Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Corpse Driver of Lie Mountain

As the force field began to surge, the surrounding ancient trees toppled one after another. Sap sprayed everywhere, adding to the chaos. Behind Luo Longyu, the Wheel of Corpses manifested, countering force with force. Instantly, he disrupted the immense field, and with a roar, his right arm swept out horizontally. The Blood-Eyed Wheel spun in reverse, and his corpse aura blade sliced through the forest for miles, annihilating vast swathes of trees before him.

A startled cry rang out. Luo Longyu locked onto his opponent’s position in an instant and charged forward. But as he soared into the air, two wooden coffins suddenly erupted from the ground below. He struck out with both fists, tearing open the coffins by force. Inside were two corpses with wide, lifeless eyes and withered, bark-like skin. One seized Luo Longyu’s neck in a vice-like grip, while the other clung to his legs, threatening to tear him apart.

These dried corpses possessed terrifying strength. For a moment, Luo Longyu could not break free, dragged across the ground by their relentless grasp.

“Damn it!” Luo Longyu cursed inwardly. He shot into the sky, seized the zombie strangling his neck, and wrenched its head clean off. With savage force, he swung the corpse, smashing it into the one clutching his legs and sending them both crashing to the earth.

The zombies struggled to rise, but before they could, Luo Longyu dropped from above. His right foot pierced cleanly through one zombie’s chest, and his other foot crushed its skull to pulp.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Almost simultaneously, eight more coffins burst from the earth, encircling Luo Longyu. A flute’s eerie melody sounded as the coffin lids slid open, and eight corpses emerged. Their eyes snapped wide, and black snakes writhed from their mouths, creating a scene of repulsive horror.

Without hesitation, Luo Longyu unleashed the Nine Forms of Heavenly Slaughter. A massive blade of corpse aura swept out in all directions, knocking all eight corpses down. But these zombies were far tougher than the previous two. Rigid and unyielding, they rose again and lunged at Luo Longyu from all sides. He immediately corpse-ified, meeting one zombie’s charge head-on. The impact sent the zombie staggering back, but Luo Longyu himself was forced back dozens of meters and seized from behind by another.

The horde swarmed over him, intent on tearing him apart.

At that moment, Luo Mengxuan arrived and stood agape at the sight. Before she could intervene, Luo Longyu gripped the head of the zombie behind him and brandished it as a weapon, sweeping aside the others. Each blow cracked the ground, thundering like beasts locked in mortal combat.

The battle between zombies had no elegant techniques or complex hand seals—only raw savagery and brutality, a primal struggle that stirred the blood and crushed all before it. Luo Mengxuan was transfixed—this was her first time witnessing such a clash of the undead.

Boom!

With a deafening crash, Luo Longyu toppled three zombies in succession, then seized another. Wielding two zombies like clubs, he fought with wild abandon.

Catching a glimpse of Luo Mengxuan standing dazed, he shouted, “What are you waiting for? Find the one playing the flute!”

“On it!” Luo Mengxuan snapped from her stupor, nodded quickly, and summoned Little Guai. Sensing Mu Yimian’s presence, two zombies turned and lunged at her.

Luo Longyu reacted instantly. The Blood-Eyed Wheel flashed, conjuring an illusion as if heaven and earth collapsed; mountain-like darkness fell, suppressing the two corpses. He seized one, roared, and wrenched its head apart—his methods were so ruthless they chilled the soul.

Another zombie attacked from behind, its iron claws raking Luo Longyu’s back. But it was as if clawing solid gold; a metallic clang rang out. Luo Longyu spun, gripped the zombie, and his corpse gaze ignited with corpse flames. Black smoke poured from the zombie’s orifices, followed by a surge of fire that incinerated it to ash. Even the snakes within were not spared, writhing as they vanished in the flames.

Beneath a great tree, a figure played an ancient flute. Suddenly, a parrot swooped down, snatched the flute, and soared away. The music ceased abruptly.

As the melody faded, the zombies lost control, bellowing in fury, attacking blindly, even turning on one another in a frenzy.

Luo Longyu darted among them, his fingers glowing with scarlet light like indestructible swords, piercing each zombie’s throat. Corpse aura spurted out, dissipating rapidly from their bodies as they collapsed, the snakes within slithering from their orifices into the undergrowth and vanishing.

“What was that? Corpse control technique?” Luo Longyu eyed the corpses at his feet, then turned to Mu Yimian.

Luo Mengxuan nodded. “Yes, but this form is rare. It seems blended with southern sorcery—not like the Maoshan art of corpse driving.”

“And the one with the flute?” Luo Longyu asked.

Luo Mengxuan pointed toward the thickest miasma. “Over there—Little Guai’s keeping him busy.”

The ancient woods had been mostly destroyed by the battle. Peering through the lingering miasma, they saw a child in black robes being harried by a parrot, looking thoroughly disheveled.

Realizing he’d been exposed, the child tried to flee, but Luo Longyu dropped from the sky and blocked his path, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him up. Still corpse-ified, with the Wheel of Corpses spinning behind him and corpse eyes blazing, Luo Longyu looked ready to unleash corpse flames.

Luo Mengxuan hurried over and snatched the child away. “Hey! What are you doing?”

“What do you mean? He tried to kill us.” Luo Longyu seemed genuinely perplexed.

Ignoring him, Luo Mengxuan set the boy down. He looked no more than seven or eight, with colorful paint smeared across his face and an unyielding glare in his eyes.

“Hey, little one, why did you attack us?” Luo Mengxuan tried to sound gentle.

The boy bit his lip, silent. Little Guai alighted on Luo Mengxuan’s shoulder, offering her the bone flute. She glanced at the flute, then at the boy, who stared at it intensely, clearly valuing it deeply.

“Want this flute back?” she asked.

The boy reached out, but Luo Mengxuan deftly dodged him, holding the flute aloft. “Then tell me your relationship with Lieshan, and I’ll return the flute.”

He hesitated, then said, “He’s my master.”

“I knew that old turtle was up to no good, setting us up like this. Where is he? Make him show himself!” Luo Mengxuan erupted in anger.

The boy replied, “You said you’d give back the flute if I told you.”

“You’re lucky I haven’t snapped it already! Where’s your master? If he doesn’t show, I’ll break this right now!” she threatened.

“You’re breaking your promise!” The boy was indignant, pointing an accusing finger.

“I never keep my promises! Are you telling me or not? If not, I’ll break it now!” She glared down at him, both bristling with anger—a scene that made Luo Longyu stifle a laugh.

After several seconds of tense silence, Luo Mengxuan gripped the flute in both hands. “Not talking? Fine, I’ll break it now. Let Lieshan make you another!”

Just as she was about to snap it, a small old man rushed out, smiling obsequiously. “Oh dear, what wind blows the illustrious Miss Luo of the royal clan here? What’s going on? Why quarrel with a child?” He reached out for the flute.

Luo Mengxuan dodged, eyeing him sidelong. “Well, well, old turtle, you finally show yourself. What’s this? Sending your little apprentice to attack us with zombies—what game are you playing?”

He grinned. “Heavens, I’d never dare! The world’s a mess these days, demons everywhere, the army has withdrawn—of course I must protect myself. My apprentice’s never met you—had he known, he wouldn’t have dared, right? Surely you understand.” He glanced meaningfully at Luo Longyu. “And this is… Could it be a special gift you’ve brought this old man?”

Luo Longyu frowned, and Luo Mengxuan, momentarily confused, replied, “If you can take him, go ahead. He’s from the Xuanyuan Corpse Path. If you’re not afraid of being hunted by the Xuanyi Pavilion and all the clans above and below, go ahead.”

At the mention of the Xuanyi Pavilion, Lieshan’s expression changed. He circled Luo Longyu, incredulous. “What? Xuanyuan Corpse Path? Corpse Path! It really exists!”

The faint stench of corpses from Lieshan made Luo Longyu wrinkle his nose. “Am I so strange?”

“No, no, not at all! I can hardly believe it. The Corpse Path truly exists! I’ve spent my life searching for its mysteries, and now I see it with my own eyes—a miracle, a miracle indeed!” Lieshan was so excited he nearly reached out to pinch Luo Longyu.

Luo Mengxuan arched an eyebrow. “Wipe your drool, old man. Are you going to make us stand here forever?”

“Ah? Oh! Please, come in, come in.” Lieshan recovered his composure and led the way.

They followed him through a graveyard into an ancient tomb—his dwelling. The entire area was thick with ghostly energy and oppressive with cold, making one’s heart heavy.

Inside, the wavering candlelight revealed numerous coffins. Each held a fresh corpse, some dissected, the surroundings inscribed with intricate spells that sent chills down the spine.

“Where did you get all these bodies?” Luo Longyu couldn’t help but ask.

Lieshan chuckled. “In chaotic times, corpses are never in short supply. With the Void Spirits invading and countless dead, finding a few bodies is easy.”

The stench was overwhelming. Luo Mengxuan pinched her nose, frowning deeply, nearly retching. She hurried Luo Longyu, “Ask what you need to—this place is unbearable.”

“Uh… what would you like to ask?” Lieshan scratched his unruly hair, looking at Luo Longyu.

Luo Longyu replied coolly, “Corpse control techniques.”