Qin Yi was not one to give up easily.
Liu Su knew the chances were slim, but seeing his troubled expression, she still tried to comfort him. "There’s still a chance. Usually, a person wouldn’t leave four stone tablets like this. The rat spirit only saw two along the way. There should be more stone tablets hidden in places we can’t see, probably either seven or nine."
Qin Yi nodded but had no intention of searching for the other tablets on such a large mountain. Instead, he looked up towards the peak shrouded in mist.
From what he could tell, the sorcerer had definitely been attacked and was unable to leave. If he was dead, that would be the best outcome. If he wasn’t dead, he might be healing.
Night Ling had been severely injured but was back on her feet after just a night and a half. Maybe it was due to her bloodline, but this sorcerer had medicinal help. Who knew how he was recovering now?
Instead of wasting time looking for stone tablets, it would be better to strike directly at the heart of the matter while he was still vulnerable!
What kind of solution did he want? Didn’t he have it in his room?
With these thoughts, Qin Yi decisively marched up the mountain.
Even Liu Su was momentarily taken aback by his actions, but then she understood and silently praised him.
This guy was becoming more resolute, and there was a certain fierceness about him. Did fighting really train a person like this?
Not far up, they began to see signs of a formation, although it was damaged.
"A phantom formation, already destroyed," Liu Su said. "I don’t know the specific illusions it created, but usually, if a formation is set up, it indicates that there was a thought of taking in a destined disciple. Many sects have such formations to test one’s character or wisdom."
It was obvious that Dong Huazi hadn’t passed through this formation. He might have even been frightened while inside, which is why he left.
Qin Yi didn’t stop, moving straight to the peak. There was a large stone house at the top, but it was in ruins, with the roof completely collapsed. The front door had been blasted open, revealing the broken walls inside.
Night Ling flew in just then, took a look at the wreckage, and exchanged a glance with Qin Yi before they slowly stepped inside.
Everywhere they looked, there were traces of formations, many of which were layered. Some were offensive, some defensive, and there were many types, but all were now destroyed. Qin Yi found it shocking; fighting in such an environment would be a challenge even for someone several realms higher.
Not to mention the strange sorcery that kept appearing, it was hard to figure out what was really going on.
He had no idea how strong the one who attacked was, to be able to withstand so many formations and fight in the sorcerer’s territory without knowing if he was alive or dead.
No wonder this guy had been slaughtering monsters near the demon city for so many years without anyone daring to retaliate. Just the monster-slaying formation halfway up the mountain was enough to keep the monster army at bay. Losing even a few strong fighters would be a heavy blow, and their main base could face attacks from other monster kings.
"Brother, look..." Night Ling suddenly pulled on Qin Yi's sleeve nervously.
Following her gaze, Qin Yi gasped.
In the ruins lay a human skin... no, it was flesh and organs, but without bones, just a pile of meat.
The bones were nearby, a skeleton with a broken ribcage sitting cross-legged in a standard meditation posture. The rib was slowly healing, almost completely mended.
"It’s not dead!" Qin Yi immediately thought of the technique of the Everlasting Bones.
This creature had likely had its body destroyed but managed to turn itself into a skeleton to continue living!
As if hearing someone speak, the dark eye sockets of the skeleton slowly lit up with a green glow, as if it were slowly opening its eyes.
"Clatter..." The skeleton's teeth ground together, producing a harsh sound. "Humans and serpents... escaped by luck, yet dare to return recklessly..."
Qin Yi and Night Ling cautiously took a step back. The scene was too unsettling. Qin Yi was fine, but Night Ling was trembling with fear, nearly bolting.
Qin Yi didn’t even know how a skeleton could make a sound; where were its vocal cords?
He couldn’t judge its strength either, as it had no physical form to contain "qi," likely practicing in a way that was different from normal.
Qin Yi prepared for battle and said slowly, "We mean you no harm. We actually came to visit, but you suddenly harmed my sister. What’s the reason for that?"
"Sister? Humans and monsters as siblings?" The skeleton shook its head, seemingly amused. "That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard in a hundred years."
"This has nothing to do with you."
"Humans kill monsters, and monsters kill humans; it’s all natural. Monsters don’t ask why humans raise pigs, and you probably wouldn’t question why humans are raised in the demon city." The skeleton laughed. "Different races, where’s the logic in that?"
Ming He had once said that those who were not of his kind were not worthy of trust, but this sorcerer’s words were much more brutal.
Qin Yi replied calmly, "Your cultivation methods don’t seem to follow logic either, even among your own kind."
"Eh?" The skeleton seemed surprised. "You can actually see the hidden backdoor I left on my tablet? That’s impressive."
Qin Yi didn’t respond.
"As long as one can seek immortality, everything else is meaningless. I am a sorcerer and never speak your hypocritical words of cultivation." The skeleton continued, "Since you can decipher my stone tablet, I’ll consider you fated. I won’t kill you, so you can leave."
Qin Yi laughed loudly and suddenly swung his club at it. "But I want to kill you!"
With a loud "crack," the skeleton rolled awkwardly, but its foot couldn’t escape and was struck by the club, breaking its lower leg.
Qin Yi laughed heartily. "A cruel and vicious sorcerer, if you still had strength, would you just let us go after a few words? You’re clearly feeling weak and trying hard to pretend otherwise."
The skeleton’s pretentious demeanor vanished, and it trembled on the ground. "Spare... spare me! Your sister wasn’t harmed by me, was she? That blood lotus, that blood essence, I’ll give you everything, isn’t that enough?"
Night Ling was furious and charged forward, kicking it. "You want your stuff back? I’ll kill you!"
With one kick, she broke the other leg of the skeleton. The skeleton didn’t seem to mind the pain and smiled weakly. "As long as you’re happy, you can hit me as much as you want."
"..." Qin Yi and Night Ling exchanged glances, both feeling speechless.
They had thought this person was powerful, but now that it had lost its strength, it was like a mangy dog with no spirit left...
Night Ling even felt her hatred dissipate and turned her head away in silence.
Qin Yi said, "Hand over the solution to the joint death curse."
The skeleton paused for a moment, realizing that these two had come for that?
"That thing doesn’t..." Seeing Qin Yi’s face darken, it quickly added, "Wait, wait, there’s still a way..."
Qin Yi clung to the last bit of hope. "Speak."
"I was a human slave in the demon city. By chance, I found some fragments of sorcery left on a corpse during a monster fight and secretly cultivated until I managed to escape and settle here." The skeleton explained slowly. "This is ancient sorcery, and it must have a source. There might be other monsters in the demon city that have the remaining chapters."
Of course, it was also possible that there were only fragments left, and the rest had turned to ashes long ago due to Liu Su’s attack thousands of years ago.
Qin Yi stood there with a grim expression, silent for a long time.
Hope was growing dimmer.
The skeleton sensed the change and cautiously added, "Actually, there’s another way..."
Qin Yi’s eyes flickered.
"There’s a monster king in the demon city, whose true form is the divine beast Cheng Huang..."
"Cheng Huang? The one said to grant two thousand years of life?"
"Yes, just riding it can extend your life. If you refine it..." The skeleton’s tone was extremely coaxing. "Perhaps you two siblings could achieve immortality, just a small bit of its essence would be enough..."
Even Night Ling caught on; this guy was constantly refining monsters, and his ultimate goal was likely the monster king Cheng Huang!
If riding it could extend life by two thousand years, refining it might even lead to instant ascension.
Of course, Qin Yi was skeptical about the truth of such legends. If just riding it could extend life, wouldn’t those super powerful beings have long since broken into the demon city and ridden it thousands of times? It should have been domesticated ages ago...
But regardless, the existence of such a legend proved that Cheng Huang likely had some unique qualities related to longevity. If this monster king could help, maybe there was a real chance to resolve this issue...
"I heard there are several nations and monster kings in the demon city?"
"Yes, there are three nations in the city, and the monster king Cheng Huang is the king of the White Nation."
Night Ling glanced at Qin Yi, who was also looking at her.
It felt like fate.
Seeing the clear interest on their faces, the skeleton secretly sighed in relief. Its eyes glimmered with malicious intent as it watched Night Ling. Go ahead, once you confront that person, I’ll slowly recover, and one day I’ll make these two fools suffer endlessly!
Just as it was thinking this, a wolf-tooth club suddenly appeared before it.
"Bang!" Its skull shattered, and green flames erupted.
"Burn it." Qin Yi put away the club and said coldly, "Such a person, no matter how cooperative they seem, is just a temporary measure. Once they recover, they will surely seek revenge. We can’t leave it alive."
Night Ling unleashed a ball of black fire, engulfing the skeleton in flames. The sharp, vengeful wails of its soul echoed before slowly fading away.
(End of Chapter)