qi Yun and the Black Coffin.

He still wore that nauseating smile, his dull yellow pupils glinting with a cunning light:

"Senior Brother Black Mountain ordered me to protect you, Nephew. The path ahead is exceptionally perilous, with Masters from all sides watching like tigers. The fight for this Mountain-Suppressing Artifact is sure to be a brutal slaughter.

You, Nephew, possess the Venerable Dao Foundation and are the future hope of our Holy Sect. How can you so easily walk into danger?

Why not wait here for a moment? Let your junior martial uncle go and scout the path for you, clear away a few obstacles, how about it?"

His words were high-sounding, as if he were genuinely concerned for Qi Yun’s well-being.

But his intention to obstruct was perfectly clear.

Evidently, following Black Mountain Master’s orders, he would not let Qi Yun have the chance to seize the Black Coffin and increase his strength.

Qi Yun paused, his brow furrowing imperceptibly. His tone became a bit stiff:

"Junior Martial Uncle He, I appreciate your kind intentions.

But on the path of cultivation, how can one shrink back for fear of danger?

This object is beneficial to my path, so I will naturally go and contend for it.

Junior Martial Uncle, you should just worry about yourself."

With that, his figure flickered as he tried to bypass him from the other side.

But He Sha was like a maggot gnawing on a bone. A gust of yellow wind swirled at his feet, and he once again blocked Qi Yun’s path, the smile on his face growing wider:

"Nephew, you are young and full of vigor. I understand completely.

But I dare not defy Senior Brother Black Mountain’s orders.

If you insist on going and something happens, how will I answer to Senior Brother Black Mountain?

How about this: you stay here and observe the situation, Nephew. If any fragments of the Black Coffin happen to fly this way, I swear I won’t fight you for them. How does that sound?"

He Sha was clearly just being deliberately obstructive. The fight for the Black Coffin would undoubtedly take place in the core area; how could fragments possibly fly all the way to this periphery for no reason?

Qi Yun’s expression darkened. The fingers inside his sleeve tightened slightly, betraying a trace of suppressed anger, and his voice grew cold:

"Junior Martial Uncle He, are you intentionally making things difficult for me?"

"How could I dare? How could I dare?" He Sha waved his hands repeatedly, his smile unwavering.

This was exactly the effect he wanted: to provoke Qi Yun and throw him off balance.

It would be best if Qi Yun couldn’t resist attacking first. Then he would have an excuse to "discipline" him a little, or even... "accidentally" injure him severely.

"Nephew, don’t misunderstand. My intentions are completely sincere. I’m only thinking of your safety."

While the two were clashing with words, holding each other in check, a world-shaking roar and a dazzling display of various Magical Power lights erupted from around the Chaotic Heaven Black Coffin in the distance!

The real battle had begun!

Qi Yun shot He Sha a "dark" glare, suppressed the urge to attack, and snorted coldly, no longer attempting to force his way through.

But his slightly heaving chest still showed his "inner turmoil."

Seeing this, the smile on He Sha’s lips widened as he calculated how to secure the greatest benefit for himself in the coming chaos.

At the same time, he continued to watch Qi Yun out of the corner of his eye.

He was guarding against any irrational moves this "young and vigorous" nephew might make.

That would give him the perfect opportunity to strike.

...

BOOM—!!!!

A terrifying boom, loud enough to shatter eardrums and crack mountains, suddenly exploded!

Under the tentative attacks of the crowd of Foundation Establishment Masters, the thick chains coiled around the Chaotic Heaven Black Coffin—chains that had imprisoned some unknown existence for countless ages—finally gave a groan, unable to withstand the pressure from both within and without.

Then, amid a series of blinding flashes and the harsh screech of rending metal, they shattered inch by inch and flew apart!

Freed from the chains’ restraint, the massive coffin lid—as heavy as a mountain and seemingly capable of suppressing the Nine Netherworld itself—could no longer maintain its balance.

With a heart-stopping grinding sound, it slowly tilted outward and finally crashed to the ground!

THUD!!!

The moment the lid hit the ground, the entire land trembled violently, kicking up a rolling cloud of dust that stretched for dozens of miles.

It swept over the area like a sandstorm, shrouding everything nearby in a hazy, ochre gloom.

At almost the same time the lid fell, all the surrounding Foundation Establishment Masters displayed astonishing tacit understanding and caution. Their bodies transformed into streaks of Flowing Light as they all retreated hundreds of feet in unison, quickly putting a relatively safe distance between themselves and the coffin.

One by one, their expressions turned grave as they stared with full alertness at the open coffin, its dark interior gaping like the maw of a giant beast.

No one dared to approach rashly.

As the Zombie Alliance’s ultimate Mountain-Suppressing Artifact, heaven knew what kind of terrifying, mutually destructive trap it might have hidden, operating autonomously without a controller.

The dust slowly settled, revealing the bottomless darkness within the Black Coffin.

The Divine Sense of every Master cautiously probed into that darkness, trying to perceive the situation inside.

In the midst of this deathly silent observation—

TAP... TAP... TAP...

A clear, dull sound of footsteps, as if treading on rotten wood and dry bones, abruptly echoed from within the abyss-like coffin.

It grew from distant to near, from sparse to dense!

The next moment!

Reflected in the constricting pupils of the crowd of Foundation Establishment Masters...

...an innumerable, densely packed tide of figures surged out from the coffin’s opening like a black flood from a broken dam!

They were none other than the eerie beings refined by the Zombie Alliance’s Secret Skill, half-ghost and half-corpse—Magic Corpses!

Countless Magic Corpses surged out like a tide, pouncing on every living being in sight.

At first, facing this tide of Magic Corpses whose auras were only at the Qi Refining Realm, the Foundation Establishment Masters didn’t pay them much mind. Some even had a sneer on their lips.

"The Zombie Alliance must be at its wit’s end, hoping to stop us with this trash?"

One Master casually waved his sleeve, and a majestic wave of Magical Power swept out like an invisible tsunami, instantly pulverizing thousands of oncoming Magic Corpses into dust. Black qi and severed limbs flew everywhere.

Another Master just snorted coldly. Daoist Intent flowed around him, and the suppression of his [Dao Position] crashed down like ten thousand mountains, instantly turning the Magic Corpses before him to ash.

Under the absolute disparity in Realm and the suppression from their Dao Positions, these Magic Corpses posed no threat to the Foundation Establishment Masters at all, no matter their numbers.

Even if they stood still and let the Magic Corpses attack...

...their paltry power could not cross the chasm of the [Dao Position]. It was like an ant trying to shake a great tree.

However, something strange soon happened.

The black qi and remains of the slain and scattered Magic Corpses did not completely disappear. Instead, as if drawn by some invisible force, they were rapidly pulled back into the open Chaotic Heaven Black Coffin.

In just a few breaths, a black light flashed within the coffin, and more Magic Corpses—their auras seeming slightly more condensed—poured out!

The speed of their death and rebirth was constantly accelerating!

As this cycle of death and resurrection continued...

...the auras of certain Magic Corpses began to climb and transform at an abnormal rate!

BUZZ!

Suddenly, the bodies of several Magic Corpses at the very front trembled violently. A faint but real and distinct radiance, unique to a [Dao Position], actually appeared on their surfaces!

Although this Dao Position aura was still thin and impure...

...a far cry from that of a true Foundation Establishment Master...

...its appearance meant that these Magic Corpses were beginning to gain the ability to negate the chasm of the [Dao Position].

In other words, from this moment on, their attacks now had the potential to harm a Foundation Establishment Master!

At this, the expressions of all the Foundation Establishment Masters changed. Their faces were filled with profound shock, doubt, and gravity.

Things had suddenly taken a turn for the worse.

’It’s a behemoth from a near-top-tier power, after all. We can’t stay here long!’

Which of those who had managed to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Realm wasn’t a veteran who had weathered countless storms, with a meticulous mind and keen instincts?

Perhaps they were occasionally blinded by greed.

But in the face of a truly fatal threat, self-preservation was always the top priority.

This Chaotic Heaven Black Coffin before them was far too bizarre!

Not only could it endlessly "revive" the Magic Corpses, but it could even allow them to draw nourishment from death and rapidly evolve a [Dao Position].

This completely exceeded their understanding of Mountain-Suppressing Artifacts!

With almost no need for communication, alarm bells rang in the minds of all the Foundation Establishment Masters, and they instantly reached a consensus—retreat!

Get away from this demonic coffin immediately!

However, the very instant they moved, circulating their Magical Power and preparing to transform into streaks of Escape Light to flee in all directions—

HUMMM...

A low hum, as if originating from the depths of the Nine Netherworld, sounded simultaneously at extremely close range behind every single one of them!

Behind every Foundation Establishment Master...

...a spectral image of a black coffin had appeared out of thin air. It was several times smaller, but identical in form to the Chaotic Heaven Black Coffin in the center!

These spectral coffins were about ten feet long, entirely dark, and likewise had no lids.

At this moment, a terrifying suction force erupted from within the coffins.

Their posture made it clear they intended to "bury" the Masters inside them on the spot!

One Master with lightning-fast reactions backhanded a peerlessly sharp Sword Gang at the spectral Black Coffin behind him.

The sword light tore through the void itself.

But the spectral Black Coffin merely rippled slightly.

Like a reflection in water, it then became even more solid, and its annihilating funereal aura grew even stronger!

Another Master tried to use an Escape Technique to forcibly teleport away, but the spectral Black Coffin followed him like a maggot on a bone, impossible to shake off!

Yet another Master sacrificed a Protective Magical Treasure, its brilliant Treasure Light forming a thick shield, but under the coffin’s suction, the Treasure Light dimmed at a visible rate!

In an instant, all the Foundation Establishment Masters who had intended to retreat were thrown into chaos by the sudden appearance of these "burial coffins," finding their lives hanging by a thread!

Forget escaping; even self-preservation had become precarious!

The situation had taken a drastic turn, instantly transforming from a treasure hunt into a terrifying game of survival!

Qi Yun also felt the threat of the spectral Black Coffin behind him, which radiated a funereal Daoist Intent.

But compared to the other Masters’ panic...

...the [Human Emperor Banner] inside him trembled with ever-increasing excitement!

...