Mud Man Zhang shook his head. "I only need one; the rest are useless to me."

"Treasures?"

"Rest assured! That item is tied to my life, but to you, it’s worthless."

With the threat near the golden coffin gone, Mud Man Zhang walked over with surprising ease. He peered at the female corpse, gently pried open her mouth with his right hand, felt beneath the tongue, and extracted a small white sphere. Without even looking, he popped it into his own mouth, mixed it with some saliva, and swallowed.

Having done this, Mud Man Zhang broke into a satisfied smile, as if a heavy weight he had carried for years had finally been lifted.

"That’s it, it’s settled. I can finally live the life I want."

"Truly, being blinded by a single leaf prevents one from seeing Mount Tai. All that ruthless scheming and deceit, just to get this Taiping Jing, only to realize in the end that what I truly desired was never possessed. Because what I truly craved was a simple, tranquil life."

"Heh, congratulations. Then perhaps you can tell us what you took?" Young Master Liu’s single sentence voiced the question hanging in the air for everyone present.

Mud Man Zhang did something unprecedented: he bowed to him. "Thank you for your assistance. What I retrieved from the female corpse’s mouth was not some priceless treasure, but merely a pill. And what that pill contained wasn't medicine, but a specific kind of insectoid."

"Insects?" Hearing this word sent a chill down Young Master Liu’s spine.

"Exactly. Everyone here, think about it: how do you treat a corpse to prevent it from decomposing?"

Young Master Liu remained silent. Uncle Diao intervened at the opportune moment: "Only by completely removing the moisture from the body, like with mummies, then wrapping it tightly in thick gauze containing preservatives and various medicines, could one perhaps preserve the body for thousands of years without decay. Even the body of the great leader in the crystal coffin today uses a similar method; seemingly a complete person, but the internal organs are hollowed out and require chemical treatments periodically."

"Correct, this method certainly works, but it originated from abroad and was introduced to China. Have you heard of such a method domestically?"

Uncle Diao shook his head. "Other than burial in a place rich in Yin energy, allowing the body to naturally become a Jiangshi, I haven't heard of any others."

Mud Man Zhang smiled and said, "To perfectly preserve a corpse, ensuring that after hundreds of years it remains largely unchanged from when the deceased was alive, the only method is to turn the corpse into a 'Living Corpse.' Only then can the body avoid putrefaction and the formation of a dried-out husk. A so-called 'Living Corpse' doesn't mean the body has come back to life; it means that after death, the body’s physiological functions continue to operate."

"For example, the heart continues to beat, blood continues to circulate, and breathing persists. The only difference is that the corpse lacks thought or consciousness. A body preserved in this state is called a 'Living Corpse.' Although it's similar to a medical 'vegetative state,' there are still differences. This preservation method requires no preservatives, no medicinal treatments, and can keep the deceased looking exactly as they did before death, even at room temperature, exposed to the air, without significant change for hundreds or even thousands of years."

At this point, Mud Man Zhang paused, letting out a long sigh. "Our five thousand years of Chinese civilization are truly profound and extensive; foreigners could never conceive of such advanced techniques."

Young Master Liu’s eyes widened. "Mud Man Zhang, have you gone mad? You think such an absurd thing is possible?"

Mud Man Zhang snorted and continued, "To keep the body looking as it did before death, to maintain a slow heartbeat and a normal circulatory system—these insects are indispensable."

As he spoke, he raised his tightly clenched five fingers. "By coating these insects with wax mixed with medicine and inserting them into the corpse's mouth, you can maintain the heart, breathing, and circulatory system. This is what could save me."

"You mean this Zhang Jiao corpse, preserved for a thousand years without decay and looking just like a living person, is due to these tiny insects? Then why can these insects make the corpse’s heart beat?"

"That, I don't know," Mud Man Zhang shook his head.

"Then how do we get out?"

"Let's fight first!"

"Haven't you already obtained what you wanted?" Young Master Liu asked, slightly annoyed.

Mud Man Zhang realized he had misunderstood and pointed to the beautiful female corpse submerged in the water. "It's not you and me fighting; it’s the two of us fighting her!"

"Her?" Young Master Liu's eyes snapped open. "You mean she’s going to rise up?"

"Why didn't you say so sooner? Quickly seal the inner coffin and suppress it with talismans! This thousand-year-old Zongzi won't be easily dealt with."

"It's too late!" Mud Man Zhang shook his head and spread his hands. "Don't believe me? Look, the corpse has grown hair."

Following the direction of Mud Man Zhang's finger, Young Master Liu saw that the corpse floating in the water was covered in black fuzz, like fine hair. Its formerly rosy cheeks were now densely covered in black growth, making it look utterly terrifying. He was immediately shocked. "Wh-why is this happening?"

The phenomenon of corpses growing hair is not uncommon. This hair can be a type of mold. Some corpses grow white hair, and some grow black hair. Corpses with white hair are colloquially called 'White Fiends,' while those with black hair are called 'Black Fiends.' However, the 'Black Fiend' is far more vicious than the 'White Fiend.' Among tomb raiders, the 'Black Fiend' is often referred to as a 'Corpse Demon,' indicating its frightening malevolence.

Watching this beautiful female corpse, or rather, the Great Zongzi of Zhang Jiao, about to transform into a 'Corpse Demon'—even though this Corpse Demon was a notch below the Drought Demon of Xiushui Village—it wasn't like everyone possessed the mighty power of Zhang Enpu to subdue demons. How could this not alarm, frighten, and panic Young Master Liu?

"She was fine just a moment ago, a beautiful woman, how could she suddenly..." Young Master Liu found it hard to accept.

"Because I took this pill," Mud Man Zhang sneered.

"If she was a living dead person before, now she is completely just a corpse. It's not strange for a corpse to turn into a Corpse Demon."

"Are you confident?" Young Master Liu looked at him suspiciously.

"You draw her away while I strike her heart from behind with the Jade Yang Thorn, aiming for a fatal blow."

"Damn it, why am I always the bait?"

"Perhaps because you look like bait!" Mud Man Zhang chuckled, and the Jade Yang Thorn extended once more between his fingers, poised to strike at any moment.

"What if she doesn't chase me, but only you?" Young Master Liu thought, chasing whom isn't fixed, right?

"Get closer, let her smell your vitality; then she won't let you go!"

For the first time, no, the third time, Young Master Liu felt that this scoundrel surnamed Ge was truly too much of a bastard!

But this was the most effective method for the current situation. So, he did as instructed, leaning over the inner coffin.

Young Master Liu’s eyes were half-open, half-closed. They were closed because the current Zhang Jiao was too revolting—a super Saiyan version of the Chu Renmei ghost. They were open because he feared that if he closed them too tightly and this thing grabbed his neck to bite, it would be disastrous.

Seeing her strong teeth, her appetite must be excellent too, probably the result of consistently using Lengsuanling toothpaste. Once it bit down, it probably wouldn't let go.

"Wuu..." Having apparently caught a scent, the Corpse Demon suddenly opened its eyes, opened its mouth, and reflexively straightened its upper body. But she was fast, and our Young Master Liu was faster. He immediately shoved off the coffin lid with one foot, using the leverage to spring out.

The Corpse Demon was indeed extraordinary; both its strength and speed were top-tier. Without even clearly moving, it leaped out of the golden coffin. Its two emerald-green eyes, peering through the black hair, scanned for the recent prey.

"Stab!" Before the word was out, the wind arrived. With a movement of his hand, Mud Man Zhang sent a surge of red kinetic energy rushing forward.

The Corpse Demon didn't bother dodging; it simply lunged toward Young Master Liu’s previous position.

Pfft...

The Corpse Demon’s hands clamped tightly around Young Master Liu’s neck. Even though he pressed against them with both his hands from the middle, he felt overwhelmed by the sheer force.

"You... you bastard, just stab it in!" Young Master Liu’s eyes rolled back; he could barely breathe, and his consciousness was beginning to fade.

"It won't go in!" Mud Man Zhang’s face darkened. He pressed the Jade Yang Thorn in his left palm hard with his shoulder. The tip had already pierced the Corpse Demon's flesh, but it seemed to hit an invisible obstruction and couldn't penetrate further—like hitting a solid bedrock.

Young Master Liu didn't even have the heart to cry now; his entire little chest was shattered. His chest rose and fell, and he stared at Mud Man Zhang with wide eyes, his expression seeming to say: Damn it, you made me bait when you couldn't stab it! If I die, I won't let you off even as a ghost...

"Dashaio, watch me!" In this moment of crisis, when everyone else’s minds had seized up, only Fan Debiao, the simple-minded fat man, managed to think straight. He brandished four dark crowbars gripped by his stout arms and rushed forward furiously. As soon as he reached the Corpse Demon, without a word, he swung in an arc, smashing down onto its legs from behind.

Fan Debiao’s strength was never small; back when he was involved in the revolutionary activities in Harbin, he followed the Red Guards to kill many stubborn elements. Now, utilizing the momentum of the iron bars, he swung back and forth, smashing the Corpse Demon so hard it was forced to its knees, loosening the hands gripping Young Master Liu’s neck.

Freed from the restraint, Young Master Liu collapsed like a boiled noodle, his face bright red, tongue lolling out as he gasped for air.

"Mud... Mud Man Zhang, I'm not finished with you in this life!" This was the first thing he managed to say once he could breathe again.

"Aoo..." If it had been a normal person, that blow from Fan Debiao would have been nearly fatal. But this was a Corpse Demon. Before long, it roared again with monstrous fury, the sound piercing and terrifying the band of tomb raiders back into a daze.

"This can't go on; you two hold it down!" Mud Man Zhang tapped his toes on the ground, his body suddenly leaping into the air. With a kick from mid-air, he sent the Corpse Demon sprawling onto the ground.

"How do we hold it?" Fan Debiao asked bluntly.

"Hold it however you feel comfortable!" Mud Man Zhang was momentarily distracted, and a tear was ripped in his clothes by the Corpse Demon, but he immediately bent low again and brought the creature down with a low sweep kick.

"Damn it, let's go all out! The east wind blows, the war drums beat—who is afraid of whom in this world?" Fan Debiao gritted his teeth, swung his crowbar, and smashed it repeatedly onto the Corpse Demon's head, then simply sat on it, using the iron bar to firmly clamp both of its arms. Young Master Liu, feeling slightly better, quickly pressed down on the Corpse Demon’s feet.

"Aim for the heart, stab it, quickly!"

Mud Man Zhang nodded, raising the Jade Yang Thorn.

The Corpse Demon seemed to realize its danger and began to roll wildly. Fan Debiao's hand holding the crowbar went numb, and the weapon flew out of his grasp. The Corpse Demon bit down hard on his right arm, causing excruciating pain.

"Damn, this black brat bit me!" Fan Debiao cried out in agony.

"Wait a little longer..." Mud Man Zhang scrutinized the Corpse Demon's body parts, found the precise spot, gritted his teeth, and thrust the Thorn in.

The Jade Yang Thorn plunged forward unimpeded, piercing directly through the Corpse Demon's heart.

However, the Corpse Demon still managed to writhe free, let out a roar, flung Fan Debiao off, pushed open the golden coffin, and leaped out.

"Ouch... my hand..." Fan Debiao cried out miserably, holding up his bloodied arm.

"Don't worry, as long as it wasn't a Drought Demon that bit you, the corpse poison won't enter the heart, and you can be saved." Young Master Liu tore a strip from his clothes and tied a ligature just above the wound on Fan Debiao’s arm.

"What about the Corpse Demon? It seems to have escaped?"

Mud Man Zhang snorted coldly. "Having been struck by the Jade Yang Thorn, it can't run far. This inner coffin certainly leads to a new underground palace, and I suspect this palace connects to the outside world. If we follow the Corpse Demon, we will definitely find a way out."

The eyes of the tomb raiders lit up, and they all nodded in agreement. However, thinking about the treasures within the underground palace, they became hesitant.

Uncle Diao noticed their thoughts and stepped forward. "Mud Man Zhang, since this Jiangshi is no longer a threat to us, let's slow down a bit. Everyone needs to rest, and Brother Fan has been poisoned. "

Although Uncle Diao’s words were tactful, his meaning was clear.

Mud Man Zhang looked at Young Master Liu, then at Uncle Diao, and finally nodded. "Fine, let's wait a bit then. We've been down here for quite a long time; there's no rush to leave. Everyone rest first. People die for wealth, birds die for food. Since my friends have made it this far, you all deserve to receive your share. You organize the burial goods inside the coffin and divide them evenly. I will help Brother Fan temporarily suppress the corpse energy inside him." After speaking, Mud Man Zhang took out some glutinous rice from his bag and busied himself by Fan Debiao’s side.

Looking back at the group brought by Uncle Diao, their eyes were turning green as they rubbed their hands eagerly, crowding forward, afraid of getting less than their share during the distribution.

"Ahem... ahem..." Uncle Diao coughed a couple of times, finally bringing the clamorous environment back to a calm state. He glanced coldly at the various objects scattered about and said flatly, "One by one, no one will miss out. The usual rule applies: those who contribute more take more; those who contribute less take less. If anyone dares to take extra, I’ll break their legs and throw them in the river to feed the fish."