Chapter 820: Two Streams of Life Qi
It was worth mentioning that the Swallowing-Elephant Rabbit and the Demon Ape had both refined the Half-Saint Light and broken through to the Half-Saint realm.
Zhang Ruochen was not at all surprised by this.
After all, the two of them had been staying in the Scroll World all along, enjoying ten times the time for cultivation. Moreover, the Scroll World was filled with countless spiritual medicines, which they could consume freely. Even a pig would have achieved great accomplishments under such conditions.
Xiao Hei finished inscribing the runes, then wrapped the Half-Saint corpse in a stream of Saint Qi, struck it into the bronze cauldron, and began refining it.
Zhang Ruochen chuckled. "Are you trying to forge a Half-Saint Corpse Soldier Legion?"
Xiao Hei glanced at Zhang Ruochen. "This Emperor currently has one hundred and forty-four Half-Saint corpses. If all of them are refined into corpse soldiers, they can form four legions, each with thirty-six soldiers."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Using the Blood of the Black Tortoise Saint to refine the corpse soldiers should make them stronger than ordinary ones, right?"
Xiao Hei nodded. "The first thirty-four corpse soldiers this Emperor refined were all ordinary ones, with combat power roughly equivalent to a first-stage Half-Saint at the initial level.
Later, this Emperor refined them once using the Blood of the Black Tortoise Saint. The resulting corpse soldiers had combat power comparable to a first-stage Half-Saint at the mid-level. Some of the stronger ones could even contend with a first-stage Half-Saint at the peak. As for their defensive power, it was even more terrifying, matching that of a second-stage Half-Saint."
Even among Half-Saint corpses, there were significant differences.
For instance, the corpse of a first-stage Half-Saint and that of a ninth-stage Half-Saint were fundamentally different in terms of physique. When refined into corpse soldiers, their combat power naturally varied to some extent.
Zhang Ruochen was slightly startled. "Such a big difference?"
"This Emperor was also quite surprised, which is why he decided to be a bit extravagant and use the Blood of the Black Tortoise Saint to refine the corpse soldiers," Xiao Hei said with a grin. "I just hope you won't feel too pained."
Every drop of the Blood of the Black Tortoise Saint was priceless. Refining a single corpse soldier required a massive amount of it. It was very likely that refining all one hundred and forty-four Half-Saint corpses would consume most of the saint blood.
Zhang Ruochen didn't feel particularly distressed. After all, one hundred and forty-four Half-Saint corpse soldiers represented a formidable force, enough to sweep through a Saint clan.
Of course, that was assuming the Saint of that clan didn't intervene. Otherwise, no matter how many corpse soldiers there were, they wouldn't be able to stop a Saint.
Xiao Hei added, "If time permits, this Emperor also plans to use the shell of the Azure Flame Black Tortoise to forge armor for all of them. Ideally, each one should also be equipped with a Sacred Artifact. Only then can they be truly invincible, sweeping away everything."
"One hundred and forty-four Sacred Artifacts? Do you think Sacred Artifacts are as common as cabbages? Even the treasury of a medieval aristocratic clan probably doesn't have that many Sacred Artifacts, unless..."
Zhang Ruochen's smile faded, and he fell silent.
"Unless what?" Xiao Hei asked.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "Nothing."
Just now, Zhang Ruochen had thought of the treasury of the Holy Bright Central Empire. The treasury stored a vast number of divine weapons and treasures, including countless Sacred Artifacts—wealth accumulated by the Zhang Clan from ancient times to the present.
Unfortunately, all that wealth had likely fallen into the hands of Empress Chi Yao. What use was there in mentioning it now?
Zhang Ruochen asked, "How long will it take you to refine all the corpse soldiers?"
"At least three months."
Xiao Hei extended three claws, speaking with a serious tone.
Zhang Ruochen frowned. "Three months in the Scroll World means nine days in the outside world. That's enough time for many things to happen. How about this: you refine the corpse soldiers in the Scroll World, and I'll go scout the Ghost Spirit Valley first."
Mu Lingxi was sitting on a nearby rock, holding a copy of the Death Zen Buddhist Scripture, reading it with full concentration as she studied the method of controlling corpse soldiers.
Hearing Zhang Ruochen's words, she closed the book and stood up. "I'll go with you to the Ghost Spirit Valley."
Zhang Ruochen smiled and shook his head. "Senior Sister Duanmu, you should focus on studying the Death Zen Buddhist Scripture first. Although it's an evil cultivation method, it has many merits and will greatly benefit your cultivation."
"Are you saying my cultivation is too low and I'll hold you back? Hah, want to have a fight?"
Mu Lingxi clasped her hands together, and streams of Saint Qi surged from her palms, flying toward the thirty-six Half-Saint corpse soldiers.
The thirty-six corpse soldiers lit up with densely packed runes, manifesting thirty-six massive Black Tortoise phantom shadows behind her.
Each corpse soldier was like a battle formation.
When the thirty-six corpse soldiers combined, they formed an even larger battle formation, with Mu Lingxi as the formation's eye, merging the power of all thirty-six corpse soldiers into herself.
In an instant, the aura Mu Lingxi emitted was comparable to a third-stage Half-Saint.
A powerful, murderous battle qi swept across hundreds of miles, causing the sky and earth to change color and the spiritual energy of the world to tremble violently.
Zhang Ruochen could see that Mu Lingxi was struggling to control the thirty-six corpse soldiers. Beads of sweat kept forming on her forehead. Yet, to prove her strength, she persisted.
The fact that she could initially master the Death Zen Buddhist Scripture in such a short time showed that her comprehension was extraordinary, rivaling even the Nine Realm Sons.
However, after only three breaths, Mu Lingxi could no longer hold on and lost control of the thirty-six corpse soldiers.
"How infuriating."
Mu Lingxi stomped her foot in frustration.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Senior Sister Duanmu, this time I'm only going to scout the Ghost Spirit Valley first, not recklessly enter it. Once I've gathered enough information, you should have fully mastered the Death Zen Buddhist Scripture. Then, I'll definitely take you into the Ghost Spirit Valley."
Mu Lingxi blinked her eyes. "Really?"
"I never break my word." Zhang Ruochen's gaze was serious.
Anyone who saw his eyes would never doubt his words.
"Alright."
Mu Lingxi extended a slender finger and poked Zhang Ruochen's chest, pouting as she threatened, "If you dare lie to me, once we leave the Underworld, I'll go tell Sister Chen and have her deal with you."
Zhang Ruochen just smiled faintly, not taking her threat seriously.
Zhang Ruochen entered the interior of the Azure Flame Black Tortoise's body, extracted the Death Evil Qi, and refined six black evil beads.
The power of the Death Evil Qi was terrifying. Even Shengshu Cainü had fallen victim to it before, nearly dying at the hands of a Half-Saint.
Zhang Ruochen refined the six Death Evil Qi beads as a precaution.
They might not be very effective against the undead of the Underworld, but against invincible human cultivators or savage beasts, they could play a huge role and might even save his life.
Zhang Ruochen carefully stored the six Death Evil Qi beads and asked Xiao Hei, "I asked you to keep an eye on the Blood Moon Ghost King. Do you know where she is now?"
"Uh..."
Xiao Hei paused for a moment, then looked up, his eyes rolling around. "Forgot."
Zhang Ruochen's forehead immediately sprouted black lines. He wanted nothing more than to give this fat cat a beating. Just when he thought Xiao Hei was being reliable, he would immediately do something irresponsible.
"No rush. Even if her cultivation is high, she can't cause much trouble in the Scroll World," Xiao Hei said confidently, patting his belly with his paw. "Let this Emperor check where she is now."
Xiao Hei closed his eyes, meditated for a moment, and then said, "She's currently at the location of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree."
"What? Not good."
Zhang Ruochen's expression changed slightly, and he immediately activated his movement technique, rushing toward the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree.
He wasn't worried that the Blood Moon Ghost King would cut down the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree. After all, even though it was just a sapling, her cultivation wasn't enough to sever it.
What truly worried Zhang Ruochen was the remains of Xuanji Sword Saint.
After all, the remains still contained some remnants of Xuanji Sword Saint's soul. Who knew if the Blood Moon Ghost King would extract those remnants to boost her own cultivation?
When Zhang Ruochen arrived beside Xuanji Sword Saint's remains, he didn't see the Blood Moon Ghost King and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Xiao Hei is too unreliable. I need to carefully preserve my master's remains first."
Zhang Ruochen was about to store his master's remains into his Space Ring, but as he crouched down, he was shocked to find that the sword wound on Xuanji Sword Saint's chest had healed.
How could a wound on a corpse heal on its own?
"How is this possible?"
Zhang Ruochen felt a chill run down his spine, and his heartbeat quickened at least twofold. He immediately reached out and pressed a hand against Xuanji Sword Saint's wrist.
It was still ice-cold, with no signs of life.
"A wound on a corpse doesn't heal for no reason."
Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged on the ground and activated his Divine Mark Eye, finally observing some strange phenomena invisible to the naked eye.
In the surrounding space, two streams of life qi were flowing from two different directions, continuously pouring into Xuanji Sword Saint's brow.
The two streams of life qi came from the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree and the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin, respectively.
The Sky-Connecting Divine Tree had already developed intelligence, so it was normal for it to produce life qi. There was nothing surprising about that. When the life qi produced by the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree reached a certain concentration, it would turn into liquid and eventually form a new Life Spring.
What truly shocked Zhang Ruochen was the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin. How could it also release life qi?
Zhang Ruochen immediately walked over to the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin, gently stroking its surface before activating his Divine Mark Eye to peer inside.
"Whoosh—"
The Divine Mark Eye was even more miraculous than the Heavenly Eye, penetrating the coffin wall and locking onto the female corpse inside. Zhang Ruochen saw another astonishing sight.
"Blood Moon Ghost King." Zhang Ruochen exclaimed.
The female corpse inside the coffin was none other than the Blood Moon Ghost King.
No, to be precise, it was a female corpse that looked exactly like the Blood Moon Ghost King.
However, while the Blood Moon Ghost King was filled with deathly qi, this one was brimming with life qi. It was bizarre to the extreme.
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