Vol 5 Chapter 79: Catastrophe from the Heavens

Lin Jing examined this Corpse Beast Demon Venerable before him. In his recollection of the cultivation world, no such figure existed. Scanning with his divine consciousness, Lin Jing confirmed the opponent's state—this was clearly a living corpse created by the Heaven Refining Demon Ancestor. While the physical body and primordial spirit appeared unified, they carried an awkward dissonance, clearly not the original vessel.

Yet in terms of spiritual power density, this being indeed rivaled a Void Mystical Stage peak cultivator. If the Heaven Refining Demon Ancestor could mass-produce such subordinates, no wonder various factions found them troublesome.

"The prey delivers itself to my door!" The Corpse Beast Demon Venerable's eyes turned bloodshot upon seeing Lin Jing. With a mad laugh, he leaped forward, corpse claws outstretched.

"Holy Son, be careful!" Huan Li reacted instantly, abandoning the protective array's safety zone to assist Lin Jing.

But Lin Jing needed no help. With a casual wave, ripples in space revealed a patched-together celestial ox carcass that charged violently toward the demonic foe.

"What is this?!" The Corpse Beast Demon Venerable's eyebrows shot up as his claws struck the ox. With a thunderous "moo," the collision sent the demon flying backward, spitting blood, while the ox carcass staggered several steps, its already damaged body worsening.

"Patchwork repairs can only last so long. Even an immortal beast, once dead, lacks the self-healing of living spirit beasts." Lin Jing shook his head. He'd need to upgrade his corpse-stitching techniques from the Corpse Emperor later...

"I'll kill you!!" The enraged demon roared after being sent flying, revealing his critical weakness—while possessing Void Mystical Stage peak power, he completely lacked the spatial mastery expected of such cultivators.

Compared to the demonic assassin Lin Jing encountered in the Origin Realm who had seized a Nascent Soul Transformation body, or even Sheng Kun's spatial abilities, this Corpse Beast Demon Venerable fell far short. He failed to notice a peak Nascent Soul Transformation squirrel appearing behind him, poised to strike.

"Squeak. (Freeze.)" A chill ran down the demon's neck as he instinctively turned.

Crack.

The Pine Leaf Mouse fired its demon core through a bamboo spear, obliterating the demon's head in one shot. Yet headless, the demon remained functional, his headless body raging: "Quit gawking! Repair me, damn it!"

His command went to the endless corpse beasts around them. One after another, the corpses spontaneously combusted, their flames forming a sacrificial ritual.

Watching this, Lin Jing frowned. "Scram."

His single command made the mountainous corpse beasts freeze before scattering in panic, interrupting the demon's secret technique. His half-regenerated head twisted in fury.

"I want him alive—"

By this point, Lin Jing had lost interest in personally dealing with this flawed creation—a monster with power but no corresponding cultivation insight, only capable of bullying newly advanced cultivators equally lacking in understanding.

Turning away, the Pine Leaf Mouse gave an "OK" gesture before summoning endless vines to entangle the demon, while the celestial ox carcass rejoined the fray.

"Long time no see." Landing on Thousand Illusions Mountain, Lin Jing addressed the shocked Huan Li. "Where are Divine Pine and the others?"

"Wait—you're just leaving him?!" Huan Li stared at the demon still battling the ox and mouse, unable to share Lin Jing's nonchalance.

"A mere puppet can't handle them." Lin Jing smiled. "This ox was originally an immortal beast corpse collected by the Yin Household Sect. Though it's deteriorated under my... less-than-careful usage, it's more than capable against an inferior puppet."

His casual confidence made Huan Li's mind reel.

"Divine Pine retreated into the Misty Forests. The Refining Dao Sect remains obsessed with the Longevity Body—the Heaven Refining Demon Ancestor personally visited Immortal Prison Mountain. Fortunately, Divine Pine relocated us beforehand."

"I passed the Misty Forests but missed them." Lin Jing examined the mountain's protective arrays pensively. "Seems Divine Pine has broken through to the Seeking the Way stage."

"What? When?!" Huan Li looked utterly confused—she'd been by Divine Pine's side constantly!

"Typical of him to keep such things hidden. He deceived the Beast Master Sect for years too—that old fox is endlessly cautious." Lin Jing chuckled. A Seeking the Way plant spirit hiding in Misty Forests would indeed be hard to find. While the Heaven Refining Demon Ancestor was powerful, Mo Pine was no pushover either—a veteran demon in his own right.

"Holy Son Lin—" Master Platycodon flew up from below, clasping her hands respectfully. Lin Jing recognized her—during his wandering alchemist persona, she'd informed him about the Qingzhou Alchemy Conference and provided his entry pass.

Years later, she'd become a sixth-grade alchemist—impressive talent.

"This is my prototype pill for purifying corpse poison, but it's incomplete. Given Your Excellency's alchemical mastery, perhaps you could refine it. A perfected version could restore all corpse beasts in Senluo Path."

"My thanks, Master Platycodon." These demonic beasts originally belonged to either the Beast Sect or Demon Court—as their Holy Son, Lin Jing bore responsibility. Accepting the pill, he addressed the void: "Dragon Carp, can you fully purify these creatures?"

"ROAR!!" The fire cloud where the dragon awaited Lin Jing's expected "refine all corpses into pills" order instead received a mercy mission. Scratching its head, the task proved simple enough. Sniffing the pill, comprehension dawned.

Moments later, it spewed purifying immortal flames across Senluo Path like meteor showers. Corpse beasts ignited with sizzling sounds as toxins burned away, their original forms gradually restored. The dazed creatures looked around in confusion while Master Platycodon gaped at the dragon's divine display.

"Your Excellency... has this fire dragon become... an immortal beast?!"

Lin Jing shook his head. "Not quite. But soon. Very soon."

Soon?! As cleansing fire rains purified the land, the Corpse Beast Demon Venerable spat blood in despair, creating openings exploited by the mouse and ox. Yet suddenly, the demon's eyes lit up with mad glee.

"The master comes! The master approaches Qingzhou! You're doomed!! Master! Save me!!"

Only one being warranted such a title. Lin Jing's group tensed for imminent danger.

Yet moments later, the demon fell silent, realizing the approaching aura wasn't heading his way at all. "Master? I'm here! Where are you going?!" His pleas went unanswered—such puppets' survival meant nothing to the Heaven Refining Demon Ancestor. Qingzhou's purpose lay elsewhere.

Tongtian City, Tongtian Tower.

The Heaven Refining Demon Ancestor's descent threw the city into chaos. The Tower Master broke into cold sweat while the divine pill's spirit trembled so violently it shed flakes. Why would this demon bypass the Ancient Emperor and Demon Empress to target the Tower?!

"It's over—he's definitely here for me!" The pill spirit had no illusions. "Old man, you're outmatched—call reinforcements!"