「Several days later.」

Groups of Holy Sect Disciples converged from all directions, landing on the outskirts of Da Wu Mountain.

Before them lay rolling mountains and lush forests, no different from any ordinary mountain range.

The Marketplace in the mountains, which should have been bustling with people, was now eerily silent. Not a single person could be seen, and even the sounds of birds, beasts, and insects had completely vanished, leaving only the mournful whisper of the wind through the treetops.

The entire mountain was shrouded in a deathly stillness. Though it appeared normal on the surface, it gave one an inexplicable sense of oppression.

Before the disciples could investigate further, the moment the first several dozen Holy Sect Disciples set foot on the mountain’s base—

BOOM!

Heaven and Earth suddenly changed color!

A deep, muffled explosion erupted from beneath the ground.

In an instant, countless pillars of light, black as ink and surging with resentful energy, shot up from all over Da Wu Mountain.

They rapidly intertwined high in the sky, forming a massive, pitch-black dome of light that descended and enveloped most of the mountain, trapping all the Holy Sect Disciples within!

An overwhelming stench of rot and venomous resentment washed over them.

Yin Wind howled, unsettling the mind.

The light instantly dimmed, as if dusk had fallen early.

"An Array!" someone screamed in horror.

Qi Yun’s pupils constricted. His eyes swept over the foul Corpse Qi that eroded the vitality of living things, and a name immediately flashed through his mind.

"The Nine Yin Nine Resentment Array!

It’s the Zombie Alliance’s Trapping and Killing Evil Array!"

Before his voice had even faded, another change occurred within the Array.

The ground churned violently as desiccated or rotting corpses burst from the earth, letting out mindless roars.

Mixed among them were a few swifter Iron Corpses, their skin a dull, metallic hue.

And even a couple of Copper Corpses, their bodies bronze-colored and radiating a ferocious aura.

These corpses, refined by the Zombie Alliance using Secret Skills, swarmed from all directions like locusts smelling blood, instantly launching a suicidal onslaught against the trapped Holy Sect Disciples.

"Array Formation! Defend!"

"Don’t panic! Find the one controlling the corpses!"

Cries of alarm, furious roars, the explosions of Magic, and the clash of weapons instantly echoed through the valley. The great battle had erupted without any warning!

One disciple had just shattered two walking corpses with his Flying Sword when an Iron Corpse pounced from the side, tore through his Protective Technique with a single claw, and dragged him screaming into the horde.

Elsewhere, a few disciples stood back-to-back in a battle formation, casting one spell after another to blast apart swathes of the advancing corpses.

But more walking corpses and Iron Corpses fearlessly filled the gaps, their assault as relentless as the tide.

Amid the chaos, Qi Yun’s brow furrowed slightly, but his expression remained calm.

’We just got here, and the Zombie Alliance is already attacking.’

’Were they lying in wait for us all along?’

’What happened to the people from the Holy Sect Marketplace?’

’Are they all dead?’

Seeing three walking corpses roaring as they charged him, Qi Yun’s face turned cold, and he formed a hand seal for a Spell with his right hand.

SHH SHH SHH—!

The ground before him suddenly exploded, and three streaks of black Flowing Light shot out, wrapped in a piercing shriek as they tore through the air.

They were long spikes of Sand Iron, condensed from Hundred-refined Steel Sand, and they moved with astonishing speed.

With a SQUELCH, they instantly and precisely pierced through the heads of the three walking corpses.

The terrifying force sent their bodies flying backward.

THUD! They were pinned firmly to the large trees behind them, foul blood streaming down.

Attracted by the sound, more walking corpses and an Iron Corpse broke through the chaotic battlefield, converging on Qi Yun like a black tide.

A tall, black-furred Iron Corpse roared and lunged, its claws, harder than iron, aiming straight for Qi Yun’s heart amidst a pungent, foul wind.

A cold glint flashed in Qi Yun’s eyes. Instead of retreating, he advanced, pressing his right hand forward through the air.

VMMM!

Countless fine grains of Hundred-refined Steel Sand surged from his sleeve.

They spun, ground against each other, and condensed before him at high speed!

The intense heat generated by their rapid movement slightly distorted the air, instantly forming an incredibly hot, dark-red vortex of Sand Iron!

The moment the Iron Corpse’s claws entered the vortex, a series of grating CRACKS and CRUNCHES rang out.

Its claws, as tough as refined iron, were instantly shredded and ground to dust by the violent Sand Iron!

The Iron Corpse grunted and tried to pull back.

"Trying to run?"

Qi Yun sneered and clenched his fist!

The searing vortex of Sand Iron abruptly contracted, instantly swallowing more than half of the Iron Corpse’s body.

A piercing screech of grinding metal erupted, sending sparks flying!

The next moment, the vortex dispersed, reverting to a stream of steel sand that swirled around Qi Yun like quicksand.

And the ferocious Iron Corpse was gone.

Only a pile of charred, black residue mixed with metal fragments remained on the ground!

"Holy shit, he’s that strong?!"

Three Holy Sect Disciples who were working together to kill an Iron Corpse nearby watched, dumbfounded, as Qi Yun slaughtered it as easily as crushing a chick.

After crushing the Iron Corpse with a mere gesture, Qi Yun’s gaze remained chillingly sharp as he strode forward.

Wherever he passed, black light flickered and waves of heat radiated outwards.

He didn’t even need to use other Magic. Relying solely on his masterful control of the incredibly hot Hundred-refined Steel Sand, which was both hard and soft, he carved out a small, clear zone within the surging tide of corpses!

His methods were ruthless, sharp, and brutally efficient!

It was a stark contrast to the somewhat frantic struggles of the other disciples around him.

The corpses around him piled up at a visible rate.

Most were mangled and incomplete, as if ground to pieces by an invisible millstone.

Qi Yun stood in their midst, wreathed in black sand and rising steam, like a God of Slaughter emerging from Purgatory.

However, his gaze grew increasingly grave as he scanned the seemingly endless tide of corpses, as well as the shadowy figures of Zombie Alliance disciples watching coldly from outside the Grand Array.

’So it really was an ambush.’

Seeing the number of zombies around him grow, seemingly endless as they kept charging, Qi Yun narrowed his eyes.

’If this keeps up, even my True Qi will be depleted.’

Just then, a dark green light suddenly rose from one side, forcibly tearing open the black membrane of light created by the Nine Yin Nine Resentment Array.

"I am Yuan Sea, the True Cultivator stationed at the Holy Sect Marketplace! All Holy Sect Disciples, come to me quickly!"

The sudden voice made the Outer Mansion Disciples’ eyes light up.

But just as they started to move, they hesitated.

’Could it be a trap?’

"Anyone know Divination Skills? Divine the fortune of this path!"

The walking corpses continued to swarm them like a tide. Seeing his fellow disciples still hesitating in surprise, Qi Yun shouted in a deep voice, his words a Stabilizing Needle that steadied their hearts.

"I do!"

"I do too!"

In the next instant, more than a dozen Outer Disciples proficient in Divination Skills responded loudly.

The sounds of Compasses, counting rods, and Turtle Shells being used echoed as they calculated the auspiciousness of the path ahead.

"A flying dragon in the heavens, it is favorable to see the great man! An auspicious omen! A most auspicious omen!"

"The third yields good fortune, a favorable time and harmonious people! Also an auspicious omen!"

"After decline comes renewal, averting disaster to preserve peace. The calamity has passed, and blessings are reborn. It is like the clouds parting to reveal the bright moon, or dust settling to let light shine."

The divination results were all auspicious, and the disciples couldn’t help but look overjoyed.

"Martial Cultivators and Sword Cultivators, charge with me! The rest of you, provide support."

With his hands forming a floral blur of Spell seals, Qi Yun took the lead, charging toward the source of the dark green light.

"As the Champion Scholar commands!"

The surrounding Holy Sect Martial Cultivators and Sword Cultivators roared in unison, unleashing their full power as they charged forward alongside Qi Yun. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Under the immense pressure of this desperate situation,

the Holy Sect Disciples cooperated with a rare, sincere unity.

The deadly, precarious trap was instantly torn open!

...