Yun Qi pondered for a moment before taking out a jade slip, a parting gift from Monk Su Kong.
The slip was inscribed with five characters: "The Green Moth Transformation Sutra."
This sutra detailed methods for finding, identifying, nurturing, and controlling corpses.
Yun Qi first glanced through the section on finding corpses.
Locating the master of the Lung Palace wasn't urgent, but it was good to familiarize himself with the process for future reference.
The Unicorn Rhinoceros Gold Armor, a gift from his master, was a rare insect corpse with a lineage that included immortals.
However, Yun Qi wasn't keen on using it.
He felt that insect corpses lacked a certain grandeur.
Their main strength lay in controlling other dead creatures, and while they had decent escape techniques and strength, they lacked the imposing aura he desired.
He believed that the Lung Palace, associated with the west and the element of metal, should embody sharpness and an indomitable spirit.
Even if it leaned towards the yin aspect, it should still exude a sense of pride and superiority.
As for the insect corpse, he thought it best to nurture it first and then find a more suitable body later.
The sutra explained that corpses are yin in nature and correspond to the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.
Water, being the most yin, was unsuitable as it would lead to the creation of demonic or evil corpses.
The text specifically mentioned a demonic corpse named Gu Chen, who was sealed underground by the Emei Sect's founder, Chang Mei Zhenren, and remains trapped to this day.
Wood corresponds to living corpses, which, despite being dead, contain a spark of life due to the earth element nurturing wood.
These living corpses, once cultivated, appear almost human, with pale skin and flexible joints, though they lack a heartbeat or body temperature.
The renowned beauty, Cui Ying, was such a living corpse.
Fire corresponds to fierce corpses, which bring drought wherever they appear.
The ancient drought demon Ba was such a corpse, and in the current cultivation world, there is a fierce corpse known as Chi Shi Wu Lao, though it rarely shows itself to avoid being eradicated by righteous sects.
Earth corresponds to the most common type of corpse, the zombie.
However, when the earth element reaches its peak, it can give rise to an Emperor Corpse, which is said to be formed only when an emperor is buried in a dragon's lair during a time of declining dragon veins.
The Green Moth Sutra speculates about such a corpse but provides no concrete examples.
Metal corresponds to strange corpses, which are born from the essence of earth and are known for their adaptability and unpredictability.
The Unicorn Rhinoceros Gold Armor in Yun Qi's possession was a high-quality metal corpse, with the potential to develop spiritual awareness if nurtured properly.
The sutra also mentioned the locations associated with each element: Water in the northeast, submerged in lakes; Wood in the southeast, hidden among tree roots; Fire in the southwest, buried in volcanic caves; Metal in the northwest, concealed within metal and stone; and Earth everywhere beneath the ground.
This suggested that Yun Qi might need to travel to the northwest before opening his Lung Palace.
A low growl from the dog guarding the entrance snapped Yun Qi out of his thoughts.
He quickly stashed the jade slip, extinguished the light, and moved to the cave entrance, focusing on a particular direction.
"Toad, where do you think you're running to today?" a harsh voice shouted from afar.
Yun Qi sighed inwardly.
Why did he always run into such situations? This time, however, the pursuers sounded more aggressive, and the one being chased remained silent.
Soon, the "toad" came into view.
Dressed in a bright green robe, he stood out starkly against the snowy landscape.
He wasn't flying on a cloud but was running at an impressive speed, likely aided by some kind of speed-enhancing talisman.
Despite his swift movements, he was covered in blood and looked utterly disheveled.
Two arrows whizzed through the air from behind the toad.
Yun Qi recognized the sound—they were talisman arrows.
The toad twisted his body, and one arrow landed in front of him, exploding into a cloud of poisonous gas, blocking his path.
The second arrow was intercepted by a small stone-like object the toad threw, causing it to explode into a fireball.
The toad was caught in the blast, losing a few strands of hair and looking even more pitiful.
The pursuers soon came into view—two men dressed in attire that Yun Qi found somewhat familiar, resembling that of the Miao people, but with fiery red hair, which was quite unusual.
One was in his twenties, burly with a messy, bird's nest-like hairstyle, while the other was in his forties, short and thin with shoulder-length hair.
"Why aren't you running anymore? Out of energy? Ready to fight now?" the younger one taunted.
The toad, who appeared to be in his late twenties with a fierce expression and missing fingers, stopped running and stood his ground.
"You two scoundrels, if it weren't for your numbers, I wouldn't have had to run!" he shouted back.
The scene was bizarre—a disheveled green-robed man and two red-haired individuals hurling insults at each other in the snow.
Yun Qi couldn't quite figure out who was in the right, as they all seemed like villains, unlike the straightforward Jiangnan Jing and the thin Daoist he had encountered before.
Uncertain of the situation, Yun Qi remained hidden in the cave, holding his breath.
The dog, sensing the tension, was equally silent.
"I'm right here! Do you dare come closer? You've shot thirteen talisman arrows already. Do you have any left? If Redwood Ridge is so wealthy, I might as well die here!" the toad shouted, his confidence growing now that he had stopped running.
The two red-haired men kept their distance, maintaining a position where they could attack or retreat as needed.
"Yes, yes, you're so impressive. We were just thinking, this heavy snow must have been summoned by your ancestor. Do you think he ever imagined his descendants might freeze to death in it? Oh, but he probably doesn't care!" they mocked, bursting into laughter.
Yun Qi, still hidden, was shocked to learn that the heavy snow had been summoned by human power.
He began to piece things together: the green-robed man and the red-haired duo, their conflict in the southern wilderness, and the mention of Redwood Ridge.
These were likely disciples of Redwood Ridge and Hundred Barbarians Mountain.
It seemed they were deeply influenced by their ancestors, even in their attire and appearance.
As time passed, the toad finally lost his patience.
To Yun Qi's surprise, he bit down on one of his remaining fingers.
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(End of Chapter)