Chapter 98: Opportunity

Although it was pitch black, Shang Lu relied on his extraordinary vision to quickly grasp the condition of the corpses. Every single one of them had at least one hole in its body the size of a bowl. Through these openings, Shang Lu could clearly see that their interiors were hollow—no organs, no blood.

He was no stranger to this bizarre cause of death. The terrifying "Ghost Hand" immediately came to mind. A chill raced down his spine, and he scanned his surroundings frantically. Only after confirming there were no signs of the Ghost Hand did he heave a sigh of relief.

He pondered: "These demons, ghosts, alchemists, and spies clearly died at the hands of the elder shaman’s dark arts. My previous assumption was correct; the news of a secret realm within Mount Yunhua was indeed spread by the elder shaman. He did it to lure these people and creatures here, kill them, and use them to nurture the strange serpent!"

Shang Lu further speculated that the serpent’s metamorphosis must have hit a snag. Otherwise, surely the spiritual energy within the secret realm would have been enough for its transformation? Only if something went wrong would the elder shaman risk exposure to draw in demons, ghosts, alchemists, and spies, or trick local bailiffs and militia into being slaughtered as blood sacrifices to feed the creature. He was using their corpses to set up a formation for some strange ritual to ensure the serpent’s successful evolution.

Shang Lu recalled the stifling, humid weather that had blanketed Luoshui County recently. Could this oppressive heat, heavy with baleful energy, be a manifestation of the serpent’s agitation due to the complications in its metamorphosis? That would explain why those affected by the baleful aura were irritable, prone to rage, and impulsive enough to kill. Now that a strange mist had engulfed all of Mount Yunhua, it was likely not only because the metamorphosis had reached a critical stage, but also because the creature’s emotions had reached their most volatile and maddened peak.

Connecting these dots, Shang Lu felt he had touched upon the truth. A sudden urge rose within him to stop these corpses from kneeling and thereby disrupt the bizarre ritual. However, he quickly suppressed the impulse. If these kneeling corpses were truly part of the ritual, then any interference—whether destroying them or moving them—would alert the enemy. Even if the elder shaman remained unaware, drawing the attention of the Ghost Hand would be fatal. It was better to follow Sanniang and observe the situation within the secret realm before making any plans.

Shang Lu looked at Sanniang, who was leading the way. She did not walk among the kneeling corpses but skirted around them. He followed quickly, careful not to disturb them. As they brushed past, Shang Lu discovered that these demons, ghosts, alchemists, and spies—hollowed out of their blood and organs—were not actually "dead." They were still "alive!"

They were merely suppressed by a powerful force, forced to kneel on the ground. Though their bodies could not move, their eyes were lively, shifting constantly to survey their surroundings. If Shang Lu had acted on his earlier impulse and charged in, he would not only have alerted the enemy and invited the elder shaman’s wrath, but he would also likely have been targeted by these living corpses. No one could say what would happen then.

Reflecting on this, Shang Lu couldn't help but wonder if the inexplicable urge he felt earlier had been influenced by the corpses themselves. Were they exuding a sinister power to lure people close, just to expand their ranks?

*Hiss...*

Shang Lu inwardly cursed his own near-blunder, warning himself: "This secret realm is filled with traps and dangers at every turn; I must not act rashly!"

Bypassing the group of kneeling corpses, Shang Lu followed Sanniang deeper into the darkness. Their destination was the very direction toward which the corpses were bowing. Seeing this, Shang Lu grew even more cautious.

After walking for a distance, he suddenly saw another figure ahead. This time, there was only one, and it was not kneeling. Who could it be? A shaman? Or another demon, ghost, alchemist, or spy who had breached this place and had yet to be harmed?

Shang Lu tightened his grip on his ox-tail saber and Nuo mask, but Sanniang walked straight toward the figure. Stunned, Shang Lu hurried to catch up, fearing she might be in danger.

As they drew near, Shang Lu realized it was not a person, but a stone statue. It was carved in the likeness of an ordinary-looking man, rendered with lifelike detail. The clothes he wore were completely different from the styles popular in the Ba State today. The man’s left hand was forming a ritual seal, while his right held a long whip. He was looking up at the sky, as if an enemy were descending and he was defending this area. The statue was exquisite; the shock and tension on the man’s face were so vivid that one couldn't help but wonder what incredible sight he had witnessed.

Who was this man? Why was there a statue of him in this secret realm? And why was he depicted with such a strange expression?

While Shang Lu was curious, Sanniang produced a set of incense and candles. Was she expecting him to offer them to the statue? Shang Lu hesitated for a moment but took them. He knew Sanniang must have a reason for this. Perhaps it related to the opportunities hidden within the secret realm.

"Although we are strangers, you are a senior in the path of cultivation. As a junior entering your domain, it is only right to offer you incense." After silently reciting this, Shang Lu placed the lit incense and candles on the ground before the statue. Throughout the process, he remained vigilant, eyes scanning the surroundings, fearing the smoke and light might attract Ghost Hands, paper dolls, or bean soldiers.

But nothing happened. The surroundings remained silent; there was not a sound or a stir. Instead, the nameless stone statue itself began to change after receiving the offering. First, stone dust crumbled away, and then, without a sound, it collapsed into a pile of fine powder.

This unexpected turn of events shocked Shang Lu. What was going on? He had only offered incense, so why did it collapse? Was it trying to frame him?

Just as Shang Lu was bewildered, a voice echoed directly in his mind: "Thank you for the offering. I have nothing to repay you with, so I shall bestow upon you my proudest skill."

At the same time, bolstered by the manifestation of the Liver God, Shang Lu saw a faint human figure hovering in the air, his face filled with sorrow. Before Shang Lu could speak, the figure vanished.

He stood frozen for a moment, then began to understand. This statue must have been a disciple of this ancient sect. Years ago, the sect had suffered some catastrophe. This disciple had stood guard here, fighting until his last breath. After death, his obsession remained so strong that his soul was locked within his body, unable to depart, eventually becoming part of the secret realm.

Centuries passed; his body turned to stone, yet his soul remained imprisoned within. The offering of incense and candles had somehow helped him break the seal. Once his soul had looked around and realized the sect had perished, his obsession dissipated. Thus, the statue collapsed, and his soul faded away.

A gentle breeze blew, scattering the powder of the statue to reveal two items that had been hidden beneath.