Evan Yang frowned at the Nether Patriarch’s words. The remaining fifty or sixty corpse puppets were all at the late Soul-Gathering stage—defeating them one by one was impossible.
He could only rely on his superior speed to dodge attacks, making sure none of those corpse puppets touched him. After all, these were dead bodies—immune to pain, fighting as if determined to perish together.
All of them were controlled by the Nether Patriarch, who didn’t care how many died if it meant wounding Evan Yang. He issued strict orders: no matter what, they must seriously injure Evan.
That’s why Evan Yang felt each puppet fought with a reckless, do-or-die attitude.
“If this keeps up, who knows how long it’ll last? I need to find a way out.” Staring at the fifty or sixty corpses, Evan Yang frowned.
The Nether Patriarch knew these fifty or sixty corpse puppets didn’t consume energy, so he planned to wear Evan Yang’s spiritual power down through sheer attrition.
But Evan Yang’s spiritual power was impossible to exhaust so quickly—it was like he was a machine that could refill energy at any moment.
Just as Evan Yang and the Nether Patriarch were locked in stalemate, battle sounds echoed from nearby—and they were getting closer.
“What’s going on over there?” Evan Yang activated his spiritual sense and found two people fighting nearby. Both were incredibly strong—their movements nearly invisible, but the space trembled wherever they clashed. A crowd was gathering to watch.
Seeing the scene, Evan Yang came up with an idea. He started attacking in the direction of the duel, forcing the corpse puppets to retreat. Yet the rest wouldn’t give him an opening—wherever Evan went, they followed.
The Nether Patriarch kept controlling the corpse puppets, determined to drain Evan Yang’s spiritual power.
But the commotion quickly drew the attention of the spectators. Many wore strange expressions—after all, fifty or sixty high-level corpse puppets were besieging a single person, yet couldn’t take him down.
The two dueling experts stopped fighting and stepped aside to watch.
Suddenly, everyone’s attention shifted to Evan Yang. Countless spiritual senses probed him, and the Nether Patriarch hadn’t expected such a situation.
Soon the crowd gathered, forming two rings: Evan Yang at the center, surrounded by corpse puppets, with spectators forming the outer circle.
“How is this kid so strong?” people murmured, discussing Evan Yang.
Someone exclaimed, "Look, those attackers move just like dead bodies!"
Ghost Vengeance and Nine-Leg Ghost exchanged glances, their interest shifting from their duel to the siege unfolding before them.
“Corpse-refining!” Ghost Vengeance said in surprise, causing the crowd to gasp. Nine-Leg Ghost chuckled, “Didn’t expect you to recognize it.”
“Hmph, you think you’re the only one who knows?” Ghost Vengeance was still bitter about losing the Immortal Yellow Earth at auction, and now this bizarre scene made him even more irritable.
“Wonder where the Corpse-Refiner is now?” Nine-Leg Ghost said with a smile.
“Just grab whoever’s controlling the puppets and ask.” Ghost Vengeance snorted.
“The Corpse-Refiner isn’t someone you can mess with. If you want to ask, go ahead.” Nine-Leg Ghost said coldly.
Ghost Vengeance sneered at the remark, then turned his attention back to the unfolding battle.
“That kid’s got skill. He’s holding off so many opponents at a higher realm with a lower cultivation—quite the talent.” Ghost Vengeance muttered after watching for a while.
“Even a fool can see that.” Nine-Leg Ghost laughed.
“Nine-Leg Ghost, you already won that item at auction—why keep competing with me?” Ghost Vengeance shouted angrily, annoyed by Nine-Leg Ghost’s rivalry.
Just as the two continued to bicker, Evan Yang spoke up, “I’ve got a small piece of Immortal Yellow Earth. Whoever destroys all these corpse puppets, I’ll give it to them.”
Evan Yang’s real plan was to use these experts to wipe out the corpse puppets. He had plenty of Immortal Yellow Earth—giving away a small piece was nothing to him.
The crowd was stunned, exchanging glances. Ghost Vengeance’s interest was piqued—he’d missed out at the auction, but now the prize was being offered directly. He shouted, “Nobody compete with me! Nine-Leg Ghost, you stay out of this too, or I’ll count the auction against you!”
“Are you really going to go up against the Corpse-Refiner?” Nine-Leg Ghost asked suspiciously.
“What’s there to fear from some guy who plays with corpses? Watch me.” Ghost Vengeance scoffed, then smiled at Evan Yang, “Kid, I’ll help you—but remember your promise.”
“Of course.” Evan Yang replied.
The Nether Patriarch was shocked—he’d witnessed these two terrifying experts fight before. But before he could react, Ghost Vengeance moved. In a single breath, all fifty or sixty corpse puppets exploded, their bodies shattered.
Seeing Ghost Vengeance’s ruthless methods, the crowd quickly stepped back. Even Nine-Leg Ghost frowned at the brutality.
The Nether Patriarch stood there, stunned, unsure what to do next.
“Senior, thank you for your help. Here’s the Immortal Yellow Earth, just as promised.” Evan Yang took out a piece matching the auction size.
Now it was Nine-Leg Ghost’s turn to feel jealous—he’d spent over ninety million for his, while Ghost Vengeance got one for a single move.
Ghost Vengeance laughed as he took the Immortal Yellow Earth. “Kid, I almost feel bad taking this—but since I did, if you ever run into corpse puppets or any trouble, come find me.”
He handed Evan Yang a card with a demonic sigil on it. “Just inject your spiritual power, and I’ll know you’re in trouble.” With that, he vanished among the crowd.
Seeing Ghost Vengeance leave, Nine-Leg Ghost—having gotten his auction item—also departed. The crowd watched Evan Yang with curiosity, but now, no one dared touch him. After all, everyone saw him receive that card.
Even if Evan Yang didn’t know what the card was, everyone else did—it was a top expert’s protection token, a promise of aid at any time.
Evan Yang didn’t have time to study it now. He put the card away, then smiled at the Nether Patriarch, “So, what tricks do you have left?”
“You—you!” The Nether Patriarch glared, furious that his corpse puppets had vanished.
“If you’re out of tricks, it’s my turn.” Evan Yang snorted, then punched at the Nether Patriarch. He quickly summoned black qi to block part of the attack.
“That move again! Lucky you survived—but next time, you won’t be so fortunate!” Evan Yang snorted, seeing his attack had little effect.
Under everyone’s gaze, Evan Yang vanished swiftly, leaving the Nether Patriarch empty-handed—he’d lost everything, spent twenty million high-grade Spirit Crystal Ore, and sacrificed over a hundred corpse puppets.
“I—I’ll kill you!” The Nether Patriarch roared inwardly, then left in anger.
The Nether Patriarch flew furiously, arriving at a place shrouded in black miasma. He stopped and called out, “Senior!”
“Come up.” The voice sounded again, and a road appeared before the Nether Patriarch.
The Nether Patriarch followed the road to the cave entrance. With the Corpse-Refiner’s permission, he entered, wrinkling his nose at the pungent white powder everywhere.
“You failed?” the old man asked.
The Nether Patriarch nodded, furious, and recounted everything. The Corpse-Refiner wasn’t angry—in fact, he laughed, “Killing fifty or sixty people alone is impressive. As for the rest being wiped out, it’s no big deal. What surprises me is how that kid has Immortal Yellow Earth.”
“I’m curious too. I suspect the yellow mud from the first auction was his as well.” The Nether Patriarch muttered, recalling Evan Yang’s appearance from that room.
“Immortal Yellow Earth is a rare treasure. For him to have so much and so many tricks, it means his Human World background is extraordinary. I can’t help you with corpse puppets anymore—if word gets out, I’ll be in trouble.” The Corpse-Refiner fell silent, then explained.
“Senior, you can’t!” The Nether Patriarch was shocked at the refusal.
“Don’t worry—I’m interested in him. Since he’s come to the Fiend Realm, I’ll keep him here for three months. I’ll lend you something that can trap him.” The old man laughed, producing a palm-sized miniature mountain with a base as wide as a hand.
“What’s this?” The Nether Patriarch asked, eyeing the miniature mountain.
“It’s my artifact. I’ll lend it to you, but remember—never let anyone know it’s from me. I don’t want people linking his disappearance to me.” The old man instructed.
The Nether Patriarch nodded, took the artifact, and learned how to control it as instructed.
Delighted by the mountain’s power, the Nether Patriarch left.
“Go, and keep it secret. If the Human World comes looking, my peace will be ruined.” The Corpse-Refiner warned.
The Nether Patriarch left with the miniature mountain. After he was gone, the Corpse-Refiner muttered, “Someone like that must have major backing in the Human World. I’ll trap him for three months—by then, they’ll think he’s disappeared, and I can take my time training him.”
Evan Yang had no idea his actions made the Corpse-Refiner suspect he was someone important from the Human World. So instead of helping the Nether Patriarch openly, the Corpse-Refiner lent him the artifact to trap Evan in the Fiend Realm, planning further steps later.
To find Evan Yang, the Nether Patriarch spent another five million, gathering enough Fiend Star Sources to pay Captain Li to track him down again with the Eight Generals.
“Captain Li, why is the Nether Family so obsessed with that Human World cultivator?” The middle-aged man had heard rumors, so after giving the Nether Patriarch Evan Yang’s whereabouts, he privately questioned Captain Li.
“That guy injured a lot of Nether Family disciples.” Captain Li quickly explained.
“But I heard the Nether Family is close with the Corpse-Refiner, and used over a hundred corpses against the kid. In the end, a powerful expert helped him escape.” The middle-aged man smiled.