If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

Chapter 739 Title: The "Corpse King" from the Lower Realm?

The hall was eerily quiet.

The silence wasn't because no one was speaking; it was as if the air itself had been sucked away.

The wine glass in the Lord of Mad Lion City's hand was still trembling. Wine spilled all over the table, dripping down the corner and pooling on the ground.

But he didn't dare to wipe it.

He huddled in the chair like a quail, his eyes darting around in fear, and in the end, he didn't dare to look at Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang, on the other hand, ate with great relish.

He put a piece of braised pork into his mouth and chewed it carefully. It was fatty but not greasy, melted in his mouth, and the cooking time was perfect.

The cook in this City of Ten Thousand Beasts is quite something.

If I can eat a few more meals before I die, then my life won't have been in vain.

"Lord City Lord."

Zhou Yang swallowed the meat in his mouth and tapped the edge of the bowl with his chopsticks.

"The food is cold."

The Lord of Mad Lion City shuddered and almost slipped off his chair.

"Change it! Change it right now!"

He roared at the top of his lungs, startling the maid beside him so much that she nearly dropped the tray on her feet.

Zhou Yang smiled.

He didn't look at the city lord again.

He raised his head, his gaze piercing through the carved beams above the main hall, looking towards the empty heights.

and so on.

He was waiting for that eye that had been lurking in the shadows to finally give in.

This round has too high a stakes.

The pressure gained by burning two thousand years of lifespan was not only to intimidate the mad lion, but also to force out that "big rat".

If we don't break through this barrier, we won't be able to move forward.

suddenly.

The wind stopped.

It wasn't a natural pause.

Instead, it was as if an invisible hand had seized the throat of the city.

The flames in the charcoal brazier in the corner of the main hall, even though there was no wind, suddenly lowered their position and turned into a ghostly blue.

chill.

A chill that seeped into my bones.

The Lord of Mad Lion City even forgot to tremble. He was frozen in place, his eyes wide open, staring intently at the ball of air in the center of the hall.

Qin Shuang sat opposite Zhou Yang.

She pressed her hand against the hilt of the knife, her knuckles turning white from the force. She felt it—a suppression emanating from a fundamental level of being.

It almost made her lose the courage to even draw her sword.

"what?"

A voice rang out.

Very light. Very casual. Like casually commenting "This tea is good" in a teahouse.

But the sound echoed throughout the hall, making people's eardrums ache.

The roof tiles of the main hall suddenly began to tremble.

Click.

A crack appeared and quickly spread.

Immediately afterwards, the entire roof seemed to be sliced ​​open by some invisible sharp blade, and collapsed with a crash.

Stone fragments flew everywhere, and dust billowed up.

One light.

Or rather, a person.

It hovered in mid-air, stepping on the dust, and slowly floated down.

Dressed in white, whiter than snow.

Spotless.

In this hall filled with the stench of blood and earth, it stood out starkly clean.

He wore a mask on his face. It had no patterns, just a pale white color.

Only the eyes are exposed.

Those eyes had no pupils. They were all white.

It's creepy to look at.

The Lord of Mad Lion City knelt down with a thud.

His head slammed against the floor with a loud thud.

"Welcome, Celestial Envoy!"

In the entire hall, everyone except Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang knelt down, like a flock of wheat waiting to be harvested.

The "celestial messenger" ignored the city lord.

Those eyes, with only the whites showing, circled around the main hall.

Finally, the image focuses on Zhou Yang.

That instant.

Zhou Yang felt as if he had been thrown into an ice cellar.

Even the blood was about to congeal.

But he didn't move.

Even the curve of her lips didn't change.

He simply put down his chopsticks, picked up a rag from the table, and wiped the oil off his hands.

"You have quite the airs."

Zhou Yang spoke calmly.

"They practically have to tear the roof off just to eat a meal."

The Mad Lion City Lord, kneeling on the ground, was terrified.

Has this kid gone mad? That's a Celestial Envoy! That's a being high above all others! How dare he speak like that?

The celestial messenger was not angry.

A hint of...interest flashed in those strange eyes?

He drifted closer.

Until they were less than three feet away from Zhou Yang.

A smell entered Zhou Yang's nose.

It doesn't smell like incense.

It wasn't the smell of a corpse either.

It has a very old, worn-out smell. Like the smell that comes out when a coffin lid that has been buried underground for thousands of years is first opened.

"you……"

The celestial messenger spoke.

His voice carried a hint of doubt, yet also an undeniable...excitement?

"You smell like him."

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

he?

Fang Tian?

The adoptive father who tricked him into this world?

Is it still that mysterious entity that has always been hidden deep within the system and has never shown itself?

Thoughts raced through my mind.

But Zhou Yang remained calm and composed.

"You've mistaken me for someone else."

He casually tossed the rag onto the table.

"I've killed quite a few people along the way. So the flavor I've picked up is naturally a bit mixed up."

"I didn't make a mistake."

The celestial messenger shook his head.

That haughty attitude seemed to have softened somewhat.

He leaned closer and took a deep breath.

It smelled like some kind of delicious delicacy.

"That nauseating, rotten, yet ambitious smell... that's the smell of the 'Corpse King'."

"An old friend from the lower realms."

Corpse Emperor.

Upon hearing those two words, Zhou Yang's mind went blank.

Fang Tian was the leader of the Heavenly Principle Sect back then, but after his death, Zhou Yang did inherit a lot from him. Moreover, that mutated corpse was indeed eerie.

Could it be that Fang Tian has another identity in this so-called "upper realm"?

Or perhaps an enemy?

No matter what it is.

This game of chess is in chaos.

But that makes it even more interesting.

Since the celestial messenger recognized the scent, it means that this so-called "celestial messenger" has intricate connections with that unknown world.

Zhou Yang squinted.

He originally only wanted to use this oppressive aura to blackmail the Lord of Mad Lion City and sneak into the Black Tower.

In hindsight, this move was a huge mistake.

But it could also be a brilliant, decisive move.

"An old friend?"

Zhou Yang chuckled.

"My friend wasn't very decent. He died peacefully, though."

The celestial messenger didn't respond to his words.

He stared at Zhou Yang for a while, as if assessing the value of a commodity.

"That's interesting."

"In the lower realm, you are the first person to survive after being exposed to that kind of scent."

The celestial messenger straightened up.

The oppressive force that made it hard to breathe suddenly subsided.

"You want to see me?"

He asked a question he already knew the answer to.

Zhou Yang nodded frankly.

I want to see you.

"Since you want to see me, then come along."

The celestial messenger turned around and waved his white robe.

"However, whether you survive or not depends on your own fate."

The voice just fell.

He transformed into a streak of light.

call out--!

It broke through the ruins above the main hall and soared straight into the sky.

It moved at an astonishing speed, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Only a wisp of white mist remained, still swirling in the main hall.

The main hall was deathly silent.

Lord Mad Lion City collapsed to the ground, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

"It's over...it's all over..."

He muttered to himself.

Nobody paid any attention to him.

Zhou Yang stood up.

He looked at Qin Shuang.

Qin Shuang's face was somewhat pale. The oppressive aura she had just experienced had indeed been a bit too much for her.

But her eyes were very bright.

It's like a ball of fire.

"Can you still walk?" Zhou Yang asked.

Qin Shuang took a deep breath and stood up, supporting herself on the table.

"He won't die."

She picked up the embroidered spring knife from the table and sheathed it.

The movements were swift and decisive.

"Where to?"

Zhou Yang pointed out the window.

The direction outside the city.

There, a huge black shadow loomed between heaven and earth, like a thorn.

"Where else can we go?"

"Since he wants me to go, wouldn't it be disrespectful of me if I didn't?"

Zhou Yang strode out.

He paused when he reached the door.

He glanced sideways at the Mad Lion City Lord lying on the ground.

"This meal is on me."

"Remember to settle the bill."

After saying that, he swayed and dashed away.

Qin Shuang followed closely behind.

Lord Mad Lion City stared blankly at their retreating figures.

Checkout?

What bill?

This City of Ten Thousand Beasts is about to undergo a major upheaval.

……

outside the city.

It's very windy.

It scraped against my face with a whooshing sound, hurting like it was being cut by a knife.

Zhou Yang stood on a towering cliff, squinting as he looked into the distance.

There, a tower floats in the air.

It is completely black.

Cast from some unknown metal, its surface is covered with dark red patterns that pulsate slowly like blood vessels.

It has no foundation.

It was suspended in mid-air, thousands of feet above the ground.

Below the tower lies a bottomless abyss. Black mist churns up from the abyss, accompanied by occasional mournful roars that send chills down one's spine.

That is the forbidden area of ​​the City of Ten Thousand Beasts.

This is also Zhou Yang's goal this time.

Black Tower.

"That light went inside."

Qin Shuang stood beside him, her eyes serious.

"This place... doesn't look like a place for the living."

"It wasn't originally meant for the living."

Zhou Yang sneered.

"The immortal messengers cultivate immortality, but they do ghostly things."

He touched his chest.

It's a bit hot there.

It's a system.

Ever since I smelled that scent, the system has been vibrating slightly, as if it had been stimulated by something.

It seems to be longing for something.

It was as if they were afraid of something.

"Are you scared?" Zhou Yang suddenly asked.

Qin Shuang was taken aback.

She turned to look at Zhou Yang.

This man is always like this. Even when he's not confident himself, he always puts on a nonchalant act.

"With you here, what's there to be afraid of?"

She said softly.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear amidst the howling wind.

Zhou Yang grinned.

"OK."

"Then grip the knife tightly."

"This time, we might have to kill them all."

He did not hesitate at all.

My toes touched the edge of the cliff.

He was like a roc spreading its wings and taking flight.

They headed straight for the floating black tower.

If the price of two thousand years of lifespan cannot bring immense wealth, then let it be a bloodbath.

Anyway.

He didn't lose out.

The wind howled in my ears.

The black tower was getting closer and closer.

That old, decaying smell grew stronger and stronger.

Zhou Yang could even smell a faint... familiar scent.

That was Fang Tian's scent.

It seems that the old fox's secret is indeed hidden in this black tower.

Zhou Yang's eyes sharpened.

The sword is drawn.

The blade flashed like snow.

It reflected on his somewhat gloomy yet ambitious face.

"Old friend."

I've come to see you.

The whispers faded into the wind.

The person had already rushed into the churning black fog.

The figure vanished in a flash.

Only a chilling sword intent remained, lingering between heaven and earth for a long time.

Chapter 740: The God-Level Outline.

The black mist churned, like a giant mouth, swallowing Zhou Yang whole.

There was no feeling of weightlessness as I had imagined.

My feet touched solid ground.

It was hard and a little cold.

Zhou Yang didn't rush to make a move.

He stood there, his eyelids drooping, as if he were dozing off.

In reality, every nerve was taut.

He was listening.

Listen to the wind, listen to the breathing, listen to the living creatures hidden in this deathly silence.

"A lifespan of two thousand years."

Zhou Yang silently recited a sentence in his mind.

My lips twitched involuntarily.

If they were to buy pork, they could empty the entire pigsty in the City of Beasts.

Now all I have left is this pitch blackness.

And there was that increasingly strong stench.

It smelled like a dead rat rotting in a crack in the wall, mixed with the smell of moldy wood.

"This is the secret realm of the upper realm?"

Zhou Yang pursed his lips.

"What terrible taste."

He reached up and touched the hilt of the knife at his waist.

The blade was slightly warm.

It seemed to be a response to him.

Qin Shuang hadn't caught up yet.

The wind was too strong when she jumped, and it threw her a distance away.

Zhou Yang wasn't in a hurry.

Since we've spent a lot of money, the system should at least give us some hints.

He closed his eyes.

Consciousness sank into the mind.

The system panel, which was originally completely black, now lit up with a line of red text.

[High-level energy source detected...]

[Direction: Directly ahead, 300 paces.]

[WARNING: Extremely dangerous.]

"Extremely dangerous?"

Zhou Yang opened his eyes.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes.

In his view, these four words were simply four big words.

"Making a fortune."

Where there's no danger, there's no exorbitant profit.

He started walking.

The boots made a soft "tap, tap" sound as they stepped on the stone slabs.

In this deathly silent space, the sound was particularly jarring.

It was very dark around us.

It's not the kind of darkness you see at night.

It's the kind of black that absorbs all the light.

Zhou Yang could only see three feet in front of him.

Beyond that, everything is a blur.

But he wasn't afraid.

He has a knife in his hand.

A knife can cut through darkness, and it can also cut through trouble.

They walked about a hundred steps.

Suddenly, light appeared ahead.

It was dim and yellowish, like an oil lamp that was about to go out.

Zhou Yang stopped in his tracks.

He squinted.

I adjusted to the light.

There was a large hall in front of us.

Very big.

It is so large that you can't see the top.

Several huge stone pillars stood around.

Each pillar has a person locked to it.

Or rather, something that once belonged to a person.

They were bound by thick iron chains, which were covered with dense runes.

The runes were still glowing, as if they were suppressing something.

Those "people" had their heads down.

Her hair was very long, covering her face.

He was wearing a tattered Taoist robe.

The colors are no longer distinguishable.

All that's left is a gray, drab expanse.

Zhou Yang recognized the clothes.

Taoist robes of the Tianli Sect.

"It seems that old bastard Fang Tian has been causing quite a bit of trouble here."

Zhou Yang sneered.

He didn't go.

He was observing.

These "people" remained silent.

There wasn't even a sound of breathing.

It looks like an inanimate object.

But Zhou Yang knew they weren't dead.

The familiar scent of the Corpse King emanated from these people.

"This is the Corpse King's experimental subject?"

Zhou Yang was making plans in his mind.

If only we could get this thing out of here...

Even if it's just to get one out.

That's also a super trump card.

However, now is not the time.

His current strength is not enough.

The "extremely dangerous" warning from the system likely doesn't refer to these hanging cured meats.

It's something else entirely.

Zhou Yang bypassed those stone pillars.

Walk deeper into the hall.

The further you go in, the weaker the stench becomes.

Instead, a strange fragrance filled the air.

It smells like sandalwood, yet also like the stench of blood.

The two smells mixed together make you want to vomit.

Zhou Yang suppressed his nausea.

Keep going.

at last.

He saw the light source.

It was a lamp.

A bronze lamp that burns eternally.

The lamp oil is red.

It's still bubbling.

A person sat under the lamp.

He had his back to Zhou Yang.

He was wearing a black robe.

His body was somewhat hunched.

He was holding a cane.

The head of the cane is a skull.

It looks familiar.

Zhou Yang paused in his steps.

"An old friend?"

He spoke.

The sound echoed in the empty hall.

The person didn't move.

He didn't turn around.

It was as if they hadn't heard anything.

Zhou Yang wasn't annoyed.

He took a few steps forward.

When I was only ten steps away from that person.

He stopped.

"Playing dumb?"

Zhou Yang placed his hand on the hilt of the knife.

Give it a gentle push with your thumb.

"Clang."

The long sword was drawn an inch from its sheath.

A cold glint appeared.

Fang Tian is dead.

Zhou Yang stared at that figure from behind.

"But I'm interested in what he left behind."

The person still didn't move.

Zhou Yang's patience is limited.

He didn't want to solve riddles.

Since we've spent our lifespan to get here, we should take something with us when we leave.

Even if it means dismantling this black tower, we have to recoup our investment.

"Not going to say anything?"

Zhou Yang grinned.

"Then don't blame me for being impolite."

He took a sudden step forward.

His movements were as swift as lightning.

The blade flashed like a bolt of lightning.

He struck the man directly on the back of the head.

This strike was swift, precise, and ruthless.

There's nothing fancy about it.

It's simply a killing move.

His two thousand years of lifespan allowed him to reach the pinnacle of control over his power.

This strike is powerful enough to cut through gold and jade.

however.

Just as the blade was about to touch the man's black robe...

The person moved.

He didn't turn around.

He simply pushed his cane back.

"Thump."

A muffled thud.

Zhou Yang felt as if he had struck a mountain.

My hand went numb instantly.

The enormous recoil force sent him flying.

He did two somersaults in the air.

He managed to steady himself.

When they landed, the stone slabs beneath their feet developed several cracks.

"That's strong."

Zhou Yang shook his numb hands.

His gaze turned serious.

Now he saw it clearly.

That cane.

It's not made of bone.

It is a metal.

Moreover, it was the extremely hard black iron.

There are words engraved on it.

In that brief moment, Zhou Yang clearly saw two words.

"Heavenly Principles".

"People from the Heavenly Principle Sect?"

Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes.

"Are you Fang Tian's superior? Or his enemy?"

The man slowly turned around.

The movements are very slow.

It's like a rusting machine.

When the face turns around.

Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment.

It was a face without skin.

The blood-red muscle fibers were exposed.

There are no eyeballs in the eye sockets.

There were only two dark holes.

Inside the mouth, the teeth are uneven.

Like the fangs of a wild beast.

"stranger……"

The monster spoke.

Hoarseness.

It's like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

"……Meat."

Zhou Yang rolled his eyes.

"Another brainless zombie."

"Can't we come up with something more original?"

This monster looks terrifying.

In reality, he was just a strong, reckless man.

Zhou Yang felt more confident.

As long as it's not some old monster who knows magic, it'll be easy.

Close combat.

He has never been afraid of anyone.

"Want to eat me?"

Zhou Yang raised the knife.

The tip of the knife was pointed at the monster.

"Aren't you afraid of breaking your teeth?"

The monster was enraged.

It roared.

The sound shook the entire hall.

He slammed his cane down onto the ground.

"boom!"

The ground exploded.

Countless pebbles flew everywhere.

The monster used this force.

He looked like a cannonball.

It rushed towards Zhou Yang.

The speed is astonishing.

A foul stench wafted through the air.

Zhou Yang did not dodge.

He charged towards the monster.

They met on a narrow path.

The brave will prevail.

What's more, he had a knife.

"Burning life".

Zhou Yang silently recited in his heart.

"ten years."

moment.

A surge of heat coursed through my body.

His movements were twice as fast.

Before the monster's cane came crashing down.

He reached the monster's side first.

A flash of light.

"laugh."

The monster had a deep, bone-revealing wound on its arm.

Black blood spurted out.

The monster was in pain.

The actions became even more violent.

The cane swept across.

They wanted to cut Zhou Yang in half.

Zhou Yang lowered his body.

A slide step.

They crawled between the monster's legs.

Get up.

A backhand slash.

The blow landed on the monster's hind knee.

"Click."

The sound of bones breaking.

The monster knelt on one leg.

"roar!"

The monster roared.

I want to turn around.

Zhou Yang wouldn't give it a chance.

His figure was like a ghost.

They circled around the monster.

The sword flashed.

Every cut landed in the same spot.

The monster's neck.

The first knife.

The skin was torn open and the flesh was ripped open.

Second knife.

To see the bones.

The third cut.

Bleeding.

The fourth cut.

The monster's head was tilted to one side.

Only a thin layer of skin remained connecting them.

"Die."

Zhou Yang gave a low shout.

The fifth cut.

Knife up and down.

The monster's head flew off.

The headless corpse swayed twice.

He collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Black blood was spilled all over the ground.

A pungent, fishy smell wafted over.

Zhou Yang sheathed his sword.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's it?"

He looked at the corpse on the ground.

Somewhat disappointed.

"this one?"

"I thought it was something special."

"It's not even worth a fraction of two thousand years."

He kicked the corpse.

The body turned over.

Something fell out of my arms.

Zhou Yang's eyes lit up.

I walked over quickly.

Pick it up.

It's a sign.

Made of bronze.

The character "令" is engraved on it.

On the back is a picture.

It looks like a map.

It also resembles a formation.

Zhou Yang examined it carefully.

This picture looks familiar.

He had seen something similar among Fang Tian's belongings.

"This is... the key to the Black Tower?"

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

It seems this monster is a gatekeeper.

This brand is the real gem.

He tucked the sign into his pocket.

"This trip was worthwhile."

Just then.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

It's very light.

It has a good rhythm.

Zhou Yang turned around.

Qin Shuang walked in.

She was carrying a knife.

The blade was still stained with blood.

Clearly, things weren't idle outside either.

"Are you alright?"

Qin Shuang glanced at the headless corpse on the ground.

He glanced at Zhou Yang again.

There was a hint of concern in his eyes.

"What could possibly be wrong?"

Zhou Yang patted the dust off his clothes.

"Just a watchdog."

"Resolved?"

Qin Shuang walked over.

I glanced at the monster's wound.

The cut is clean and smooth.

One fatal blow.

A hint of admiration flashed in her eyes.

"This thing is quite powerful."

"Equivalent to a half-step Grandmaster."

"You killed very quickly."

Zhou Yang smiled.

"Good luck."

"It wasn't on guard against me."

Qin Shuang didn't expose him.

She knew Zhou Yang had many secrets.

As long as he's alright, that's all that matters.

"Where is this place?"

Qin Shuang looked around.

Looking at those "people" locked to the pillars.

His brows furrowed slightly.

"The stronghold of the Heavenly Principle Sect."

Zhou Yang was just making things up.

"That old geezer Fang Tian used to do research here."

"What are you researching?"

"Researching how to make people live forever."

Zhou Yang pointed to the pillars.

"Unfortunately, they all failed."

"It's turned into this horrible sight."

Qin Shuang's face turned somewhat pale.

Although she was also a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

I've seen it all before.

But this scene still made her feel nauseous.

"Let's go."

Zhou Yang didn't want to stay any longer.

This place is too yin.

Staying there for too long is bad for your health.

"Did you get it?"

Qin Shuang asked.

Zhou Yang patted his chest.

"Got it."

"nice one."

"With this, we can find the real 'fishpond'."

Qin Shuang didn't ask what it was.

She believed in Zhou Yang.

"Then how do we get out?"

Qin Shuang glanced around.

The black fog continued to churn.

There is no exit.

"Use the main entrance."

Zhou Yang pointed to the depths of the hall.

There is a door there.

A massive stone gate.

The door was carved with hideous ghost faces.

"Is that the exit?"

Qin Shuang had some doubts.

"We'll find out if it's the exit once we're inside."

Zhou Yang strode over.

Qin Shuang followed.

The two walked to the stone gate.

Zhou Yang reached out and pushed him.

Not moving.

"Looks like we need a key."

Zhou Yang took out the sign he had just picked up.

Place it into the groove on the door.

Perfectly fitted.

"Click click click".

A series of mechanical sounds rang out.

The stone gate slowly opened.

A fresh breeze blew in.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath.

"He's alive."

The two walked out of the stone gate.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

No longer is it shrouded in black mist.

It was a valley.

The valley was filled with exotic flowers and rare herbs.

The spiritual energy was so rich it was almost palpable.

In the middle, there is a palace.

Magnificent and resplendent.

"This is..."

Qin Shuang's eyes widened.

"A fishpond?"

Zhou Yang grinned.

"No."

"This is the vault."

"It's full of treasures inside."

His eyes were shining.

That was the light of greed.

It is also the light of ambition.

"Walk."

"Go and clear out the inventory."

Zhou Yang took the lead.

It rushed out.

Qin Shuang watched his retreating figure.

He shook his head helplessly.

They followed.

This man.

They will never know what satisfaction is.

but.

she likes.

The two rushed into the valley.

They headed straight for the palace.

And behind them.

The stone door slowly closed.

The black fog surged again.

It submerged that deathly silent hall.

Everything returned to calm.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Only that ever-burning lamp.

It's still burning.

The lamp oil was bubbling.

It reflected the headless corpse.

It's as if it's telling a story.

It's as if it's waiting for the next visitor.

……

In the valley.

Zhou Yang ran very fast.

He saw it.

At the palace gate.

Boxes were piled up.

One box, two boxes, countless boxes.

Some of the boxes had their lids open.

It was glittering with gold inside.

It is a spirit stone.

It is a medicinal pill.

It is a weapon.

Zhou Yang's heart started racing.

This is no fishpond.

This is the Dragon Palace!

"We've struck it rich!"

He roared.

His voice was filled with joy.

Qin Shuang was also stunned by the scene before her.

She had never seen so many resources in her life.

This is a hundred times richer than the Jinyiwei's storeroom.

"Is this really from the Heavenly Principle Sect?"

Qin Shuang could hardly believe it.

"Where did the Heavenly Principle Sect get so much money?"

"Plundered."

Zhou Yang said casually.

"These charlatans are the best at swindling money."

"They deceive believers until they are bankrupt, and then enjoy the fruits of their labor."

"Today, we act on behalf of Heaven."

"Confiscate all this ill-gotten wealth."

Zhou Yang rushed to a box.

He reached out and grabbed a handful.

They are all top-grade spirit stones.

The spiritual energy flows through my hands.

Comfortable.

"Cool!"

Zhou Yang laughed loudly.

"Qin Shuang".

"Get the bag."

"Pack as much as you can."

"Not a single grain can be left!"

Qin Shuang came to her senses.

She took a large bag out of her storage ring.

Start installing.

Zhou Yang wasn't idle either.

He put on his clothes as he walked into the palace.

There must be something even better inside.

Just then.

A voice came from inside the palace.

"Who?"

"How dare you trespass on forbidden territory!"

The voice sounded old.

With an air of authority.

Zhou Yang paused in his steps.

"Is there anyone else?"

He grinned.

"Perfect."

"The warehouse manager has arrived."

"Make him hand over the warehouse keys as well."

Zhou Yang was carrying a knife.

He strode into the palace.

Qin Shuang followed closely behind.

Inside the palace.

An old man was sitting there.

Wearing a white robe.

His beard and hair were all white.

He looked like a hermit.

But there was a sinister glint in his eyes.

He looked at Zhou Yang.

His brows were furrowed.

Who are you?

"Why have you trespassed into the forbidden area of ​​my City of Ten Thousand Beasts?"

Zhou Yang looked him up and down.

"The City of Ten Thousand Beasts?"

"This place now belongs to the Zhou family."

"Old man."

"Are you going to get out yourself, or should I help you get out?"

The old man was furious.

"Arrogant brat!"

"court death!"

He raised his hand and waved.

A palm strike was aimed at Zhou Yang.

The momentum is amazing.

He was actually a Grandmaster-level expert.

Zhou Yang did not dodge.

He burns through his lifespan.

"Fifty years."

Their strength increased dramatically in an instant.

He charged forward, bracing himself against the force of the palm strike.

"Old man."

"I'll let you know today."

"What does it mean to say that money can really buy anything!"

A flash of light.

It cleaved through the palm strike.

It was aimed directly at the old man's face.

The old man was greatly surprised.

I never expected this young man to be so powerful.

He quickly retreated.

They want to fight back.

But Zhou Yang was too fast.

It was so fast that he couldn't even see the shadow of the knife.

They can only defend passively.

"Clang clang clang!"

The sound of metal clashing was incessant.

Sparks flew everywhere.

Qin Shuang stood at the door.

I didn't get involved.

She knew Zhou Yang could handle it.

All she needs to do is guard the door.

Just make sure that old man doesn't get away.

Zhou Yang became more and more excited as he played.

This is the life force of a grandmaster.

It's very nourishing.

Kill him.

It can also significantly increase lifespan.

"Burning life".

"One hundred years."

Zhou Yang went completely insane.

The sword's momentum was like a rainbow.

Each strike was stronger than the last.

The old man was beaten and forced to retreat.

My heart was filled with fear.

What kind of monster is this kid?

How can one become stronger with each battle?

Moreover, that swordsmanship...

Why does it look so familiar?

It's like... the Corpse Emperor's Blade Technique?

"You're the successor of the Corpse King?!"

The old man exclaimed in surprise.

Zhou Yang grinned.

"You know your stuff."

"Since you know that..."

"Then spare your life."

"Perfect, I'll use you to consecrate my sword."

Before he could finish speaking...

The blade was already flashing.

"Pfft."

The old man's head flew off.

His face still showed fear and resentment.

The body fell to the ground.

Zhou Yang sheathed his sword.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Cool."

He touched the old man's body.

A storage ring was found during the search.

"Another loot."

Zhou Yang couldn't stop smiling.

This trip.

They really made a fortune.

They not only discovered Fang Tian's secret.

They also made a fortune.

They even killed a grandmaster.

The peak of life.

That's all there is to it.

"Qin Shuang".

"Come in and move your things."

Zhou Yang called out from the doorway.

Qin Shuang walked in.

Looking at the corpse on the ground.

Somewhat surprised.

"Grandmaster?"

"Killed?"

"Um."

Zhou Yang nodded.

"It was just something I did."

"Just ignore him."

"Hurry up and pack your things."

"We can't stay here for long."

"The smell of blood is too strong."

"It will easily attract other flies."

Qin Shuang nodded.

The two began a frenzied ransacking spree.

They moved everything out of the palace, leaving it completely clean.

They even went after the carpet on the floor.

Half an hour later.

The two returned home with a full load.

We walked out of the valley.

Behind.

The palace was empty.

Only the old man's corpse remained.

It lay there all alone.

It's like a joke.

Zhou Yang glanced back.

"goodbye."

"City of Ten Thousand Beasts"

"Come again next time."

"I'll tear down your tower too."

He turned around.

He brought Qin Shuang with him.

Disappeared into the jungle.

All that was left was a mess.

And a legend about "Layman Jiaqian".

This chapter.

Finish.

Chapter 740 The Old Path of the Corpse Emperor

The black fog was very thick.

Like ink that can't be dissolved.

It's like some kind of living slime, clinging to your body, cold and slippery.

Zhou Yang opened his eyes.

My vision was swallowed up by the black mist, and I could only see about three feet in front of me.

The ground beneath my feet isn't solid.

It was a precipice hanging in the air, its edges covered with moss and very slippery.

"Cough cough."

Qin Shuang landed behind him.

She covered her mouth, her brows furrowed tightly.

The smell here is really unpleasant.

The smell of rotting meat mingled with the stench of corroded cast iron.

There's also a sweet, cloying aroma that's hard to describe.

It's as if someone poured a hundred pounds of sugar into the mortuary and let it slowly boil there.

"This taste..."

Qin Shuang held the sword to her chest, the tip pointing to the ground.

"Even more dangerous than a mass grave."

Zhou Yang didn't say anything.

He was trembling.

It's not cold.

The system is shaking.

The tremor climbed up my spine, like countless ants crawling around in my blood vessels.

The pale blue light screen at the edge of the field of vision was flashing wildly, with lines of red warning codes cascading down like a waterfall.

[Warning: High-energy reaction detected.]

[Warning: The host's current lifespan is insufficient to sustain...]

【warn:……】

Zhou Yang raised his hand and rubbed his temples.

Turn off those random notifications.

What's there to be afraid of?

As long as you don't die, you can live.

As long as you can survive, you can make money.

"Stay close to me."

Zhou Yang said in a low voice.

The sound was very soft, and it was almost swallowed up by the surrounding fog as soon as it came out.

He drew his knife.

The blade flashed a cold light in the darkness.

The name of the knife is "Judgment".

He stole it, and he bought it.

"Um."

Qin Shuang responded.

She didn't say anything, but simply moved closer to Zhou Yang.

Shoulders almost touching shoulders.

They could feel each other's body temperature.

In this deathly silent abyss, this little bit of warmth is the only sign of life.

The two walked forward along the cliff.

The road is very narrow.

On one side is a pitch-black rock wall, and on the other side is a bottomless void.

Occasionally, a breeze would blow up from below.

Sobbing and whimpering.

It sounds like someone is crying.

"rustle."

I stepped on something.

A crisp sound.

Zhou Yang lowered his head.

It's a piece of bone.

It was white and brittle, weathered and worn.

It's impossible to tell whether it's human or animal.

"Many people have died here."

Qin Shuang glanced at it.

His tone was very indifferent.

She was a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and had seen too many dead people.

"The more people die, the better the treasure."

Zhou Yang kicked the bone into the abyss with his toe.

The bone rolled down, and there was no echo for a long time.

"That old fox Fang Tian loves to hide things that can't be brought to light."

As Zhou Yang spoke, his nose twitched.

Hidden within that cloying, putrid odor was a very faint hint of sandalwood.

That's the unique flavor of Fangtian.

That old man is very particular.

Before committing murder, one should burn incense; after committing murder, one should take a bath.

Even after becoming the Corpse King, he didn't change this bad habit.

Where is he?

Qin Shuang asked.

"have no idea."

Zhou Yang squinted, watching the swirling mist ahead.

"But the taste is fresh."

"At most, he's been dead for thirty or fifty years."

For a spiritual practitioner, thirty to fifty years is but the time it takes to take a nap.

The smell hasn't completely dissipated yet.

This indicates that Fang Tian visited this place before his death.

This might even be his final resting place.

Sudden.

Zhou Yang stopped in his tracks.

He raised his hand and gestured for a "stop" behind him.

Qin Shuang stopped abruptly.

He slightly raised the longsword in his hand, and a thin layer of frost appeared on the blade.

The wind around us stopped.

The howling wind suddenly vanished completely.

The entire abyss fell into a deathly silence.

The only sound was the beating of his heart.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

"The direction at three o'clock on the left."

Zhou Yang's lips moved slightly.

There was no turning back.

His knife tip slowly drooped, and his body slightly squatted down.

Like a cheetah poised to pounce.

"several?"

Qin Shuang's voice was as cold as ice.

"group."

Zhou Yang grinned.

"Judging from the sound, they have quite an appetite."

The voice just fell.

The black mist on the left suddenly exploded.

There was no roaring.

There was no roaring.

Only the shrieking sound of claws tearing through the air could be heard.

Swish swish!

A dozen or so dark figures, as fast as lightning, rushed straight at the two men's faces.

I can't make out what it looks like.

All that could be seen were a pair of pale white eyes and a mouth full of interlocking fangs.

Like a person.

It also resembles a wolf.

But what was growing on his neck was not a head, but a twisted mass of flesh.

"Corpse wolf?"

Qin Shuang's eyes narrowed.

The sword flashed as it was drawn.

The icy blue sword energy erupted instantly, like a lotus flower blooming in the darkness.

The air was bitterly cold.

The two corpse wolves at the very front were instantly frozen into ice sculptures.

Snapped.

It shattered into a pile of ice shards.

But the zombie wolves behind them were not afraid of dying at all.

They trampled over the corpses of their own kind and still pounced frantically.

Don't save your energy.

Zhou Yang gave a low shout.

He didn't move.

He just watched those dark figures rushing towards him.

In my mind, the system's countdown began to tick.

[Flame life: Three days.]

[Deduction begins: Target—Abyssal Corpse Wolf.]

For an instant.

The world has slowed down.

Zhou Yang could see the trembling of every muscle in the corpse wolves, the saliva hanging on their fangs, and even the trajectory of their attack in that instant.

Where are the weaknesses?

Not at the head.

Not on my mind.

Right in the middle of that lump of flesh on the neck.

There is a red blood vessel pulsating.

"There."

Zhou Yang moved.

The blade flashed like a bolt of lightning.

It was so fast that the blade was invisible; only a blurry afterimage could be seen slicing through the darkness.

Chi Chi Chi.

A dozen or so soft sounds.

They rang out at almost the same time.

The corpse wolves that had pounced into the air suddenly froze.

The fierce glint in their eyes hadn't faded when their bodies were neatly split in two.

Blood was spilled all over the ground.

It did not land.

It evaporated into red mist in mid-air.

"Excellent swordsmanship."

Qin Shuang sheathed her sword.

She glanced at the bloodstains on the ground, a hint of approval in her eyes.

Having worked together for so long, their tacit understanding was ingrained in their very bones.

She was in charge of controlling the situation and freezing it.

Zhou Yang was responsible for both reaping the rewards and breaking the deadlock.

"Be careful with your praise."

Zhou Yang flicked the blood off his knife.

"We've only just entered."

He crouched down and reached out to wipe a handful of blood that hadn't yet evaporated.

The system beep sounded again.

[Lifespan gained: 12 days.]

"There's been some profit."

Zhou Yang stood up and casually wiped his hands on his clothes.

"Let's go."

"An old friend is waiting ahead."

The two continued to explore further.

The further you go in, the stronger the sandalwood scent becomes.

Strange characters began to appear on the surrounding rock walls.

It's not a character.

It's more like some kind of totem.

Twisted lines outline a series of hideous ghost faces.

Some of the ghost faces have dark red gemstones inlaid in the eye area.

An eerie light flickered in the darkness.

"These are runes from the Heavenly Principle Sect."

Qin Shuang recognized these things.

She has been investigating the Heavenly Principles Cult for so many years and has dealt with these things quite a bit.

"Fang Tian is the leader of the Heavenly Principle Sect."

Zhou Yang stared at the ghost faces.

"But this place has a history even longer than the Heavenly Principle Sect."

"This black tower probably existed long before the Heavenly Principle Sect."

Fang Tian was just someone who got lucky.

Or rather, he was the "key" chosen to be used in the sacrifice to the tower.

We reached the end of the cliff.

The road is blocked.

Ahead is a suspended stone bridge.

There are no railings.

The bridge is only three feet wide and spans between two cliffs.

Beneath the bridge, billowing black fog filled the air.

A huge shadow could be vaguely seen moving in the fog.

That's a big one.

"Will it be manageable?"

Qin Shuang glanced at the bridge.

"You have to get through it, even if you can't."

Zhou Yang shrugged.

"Unless you want to swim there."

He had just taken a step.

The stone bridge beneath our feet suddenly began to shake violently.

Boom!

A muffled thud.

It came from the bottom of the abyss.

Immediately afterwards, a huge claw gripped the edge of the stone bridge.

Those claws were as thick as a water vat.

It was covered with black scales, each scale resembling a shield.

"This place is really warm and hospitable."

Zhou Yang cursed.

"Hold on tight!"

He shouted.

With a swift movement, he darted away like a swallow.

Qin Shuang followed closely behind.

The two had just crossed half of the bridge.

The monster finally revealed its true form.

A giant python with wings.

It has no eyes.

It only has a large mouth full of sharp teeth.

It raised its head and let out a piercing shriek.

The sound waves struck the stone bridge as if they were solid.

Click.

A crack appeared in the stone bridge.

"run!"

Zhou Yang didn't even turn his head.

Burn-in life.

Burn for another ten days.

The speed increased dramatically in an instant.

He gave Qin Shuang a push on the back.

Using this force, Qin Shuang flew out and landed steadily on the opposite bank.

Zhou Yang touched the broken bridge with his toes.

His body soared into the air.

The giant python's mouth was already snapping at it.

A foul-smelling wind blew in.

Zhou Yang advanced instead of retreating.

A person in mid-air cannot gain any leverage.

But he doesn't care.

The sword is drawn.

This time, the blade glowed red.

That's the high temperature caused by the combustion life.

"Get the hell out of here!"

Zhou Yang roared.

He slashed the giant python's upper jaw with a single stroke.

puff.

The blade penetrated three inches into the flesh.

Black blood gushed out.

The giant python, in pain, suddenly shook its head.

Using the force of the swing, Zhou Yang was flung towards the opposite bank like a cannonball.

boom.

He crashed heavily to the ground.

It rolled several times before stopping.

"Cough cough..."

Zhou Yang got up and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.

"That fucking hurts."

The giant python on the opposite bank was still rampaging, smashing the broken bridge and sending rocks flying everywhere.

But they couldn't get through.

"Are you alright?"

Qin Shuang ran over and helped him up.

My hands are shaking a little.

"fine."

Zhou Yang patted the dirt off his clothes.

"It's a bit of a loss."

"That blow didn't kill it."

They lost several hundred years of their lifespan.

Zhou Yang felt a pang of regret.

But he was quickly drawn to what was in front of him.

This is a platform.

At the end of the platform is a door.

A huge black metal door.

There are no patterns on it.

There is only one groove.

The groove is shaped like a finger.

Tall and slender with well-defined joints.

Zhou Yang walked to the door.

He reached out and touched the cold metal surface.

The system was screaming wildly.

[Key item discovered: Corpse King's finger bone.]

High concentration of energy reaction detected.

"Found it."

A slight smile appeared on Zhou Yang's lips.

He turned around and looked at a corner not far away.

There was a corpse sitting there.

He was wearing a tattered robe, the attire of the leader of the Heavenly Principle Sect.

The body was dried up, like a piece of dead wood.

But one of his hands was raised high.

The little finger of that hand is missing.

The cut is clean and smooth.

It looked like it had been forcibly broken off by something.

"Fang Tian".

Zhou Yang walked up to the corpse.

Looking at this familiar yet unfamiliar face.

Even after becoming a dried-up corpse, a strange smile still lingered on his face.

It was as if he was still laughing at something before he died.

"Old fox."

"So you were also set up."

Zhou Yang squatted down.

He rummaged around in the corpse's arms for a while.

He took out a token.

The Heavenly Principles Sect Incense Master's Order.

There is also a small jade bottle.

I opened it and took a look.

Inside was a red pill.

Corpse Essence Pill.

nice one.

I managed to hold on to my last breath in this godforsaken place.

"You left your fingers to the door, and your life to this abyss."

Zhou Yang put the things into his pocket.

"The rest are all mine."

He stood up.

Walk to the raised hand of the corpse.

Looking at the cut on the severed little finger.

The system notification sounded again.

[Can the location of the severed finger be determined by tracing its burn-in life?]

"No need for deduction."

Zhou Yang sneered.

He reached out and grabbed the corpse's wrist.

With a forceful snap, it broke open.

Click.

The sound of bones breaking.

Something fell out from the dry cuff.

It's not a finger.

Instead, it was a black iron needle.

The needle tip is engraved with extremely fine lines.

"A key is not a finger."

Zhou Yang held the iron needle in his hand.

"The real key is this 'soul-stabilizing needle' you've hidden in your sleeve."

Fang Tian never took the needle out until his death.

He wanted to tell those who came after him:

To enter this door, you have to pay a price.

Or perhaps he was taking revenge on the owner of the door.

"clever."

Zhou Yang inserted the iron needle into the groove of the gate.

Not too big, not too small.

It fits perfectly.

Rumble...

A heavy scraping sound rang out.

The black metal door slowly opened to both sides.

An even more ancient and decaying aura wafted out from behind the door.

There was no light inside.

There was only a bottomless darkness.

But in the deepest darkness.

It has a hint of golden light.

It's flashing.

It was like the light emitted when some living thing breathes.

"It seems so."

Zhou Yang turned around and glanced at Qin Shuang.

"Our good luck has only just begun."

Qin Shuang gripped her sword tightly.

She looked at the darkness.

His eyes were firm.

"As long as you're here."

"I dare to take the plunge."

Zhou Yang smiled.

He strode across the threshold.

I walked into that darkness.

This time.

He's really going to make a big profit.

He would even have to look through the ledgers of the King of Hell.

See if I can cross out my name.

Chapter 740 Title: Beneath the Black Tower: The Corpse King's Beacon

The feeling of weightlessness came without warning.

It felt like I stepped into a hole and fell straight down.

Before Zhou Yang could even adjust his posture, everything went completely black.

This isn't the kind of darkness you feel when you close your eyes; it's the kind of... deathly stillness where all five senses are forcibly stripped away.

I couldn't see the light, I couldn't hear the wind, and even the sensation on my skin vanished in an instant. My body felt like it didn't exist; only my mind was still functioning.

This feeling is terrible.

Very bad.

An ordinary person would probably be screaming in panic by now. But Zhou Yang didn't scream; he held his breath immediately.

Even in such a nonsensical environment, holding your breath is the first step to survival.

Immediately afterwards, the burning sensation in my chest began to rise upwards.

That's the Corpse Emperor's physique automatically protecting its master.

A cold, sticky smell, carrying a faint stench of decay, spread from his chest and instantly enveloped his entire body. The smell was pungent, like an old salted fish that had been simmering in a coffin for hundreds of years, but at this moment, Zhou Yang found it more pleasant than any floral fragrance.

Because the feeling has returned.

That feeling of emptiness, of not being able to stand on solid ground, actually became real again under the influence of this corpse energy.

He could sense the direction of the airflow around him, and he could also feel the oppressive weight pressing down on him.

"Qin Shuang?"

Zhou Yang tried calling out.

The sound couldn't get through.

This area is like an absolute vacuum zone, with no medium capable of carrying sound waves.

He frowned, immediately mobilized the Corpse Emperor's Qi within his body, and suddenly grabbed at the void with his right hand.

They've caught them.

It was a wrist that felt cool.

Qin Shuang's wrists were very thin, and her pulse was beating very fast.

She was trembling.

This is normal. For someone accustomed to being in control, this sudden deprivation of sensory experience is more terrifying than facing a massive army. She still had her knife, but in this pitch-black place where she couldn't even tell which way was which, the knife was a burden.

Zhou Yang gripped her wrist tightly, and without any hesitation, he separated a strand of Corpse Emperor Qi and sent it into her wrist.

The aura was extremely cold. The moment it entered her body, Qin Shuang felt as if she had been hit by ice water, and her body stiffened abruptly.

But the chill quickly spread through her meridians, and then the maddening sense of emptiness disappeared.

She can "see".

Of course, not with the eyes.

It was a strange perception. It was as if an extra pair of eyes had appeared in my mind, allowing me to vaguely capture the trajectory of the flowing black mist around me.

She sensed Zhou Yang's presence.

It was just to her left, about half a step away.

That familiar man, with a touch of roguishness, was holding her firmly.

My panic and confusion subsided instantly.

Qin Shuang grabbed Zhou Yang's fingers with her other hand, her palms covered in cold sweat.

Although the two could not communicate, this one gesture spoke volumes.

Just then, the "eyes" in Zhou Yang's mind suddenly caught a strange thing.

left.

Three o'clock position.

The previously smoothly flowing black mist suddenly developed an extremely unnatural fault line.

There was no sound of wind, no murderous intent, and not even a faint trace of air movement.

But the hairs on the back of Zhou Yang's neck suddenly stood on end.

It's instinct.

An intuition honed through countless brushes with death.

Something is coming.

Moreover, this thing doesn't rely on sight or hearing.

It's after the life force of the living!

Without thinking, Zhou Yang suddenly pulled Qin Shuang into his arms, and at the same time used his waist and abdomen to forcefully twist half of his body in mid-air.

hiss--!

A sharp, almost ear-piercing shriek suddenly rang out.

A pale white claw shadow appeared out of thin air where Qin Shuang had just been standing. The claw was about half a foot long, covered with a viscous black liquid, and it grabbed at nothing.

What the hell is this thing?

Void Beast?

This thought flashed through Zhou Yang's mind.

Unable to see or hear, they can only hunt using this almost instinctive method.

If it were an ordinary martial artist, they probably wouldn't even know how they died.

Unfortunately, it ran into Zhou Yang.

A "living person" who specializes in dealing with the dead.

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhou Yang's eyes.

Want to kill someone?

You have to pay more!

But he didn't rush to make a move.

This thing moves extremely fast in the black fog; making a move rashly will only reveal your location.

He released Qin Shuang's hand and quickly wrote two words on the back of her hand instead.

Knife.

borrow.

Qin Shuang understood instantly.

Even if she couldn't see his face clearly, she could imagine Zhou Yang's nonchalant appearance at that moment. But that didn't matter; what mattered was that she trusted Zhou Yang's judgment.

With a flick of her wrist, Qin Shuang released the Embroidered Spring Blade that had been with her for many years.

It wasn't thrown out.

Instead, Zhou Yang caught it steadily in his hands.

Zhou Yang gripped the knife hilt; the cool touch invigorated him.

He was familiar with this knife.

I used it quite a lot before, and even used it to cut watermelons.

"ten years."

Zhou Yang silently recited it in his mind.

Burning lifespan, deducing martial arts.

For him now, ten years of life is just a number. As long as it can buy him the means to survive, it's a worthwhile trade.

The system panel flashed by.

[Effected by consuming ten years of lifespan, the derivation of "Corpse Emperor's Aura - Bloodstained Echoes" is complete.]

The next second, Zhou Yang closed his eyes.

If you can't see it, then don't look at it.

He completely emptied his senses, immersing himself entirely in the intense aura of the Corpse Emperor surrounding him.

The aura of the Corpse Emperor spread out in all directions like a giant net.

Fifty feet.

One hundred zhang.

Three hundred feet.

It's caught in the net.

Three.

There's one to the left front, one above your head, and one behind you.

They are all moving very fast, and each movement creates a slight, almost negligible, airflow fluctuation.

In the perception of the Corpse Emperor's aura, these fluctuations were amplified infinitely, turning into clear trajectory maps.

This is the "bloody echo".

Using the aura of the Corpse Emperor as a medium, it captures vibrations in the air and then feeds them back to the brain.

It's like giving him a cheat code that allows him to see through the entire map in this dark world.

"Thirty degrees to the left, downward chop."

Zhou Yang's voice was transmitted directly into Qin Shuang's mind through the connection between the two.

It was a wonderful "sensory connection" established between the two of them.

Qin Shuang did not hesitate at all.

Her body moved faster than her mind, and the energy of her blade exploded instantly as she slashed fiercely in that direction.

clang!

Sparks flew everywhere.

The sound of metal clashing against metal was particularly jarring in this deathly silent space.

Qin Shuang felt as if the blade had struck a hard iron plate, and the shock made her hands go numb.

But this cut landed squarely.

A piercing scream immediately followed.

It was a monster that looked like a bat but had a human face, with half of its wing severed, and black blood spurting out.

Zhou Yang was not idle.

The moment Qin Shuang drew her sword, he moved as well.

But he didn't use a knife.

He used his fists.

His right fist, imbued with the aura of death, slammed down with a stench of blood as it struck the dark figure swooping down from above.

boom!

A muffled thud.

It was like smashing a ripe watermelon.

The void beast didn't even have time to scream before its head was smashed open, and it fell limply from the sky.

There's one more.

The one behind was clearly startled and paused for a moment.

Just like that, it took its life.

Zhou Yang seized the opportunity and threw the Embroidered Spring Blade with a backhand.

The blade flashed like lightning.

A straight white line was drawn in the darkness.

puff.

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh.

The void beast that attempted to ambush was pinned to the void by a single strike—around its corpse, the black mist took on a strange, solidified form, as if there were an invisible wall.

Three, problem solved.

Zhou Yang landed lightly on the ground.

The feeling of being grounded made him breathe a sigh of relief.

This place is a bit eerie.

Qin Shuang also landed. She walked to the corpse of the void beast and drew her knife.

The blood on the knife wasn't red, but a grayish-white liquid that emitted a nauseating, fishy stench.

"Is this the true strength of the City of Ten Thousand Beasts?"

Qin Shuang asked herself a question.

This way of communication is amazing; you can understand each other without even opening your mouth.

"This isn't a foundation, it's a watchdog."

Zhou Yang pursed his lips and shook the sticky liquid off his hands.

"Looks like we didn't come to the wrong place. I can't think of anyone else who could raise something like this, besides that old pervert Fang Tian."

As he spoke, he looked around.

After the fierce battle, the thick fog around us seemed to have been stirred up quite a bit and dissipated somewhat.

The fog thinned, revealing the scene below.

This is an altar.

To be precise, it was a small altar built from countless bones.

Right in the center of their feet, there was a lone thing stuck in the ground.

That was a bone nail.

It's only the length of a finger, its surface is blackened, and it's covered with densely packed runes. If you don't look closely, you might mistake it for a piece of rotten wood.

But Zhou Yang's pupils suddenly contracted.

This thing looks so familiar to him.

When Fang Tian died, his body was nailed to the ground with these bone nails to suppress his corpse energy.

Why is there one here too?

Moreover, judging from this, this bone nail is the "eye" of this black mist.

A strong sense of unease welled up in Zhou Yang's heart.

He walked over cautiously, reached out his hand, and his fingertips just touched the top of the bone nail.

Om-!

The system panel in my mind suddenly popped up automatically, flashing red, as if it were sounding an alarm.

【warn! 】

[A common source of contamination was detected: "Coordinates of the Corpse King's Heart".]

【warn! 】

Contact with this item may result in irreversible contamination.

Common source of pollution?

The Heart of the Corpse Emperor?

Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment.

When did this system become so verbose?

Didn't we used to just give you a properties panel and that was it?

However, this indirectly confirms his conjecture.

This bone nail was indeed left behind by Fang Tian.

Moreover, this thing is a "beacon".

Zhou Yang closed his eyes, his fingers remaining on the bone nail, but he increased the input of the Corpse Emperor's Qi.

boom!

A massive and chaotic flow of information instantly flooded his mind.

There are no visuals, only sounds.

That was Fang Tian's voice.

With a crazy, almost manic laugh.

"I've remembered... the coordinates... I've pinned them here..."

"The Black Tower... is a scam..."

"They want to use the Heart of the Corpse King to open a passage..."

"But I put a lock on it..."

"Zhou Yang... if you could make it this far..."

"Then break this lock for me..."

The sound stopped abruptly.

Zhou Yang suddenly opened his eyes, a fine layer of cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

That old fox.

They've been dead for so long, yet they're still setting things up here.

Is the Black Tower a scam?

Open the channel?

Zhou Yang took a deep breath, his eyes becoming somewhat complicated.

He initially thought it was just a simple treasure vault, or a backup plan left by Fang Tian. Little did he know, it was actually involved in a conspiracy involving the "Heart of the Corpse Emperor."

but……

Zhou Yang looked down at his hands.

The runes on the bone nail were slowly fading, seemingly because the energy inside had been exhausted due to the information transmission just now.

Since Fang Tian told him to smash the lock.

Then let's smash it.

Anyway, what he likes to do most is to cause destruction.

Whether it's a lock or a trap, as long as there's money involved or it suits his taste, he'll smash it.

"Hold on tight."

Zhou Yang turned his head and glanced at Qin Shuang.

Although Qin Shuang didn't know what he had heard, she could tell from his expression that things were serious. She didn't say anything, but simply gripped the hilt of her knife and nodded slightly.

Zhou Yang no longer hesitated.

He suddenly exerted force with his right hand.

Click!

A crisp sound.

The bone nail, which had been stuck there for who knows how many years, was forcibly pulled out.

In that instant, the entire abyss trembled.

The originally calmly flowing black mist surged wildly as if a pot had been boiled over.

The altar of withered bones beneath my feet emitted a teeth-grinding scraping sound before shattering with a deafening crash.

But strangely, it did not collapse.

Where the altar had shattered, a black staircase was revealed.

The steps continued downwards, extending deeper and darker into the underground.

At the entrance to the steps, a faint, eerie green flame could be seen flickering in the darkness.

That's... a road?

Zhou Yang weighed the bone nail in his hand, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

That old man, he even makes a big deal out of the road.

"Let's go."

He casually tucked the bone nail into his pocket.

"Let's go down and take a look."

"Let's see what kind of monsters and demons are lurking beneath this so-called Black Tower."

Zhou Yang took a step forward, and his figure disappeared at the end of the steps.

Qin Shuang followed closely behind, her blade slightly pointed outwards, her eyes wary.

The wind howled even louder in the depths of the abyss.

It was as if countless wronged souls were whispering in my ear, telling the secrets buried in this black tower for thousands of years.

The cold bone nail in Zhou Yang's arms was slightly warm, as if it were guiding something, or perhaps anticipating something.