Turmoil

There was too much hair, too dense, everywhere.

Like a hundred thousand threads, it coiled around Li Weiyi, dragging him inch by inch into the grave earth with irresistible force.

He could not breathe.

There was nothing but dirt and hair over his mouth and nose.

As Li Weiyi nearly suffocated, the inner current of qi from the sole of his right foot surged out. At once, his lungs, on the verge of bursting, were relieved, and he miraculously entered a mysterious state where his inner breath flowed without cease.

This current of qi can actually replace breathing. Doesn't that mean I can hold my breath for as long as I want from now on?

His excitement lasted only an instant before Li Weiyi returned to the dangerous, terrifying reality. He gathered all his strength and struggled for a while, only to exhaust himself completely. He simply could not contend with that hair.

Gradually.

He sank deeper and deeper, while the earth on his back grew thicker and thicker.

At a certain moment.

Li Weiyi felt an icy, bone-piercing chill rising from beneath him. Through strand after strand of hair, he saw an Ice Coffin below him, radiating a blinding white light.

Inside the coffin lay a slender skeleton in red robes. Its hands were folded over its lower abdomen, tranquil and composed.

The bones were like immortal jade, with threads of vivid red blood flowing across them... Blood had actually been preserved? And it contained extraordinary vitality.

All the hair grew from the skeleton's head, spreading outward through the gaps in the Ice Coffin.

"So it really did rise from the dead! That shouldn't be possible. It's already nothing but bones—how could it suddenly awaken?"

"This ice... is melting..."

As the Ice Coffin melted, Li Weiyi's entire body became drenched.

The coffin lid grew thinner and thinner.

Li Weiyi's sense of danger intensified. It could not have dragged him down just because she was lonely lying here by herself, could it? If he did not break free soon, once the Ice Coffin melted completely, he would probably turn into a skeleton too.

Right, the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish.

This supreme treasure of the Chan Sect was still clutched in his hand.

Those two fish eyes had an immense origin. They could surely subdue the red-clothed immortal maiden in this coffin... Pah! What red-clothed immortal maiden? She was a White Bone Demon.

Back then, the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish seemed to have been activated only after touching his blood, releasing Azure Glow and Crimson Glow.

No matter. He would treat a dead horse as if it were alive.

The instant the Ice Coffin's lid melted until it was transparent, Li Weiyi gathered his strength and fought against the hair wrapped around his arm, wrenching back his right hand, which tightly gripped the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish.

At once, his wrist struck the uneven edge of the melting coffin lid.

Bang!

As Li Weiyi's entire body fell into the coffin, his wrist scraped across the sharp edge of the lid. Blood immediately gushed out, flowing down his arm toward his palm.

This White Bone Demon was far too bony. There was not a shred of flesh on her body.

When he fell onto her, Li Weiyi hurt all over from being jabbed by her bones. The crucial thing was that the hair was wound too tightly for him to move at all. He could only remain in passive contact with her.

Li Weiyi's eyes were practically embedded in her deeply sunken eye sockets.

His nose sank into her nasal cavity.

His lips were pressed against a mouthful of snow-white teeth.

The hair wound tighter and tighter...

Li Weiyi's body felt as though it were about to be crushed to pieces. The areas most painfully jabbed by her bones—his lips, cheeks, shoulders, and hips—had all split open, blood spilling out.

Strangely, that blood was absorbed by her, boring into the white bones.

"Is she going to devour all the flesh and blood in my body? Does she want to come back to life?"

Li Weiyi's consciousness blurred under the crushing pressure of the hair and the bones beneath him. Even the scorching current within his body retreated.

More terrifying still, an icy force came from her forehead and seeped into the center of Li Weiyi's brow, making his entire body shudder.

Whoosh!

Just as Li Weiyi was nearly tortured to death by her, the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish finally reacted, erupting with Azure Glow and Crimson Glow.

The hair wrapped around Li Weiyi scattered in retreat like straw meeting flames.

Li Weiyi finally broke free and sat up. He slapped her hair-covered skull, knocking her head to the side. She had bullied him far too much; he had to vent this anger.

The Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish shone for only an instant before dimming again.

Li Weiyi was so frightened that he fled at once. How could he dare continue teaching her a lesson?

While climbing the grave mound, he found the Yellow Dragon Sword.

He had barely jumped down from the mound with sword in hand when the wind chimes on the Blue Stone Stele began ringing wildly again. Black Hair, like a dark cloud of slithering serpents, surged from the pit atop the grave mound and rushed toward Li Weiyi.

In an instant, flying strands of hair filled an area five zhang in every direction.

Li Weiyi was not certain whether the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish had truly been activated by his blood. If he were dragged into the Ice Coffin again, he might not escape a second time.

Swish! Swish! Swish...

His legs shifted and dodged rapidly as the Yellow Dragon Sword chopped again and again.

As the scorching current from the sole of his right foot flowed into his right hand, a faint layer of yellow radiance appeared on the Yellow Dragon Sword's blade.

He swept his sword sideways.

The arc of light resembled a moon, dazzlingly brilliant.

The moment the Black Hair was struck, it turned into wisps of smoke and dispersed into the air. The sword had become a demon-breaking blade, and evil beings fled from it in fear.

On the Deck near the Medical Tent.

Several dozen men, women, old people, and children had their hands bound behind their backs as they sat or lay beneath the Bulwark.

Because they had eaten drugged breakfast, some remained unconscious. The awakened Research Team Members all wore fury on their faces as they berated Chen Hong, Kong Fan, and the others standing not far away.

Kong Fan was the Head Chef, short and fat, appearing to be in his forties. His white chef's uniform was stained with both grease and fresh blood.

The other three members of the kitchen team were dragging the wounded and disabled out of the Medical Tent one by one.

Professor Xu had both legs broken. A young cook dragged him out of the Medical Tent by one arm, making the corners of his mouth twitch in agony as he wailed, half crying and half laughing, "Animals all return to their true nature... When they sense danger, they attack and kill. When food is lacking, they eat their own kind. If human nature is left unrestrained, every evil will be unleashed, reckless and unchecked... Desire... Frenzy..."

"You old fool, you've been the biggest eater these days. You're howling so loudly—it seems all your strength has gone into your mouth!"

Kong Fan held a deep grudge against Professor Xu, because Professor Xu's appetite had increased enormously these past few days. His students made several trips to the Kitchen Tent every day, making things extremely troublesome.

Of course, neither he nor those students knew that most of Professor Xu's meals had actually gone into the stomach of the person in the neighboring bed.

Kong Fan viciously kicked Professor Xu twice in the head. Blood streamed from his mouth, and he immediately fell silent.

Bang! Bang... Bang...

Several gunshots rang out in succession.

A moment later, Xie Tianshu emerged from the Nether Mist with a cold expression. He wore a Dragon Pattern Ring on his left thumb and carried a pistol in his right hand.

Four Security Team Members followed behind him carrying two corpses, which they threw before the crowd.

At the sight of Captain Gao Xin's corpse and that of another crew member, the voices that had been angrily cursing and condemning turned into screams and sobs. Some were so thoroughly terrified that they did not even dare breathe, their bodies shaking violently.

"You actually murdered people! How did Captain Gao offend you? You are utterly lawless!" Professor Xu roared.

Xie Tianshu was a man of gentle, steady temperament. He patiently explained, "Professor, we are now in the Ghost Wasteland World, with no land in sight. Where is the law? Where is heaven? The captain was a good man, but good people are destined to be the first eliminated in harsh environments."

"You are a biology professor. You should understand better than anyone that survival is the first law of the universe."

"When the living environment becomes harsh, creatures grow irritable and uneasy, then take the initiative to eliminate those competing for food. Those who do not strike first are destined to be eliminated."

"The survival of the fittest, the survival of those who adapt. Isn't that what you always say? Only by clearing away the inferior people aboard who consume food and water will the superior people have a better chance of surviving."

"Alas, those without long-term worries will have immediate troubles. We could not possibly wait until the food was truly exhausted and everyone was too weak from hunger, then start eating our own kind, could we? How ugly. We are people of civilized society."

"Captain Gao could not bring himself to be ruthless, so I had no choice but to play the villain."

Then Xie Tianshu went to Zhao Meng, crouched down, and looked at his legs, broken and bent backward. He said displeasedly, "How were your legs beaten into this state? You people were far too heavy-handed! Brother Meng, does it hurt? It must hurt terribly. How about this? Hand over the Buddha's Sarira, and I'll give you a quick death. I swear to heaven that I'll keep my word."

Zhao Meng's face was white as paper. He opened his eyes and gave him an indifferent glance.

Xie Tianshu's gaze instantly turned much colder. He asked in a deep voice, "Have you found Li Weiyi?"

A Security Team Member said, "Not yet."

"The Deck area is only so big. Where can he hide? Search it inch by inch. Dig open every grave mound if you must, but find him. Where is Xie Jin?" Xie Tianshu asked.

"He took people to the Planting Area. He hasn't returned yet," the Security Team Member said.

How could Xie Tianshu not know what Xie Jin was thinking? He must have gone after Cai Yutong.

"Brother Meng, do you know why I am certain the Buddha's Sarira is on you two senior and junior brothers?"

Xie Tianshu smiled before continuing, "Because when the Dragon Extreme sank, I saw with my own eyes Azure Glow and Crimson Glow erupting from Li Weiyi's body. The more you conceal and deny it, the more it proves that the Buddha's Sarira is aboard this ship. Tell me now, and you will suffer much less."

Zhao Meng remained silent.

Gao Huan's hands were bound behind his back, his face pressed against the freezing ground. He slowly regained consciousness, pain wracking his shoulders and wrists, his head heavy and dizzy. His vision and hearing gradually cleared from a blur.

Once he saw his situation clearly, his gaze shifted to the two corpses, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

He struggled up in disbelief, staring fixedly at Captain Gao Xin's body. Then he suddenly cried out, "Dad!"

He rose to his feet and rushed over.

His balance faltered, and he fell headfirst beside the corpse.

"Dad... Who killed my dad... Which one of you did it? You... Ah... Wuu..."

Gao Huan's voice was hoarse, his heart twisting with pain. His tears mixed with the blood on the corpse.

Chen Hong said in surprise, "So Captain Gao's son was on the ship too. You hid yourself well."

"Another nepotism case," Kong Fan sneered. It was only a Research Vessel, yet so many people had been squeezed aboard.

A Security Team Member whispered into Xie Tianshu's ear, "This kid is very close to Li Weiyi. They have often been together recently. He definitely knows where Li Weiyi is hiding."

Xie Tianshu walked over and consoled him. "Xiao Huan, the dead cannot return to life. Please restrain your grief. Tell me, where is Li Weiyi?"

Gao Huan saw the pistol in Xie Tianshu's hand, the one that had belonged to his father. How could he not know who the executioner was?

"I'll kill you!"

Gritting his teeth, he slammed his head forward viciously.

Xie Tianshu swiftly stepped back.

Gao Huan rammed into empty air and fell to the ground. Before he could get up, Chen Hong had stepped on his neck, his ear bleeding beneath the hard sole of Chen Hong's shoe.

Chen Hong said, "Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Can't you see the situation clearly?"

"I can see your... mother..." Gao Huan roared.

Chen Hong's expression darkened. He kicked out, nearly knocking the breath out of Gao Huan. Gao Huan could no longer curse another word.

From the Nether Mist came chaotic footsteps and cursing.

Xie Jin and three others brought back the five students from the Planting Area.

When they saw the horrific scene on the Deck.

The students, who had been emotionally agitated only moments ago, were all frightened into silence, quiet as cicadas in winter. Two of the girls lowered their heads, their legs trembling violently.