The Corpse Rises!

"Hiss!"

"Does one still feel pain after death?"

"Holy crap, why did my voice change?"

A sharp, piercing pain jolted Wei Qing awake from his stupor.

He subconsciously opened his mouth, only to be startled by his own hoarse, unfamiliar voice.

As he was filled with confusion and doubt, a tidal wave of fragmented memories suddenly flooded his mind.

It turned out the owner of this body was the legitimate son of the Wei clan in the Great Zhou imperial city. His father, Wei Yuan, was a fifth-rank Earth-tier Warden in the Heavenly Realm Division.

Two months ago, his father, Wei Yuan, mysteriously disappeared while investigating the "Black Lotus Cult."

His second aunt, Liu Ru, seized the opportunity to make her move. Not only did she banish the original host to the side courtyard where the servants lived, but she also poisoned his food and drink.

By the time the original host realized it, the poison had already seeped into his bones.

In his previous life, Wei Qing was an elite member of the Dragon Team. He encountered an explosion while on a mission.

He never expected to open his eyes again and find himself transmigrated to this Heavenly Origin Realm, which was overrun by demons and monsters.

[Ding! System activated.]

A cold, mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

A semi-transparent system interface appeared before Wei Qing's eyes:

[Host: Wei Qing] [Age: 16] [Realm: Ninth-Rank Martial Artist (Intermediate)] [Spirit: 99] [Strength: 62] [Constitution: 59] [Detected residual poison in host's body, issuing a novice gift package.] [Claim now?]

A system? A novice gift package?

Wei Qing was slightly taken aback, then a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

As a transmigrator, he knew the value of a system all too well – this would be his only reliance in this world where the strong preyed on the weak!

According to the original host's memories:

The Heavenly Origin Realm was rampant with demons and monsters, and humanity was barely surviving.

Three hundred years ago, spiritual energy erupted, and demons and monsters appeared. Humanity was almost wiped out.

A hundred years of bloody battles, with mountains of corpses, barely managed to suppress the demons and monsters.

But now, the seals were loosening, demons and monsters were reviving, and chaos was imminent!

In this cruel world, without strength, there was only death!

"Claim!"

Without hesitation, he willed it, and the system interface unfolded before his eyes...

[Detoxification Pill × 1, Realm Advancement Card × 1, Profound-tier Cultivation Method "Flowing Cloud Slash" × 1, Soul Severing Blade × 1]

Without any delay, Wei Qing used them immediately!

The Detoxification Pill entered his mouth, transforming into a cool medicinal force that instantly surged through his limbs and bones!

The residual poison in his body, like ice and snow meeting fire, dissolved in an instant!

Following that—

Boom!

In his Dantian, a surge of immense heat suddenly erupted!

The Realm Advancement Card took effect!

His bones cracked, and his flesh and blood were reshaped!

Strength surged like a tidal wave. Wei Qing could clearly feel every inch of his muscles and every bone undergoing a transformation!

"Is this... the strength of an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist?"

He slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles emitting a crisp cracking sound, and the corners of his mouth curved into a cold arc.

At this moment, his strength was at least ten times what it was in his previous life!

And the next second—

Hum!

A torrent of experience from "Flowing Cloud Slash" poured into his mind like a flood!

The essence of swordsmanship, combat experience, killing techniques...

It was as if he had experienced thousands of bloody battles and tens of thousands of fights!

The blade had become a part of his body!

The system panel refreshed—

[Host: Wei Qing]

[Realm: Eighth-Rank Martial Artist (Intermediate)]

[Spirit: 194]

[Strength: 164]

[Constitution: 162]

[Martial Skill: Flowing Cloud Slash (Mastered)]

Wei Qing slowly opened his eyes, a cold glint like a blade within them!

"You are all seeking death!" a furious roar suddenly pierced through the coffin.

"Young Master Wushang, the eldest young master is already gone..." the old butler's voice carried a false sorrow. Wei Qing's heart trembled.

Jun Wushang, the illegitimate son of Marquis Huaiyuan's Estate, was the sworn brother of his original body.

If it weren't for the original body's help back then, this boy born to a maid would have likely died long ago in the Marquis's inner quarters.

Now, he was an Intern Warden of the Heavenly Realm Division.

The Heavenly Realm Division—the sharpest fang of Great Zhou's imperial power!

It stood above the court, taking orders only from the Emperor.

Slaying demons and monsters!

Suppressing malevolent spirits!

Monitoring the realm!

Once you entered the Heavenly Realm Division, your life and death were in your own hands!

Either you climbed up over corpses to become a stronger Warden!

Or you died in a mission, with not even your bones left behind!

There was no third path!

And offending the Heavenly Realm Division?

Death would be considered merciful!

Even if he was just an Intern Prison Warden, when the Ink Blade at his waist was unsheathed—

Even a Minister of the court would have to retreat three paces!

Precisely because of this, the Marquis of Huaiyuan, who once viewed Jun Wushang as an ant, now didn't dare to breathe loudly.

He had even repeatedly humbled himself, wanting to acknowledge this son.

But Jun Wushang had never looked back!

Around noon, Liu Ru sent word that Wei Qing's cousin, Wei Lin, would be taking over Wei Qing's spot as an Intern Warden in the Heavenly Realm Division.

Coupled with the resources and connections left by Wei Yuan...

At this moment, the old butler no longer held Jun Wushang, the Intern Warden, in any regard.

Unfortunately—

What he didn't know was...

Jun Wushang was no longer an Intern Prison Warden!

But—

A formal Warden!

Just today, Jun Wushang had passed the final assessment!

Three evenings ago, Wei Qing had clapped his sworn brother on the shoulder and laughed, "Once you're officially promoted, Drunken Immortal Pavilion is on me!"

And today—

When Jun Wushang, wearing the Ink Jade Token, formally received the Warden appointment letter...

What awaited him was the devastating news of his sworn brother's sudden death!

At that moment, the appointment letter in his hand was crushed into powder!

"Slap!"

Following a crisp slapping sound, half of the old butler's face instantly swelled with purple bruises.

"You're talking utter dog shit!"

Jun Wushang grabbed the old butler by the collar, his voice laced with overwhelming killing intent. "Open your damn eyes and see clearly!"

An Ink Jade Token was slapped onto the coffin, the six blood-seal characters of "Heavenly Realm Division Warden" on it stinging the eyes.

"According to Article Seven of the Heavenly Realm Law!"

"Any Warden who dies suddenly must be examined by the Division's coroner, registered with the Disciplinary Hall, before being interred!"

"Who allowed you to bypass the Heavenly Realm Division's rules and handle the Warden's body privately."

"Today, whoever dares to stop me."

Jun Wushang's Ink Blade radiated a cold gleam, the edge drawing a bloodline across the old butler's Adam's apple.

"I'll let him taste the 'Thousand Blade Prison'!"

The old butler trembled violently, a pool of foul-smelling liquid suddenly seeping from beneath his trouser leg. "Warden Lord, spare this old servant! This old servant will immediately..."

Before he could finish, Jun Wushang had already backhanded a palm strike onto the coffin lid.

"Boom!"

The three-inch thick cypress coffin lid exploded into a sky full of wood chips. Amidst the scattered debris, a "corpse" as pale as paper suddenly—

Opened its eyes!

"Yooo—"

A lazy, drawn-out sound emerged from the coffin, sounding particularly eerie in the dead-silent mourning hall.

Jun Wushang's body jolted, then he erupted into earth-shattering laughter: "Hahaha! I knew it! How could you possibly die so easily."

"A... a ghost!"

The old butler's face was ashen, his legs trembling like a sieve.

He clearly remembered—two days ago, he had personally checked for breathing. The body had been cold and stiff, with no pulse!

But now...

"Noisy."

Jun Wushang flickered, appearing before the old butler, and kicked him in the gut, sending him flying.

"Bang!"

The old butler's body shot backward like a cannonball, smashing into the wall and leaving a spiderweb of cracks before he slid to the ground.

"Scream one more time, and I'll make you truly meet a ghost."

"Wushang, why bother with such a disloyal dog servant?"

Wei Qing's right hand had already rested on the hilt of the Soul Severing Blade.

Swish—

A blood-red blade energy cut through the mourning hall, a head flying high. The old butler's terrified expression was forever frozen on his face.

Strangely—

A wisp of crimson mist surged from the severed neck, drilling into Wei Qing's body like a living thing.

[Ding! Killed Early Ninth-Rank Martial Artist]

[Strength +5, Constitution +4]