Chapter 162: All Hands Move to Destroy the Corpse Nurturer, Internal War and Fierce Ghosts Break Free

Jiang Xiaolong’s brows furrowed deeply.

Looking at Yu Xian’s serious expression, a chill crept up his spine.

Could it be… this cultivation method really can’t be practiced?

To cultivate it is to court death?

He pondered for a moment before nodding. “Very well. Since Junior Brother says so, I won’t cultivate this method.”

He might not trust Qi Xuan completely,

But if Yu Xian was also urging him not to practice it, then that changed everything.

Yu Xian was someone he trusted.

But if no one practiced the method, and it was a test, wouldn’t that mean everyone here would die?

Jiang Xiaolong frowned. “If we don’t cultivate it, are we just going to sit here and wait for death?”

The atmosphere grew heavy, and the other four also wore grim expressions, unsure what to do.

Qi Xuan glanced at Yu Xian and then swept his gaze across the others. He spoke solemnly:

“Fellow Daoists, this so-called ‘trial’ is clearly a trap. If we follow its instructions and undergo the three tests, death is certain. But if we act now—there may still be another way out.”

Everyone turned their eyes toward him.

Qi Xuan pointed to the coffin, face grim. “We open the coffin first and destroy whatever abomination sleeps within. Don’t give it a chance to awaken! Then we’ll find another way out!”

“Oh?”

Their eyes lit up, turning toward the coffin.

The coffin was massive, pitch-black, bound tightly by thick chains. Though lowered to the ground, its contents remained a mystery.

Qi Xuan didn’t hesitate—he stepped toward the coffin, expression icy.

“We must act together. If that thing awakens fully, none of us will walk out alive!”

“Qi Daoist speaks true! I support him!”

Tong Xue stepped forward solemnly.

“Then let’s bet everything!”

Su Mofeng also nodded.

“Open it! Whether god or ghost, let’s see what it is! If it wants to kill us, we’re no sheep to the slaughter!”

Ge Xiyu shouted, murder gleaming in his eyes, and stepped forward.

“Open the coffin.”

Kang Xinping spoke only once, gripping a radiant fifth-grade saber.

Jiang Xiaolong frowned and glanced at Yu Xian.

Yu Xian nodded calmly. “Qi Daoist is right. Better to take the initiative and destroy the danger before it destroys us.”

“Then let’s do it!”

Jiang Xiaolong’s gaze turned cold.

Whatever their conflicts had been before, they were now united.

The seven circled the coffin, eyes flickering with resolve.

Qi Xuan spoke firmly, “No one can afford to hold back. If you do, you’re leaving your own life to fate.”

“Now—open it!”

He formed a hand seal.

Crack!

Lightning crackled—the power of his thunder arts was immense!

The others wasted no time, each unleashing their strongest spells!

Yu Xian’s expression was icy as he raised a hand—six vine whips shot forward, strong and solid, fully under his control.

Boom!

Boom boom boom boom—!

The spells rained down, shaking the coffin. Sparks flew from the chains.

But no matter how fierce the assault, the coffin and its chains—made of unknown materials—remained unbroken.

Qi Xuan frowned. “This is fifth-grade blacksteel! Spells won’t break it. We need to find the source—its locking formation. That will undo the chains.”

The chains extended into the ceiling, clearly controlled by a formation. Yu Xian spoke:

“Rather than brute force, let’s find the mechanism. Break the formation—it’ll release the chains.”

Qi Xuan nodded. “Agreed. Everyone, look for the formation!”

He leapt into the air, flying toward a chain’s origin. The others followed suit.

Yu Xian chose one and examined where it pierced the ceiling. He sent a tiny vine tendril inside the hole, his consciousness attached.

About twenty zhang was the limit of his vine’s reach. But at only two zhang in, he saw it—

A glowing red formation, still running after who knew how many years. The chains all converged here, drawn tight by the formation.

At its center: a scroll.

It contained activation instructions.

It said:

After triggering the trap, the intruders would undergo tests to form a pseudo-cultivation. After fifty days of ‘nurturing’ in the coffin, their bodies would form a Dao seed and become a Yin-type body. Then, the ghost sealed in the main hall would devour them to rebuild its body and resurrect.

Yu Xian’s gaze grew colder.

He said nothing—his vine lashed out with great force, smashing into the formation.

Boom!

Another strike.

Then another!

Without anyone maintaining it, the aged formation quickly weakened.

Finally—with a thunderous explosion—it shattered.

Clang clang clang!

The eight chains dropped like dead snakes, crashing to the floor.

“What was that?!”

The others gasped, falling back to the ground.

From within the coffin came a sinister groan:

“Trial… failed… all must… die…”

“Scatter!” Qi Xuan bellowed, leaping back.

Everyone else reacted just as fast—defensive treasures out, spells primed!

Boom!

The coffin’s lid flew off!

Whoosh!

A dark mist poured out—and a tall figure slowly rose.

“Break!!”

Yu Xian’s voice thundered—his finger glowed, pointing at the creature’s head!

“Kill!”

Qi Xuan shouted, unleashing bolts of lightning!

The others joined in—Jiang Xiaolong summoned a radiant sun, Su Mofeng cast a three-zhang wind blade, Ge Xiyu hurled black spheres, Tong Xue and Kang Xinping used earth and water spells!

Seven attacks became dozens in seconds.

Yu Xian’s spell was first—it blasted a chunk off the monster’s skull.

Qi Xuan’s lightning followed, tearing it apart.

Jiang Xiaolong, Su Mofeng, and the others piled on spell after spell.

The creature never even got to scream.

It was reduced to shreds, blown back into the coffin.

The air grew still. The stench of blood was thick.

Yu Xian narrowed his eyes and approached. The others followed.

Inside the coffin was a mess of flesh and black blood. Only two legs remained.

The preservation array flickered—then vanished.

Inside were three manuals and three bottles of essence pills.

Words were etched into the coffin wall:

“I found this ancient tomb, gained a legacy, trained for a thousand years but failed to reach Nascent Soul. I brought thirty-four disciples, sealed them here to await resurrection.

But I know man is clever. Eventually, someone will break the formation. If they do, leave my body intact—I offer three arts and three treasures in exchange…”

“…Leave your corpse? Fool. You tried to harm us and still want mercy?”

Qi Xuan sneered.

The others nodded.

But then—tension rose again.

Who would claim the three manuals and three bottles?

No one dared move first.

“Everyone,” Yu Xian spoke up.

“If we can’t leave, these treasures are worthless. Let’s focus on escaping first. When we’re out, then we decide their ownership.”

The others paused—he had a point.

“How about this,” Yu Xian smiled, “we seal the coffin for now. Once we’re out, we reopen it and divide the spoils.”

“Agreed,” said Jiang Xiaolong.

Qi Xuan also nodded. “So be it.”

The rest had no objections.

Boom!

The lid was sealed again.

They returned to the palace gate.

With no more formation covering it, they found the hinges.

Breaking them, the huge stone doors slowly tipped outward—

They could leave!

Boom!

The doors fell, revealing the tunnel ahead.

But at that moment—

“Die…”

“DIE!!”

Two voices rang out at once!

“QI XUAN!!”

Jiang Xiaolong roared.

Yu Xian’s finger—hidden in his sleeve—shot toward Qi Xuan’s skull!

At the same moment, Qi Xuan’s thunder spell aimed at Jiang Xiaolong!

Betrayal exploded into chaos.

Qi Xuan blocked Yu Xian’s finger with a rotating treasure tower.

Jiang Xiaolong, meanwhile, called out a monstrous figure—

A gold-tier flood serpent!

“Qi Xuan, you bastard!! KILL!!”

The battle beast lunged, and Jiang Xiaolong unleashed a brilliant wheel weapon, laced with killing intent.

The ambush had begun.

So too did the infighting.

Tong Xue and Kang Xinping didn’t hesitate—they each attacked Su Mofeng and Ge Xiyu.

They all knew:

“If I don’t kill them, I get nothing.”

Internal betrayal was always the real threat.

Yu Xian, weakest among them, immediately retreated. He had no interest in the manuals—his own techniques were better.

So, escaping came first.

And Jiang Xiaolong didn’t need his help. With a gold-tier pet and peak Foundation Establishment, he was fine.

Boom boom boom!!

Spells clashed behind him as Yu Xian ran through the corridor—

Only to arrive at the front hall and be met with…

Shrieks.

The seal on the ghost pillar had cracked. Over a hundred ghosts previously captured had begun pouring out!

Ten ghosts had escaped already—dozens more were clawing their way out!

Yu Xian’s face changed.

He turned and shouted down the corridor:

“STOP FIGHTING! THE GHOSTS ARE ESCAPING!! IF YOU DON’T LEAVE NOW, YOU’LL ALL DIE!! I’M LEAVING!!”

His voice echoed like thunder.

Then he struck down the charging ghosts with vines and his sword, dashing for the exit.

He burst out of the mountain’s tunnel—

Shriek!

Several ghosts followed him, spreading out.

Yu Xian gritted his teeth, killed six or seven, but couldn’t stop them all.

They would now wreak havoc on civilians.

Behind him, the thunder of battle and ghostly howls intensified—the seal had fully broken.

He clenched his jaw.

He couldn’t save Jiang Xiaolong now.

If he stayed, he’d die too.

With no hesitation, Yu Xian summoned a cloud underfoot—

And flew away at full speed.