When Gang Ryeong looked upon the undead figure of the Third-stage Martial Artist, he felt a thrill of excitement.
Now, killing a Third-stage Martial Artist would be even easier.
With his endless, undying army—
And this Third-stage Martial Artist at the helm, it would work perfectly for him.
A Martial Artist could tire quickly, especially those in the lower stages.
If there were a thousand ordinary soldiers, they could very well exhaust a Third-stage Martial Artist to death, just like Gang Ryeong had done.
Now imagine if Gang Ryeong had a thousand undead. Would this brawny, green-skinned man have even stood a chance?
The odds of any Third-Stage Martial Artist holding out for even a moment were next to none.
Sigh.
Gang Ryeong looked around at his surroundings, snapping out of his reverie.
Then he looked at his undead army and frowned:
"How do I call them back?"
Just then, a blue prompt appeared in front of him, stunning Gang Ryeong.
[You have summoned an undead Third-stage Martial Artist for the first time]
[You have gained the skill: <Shadow Domain>]
"Shadow Domain?"
Before he could even question further, he felt a strange connection establish itself.
This connection felt innate, just like his connection to the abyss of death. However, unlike it, it felt like it was truly his and his only, while for the abyss of death, it was like he only had the key to go there.
So Gang Ryeong immediately connected to that feeling he got.
The next moment, he was in a place filled with shadows and nothing else.
It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
Looking at it, Gang Ryeong felt a deep connection to this place.
He could control anything here and even levitate in the air if he so wished to do so.
It was an amazing feeling to have.
One that made him have a hint of fascination, too.
This space was covered in shadow, and except for shadow, there was nothing else.
It was a wonder how he could even see in this place.
But he truly could see in this darkness.
Then Gang Ryeong tried to summon his undead into this place.
Instantly, the void distorted, and the undead began to appear in droves with mindless and hollow eyes.
"There are two methods of summoning the undead," Gang Ryeong said. "One is to preserve their consciousness. The other is to erase it entirely, rendering them mindless and completely obedient to my will."
Though his title did not mention it, Gang Ryeong was capable of both.
But these creatures had all been unforgivable sinners. Without hesitation, he chose to wipe away their consciousness. If a time came when he no longer needed them, he would cast them aside and allow their souls to suffer eternal torment.
Stepping out from his shadow, Gang Ryeong turned away, leaving the place behind.
Outside, the others waited for him, their faces marked with anxious anticipation.
They had heard the terrifying screams from within the room and were unsure in their hearts whether he was truly alright.
"Hey, Pan Ji, if he's dead… then it's really over for us."
"Then what do we do?"
The others murmured, nearly arguing with themselves in their growing unease.
Pan Ji remained silent for a while before finally speaking.
"We can only hope he's still alive."
"Damn it," someone muttered, grinding their teeth in frustration.
All they could do was wait, helpless and tense.
Then, right before their eyes, Gang Ryeong slowly emerged from the room.
His expression was blank, his eyes emotionless, and his entire body was soaked in green blood.
There wasn't a single patch of skin left untouched, his entire body was soaked in green blood.
"Are you alright?" Pan Ji stepped forward quickly, concern etched on his face.
Gang Ryeong gave a small nod: "Let's keep moving."
Without another word, he began walking ahead.
The others exchanged glances and sighed inwardly before hurrying to follow him.
Pan Ji was the first to move.
They continued down the narrow passageway when Gang Ryeong's nose suddenly twitched.
"I reek," he thought with a sigh.
Before long, they reached another room. Unlike the last, this one was relatively empty, at its center stood a single, giant cauldron, with a small seating area nearby.
Gang Ryeong stepped forward and glanced around the room. Soon, his eyes fell on a box tucked behind the cauldron.
It was a simple black box, adorned with a unique dragon-patterned design.
He opened it.
Inside, neatly arranged, were several pills.
They were pitch black in color and emitted no scent. While some of them had faint traces of gold sprouting across their surfaces in tiny, delicate patches.
The moment Gang Ryeong saw them, a primal instinct surged within him, an overwhelming urge to consume them.
But he quickly shook his head to clear the temptation.
He already possessed a mana core.
Even in his ghoul form, the mana core had remained bound to him.
And now, in his current state, that mana core was still intact within his body.
If he were to absorb Qi recklessly, no one could predict what might happen.
For Chun Ma, it had been a slow and gradual process. Besides, Chun Ma didn't possess a mana core, but Gang Ryeong did.
He closed the box and turned around, silently leaving the room.
The others followed wordlessly behind him.
Pan Ji leaned in and whispered:
"The next room is likely the one where our master resides."
"You've been there before?" Gang Ryeong asked, glancing at him.
"Yeah. I went there several times… to deliver the people they had chosen."
Pan Ji's face was unreadable as he spoke.
"Do you feel sad? Or regret it?" Gang Ryeong asked.
"No. I don't."
Pan Ji shook his head. "Why would I feel regret or anything like that? I did what I had to do to survive."
"I see," Gang Ryeong replied coolly, though inwardly, he had to admit, the boy had the right mindset.
Finally, they reached the room.
"You all stay here. I'll go alone," he said calmly.
Then, without hesitation, he raised his foot and kicked the door with all his strength.
Bang!