Achieving physical sainthood begins with the Iron Shirt technique!

The outer perimeter of Broken Immortal Mountain.

The aftereffects of the array's collapse continued to fester. The miasma, which had been forcibly suppressed by the array, was now completely unrestrained, violently churning and expanding within the mountain valley. A chilling wind, carrying the stench of rotten mud, swept through the forest, howling like ghosts and wolves.

On the muddy mountain path, over a hundred ordinary miners, barely clothed and emaciated, were struggling to move forward. A thick, dark iron chain ran through the entire area, tightly binding their necks together. If they slowed their pace even slightly, the rough iron rings would dig into their flesh.

Several Qi Refining cultivators from vassal families, dressed in ornate rain-protecting robes, leisurely followed at the back of the group. They held leather whips that glowed with a faint spiritual light, constantly driving the mortals into a black swamp that was knee-deep.

"Hurry up! Don't dawdle!" The leading blue-robed cultivator swung his wrist, his whip cracking in mid-air before biting hard into the back of a miner. The miner's flesh tore open, and he let out a miserable groan, but dared not stop.

"The great formation has collapsed, exposing the poisonous miasma and traps ahead." The blue-robed cultivator brushed the raindrops off his robes. "The City Lord's Mansion has ordered that you lowly scum are here to tread on minefields. Anyone who dares to retreat even half a step will have their soul torn from their body!"

The miners, their faces numb, could only drag their heavy iron chains and wade step by step into the stagnant, foul-smelling mud pit amidst shouts and curses.

Suddenly, the stagnant water at the bottom of the swamp emitted an extremely violent boiling sound.

Large clumps of viscous black mud churned and surged up from the bottom of the water. Immediately afterwards, a dozen thick, dark shadows burst through the surface. They were a dozen or so first-tier venomous water pythons covered in barbs. They had been lying in wait in the deepest part of the mud pit, but were forced out by the scent of these mortals' flesh and blood.

The Qi Refining cultivators at the front of the group reacted extremely quickly. Without even uttering a word of warning, a gentle breeze immediately rose beneath their feet. In unison, they used the wind to propel themselves backward, landing lightly on the trunk of a large ancient tree a dozen feet away.

Hundreds of miners, chained together, were abandoned in the middle of the swamp and used as human shields to draw the fire of the monsters.

The largest venomous water python opened its blood-red maw, revealing two rows of serrated fangs, and bit down hard on the thigh of an old miner walking at the front.

A sharp pain shot through him, and the old miner let out a heart-wrenching scream. He struggled desperately, his hands gripping the mud beside him tightly.

"Help! Immortal Master, save me—"

The venomous python suddenly pulled back, its immense bite force dragging the old miner deep into the dark mud. Dozens of miners around him, all linked by the main chain, were pulled down in droves into the muddy water by the enormous force, falling into chaos. Only a few huge blood bubbles rose to the surface; the old miner was completely still.

On the tree trunk, several Qi Refining cultivators watched the extremely tragic scene below without showing the slightest emotion on their faces.

The blue-robed cultivator even pointed a finger at the several venomous water pythons that were frantically tearing at mortals, laughing and joking: "Not bad. The skin of a first-tier venomous water python is a top-grade material for making water-repellent clothing."

Another cultivator beside him nodded in agreement: "Once they've had their fill of mortal flesh and blood, their movements will naturally slow down. We can go down and skin them alive. This trip won't be a waste of time; we can even earn some extra money."

Slightly above the group of monks, in the dense shade of the tree canopy.

Li Laosi clung tightly to the rough tree bark like a cunning monkey lying in wait. The torrential rains of the past few days had washed away the smell of blood from his body. He stared at the tragedy in the mud below, his fists clenched tightly together, his knuckles cracking.

Bloodlust coursed through his veins. For decades, he had dutifully slaughtered pigs in the outer city. He always thought that as long as he kept his head down and didn't anger the immortals, he could survive in that muddy alley. The death of Old Zhang, and the death of this group of mine slaves before him, shattered that last glimmer of hope.

He suddenly realized that simply killing a few lone guards wouldn't change anything. As long as these rigid rules remained, mortals would forever be like meat chained to chains, at the mercy of others.

To survive, these numb ants must be taught to bite. To fight back.

The ultimate blood furnace in his chest cavity roared into operation.

The thunderous pounding of his heart almost drowned out the howling wind and rain outside. Scalding, dark red blood was pumped into his limbs and bones, and Li Laosi exerted force with both legs, snapping the thick tree branch in half with the force of his kick.

He transformed into a falling meteorite, leaping fiercely from the high treetops.

Below, the largest venomous water python raised its head, preparing to swallow the second helpless miner whole.

Li Laosi descended from the sky and stomped heavily on the vital spot of the venomous water python.

"Snap!"

A crisp cracking sound of bone breaking echoed through the mud. The venomous python's thick spine, which even a flying sword couldn't sever, was shattered inch by inch by this unrestrained, immense force. Its massive, bucket-thick half of its body was instantly crushed deep into the mud, turning into a stinking pile of flesh.

The smiles on the faces of those cultivators on the tree trunk instantly froze.

The blue-robed cultivator stared wide-eyed in shock at the burly man covered in mud and wearing tattered black iron armor in the swamp. There was not a trace of true energy fluctuation; he was clearly just an ordinary martial artist. Yet, the ferocious aura emanating from him was even more savage than that of bloodthirsty demonic beasts.

Li Laosi didn't give them any time to react at all.

He drew the nicked butcher knife from his waist. His right arm swung in a wide arc, his thick muscles straining violently. The butcher knife flashed through the air, leaving a blindingly cold trail.

The blade, imbued with a violent, bloodthirsty power, cleaved open another venomous water python that was about to pounce. Its tough scales were sliced ​​through effortlessly by this ordinary iron blade. Scalding, foul-smelling demonic blood gushed out, splattering directly onto the faces of several utterly terrified miners nearby.

Stimulated by the demon blood, the mine slaves finally snapped out of their extreme terror and let out a series of panicked cries.

Li Laosi didn't stop moving. Using the terrifying momentum of his sword swing, he turned around and swung his sword backhand, slashing hard at the black iron main chain that ran through the team.

"when--!"

A deafening metallic clang erupted, sending sparks flying in all directions. The black iron chain that had bound hundreds of lives was brutally and unreasonably cleaved in two by this brute force.

The leading blue-robed monk was furious.

The lofty rules of the immortals were openly challenged by a lowly mortal.

"court death!"

The blue-robed cultivator suddenly swung his wide sleeves, frantically activating the true essence within his dantian. Three sharp wind blades, each half a foot long, instantly materialized in mid-air, whistling sharply as they aimed directly at Li Laosi's unsuspecting, thick neck.