Tang Bing, along with Zhong Tianshuo, Bai Li, and a few others, were among the highest-ranking body cultivators.
Zhong Tianshuo held the highest rank, at the thirty-seventh level. Bai Li was second, at the thirty-sixth, while Tang Bing stood at the thirty-fifth level. Because the three of them were the strongest, Moon True Master had shared some of his plans with them.
Even without the sudden and mysterious burst of powerful suction from the underground ruins today, the Moon Society would have proceeded methodically in its search for ancient relics and ultimately emerged as the victor.
Tang Bing, however, had been cautious. He secretly investigated the Eight Extremes Palace, and by chance, he discovered a spiritual sense jade slip containing the final words of the last disciple of the Eight Extremes Palace.
Chu Xuan immediately searched Tang Bing's storage bag and found the jade slip.
After reading the contents, Chu Xuan fell silent, murmuring thoughtfully, "This ancient sect was called the Eight Extremes Palace, a sect devoted entirely to body cultivation. Thus, all the buildings within the sect were constructed using Nether Stones to block spiritual sense and Spirit-binding Stones to suppress Spiritual Qi.
"The Eight Extremes Palace was once a great sect of the ancient world. One day, it was suddenly besieged by a large number of corpse demons, outnumbered and eventually destroyed.
"The Sect Master, unwilling to let the sect's legacy die, set up a grand array before his death. This array would activate once a certain number of living beings gathered nearby, drawing in the surrounding cultivators, including those on Desolate Island.
"Anyone who could pass the trials would gain the Eight Extremes legacy. The trial was to kill the wandering corpse demons within the Eight Extremes Palace. Slaying one thousand corpse demons would grant one portion of the legacy."
"The more demons killed, the greater the legacy one would receive. The cultivator who kills the most corpse demons will inherit the complete Eight Extremes legacy."
Chu Xuan's expression grew strange. No wonder—this was indeed a body cultivator's domain. The trial requirements were as simple and brutal as they could be!
"This disciple who fled the sect must have felt immense guilt. He provided detailed accounts of the corpse demons' attacks and fatal weaknesses. Not bad, not bad."
Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. With the background of the dungeon and its strategy in hand, it was time to clear the dungeon! With a wave of his hand, the Evil Soul Chain shot out and bound Long's body, yanking it with a violent pull!
Aha. Not even a twitch. These Man-Eating Flowers had clearly taken Long for a feast and refused to let go no matter what.
Chu Xuan sneered, raising his hand to signal Hu, who immediately rushed forward and yanked at the Evil Soul Chain.
Snap, snap.
Petals shattered, and stems oozed with juice. In the blink of an eye, Long was forcibly pulled free. The remaining petals turned into jagged, fang-like jaws and rushed toward Chu Xuan, eager to gnaw at him.
With a casual wave, Chu Xuan sent the petals flying far away.
"Just like being drained by a succubus."
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Chu Xuan glanced at Long's condition and shook his head repeatedly. Saving someone in this state wasn't like gaining a new limb. It felt more like gaining an additional burden. With a wave of his hand, he stored Long in the Heavenly Corpse Tower, instructing it to eat plenty of meat and recover.
"These spiritual plants must be the Man-Eating Flowers, right? Too bad their roots are too deep to uproot."
Chu Xuan sighed with slight regret. After cleaning up the battle remnants, he turned and left. He needed to find the true entrance to the Eight Extremes Palace as quickly as possible—he couldn't afford to waste any more time here.
At the same time, before a massive stone door, Moon True Master gently stroked the ancient and heavy stone surface.
Carved upon it was a pattern that formed an image: A body cultivator, with a single punch, shattered a mountain, sending colossal rocks flying in all directions. The pattern was not refined, yet it possessed a raw, powerful beauty—sharp angles, crude yet magnificent.
"Eight Extremes Palace… Eight Extremes Palace…"
Moon True Master's eyes unexpectedly welled up with a single tear. He took a deep breath, pressed his palm firmly against a recessed part of the stone door, and exerted all his strength. With a burst of power from his forty-fold body cultivation, the door creaked open.
Squeak.
The stone door gradually parted, and a wave of air, thick with the scent of sealed time, rushed out to meet him. His gaze was resolute, "I have finally returned to the Eight Extremes Palace. Rest assured, Ancestor. I will carry the complete Eight Extremes inheritance out of here! The Eight Extremes Palace will rise again to its former glory!"
...
Within the vast, square passage, droplets of water occasionally fell to the ground, only to be absorbed by the tender green moss.
Shang Xingchen walked cautiously along the passage. As a member of Yellow Spring Island, he had naturally been brought here by Yellow Spring True Master, tasked with searching for the entrance to the ancient ruins on Desolate Island. He had no intention of putting himself in danger, but now, as a guest under another's roof, he had no choice but to comply.
Not long ago, the volcanic range on Desolate Island erupted simultaneously. The ground collapsed, and a tremendous suction force pulled him underground. However, his luck was good. During the rush of water that swept him into the depths of the cave, he had suffered only minor injuries, most of them superficial. Now, his wounds had almost fully healed.
What troubled him the most, however, was the suppression of both Spiritual Qi and spiritual sense in this place. Had it not been for his partial knowledge of poison and Gu arts, he would likely have perished here not long after his arrival.
Now, he always kept ten bags of poison powder hidden in his sleeve, ready to use them at the first sign of an enemy. Around him, over a dozen tiny Yin Nether Insects flitted silently through the air, acting as his scouts to monitor the movements in the surroundings.
Yin Nether Insects were low-tier Gu insects, typically only capable of reaching the late stage of the second transformation. However, the ones Shang Xingchen had raised were exceptional, having reached the third transformation under his careful nurturing. These insects, tiny and silent in flight, were naturally suited for reconnaissance.
"Another person detected, not weak… best to avoid them," Shang Xingchen thought to himself. He immediately altered his path, evading a needless confrontation. Preserving his strength was key to ultimate victory. Yet, he could not be sure of the other person's intentions. Similarly, the other party, unable to guess his, would likely strike first. It was an endless chain of suspicion. Thus, avoidance remained the wisest course.
As he continued down the passage, Shang Xingchen detected several others and had already bypassed them. He suddenly let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"Who would've thought that the one who often tested Chu Xuan's strength would end up improving my skills in the Gu arts as well."
If it weren't for these Yin Nether Insects, he was sure that he would have clashed with others many times by now.
"Chu Xuan, Chu Xuan, with such commotion on Desolate Island, will you come for a share of the spoils?"
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he quickly shook his head.
"No, with his cautious nature, he would never take risks on his own. He'll likely remain on the outskirts of Desolate Island, waiting for the other cultivators to emerge from underground, and only then make his move."
Shang Xingchen couldn't help but chuckle softly. At that moment, a strange sense of urgency from the Yin Nether Insects reached him.
Shang Xingchen froze, quickly making his way toward the source. Soon, a massive stone door appeared at the end of the passage.
Upon the door, a myriad of primitive and simple engravings had come together to form a breathtaking image: A body cultivator, with a single step, broke the vast, roaring river beneath his feet!