Cheng Ying, Dong Xiangyun, and Qiu Xingjian exchanged glances; they had almost forgotten about Lin Mo, who was still inside the tower. However, they were uncertain whether Lin Mo truly possessed the strength they hoped for, but now everyone could only pin their hopes on him.
Inside the nineteenth layer of the tower.
Although Lin Mo could still feel a compelling pressure, it was no longer enough to harm his body; at least his bones and muscles, despite feeling the pressure, were not breaking or getting injured.
However, the pain and suffering Lin Mo endured in the tower over the past few days were like discovering a treasure trove for him.
It could be said that his physical strength had reached another level.
But on the nineteenth layer, Lin Mo did not continue to box and torment his body; instead, he sat calmly inside the tower, carefully feeling the changes inside his body. He felt as though each of his cells had been reborn, containing more powerful strength than before.
He aspired to achieve eternal life, seeking higher realms of existence, either by strengthening his body, breaking through the earthly restrictions, using his body as a vessel to cross the bitter sea to the other shore.
Another belief was to abandon one's physical body, leveraging the ethereal soul to transcend the constraints of the world and cross the bitter sea.
Lin Mo sat cross-legged in the tower, his naked body radiating green life energy. His cells, bones, meridians, and blood all seemed to be bursting with more vigorous vitality. He was confident that now any punch he threw would be twice as strong, if not more, than ever before.
Inside the Star Sect, things were not going as smoothly.
The three elders worked through the night repairing arrays and distributing magic artifacts among the disciples, preparing as if facing a great enemy. At a campsite in the forest, the Black-clothed Elder of the Puppet Corpse Sect led numerous disciples sitting in meditation. Each of them was enveloped in an eerie black fog. The Puppet Corpse Sect practiced sinister techniques, specializing in creating Corpse Masters, but the battle the previous night had cost them several disciples and ten Silver Corpses.
Creating Corpse Masters was not a difficult task for them; the crucial aspect was the level of the refined corpses. A common person's body could be turned into a top-grade zombie, while a Martial Artist or Magic User's corpse might be refined into a Copper Corpse. Bodies of Martial Arts Experts or those accomplished in magic could be turned into a Yin Corpse or a Golden Corpse. These high-level Corpse Masters were even more powerful than when alive, but they lost their minds and could only be controlled by others.
The loss of ten Silver Corpses was a significant damage for the Puppet Corpse Sect.
Moreover, even the three Golden Corpses controlled by the Black-clothed Elder had suffered eye injuries and required materials for repairs.
Before these people, there was a deep trench continuously emitting black Earth Evil Qi, gushing like a wellspring, and with the passage of time, the emission of Earth Evil Qi was becoming increasingly intense.
Suddenly, the Black-clothed Elder opened his eyes, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes, "The old ancestor is about to come out of seclusion."
Many disciples immediately knelt on one knee, their eyes eagerly fixed on the 'well' spouting the Earth Evil Qi.
Suddenly, the Earth Evil Qi erupted like a blue whale drinking water, shooting about a hundred meters high, forming a wave of blackness. A chilling death energy followed, causing hundreds of surrounding plants tainted by this death energy to wither completely.
Then, two figures flew out from the trench, hovering in the air.
The Black-clothed Elder also immediately knelt on one knee, joining the many disciples in shouting,
"Welcome the Ancestor's emergence from seclusion."
"Yes."
The elder, who stood suspended in the air, grunted in response, his gaze landing on the Black-clothed Elder, "Did you fail in last night's attack on the Star Sect?"
The Black-clothed Elder, with his head lowered, replied, "Master, inexplicably, two young girls with considerable strength appeared within the Star Sect. I could only engage three elders from the Star Sect, but the arrival of those two made it hard for the disciples to hold on."
"Ha ha, everything within the Star Sect belongs to me, come with me." After the Ancestor spoke, he immediately flew forward, a 'shadow' following him closely as if it were his own shadow, not leaving his side even for an inch.
Including the Black-clothed Elder, everyone saw the 'shadow' following the Ancestor, and their eyes revealed colors of delight.
For that shadow was indeed the Emperor's perfectly preserved corpse that the Ancestor had excavated from an ancient tomb a year ago. Although the Emperor had been neither a Martial Artist nor a Magic Master, he possessed an extremely potent Emperor's Aura, and if cultivated into a Corpse Master, that would be a top-grade Corpse Demon.
Even the three Golden Corpses behind the members of the Black Clothes Society seemed to show a hint of fear upon seeing the Corpse Master emerge.
"Everyone, follow the Ancestor! With the Ancestor having emerged and crafted a top-grade Corpse Demon, what can the Star Palace use to fight against us?"
The Black-clothed Elder shouted coldly, leading a group rushing towards the Star Sect.
After a short while, the Ancestor, with the Corpse Demon in tow, flew over the Star Sect's Array Formation. A puff of Black Fog erupted from him, revealing the Mountain Protection Array which enshrouded the entire Star Sect as if a bowl was placed upside down over it.
"Elders of the Star Sect, come out and meet us," the Ancestor called out with an air of greed and sinister intent, glancing down at the Star Sect below.
The Mountain Protection Array shook, and Cheng Ying, Dong Xiangyun, and Qiu Xingjian, the three elders, left their positions and flew up into the air. The disciples of the Star Sect also gathered in the martial arts field, all wearing solemn expressions on their faces – this might be the Star Sect's great calamity, and they were uncertain if they could escape it.
"So the Ancestor of the Puppet Corpse Sect graces us with his presence, we regret not welcoming you from afar," said Cheng Ying, with the two other elders flying up to meet the Ancestor, all bowing in greeting.
The Ancestor snorted coldly, "I don't care for these formalities. We don't need to talk about any grievances that we may have. Now, I give you one chance, leave the Star Sect or face death."
Cheng Ying exchanged glances with Dong Xiangyun and Qiu Xingjian - anger and helplessness were evident in their eyes.
Having just come out, they had noticed the corpse-like shadow trailing the Ancestor. Around one point eight meters in height and completely expressionless, the body radiated immense power and an imposing aura, exuding the regal, domineering presence of an Emperor.
This was the top-grade Corpse Demon that the Ancestor had crafted, ranking higher than even the Golden Corpses and almost at the level of a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. The Corpse Master's bodily toughness rivaled that of some Late-Stage Demon Beasts, and paired with the Ancestor, they were far beyond what their Star Sect could withstand.
Cheng Ying bowed and said, "Ancestor, our Star Sect has always resided here since ancient times, and there are no deep grudges between us; why press us so hard? If there's something you desire, the Star Sect is willing to offer you ten Spirit Stones."