Longevity Strange Immortal
Chapter 184 - 44: The Container of Corpses Accumulated for 10,000 Years

Chapter 184: Chapter 44: The Container of Corpses Accumulated for 10,000 Years

The Three Mountains gaped, momentarily unable to comprehend Li Mo’s words.

Soon after, the Chaotic Burial Furnace Mountain Gate began to tremble faintly, and Li Mo’s body visibly shriveled, emitting spiritual power so dense it seemed almost tangible.

Buzz...

Another deafening whale cry echoed.

The Kun Whale expanded crazily in size, quickly surpassing a hundred meters. Its volcanic spine emitted thick smoke, engulfing the surrounding area for hundreds of meters.

With each inhale and exhale, the Kun Whale had already surpassed the leading Stone Embryo Stone.

The Candle Dragon tattoo on Li Mo’s chest wriggled impatiently, itching to replace the Kun Whale.

However, Li Mo flatly refused—the seven Tattooed Beasts had distinct roles, and while the Candle Dragon was undoubtedly the strongest, when it came to travel, it was no match for the Kun Whale.

Burning Eyes True Monarch gazed back incredulously, only to see Li Mo stepping out of his cultivation state and standing boldly in front of the main hall entrance.

"Quick, quick!!!"

His expression was hideous, his flesh leaking pungent, nauseating pus. His chest heaved violently, revealing the glowing furnace within his body.

"Activate the Blazing Three-flavor Fire!"

No sooner had Burning Eyes True Monarch spoken than flames at the mountain gate surged, instantly illuminating the underground. Meanwhile, agonized screams erupted from the mouths of the Artifact Cultivators.

Clutching their eyes in pain, fiery emanations burst from their facial features.

The core cultivation technique of the Burning Sand Land, "The Taicang No Eyes Mental Classic," used one’s flesh and blood as fuel to unleash the Blazing Three-flavor Fire.

Burning Eyes True Monarch’s actions clearly jeopardized the lives of fellow sect cultivators to amplify the flames, but it undoubtedly produced results.

The Burning Sand Land surged past the Taiping Qingmu Sect, second only to the Scorched Hemp Field, eliciting a chilling laugh from Tai Jiaozi of the Scorched Hemp Field.

"Oh, Burning Eyes, for the sake of a Pseudo Pill Stage, you’re throwing your Tao Heart off balance?"

"Shut up."

Burning Eyes True Monarch knew his Tao Heart was affected.

But he couldn’t believe that Tai Jiaozi and the other Core Formation Refiners, after witnessing even a fraction of Li Mo’s displayed power, wouldn’t feel a sense of crisis.

Even Mu Daoist couldn’t help but release just a bit more spiritual power instinctively.

Burning Eyes True Monarch’s gaze swept scorching across his comrades; anyone who dared to stop channeling magic would find themselves swiftly dealt with.

The rivalry grew increasingly fierce.

The top four sects had fully distanced themselves from the remaining sects, as if sealing the fate of the Golden Cauldron Sect’s succession.

The Three Mountains, seeing Li Mo resembling a desiccated husk, asked anxiously, "Fellow Daoist Qing Tian, is there any way we can assist—"

"Unnecessary."

Li Mo reached out and plucked out his left eye.

In his palm rested a miniature moon, as he muttered, "Just ensure the stability of the Mountain Gate. Do not, under any circumstances, let the Mountain Protection Array be damaged."

As soon as his words fell, the Cave God’s Eye on Li Mo’s forehead began to mutate.

The Black Fish devoured the White Fish, and the Candle Dragon Tattoo on his chest began writhing. A sudden and inexplicable fear enveloped the Three Mountains and the other cultivators.

"Taiyin."

Li Mo hung the miniature moon in midair, and the flames provoked by Burning Eyes True Monarch vanished without a trace.

The Cave God’s Eye’s Divine Power Taiyin-Taiyang had greatly improved in strength after the Candle Dragon was etched, though Li Mo was still unclear about its exact effects—this moment seemed like a perfect opportunity for experimentation.

The pits within a kilometer radius plunged into darkness. Absolute silence blanketed the area, and the mountain gate’s rustling sounds against the rock walls disappeared completely.

Li Mo’s body turned into a dry corpse, his physique weakening to its utmost.

The Ash Golden Core sustained the Kun Whale, while the Mist Fog Golden Core summoned the Ghost Tiger. Shadows writhing ominously instantly enveloped the Chaotic Burial Furnace, spreading a foul stench throughout.

Roar!!!

A tiger’s roar resonated in the darkness, seemingly echoing into the ears of every Core Formation Artifact Refiner.

Mu Daoist froze.

Before she could react, the boundless darkness receded like a tide.

Mu Daoist raised her gaze and saw that ahead of the Scorched Hemp Field was an additional hill—the emerging Chaotic Burial Furnace.

"Impossible..."

Li Mo retrieved the miniature moon from midair and placed it back into the socket of his left eye. The Yin-Yang contrast of his dual pupils appeared exceptionally mysterious.

The Ghost Tiger had already reverted to his right arm, as though the previous tiger roar was but a fleeting illusion.

The Chaotic Burial Furnace led the rival sects in position. Though the gap in distance did not widen further, judging from Li Mo’s current state, his spiritual power seemed unlikely to deplete anytime soon.

Burning Eyes True Monarch laughed in rage, muttering "Qing Tian" under his breath several times.

He gestured for the other Artifact Cultivators to cease deploying magic, slowing their pace as he opted to close his eyes and suppress the anomalies brewing in his Mental Realm.

Mu Daoist also refrained from further pursuit, and the other sects tacitly acknowledged the Chaotic Burial Furnace’s advantage.

The main concern was that the Golden Cauldron Sect had not yet commenced; excessive expenditures on the journey might provide competitors the chance for a decisive strike.

Tai Jiaozi shook his head slightly, his gaze tinged with apprehension.

"How ingenious, Qing Tian. The methods displayed are utterly elusive—it’s likely they were devised purely through his own comprehension."

"Coupled with his dual golden cores, surpassing Uncertainty Nascent Soul would hardly be a challenge."

Tai Jiaozi sat cross-legged, nourishing his spirit. Behind his eyes flickered a momentary trace of killing intent. "Though Qing Tian’s might is formidable, there may still be an opportunity..."

The various Daoists harbored their own calculations, but the atmosphere was no longer as explosively confrontational as before.

The Mountain Gates at the port’s bottom were no longer visible as Qingqiu Taoist and other cultivators ascended to the second tier to peer into the deep abyss.

In the blink of an eye, the Chaotic Burial Furnace had already surpassed the other sects.

For the uninformed Loose Cultivators, the scene seemed typical. After all, the Chaotic Burial Furnace was a top-grade sect in Zone 8.

However, the discerning knew better—the Chaotic Burial Furnace had long been in decline.

For it to secure a mid-tier position was considered a feat. Yet to now leap into the lead could only confirm Qing Tian Taoist’s strength in crushing rivals of the same level.

At the entrance of the Four Seas Refining Shop.

Qingqiu Taoist wore an indifferent expression while the apprentice Artifact Cultivators beside her brimmed with excitement.

If Li Mo continued to perform outstandingly, there might be a chance for the Chaotic Burial Furnace to reclaim Zone 9, significantly boosting its resources.

The Loose Cultivator factions began approaching Qingqiu Taoist.

Regardless of circumstances, barring an unexpected death for Li Mo, ascension to the Inner Sect was practically guaranteed, and achieving Nascent Soul was only a matter of time.

Qingqiu Taoist responded to each approach, her manner devoid of the air of a former Loose Cultivator.

By contrast, the apprentice Artifact Cultivators were somewhat giddy watching the flattering behavior of the Core Formation Loose Cultivators, their expressions plainly jubilant.

After some time, the Mountain Gates arrived at Zone 9’s entrance.

Yet to the observers’ confusion, the gates hovered near the edge and showed no intention of venturing into the Nine-Layered Small World.

At first, people thought the sects were opting to wait and observe.

But as time passed, the Mountain Gates remained suspended against the rock wall, with the fluctuations of spells gradually disappearing.

"Something’s wrong?!!"

A cultivator skilled in Eye Magic cast a spell at the port, their eyes widening in shock.

"Th-Those Artifact Cultivators are missing!!"

Panic rippled through the crowd, and increasingly more cultivators noticed that the Mountain Gates were empty—all the Core Formation cultivators had suddenly vanished.

With tens of thousands of cultivators watching, it was impossible for disciples from multiple sects to have simply walked to Zone 9; it was clear Mother Furnace had intervened.

Traditionally, the Golden Cauldron Sect only began after the Mountain Gates settled in Zone 9 and designated a venue.

But this time seemed unusually hasty, with Mother Furnace abruptly abducting hundreds of Core Formation Artifact Cultivators as soon as the Mountain Gates neared Zone 9.

Elder Zhong’s face grew grim.

Because of the Death Disease afflicting him, the Old Earth True Monarch hadn’t requested his presence at the Mountain Gate, leaving him stationed at the port for extended intervals.

Elder Zhong had overseen more than ten Golden Cauldron Sect cycles yet had never witnessed such an inexplicable event.

Typically, most Core Formation cultivators merely stationed guards at the Mountain Gates without participating directly—but now they had all been drawn into the fray.

Should substantial casualties occur, the Sub-Device Sect could face destabilizing repercussions.

"Let’s hope nothing serious happens."

Elder Zhong sent thought messages to the Old Earth True Monarch but received no reply, hastening back to his shop in anxiety.

He couldn’t fathom what role the Nascent Soul Great Powers might play amidst the sudden chaos, but it was clear that calm days might not lie ahead.

"Wait..."

"The Golden Cauldron Sect explicitly involves the Great Mother. Could it be that the Old Earth True Monarch and others..."

The expressions of senior Artifact Cultivators grew increasingly grave, and across the port, shops began closing one after another, the air heavy with foreboding.

Qingqiu Taoist noticed the brewing undercurrents.

"Let’s hope Li Mo is safe. If worse comes to worst, I must prepare for the worst-case scenario."

She believed the Sub-Device Sect wouldn’t face catastrophic trouble, but the same couldn’t be said for its subsidiary forces. She decided it was necessary to contact Tian Changwen.

"Until the Golden Cauldron Sect concludes, there’s no point in keeping the shop open. I might as well make a trip to the Heart Beast Black Market."

Having made up her mind, Qingqiu Taoist slipped away from the port’s second tier amidst the crowd’s turbulent discussions.

She didn’t leave rashly.

Qingqiu Taoist informed Elder Zhong of her intention to attempt a breakthrough into the Late Teenage stage. After organizing her resources for Rong Town, she dove headlong into a furnace opening based on the mapped coordinates.

......

Li Mo’s head throbbed.

His memories seemed to halt at the moment of approaching Zone 9, after which his body and soul were abruptly extracted from the Chaotic Burial Furnace.

He vaguely recalled experiencing something similar upon entering the Sub-Device Sect for the first time.

Having awakened his Divine Sense ahead of time, his consciousness recovered far faster compared to others of the same level, and soon the pungent stench of rot filled his nostrils.

Simultaneously, he felt an undefinable danger.

Opening his eyes, the scene before him left him shaken.

Corpses lay scattered, resembling an unfathomable lake. Five White Bone Pagodas stood conspicuously within the corpse sea.

The bodies were all mangled Artifact People. Judging from the density with which the corpses were stacked, a rough estimate suggested at least a million, evoking chills in the depths of one’s soul.

Li Mo noticed the corpses were stored within something resembling intestines, clearly indicating he was inside a specific organ of Mother Furnace.

"Could Mother Furnace toss all the unqualified Artifact People here in the end?"

"Hiss."

The Creation Book surged with an influx of information.

In the Sub-Device Sect ten thousand years ago, this area was named [Falling Abyss].

The Falling Abyss was situated at the rear mountain of the Sub-Device Sect and originally a Magic Treasure resembling a Bronze Tripod, used for processing the deceased cultivators who perished at the Outer Heaven Meteorite Crater.

Extended exposure to the Outer Heaven Meteorite Crater caused cultivators to contract strange diseases leading to their deaths and Dao disintegration; these bizarrely infectious diseases threatened nearby sect members.

The Sub-Device Sect collected the bodies into the Falling Abyss, relying on the Magic Treasure to erode each corpse.

"Falling Abyss? Mother Furnace?"

During Li Mo’s brief daze, the rules for the Golden Cauldron Sect set by Mother Furnace embedded themselves in his mind—signaling the competition’s official commencement.

To secure an Inner Sect promotion spot, one merely needed to climb to the summit of the White Bone Pagodas.

Several figures had already rushed towards the pagodas, but Li Mo instead fixated on the corpse piles thoughtfully, his gaze betraying a hint of burning fervor.

"With so many monks and little porridge, the Great Mother will almost certainly interfere in the Golden Cauldron Sect. I might as well search for some ancient Sub-Device Sect corpses. Refining them using the End-of-the-World Dao Seed would be quite a harvest."