26: Burn your lifespan to find out the truth!

Corpse Refining Cave.

Shi Chuan, in the dark, fiendish mist, sat casually on a cliff face.

His vision now included a Corpse Crow's perspective.

Before Shi Chuan left, he had already released the Corpse Crow to monitor Qin Zhizhi.

His reconnaissance and probing this time would inevitably scare away this prey, causing her to flee the Corpse Refining Cave. If she really left the Corpse Refining Cave and went to a market or something similar, he would miss the prime opportunity to act.

He naturally wouldn't let this prey, practically in his grasp, escape.

Just now, Shi Chuan had already learned of her background: a Qi Refining second-layer Cultivator. If she Cultivated the Corpse Raising Art, she might only need a few days to reach Qi Refining first-layer and be promoted to a menial Disciple.

It would be a pity to kill such a weak Blood Spirit Body, who could also consume her Lifespan to activate the second-tier Magical Artifact within her body.

If he could control her and make her serve him, he could obtain more information about the Jiao Demon Sect from Qin Zhizhi.

Moreover, if the Jiao Demon Sect were to make a move against the Yellow Springs Demon Sect, people like Qin Zhizhi would surely be notified in advance. Why not have an extra source of information?

“Divine Soul Control Art!”

“Puppet Talisman!”

“And the tentacles of the Demonic Fiend Vine.”

Shi Chuan already had a plan.

The tentacles of this Demonic Fiend Vine also seemed to have a control effect, truly a marvel of heaven and earth.

...

In the Corpse Refining Cave, inside her stone chamber, Qin Zhizhi was restless.

She only felt a little at ease when she sensed the Magical Artifact's fluctuations within her Dantian.

“I’ll move to the Market now!”

Whenever Qin Zhizhi recalled the tall, thin, bronze-masked old man, she felt unsettled.

Inside the stone chamber.

Qin Zhizhi was controlling a low-grade Corpse Puppet she had subdued overnight, preparing to leave the Corpse Refining Cave.

The Corpse Puppet’s body was thin and weak, with many decaying spots on its panels. Having only recently been promoted to a low-grade Corpse Puppet, it could only contend with Qi Refining first or second-layer Body Cultivators.

This Corpse Puppet could definitely sell for one or two Spirit Stones in the Market.

At least she could settle down in the Nine Bend Market first, and then seek a livelihood there.

Stepping out of the stone chamber.

Qin Zhizhi headed straight for the gravel mountain path leading up from the Corpse Refining Cave, without any hesitation.

As for Qin Zhizhi's identity as a hidden agent, she only knew of one Senior Sister who was also from the Jiao Demon Sect. Because that Senior Sister had a three-Spiritual Root Aptitude, she was selected and could directly become an Outer Sect Disciple on Corpse Refining Peak!

When she went to the Market and later reconnected with her Senior Sister, her Senior Sister could also assist her in Cultivation.

On the gravel mountain path.

Obscured by dark mist, she could hear low growls from all around the jungle, as if many Corpse Puppets, about to gain sentience, were eyeing her covetously from within the jungle.

Strands of Spiritual Qi circulated within Qin Zhizhi, resisting the chilling, fiendish Qi emanating from all directions.

“This is...”

Suddenly, six low-grade Corpse Puppets appeared on the path ahead. These Corpse Puppets were all burly, seemingly having been cultivated for several months or more.

The Corpse Puppets held rusty swords, and the leading Corpse Puppet exuded a heavy Corpse Qi, giving off a sense of oppression.

“An ambush!”

“Run!”

In an instant, Qin Zhizhi's pupils contracted.

She immediately activated her spiritual power, turned and ran, while simultaneously controlling the low-grade Corpse Puppet beside her, ordering it to fight desperately against the Corpse Puppets blocking the way.

But after Qin Zhizhi turned and ran for a dozen steps.

In the dark, fiendish mist, three more Corpse Puppets appeared, and a robust, massive Corpse Hound was faintly discernible in a shadow of dark fiendish Qi.

Yao Puppet!?

Seeing this, Qin Zhizhi felt a chill run down her spine.

Between a rock and a hard place.

Is it that veteran Disciple of the Sect!?

Qin Zhizhi recalled, it could only be that veteran Disciple targeting her.

Did that guy see through my identity?

How could that be? It was a Restriction personally set by the Elder.

But now was not the time for questions.

Qin Zhizhi didn't want to die. She possessed a Spiritual Physique, had just embarked on the path of Cultivation, and had so many things to accomplish. How could she die in this place!

In a flash, Qin Zhizhi made a certain decision in her heart. To escape, she could only use the blood serpent pearl Magical Artifact within her body.

She would have to burn her Lifespan.

“Then I’ll just burn it!”

Qin Zhizhi looked back behind her. The six low-grade Corpse Puppets easily crushed her Corpse Puppet and charged at her like galloping horses.

The next moment, Qin Zhizhi’s eyes and skin began to turn red, and blood vessels, like earthworms, protruded from her skin.

She began to emit waves of heat, and her robes moved without wind.

“Roar!”

A mighty beast roar emanated from within Qin Zhizhi, astonishing in its power.

Crack, crack, crack!

Qin Zhizhi’s body swelled significantly, and a protruding, blood-red fleshy lump even grew on her forehead. The lump emitted a faint red glow, as if something was gestating within it.

At the same time, white hairs visibly grew on Qin Zhizhi’s black hair.

Her Lifespan was rapidly burning.

At least one year of Lifespan was consumed per breath.

With the one hundred thirty to forty years of Lifespan of an Early Stage Qi Refining Cultivator, it wouldn't last long.

At this moment, Qin Zhizhi could clearly sense the power feedback from the Blood蛟 within her, and an endless surge of power erupted from her body.

Now with a burly Physique, Qin Zhizhi’s hands were like the sharp claws of a Yao Beast, as keen as curved blades.

Some fine red scales had also grown on her forearms, as if she had transformed into a half-Yao.

“Bang!” Qin Zhizhi suddenly turned around and, with one palm, smashed the head of a Corpse Puppet that had lunged close to her.

The headless Corpse Puppet was sent flying a dozen steps away, landing against the trunk of an ancient tree in the mountain forest, sending a large number of withered leaves fluttering down. The immense force was astonishing.

She was comparable to a top-tier Mid-Stage Qi Refining Body Cultivator.

“Bang, bang, bang...”

The five Corpse Puppets behind her were all sent flying within less than a breath. The heads of each Corpse Puppet were smashed by the immense force, and their shattered remains were scattered all around.

After dealing with the six Corpse Puppets blocking her way.

Qin Zhizhi did not linger for a second, and began to sprint towards the top of the Corpse Refining Cave.

The ones ambushing her were only low-grade Corpse Puppets, and the leader was merely a mid-grade Corpse Puppet.

If the one acting behind her was merely that so-called veteran Disciple who selected Corpse Servants, then it meant that very few people knew about her special identity.

If she could escape the confines of the Corpse Refining Cave now, she would still have a chance to live!

...

At this moment, several hundred steps away from Qin Zhizhi, Shi Chuan, standing on black clouds, clearly saw Qin Zhizhi burning her Lifespan and activating the Magical Artifact's power through the Corpse Crow's perspective.

“Her Physique enhancement has already neared Late Stage Qi Refining.”

“This semi-Yao appearance suggests that the second-tier Magical Artifact must have been refined from some kind of beast.”

“Her magical power enhancement is unknown, but it’s highly likely near Late Stage Qi Refining.”

“Her strength standard is roughly that of a Qi Refining seventh-layer Cultivator who practices Dual Cultivation of both magic and body!”

“If that’s the case, then it’ll be easy.”

Shi Chuan made his decision.

The black clouds under his feet sped straight towards the rapidly fleeing Qin Zhizhi. At the same time, he ordered the Corpse Crow to intercept Qin Zhizhi.

The Horned Python Demon Soul within the Profound Yin Banner seemed to sense something.

It thrashed restlessly within the banner, growling repeatedly, emitting a Divine Soul fluctuation that indicated a desire to fly out of the Profound Yin Banner.