Amidst the rising tumult caused by the corpse demons, more cultivators converged from every corner of the Eight Extremes Palace. Among them were Song Tianlong from Black Wind Island and Qu Xiao from White Bone Island. Drawn by the glow of the teleportation array, they arrived to find two corpse puppets obstructing the way, quickly deducing that someone was using this situation to extort a toll.
In the crowd, some remained silent while others were visibly outraged, including Song Tianlong. He pointed at Chu Xuan and bellowed, "Liu, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have corpse puppets! We have many among us, including Deity Transformation cultivators and masters of the 40th layer of physical refinement! Do you really plan to charge a toll to each of us? Do you dare incite such wrath?"
Song Tianlong looked around at his fellow cultivators, rallying them, "Fellow cultivators, we are many, and he is but one! We cannot let him dictate terms!" His impassioned speech, however, garnered only a few nods, with many opting to remain silent.
Scratching his head in frustration, Song Tianlong muttered, "What's there to fear from a mere two corpse puppets..."
Shang Xingchen cast a sympathetic glance at Song Tianlong. The man had barely escaped the corpse demons after pushing open a tomb door and had clearly not witnessed Chu Xuan's clash with Moon True Master. He was oblivious to Chu Xuan's strength.
Likely, those few who sided with Song Tianlong were equally unaware of Chu Xuan's true capabilities. Were they still perceiving Chu Xuan as merely a diligent talisman master?
As those who knew of Chu Xuan's prowess stepped aside, Song Tianlong found himself staring directly into Chu Xuan's eyes, his initial confidence wavering. However, having recently acquired the 'Shattered Mountain Technique' and having ascended rapidly in physical cultivation levels plus mastering a new physical technique, he reassured himself of his strength.
Emboldened, Song Tianlong regained his bravado. "Indeed, I am Song Tianlong of Black Wind Island, the chief disciple under Black Wind True Master."
"I know you too, the talisman seller from Demonic Talismans. I've bought talismans from you, giving you face," he continued. "If you remove those corpse puppets and let us pass, we can consider this matter settled. It's better for you, for me, and for everyone else."
"But if you refuse to budge..." Song Tianlong clenched his fists, muscles bulging as he sneered, "then don't blame me for not recognizing you anymore!"
As the vital energy around him swirled, Song Tianlong's form coalesced into a colossal hoof of a mythical beast. It was an imposing sight, so detailed that even the creases upon it were vividly discernible. Gasps of awe echoed among the spectators, each one feeling the immense oppressive force exuded by the gigantic hoof.
However, White Bone True Master, Shang Xingchen, and Zhong Tianshuo exchanged knowing looks. They had seen this technique before. Not long ago, during the struggle for the Boiling Sea Hall legacy, Moon True Master had summoned a similar, yet far more massive and powerful hoof against Chu Xuan.
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Chu Xuan appraised Song Tianlong with a casual glance, confirming the reports about the man: quick to anger and lacking subtlety. It was clear that the Shattered Mountain Technique legacy had fallen into his hands. The technique Song Tianlong was boasting about was indeed powerful, but it was a heritage passed down by Moon True Master's ancestors, not something he had acquired through his own merits.
Noticing Chu Xuan's scrutinous gaze, Song Tianlong mistook it for fear and burst out laughing triumphantly. "Liu!" he shouted. "You see the power of my move! If you clear the way now, you might still save yourself!"
Chu Xuan offered a faint smile in response, then turned to his side and casually ordered, "Hu, take his head."
"At once!" Hu growled, and in an instant, he vanished from sight.
Song Tianlong barely registered a blur before a gust of wind rushed directly at him. In the blink of an eye, a towering figure stood before him. As he was about to react, he heard a crisp snap.
Suddenly, Song Tianlong found himself rising higher, the world spinning dizzyingly around him. He had never witnessed such rapid rotation in his life.
"Why is there a headless corpse falling? It looks... familiar..." Those were Song Tianlong's last coherent thoughts.
With a thud, his severed head hit the ground, and his body collapsed, blood gushing like a fountain. Hu strode over, picked up the head, and slung the body over his shoulder, returning to Chu Xuan's side.
"Master," Hu said respectfully.
Chu Xuan nodded slightly and nonchalantly placed the remains into the Heavenly Corpse Tower.
Chu Xuan sighed softly, "I alone maintained this teleportation array, exhausting massive amounts of time and celestial materials. My eyes reddened from strain, and my storage bag has been emptied. Is it not reasonable to ask for some toll fee? Why must you force my hand?"
The cultivators who had previously echoed Song Tianlong's sentiments now vigorously nodded in agreement. "Exactly! What Master Liu says is right!" they chorused. "That Song Tianlong truly deserved his fate!"
Chu Xuan then turned his gaze upon the crowd, his smile warm and inviting as a spring breeze. "My friends, the corpse demons approach swiftly. If not now, when would you leave?" Yet, everyone understood the devilish nature hidden behind his congenial smile.
Suddenly, Shang Xingchen asked, "Fellow Daoist Liu, may I inquire where does this teleportation array lead?" The rıghtful source is 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✦𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✦𝓷𝓮𝓽
Chu Xuan nodded. "This is a random teleportation array. It can transport us out of the Eight Extremes Palace, but its destination is uncertain."
This revelation sparked a flurry of thoughts among the crowd. A random teleportation array? If they ended up in a dangerous place, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?
Just as White Bone True Master and others were about to speak, a continuous roar of corpse demons came from behind. Chu Xuan spread his hands. "The delay in those corpse demons' speed is also thanks to my formation. If you are still unwilling to compensate for my losses, I must leave and let the corpse puppets destroy the formation."
He possessed numerous corpse puppets within his Heavenly Corpse Tower. Releasing a few lower-tier Corpse Kings to sabotage the array was more than feasible. The random teleportation array, unlike point-to-point arrays, was not particularly stable; a targeted attack could damage it. Chu Xuan didn't intend to completely destroy it—just enough to render it inoperative.
Faced with the impending threat of corpse demons, the expressions of the cultivators fluctuated wildly.
Shang Xingchen finally spoke in resignation, "Fellow Daoist Liu, I am willing to offer a treasure." He produced a low-grade spiritual weapon. "This is the Yellow Springs Blade, frequently used by Yellow Springs True Master."
Chu Xuan nodded appreciatively. "Very well, you may pass." Shang Xingchen cast a lingering look at Chu Xuan before stepping into the shimmering curtain of light and vanishing from sight.