Inside the ancient city.
Su Yu was currently drifting about, feeling rather conflicted.
What was he conflicted about?
He was worried that if his ranking on the list rose again after killing someone, everyone would immediately know he was the culprit.
Would killing Jiu Xuan raise his ranking?
Probably not!
Jiu Xuan likely didn't possess the combat strength of a third-stage Shanhai. If so, as long as an opponent didn't exceed the third stage of the Shanhai Realm, it was improbable that his rank would increase.
He was already eleventh on the Heaven Ranking. If his position didn't budge—meaning he didn't slay anyone at the fourth-stage Shanhai Realm or above—his ranking would remain unchanged, and people wouldn't know he was behind it. His real fear was... what if his ranking changed!
Then everyone would realize it was his doing.
When that happened, his cover would be blown.
"Better stick to picking off the weaker ones first!"
Su Yu drifted through the city in no hurry, taking things one step at a time.
He would weed these fellows out little by little!
A dead spirit's identity was the hardest to arouse suspicion. Scarcely anyone dared probe a dead spirit and invite trouble upon themselves.
Death qi was the best badge of identity!
By now, the sky was dimming once again.
It was almost his third day in the city!
Su Yu continued to roam, intending to scout whether his rivals were still around, and whether any members of the Immortal race or the Xuan Armor race were wandering about.
Over the past few days, martial law had been declared within the city.
Castellan Tianhe had warned the residents and outsiders not to go out without good reason. Right now, anyone roaming the streets... was hardly up to any good.
As he drifted along, Su Yu soon spotted a familiar face—or rather, someone he recognized.
Moerba!
Su Yu had seen this fellow before. He was one of the demon experts who had hunted Wu Qi and her companion. The demon Wu Qi had killed back then seemed to be his younger brother, and it was this very guy who had instigated Tianduo to lead a group to surround and slaughter Huang Teng and Wu Qi.
This guy actually dared to venture out alone?
Judging by his demeanor, he seemed to be looking for an ancient house to enter, perhaps seeking some opportunities.
"Moerba!"
Su Yu fell into contemplation. Should he kill this guy?
He didn't know whether there were other experts from the Demon race in the city, but he did know Modona was here. That fellow possessed immense combat power; Su Yu had once felt that dealing with someone like Modona would be far harder than facing Cheng Kai.
Modona might not necessarily defeat Cheng Kai, but his repertoire of tricks was unquestionably vast.
Just like Su Yu himself—his combat strength fell short of the sixth-stage Shanhai Yin Kai, yet in terms of methods and stratagems, Yin Kai couldn't hold a candle to him. That was the gulf between a true genius and an ordinary cultivator.
"Moerba..."
Su Yu continued drifting, staying not far from Moerba. Moerba, too, noticed this lone dead spirit.
He glanced sideways with caution and swiftly found an empty house to slip into, wishing to steer clear of the dead spirit.
The movements of dead spirits generally followed a pattern.
If you didn't provoke them, they wouldn't take the initiative to bother you.
Su Yu drifted over and silently came to a halt outside the door.
Moerba was probably planning to wait until the dead spirit moved on before coming back out.
When this guy stepped outside, instead of an empty street, what awaited him would be a strike from the Mind Expansion Hammer—a death-qi-infused Mind Expansion Hammer. Would he be thrilled?
Su Yu figured he ought to be thrilled.
Moerba wasn't weak; he was at the fourth stage of the Lingyun Realm. Without sufficient strength, he wouldn't have dared hunt Wu Qi, and he was indeed a prodigy listed on the Yellow Ranking.
Still, to Su Yu, killing a Yellow Ranking genius meant very little.
It was just... would there be a Heaven and Earth reward?
No matter how one looked at it, the guy was a Yellow Ranking prodigy.
There was still a chance of receiving a reward!
"I need to hammer him back into the house in one blow and finish him off inside. That way, even if a Heaven and Earth reward appears, no one else will sense it."
Su Yu made a swift judgment and activated his "Quiet" divine character,
dulling Moerba's crisis perception!
An invisible hammer materialized in his hand.
He aimed straight at the doorway!
The moment Moerba stepped out, he would slam him with the hammer, smash him back inside, slip in after him, and make the kill!
Flawless!
...
Inside the ancient house.
Moerba had no interest in exploring an outer ancient house like this. He listened intently; outside, there seemed to be no movement or sound whatsoever.
After waiting a moment, he cracked the door open a sliver.
He reached an arm out slightly, sensing no danger.
He let out a faint breath of relief. That was good.
As long as the dead spirit had moved on, everything was fine. In the ancient city, dead spirits were the greatest hazard. Other people rarely killed within the city walls, knowing full well that bloodshed summoned dead spirits.
Seeing that all was clear, he prepared to head out.
Tianduo and the others were waiting for developments on Su Yu's side, but Moerba wasn't particularly interested. That fellow Su Yu was terrifying, having slain Shanhai Realm experts; Moerba didn't want to get dragged into that mess.
He had come to the ancient city merely to hunt for opportunities.
Moerba opened the door and was just about to step outside.
Suddenly, his vision blurred!
Before he could react in the slightest, an enormous hammer struck without a sound. With a resounding boom, his sea of will violently convulsed, leaving Moerba utterly dazed. Immediately afterward, something shoved him, sending him flying backward into the house.
Su Yu swiftly pulled the door shut!
He brought the hammer down once more!
His previous blow had been laced with death qi, far more potent than normal. Moerba was, after all, only at the fourth stage of the Lingyun Realm, and that first strike had already bludgeoned him senseless!
With another strike, a sharp crack echoed... Su Yu could distinctly hear the fracturing of a sea of will.
Agony and the sensation of impending death caused Moerba's eyes to brighten slightly. Looking at the hammer looming right before him, bewilderment and disorientation filled his gaze.
This hammer... where did it come from?
Who was killing him?
A hammer... Su Yu?
But... wasn't Su Yu still holed up inside his ancient house?
Could there be another powerhouse who used a hammer?
He couldn't make sense of it!
At this moment, he didn't even know what thoughts crossed his mind as his consciousness began to scatter. He was dying. Just days ago, he had been full of vigor, bent on avenging his brother by slaying that human woman.
In the end, he hadn't managed to kill her, though they had grievously wounded her, which had kept him in high spirits.
Yet now... he was going to die.
Just like his younger brother, perishing in the prime of his youth.
He recalled his father's warning before his departure: *This is the All-Heavens Battlefield, where anything is possible. Though you are a genius, once you embark on this path, you might never return. If you do not return, the Bahe family may fall into decline.*
The family...
Father...
Moerba's gaze gradually dulled. Across the All-Heavens Battlefield, powerhouses ran rampant and geniuses from the myriad races gathered. Brilliant as his talent was, it amounted to little here; if one failed to rise, death was the only certainty.
"Is the Bahe family... doomed to decline?"
With a faint murmur, Moerba's aura dispersed, and he fell, having come to hunt Wu Qi only to meet his end in an ancient city.
...
At that moment, the Heaven Hunting sub-ranking scrolls vibrated.
Tianduo picked up his scroll and glanced at it, feeling puzzled. Who had died now?
So many people had died recently—nearly a score had vanished from the Heaven Hunting Ranking, causing it to vibrate constantly. Whose turn was it now?
He scanned it at a glance. The Heaven Ranking, Earth Ranking, and Black Ranking hadn't shifted, so he didn't pay it much mind. It was merely someone on the Yellow Ranking...
However, when he saw the gradually dimming name, his face changed.
The next instant, he bolted out of his ancient house and roared, "Who was it? Moerba! Where are you? Moerba!"
His bellow echoed across the street!
At that moment, numerous figures showed themselves nearby.
Tianduo suddenly snapped his gaze toward Qin Fang and shouted, "Qin Fang, did you kill Moerba?"
"Are you out of your mind?"
Qin Fang cursed and, without another word, thrust his spear straight at him!
Like hell I killed him!
*I've been standing right here the entire time. How could I have killed him? Kill Moerba? What utter nonsense.*
Killing people inside the ancient city was troublesome.
Still, if he could kill Tianduo, he wouldn't mind a little trouble.
Tianduo roared, demonic qi surging to the heavens!
He was at the seventh stage of the Lingyun Realm, while Qin Fang was at the sixth stage. As a prodigy of the Origin Demon race, Tianduo's strength wasn't necessarily inferior to Qin Fang's. He didn't fear Qin Fang; otherwise, he wouldn't have dared hunt Huang Teng in the first place.
Right now, he was both furious and unnerved.
How could Moerba have suddenly died?
Where had he died?
Silently and without a trace, he didn't even know where Moerba had perished.
The moment they clashed, Qin Fang's spear struck with violent fury, and in the blink of an eye, Tianduo was forced onto the back foot. Just then, an icy snow sword swept in. Qin Fang instantly leapt back, snorting coldly, "An Mintian, you're courting death!"
Indeed, An Mintian had intervened!
His white hair fluttering, An Mintian remarked impassively, "Qin Fang, you are strong. Even I might not be able to defeat you. But right now... what is the point of fighting? That goes for Tianduo as well. Moerba is dead. He was a Yellow Ranking genius after all, and he died just like that..."
In a slightly heavy tone, An Mintian continued, "Shouldn't we first investigate how Moerba died?"
Qin Fang said teasingly, "Dead is dead, no matter how it happened! Who cares? Good riddance, anyway. It's not like he was a human genius. Moerba died—did you expect me to wail in mourning for him?"
With that, he glanced at the two of them and smiled faintly. "You two... had better watch your backs when you step outside, especially you, Tianduo! If not for you, none of this nonsense would have happened. Moerba was the chief culprit, and he deserved to die!"
Tianduo ignored him. Being no match for Qin Fang in a one-on-one duel left him somewhat dispirited.
He was a full stage higher than Qin Fang!
Yet he had been suppressed. If An Mintian hadn't stepped in, his only option would have been to flee.
Right now, he paid Qin Fang no more heed. Being outmatched was simply a fact; there was nothing he could do about it.
"Moerba was a ranked expert..."
Tianduo glanced around. "Killing him should have triggered a Heaven and Earth reward, yet none was seen. Unless Moerba left the city, he was slain inside a house!"
An Mintian said calmly, "He might also have been killed by a dead spirit. Slaying by dead spirits yields no Heaven and Earth reward!"
Nodding, Tianduo scanned the surroundings. "Whoever killed him was either a dead spirit, an expert, or a ranked cultivator placed above him on the lists. Otherwise, there would have been some change in ranking, but there has been none... Cultivators on the Heaven and Earth Rankings are all suspects. Even someone on the Black Ranking might have caused a ranking shift by killing him..."
They could only narrow it down to general possibilities.
Either he was killed by a dead spirit, slain inside an ancient house, or felled by an expert from the Heaven or Earth Rankings.
Yet right now, not even Moerba's corpse was anywhere to be seen.
Where on earth had Moerba died?
"Lan Ying!"
Tianduo looked toward the female demon not far away. "Stop wandering around. Stick with me and don't stray!"
Moerba had not been weak; he had slain seventh-stage Lingyun cultivators before.
Yet he had died right here, silently and without warning. One had to remember that during the previous encirclement of Huang Teng, Moerba had emerged unscathed. Tianmie Ancient City was growing increasingly perilous.
...
Not far away.
Dao Cheng frowned slightly, his mind working quickly. The fall of a Yellow Ranking genius was no small matter. To die so quietly—how had it happened?
He quickly performed a divination.
After calculating for a while, he furrowed his brow, having gleaned very little. The only trace he uncovered was that Moerba's death might be connected to death qi. Had death qi killed him?
Had he perished exploring an ancient house, or had a dead spirit slain him?
Dao Cheng had no way to investigate further.
In the ancient city, once a death involved death qi, following the trail was practically impossible.
Beside him, Cheng Kai also frowned slightly. "It seems there might be others in the city looking to fish in troubled waters. Even a genius of the Demon race has died. This Heaven Hunting Ranking... sigh!"
Calling it a death registry was hardly an exaggeration!
How many geniuses of the myriad races on that list had died in just these few days?
His own race had already lost two.
He didn't dwell on it further, as it wasn't one of their own who had perished.
Cheng Kai glanced at Fen Kai, whose body was tainted with death qi, and then at Yin Kai, saying, "Su Yu might be carrying an immense amount of Heaven Yuan Qi. Who knows how long he can hold out before emerging? I'll keep watch here first. You two should step outside the city to shelter for the night and return tomorrow!"
Dao Cheng looked at Jiu Xuan, thought for a moment, and said, "Jiu Xuan still has some Heaven Yuan Qi left; there is no need to leave the city. It may not be safe outside right now either. As for General Yin Kai... you may leave the city to avoid the death qi for now. We need to take turns guarding this place."
Turning back to Cheng Kai, he added, "I will provide Brother Cheng Kai with some Heaven Yuan Qi so you can remain here longer, lest we miss the opportunity and let Su Yu slip away."
Cheng Kai nodded slightly.
Yin Kai looked at the others and asked, "Am I the only one leaving the city?"
"Yes!"
Cheng Kai replied, "You are at the sixth stage of the Shanhai Realm. Go outside to avoid the death qi first... or you can go together with Brother Dao Cheng and the others later. When I can no longer hold out, you can guard the doorway together. A single person might not be able to stop Su Yu."
It was best to divide into two shifts.
He alone would be one shift, and the others would form the second.
Fen Kai, who carried heavy death qi, spoke up upon hearing this: "I won't leave. I'll stay here permanently. Tonight I will toss out another jade talisman, and do so again tomorrow night. Then I can become a resident and stay here for good!"
Yin Kai sighed and looked toward Dao Cheng and Jiu Xuan. "Are you two coming along?"
He was leaving regardless; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to hold out much longer.
Dao Cheng pondered for a moment before nodding. "Very well. We will step outside the city and stay for a day. Su Yu won't emerge so quickly. Brother Cheng Kai, we leave things in your hands!"
"It is no trouble!"
The departure of Dao Cheng, Jiu Xuan, and Yin Kai didn't affect him much. Once they returned, they could relieve him on rotation.
A moment later, the three left the city.
Meanwhile, Su Yu, who had drifted nearby, cursed under his breath. *Three leaving together—what the fuck!*
How was he supposed to kill them?
Killing Moerba had yielded modest spoils, and he had taken the opportunity inside the house to revert to his true form and purge some death qi. Yet just as he returned, he saw the three departing together!
This was troublesome!
At this moment, two dead spirits trailed behind him as though they were his lackeys, though in reality, they were not.
When he killed someone, new dead spirits had appeared.
Presumably unable to distinguish who the real killer was, the two dead spirits simply followed Su Yu like fools, much to his surprise.
A thought stirred in Su Yu's mind. Perhaps he could kill more and gather more lackeys.
The earlier dead spirits were still foolishly surrounding the house. Who knew how these dead spirits made their judgments? Could it be that because his scent was stronger inside the house, those fellows had refused to leave?
"Killing just one Moerba isn't enough... Why aren't the rest of these bastards acting alone!"
Su Yu cursed inwardly!
Just then, night fell completely. Su Yu's eyes flickered, and he swiftly engaged his shadow concealment, vanishing from the spot. In the blink of an eye, he appeared outside the house of Fen Kai and the others and picked up a jade talisman.
At the same time, another dead spirit appeared beside him.
Seeing Su Yu snatch its job, it seemed faintly confused. However, dead spirits possessed no intellect, acting entirely upon rules and base instincts. Though somewhat unaccustomed to this, it could only wander around nearby.
Su Yu picked up the talisman, walked over to the wooden placard before the door, and, imitating what he had seen last time, continued scribbling and sketching over the incomplete portrait of Fen Kai.
Fortunately, dead spirits were abysmal painters, producing crude likenesses.
Su Yu could easily mimic the sloppy strokes.
Had he drawn too skillfully, it would have been easier to give himself away.
Neither Fen Kai nor Cheng Kai paid any attention. To be frank, all dead spirits looked identical to them—just as armored warriors looked identical to Su Yu. If not for differing armor colors and cultivation levels, he wouldn't have been able to tell them apart either.
Dead spirits were even harder to distinguish, each enveloped in death qi. Who could tell what was going on?
Su Yu scribbled away, carving out more than half of Fen Kai's likeness before swiftly departing from the wooden placard.
Meanwhile, the death qi clinging to Fen Kai grew even heavier, making him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
He didn't pay it much mind. This was his first time converting into an ancient city resident, so how could he know the exact process? Becoming a resident probably required enduring death qi erosion. In any case, over so many years, no one had ever failed the conversion.
The process was bound to be somewhat painful.
He allowed the death qi to corrode him; it didn't matter. After tossing another talisman tomorrow, he would no longer fear death qi.
Su Yu, however, felt a twinge of pity for him.
The death qi was practically penetrating the fellow's sea of will, yet he still sat inside the house without leaving. His strength was mediocre at best; if the conversion failed tomorrow night, he would die without Su Yu even having to lift a finger.
How tragic!
Pitifully digging his own grave, foolishly letting death qi erode him... His intellect was beyond words.
Of course, no one suspected anything was amiss.
A dead spirit was something that couldn't be faked.
Who would ever think in that direction?
Many experts were observing from around the area, but none spoke up; in truth, none of them cared much about the matter.
Even Cheng Kai, seeing Fen Kai's pained expression, merely sighed and consoled him, "Endure it for one more day. Once you become a resident... in a few years, we'll see if the clan can find a way to free you."
"Thank you, Milord!"
Enduring the agony, Fen Kai said nothing more. All of this was voluntary.
Seeing that they had no intention of separating, and with Jiu Xuan and the others having left the city, Su Yu chose not to give chase.
He drifted off to another area.
Time to find someone else to kill!
This was the eighteenth ring, after all, and not everyone could withstand the death qi here. Some spectators remained on the outer perimeter.
Those watching the spectacle... hardly any of them were decent folk.
All races could be slain!
That was Su Yu's philosophy, very similar to Xia Longwu's back in the day. When he had first enrolled and Wan Tiansheng was recruiting students from the myriad races, Su Yu had told Liu Wenyan during their conversation that he supported Xia Longwu's policy: all races could be slain!
Talk of cooperation and alliances was utterly unreliable.
Look at the Immortal race—they were supposed to be humanity's allies!
What allies? Everything was driven purely by self-interest.
Su Yu drifted along, steering clear of that area, intent on killing the onlookers first to prevent anyone from kicking him while he was down later. At the same time, it would allow him to accumulate some benefits—perhaps earning rewards that could help raise his cultivation realm.
Some fools had left their doors wide open.
Most of these fools were hoping to watch the show and reap some benefits.
Under normal circumstances, dead spirits couldn't breach an ancient house. The dead spirits here followed strict rules; unless you committed murder or damaged the ancient city, dead spirits of corresponding strength wouldn't appear.
As Su Yu drifted along, he spotted an open ancient house.
Inside were two figures... not humans, but members of the Monster race.
Two dragons!
They looked somewhat familiar—most likely the little golden dragon and Long Zhan. At that moment, their doors were open as they conversed.
Su Yu drifted to the doorway. The two glanced at him and paid him no heed.
Setting aside the fact that it couldn't enter, even if it did, neither of them feared a Tengkong Realm dead spirit.
The two dragons cast him a glance, noting that Su Yu was trailed by lackey dead spirits... Assuming they were a pack, they paid it little mind and continued their casual conversation.
"Wuyou, watching from here is enough. Do not stay long. This place will soon descend into chaos. Experts from all races are rushing here, and even the human side has shown movement. Human experts are very likely coming to provide reinforcement..."
Long Zhan, his white hair flowing, spoke while the little golden dragon remained in its true form without taking human shape. Hearing this, the little golden dragon grunted gloomily, "The All-Heavens Battlefield is a contest between geniuses! What kind of skill is it to call for elders? If that's how it is, why not just let the Invincibles wage all-out war!"
It was thoroughly displeased and disgusted.
If seniors and experts intervened in battles between geniuses, how was anyone supposed to play the game?
Long Zhan smiled faintly. "It's different. Any of us can do as we please, but Su Yu cannot. His identity is special; humanity's Multiple Divine Characters Faction... cannot be permitted to rise. That is the Dragon race's stance as well. What happened with Ye Batian back then put all races on high alert."
"Can attaining the Dao through the multiple divine character faction truly activate the Human Realm's suppressive power?"
The little golden dragon knew of this matter as well, but asked curiously, "Is that recorded in ancient texts, or merely speculation? In the Golden Dragon clan, I never saw such records."
Long Zhan mused, "It is most likely true. The exact details are known only to the Eternals. You can ask Grand Elder Golden Dragon when you return."
The little golden dragon was a descendant of the Golden Dragon Grand Elder; Long Zhan couldn't speak on it with certainty.
"Fine then!"
As the two dragons conversed, noticing the dead spirit still lingering, the little golden dragon snapped irritably, "These dead spirits are annoying, and the death qi is annoying too. I really want to beat this dead spirit to death!"
"Do not act rashly!"
Long Zhan admonished, "Dead spirits cannot be killed—or at least, not right now. The dead spirits are already stirred up. If you kill more and summon ancient dead spirits, everyone will be in deep trouble!"
"Got it!"
The little golden dragon replied, while Su Yu's heart stirred.
Ancient dead spirits?
What were those?
Killing too many dead spirits would summon ancient dead spirits?
...
Since things were destined to descend into chaos, why not make it even more chaotic?
Su Yu found a deserted spot, the two dead spirits still trailing behind him.
A thought crossed Su Yu's mind.
Suddenly, he threw a punch. Stripped of their death qi threat, these two Tengkong dead spirits were nothing but garbage.
Boom!
The two dead spirits were blasted apart by his blow!
The next instant, four dead spirits materialized nearby, one of them at the Lingyun Realm. Upon appearing, these dead spirits spun around, scanning everywhere, yet all appeared somewhat bewildered.
Where was the one who had killed the dead spirits?
There was no one!
Meanwhile, Su Yu casually picked up the fallen ancient city token—just a single one of very low grade.
Ignoring the dead spirits, he paid them no attention; these creatures had no brains.
Yet a scheme took root in his heart. How intriguing!
If he killed more dead spirits, would a massive horde of them appear throughout the city?
Would it draw out incomparably terrifying dead spirits?
Enough to wipe out the entire city!
Of course, he wasn't afraid—he was one of them, after all.
Moreover, dead spirit blood essence fetched a high price.
Not to mention ancient city tokens!
All of them were treasures!
Su Yu felt as though he had struck upon a path to fortune. On top of that, he could set a trap for others. The more dead spirits there were, the more perilous the ancient city became. If an ancient dead spirit truly emerged, judging by Long Zhan's wary tone, it would likely be extremely dangerous.
Four dead spirits: three Tengkong and one Lingyun.
Su Yu's eyes flickered. If he wiped them out, would even more and stronger dead spirits arrive?
Presumably so!
He continued drifting. The dead spirits looked around in confusion, and seeing him move, they followed along.
Finding another secluded spot... *bang, bang, bang*, a flurry of muffled impacts rang out.
A moment later, Su Yu emerged.
This time, a full eight dead spirits trailed behind him.
Among them, none were Shanhai, but half were Lingyun—four in total—while the rest were Tengkong.
Su Yu swiftly slipped away. The dead spirits trailed behind in bewilderment, and before long, a few fell behind.
Yet none departed or vanished.
They had to slay the culprit who had killed their kind, but the trouble was, they couldn't find anyone.
The dead spirits were utterly perplexed!
...
Subsequently, more and more dead spirits began filling the city.
Death qi blanketed the entire ancient city.
Inside the Castellan Manor.
Tianhe's eyes flickered. What was going on?
The death qi had thickened to a terrifying degree!
Normally, thirty to fifty dead spirits appeared at most, yet right now, there were easily a hundred dead spirits roaming the city.
A token in his hand trembled incessantly.
Soon, Tianhe commanded, "Someone, come!"
The gap-toothed old man quickly entered. Tianhe's gaze was sharp as he said, "Seal the Castellan Manor! Lockdown! No one is permitted inside! Furthermore, order the Tianmie Guards to return to their barracks. The Night Patrol need no longer patrol the streets—pull them all back!"
"Milord!"
The old man said in shock, "Lock down the city?"
"Yes!"
Tianhe replied coldly, "Lock it down! Disaster is about to strike this city. Casualties will be unavoidable, and... many will die!"
"Milord..."
The old man also sensed the shift. "The death qi in the city seems to have grown considerably denser!"
"Indeed, it is at least thirty percent denser than before! If this continues, the ancient dead spirits will awaken!"
Tianhe took a deep breath and said, "Pay them no heed. Lock down the city! This time, these people are courting death, and there is nothing I can do!"
With the death qi surging so drastically, he knew something had gone wrong!
As for what had transpired, he guessed that someone had likely slaughtered a large number of dead spirits. In that case, there was no helping it; everyone knew that dead spirits could not be slain in an ancient city.
Now, a bunch of fools were killing dead spirits—let them court their own destruction!
"Milord, should we notify the others? The death qi inside the ancient houses has risen as well; they might not be able to last three days anymore..."
"No need!"
Tianhe said indifferently, "Those who fear death fled long ago! Those who remain are fearless! Since they do not fear death, let them die!"
"Understood!"
The old man said no more and swiftly recalled the Tianmie Guards.
...
Before long, the dead spirits in the city reached terrifying numbers.
The experts inside the houses also sensed that the death qi had intensified.
Beside Cheng Kai, Fen Kai was already on the verge of collapse.
How strange?
As the concentration of death qi rose, he felt an escalating agony, an unbearable torment. What was happening?
Did converting into a resident truly require enduring such suffering?
He felt as though he were about to be completely corroded!
Yet he had already completed two-thirds of the conversion; how could this be happening?
"Milord..."
Cheng Kai was currently examining the situation outside. Hearing the call, he turned to look at Fen Kai, whose eyes were already growing hazy. "Milord, this conversion process is agonizing... Did Hei Kai and the others endure such pain back then?"
Cheng Kai frowned at him, took a step forward to inspect him, and suddenly felt a searing pain as his own arm was corroded by death qi. Frowning, he said, "This... how could this be? Converting into a resident... involves some corrosion, but never anything this severe!"
Something was wrong!
This was far too extreme!
Moreover, right now, numerous dead spirits wandered outside, and the death qi outside was even denser than inside, terrifyingly so.
What on earth had happened?
Leaving the city now... was out of the question. Fen Kai couldn't leave; having completed two-thirds of the conversion, leaving the city would cause the process to fail, corroding him to death on the spot.
"Fen Kai, hold on a little longer. Hold on until tomorrow night, and you will be safe!"
At this moment, the number of dead spirits outside had grown chillingly large.
Cheng Kai was fraught with anxiety!
What was going on?
Why had so many dead spirits suddenly appeared!
Dammit!
On one hand, Fen Kai seemed unable to endure any longer; on the other, the horde of dead spirits outside was terrifying. This...
Just as he was seized by worry, the others sensed it as well.
Tianduo and the rest stepped out, looking at the dead spirits drifting along the street. Some exclaimed in terror, "So many dead spirits... Could it be that having too many experts gathered here has drawn them in?"
There were so many!
Along a single street in the eighteenth ring, there were over a dozen of them.
What about the entire ancient city?
Over a dozen roaming freely, plus the thirty or more still gathered outside Su Yu's door!
In this small area, the death qi was horrifyingly concentrated.
Tianduo and his group said nothing, retreating one after another toward the outer perimeter. The death qi in the eighteenth ring was simply too dense; even inside the houses, they could barely withstand it!
Qin Fang fled, An Mintian fled, Long Zhan and the others all fled...
This place was no longer habitable.
Su Yu... likely couldn't hold out much longer either; the death qi was simply overwhelming.
Where he might have lasted three to five days originally, now he might only last a day or two. Qin Fang was deeply worried; in such a short window, human reinforcements likely wouldn't arrive in time.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a furious bellow erupted from behind.
"Fen Kai!"
Cheng Kai grabbed hold of Fen Kai and shouted, "What's wrong with you?"
Death qi corrosion!
The searing pain forced Cheng Kai to release Fen Kai's body. Fen Kai's armor was slowly being eaten away by death qi. His eyes dimming, he whispered, "Milord... I... don't think... I can hold on..."
"No, that's impossible!"
Cheng Kai was horrified. It couldn't be!
"You are converting; you won't die, you can't..."
Fen Kai also felt a deep sorrow. He didn't understand why either.
As the death qi thickened, it had now seeped into his sea of will, which was beginning to collapse.
Fen Kai felt a profound sorrow and helplessness.
A Shanhai!
A mighty powerhouse!
Yet what did that amount to here?
At this moment, he was beyond saving!
A moment later, before everyone's incredulous eyes and under Cheng Kai's enraged, frantic gaze, the armor suddenly disintegrated. With a resounding crash, the sea of will collapsed, death qi surged outward, and he perished completely!
A Shanhai expert, dying without ever knowing why!
Even in death, he never understood why this had happened.
*I was converting!*
*I was about to succeed!*
*Why... did it end like this?*
Chapter 387