"Those aren't ordinary corpses. I can't fully discern them, but I can sense they are extremely dangerous, as if they have undergone a special refinement process," Huang Shang said after a while, his expression turning solemn as he spoke to Ye Yunfei.
"I cultivate the Ghost Path, not the Corpse Refinement Path. They are two different domains," Huang Shang added.
Indeed, Corpse Path arts and Ghost Path arts were distinct.
Ye Yunfei nodded.
At this moment, more and more people arrived at the riverbank. Looking at the green corpses soaking in the water, none dared to advance recklessly.
The power displayed by the ice-sealed corpses on the mountains when disturbed earlier had made everyone wary.
Therefore, no one dared to provoke the corpses in the river casually.
"Hmm? That corpse seems to be a member of our Demon Race. Could it be a senior from our race who fell here?"
Suddenly, a Demon Race Demigod pointed at a corpse floating in the middle of the river.
Although that corpse was covered in long green hair, obscuring its original appearance, its unusually tall build was still discernable. It wasn't human, and faint traces of demonic energy emanated from it, confirming it was indeed a Demon Race corpse.
"There! A corpse from our Demon Race!"
Suddenly, a Demigod from the Demon Race pointed at one of the submerged corpses and cried out.
That corpse indeed emitted faint wisps of demonic aura.
"There are also corpses from our Dark Faction," a member of the Dark Faction said, pointing at another corpse in the river.
The Dark Faction was also known as the Dark Clan, a populous and powerful race with distinct racial characteristics that made them easily recognizable.
Following this, experts from several other races identified corpses in the river belonging to their own kin.
Although the corpses soaking in the river were all covered in green hair, resembling clumps of waterweed, beings of the same race retained some racial traits even in death, making them easy to identify.
So many beings from different races had fallen here, and they remained submerged in the river water. What was going on?
Everyone looked at the oily green corpses one by one in the river, speculating silently.
"Everyone, if we want to continue forward, we must cross this river. Flight is impossible in this space, so we can only traverse across the river surface. I propose we join forces and cross the river together," a tall, lean middle-aged man declared loudly.
This middle-aged man was an Advanced Demigod from a relatively powerful race.
"But there are so many strange corpses in the water. It will be hard to avoid them if we try to cross the surface. If we wake those corpses, the consequences will surely be dire," someone said, pointing at the dense cluster of corpses in the middle of the river.
"We'll keep a low profile and avoid provoking them. If they are indeed awakened, then we'll face them together. Also, everyone should ready their magical artifacts. If these corpses attack, we'll use our artifacts against them. With so many of us joining forces, I believe we need not fear. Of course, if you don't wish to cross the river, you can turn back now and end this treasure-seeking expedition," the middle-aged man announced.
End the expedition?
Hearing his words, many revealed reluctant expressions.
Having come this far, everyone had gained something, more or less. On this continent specifically, almost everyone had harvested significant amounts of Yin-type herbs and energy crystals.
Generally, the deeper one ventured into such secret realms, the greater the potential rewards.
So ending the exploration here was naturally very reluctant.
"In that case, let's join forces and cross the river together."
Soon, many nodded and voiced their agreement.
"Then what are we waiting for? Those who wish to cross together, follow me now!"
The middle-aged man shouted, then took out six magical artifacts and activated them simultaneously.
All six were Advanced Demigod-level artifacts, erupting with surging artifact energy.
As an Advanced Demigod himself, controlling six Advanced Demigod artifacts simultaneously seemed relatively easy for him.
Seeing this, others also hurriedly summoned their own artifacts.
For a moment, dozens of artifacts erupted together, their energy rumbling and filling the sky.
"Don't make such a huge commotion yet! Control your artifacts and don't stimulate the corpses in the river. If those corpses awaken and attack, then we'll use these artifacts to deal with them," an elder interjected at this point.
"Right! Everyone, retract your artifact energy first. This is too likely to provoke the corpses," another agreed.
Hearing the elder's words, those who had already activated their artifacts were startled and quickly made their artifacts settle down.
"Alright, now let's move together and cross quietly. Remember, avoid disturbing the corpses as much as possible. Steer clear if you can," the leading middle-aged man said, having also quieted his six artifacts. He then stepped into the river, taking the lead.
As an Advanced Demigod, his movement techniques were naturally excellent, infused with profound Spatial Laws and time laws. Walking on the river surface, he didn't even touch the water, seemingly traversing a different space.
Seeing someone taking the lead, others unwilling to fall behind also displayed their various movement techniques and secret arts, moving onto the river surface with the lightest possible presence.
Those daring to lead the way into the river were all Demigods.
Nearly every Demigod utilized time laws and Spatial Laws, carefully avoiding the corpses that resembled clumps of green waterweed.
Soon, over a dozen Demigods reached the central part of the river, where the corpses were densest, floating and sinking in the water, emitting waves of bizarre aura.
Those reaching this point became even more cautious. Each step was meticulously calculated to avoid the submerged corpses.
"Everyone, be careful. The aura emanating from these corpses is very strange and seems to affect our Soul Bodies," the middle-aged man at the forefront suddenly transmitted to the others.
"Not good! My body and Soul Body seem to be freezing stiff!"
A Initial Demigod suddenly cried out in terror.
He trembled all over, feeling as if he had fallen into a ten-thousand-year ice cavern. From head to toe, from flesh to Soul Body, he shivered uncontrollably from the cold.
His body also emitted cold air, and even ice began to form on his skin—green ice.
"Too terrifying! I can't take it anymore!"
This Initial Demigod, utterly unable to bear the freezing cold, cried out and turned to flee back.
The next moment, he brushed against a corpse.
Splash splash…
The touched corpse immediately reacted.
Originally lying face down with its back to the sky, it now began to turn over.
The Initial Demigod, knowing things had taken a bad turn, paled and desperately sped back toward the shore.
However, a green hand suddenly emerged from the river water, directly grabbing his foot and pulling hard, forcibly dragging the Initial Demigod deeper.
Splash splash…
Something even more terrifying happened. More green corpses around began to turn over slowly.
Originally, all corpses in the river lay face down, backs to the sky. But now, disturbed, many corpses were turning over with splashes.
As the green corpses in the river turned over, large amounts of eerie green aura billowed forth.
The river surface was instantly filled with green mist, appearing gloomy and terrifying.
"Not good! These corpses have been disturbed and are awakening!"
Seeing this scene, the Demigods already in the water paled one after another, realizing the dire situation. They turned and rushed back toward the shore at full speed.
Splash splash…
Suddenly, a green corpse covered in corpse hair burst from the water, soaring into the air and directly blocking the path of the Initial Demigod who had fled first.
In panic, the Initial Demigod activated five Initial Demigod-level artifacts simultaneously. Surging artifact energy erupted, blasting toward the green corpse.
Yet, the green corpse didn't evade at all. It allowed the five artifacts to strike its greenish body.
Under everyone's astonished gazes, those five Initial Demigod-level artifacts were directly sent flying by the green corpse's body.
Then the green corpse extended two green, corpse-like claws, grabbing forward fiercely. Ten sharp green nails ignored all attacks and defenses of the Initial Demigod, cutting through like a hot knife through butter, directly piercing into his chest. The green corpse then tore its two claws apart outward, viciously ripping the Initial Demigod's body in half.
At the same time,
Splash splash…
More green corpses surged up from the river, attacking those on the water surface.
All those on the river surface were Demigods, each from major forces with considerable strength. But facing these bizarre green corpses, these Demigods appeared pathetically weak.
Ahh! Ahh…
Screams echoed continuously on the river surface. Those on the water were constantly slain by the green corpses, torn apart limb from limb. In moments, over ten Demigod experts met gruesome deaths in the river.
Those standing on the shore all summoned their artifacts, hurling attacks toward the standing green corpses in the river.
But all artifacts, including those at the Advanced Demigod level, were repelled by the green corpses.
"Their bodies are too tough!"
Everyone wore expressions of shock. The hardness of those corpse bodies exceeded their imagination.
Even Advanced Demigod-level artifacts failed to harm the green corpses.
However, some Demigods with exceptionally agile movement techniques managed to escape back to the shore unscathed from the river.
"Too terrifying. Just a portion of the corpses awakened, yet they are this dreadful. If all the corpses in this river woke up, how horrifying would that be?" someone exclaimed.
"It seems we cannot cross this river via the surface. Let's turn back. This expedition should end here," someone lamented with disappointment.
"Wait! Why don't we search upstream or downstream? Perhaps there's a bridge." Suddenly, someone shouted.
"Right! Let's split up. Search upstream and downstream for a bridge!"
Hearing this, others felt their spirits lift.
So, after discussion, everyone decided to split into two groups.
One would go upstream, the other downstream, to search for a bridge across the river.
Ye Yunfei immediately used his Chaos Fortune Calculation Art to divine and then headed downstream.
The continent was vast, bisected by the river before them. Ye Yunfei followed the crowd, moving steadily along the river downstream.
Approximately half an hour later.
"Excellent! Look ahead, there really is a bridge! A stone bridge!"
Suddenly, someone exclaimed joyfully.
Hearing the shout, everyone quickened their pace.
Moments later, they indeed saw a stone bridge.
The bridge appeared ancient, its stones covered in slippery green moss.
"Look, everyone! There's an old woman sitting cross-legged at the bridgehead! Could it be? Is there someone alive here?"
As they neared the bridgehead, they saw a crone in antiquated attire sitting cross-legged motionlessly, as if in deep meditation.
"She seems to have no vitality. She should be a corpse," someone said after sensing the crone with Soul Power.
"Right, this old woman has no life force left. She's not alive," others nodded in agreement.
"Look, everyone! There are three ancient characters carved on the bridge pier: Naihe Bridge!"
Someone suddenly yelled.
"It really says 'Naihe Bridge'! Impossible, does the legendary Naihe Bridge truly exist?"
Everyone's gaze fell upon the three ancient characters, recognizing them.
Legends said that spirits entering the Reincarnation Path would reach the Wangchuan River. On that river stood the Naihe Bridge, guarded by a Meng Po.
Every spirit wishing to cross the bridge had to drink a bowl of her soup. After drinking, the spirit would be purified, qualifying them to reach the end of the Reincarnation Path, enter the Six Paths of Rebirth Cave, and undergo reincarnation.
This legend circulated throughout many world clusters and constellations.
It was said that across all realms and worlds, any spirit wishing to pass through the Reincarnation Path for rebirth must undergo this process.
But legends were legends. Most beings in the world didn't know if such tales were true or false.
Now, standing before this bridge, seeing the Naihe Bridge with their own eyes, many began to believe the legend might be true.
"Having a bridge here makes things easier. Everyone, let's cross now!" someone said.
"Legend says this Naihe Bridge is for spirits. I wonder if there are any dangers?"
But some timid individuals spoke up.
"What's there to fear? This Reincarnation Path is clearly abandoned. This Meng Po is said to be a Deity guarding the Naihe Bridge, but now she too has no life force. If we cross together, even if there is danger, our combined strength should handle it. Taking this bridge is surely safer than directly crossing the river surface," another argued.