From the two massive sarcophagi in the largest central stone chamber, two Celestial Corpses slowly sat up, an air of vicious, baleful corpse-qi permeating the entirety of the underground tomb.

These two Celestial Corpses, one male and one female, appeared to be in their early forties, their faces ashen white and their bodies withered.

Both Celestial Corpses possessed the cultivation of the Nirvana Realm, their bodies wreathed in corpse-qi that carried an essence of bone-chilling coldness.

The two Celestial Corpses rose from their coffins, their ash-gray eyes slowly revolving, gazing from within the sarcophagi toward the area where Shi Yan stood.

The male Celestial Corpse slowly stood up, opening its mouth to expel a ball of white light condensed from corpse-qi.

The white light soared out, exploding before him, scattering into numerous fine beams that struck the surrounding sarcophagi in the adjacent chambers.

These white beams seemed to activate the Corpse Slaves within the coffins; every sarcophagus struck by the light emitted strange noises from within.

Before long, the Corpse Slaves began to leap out of their coffins, some with stiff limbs, others with agile movements, all shuffling toward Shi Yan.

The first seven Corpse Slaves awakened had already reached Shi Yan's immediate vicinity.

Shi Yan’s eyes were icy and malevolent, his entire being saturated with negative auras of tyranny, terror, madness, and slaughter. White mist coiled around him, lending him an intensely malevolent presence.

The seven Corpse Slaves closed in, encircling Shi Yan in the center, yet three of them hesitated to act rashly.

These three slaves had likely been refined only recently; in life, they possessed only the cultivation of the Human Rank. As they moved, their joints emitted sharp "crackling" sounds, suggesting their bones had not been thoroughly refined, certainly meaning they were less than a century old.

The remaining four Corpse Slaves, intimidated by the sheer magnitude of negative power radiating from Shi Yan, also hesitated slightly, but they slowly advanced their positions.

These four slaves carried a heavier concentration of corpse-qi. When they moved, their joints were silent, and their speed was noticeably faster.

With a cold expression, Shi Yan was certain that these four were Earth Corpses refined for a full century. Their limbs were no longer stiff, and they retained the ability to utilize some of their martial techniques from life.

"Pfft!"

Behind him, the sound of a sharp instrument piercing flesh suddenly rang out.

Shi Yan turned his head to see Xia Xinyan’s slender sword had pierced the throat of a Corpse God Sect disciple. The man’s eyes were filled with unconcealed resentment as he tilted his head back and collapsed.

As the man died, his essence suddenly dispersed, rushing into Shi Yan's body.

Including this man, Shi Yan had now absorbed the essence of three Hundred Tribulation martial artists. These negative forces, mingled with resentment and unwillingness, completely filled Shi Yan's acupoints.

At this very moment.

Three Corpse God Sect disciples were being shredded by the grinding power of the Domain Field, their blood pouring out, their breaths fading.

Two Yin-Yang Tear Heaven martial artists, possessing the Realm of Status cultivation, were each imprisoned by the Domain Field. Red and white light flowed over their bodies, resisting the crushing force within the field. Though restrained, they remained uninjured, continuously utilizing the red and white light to counter the field’s destructive power.

The Magnetic Shock Domain Field, fused with Yin energy, vital essence, and negative power, possessed astonishing might. The two Status Realm experts remained trapped within it, unable to break free of its shackles.

The first seven Corpse Slaves that approached did not immediately attack, content to simply surround Shi Yan and the woman.

Shi Yan and Xia Xinyan stood side-by-side, their expressions grave, watching as more and more Corpse Slaves emerged from the surrounding chambers. A cold dread slowly settled in their hearts.

This underground mausoleum was sunk dozens of meters beneath the earth. Above the tomb, a thick layer of corpse-qi perpetually lingered. This qi possessed a profoundly evil nature, capable of isolating mental power explorations.

Due to this layer of corpse-qi acting as a barrier, the fluctuations of vital essence occurring here were perfectly masked.

Therefore, Li Zhuang, Sui Yueru, and the other Corpse God Sect members on the surface had not yet detected the anomaly here; they were still outside, discussing important matters.

"This time we're in deep trouble," Xia Xinyan’s voice was piercingly cold. "One Celestial Corpse is enough to deal with us, let alone this many Corpse Slaves."

The Corpse Slaves slowly converged. In a short time, nearly a hundred of them formed a tight circle around the pair.

The three Corpse God Sect disciples, under the grinding attrition of the Magnetic Shock Domain Field, finally breathed their last, their eyes rolling back.

Their vital essence rapidly poured into Shi Yan’s body. Shi Yan’s acupoints gradually tingled and went numb. Having absorbed the essence of six Hundred Tribulation martial artists, the negative power surging within him grew exponentially stronger.

"Hold on! Just hold on for half a day, and I have a way to restore your Martial Soul!" Shi Yan roared.

"What?" Xia Xinyan gasped in horror. "Do you have some kind of pill?"

"No," Shi Yan shook his head. "Trust me! If we can last half a day, I genuinely have a method to help you restore your Martial Soul!"

Back in the Gloomy Forest, he had already verified the strange power within his body using Di Yalan and Mu Yudie. That mysterious power not only enhanced his own Martial Soul and vital essence but could also awaken and restore the Martial Souls of others.

When Mu Yudie's Musical Resonance Martial Soul was damaged, and her meridians shattered, she quickly recovered under the aid of that strange energy. If it could restore a Musical Resonance Martial Soul, it could certainly restore Xia Xinyan’s Samsara Martial Soul.

As soon as his acupoints converted the absorbed vital essence and circulated it back into his body, he could utilize that unique energy to help Xia Xinyan fully recover.

Time—he needed time!

Xia Xinyan was astonished. She did not know Shi Yan's method, but she chose to believe him. "Alright, I will do my best."

Saying this, the verdant ring on her hand suddenly shimmered with a faint green light.

Several silver spheres, each about the size of a fist, rapidly materialized in her delicate palm. As soon as the spheres appeared, Xia Xinyan immediately swung her arm, hurling them toward the advancing Corpse Slaves.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Explosions suddenly erupted within the tomb below. The silver spheres shone brilliantly, detonating upon impact and blowing many Corpse Slaves into pieces.

Human Corpses refined for less than a century were instantly torn apart by the blast radius of the silver spheres; they could not withstand the explosive power.

The Earth Corpses, refined for over a century, possessed extremely tough bodies. Under the silver sphere explosions, they were left scorched black but largely unharmed.

The two Celestial Corpses remained motionless in the massive sarcophagi, but they simultaneously let out sharp shrieks.

Dozens of Human and Earth Corpses, spurred by the shriek of the Celestial Corpses, suddenly went into a frenzy, baring their fangs and claws as they lunged toward Shi Yan.

Shi Yan’s expression turned ruthless. The Magnetic Shock Domain Field, which had just annihilated the three Corpse God Sect disciples, suddenly shifted, manifesting violently before him.

Ten Human and Earth Corpses charging forward simultaneously rushed into the intangible domain field, instantly confined by its crushing force. They contorted in ferocious lunges within the field, unable to break free.

Taking a deep breath, Shi Yan’s body hardened into stone, his expression ferocious. He secretly activated the Finger Gun Art and plunged headfirst into the throng of Corpse Slaves.

"Boom! Bang! Bang!"

Shi Yan barreled through the ranks of Corpse Slaves. Relying on the sheer strength of his petrified body, he blasted and bombarded the slaves in the center.

With his body petrified and driven by the Rage Realm, Shi Yan's power surged wildly at this moment. His wicked energy spiked, actually blasting the Corpse Slaves backward.

Human Corpses were sent flying with a single blow under Shi Yan's impact, unable to withstand his ferocious assault.

The Earth Corpses, harder than iron, though sent flying by Shi Yan’s rampage, quickly got back on their feet and continued to rush forward relentlessly.

The Earth Corpses’ bodies were incredibly resilient. Some even possessed naturally formed Corpse Armor on their chests and abdomens. This armor, born of corpse-qi, was incredibly tough, impervious even to Shi Yan’s Finger Gun Art.

Most Earth Corpses had been in the Hundred Tribulation Realm in life and could exert one hundred percent of their former strength. Despite Shi Yan's frenzied attacks, the Earth Corpses remained intact, rising quickly only to charge toward Shi Yan fiercely once more.

Two Earth Corpses moved like nimble snakes, suddenly emerging from amidst the Human Corpses. Their footwork was bizarre, and they instantly appeared behind Shi Yan.

The palms of these Earth Corpses, carrying thick corpse-qi, manifested bone daggers that shot out, stabbing viciously into Shi Yan’s back.

"P-Pang!"

Shi Yan’s back felt a wave of sharp stabs. Against the bone spikes, his petrified body could still resist, but it was beginning to strain.

More Earth Corpses began to employ the martial skills of their living days, channeling corpse-qi as vital essence, forming various ash-white beams that shot toward Shi Yan from all directions.

"Boom!"

Shi Yan, caught amidst the Corpse Slaves, was finally overwhelmed. Under this barrage of attacks, he was forced to retreat in disarray.

Xia Xinyan was clad in crimson armor. The armor flowed with scorching firelight, etched with complex, ancient patterns within which threads of rainbow light flickered like streaks of fire.

As the armor emanated a faint fiery glow, Xia Xinyan stood still, her expression cold. Yet, very few Corpse Slaves dared to attack her, seemingly quite fearful of the crimson light emanating from her armor.

"Come here!" Xia Xinyan cried out.

Shi Yan’s face twisted fiercely. Trapped among the Corpse Slaves, he suddenly gritted his teeth and unleashed the Life and Death Seal.

Hand seals rapidly formed in his palms—one Life Seal, one Death Seal. The fourteen seals did not merge but split into two directions, blasting out suddenly.

"Rumble!"

Seven Life Seals shot out, and one by one, the Corpse Slaves violently exploded, unable to withstand a single impact from a Life Seal.

Seven Death Seals were projected, striking the Corpse Slaves, yet these slaves remained unharmed and continued their fanatical charge.

Shi Yan was both shocked and delighted.

Shocked that the Death Seal had no effect on these undead objects; delighted that the power of the Life Seal against Corpse Slaves was preposterously strong, shattering even the Earth Corpses instantly.

The Life Seal contained vigorous vitality, and the peculiar life force within it seemed to be the bane of dead things like Corpse Slaves!

Any Corpse Slave, whether Human or Earth, that came into contact with a Life Seal immediately exploded. The seal seemed to activate the inherent destructive emotion within the slaves; the perpetually lifeless Corpses could not withstand a single strike from a Life Seal.

"Boom!"

Shi Yan’s spirit soared. Abandoning the use of the Death Seal, he continuously cast Life Seals.

Every Human and Earth Corpse that touched a Life Seal was utterly annihilated on the spot.

Just then!

The two Celestial Corpses suddenly flew out of their sarcophagi. A flicker of excitement crossed their ash-white pupils!

Upon arrival, they swiftly tossed the surrounding Corpse Slaves aside and, puffing out their chests, charged fearlessly toward the two Life Seals Shi Yan had launched.

"Boom! Boom! Boom—"

Fourteen Life Seals struck the bodies of the two Celestial Corpses.

Unexpectedly, these two Celestial Corpses did not explode into dust. The fourteen Life Seals vanished within their bodies, shining brilliantly inside them before slowly seeping into their minds.

"Whoosh!"

A strange sound suddenly resonated within the minds of the two Celestial Corpses. The Life Seals projected themselves clearly onto their skulls, rotating in peculiar orbits inside the Celestial Corpses’ brains.

A unique form of life force gradually sprouted from within their minds. These two Celestial Corpses, dead for a thousand years, seemed to have regained life.

But this was a form of life utterly different from that of humans!

Shi Yan stared dumbfounded at the bizarre transformation of the two Celestial Corpses, not knowing what had occurred.

At that very moment, the blood-patterned ring on his finger erupted with a brilliant rainbow light!