Chapter 135: The Corpse of the Underworld

"Ling Yun!" Zhang Xinyi screamed, rushing to Ling Yun's side.

Ling Yun was covered in blood, his entire right leg missing. His breathing was shallow, and he looked as if he could die at any moment.

"Second... Second Miss, run quickly," Ling Yun said, struggling to pry his eyes open just a crack.

"I won't leave. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have come here," Zhang Xinyi said, her voice filled with grief.

"Ha, what a touching scene."

The middle-aged woman clapped her hands, walking toward Zhang Xinyi as she spoke.

"I'll kill you!"

With a roar and fire in her eyes, Zhang Xinyi drew a soft sword from her waist and moved with agile steps to strike at the woman.

"Too weak."

The woman said coldly, flicking her hand to release a burst of energy that struck Zhang Xinyi squarely in the chest.

*Bang.*

Zhang Xinyi was sent flying four or five meters backward, landing on the ground unconscious.

"Let's go."

The woman said expressionlessly. She grabbed Zhang Xinyi by the hair and dragged her toward the depths of the mine. Wei Hao licked his lips, grabbed the fallen Ling Yun, and quickly followed.

...

Lin Yi realized that this coal mine was truly vast. After walking for a while, his pockets were already filled with five Yin Soul Stones.

"Huh? There's such a large Yin Soul Stone over there."

Lin Yi’s eyes brightened. Five hundred meters away lay a Yin Soul Stone the size of a human head. This single stone alone was enough to refine three spiritual artifacts.

As Lin Yi reached out to grab it, a white figure suddenly emerged, lunging to bite at his arm.

"A remnant soul?"

Lin Yi frowned slightly. This remnant soul was very weak; its strength in life likely did not exceed that of a Grandmaster. As soon as it touched the protective true energy around Lin Yi’s body, it dissipated instantly. This must be what Old Man Jin called a ghost.

Lin Yi pocketed the stone. Without realizing it, he had arrived at a tunnel. "The yin energy is heavier here; there should be more Yin Soul Stones." Without hesitation, he strode inside.

...

The middle-aged woman led the group to the deepest part of the mine. The space was wide, roughly the size of two basketball courts. The surrounding walls were embedded with many emerald-green gems that emitted a faint fluorescent glow. In the center of the floor was a circular blood pool three meters in diameter, filled with a crimson liquid.

As soon as the woman arrived, the calm blood pool began to churn. A blood-red hand suddenly extended from the pool, grabbing Lu Fang, who was being carried by Wei Hao.

*Thump.*

Lu Fang was dragged into the pool, followed by a harsh, grating sound of chewing.

"Lu Fang!" Wei Hao turned pale.

"Don't go over there!"

The middle-aged woman barked a command, her expression grim. She hadn't expected to lose a subordinate the moment they arrived.

"But Lu Fang..." Wei Hao was unwilling to let it go. Lu Fang was his close friend; not only had he been killed right before his eyes, but judging by the sound, his body was being devoured.

"You’d only be throwing your life away," the woman said coldly. The Yin Puppet Sect had no need for friendship; the only things worth trusting were the Yin Corpses one controlled.

Wei Hao fell silent. Soon, the chewing sounds in the pool ceased. The woman then produced a bone flute the size of a palm from her robes and began to play softly.

The blood pool churned again, and a completely crimson Yin Corpse surfaced. The corpse was tall—at least two and a half meters—with a broad build. Its forearms were as thick as an adult's thigh; its mere presence was oppressive.

"Wei Hao, wake those two up," the woman commanded urgently.

Wei Hao said nothing, feeding a pill to both Zhang Xinyi and Ling Yun. They regained consciousness immediately. Despite his severe injuries, Ling Yun’s condition was not fatal.

"I'm going to kill you!" Zhang Xinyi shouted like a sparked firecracker the moment she awoke. However, her voice cut off abruptly the next second.

"What, what kind of monster is this!"

Zhang Xinyi’s heart skipped a beat; the sight of the Yin Corpse sent a chill through her soul. What surprised her even more was that she could sense a treasure within the creature.

"My god, I must still be dreaming," she muttered, tapping her cheeks. Ling Yun also stared at the creature with a grim expression, his instincts screaming that the monster before them was dangerous.

"You should be grateful to become his rations. Once the Yin Puppet Sect occupies the Shan Province, your contributions will be unforgettable," the woman sneered.

"I am from the Zhang family! If you dare kill me, Mr. Lin will not let you off!" Zhang Xinyi roared, her face deathly pale as she gripped a stone from the ground as if it could provide her with courage.

"Ha! Even if that 'Mr. Lin' actually comes, I am not afraid."

The woman chuckled. The Yin Corpse was refined by the Yin Puppet Sect using secret arts; it had skin of bronze and bones of iron, and possessed the strength of a Spiritual Venerable. Even a rocket launcher wouldn't harm it. No matter how strong this Lin was, he couldn't possibly handle four such Yin Corpses.

She gestured to the creature: "Go, eat them."

"Awoo!"

The Yin Corpse roared, its blood-red eyes fixed on Zhang Xinyi as it charged. In an instant, it crossed dozens of meters, arriving right before her. It opened its massive maw, spraying the stench of rot onto her face.

"Ah!"

Zhang Xinyi turned pale with terror; she could even see bits of flesh inside the creature’s mouth. It was repulsive.

However, at the critical moment, a golden light surged forward, forcing the Yin Corpse back more than ten meters.

"Who is it?"

The woman’s expression darkened. She hadn't expected an outsider to intervene and force back such a powerful Yin Corpse.

*Clack, clack, clack.*

Footsteps echoed, and a figure emerged into view: Lin Yi.

"Why are you here!"

The woman’s face grew gloomier. She hadn't expected Lin Yi to find them. This mine wasn't a simple passage; it was a labyrinth of over a dozen interconnected tunnels where even experienced miners could easily get lost.

Before Lin Yi could answer, Zhang Xinyi cried out joyfully, "Mr. Lin! You’re here—thank goodness!"

Lin Yi’s arrival lifted a weight off her heart. As long as he was there, she felt that even if the sky collapsed, it would be fine.

"What are you doing here?" Lin Yi asked, glancing at Zhang Xinyi.

"I sensed a treasure here, so I came to look. Oh, and Mr. Lin, Ling Yun is hurt—can you save him?" she pleaded.

Lin Yi casually tossed a bottle of Vitality Pills. "Give him this."

The woman looked at Lin Yi with icy eyes. "So you are the recently renowned Mr. Lin. I've heard much about you."

"Renown is not something I dare claim," Lin Yi replied, shaking his head. His gaze shifted to the towering Yin Corpse. "I initially thought it was puppet arts, but it’s actually Corpse Refining. Not bad. This Yin Corpse has the strength of a Spiritual Venerable."

The woman’s pupils contracted. The Yin Puppet Sect had been in seclusion for years, and their Corpse Refining arts were a top-secret; she hadn't expected someone to identify it so easily. She felt a sudden tension, as if he had seen right through her.

"Come, let me see the strength of your Yin Corpse," Lin Yi said calmly.

The woman’s expression hardened. Regardless of who this Lin was, she had to find a way to kill him here. "Rip him to shreds!"

"Awoo!"

The Yin Corpse roared and charged. It was only a corpse; while its physical strength was that of a Spiritual Venerable, it lacked the ability to manipulate the laws of heaven and earth, relying solely on brute force. But this brute force was something even a third-tier Spiritual Venerable wouldn't dare underestimate. A single strike from it was no joke.

*Boom.*

The Yin Corpse swiped at Lin Yi. The surrounding air exploded, creating a vacuum. Its hand was enormous, nearly the size of Lin Yi’s head. If that blow landed, even a Spiritual Venerable likely wouldn't survive.

"Not bad," Lin Yi commented. Just as the creature's hand reached within a centimeter of his face, he moved.

He grasped the Yin Corpse’s wrist, and no matter how much force the creature exerted, it could not break free. This scene left the woman in disbelief. She knew the creature's strength, which made her astonishment all the greater.

But what followed surprised her even more. Lin Yi exerted force, and with a *crack*, the Yin Corpse's entire arm was twisted like a piece of taffy.

"Good strength, but pathetic defense. Overall, the quality is poor. It’s barely a defective product," Lin Yi remarked.

He had once seen a Yin Corpse with the strength of a Nascent Soul expert that could fight a dozen others simultaneously without losing. By that standard, this one was undoubtedly a failure.

*Roar.*

The Yin Corpse felt no pain, but it was furious. A wave of blood energy surged from its body, rapidly gathering at the twisted arm. The energy was highly corrosive, and Lin Yi’s palm began to sizzle.

"Interesting."

Lin Yi released his grip. His palm remained unscathed; the highly corrosive energy couldn't even break his skin. Soon, aided by the blood energy, the Yin Corpse’s arm mended.

It roared, its arms elongating to pincer Lin Yi from both sides. Lin Yi remained expressionless, his hand forming a blade. A flash of white light swept through, and both of the Yin Corpse’s arms were severed, the cuts smooth as glass.

Lin Yi then stepped before the creature, his hand clawed, and clamped it onto the Yin Corpse’s head, slamming it down with force.

*Bang!*

The Yin Corpse was driven into the ground, leaving only its head exposed.

The woman and Wei Hao backed away, terrified. This young man was too horrifying; the Yin Corpse hadn't been able to put up any resistance at all.

Zhang Xinyi walked over, her eyes sparkling. "Mr. Lin, there’s a treasure inside this Yin Corpse. Let’s dig it out!"