The 44th floor of the Ping An Building.
The elevator doors slowly opened.
Despite having mentally prepared themselves, Yan Shouyi and the others couldn't help but gasp when they saw the full panorama of the 44th floor.
This floor was no longer a long corridor but an open, expansive flat.
The flat was dotted with support pillars, and between them were densely packed—coffin!
Yes, the entire 44th floor of the Ping An Building was filled with coffins, crammed together as far as the eye could see, numbering at least several hundred!
All the coffins were of the same design, reflecting a red glow under the flickering candlelight. Each coffin was suspended in mid-air by chains, and the chains were adorned with talismans.
"These are all Corpse-Nourishing Coffins," Yan Shouyi said slowly, his voice tinged with a somber tone.
Lin Zitong's face was also grim. "The corpses nurtured in coffins cannot touch the malevolent energy from the ground, so they are all suspended. Once a coffin touches the ground and the corpse contacts the malevolent energy, it will immediately transform into a zombie!"
With such a large number of coffins before them, if they were all released, the consequences would be…
Yan Shouyi's and the others' reactions brought a sliver of comfort to Luo Ning. Her and her master's meticulous planning would be a true failure if Yan Shouyi and the others showed no reaction to this scene.
Now, with Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong's eyes filled with apprehension, it indicated that these corpses still posed a threat to them.
Xia Zhi's eyes held both fear and anger as she questioned Luo Ning, "So many corpses… how many people have you killed?"
Luo Ning laughed heartily. "We corpse herders don't nurture just any corpse. The corpses we select have exceptionally rare birth charts and destinies. Moreover, we always take the bodies after they've died. Forcing a death would only increase the corpse's resentment, making it harder to control!"
Although these corpses were stolen by Luo Ning and Zhong Qi, their actions were still unforgivable. People cherished peace in death, yet they stole bodies, denying the deceased rest—truly wicked!
However, corpse herders, much like the descendants of Lu Ban, were fated for their path, so they didn't mind committing a few wicked deeds.
"I will settle this score with you slowly!" Yan Shouyi snorted coldly and stepped out of the elevator.
Lin Zitong and the others quickly followed.
As the elevator doors closed, two beams of candlelight suddenly illuminated the path ahead of the four.
Then, more and more candlelight flickered to life, extending from in front of Yan Shouyi to the distance, as if a path paved with candlelight had been laid out.
And at the end of the path stood two towering figures, each eight feet tall, holding large sabers with their heads bowed. Their bodies were covered in countless corpse spots, and their chests showed no signs of breathing, clearly indicating they were controlled corpses.
"Yan Shouyi, I have been waiting for you for a long time."
From behind the two towering figures, a voice called out. More candlelight flared up, and the group saw a middle-aged man.
The man wore a Taoist robe and held a peach wood sword and a bell, dressed as a typical corpse herder.
However, to Yan Shouyi's surprise, he recognized this person.
"Principal Zhong?!" Yan Shouyi exclaimed in astonishment.
Zhong Qi sneered, "What principal?"
Yan Shouyi immediately stopped speaking. He realized Zhong Qi's reaction didn't seem feigned.
This corpse herder named Zhong Qi looked identical to the newly appointed Principal Zhong of Shanghang Arts School.
But it seemed they were not the same person.
Yan Shouyi did not dwell on this at the moment and said coldly, "Just because I foiled your plans, you've set up such a grand scheme?"
Zhong Qi spoke unhurriedly, "The descendants of Lu Ban have been in seclusion for so many years. How would you know that the world has changed? You are not just foiling my plans, but the plans of some important figures! Therefore, I must eliminate you."
"Eliminate me to please those important figures you speak of, is that it?" Yan Shouyi chuckled. "Let me guess, the important figures you're referring to are the Bai family?"
Zhong Qi remained expressionless, neither admitting nor denying, but his reaction was, in itself, an answer.
Luo Ning was inwardly astonished. She realized that Yan Shouyi, who appeared dull-witted, was actually intelligent and meticulous. His deductions were almost always accurate.
"I may not know what the Bai family is plotting, but good and evil have always been irreconcilable. Since I've encountered corpse herders, there's no reason not to apprehend them." Yan Shouyi flicked his hand, and the talisman held between his fingers burned, transforming into the Zanpakuto.
The Zanpakuto, reflecting the candlelight in his hand, dyed the light a blood-red hue.
The next moment, Yan Shouyi directly held the Zanpakuto to Luo Ning's neck!
Xia Zhi was startled. "Yan Shouyi, what are you doing? Murder is illegal!"
Yan Shouyi found the situation both amusing and exasperating; Xia Zhi was simply too upright and sometimes couldn't grasp the nuances of a situation.
For people like them, life and death held different meanings. While murder was illegal, it was sometimes unavoidable.
Furthermore, Yan Shouyi didn't intend to actually kill Luo Ning.
Zhong Qi had set up a killing formation, waiting for Yan Shouyi to walk into the trap. Yan Shouyi wasn't foolish; without leverage, why would he willingly court death? Therefore, he wasn't challenging Zhong Qi directly but using Luo Ning as a hostage to force Zhong Qi's hand.
Yan Shouyi gave Xia Zhi a look and then said to Zhong Qi:
"You're quite the master, hiding on the 44th floor like a turtle in its shell and sending your female disciple down to deal with us. It seems you don't value this disciple, do you?"
"Are you trying to sow discord?" Zhong Qi's eyes turned cold, and his tone became unfriendly.
In fact, he had already noticed Luo Ning, who was captured.
The profession of corpse herding was very dangerous. They usually worked in pairs, master and disciple, to prevent corpse transformations or loss of control. The master and disciple had to take turns herding the corpses.
This was similar to grave robbing, which typically involved father-son or grandfather-grandson pairs, relying on people they completely trusted.
Luo Ning and Zhong Qi also had a familial connection; Luo Ning was Zhong Qi's sister's daughter.
Yan Shouyi, understanding this perfectly, had made sure to capture Luo Ning.
"It's not sowing discord, merely a reasonable exchange," Yan Shouyi stated calmly. "I'll return your disciple to you, and you burn these corpses and promise not to help the Bai family anymore. Then, we'll be even."
Zhong Qi chuckled sinisterly upon hearing this. "You're young, but you have a beautiful fantasy. These corpses have been nurtured by my ancestors for three generations. You expect me to burn them just like that?!"
"I'm merely offering you a suggestion. Whether you want your disciple or those cold corpses is entirely your choice."
As Yan Shouyi spoke, he lightly shook the Zanpakuto in his hand.
Feeling the sharpness of the Zanpakuto and the bloody scent emanating from its blade, Luo Ning couldn't help but feel a sense of fear.
She looked at her master, thinking of their years together, their bond as relatives, the ties of blood. Her master would likely choose to save her.
However, Zhong Qi's action plunged Luo Ning's heart into the abyss.
Zhong Qi remained silent, formed a hand seal, and his lips moved.
He was chanting the Corpse-煞 Curse!
Whoosh—
The talismans hanging on the chains of the suspended coffins instantly ignited!
As the talismans burned and the seals were broken, the iron chains snapped one after another. With heavy clanking sounds, hundreds of coffins began to fall to the ground!
In an instant, black malevolent energy surged from the ground, like snakes and insects, drilling into the coffins!
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
One by one, the coffins began to tremble. From within, there was the sound of impact, as if something was violently striking the coffin lids, eager and agitated, wanting to break free from the coffins!
Amidst this eerie scene, Zhong Qi rang the corpse herder's bell, a twisted smile on his face. He turned and pointed his sword towards the west!
In the west, candlelight illuminated a ritual altar, already meticulously set up. In the center sat a peculiar coffin!
Zhong Qi spoke in a sinister tone, "Yan Shouyi, that coffin is prepared especially for you!"
Yan Shouyi said coldly, "Don't you care about your disciple's life or death?"
"Her sacrifice will lead to my success. I believe, given our years of master-disciple relationship, Luo Ning would be willing to sacrifice her life for me!"
In Zhong Qi's eyes, there was not a trace of human emotion, as if he were no different from the two corpses beside him.