Chapter 37: Prison Cage Part 2

Chaosheng looked down at the wound and saw corpse poison slowly seeping in along it. Wu Yingzong instinctively blocked it, but Chaosheng said, “Don’t block it. Let me heal you.”

Green light glowed from Chaosheng’s hand as he pressed it to Wu Yingzong’s thigh. Suddenly, Wu Yingzong signaled Chaosheng to be careful. Both looked up warily.

Silently, War Dead Corpse Ghosts appeared from all directions, surrounding their location.

“My friend,” a voice said, “my brother is unskilled. For the sake of our shared Yao Clan kinship, how about giving this unworthy one some face and releasing him?”

A War Dead Corpse Ghost general emerged from the crowd. He wore full-body armor, rode a tall Iron Armored Horse, and wielded a long halberd. The corpse ghost soldiers around raised their shields, forming an ironclad formation about fifty paces away and creating a massive encirclement.

Wu Yingzong scanned their surroundings, guessing that Zheng Yong had secretly signaled his superiors.

“Unskilled? Then he should stay home and train properly. The mortal world is very dangerous,” Wu Yingzong replied.

“I wonder how we’ve offended you two?” the War Dead Corpse Ghost general said. “With your heaven-defying abilities, brother, why bully a junior?”

Wu Yingzong said sternly, “This is an order from my Master. If you don’t want to get involved, leave now.”

The general sneered. “So you refuse to release him. Do you know that a great war will soon erupt in the Tianshan North and South Domains?”

Wu Yingzong replied, “That’s not my concern. I’ve gone to great lengths today to capture him, so I have no intention of handing him over.”

Chaosheng’s gaze lingered on the general, unsure of his cultivation base. But seeing Wu Yingzong’s calm demeanor, he dismissed his worries.

In that instant, an explosion rumbled from afar, like muffled thunder blooming under the southwestern clouds. The ground shook repeatedly—that was the direction Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian had gone earlier.

Wu Yingzong looked up sharply, weighing the priorities, when the War Dead Corpse Ghost general thrust his halberd forward and said gravely, “Charge.”

Instantly, War Dead Corpse Ghosts wielding sturdy shields rushed in from all sides, intending to crush them in the center. Wu Yingzong scooped up Chaosheng and let out an ape howl, transforming into a massive white ape over a zhang tall. He charged straight into the formation.

Chaosheng sat on the white ape’s shoulder, shaking his sleeve to manifest the Mountains and Rivers Sheji Map. The ground heaved dramatically, sending nearly a thousand War Dead Corpse Ghosts tumbling from their mounts. The white ape seized the opening and broke through the encirclement.

The general never imagined Chaosheng possessed such a Super Magical Treasure. He signaled, and thousands of War Dead Corpse Ghosts refused to give up, regrouping and giving chase on Corpse Warhorses. Chaosheng shouted, “Watch out for arrows from behind!”

The white ape dashed up a high ground, then swooped down. The War Dead Corpse Ghost general led his troops in pursuit, the soldiers loosing arrows in volleys from horseback. Arrows rained down like a storm while the white ape ran at full speed, carrying Chaosheng on his shoulder. They trailed smoke and dust across the vast wilderness, heading southwest across the land.

North of Kizil, Deep Wasteland:

“You must entrust yourselves to each other without reservation. You will be the lone spark of light amid the dark cataclysm…” Shuhu’s voice echoed through the dream realm.

Xiang Xian hovered in the air, wielding the Wisdom Sword that spewed black fire. He had transformed into an unparalleled demon god upon the vast earth, his voice resounding through the dream realm: “Xiao Kun, I hate you.”

Numerous scenes flashed by. In the instant Kaifeng’s fireworks bloomed, Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun sat on a rooftop. Xiang Xian draped an arm over Xiao Kun’s shoulder, leaned in, and kissed his cheek. Xiao Kun’s face instantly flushed red.

“Xiang Xian—!” The scene shifted. Xiao Kun wielded two Tang Dao, guarding the altar where the Heart Lamp had appeared. Xiang Xian’s hands covered the Heart Lamp, its light sweeping over his entire body.

“It’s… resisting me!” Xiang Xian shouted, while the Wisdom Sword vibrated ceaselessly.

The myriad scenes converged, pouring into Xiao Kun’s indigo-blue eyes like countless shards slamming into his mind.

He opened his eyes.

“Lord Xiao!” Hulü Guang said anxiously beside him.

Xiao Kun lay deep in a secluded cave—a natural wind-sheltered grotto formed by Gobi rocks and boulders. Fissures in the ceiling let in shafts of daylight. Outside, gales howled, whipping up a sandstorm as fine sand trickled slowly through the cracks.

The ground was covered in soft, fine dust. Xiao Kun pushed himself up with one hand, coughing violently. Crimson blood splattered across his chest, and Xiang Xian’s Wisdom Sword lay beside him.

“Lord Xiao!” Hulü Guang was extremely worried. “Are you alright?!”

Xiao Kun felt as if his entire body was about to tear apart. He had been bleeding nonstop, and even slight movements caused excruciating pain.

“Xiang Xian?!” Xiao Kun suddenly remembered. “Xiang Xian!”

He struggled to stand, but Hulü Guang said, “No! You’re badly injured! I need to take you back to Chaosheng! He’ll surely heal you!”

Xiao Kun’s mind blurred. Hulü Guang half-supported him as he asked, “Where is this place?”

Hulü Guang replied, “Northwest of the Wuzat River, at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. During the sandstorm, a man brought us here…”

A figure emerged from the depths of the cave, approaching Xiao Kun and Hulü Guang. Hulü Guang looked up and saw him dressed in warrior garb, tall and slender, his face covered by a black cloth, revealing only his eyes.

He had indigo-blue eyes identical to Xiao Kun’s.

Xiao Kun, in great pain, met his gaze. A sound emanated from his throat.

The two pairs of indigo-blue eyes locked. Flowing light bloomed in the man’s eyes, connecting with Xiao Kun’s. In that brief instant, the light in Xiao Kun’s eyes vanished, and he collapsed.

“Lord Xiao!”

“Shh.” The man raised a finger. “Let him sleep. He’s exhausted. I promise you, he’s safe here.”

Hulü Guang stared in shock and suspicion. The man added, “Go find your companions—bring whoever it is here. Hurry.”