Chapter 967: Priestess Qin (4)

Priestess Qin continued, "What makes humans human is the balance of life and death, the cycle of the six realms of reincarnation. Death can become life again, and the living can return to death through the wheel. Long ago, the Blade and Sword Supreme completed the six-path cycle and rebuilt the Ten Halls of Hell, allowing all living beings, humans included, to reincarnate through the six realms."

"But the appearance of the Reapers destroyed all of that. Reapers lack souls so they cannot enter reincarnation. They disrupt the mortal world..."

The emergence of the Reapers had shattered the six realms once again. The undead within the Burial Sea, unable to enter the cycle, remained in eternal slumber. The heroic spirits of the fallen lingered there, suspended in gray mist, suffering in torment.

But if this undead army could emerge from the gray mist...

the moment that thought crossed his mind, Li Xiaofei’s heart began pounding violently. Because all of a sudden, he realized that undead beings were the natural nemesis of the Reapers.

The bodies of the undead were made only of bone, with even their marrow long since dried out. Their strength came from the deathly miasma of the Burial Sea. It was an energy that was completely toxic to the Reapers’ form of evolution.

They couldn’t devour it. They couldn’t absorb it. Worse still, if they were ever tainted by the Burial Sea’s miasma, they would face true, irreversible death. To fight such enemies was pointless and deadly for the Reapers.

Priestess Qin saw the flicker in Li Xiaofei’s expression and knew exactly what he was thinking.

"In truth, the art of necromancy has long been mastered by humanity," she said. "Whether it was the line of necromancers under Holy Emperor Sun Fei, or the Nether King techniques cultivated by Lin Beichen, they could all control the dead in battle.

"But mass-producing undead warriors capable of posing a fatal threat to the Reapers is far from easy, especially ones that can withstand the Burial Sea’s miasma or warriors using that very essence as a power source. Creating them in large numbers, while also keeping them under human control, is extremely difficult. The Burial Sea is our first true success."

Priestess Qin explained with great patience. Even before Li Xiaofei could ask, she had already laid out the cause and effect in full. The undead warrior project within the Burial Sea was one of humanity’s many efforts to resist the Reapers. There was also the Southern Heavenly Gate Resurrection Plan. The other Immortal Emperors each had their own strategies in motion.

Whenever the human race stood on the brink of destruction, there would always be heroic souls willing to rise, no matter the cost, like the Ling Clan.

"To become undead, one must die. The soul-light must be extinguished. The great generals of the human race all chose to die of their own will and transform into undead to take command of the army within the Burial Sea," Priestess Qin spoke calmly.

And in that moment, Li Xiaofei finally understood.

"I saw both the elder and the younger war gods, Senior Ling Taixu and Senior Ling Chi, in the Blade Ruins... could it be that they too..." asked Li Xiaofei.

Priestess Qin nodded and replied, "That’s right. In the hour of the race’s survival, if I don’t enter hell, who will?"

Li Xiaofei was shaken to his core. Goosebumps rose across his entire body.

"But Senior Ling Taixu... his body was not in the Burial Sea," he said instinctively. "Should I bring his remains into the Burial Sea myself?"

"There’s no need," Priestess Qin shook her head. "Everything happens according to fate. Grandpa Ling is where he is meant to be."

"I see... Then does that mean the undead army within the Burial Sea is currently led by Senior Ling Chi?"

"Ling Chi is but one of the commanders," Priestess Qin explained. "The true supreme commander is Han Bufei."

Han Bufei?

Li Xiaofei furrowed his brow. The name was unfamiliar.

But to be appointed the supreme commander of the Burial Sea’s undead army, his identity, cultivation realm, and capabilities must have surpassed even Ling Chi’s. These heroes of the human race had each willingly embraced death for the chance of the race’s survival. What a noble, selfless spirit.

"But... if the Burial Miasma cannot leak out, then the undead army can’t launch expeditions to other worlds. However, if the miasma does leak... it would cause irreversible pollution across the universe. Isn’t this contradiction impossible to resolve? Wouldn’t that render the entire plan meaningless?"

Li Xiaofei had spotted a critical flaw and voiced his doubts aloud.

Priestess Qin said, "Yes. Sword Immortal Lin has been searching for a solution to this very dilemma. Perhaps... he has already found it."

Li Xiaofei fell into deep thought. Then, shifting the topic, he asked, "Senior, why are you here personally?"

"To guard the Burial Sea," Priestess Qin replied, "and defend it from invaders."

"Invaders?" Li Xiaofei blinked. "But... isn’t this place considered a Reaper dead zone? Even high-level Reapers can’t enter, right?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Li Xiaofei froze. He realized he had fallen prey to a flawed assumption. Of course, ordinary high-level Reapers might be unable to enter. But what about those at the very top, the Ancestor-level Reapers?

Priestess Qin looked directly at him and said calmly, "What if one of the twin Ancestors came in person?"

Li Xiaofei’s pupils contracted violently,

What does that mean? Is Priestess Qin implying that even if one of the twin Ancestors of the Reapers descended in person, she could stand against them?

The thought sent a tremor through his heart.

Could it be... that Priestess Qin had already ascended to the Immortal Emperor Realm?

As if sensing the storm of disbelief in his mind, Priestess Qin said calmly, "By drawing upon a thread of chaotic annihilation from this well and the power of the Dragon Palace, I can stand against the twin Ancestors."

But even so, Li Xiaofei remained utterly shaken. Able to stand against the twin Ancestors. Seven simple words, but their implications were beyond earth-shattering.

With such heroes, sovereigns, and peerless talents rising from among the human race, it was only a matter of time before they triumphed over the Reapers. A surge of unshakable confidence flooded Li Xiaofei’s chest.

"You coming here today is a matter of fate," Priestess Qin said softly. "I have no Emperor-level treasures to offer you, only two small gifts. The first is this, outside the shrine lie the corpses of four high-level Reapers. Choose one to take with you."

Those four corpses, left behind by high-level Reapers, still contained their primal force, their core source of evolutionary energy, that had not yet been refined or harvested.

With Li Xiaofei’s current strength, refining such energy on his own would be difficult. But he had the Blood-Drinking Sword. That changed everything.

"Many thanks, Senior," said Li Xiaofei, overjoyed.

He fully understood just how precious this gift was. Back in the Heavenly Realm, he and his aunt and others had unleashed every hidden trump card they had and nearly suffered complete annihilation just to barely slay a single starved Mother of All Beasts.

Yet that one corpse had provided enough energy to push the Blood-Drinking Sword to its peak. It had also served as a core ingredient in crafting the Sanqing Dahua Pill, which allowed him to resurrect the heroic spirits resting in the Cemetery of the Ancestors, including Hua Xiangrong.

This proved just how invaluable a single high-level Reaper corpse, complete with its primal force, truly was. Moreover, that Mother of All Beasts had only been slain through careful scheming and immense effort back in the Heavenly Realm.

Li Xiaofei, filled with joy, asked eagerly, "Senior, what is the second gift?"

Priestess Qin smiled faintly and opened her palm. A small, finely crafted jade whistle appeared, glowing softly with a faint phosphorescence. It floated gently toward Li Xiaofei.

"When you arrive at the Pure Sea Dragon Clan’s burial grounds, blow this whistle... and you’ll understand. Go now." She waved her hand and added gently, "And remember, deliver my message to Lin Beichen."

Li Xiaofei carefully accepted the jade whistle, bowed deeply, and said, "This junior will remember."

He bowed again. Only then did he slowly retreat from the shrine. Once outside, he bowed once more. Then he turned his gaze to the four massive pillars surrounding him.

In the end, he chose the corpse of a Mother of All Beasts, activating the Blood-Drinking Sword. It shot forth like a red streak, piercing the corpse in an instant. In the next moment, a torrent of pure, refined blood and energy surged into the sword.

Buzz...

The Blood-Drinking Sword trembled softly. Its blade turned crimson, glowing as if blood were coursing through it. Then, almost immediately, a wave of exceptionally pure energy was transferred through the sword into Li Xiaofei’s body.

This outcome was expected. The Blood-Drinking Sword couldn’t fully contain the immense energy of a Mother of All Beasts. It had to release part of it into a host.

Last time, the surge of Immortal Force had nearly caused Li Xiaofei’s body to explode. But this time, things were different. Li Xiaofei’s strength had grown significantly. He could now withstand far more energy.

Moments later, the Mother of All Beasts had been completely drained, leaving behind nothing but a thin, leathery hide. For some reason, Li Xiaofei suddenly felt that he shouldn’t take the hide with him. It was as if... it was meant to stay here.

"Senior, this junior takes his leave." He bowed once more toward the shrine. His gaze swept over the bell hanging at the shrine’s entrance, then he turned and departed.

A few minutes later, Li Xiaofei arrived at the burial grounds of the Pure Sea Dragon Clan.

Standing before the massive tombstone, he took out the jade whistle Priestess Qin had given him. He lifted it to his lips and blew gently.

A long, soothing note rippled through the air. A few moments later, something strange began to happen.