Chapter 211: Fist the Size of a Clay Pot

The massive monk corpse was still recovering, but Da Bao had already moved first, embroiled in battle with the skin-hides.

Though Da Bao held the upper hand, tearing off large chunks of skin with a single claw, the number of skin-hides was truly excessive.

Fortunately, his efficiency was high—he kept every scrap of skin from approaching Chu Danqing.

Yue Lan Wu Ying had no chance to act.

Instead, Zhong Ting’s expression grew anxious.

Why didn’t Chu Danqing release the malevolent entity from his shadow to destroy this corpse demon? Why go through all this trouble?

The monk corpse’s recovery did require time, but Chu Danqing couldn’t afford to drag this out any longer.

If he kicked again with that one-legged strike, he’d surely break his bone.

Then he’d have no means of self-defense.

Trying to escape the Cangmang Guling on a broken leg was pure fantasy.

“Young Master Chu, quickly order the malevolent entity in your shadow to break open an exit—this monk corpse won’t hold out much longer,” Zhong Ting urged, seeing the situation.

He never intended to kill the corpse demon; his only goal was to flee as quickly as possible.

“Are you in such a hurry, Master Zhong?” Chu Danqing thought Zhong Ting had an urgent matter, but then noticed Da Bao had cleared away the last of the skin-hides.

Only then did he signal Da Bao to attack the monk corpse.

Da Bao charged forward obediently; though the monk corpse was far larger, it clearly was just an empty shell.

In his mind, he set up an equation: Zhong Ting could crush the monk corpse’s head, and he could kill Zhong Ting, so logically, he could kill the monk corpse too.

The logic wasn’t rigorous, but theoretically, it was feasible.

For instance, by activating his Killing Form.

“Scenario monsters really are troublesome,” Chu Danqing scanned the surroundings as Da Bao slammed straight into the monk corpse.

Claws plus impact shattered the still-recovering monk corpse outright.

“Little Chu, kill, not dead,” Da Bao returned promptly to Chu Danqing’s side after smashing the corpse.

It wasn’t that he gave up—it was that the pieces of skin he’d torn apart were slowly regenerating.

Chu Danqing noticed this too, but he realized it wasn’t true immortality—it was repair.

Like fixing a damaged puppet.

“It’s possible, but your power is still insufficient,” Chu Danqing said, and Yue Lan Wu Ying moved.

The totem pole planted itself into the ground, four elements swirling around it, releasing the suppressed aura and pressure.

Blood veins surfaced across the black gauze-like network—its structure could not withstand the pressure.

Among all Chu Danqing’s temporary summons, Yue Lan Wu Ying gained the most.

Other summons could only benefit from buffs, but Yue Lan Wu Ying was different—it inherited the quantity and rank of Chu Danqing’s basic and mastery skills.

[Element Summoning Mastery LV.3]

[Element Language Mastery LV.3]

[Element Manipulation Mastery LV.3] (new)

[Element Affinity Mastery LV.3] (new)

[Melee Mastery LV.3] (new)

[Fist Art Mastery LV.3]

With six basic skills and six mastery skills, even the Son of Heaven and Yue Lan Wu Ying would think twice before acting.

Yue Lan Wu Ying only suffered because it lacked inherited skills and inferior origins; otherwise, with six basic and six mastery skills, even the Son of Heaven wouldn’t stand a chance.

Coupled with Chu Danqing’s various buffs, the elemental fist, amplified by the King’s Contempt aura, slammed into the gauze-like network covering the Golden Dragon Temple.

A massive hole tore through the gauze, spilling out torrents of bloody filth.

The remaining network withered; the regeneration of skin-hides and monk corpse slowed, then ceased entirely.

The skin-hides withered; the monk corpse scattered completely, no longer defying physics by reassembling as before.

“Not dead yet,” Chu Danqing said.

He hadn’t even received his reward—how could it be considered dead?

Yue Lan Wu Ying turned, its gaze fixed on the Buddha statue seated in the Great Hero Hall.

An elemental surge slammed into the hall, using the rebound to leap toward the Buddha’s head.

A fist the size of a clay pot struck the Buddha’s skull, shattering it instantly.

The statue cracked from the head downward, spewing forth rotting flesh and bones.

Clearly, someone had deliberately stuffed countless corpses inside to form the Buddha’s internal flesh, turning the Golden Dragon Temple into a corpse demon.

[Quest Completed: You received 2000 Paradise Points, +2 Attribute Points]

With the battle over, a chest emerged from the center of the Great Hero Hall, now filled with bloody filth.

Chu Danqing recognized the chest’s appearance—he’d never seen it before.

He’d only seen Common, Excellent, and Fate chests.

Fate chests varied in form depending on the target.

So this must be a Fine chest.

Only C-rank or higher quests dropped Fine chests; lower ones yielded only Excellent chests.

Yue Lan Wu Ying brought it back and handed it to Chu Danqing.

Beside him, Zhong Ting watched the corpse demon die, his eyes revealing three parts shock, three parts confusion, three parts doubt, and one part a complex blend of all three.

He finally understood why Chu Danqing had stood so calmly.

Chu Danqing noticed Zhong Ting’s expression—he’d never seen such clearly discernible emotion before.

[No wonder he’s a Mastery-level Commander—I can actually read his expression,] Chu Danqing thought, startled.

He hadn’t possessed this ability before, but now that he had Mastery-level Command, his ability to read expressions had improved dramatically.

“Young Master Chu, your guard is truly extraordinary.”

“No wonder you dared to enter Yuanping Wang’s tomb alone,” Zhong Ting realized his lapse, quickly composing himself, then smiling.

“It’s nothing, really,” Chu Danqing replied politely.

He wouldn’t take the compliment at face value—even if it was offered.

Arrogance at the peak of success Zuirongyi leaks secrets.

“This place isn’t safe to linger. Let’s leave quickly,” Zhong Ting, sensing Chu Danqing’s thoughts, changed the subject.

The Golden Dragon Temple reeked terribly from the corpse demon.

And night was falling—they needed shelter fast; they absolutely could not spend the night in the wilds of Cangmang Guling.

This taboo had been told to him by his senior uncle.

Though his senior uncle offered no help regarding the Golden Dragon Temple, he’d been reliable in every other aspect.

“My senior uncle once said, about two li from the Golden Dragon Temple, there’s a mountain cave.”

“He spent the night there before; the sky isn’t fully dark yet—we still have time to reach it,” Zhong Ting said.

His senior uncle had certainly needed to spend the night last time.

He’d sensed something wrong with the Golden Dragon Temple, so he didn’t stay, but found a safer spot nearby.

Chu Danqing naturally nodded in agreement.

As the saying goes: listen to advice, eat well. Zhong Ting and he were at least on the same rope, tied together as locusts.

Zhong Ting was unlikely to stab him in the back.

Zhong Ting first confirmed the direction, then led Chu Danqing onward.

As dusk faded, the temperature dropped; the wind carried an eerie chill.

Certain dormant malevolent entities grew active as night approached.

Zhong Ting grew impatient, increasing his pace by a third.

Fortunately, before full darkness fell, they reached the mountain cave.

“My senior uncle really knows how to secure a safe place,” Zhong Ting sighed in relief.

Chu Danqing took out fuel and a warming stove to light a fire.

The temperature difference between day and night was at least twenty degrees.

Beyond geography, supernatural factors likely accounted for most of it.

With light and heat dispelling darkness and cold, Zhong Ting visibly relaxed.

Chu Danqing took out some food and began cooking.

Even if he didn’t eat, Zhong Ting and Da Bao needed nourishment.

While cooking, Chu Danqing opened two Excellent chests and one Fine chest.

[You opened: Chest (Excellent), received: Blood Mud, 500 Paradise Points]

[You opened: Chest (Excellent), received: Corpse Insect Fluid, 900 Paradise Points]

[You opened: Chest (Fine), received: Corpse Monk’s Relic, 2600 Paradise Points]

Chu Danqing’s face turned green.

All three were materials—the first two for making potions and food; the Fine-level Corpse Monk’s Relic was slightly better, usable for gear or items.

Chu Danqing glanced once and tossed them into his storage space.

If he had any undead or yin-spirit summons, they’d be quite useful.

For example, blending them into resources for cultivation.

Still, he wouldn’t have trouble selling them—many apostles raised corpses and spirits.

Of course, even apostles with bloodlines or races related to undead knights or skeleton mages will purchase them.

They usually use them themselves.

The Paradise’s population is large and divided into regions, but the Apostles’ Square’s search function covers the entire area.

Apostles from other regions of the same rank can come over—it’s not disconnected.

After all, if high-rank apostles can reach low-rank regions by paying a price, then same-rank travel is naturally unrestricted.

“What’s wrong?” Zhong Ting asked, noticing Chu Danqing’s strange expression as he cooked.

“Nothing. I just think the mortal world isn’t worth it.” Chu Danqing sighed.

At least give me some decent gear—what is all this trash?

But then again, the items from chests in this trial world are probably all horrifying.

From the Jade Han Chan before to these blood-mud, death-worm fluid, and corpse-Buddha relics, all have heavy usage restrictions.

“Huh?” Zhong Ting was confused. Just a moment ago he was fine—why suddenly not worth it?

“Eat.” Chu Danqing had no intention of explaining further to Zhong Ting; he scooped a bowl of food from the pot and handed it to him.

Then he handed over the entire pot and spoon to Da Bao.

Zhong Ting gets one bowl—Da Bao eats a whole pot, which makes sense given his appetite.

Chu Danqing didn’t cook plain broth—his big bowl had meat, vegetables, and rice.

Even a laborer doing hard physical work would be full from it.

What they call a “bowl” is really a large basin.

(End of chapter)