Uncle Nine Returns

After repelling the evil cultivator, the funeral home temporarily returned to peace. Mo Yuan carefully inspected the morgue, confirmed there were no further hidden dangers, and properly dealt with the controlled walking corpse. The bloodstains and evil aura left behind by the shadow were the only clues.

"The evil cultivator was injured by Lightning Struck Wood. With evil aura invading his body, he'll surely suffer a backlash in the short term, but he definitely won't let this go." Mo Yuan understood this clearly.

The other party's target was the zombie Ren Weiyong had become. This time, they had been alerted. If they returned next time, they would likely be even more troublesome.

Uncle Nine had yet to return, so the responsibility of guarding the funeral home fell to Mo Yuan and his two senior brothers. After Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng learned what had happened the previous night, their lingering fear only deepened their admiration for Mo Yuan's abilities. They obeyed his every word.

Mo Yuan did not waste any time. He devoted more effort to cultivation and digesting the system rewards. <Lesser Five Elements Spell: Gengjin Sword Qi Secret Arts> was the key to improving his offensive power at present.

With the experience of repelling the evil cultivator, he gained a deeper understanding of "sharpness" and "condensation." No longer satisfied with merely simulating it with his thoughts, he began trying to compress and refine the thread of spiritual power within him, nourished by Innate Spiritual Energy, at his fingertips according to the art's circulation path.

At first, only a faint glimmer of white-gold light could be seen, flickering unstably and unable to take shape. But Mo Yuan remained calm. With Primordial Comprehension, he repeatedly deduced the subtle differences in the flow of spiritual power and continuously adjusted it.

Several days later, he finally managed to steadily condense a white-gold sword qi about an inch long at his fingertips, as though it were tangible! Though small, the sword qi emitted an incomparably sharp aura. With a light sweep across the bluestone floor, it left behind a clear mark!

It worked! This is Geng Metal Sword Qi! Mo Yuan was overjoyed. This was only the beginning. According to the art's description, once cultivated to a profound realm, the sword qi could leave the body to wound enemies, sweep across hundreds of feet, and cut through anything. In this age of dwindling Dharma, it was undoubtedly a powerful trump card.

At the same time, he began studying Basic Formation Diagram. The path of formations was broad and profound, involving the circulation of heaven and earth's vital energy and the mutual generation and restraint of yin, yang, and the five elements. He started with the simplest "Small Spirit Gathering Array" and "Warning Array."

He used the Small Spirit Gathering Array to gather the thin spiritual energy in the surroundings and aid his cultivation. He also set up concealed Warning Arrays around the funeral home. Once evil entities or strangers intruded, he would sense them immediately.

That day, Mo Yuan felt that he had adjusted himself to peak condition and decided to try signing in again. He came to the ancient Dragon Locking Well in the funeral home's rear courtyard.

This well was said to be bottomless and was shrouded year-round in a faint, bone-chilling yin aura. Even Uncle Nine had warned his disciples not to approach it lightly.

Mo Yuan sensed that some ancient and powerful aura seemed to linger within the well. Perhaps it was connected to some legend. It was the perfect place to sign in.

"System, sign in at the Dragon Locking Well!"

[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained at "Maoshan Funeral Home · Dragon Locking Well (Remains)": High-Grade Spirit Stone x1, Thousand-Year Dark Wood (small piece) x1, Object Control Art (Basic Volume) x1, Primordial World residual aura: True Dragon Evil Qi (one wisp)!]

[True Dragon Evil Qi (one wisp)]: The fierce dragon aura left behind after an ancient true dragon's death. It is immensely baleful and can erode the mind, but it can also be used to temper the body and cultivate special baleful weapons. (Warning: Qi Refinement cultivators should use it with caution. Powerful willpower or pure yang power is required to neutralize it!)

This round of rewards shocked Mo Yuan once again! The spiritual energy contained within a High-Grade Spirit Stone far surpassed that of middle- and low-grade spirit stones, enough to support him through long periods of cultivation! Thousand-Year Dark Wood was an even colder and more precious artifact-refining material than Lightning Struck Wood. It could be used to forge soul-nourishing Dharma artifacts or special talismans. Object Control Art was the basic method for controlling Dharma artifacts, precisely what he needed most right now!

Most astonishing was that [wisp of True Dragon Evil Qi]! Although the system had issued a warning, the ancient, domineering, and majestic aura it contained caused even the Innate Spiritual Energy within Mo Yuan's dantian to stir faintly.

Danger and opportunity coexist... Perhaps this can help me cultivate the Gengjin Sword Qi Secret Arts? Geng Metal governs slaughter and conquest. It may not be incompatible with baleful qi. The key lies in control! A bold thought took root in his mind.

He did not immediately deal with the True Dragon Evil Qi. Instead, he first picked up Object Control Art and began studying it. After mastering the basic method of artifact control, he tried controlling the Lightning Struck Wood Sword Embryo.

At first, the flying sword wobbled like a drunken man. But it soon stabilized within the embrace of his pure spiritual power. Though he could not yet wield it as naturally as an arm, it could already leave his body by several feet and perform simple thrusting and slashing movements. This greatly increased his combat ability.

Two days later, Uncle Nine returned, dusty from travel, with an unshakable worry between his brows.

After hearing that Mo Yuan had repelled the evil cultivator, initially cultivated sword qi, and even begun setting up formations, he was silent for a long time. In the end, he merely patted Mo Yuan's shoulder and sighed. "Your rate of growth has truly exceeded your master's expectations. It seems that some matters may be destined for you to face."

Uncle Nine had brought back important news. After discussing matters with several fellow Daoists, he discovered that several nearby towns had recently shown signs of disturbances involving Yin Corpses like Ren Weiyong's—that is, corpses that had not decayed. An obscure organization of evil cultivators seemed to be operating behind the scenes, intending to gather powerful zombies for some sinister purpose. Ren Family Town was likely only one part of their plan.

"Their methods are strange. They can control corpses from afar and may even know evil corpse-raising arts. We must properly deal with Ren Weiyong's zombie as soon as possible and find the mastermind behind this."

Uncle Nine said in a deep voice, "Mo Yuan, though you are young, your strength can no longer be underestimated. You must accompany your master on this operation. Perhaps your... fortuitous opportunities may play a crucial role."

"This disciple will not refuse!" Mo Yuan agreed without hesitation. This was exactly the experience he had been looking forward to: clashing with true practitioners of the evil path, testing what he had learned, and tempering his Dao heart!

Uncle Nine decided they would no longer wait for an auspicious day. In three days, they would relocate Ren Weiyong's grave and cremate his body, eliminating future trouble. At the same time, they would set a trap to lure out the evil cultivators behind it!

For the next three days, the funeral home was tense. Uncle Nine personally set up the Eight Trigrams Yin Locking Formation at the chosen new gravesite and drew a great number of high-grade talismans.

Mo Yuan, meanwhile, did everything he could to consolidate his cultivation, become proficient in the Object Control Art and Geng Metal Sword Qi, and carefully draw out a trace of the True Dragon Evil Qi. Using his own spiritual power and Innate Spiritual Energy as guides, he tried to merge it into his Geng Metal Sword Qi.

The process was exceedingly dangerous. The instant the baleful qi entered his body, its violent will nearly overwhelmed his mind, while his meridians felt as though they were being sliced by blades! Yet his will was firm. He guarded the clarity of his spiritual platform and, guided by Primordial Comprehension, slowly tempered and assimilated that trace of baleful qi.

In the end, the Geng Metal Sword Qi condensed at his fingertips changed from pure white to bearing faint dark-gold patterns. Its aura became sharper and more domineering, carrying an oppressive presence like dragon might!

On the day of the grave relocation, Ren Fa was unwilling, but faced with Uncle Nine's insistence and his family's safety, he had no choice but to agree. The new grave was located in an open, sunlit area. The workers dug open the burial pit. Uncle Nine personally presided over the ritual, Mo Yuan stood guard at his side, and Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng were responsible for the outer perimeter.

Just as the coffin was about to be lowered into the new grave and set ablaze at this critical moment!

"Woooo—"

A miserable chorus of ghostly wails suddenly rose from every direction! A sinister wind howled, sending sand and stones flying! From the distant mountain forest, dozens of walking corpses and skeletons surged forth like a tide! Among them were even several Black-Furred Zombies whose auras were clearly much stronger!

Behind these evil beings, three evil cultivators dressed in black robes and wearing sinister expressions appeared! The leader was the very shadow Mo Yuan had injured that night.

He stared at Mo Yuan with venom in his eyes and shouted, "Boy! Today, I'll tear you to pieces! And Lin Jiu, if you know what's good for you, hand over that supreme Yin Corpse!"

"They came after all!" Uncle Nine snorted coldly and pointed his Peach Wood Sword. "Activate the formation!"

The Eight Trigrams Yin Locking Formation activated instantly. Golden light flared, blocking the incoming low-level walking corpses and skeletons outside. But the Black-Furred Zombies possessed immense strength and kept battering the formation's light barrier, making it shake violently.

"Mo Yuan, deal with that injured evil cultivator and the black zombie on the left! Leave the rest to me!" Uncle Nine swiftly assigned their tasks. With a flash, he had already charged toward the other two evil cultivators and the strongest black zombie.

"Yes!" Mo Yuan's gaze sharpened as he locked onto his targets. He knew the principle of capturing the ringleader first. His footwork shifted as he avoided the entanglement of the ordinary walking corpses and lunged straight at the injured evil cultivator!

Seeing Mo Yuan rush at him, the evil cultivator gave a savage grin and produced a black banner. With a shake, waves of ghostly cries rose, and several black shadows lunged at Mo Yuan! At the same time, the Black-Furred Zombie beside him roared and charged at Mo Yuan as well!

"How can a firefly dare shine before the moon?" Mo Yuan shouted coldly as dark-gold sword qi flickered from his fingertips!

"Geng Metal Sword Qi, sever!"

An incomparably condensed streak of dark-gold sword qi shot from his body, swift as lightning! With several muffled pops, it easily sliced apart the ghostly shadows! Its momentum did not diminish as it stabbed straight toward the Black-Furred Zombie's forehead!

The Black-Furred Zombie instinctively sensed the threat and crossed its arms to block!

Riiip!

The sword qi swept past. The Black-Furred Zombie's arms, tough as iron, were cut open with a deep wound that exposed bone, and black blood poured out! The Geng Metal sharpness and True Dragon Evil Qi contained within the sword qi were extremely effective against yin and evil creatures!

"What?!" The evil cultivator's face changed drastically. He had not expected Mo Yuan's sword qi to be so formidable! He hurriedly activated the black banner, releasing more ghosts while retreating backward.

How could Mo Yuan let him escape again? He used the Object Control Art, and the Lightning Struck Wood Sword Embryo transformed into a streak of lightning aimed straight at the evil cultivator's back! At the same time, he flicked both hands repeatedly, sending weakened streaks of Geng Metal Sword Qi toward the evil cultivator and the Black-Furred Zombie like a violent storm!

For a time, sword qi crisscrossed the air and talismans flew everywhere. Fighting one against two, Mo Yuan actually held the overwhelming advantage! His fighting style was nimble and fierce, far surpassing that of an ordinary Qi Refinement cultivator. He brought the combat instincts granted by Primordial Comprehension into full play!

On the other side, Uncle Nine was also locked in a fierce battle with his enemies. Under the assault of countless evil creatures, the Eight Trigrams Formation was on the verge of collapse.