Chapter 67: Reversal of Yin and Yang (1/2)

It wasn’t surprising that there were corpsefish in the Dusk River. It was a strange, yin river originating from that ancient, beyond-emperor-level tomb at the center of Dusk Province. It was only natural that there would be zombies and other monsters born of the energy and unresolved grievances.

The giant corpsefish didn’t surface, nor did its white tentacles form any trapping formations, which wouldn’t work on the Path of Ingress anyway.

However, the creature itself was so incredibly large—more so than the corpsefish in the burial mound—that it could physically grab hold of the path and slowly drag it into the water with the help of the feng shui layout of one potential.

“What do we do now?” Qi Shenghui panicked. They would be dead if they were dragged into the river along with the path. But if they left the treasure’s range of effect, they might fall victim to the strange formation on the riverbank. One careless move would get them killed either way.

“Impossible!” The old man in red robe paled. “What manner of monster is this? How can it possibly counter the Path of Ingress? The treasure’s power has been boosted tenfold!”

The bodies had stopped climbing ashore and floated about in the river instead, their empty eyes silently staring at the six of them.

“It’s a corpsefish,” said Situ Yun, his eyes filled with fear. “A thousand years ago, I was a general of the Sirius Battalion. My comrades and I travelled to this province to quell the unrest of the Dusk tomb, where I saw a fish monster with a human face. This one remains underwater, but it must be the same monster I encountered back then!

“I recognize these tentacles! General Xu Dingchi of the Sirius Battalion, a golden immortal, was torn to pieces and eaten by such a monster!”

A thousand years ago, at the beginning of the unrest from the Dusk tomb, there had been no restrictions against high-level immortals. Nephrite Major once sent reinforcements of thirty-six golden immortals with a million soldiers under their command.

All of them had died in battle, along with the then governor of Dusk Province.

Legend had it that the terrors from the tomb had feasted upon the immortals, so Dusk Province became a forbidden ground for high-level immortals. Like all tales, it wasn’t entirely accurate, as what had devoured the thirty-six immortals weren’t the terrors, but several giant corpsefish!

The terrors were only responsible for killing the dao immortals.

Situ Yun was reminded of his terrible past by the swarm of white tentacles.

“Take out another formation stone and follow my instructions! Quickly!” Lu Yun turned to yell at the old man in red when the Path of Ingress was mostly submerged in the river.

“Follow your instructions?” Qi Shenghui snapped before the old man could respond. “A qi transformation cultivator like you needs to get out of the way! Qing Han, get into the river and kill the corpsefish! Its tentacles may be powerful, but the monster itself is weak!”

He had recognized the creature by now as well. The calamity of a thousand years ago had shaken all of Nephrite Major. The corpsefish and other unnatural things that’d emerged in Dusk Province were all noted in the imperial record.

Qi Shenghui had done his homework before coming to Dusk River for the Formation Orb and knew what creatures might appear in the river. That was why he’d brought a formation master with him and Situ Yun, who’d fought here before.

He’d failed to recognize the monster at first, because it hadn’t surfaced above the river. Only Qing Han, Situ Yun, and Lu Yun, those who’d seen such a monster before with their own eyes, had recognized it immediately.

“That won’t do!” the old man boomed with a frown, taking out a formation stone. “There’s a defensive formation of corpses within the water. Not even a golden immortal can hurt the corpsefish under these circumstances. We must do as the Dusk governor says.”

Qi Shenghui’s expression darkened after being refuted yet again by the old man. The old man might be highly regarded, but the eunuch was in charge of the mission. He stared at the governor and his two companions, his eyes shining with unbridled murderous intent.

Lu Yun had no time for consideration of Qi Shenghui’s ego. He babbled out instructions, drawing on knowledge of formations he’d learned from Feinie’s memories. Five thousand years ago, she’d been hailed as Formation King. It was a cocksure title that not only showed her confidence, but also her status in the dao of formations.

“What an intricate amplification formation; it can amplify the power of the Path of Ingress by a hundred times!” Shock flashed through the old man’s eyes. He’d never seen such a formation. There weren’t many strokes, but the formation was unusually complicated and delicate. By the time he finished, he was panting and drenched with sweat.

“I set up the formation under his guidance, but can’t remember how I did it at all,” muttered the old man. He looked at Lu Yun like he was seeing the young man for the first time.

The corpsefish was still dragging the treasure replica under with all it had. They were less than three feet from the river! Black water dampened their shoes and they would fall into the river in about a dozen breaths.

“Activate the formation!” snapped Lu Yun, breaking the old man out of his trance.

The old man hurriedly bit his tongue and spat a mouthful of blood essence on the formation. “Activate!” he yelled.

Rumble.

Like a dragon jerking awake from its slumber, a great tremor spread through the Path of Ingress, sending out shockwaves that broke the tentacles that were clinging to it.

The river was roiling and frothing as dead bodies pointlessly struggled in the currents, unable to climb onto the bank. Amplified by a hundred times, the treasure had managed to suppress the formation of one potential.