Chapter 7 – Ancient Cultivator's Dharma Corpse, Purple Mist's Might

Fully aware of the unknown dangers lurking beyond the stone door, the resurrected Lu Chen remained hyper-vigilant, prepared for any sudden assault at any moment.

Just as expected, the moment he stepped through the stone doorway, a chilling gust swept down from above.

Reacting instantly, Lu Chen swung his Magic Sword upward to meet the threat.

Bang!

The vibrating Magic Sword clashed with sharp claws mid-air, erupting in a shower of blinding sparks.

Relying on the formidable power of Water Dragon’s Roar, Lu Chen forcefully repelled the ambusher, forcing it to hastily retreat and reconsider its advance.

With the immediate threat neutralized, Lu Chen finally got a clear look at his attacker.

Sparse, thinning hair, a desiccated and decaying body, paired with those crimson eyes.

Without a doubt, this creature clinging to the wall was a transformed corpse—a reanimated cultivation corpse.

[Qi Condensation Stage Corpse]

[Cultivation: Fifth Layer of Qi Refining]

[Characteristics: Bloodthirsty and Frenzied, Fearful of Sunlight]

Though Lu Chen maintained a calm exterior as he observed the corpse nearby, inwardly he was tense.

Even with the experience of two lifetimes and the ability to resurrect indefinitely without fearing death, facing such a grotesque monster still stirred unease within him.

Knowing about something was one thing; encountering it firsthand was entirely different.

Across both lifetimes, he had played countless games, but horror games were the one genre he avoided.

Not because he couldn’t handle them, but because they terrified him…

After all, what sane person actually enjoys horror games?

And at this moment, Lu Chen felt exactly as if he were trapped in one.

Before he could dwell on it further, the corpse, after a brief hesitation, launched another attack.

The corpse abruptly accelerated, transforming into a shadowy streak as it charged toward him.

Its speed was so overwhelming that Lu Chen struggled to keep up.

In desperation, Lu Chen activated the Purple Haze Divine Light to shield himself.

Unexpectedly, this move produced remarkable results!

“Roar!!!”

The moment the Purple Haze Divine Light materialized, the corpse—initially charging at full speed—recoiled as if confronting a natural predator.

It twisted mid-air, veering away to evade the light, then crouched on the corridor floor about ten meters away, staring at Lu Chen with palpable fear.

Witnessing this, Lu Chen suddenly recalled the information from the corpse’s profile.

[Bloodthirsty and Frenzied, Fearful of Sunlight]

As a protective aura refined from the nascent purple haze, the Purple Haze Divine Light Lu Chen wielded was, in a sense, scarcely different from genuine sunlight.

And sunlight was precisely what low-level corpses feared most!

At the very least, this particular corpse hadn’t reached a level where it could disregard sunlight entirely.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Chen switched from defense to offense, lunging aggressively toward the corpse.

But the corpse’s next move took him by surprise.

Instead of confronting him, it turned and fled without a backward glance, vanishing into the dim corridor in the blink of an eye.

Staring at the now-empty passage, Lu Chen’s expression darkened.

Seriously? This wretched creature actually possessed such intelligence?

Recognizing the unfavorable situation, it executed a tactical retreat???

Gazing into the shadowy depths ahead, Lu Chen found himself uncertain whether to pursue or not.After all, he had a premonition that the Corpse Fiend was only refraining from attacking him out of fear for his Purple Haze Divine Light.

But if he were to dispel the Purple Haze Divine Light and give chase, it would surely reappear suddenly to ambush him.

Just as it had when it killed him the first time.

One can guard against a thief for a thousand days, but it’s impossible to maintain such vigilance forever.

He was already unfamiliar with the catacombs’ layout and hadn’t yet reached the Foundation Establishment Stage to master Divine Sense.

Chasing a Corpse Fiend that was constantly watching him in these dim, complex catacombs would undoubtedly hand the initiative over to the enemy.

Rashly giving chase was definitely not the best choice.

Thinking this, Lu Chen ultimately made a bold decision: to lure the snake out of its hole!

He dispersed his Purple Haze Divine Light and stood calmly in the center of the passageway.

His demeanor made it seem as though he had given up all resistance.

The moment his Purple Haze Divine Light faded, faint sounds echoed from the dark passageway ahead.

Lu Chen didn’t need to think to know the Corpse Fiend had returned.

Although Corpse Fiends Awaken fragments of their memories from life, this doesn’t mean they remain the same as when they were alive.

They’re more like beasts with some degree of intelligence rather than beings with self-awareness.

Moreover, their craving for the flesh and blood of the living is an instinct carved into their bones.

Thus, they would never easily let go of any prey.

This was precisely why Lu Chen dared to use himself as bait.

That creature would never flee until it had killed him.

However, Lu Chen had underestimated the Corpse Fiend’s patience.

A full five minutes had passed since he dispelled the Purple Haze Divine Light.

During these five minutes, the Corpse Fiend actually remained composed, in no hurry to attack.

This immediately made Lu Chen feel somewhat troubled.

Dragging this out wouldn’t benefit him—he needed to find a way to lure the creature out.

As special entities, low-level Corpse Fiends not only fear sunlight but also possess an intense bloodlust.

Once they catch the scent of blood, these creatures swarm like hyenas, fighting to the death.

With this in mind, Lu Chen roughly formed a plan.

He raised his Magic Sword and swiftly cut a gash across his left palm.

Drip, drip…

Crimson blood welled from the wound, dripping onto the ground.

The scent of blood gradually permeated the decaying passageway.

Soon, heavy panting echoed through the previously silent corridor.

Following the sound, Lu Chen quickly spotted a pair of crimson eyes.

The next instant, three whooshing sounds came from the passageway.

In a flash, Lu Chen raised his sword in response, blocking three sudden Spell ice spikes in succession.

The reason they’re called Corpse Fiends is precisely because they can cast Spells.

While Lu Chen blocked the ice spikes, the Corpse Fiend—now fully driven by its bloodlust—charged at him with astonishing speed.

With his focus razor-sharp, Lu Chen suddenly smiled.

When prey walks into a trap, how could the hunter not rejoice?

Purple Haze Divine Light!

“Roar!!!”

The dazzling purple radiance once again illuminated the dim passageway.

Driven by its innate fear of sunlight, the rapidly charging Corpse Fiend suddenly covered its eyes with its hands and let out a shrill cry.

Its body instinctively twisted, trying to retreat from the accursed glow.Lu Chen, who had deliberately lured it, would never let it escape so easily.

Seizing the moment the Corpse Mage paused, Lu Chen transformed into a blur as he charged forward.

During this motion, he first cast the Major Achievement-level Sharpness Art on his Magic Sword, enveloping the blade in an intangible layer of Sword Qi.

Immediately after, the familiar and crisp vibrating hum of the sword rang out!

Sword Art·Water Dragon’s Roar!

Lu Chen closed in on the Corpse Mage, a flash of cold light gleaming.

The vibrating Sword Qi struck the Corpse Mage’s neck, effortlessly severing its head with a single stroke.

With that final blow, the Corpse Mage finally lost all signs of life, collapsing stiffly to the ground.

Curious, Lu Chen picked up the glowing fragments scattered over the Corpse Mage’s body.

[You have slain a Qi Condensation Stage Corpse Mage, gained 70 EXP, Soul Crystal Shard (White)*1]

Soul Crystal Shard—what was this?

Staring at the strange white fragment in his palm, Lu Chen was filled with curiosity…

(End of Chapter)