Chapter 256: The Great Battle

‘Something’s wrong with this scripture!’

Besides Lu Bai, a few other True Master Golden Cores who had rushed in hadn’t gotten close enough to the stone wall to study the scripture, so their Heart and Spirit were not yet entranced.

But when they saw the group of True Master Golden Cores below the wall, completely mesmerized, they quickly realized what was happening.

Moreover, the coffins placed around the Scripture Pavilion were now slowly being pushed open, a thick, putrid Corpse Qi wafting out from within.

To the accompaniment of a strange, ceaseless ringing that echoed through the Scripture Pavilion, pairs of large, sturdy, bluish-black hands slowly emerged from the coffins, their ten long fingernails glinting ominously.

That eerie ringing seemed to possess a strange, demonic power.

Even the few True Master Golden Cores who hadn’t been captivated by the scripture on the wall grew dazed upon hearing the ringing, their eyes turning vacant as if they had lost their souls and Seven Spirits.

Only a handful of experts at Golden Core Realm Perfection managed to react in time.

WHOOSH!

The Blood Qi within their bodies surged, burning like massive, blazing infernos as they let out a long cry.

“It’s the Demon Sect’s Corpse Refining Sect! Retreat, now!”

The words had barely been spoken when several True Master Golden Cores in front of the stone wall were dragged into the coffins by the large hands and vanished!

From beginning to end, these True Master Golden Cores offered no resistance.

Seeing this, the few who were still aware couldn’t spare a thought for the others. They bit their tongues to resist the strange sound of the Corpse Heart Bell, forcing themselves to stay lucid as they leaped up and sped toward the exit of the Scripture Pavilion.

The main doors of the Scripture Pavilion had originally been wide open.

But just as they made their move to escape, the doors began to swing shut, pushed by some invisible force!

“No!”

Still several dozen feet from the entrance, the few True Master Golden Cores could only watch in horror as the doors closed, letting out a cry of despair.

BOOM!

The doors slammed shut, trapping all the True Master Golden Cores who had entered.

Just before they closed, a streak of golden light seemed to have shot out through the gap.

However, in the life-or-death crisis, no one noticed this.

The Corpse Qi filled the Scripture Pavilion.

Under the corrosion of the Corpse Qi, the flames of some of the torches flickered a few times before quickly dying out.

When the Corpse Qi touched the Luminous Pearls in some people’s hands, rotten spots quickly appeared on their surfaces, and their light rapidly dimmed.

Before long, the Scripture Pavilion was plunged into complete darkness.

The only few True Master Golden Cores who remained lucid rushed to the doors, summoning their Treasure Artifacts and Magical Treasures. They unleashed a continuous barrage of attacks, using the strongest techniques they had.

In an instant, numerous spells of Magic erupted, and Blood Qi filled the air.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The doors of the Scripture Pavilion shuddered violently under the assault of the True Master Golden Cores.

But they didn’t budge an inch.

The surrounding Corpse Qi grew heavier. In the darkness, besides the eerie ringing, the sound of shuffling footsteps could be heard.

It didn’t sound like the footsteps of the living.

Feet were dragging across the floor, making a scraping sound.

The faces of the few remaining True Master Golden Cores turned ashen. They had completely fallen into despair.

Lu Bai escaped the Scripture Pavilion and glanced back, his heart still pounding with fear.

He had used the Fuyao Skill, combined with an explosive burst from Vajra Earth Splitting and the wings on his back, to reach his top speed and escape just before the doors closed.

If he had been a step slower, he would have been trapped inside as well, forced to face an unknown number of Combat Corpses.

‘Is this grand tomb a fake?’

‘But then what was that strange reaction from the Ancient Mirror earlier?’

‘Not good.’

A thought struck Lu Bai, and he suddenly remembered the other generals from Wu Country.

‘If the Scripture Pavilion is like this, the situation in the Pill Room and Artifact Storage is probably no different.’

Before entering the Scripture Pavilion, Lu Bai had noticed that all the generals from Wu Country had gone into the Pill Room.

The doors to the Pill Room hadn’t closed yet, and it seemed no anomaly had occurred inside.

Xu Changfeng, Jiang Qingsong, and the other True Master Golden Cores burst into the Pill Room. They were greeted by radiant, shimmering lights and the rich, overwhelming aroma of medicinal herbs.

In the center stood a massive Bronze Pill Furnace.

The surrounding Jade Shelves were filled with over a thousand Jade Bottles and Jade Boxes, a dazzling array. Inside, one could faintly see Spiritual Elixirs the size of longan fruits, shimmering with precious light.

The eyes of the True Master Golden Cores gradually turned red with greed.

“Grab them!”

Almost simultaneously, the True Master Golden Cores all made their move. Without a second thought, they rushed toward the surrounding Jade Shelves, trying to snatch as many of the Spiritual Elixirs as they could.

Xu Changfeng, Jiang Qingsong, and the other eleven True Master Martial Dao scattered, each pouncing on the nearest Jade Shelf.

“Ah!”

Just then, a True Master Martial Dao from Wu Country who had just separated from the group let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Xu Changfeng, Jiang Qingsong, and the others glanced over instinctively, and their expressions changed drastically.

Not far away, Nangong Bo of the Great Li Country had unexpectedly appeared in the Pill Room.

Their comrade who had just died had fallen to Nangong Bo’s sword!

After entering the Pill Room, Xu Changfeng and Jiang Qingsong had specifically noted that the Great Li Country’s forces had split into two groups, heading for the Scripture Pavilion and the Artifact Storage.

They never expected that Nangong Bo would follow them with his men!

He attacked and killed without a word of warning!

“Nangong Bo, what are you doing!”

Xu Changfeng roared in anger.

Jiang Qingsong shouted, “There are so many Spiritual Elixirs here! Instead of grabbing them, you’re killing people from my Wu Country! Are you insane?!”

“Hmph.”

Nangong Bo sneered. “I’ll be taking all the Spiritual Elixirs, and I’ll be killing all of you too! Weren’t you people from Wu Country so arrogant back in Longling Canyon? This is a rare opportunity. I’m eager to witness your Tiger Subduing Fist and Dragon Capturing Skill.”

Before his voice had even faded, Nangong Bo’s figure blurred as he charged directly at Xu Changfeng and Jiang Qingsong.

Before he even got close, his body was enveloped in surging Blood Qi, forming a fiery aura that extended eight feet around him. His long sword, cloaked in this Blood Qi, had turned completely crimson, almost translucent, its blade radiating four layers of a blood-colored halo!

Even the dark red Armor on Nangong Bo’s body emanated four layers of a blood-colored halo.

Both his weapon and Armor were Top Grade Treasure Artifacts!

Combined with his eight-foot Blood Qi flame, Nangong Bo’s aura soared to its peak.

Xu Changfeng and Jiang Qingsong didn’t dare to be careless. They drew their sabers, let out a long cry, and simultaneously released their own Blood Qi, which spread out around them.

Although it was a notch weaker than Nangong Bo’s, it still reached a radius of seven feet.

CLANG! CLANG!

In an instant, the three were locked in combat, a Golden Core Level battle erupting between them.

Saber and sword clashed relentlessly in mid-air, sending sparks flying and creating a piercing shriek of metal on metal.

Nangong Bo, fighting two against one, had already gained complete dominance over Xu Changfeng and Jiang Qingsong in less than five rounds!

The Long Sabers in their hands were both Upper Grade Treasure Artifacts.

They were already a notch below in terms of weaponry.

Although their weapons were shrouded in Blood Qi and wouldn’t be shattered in an instant, a prolonged battle would drain their Blood Qi. Once it weakened, their Long Sabers would surely be unable to withstand the impact of a Top Grade Treasure Artifact.

Meanwhile, Nangong Bo possessed terrifying Blood Qi, and combined with his Top Grade Armor, he was practically invulnerable from head to toe.

Xu Changfeng and Jiang Qingsong’s counterattacks couldn’t threaten Nangong Bo at all.

Though they were all at Golden Core Realm Perfection, the clear difference in their strength became apparent the moment they began to fight!