Moments later, the Corpse Qi energy within that Corpse Nurturing Pool had been devoured by a large portion.
Ye Yunfei pointed a finger, and the Netherworld Yin Blade shot into another Corpse Nurturing Pool, erupting with a powerful suction force and began to devour the Corpse Qi energy within this pool as well.
And so, within moments, the majority of the Corpse Qi energy in the ten Corpse Nurturing Pools within this valley had been devoured.
The corpses soaking in the pool water began to change color, shifting from their original glossy black to a ghastly white.
"Brother Situ, let's go," Ye Yunfei said to Situ Kong'er after entering the Phantom Tower.
Thus, Situ Kong'er and the other four men walked out of the valley.
"Master, should we go take a look at other Corpse-Nourishing Lands?" one of the men asked via Sound Transmission.
"Alright, let's go see," Ye Yunfei nodded.
After devouring the Corpse Qi energy from the ten pools earlier, the Netherworld Yin Blade's power had increased significantly. This was an excellent opportunity to replenish the blade's energy, and Ye Yunfei naturally didn't want to miss it.
Therefore, Situ Kong'er and the four men pressed deeper into the Land of Life and Death, and using the same method, entered one Corpse-Nourishing Land after another.
It had to be said, the Land of Life and Death was indeed a superior place for nurturing corpses. There were many and varied locations rich in Yin attributes, and the Corpse World had converted all of these Yin-rich hazardous lands into Corpse-Nourishing Lands.
Each Corpse-Nourishing Land contained Corpse Nurturing Pools. Ye Yunfei would summon the Netherworld Yin Blade to devour the Corpse Qi energy within these pools one by one.
As the amount of Corpse Qi energy devoured grew, the power of the Netherworld Yin Blade also increased steadily.
After most of a day, the Netherworld Yin Blade had devoured the Corpse Qi energy from fifty or sixty Corpse Nurturing Pools. Its power had increased at least a hundredfold compared to before!
"Halt!
Why have you five entered so many Corpse-Nourishing Lands in succession!
What is your purpose?!"
Just as Situ Kong'er and the others prepared to enter yet another Corpse-Nourishing Land, a group from the Corpse World approached from a distance, surrounding them completely.
"We are acting on Commander Wu's orders..." Situ Kong'er stepped forward and began to speak.
"We've already sent someone to ask Commander Wu. Commander Wu never ordered you to collect Aged Corpse Qi!
Moreover, even if you needed Aged Corpse Qi, there was no need for you to enter so many Corpse-Nourishing Lands!
Men, seize them first and take them back for strict interrogation!" a black-clad middle-aged man shouted with a grim face, waving his hand. Dozens of Corpse World men rushed forward.
"Brother Su, we're suspected!
What do we do?" Situ Kong'er transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
"Attack directly!" Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and said.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ye Yunfei had already emerged from the Phantom Tower, standing beside Situ Kong'er, drawing the Netherworld Yin Blade, and slashing out.
Immediately, a flood of dark sigils continuously materialized, whistling as they spread out in all directions.
Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Nether-Sealing Art!
At once, the surrounding members of the Corpse World stood still, unable to move a muscle, as if turned into statues.
The Netherworld Yin Blade's current power was formidable. Dealing with these ordinary Corpse World members was effortless.
Ye Yunfei waved his sleeve, teleporting all the Corpse World members into the Phantom Tower.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
At that moment, Ye Yunfei sensed with his Soul Power that three figures with powerful auras were approaching rapidly from the distance.
Corpse World experts!
Ye Yunfei, Situ Kong'er, and the four other men directly vanished on the spot.
In the next instant.
Three black-clad men arrived through the air, landing on the ground.
"Where are they?"
After searching briefly, the three men found not a single shadow, and couldn't help but show expressions of confusion.
"Were those five really Commander Wu's subordinates?" one of the black-clad men asked.
"Yes, they were indeed Commander Wu's subordinates. However, Commander Wu sent them to Guanfu City to procure resources. Not only did they not go, they fabricated excuses and continuously entered Corpse-Nourishing Lands one after another.
Furthermore, in every Corpse-Nourishing Land they entered, the Corpse Qi energy in the pools disappeared by more than half. Those pools are practically ruined and would require a massive amount of Yin-attribute resources to possibly be restored.
Now, Elder Yin is furious. He has already ordered that those five be captured, tortured, and this matter thoroughly investigated!" another black-clad man nodded and answered.
"Let's go. Let's search elsewhere," the three black-clad men soared into the air and vanished into the distance in an instant.
"Brother Su, it seems we've been exposed," said a black rock not far away that suddenly moved—it was Situ Kong'er transformed.
The Seventy-Two Transformations of the Miao Shou Gate were infinitely profound. Cultivated to a certain level, they were said to allow transformation into anything in the world, including flowers, grass, and stones!
Not only was the appearance identical, but the aura was as well, making it extremely difficult to discern.
"The Corpse World experts will surely guard those Corpse-Nourishing Lands strictly now.
Forget it. Let's go find the Soul Lotus first," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and said.
"Young Master Su, this region where the Corpse World nurtures corpses is the periphery of the Land of Life and Death.
The Soul Lotus is in the core region of the Land of Life and Death.
To search for it, we must press deeper inside," a green-robed elder within the Phantom Tower transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
This green-robed elder was the one Ye Yunfei had brought out from the Thousand Desolate Forest within the Deep-Heart World of the Eastern Barrens.
The news about the Soul Lotus within the Land of Life and Death was information he had provided to Ye Yunfei.
He was originally a member of the Burial Race. He had obtained two Soul Lotuses within the Land of Life and Death, but was hunted by experts of the Corpse World. He fled all the way to the Eastern Barrens and finally hid within the Deep-Heart World.
"Good. Let us continue deeper into the Land of Life and Death," Ye Yunfei said.
Next, Ye Yunfei and Situ Kong'er stealthily made their way towards the core region of the Land of Life and Death.
Along the way, they encountered large numbers of Corpse World troops patrolling everywhere. Moreover, groups of Corpse World experts would frequently soar through the air, releasing their Soul Power to search the surroundings.
The Corpse World's higher-ups had issued orders, dispatching many troops to search for the five subordinates of Commander Wu.
However, Situ Kong'er's transformation art was incredibly profound, allowing them to evade the Corpse World's pursuit time and again.
"Brother Situ, fortunately, you came along. You've saved me a lot of trouble," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Brother Su, with your strength, even if I hadn't come, you'd certainly be able to handle it," Situ Kong'er replied.
"While that's true, without you, Brother Situ, I certainly wouldn't be able to proceed this smoothly," Ye Yunfei answered.
At the same time, within the Corpse World's territory in the Land of Life and Death, on a certain black mountain peak, inside a cave, an elderly-looking man with a stooped frame spoke with a grave tone. His hands resembled chicken claws, and his body was enveloped in thick Corpse Qi.
A dozen or so middle-aged men with sharp auras stood before this elder.
"Elder Yin, any news about the old corpse that fled to the Eastern Barrens?" one of the middle-aged men asked.
"Not yet.
After that old corpse fled to the Eastern Barrens, it seemed to vanish without a trace, never appearing again.
That old corpse has an extraordinary origin. It is said our Corpse World ancestors obtained it from the underworld, originally intending to bring it to the Land of Life and Death to refine it into a Jiangshi using the special terrain here. Who would have thought it actually managed to escape," Elder Yin shook his head and answered.
"There are still three old corpses in the Number One Corpse Refining Cave. They must be strictly guarded! We absolutely cannot have another incident!
Otherwise, when the Realm Lord holds us accountable, we will all be punished!" Elder Yin said with a severe expression.
"Elder Yin, we understand," the dozen or so middle-aged men felt a chill in their hearts and hurriedly nodded in acknowledgment.
"Ah, right, Elder Yin, I still don't understand. That old corpse had clearly been dead for a very long time. How could it suddenly develop its own sentience and actively escape?" one of the men asked curiously.
"This is a question I've only recently managed to understand through research.
Have you heard of the Burial Race?" Elder Yin thought for a moment and replied.
"Burial Race?"
The dozen or so middle-aged men were all taken aback.
"Yes.
Within the Three Thousand Great and Small Worlds, there is a special race called the Burial Race.
The Burial Race refers to those beings whose corpses have redeveloped sentience, regained vitality, and become new living entities.
I suspect that escaped old corpse has become a member of the Burial Race," Elder Yin explained slowly.
"Young Master Su, we are about to enter the core region of the Land of Life and Death!
Ahead of us, there will be no more Corpse World troops, because the core region of the Land of Life and Death is fraught with dangers. Even the experts of the Corpse World are unwilling to venture in casually.
Thus, the Corpse World only occupies the periphery of the Land of Life and Death, converting it into their territory for corpse nurturing.
Young Master Su, once we enter the core region, we must be even more careful. While there won't be Corpse World troops inside, it is even more perilous!"
Two days later, the green-robed elder suddenly transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
"I understand," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Senior, the Corpse Qi and decay aura on your physical body should be mostly eliminated by now, right?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"After taking the Tianxue Pills you refined for me, the Corpse Qi and decay aura on my body have been mostly eliminated.
Young Master Su, I thank you," the green-robed elder said with a smile.
"Senior, no need for formalities.
By the way, Senior, your enmity with the Corpse World must be quite deep.
I've noticed your emotional fluctuations have been somewhat intense ever since we entered the Land of Life and Death and came to the Corpse World's territory," Ye Yunfei asked further.
"Young Master Su's perception is truly formidable, even able to perceive my emotional fluctuations so clearly.
Indeed, I could say I hate the people of the Corpse World to the bone.
To be frank with you, Young Master Su, in the past, I was actually an old corpse. I was placed by the Corpse World within a secret corpse refining cave in the Land of Life and Death. Later, I redeveloped sentience, escaped that cave, and by chance, barged into the core region of the Land of Life and Death. There, I obtained two Soul Lotuses and began to possess a complete soul body.
Later still, I fled the Land of Life and Death, was chased by experts of the Corpse World all the way, and escaped to the Eastern Barrens," after hearing Ye Yunfei's question, the green-robed elder was silent for a moment, then sighed lightly and answered.
"So that's how it is," Ye Yunfei was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. He hadn't expected this elder to originally be an old corpse.
"Senior, these three are also old corpses. How do you think they compare to your former self?" Ye Yunfei willed it, and the three old corpses he had subdued earlier appeared before the green-robed elder.
"They are not my equal.
When I was an old corpse, my age was greater than theirs, and my strength was certainly stronger," the green-robed elder perceived the auras of the three old corpses and spoke.
Boom! Boom!
Just then, several figures radiating monstrous Corpse Qi shot through the air in the distance. Wherever they passed, the very heavens and earth seemed to lose their color.
"A few Corpse World experts with Tribulation Birth Realm strength are coming," Ye Yunfei glanced back and said with a cold smile.
"Master, these three old corpses can deal with Tribulation Birth Realm experts," the Holy Son of the Flying Sky Yin Monkey Tribe suddenly said.