C12 Underground Karst Cave

The hand gripping the Smoke Congealing Canister clenched into a fist, shielding the glowing end and allowing only a sliver of light to escape. Yet, this faint glow was sufficient for Wang Yue to navigate his path.

The Five-prison Moving Technique not only fortified his internal organs but also enhanced his eyesight. Seeing in the dark was no challenge for him; under a full moon, he could see perfectly even without any artificial light.

Along the way, they stumbled upon the shattered remains of Corpse Stealers and Prison Bone Corpses. Before long, the clamor of battle reached Wang Yue's ears.

He pressed himself against the cave wall, listening intently to the combat noises. Shortly, the tumult ceased, signaling the fight's end, and was replaced by voices.

"These creatures keep popping up, making things difficult. It's almost certain that the treasure is ahead, but this is getting too troublesome!"

"Stop complaining. Let's take a short break. There's a slope coming up, and once we descend, we'll be deep inside. There are even more creatures down there, spreading out in every direction. This is just one of their many exits."

"I've been preparing for six months to secure the residual treasure from the Death Ruins. Failure is not an option this time!"

"The treasure doesn't matter to me, but you must honor our agreement. Once we have it, ensure Wang Yue meets an unmarked grave, and get me his jade pendant!" Hee Ziang's voice was unmistakable.

"That's a trivial matter. It's easy to make an accident befall someone at the first level of the Qi Refining Stage."

Hee Ziang cautioned them once more, "Don't underestimate Wang Yue, and certainly don't underestimate the Deacons. An Outer Sect Disciple named Gu Lin nearly pulled it off last time but got caught because he underestimated the Deacons and was spotted."

"If we can't do it above ground, why not below?" someone chuckled, his laughter echoing through the subterranean passageway. "Lure him underground, and not even a body will be found by the Deacons. What's there to worry about?"

"With the residual treasure in our possession, we might even control the Prison Bone Corpses. Then, we can take him out in broad daylight, and nobody would be the wiser."

Wang Yue's gaze grew icy as he realized that these individuals were cut from the same cloth—all of them his adversaries.

There were at least seven or eight of them, possibly even a dozen or more. United, Wang Yue wouldn't stand a chance for more than thirty seconds, not to mention their intent to seize some sort of residual treasure.

This treasure likely held clues to the origins of the Corpse Stealers. Piecing together their conversation, Wang Yue surmised they had uncovered something six months prior, only recently preparing to act on it.

It was conceivable that they were behind the recent surge in Corpse Stealer activity, having deliberately drawn out the hidden Prison Bone Corpses, creating the illusion of a sudden increase in their numbers.

The Corpse Stealer outbreak had drawn the purging efforts of Copper Willow Peak, aiming to eliminate or contain these creatures. Their renewed notoriety also lured the remaining Corpse Stealers and Prison Bone Corpses, while the perpetrators slipped in unnoticed.

His theory might not be perfect, but it was likely close to the truth.

After resting, they pressed on, intermittently halting, encountering two more groups of Corpse Stealers and Prison Bone Corpses before reaching the so-called slope.

This slope was merely a tilted concrete slab leading down to a largely intact basement. Entering the space, they found a house, and beyond it, a corridor revealed the vastness of the subterranean structure.

By the time Wang Yue emerged from the house, they had already moved on.

Such a basement could not have escaped the scrutiny of the deacons who had once dug ten feet into the earth. It was probable that they found nothing of significance back then, or perhaps they had never discovered anything at all.

These individuals might have stumbled upon the secret of the basement by sheer coincidence.

Soon enough, Wang Yue realized his error.

The basement spanned just three levels, but the true secret lay not within these floors, but deeper underground.

Digging ten feet?

The subterranean space extended well beyond that depth; naturally, a mere ten-foot excavation would reveal nothing.

Gliding along the upper corners like a gecko, Wang Yue stealthily trailed them, the silent assassin finally discerning their numbers.

A group of twelve stood vigilant, all Law Enforcement Hall Disciples of at least Level Three in the Qi Refining Stage.

Currently, they were stationed at the entrance of a descending passageway, beginning to excavate the items they had amassed over recent days.

Most of these were Talisman Artifacts, Spirit Talismans, and Jade Talismans, ready to be activated to unleash attacks surpassing the Qi Refining Stage.

Among their arsenal were Thunder Fire Pills, which could be likened to bombs or grenades for simplicity's sake.

Crafted by Pill Refining Masters, these pills bore a resemblance to the advent of gunpowder in another world, often the unintended byproducts of failed pill refining.

The might of a Thunder Fire Pill far exceeded that of the Talisman Artifacts and Spirit Talismans. Their introduction provided Pill Refining Masters of lower realms, particularly those skilled in Mecha Technique, with a means of self-defense, their prowess rivaling that of seniors in the Spirit Transformation Stage.

Yet, the confined quarters of the underground were ill-suited for the Thunder Fire Pill's use, as it could easily collapse the chamber.

They were reserved for dire situations, to be deployed when facing dense clusters of Corpse Stealers and Prison Bone Corpses. The explosive force, absorbed by layers of these creatures, could eliminate over a dozen Corpse Stealers at once, and even a direct hit from a Thunder Fire Pill would severely wound a Prison Bone Corpse.

But a Thunder Fire Pill, the size of a dragon's eye, was beyond the defensive capabilities of a typical Qi Refining Stage disciple. Contact with it was nearly always lethal, its destructive power surpassing that of any grenade.

Wang Yue's gaze held a profound wariness. Such extensive preparations were not the work of a month or two; even six months would be an ambitious timeline, leaving one to wonder at the extent of their endeavors.

Armed as they were, they could easily dispatch a horde of Prison Bone Corpses, suggesting the presence of even more formidable creatures lurking below.

If a Corpse Stealer could merge into a Prison Bone Corpse, what then of the Prison Bone Corpse itself?

This corridor was the sole point of ingress and egress, where they stood ready to annihilate the Corpse Stealers and Prison Bone Corpses, determined to eradicate any remaining threats lurking beneath.

The excavated mud slope of the cave, wide enough for several Prison Bone Corpses to pass through, was swiftly filled by the bodies of Corpse Stealers and Prison Bone Corpses, effectively blocking the path for those following behind.

Seizing the opportunity provided by the blockade, the group of twelve took a quick break to rest, consuming Blood Soul Pills and Qi Condensation Pills to replenish their strength.

Blood Soul Pills, treasures of the Body Refining Stage, were free of toxic effects, bolstered one's physique, and accelerated cultivation. Similarly, Qi Condensation Pills were treasures of the Qi Refining Stage, enhancing the speed of Qi Refining.

For Outer Sect Disciples, Blood Soul Pills were standard issue, at five per month, and were not particularly rare. Qi Condensation Pills, likewise distributed at five per month, were standard for Inner Sect Disciples. Considering the number of Inner Sect Disciples, the value of the Qi Condensation Pills becomes apparent.

The Outer Sect Law Enforcement Hall would toil for an entire month to earn just four or five Qi Condensation Pills, counting each one carefully to avoid any wastage of their effects.

In comparison to their previous use of Jade Talismans and Spirit Talismans, a Jade Talisman could typically be used two to five times, and it would take three such talismans to match the value of a single Qi Condensation Pill. Spirit Talismans, being consumables, could only be used once and were a notch below Jade Talismans in power; it would take nearly twenty Spirit Talismans to equal one Qi Condensation Pill, while it would take more than three Thunder Fire Pills to match it.

To defeat the Prison Bone Corpses, they were now using Qi Condensation Pills to restore their Genuine Qi, indicating that they must have encountered the Residual Treasures of the Death Ruins and recognized their worth, justifying such expenditure.

Wang Yue was filled with anticipation, yet he remained extra vigilant and cautious.

After a considerable amount of time had passed, no more Corpse Stealers appeared.

"We're clear; the creatures below have been dealt with."

All twelve individuals were unharmed and began clearing the downward passage, hauling up the wreckage.

Wang Yue also withdrew a distance to avoid being exposed.

The sheer number of remains was overwhelming; it took a full half-hour to clear them all.

"What an expansive underground cavern!"

Upon entering, Wang Yue discovered a vast, modified natural karst cave below. Stone pillars adorned with luminous pearls cast a soft light throughout, transforming the cave into a fairy-tale wonderland.

Regrettably, the foul stench of the Corpse Stealers completely overpowered the enchanting atmosphere, turning this would-be paradise into a hellish facade.

At the cave's center sat an even larger Prison Bone Corpse, motionless with a black, spiked club in its grasp.

The club resembled an oversized baseball bat, studded with fist-sized knobs. It appeared diminutive in the hands of the towering Prison Bone Corpse but would serve as a colossal weapon for Wang Yue and his companions.

"There it is!" they whispered, pointing to the spiked club in the hands of the Prison Bone Corpse. "That black club is the residual treasure of these ruins. I witnessed the Corpse Stealers emerging from those knobs."

"Can we just take it?"

Noticing that the considerable noise hadn't disturbed the central Prison Bone Corpse, someone inquired.

The organizer of the expedition shook his head. "No, take a closer look at its hand."

On closer inspection, they saw the Prison Bone Corpse's arm was gripping the club's handle tightly, not in a relaxed manner but firmly clasping it.

It seemed that noise wouldn't startle the creature, but forcibly prying open its hand would undoubtedly do so.

"Form the array!"

Each of the twelve individuals took an Array Flag and swiftly positioned themselves at twelve strategic points.

"Activate the Array Flag!"

Simultaneously, they channeled their Genuine Qi into the flags, causing them to burst into flames that converged above the Prison Bone Corpse's head, forming a fiery cloud.

"The Fire Cloud Array?"

Wang Yue remembered that the Law Enforcement Hall had a similar formation known as the Fire Cloud Array, which used Array Flags to create a fire cloud that incinerated enemies within it, identical to the formation now before him.