Yuantian Pidao

Chapter 368 The Plague of Corrupted Spirits
A series of strange roars echoed within Fire Element City, as if evil spirits had descended from hell to the human world.

Affected by the emergence of the earthly treasure, many people underwent mutations and turned into living corpses. After the mutation, following their instincts, these living corpses immediately launched an attack on the remaining cultivators.

"What's going on here?"

"Gu Lao Er has gone mad."

A flash of inspiration, followed by screams of agony, threw the situation in Fire Element City into chaos in the face of this sudden turn of events.

Seeing this scene, the Dao Foundation cultivators from both the Qu and Qiao families changed their expressions. This power was very strange; even they could only protect themselves and were powerless to protect others.

"Its power is outwardly manifested, radiating to the surrounding areas and forming its own domain; this is indeed a characteristic of local treasures."

Looking up at the pale green sun rising slowly, Qu Tingshui's expression became extremely solemn.

The treasure was indeed a valuable item, but precisely because it was so valuable, she felt it was a hot potato. With her current cultivation level, even if she obtained the treasure, it wouldn't be of much use to her in the short term. If the news leaked out, not only her but the entire Qu family might be destroyed.

It's important to understand that things are different now. Outside of the Southern Kingdom, there are suspected traces of the Purple Mansion Traveler, and the timing of this treasure's appearance is just too coincidental.

"Is that old bastard Chen Yongzu really dead?"

Realizing something was wrong, Qu Tingshui became more vigilant and quietly stepped back a few paces.

At that moment, another late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Qiao Yong, made his move.

"I never expected that a treasure would be born here. It is truly a blessing from heaven."

"Once I seize the local treasure and the Chen family's secret technique, I will immediately flee to the Boundless Sea. In the future, I may very well achieve the Purple Mansion realm. As for the Qiao family, I will abandon them when necessary."

With thoughts racing through his mind and his eyes burning with fervor, Qiao Yong pushed his power to its limit.

He wasn't unaware of the anomaly; it was just that with such a valuable treasure before him, he was willing to take the gamble.

In that instant, a gale howled, transforming into nine wind pythons that lunged at the high-hanging, ghastly green sun, attempting to devour the treasure whole. However, just as they approached the ghastly green sun, a terrifying power erupted from it, sweeping across the surrounding area.

Faced with this power, the nine seemingly formidable wind pythons were instantly torn apart, and Qiao Yong also suffered a backlash, his flesh and blood being ignited by a strange green flame.

"Oh no, this flame is eroding my soul and corrupting my body."

Enveloped in green flames, Qiao Yong realized something was wrong. With a determined clench of his teeth, he tore a piece of flesh from his body and brutally ripped the green flames off. In an instant, blood gushed out, revealing his stark white bones.

Seeing this scene, the other Foundation Establishment cultivators were startled and retreated one after another, afraid of being caught in the crossfire. When Qiao Yong made his move, they had also had some thoughts, but at this moment they restrained themselves a lot. Although the treasure was good, they were afraid that they would not be able to handle it.

Just as everyone was caught in a dilemma and hesitated, a wild laugh came from deep within the palace.

"I've finally gotten it after waiting for so long."

The golden cave opened, and Chen Yongzu emerged. He was now full of life, his white hair had turned black, a stark contrast to his former appearance. In stark contrast were the four figures bound to the spirit pillars, their bodies withered, barely clinging to life. With a whoosh, he stepped into the void, donned a crimson dragon robe, and wore a golden crown. He returned to middle age, his hunched body straightening once more. Chen Yongzu once again exuded that domineering aura, only his triangular eyes seemed somewhat out of place.

"Big brother..."

Covered in blood, looking at the spirited Chen Yongzu, and then at Chen Yongling lying lifeless beside him, Chen Yonghou wanted to laugh but couldn't.

The other Foundation Establishment cultivators were somewhat dazed as they looked at Chen Yongzu, recalling the days when they were dominated by him.

Unlike his senility in old age, Chen Yongzu was a true great ruler in his youth. It was under his leadership that the Southern Jing Kingdom quelled its internal strife and grew stronger. In that era, the entire Southern Jing Kingdom was subservient to the imperial power.

It wasn't until his lifespan was nearing its end that Chen Yongzu became senile and unwilling to relinquish power, leaving the throne vacant and ultimately disrupting the foundation of the dynasty.

"That old man is indeed not dead. Judging from his current state, that secret technique should be real."

Feeling the surging vitality emanating from Chen Yongzu, Qu Tingshui couldn't help but feel a longing in her heart.

In fact, not only him, but the other Foundation Establishment cultivators also had the idea, but at this moment they dared not make a move rashly.

Chen Yongzu was aware of all this, but he didn't care. They were just firewood. At this moment, the only thing in his eyes was the newly born treasure.

"The Three Calamities Subdue the Fire".

With a solemn expression, Chen Yongzu waved his sleeves and activated the Purple Mansion Treasure Artifact using a secret technique.

With a crisp metallic clang, a crimson chain, about the thickness of a thumb, shot out from Chen Yongzu's sleeve, splitting into three, like dragons and snakes, heading towards the high-hanging treasure.

With a mysterious hum, just like before, after sensing the approach of the Subduing Fire Chain, the suspended Earth Treasure once again burst forth with power, sweeping across the surroundings. However, before this power could fully erupt, the Subduing Fire Power bloomed, outlining spiritual patterns that seemed to seal and suppress the Earth Treasure's power.

As the three chains of fire intertwined and the seal took shape, the power of the earth treasure was continuously compressed, and the pale green flames began to collapse. Only at this moment did this newly born earth treasure reveal its true form, which was a fist-sized bead, grayish-white in color, surrounded by pale green flames.

"That's right, it's the Corrupting Corpse Plague Bead. This bead contains part of the true meaning of plague, which is quite compatible with the cultivation method I practice."

Having grasped the essence of the earth treasure, Chen Yongzu put down his last worry. Although the Four Symbols Method belongs to the four elements of earth, wind, water, and fire, they are all related to disasters. If he wants to advance to the Purple Mansion, he also needs earth treasures of the same kind.

Just then, with a flash, Qiao Yong made his move again. He held an iron fan, swallowed a pill, and his aura surged, faintly reaching the peak of the Foundation Establishment level.

"Why don't we join forces? Once this old man has collected all the treasures, he'll be targeting us next. Do you think he'll let us go now?"

With a roar, Qiao Yong swung the iron fan in his hand.

In an instant, thousands of silver-white wind blades materialized and swept down, pointing directly at Chen Yongzu.

At the same time, upon hearing this, several Dao Foundation cultivators from the Qiao and Qu families exchanged glances and took action. At that moment, Dao Foundation spiritual techniques manifested, intending to destroy the entire palace and make it Chen Yongzu's burial place.

(End of this chapter)