119: Entrapment and the Golden Core Corpse King

Deep within the underground fissure of the abandoned mining area.

A chilling wind howled, biting cold. The concentration of Evil Qi here was visible to the naked eye, transforming into wisps of black flocculent matter drifting in the air.

"Click, click, click."

Heavy footsteps broke the dead silence.

The three-zhang tall "Iron Pillar" walked at the very front. Its body, reinforced with Purple Copper Essence, emitted a reassuring metallic luster in this gloomy environment. With each step, it crushed several withered bones, producing crisp cracking sounds.

Zhou Wannian (Old Man Han) followed behind, clutching three golden Talismans in his hand, his Divine Sense fully open, covering a fifty-zhang radius around him.

Ling Yunxiao and Li Feiyu guarded the flanks, one on each side, their Magical Artifacts imbued with evil warding talismans, their palms sweating from tension.

"Old Man Han, this place is a bit sinister."

Li Feiyu swallowed, "That shadow that just passed by seemed to have no feet..."

"That's a vengeful spirits, a low-level one."

Zhou Wannian didn't even turn his head. "Iron Pillar's Evil Qi is heavier than theirs, so they don't dare to approach. Don't get distracted, watch your step, and don't tread on 'Corpse Explosion Mushrooms'."

The group cautiously advanced three li.

Finally, an open underground plaza appeared before them.

In the center of the plaza stood a dilapidated black stone tablet—the [Spirit Suppressing Stele].

Around the stone tablet lay countless incomplete skeletons, some even still wearing the standard battle armor of the Star Palace.

And beneath the stone tablet, a tall figure sat cross-legged.

It wore a purple robe, long rotted into strips (which was the attire of a Star Palace Elder), its long hair scattered like withered grass, obscuring its face. In its arms, it tightly clutched a jade box emitting a faint blue glow.

Although it remained motionless, the terrifying pressure emanating from its body caused Zhou Wannian and the others to hold their breath.

"Golden Core Stage..."

Ling Yunxiao's face was pale, his telepathic voice trembling. "Old Man Han, is that the Corpse King? This pressure... it's even stronger than my father's!"

"That's its lingering might from when it was alive."

Zhou Wannian narrowed his eyes, activating Spiritual Sight Technique.

"Enveloped in Death Qi, its Divine Soul has dispersed, leaving only a shell that moves by obsession and Evil Qi. Although its Physical Body is comparable to a Golden Core Magic Treasure, its brain..."

Zhou Wannian pointed to its head, "is empty."

"As long as it has no brain, it's not invincible."

He waved his hand, signaling everyone to stop.

"Proceed as planned."

"Fei Yu, take the others and set up the Formation Flags for the 'Corpse Trapping Spirit Locking Formation' around the plaza. Be gentle, don't alert it."

"Ling Yunxiao, go behind the rocks on the left and set up those three 'Modified spirit gathering cannons' (semi-finished products brought from Zhenhai City, two of which have been repaired)."

"Iron Pillar, prepare to tank."

Zhou Wannian himself took out a sealed clay pot from his Storage Pouch.

The pot contained... black dog blood, mixed with 'Hundred-Year Cinnabar' and 'Fiery Sun Grass Juice' he collected on Qiyuan Island.

This was a "super bait" specifically for malevolent entities.

"Let's begin."

Zhou Wannian took a deep breath, and flicked his finger lightly.

Snap.

The clay pot flew out and shattered thirty zhang away from the Corpse King.

The pungent scent of blood mixed with extreme Yang Qi instantly exploded in this eerie underground space.

For the sleeping Corpse King, this was like throwing a piece of bloody fresh meat in front of a hungry shark.

"Roar..."

The Corpse King, previously like a statue, suddenly trembled violently.

It slowly raised its head.

It was a face as withered as tree bark, with hollow eyes, where only two clusters of eerie green ghost fire flickered.

It smelled that scent, which it loathed yet desperately craved.

"ROAR!!!"

A roar, its sound wave spreading like a tangible force, shook the surrounding gravel, causing them to fall clattering.

The Corpse King suddenly stood up, transforming into a black afterimage, and lunged directly at the puddle of dog blood.

"Act!"

Zhou Wannian roared.

"Activate the Formation!"

Li Feiyu and the others instantly activated the Formation Flags.

Buzz!

Twelve golden pillars of light shot up into the sky, forming a massive golden cage that tightly enveloped the Corpse King's figure, which had just rushed out.

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—"

The Corpse King crashed into the light barrier, large patches of black smoke rising from its body, letting out a mournful shriek.

But after all, it possessed a Golden Core Physical Body.

"Bang!"

It punched the light barrier, causing the golden light to tremble violently, and Li Feiyu and the others, who were maintaining the Formation, all spat out a mouthful of blood.

"This strength is too great! We can't hold it!"

"I didn't expect you to hold it! Iron Pillar, go!"

Zhou Wannian changed his hand Seals.

The "Iron Pillar," which had been ready to strike, charged out with a rumble. Its massive body, like a heavy war chariot, slammed fiercely into the Corpse King.

Thud!

The two figures, one large and one small, collided.

The seemingly enormous Iron Pillar was actually sent back three steps by a single slap from the seemingly slender Corpse King, its chest plate dented inwards.

The power of the Golden Core Stage was terrifying indeed.

But Iron Pillar felt no pain, nor fear.

Under Zhou Wannian's control, it tightly embraced the Corpse King's waist, its ferocious "arm blade" on its right arm wildly slicing at the Corpse King's back, sparks flying everywhere.

"Roar!"

The Corpse King was enraged, grabbing Iron Pillar's shoulders, intending to tear it apart.

"Now! Fire!"

Zhou Wannian roared.

Hiding behind the rocks, Ling Yunxiao's eyes were bloodshot as he fiercely pressed the launch button of the spirit gathering cannon.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three dazzling white beams of light, carrying an aura that purified everything, precisely struck the Corpse King, which was tightly held by Iron Pillar.

For these three shots, Zhou Wannian didn't use ordinary Spirit Stones, but rather... thunder spirit pearls!

Thunder light exploded.

The Corpse King let out an earth-shattering shriek. Its indestructible Physical Body, under the bombardment of the thunder cannons, finally developed scorched black cracks, and black corpse blood gushed out.

"Not dead yet?"

Zhou Wannian's pupils contracted.

After taking three thunder cannons head-on, this monster's vitality was abnormally tenacious.

At this moment, the Corpse King had completely gone mad.

It suddenly exerted force, actually tearing off one of Iron Pillar's arms, then kicked the colossal Puppet flying.

Then, it turned its head, its eerie green ghost fire eyes locking onto Zhou Wannian.

It instinctively sensed that this old man was the biggest threat.

Whoosh!

The Corpse King vanished from its spot.

The next moment, it appeared before Zhou Wannian, its withered sharp claws whistling as they tore through the air, grabbing towards Zhou Wannian's crown.

Too fast!

So fast that there was no time to even blink.

But there was no panic on Zhou Wannian's face; instead, a hint of a... smug sneer appeared.

"I was waiting for you to get close."

He didn't dodge.

He just gently uttered a single word:

"Explode."

Boom!!!

Centered on Zhou Wannian, the ground within a three-zhang radius suddenly exploded.

That was no ordinary explosion.

It was a "Talisman Formation Storm" formed by the simultaneous detonation of dozens of "Second-Tier Top-Grade Corpse Suppressing Talismans"!

It turned out that he had long used himself as bait, burying the true killing move beneath his feet.

The golden runic storm instantly engulfed the Corpse King.

That purifying power, specifically targeting malevolent entities, made the Corpse King feel as if it were in a melting pot.

"Ah—!!!"

The Corpse King shrieked, its skin and flesh beginning to melt and peel off.

But it still wasn't dead, and its sharp claw tenaciously reached for Zhou Wannian.

"Go to hell."

Zhou Wannian flicked his sleeve.

The palm thunder tube, already fully charged and even overheating to a red glow, slid into his hand and was pressed directly against the Corpse King's forehead.

This time, it was loaded with a... [Purple Heavens Divine Thunder Pearl (Defective Version)].

This was a one-time killing weapon he forcibly condensed using a trace of the Origin from that almost abandoned thunder spirit pearl.

"Goodbye."

Bang!

A purple lightning bolt erupted at point-blank range.

The Corpse King's head exploded like a rotten watermelon.

The headless corpse swayed twice, then finally fell powerlessly, turning into a puddle of black water.

Everything returned to calm.

"Hoo... hoo..."

Zhou Wannian plopped onto the ground, his face pale. In that instant, if he had been even half a beat slower, his head would have been moved.

"This is called... seeking wealth in danger."

He wiped away his cold sweat, glanced at the severely damaged Iron Pillar not far away, and winced with a pang of heartache.

"The repair cost... will be astronomical."

"Old Man Han! Are you alright?"

Ling Yunxiao and Li Feiyu rushed over, staring dumbfounded at the headless corpse on the ground.

That was a Golden Core Corpse King!

It was just... ambushed and killed?

"Stop talking nonsense, clear the battlefield."

Zhou Wannian waved his hand, his gaze falling upon the jade box that had rolled to the side from the Corpse King's embrace.

Even during the battle, this Corpse King had desperately protected this box.

Zhou Wannian walked over and picked up the jade box.

A Seal Talisman, long Failure, was affixed to the jade box.

"Click."

He opened the box.

Inside lay a hexagonal token, ancient in design and entirely crafted from star gold.

The front of the token was engraved with: [Tianxing · Inner].

The back was engraved with: [Towards Past Glory].

"Star Palace Secret Key..."

Zhou Wannian held the cold token, feeling the immense spatial power contained within it.

Just then, the Heavenly Secret Dao Disk in his embrace vibrated slightly.

[Obtained key item: Ancient Tianxing Token (Incomplete).]

[Hidden dungeon unlock condition: 1/3.]

[Hint: This token is one of the keys to activate the teleportation Formation of the 'Underwater Ancient City'. Collect all three to open the path to the 'Chaotic Star Sea · True Core'.]

"True core?"

Zhou Wannian's heart stirred.

Could it be that the current Dual Sages of Tianxing City are only guarding an outer shell?

The true secret is hidden beneath the sea?

"Interesting."

Zhou Wannian put away the token and glanced at the Spirit Suppressing Stele again.

The inscription on the stele was blurry, but beneath the stele's base, there was indeed a sealed teleportation Formation pattern.

"This is the entrance to the Ancient City."

"However, now is not the time to go in."

Zhou Wannian was well aware that with his current strength, let alone exploring the Ancient City, even entering it could result in instant death from the Restrictions within.

"Let's Seal this place up first."

"This will be our Green Robe Tower's top-secret Forbidden Ground from now on."

He stood up, looking at the mess on the ground and the remains of the Golden Core Corpse King.

"Take this corpse with us too."

"Golden Core Stage bones are perfect for upgrading Iron Pillar's Materials."

"We've really cleaned out this ancient battlefield, taking everything we could."

As the afterglow of the setting sun once again illuminated the mine shaft.

The members of Green Robe Tower, laden with spoils of war and dragging the damaged Puppet, emerged from underground.

Although they were all covered in dirt and grime, each one stood tall and straight.

Because they knew that from today onwards.

In this cruel Outer Star Sea, they were no longer a motley crew to be slaughtered at will.

They had their own trump cards, their own secrets, and also... the capital to challenge higher realms.

And Zhou Wannian, touched the cold ancient token on his chest.

His gaze had already passed Qiyuan Island, looking towards the even more unfathomable... Inner Sea.