Chapter 41: Refining on the Spot! The First Corpse Puppet!

Dongfang Ting climbed slowly to his feet, covered in dust and looking utterly disheveled.

He stared at Wan Jianyi, thinking, "This guy managed to knock me back with a single strike so easily; his strength must surely be on par with mine or even greater."

Clearly, Dongfang Ting was overestimating himself. Even the Old Corpse-Controller, a master of the Heavenly Spirit Realm, had been pinned to the ground and mercilessly crushed by Wan Jianyi. Given his own current strength, what right did he have to challenge such a man?

Maintaining a sense of awe, Dongfang Ting stepped forward and said coldly, "Fellow Daoist, this matter has nothing to do with you. Please, move aside!"

"And what if I refuse?"

Dongfang Ting stiffened his face and let out a cold snort. "Then you are an enemy of our Lijiang Sword Sect."

Upon hearing this, Wan Jianyi burst into laughter. "An enemy? You think you're worthy?"

"You..."

Dongfang Ting’s face went rigid, momentarily at a loss for words.

Wan Jianyi turned to Ye Changsheng and said softly, "Little brother, whatever you wish to do, go right ahead. I am here; no one will lay a finger on you."

"Understood, brother!"

Ye Changsheng raised his hand and reached toward Jiang Tian’s corpse. In the next second, the body rose slowly and flew rapidly toward him.

Seeing this, Dongfang Ting, as his master, could not sit idly by. He reached out, attempting to forcibly reclaim the body.

"Boy! You killed my disciple, and now you dare to lay hands on his corpse? You are pushing your luck!"

"Put him down!"

Ye Changsheng did not stop; instead, he increased his power, pulling the body toward him with greater force.

"Pushing my luck? And what if I am? If you’re not happy, why don’t you come and hit me?" Ye Changsheng said with a faint, provocative smile.

Seeing Ye Changsheng’s smug expression, Dongfang Ting completely lost his composure.

"I’ll kill you!"

Gritting his teeth and roaring with rage, Dongfang Ting flew toward Ye Changsheng at full speed.

Ye Changsheng looked at Wan Jianyi and whispered, "Brother..."

Wan Jianyi lifted his leg and struck out fiercely toward Dongfang Ting.

"You really dare to come at me? Get out of my sight!"

The kick landed, and Dongfang Ting, powerless against such force, went flying like a soccer ball. The blow was immensely powerful, the sheer shockwave slamming into his body with crushing weight. At first, Dongfang Ting tried to resist, but he soon realized it was futile and could only watch helplessly as he was sent hurtling backward.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Dongfang Ting’s body crashed through a row of trees before embedding itself into the side of a mountain. The mountain trembled violently, causing a landslide that crumbled into ruins, burying Dongfang Ting beneath the rubble.

"Now, at last, no one will disturb us."

Just as Ye Changsheng was about to bury Jiang Tian, a string of data suddenly floated before his eyes:

[Jiang Tian’s Funeral Grade: Blue]

"What? This Jiang Tian is a Holy Son, at least. How is his funeral grade so low?"

The lower the funeral grade, the fewer the rewards. To go through all this trouble just to bury him would be a losing business!

Ye Changsheng did not give up. He looked at the corpse and chuckled. "Holy Son Jiang Tian, it would be such a waste to bury all that cultivation of yours."

"How about you let me practice on you for a bit?"

"If you have any objections, feel free to speak up."

Ye Changsheng’s words were pointless, of course—Jiang Tian was already dead; what chance did he have to object? He stepped forward and tapped two fingers onto the center of Jiang Tian’s brow.

As his fingers touched, a ripple of spiritual energy surged out from the point of contact, spreading outward like a stone dropped into a still pond.

Su Qinqin bit her red lip gently, asking in confusion, "Brother Changsheng, what are you doing?"

"Refining this fellow so we can have an extra bodyguard in the future."

"I see." Su Qinqin nodded, saying nothing more as she stood by to watch.

Ye Changsheng closed his eyes as ancient characters flickered through his mind. He opened his mouth slightly and began to chant an ancient incantation. As he recited the spell, the deathly aura surrounding Jiang Tian’s corpse was dispelled, replaced by Ye Changsheng’s own spiritual energy.

This was the Corpse-Control Art he had obtained from the Old Corpse-Controller earlier!

As the chant continued, scarlet, ancient markings began to emerge on Jiang Tian’s body, spreading like veins and capillaries.

"Clatter!"

Dongfang Ting crawled out from the ruins, covered in soot. Before he could speak, he looked up and saw this scene, freezing in place.

"Boy, let him go!"

Wan Jianyi slammed his foot down, releasing a terrifying pressure. No matter how hard Dongfang Ting struggled, he was helpless against such absolute power, forced to stand rooted to the spot as if trapped in deep mire, unable to move a muscle.

Wan Jianyi pointed at him and shouted, "Boy, if you move again, I will send you to reunite with that lad immediately."

With that, Dongfang Ting fell silent. Though he cherished Jiang Tian, he cherished his own life more. Jiang Tian was already dead; he, however, could not afford to die! Disciples could be recruited again, and a new Holy Son could be named, but if he were gone, everything would be over—all his years of effort would go down the drain.

Helpless, Dongfang Ting could only watch as Jiang Tian’s corpse was refined. He clenched his fists so tightly his fingernails dug into his flesh, blood dripping slowly from his palms. Seeing their master in such a state, the remaining elders and disciples prostrated themselves on the ground, terrified that a single wrong breath might get them killed.

"Hummm!"

A low hum echoed, and a dazzling crimson light erupted, instantly filling the area.

"Done!"

As the light faded, Jiang Tian descended slowly to the ground. His body was now covered in scarlet markings, surrounded by roiling blood energy, his skin deathly pale—a truly chilling sight.

Jiang Tian opened his eyes. They were deep red, with a flower-like pattern blooming within them, signaling that his body was now under control.

Ye Changsheng circled Jiang Tian, admiring his handiwork with great satisfaction.

"As my first corpse puppet, this looks pretty good..."

"I just wonder how powerful it is..."

Before Ye Changsheng could finish, a spark of inspiration flashed in Su Qinqin’s mind, and she came up with a wicked idea.

"Brother Changsheng, isn't this Jiang Tian the Holy Son of the Lijiang Sword Sect? He must have rarely interacted with everyone before..."

Su Qinqin gestured toward the members of the Lijiang Sword Sect and smiled. "Jiang Tian came from the crowd, so naturally, he should return to the crowd."

"A qualified Holy Son should really mingle with everyone!" Su Qinqin said with a straight, earnest face.

"Mingle..."

Ye Changsheng looked at Su Qinqin, his mouth twitching slightly as he offered a bitter smile. He had thought himself ruthless, but it turned out Su Qinqin was the true "living Yama."

She specialized in doing things that were completely inhumane!

"Very well, let’s do as you say!"

Ye Changsheng coughed softly.

"Attack!"