69: Copper Armored Corpse

"Senior Martial Brother Meng!"

Fang Huai's hands trembled. He couldn't believe that in the Corpse Fiend Sect, someone could be so righteous and loyal.

It must be fake!

Meng Yi must have said that to survive!

He met Meng Yi's gaze, trying to find a hint of guilt in his eyes, but Meng Yi's gaze was firm, showing no signs of lying.

Calming himself, he said solemnly, "Senior Martial Brother Meng, I will ensure you leave the Secret Realm alive."

...When the three approached the Secret Realm exit, they found several Ascension Society Deathsworn at the Peak of Qi Refining blocking the way.

"Either consciously erase your Storage Pouch's Divine Sense and hand them over to us, or die here!"

These Deathsworn temporarily showed no signs of slaughtering Sect Cultivators, but they were also given the task of collecting Storage Pouches.

There were already a hundred Disciples from various Peaks surrounding them, including more than ten Peak Qi Refining Disciples, yet no one dared to step forward and act.

Fang Huai leaned close to a Peak Qi Refining Cultivator and whispered, "Senior Brother, what's going on?"

The Cultivator looked angry: "Damn bad luck, just for a Mysterious Yellow Earth Vein Grass, I arrived at the exit a few days late, and now these scourges are blocking the way!"

Fang Huai was puzzled: "Senior Brother is at the Peak of Qi Refining, so you must have some influence.

As long as you call out, the Disciples will respond, and scattering these blockers should be very simple, right?"

"Were your brains eaten by a Yao Beast? Whoever speaks first has to lead the charge, and might even be held accountable by the Sect later."

The Cultivator looked at Fang Huai as if he were an idiot: "Spells are indiscriminate; if you're killed by the opponent, it's your bad luck. If you kill the opponent, you'll be investigated by the Law Enforcement Hall, and even if you don't die, you'll lose a layer of skin."

"So we just wait it out like this?"

"The nearest exit from here would take three days to reach; there's no time to go there."

The Cultivator's eyes flickered: "But I don't need to worry. Just before the Secret Realm closes, everyone will definitely charge together.

At that time, with the lower-cultivation ones dying, won't I be able to get out?"

Fang Huai suddenly understood.

Let others die, not themselves—all the Cultivators had this idea.

But while the Peak Qi Refining Cultivators could remain calm, the ordinary Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators couldn't, and they all began to persuade the blockers.

"Several Senior Brothers, you are but a few people. Do you really think we hundreds of Cultivators will be afraid of you?"

"The law doesn't punish the masses. If a conflict arises and we accidentally kill you, the Sect won't blame everyone!"

"Senior Brother Hu is right! Senior Brother Hu, you lead the way, and we'll charge with you to scatter them!"

"Nonsense, why don't you lead the way first?"

"…"

They argued for a long time, with many voices, but the blockers remained unmoved.

Finally, a Qi Refining Seventh Layer Cultivator couldn't hold back and shouted, "Several Senior Brothers, I am willing to hand over my Storage Pouch."

With that, he threw his Storage Pouch to the Deathsworn: "Can you let me leave now?"

His Storage Pouch had been plundered countless times by Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters long ago.

There was no difference between handing it over or not; the sooner he handed it over, the sooner he could leave this unlucky place.

"Traitor!"

"Coward!"

"Disgraceful!"

The surrounding Disciples thought this person was going to lead the charge, but he ended up leading the surrender.

Although they cursed and swore, ultimately, no one was willing to risk their life.

Soon, a large number of Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators followed suit, reluctantly erasing their Storage Pouch's Divine Sense and handing them over to the Ascension Society Deathsworn.

Fang Huai looked around. Among the Cultivators who hadn't handed over their Storage Pouches, there were Ascension Society members, including ordinary Deathsworn and Sacred Bodies.

They were calm and unhurried, seemingly waiting for an opportune moment.

Could it be... Fang Huai's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said, "Senior Martial Brother Meng, Junior Sister, let's go!"

Liu Xiange nodded. Whatever Fang Huai said, she would follow.

"You two go," Meng Yi sighed, "At the last moment, there will definitely be many Senior Brothers unwilling to hand over their gains. I'll charge with them then."

Although Meng Yi looked like he was in his middle age, it was only because he had consumed some age-preserving herbs; in reality, he was over seventy.

He didn't have much time left for cultivation. If he handed over all his Secret Realm gains, it would mean he would stop at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining for the rest of his life.

Having fought against fate his entire life, how could he be willing to give up!

Fang Huai saw through Meng Yi's thoughts and sighed, "Senior Martial Brother Meng, if you trust me, hand over all your Secret Realm gains to me.

After we leave the Secret Realm, I will return everything to you."

Meng Yi hesitated for a moment, then finally let out a long sigh: "You saved my life, so how could I not trust you!"

With that, he took out his Storage Pouch and stored all the valuable Spiritual Items and personal Magical Artifacts with Fang Huai.

And Liu Xiange, similarly, trusted Fang Huai unconditionally and handed over her valuable items.

The three lightly leaped up and arrived at the Secret Realm exit.

When Liu Xiange and Meng Yi handed over their empty Storage Pouches, the Deathsworn immediately turned hostile.

"Even Spiritual Artifacts are gone?"

Baleful Qi flickered around them, seemingly intending to kill one to warn a hundred, to send a warning to those behind.

Fang Huai quickly blocked the two: "Fellow Senior Brothers, the three of us are together.

Yesterday, we encountered other Senior Brothers who plundered us, and we already handed over all our gains. We hope Senior Brothers will be lenient and allow us to pass."

His tone seemed anxious, but he deliberately emphasized the words "are together."

The Deathsworn looked at Fang Huai, nodded: "Makes sense. These two can leave, you stay!"

Liu Xiange and Meng Yi's expressions immediately changed drastically, and they said in unison, "No!"

Fang Huai, however, pushed them towards the exit: "Go, I promise, I will get out safely."

...Fang Huai was confident he could leave the Secret Realm safely, but he didn't understand what the Ascension Society wanted to do.

Among the Cultivators who had not yet left the Secret Realm, most were Ascension Society members, besides the Peak Qi Refining Disciples.

His gaze swept over them one by one. Jin Xiaoxiao was actually among them.

Seeing Fang Huai meet her gaze, she initially didn't recognize him and frowned.

After recognizing the eyes behind the mask, she blinked at him, her eyes full of anticipation.

What surprised him was that Shen Yuan was also in the crowd.

Although she had disguised herself, Fang Huai easily saw through it.

[Blood Jade Body (Black)] [Gu Person (Black)], Peak Qi Refining cultivation, not a Sacred Body, yet her Divine Sense hadn't been erased.

What's going on?

Could it be that she is also one of the Ascension Society's Hall Masters?

Beside Shen Yuan stood a fierce Copper-Armored Baleful Corpse, and the tags on the Baleful Corpse startled Fang Huai.

[Zhang Zhu]

[Ninth Level of Qi Refining]

[Incomplete Divine Sense (Red)] [Bronze Armored Living Corpse]

[Incomplete Divine Sense: Soul Foundation damaged, Divine Sense gradually degenerating]

[Bronze Armored Living Corpse: A Copper-Armored Baleful Corpse retaining independent consciousness, a rare treasure found in one out of ten thousand]

Didn't Zhang Zhu go to Refining Corpse Peak at Shen Yuan's invitation? How did he become Shen Yuan's Copper-Armored Baleful Corpse?

Just as Fang Huai was puzzled, an unexpected change occurred.

A Cultivator was handing his Storage Pouch to an Ascension Society Deathsworn, when the Deathsworn suddenly struck, piercing through the Cultivator's heart.

"Why?" The Cultivator's eyes were wide, disbelieving.

"Because you must die." The Deathsworn was expressionless.

"Aren't you afraid of the Karma Mirror's investigation?"

"Too much nonsense!"

The Deathsworn let out a low growl, black Baleful Qi instantly swirling around his hands, and he forcibly tore the Cultivator's body in half.

Then, his gaze swept over everyone:

"All of you, must die!"