Chapter 80

The moment the word "senior" left his lips, the light rings within the formation flickered again, rising to forty-three before ceasing to increase, instead shining and reflecting off each other.

The eight people on the giant tree had their expressions change repeatedly, their initial shock giving way to a near-reverent fervor in their eyes. They shifted from kneeling on one knee to prostrating themselves on both knees, their gazes fixed intently on the formation. One must understand that if the formation lit up forty light rings, it signified that the visitor held a high status within the Corpse Yin Sect. If the light rings exceeded forty, it not only indicated a high status but also that the visitor was an Ancestor at the Core Formation stage.

With this thought, the eight people naturally displayed such behavior.

Gradually, two figures appeared within the formation, gradually solidifying. One of them was about twenty years old, with a cold and stern appearance and a composed demeanor. He wore a black robe, which made him appear even more upright.

Behind him followed a strange blue-skinned man, covered in numerous bizarre symbols, most notably the nine paper talismans attached to his body.

The moment these two figures appeared, a chill emanated from them.

One of the eight people suddenly let out a light exclamation, followed by expressions of surprise on the others' faces, their eyes flickering.

This person was Wang Lin. The moment he appeared, he suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a green light. The green light swirled around his body, emitting a bone-chilling cold, with the sword tip pointing at the surrounding giant trees.

With a mental sweep, Wang Lin felt slightly relieved. The eight people on the giant trees were all at the 15th layer of the Qi Condensation stage. If he harbored murderous intent, he could instantly slay all eight of them.

For some reason, the strange man Ah Dai, who had been looking around restlessly in the transmission channel, now stood quietly behind Wang Lin, staring at the symbols on the giant tree, deep in thought, silent.

The eight people on the giant tree now all stood up. One of the young men, with a peculiar expression, clasped his fists and said, "Senior, who are you?"

On his way here, Wang Lin had already thought of what to say. Now, with a composed expression, he glanced coldly at the other party and said calmly, "I am Wang Lin. Please inform Uncle Ye Zizai that I have important matters to discuss."

The young man was taken aback, exchanging glances with the others, and said, "Senior, we cannot make such a decision. Why don't you come with me to see the Elder in charge?"

Wang Lin nodded, stepping out of the formation, with Ah Dai following behind.

The young man leaped down from the giant tree, the coffin behind him floating down as well.

"Senior, please." With that, the young man moved, flying toward one of the cave entrances.

Without a word, Wang Lin followed.

On the way, the young man secretly observed Wang Lin, his attitude becoming increasingly respectful. In the cultivation world, strength spoke, and Wang Lin's Foundation Establishment stage cultivation naturally earned the young man's respect.

Especially Ah Dai behind Wang Lin, who drew most of the young man's attention.

Similarly, Wang Lin was also observing the other party, paying particular attention to the coffin behind him. The coffin emitted a chill, and a layer of mist blocked the mental senses. However, with Wang Lin's current near-mid Foundation Establishment stage cultivation, a focused look revealed the truth.

Inside the coffin was a corpse, dry and withered, as if in a deep sleep. The moment Wang Lin noticed it, the dry corpse suddenly opened its eyes. Though its gaze was murky, it concealed a hint of killing intent.

The young man seemed to sense something, tapping the coffin, causing the dry corpse to immediately close its eyes. The young man then smiled at Wang Lin, "Senior, this corpse puppet is a gift from my master. It was collected from the battlefield outside the realm, with extremely sensitive senses and a heavy aura of killing. It took me great effort to refine it."

Wang Lin nodded and said, "Your corpse puppet has the cultivation of the early Foundation Establishment stage, which is impressive."

Hearing this, the young man was inwardly startled, his gaze toward Wang Lin changing. The coffin storing the corpse puppet had a blocking effect on mental senses, yet the other party could instantly discern the puppet's cultivation, indicating that he was not an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, possibly even at the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Thinking this, his attitude became even more respectful. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Senior, is the one behind you... your corpse puppet?"

Wang Lin maintained his composed demeanor and nodded.

The young man's face showed curiosity as he carefully observed Ah Dai for a long time, then exclaimed, "Senior, the spirit of your corpse puppet is so abundant. How did you refine it? Only the flying demon of Ancestor Ye possesses such a spirit."

Wang Lin glanced at the other party, neither confirming nor denying.

The young man continued to observe Ah Dai, making Ah Dai somewhat impatient. He bared his teeth at the young man and let out a few loud roars.

The young man was startled by Ah Dai's words, exclaiming, "Senior, your corpse puppet has evolved to the point where it can speak?"

Wang Lin frowned, finding the other party's incessant questions annoying.

The young man, seemingly unaware, continued to ask various questions throughout the journey. Even when Wang Lin did not answer, he did not mind, talking to himself.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the young man talked about the corpse puppet, his fellow disciples, his master, and even his ancestor. Despite his impatience, Wang Lin managed to glean some information about the Corpse Yin Sect from the young man's words.

"Speaking of our Zhao Kingdom's Corpse Yin Sect, it is truly remarkable. From the fourth and fifth-level cultivation countries to the first and second-level cultivation countries, almost all use us as a transit point. For example, the promotion test for the first and second-level cultivation countries' Corpse Yin Sect is being held here..."

The cave passage grew larger, leading to another exit. The young man continued to chatter non-stop.

Wang Lin could no longer tolerate the other party's incessant talking. Seeing the exit in sight, he immediately accelerated, flying out of the passage. Before him was a slightly smaller cave than the previous one.

Inside the cave were five massive stone pillars, each with a large blue fireball floating above it, emitting a faint warmth.

In the center of the stone pillars sat an old man with white hair and a youthful face, his complexion rosy. His hair floated without wind, and as he breathed, green gas emerged from the fireballs on the surrounding stone pillars, entering his seven orifices, then quickly re-emerging and merging into the stone pillar beneath him.

This cycle continued, mysterious and unpredictable.

The moment Wang Lin flew into the cave, the old man suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as he coldly observed Wang Lin.

Wang Lin's mental senses swept over the old man, who had the cultivation of the mid Foundation Establishment stage.

At this moment, the young man quickly entered the cave. Seeing the old man, he immediately clasped his fists respectfully and said, "Elder, this senior just emerged from the transmission array, activating forty-three light rings. He wishes to see Ancestor Ye."

Hearing this, the old man's expression changed, his cold demeanor giving way to a peculiar look as he asked, "Fellow Daoist, who activated our Corpse Yin Sect's formation for you?"

Wang Lin maintained his composure and said, "Wu Yu!"

Hearing this name, the old man's expression changed again, and he immediately stood up, asking, "Wu Yu, the Ancestor who has been missing for hundreds of years? He... what is your relationship with him?"

Wang Lin glanced at the other party and said, "Disciple."

The old man drew a sharp breath. Wu Yu held a high status within the Zhao Kingdom's Corpse Yin Sect. If the other party's words were true, he could not afford to offend him. Thinking this, he quickly smiled and said, "So it's Uncle returning to the sect. I am Mu Rong. May I ask for your esteemed name?"

Wang Lin smiled and said, "I am Wang Lin. The title of Uncle is too much for me."

Mu Rong laughed and turned to glance at the young man, sternly saying, "You have no further business here. Go back. I will escort Uncle Wang to Ancestor Ye."

The young man hurriedly agreed, turning and muttering a few words silently before quickly leaving.

After the young man left, Mu Rong warmly invited Wang Lin to fly up to the stone pillar, smiling and asking, "Brother Wang, why didn't Ancestor return with you this time?"

Wang Lin gave a meaningful look and casually said, "He had some issues with his corpse puppet and needed to deal with them urgently."

Mu Rong nodded and said, "Wu Yu Ancestor's corpse puppet is second only to Ancestor Ye's flying demon. The higher the level of the corpse puppet, the more likely it is to have problems. However, with Wu Yu Ancestor's cultivation, handling these issues should be easy." As he spoke, he continuously observed Wang Lin, trying to discern any hints from his face.

Unfortunately, Wang Lin remained composed throughout, and Mu Rong, after a moment of thought, said, "Brother Wang, please wait a moment. I will contact Ancestor Ye." He then tapped his storage bag, summoning a jade slip, which he held in his hand, focused for a moment, and then threw forward.

The jade slip flashed a few times and quickly entered one of the surrounding passages.

After completing this, Mu Rong glanced at Ah Dai behind Wang Lin, about to speak, when Wang Lin opened his mouth. He looked at the blue fireballs on the stone pillars and asked in surprise, "Brother Mu, the aura emitted by these blue fireballs is yin with a hint of yang. They are not ordinary."

Mu Rong laughed and said, "Brother Wang, these blue demon flames are the result of several Core Formation stage experts' golden cores from the righteous alliance hundreds of years ago. Later, they were refined by Ancestor Ye Zizai, becoming another treasure of our Corpse Yin Sect. They are highly beneficial for our cultivation, especially for corpse puppets."

Wang Lin looked at the blue fireballs, extending his right hand. Instantly, a wisp of blue smoke emerged from one of the fireballs, floating to Wang Lin's palm. He focused his attention, exhaling a cold yin energy, causing the blue smoke to hiss and rapidly shrink, eventually forming a small blue ball that floated in the air.

Mu Rong's expression changed slightly, and he looked deeply at Wang Lin, smiling, "Brother Wang, condensing smoke into a solid form requires deep yin energy, which is not easily achieved. It seems that Uncle Wu Yu has treated you well."

Mu Rong's last bit of doubt vanished the moment Wang Lin displayed his yin energy. He did not know that the yin energy cultivated by the Corpse Yin Sect and the yin energy within Wang Lin's body, though similar in appearance, were fundamentally different.

At this moment, the blue fireballs on the stone pillars suddenly dimmed, emitting a green smoke that quickly condensed into a vague human figure. A massive pressure emanated from the figure.

Wang Lin's pupils contracted, feeling a sense of unease under the pressure. Mu Rong immediately knelt on the ground, his expression extremely respectful.

"Are you Wu Yu's disciple?" a sinister voice slowly emerged from the figure.