CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: FALL

At this moment, the Elite Team had already broken through the Corpse horde, and the horde chose not to pursue, instead flocking towards the Corpse King.

Ji Nanhong believed that the opportunity to kill the Corpse King depended on their ability to besiege the Corpse King, rather than being besieged by the horde.

"Quick battle, before the horde encircles us. If we can’t take down the Corpse King, then let fate decide," Ji Nanhong said, swinging her Bone Whip and charging ahead.

Qin Ziyu didn’t dare to lag behind, coordinating with Ji Nanhong to assault the Corpse King. Yan Zhi Rabbit also unleashed its terrifying battle power, blocking the Corpse King’s Human Bone Staff.

Only Chen Guan was observing the battle from a distance, simultaneously watching the horde’s movements.

"The fewer who know about the ’Epang Scripture’, the better. Although Ji Nanhong is formidable, she’s not indispensable. Since we know the Corpse King’s weakness, we can take it down once she retreats, and later support Qin Ziyu," Chen Guan thought to himself.

But things didn’t unfold as Chen Guan had anticipated. When Ji Nanhong, Qin Ziyu, and Yan Zhi coordinated, they found an opportunity. Qin Ziyu’s sword tip flared with Sword Aura, severing the Corpse King’s spine, splitting it into two and significantly weakening it.

With the two parts separated, Yan Zhi Rabbit swung down on one of the Corpse King’s arms, its blade sinking half an inch into bone.

Though the Corpse King’s body was still resilient, it was no longer as invulnerable as before.

Everyone was overjoyed, and Ji Nanhong hurriedly charged forward, eager to finish off the Corpse King, even if they could only take down one part.

Chen Guan also moved towards their direction, fearing he might be surrounded by the horde alone.

After splitting, the Corpse King turned and fled, an unexpected move that caught everyone off guard, as they watched it leap into a dark crevice, too late to catch.

Ji Nanhong lashed her whip, trying to stop one part of the Corpse King, but it missed. Helplessly, she turned to face the tide-like surge of the horde.

"I’ll clear the way ahead, follow on your own. Whether you can break through depends on your fate," Ji Nanhong said, preparing to confront the horde.

But suddenly, from behind something appeared, entwining her body and lifting her into the air, hurling her towards the crevice.

Almost simultaneously, a similar thing from the crevice ensnared Chen Guan, pulling him into the crevice.

Qin Ziyu reacted, wanting to slash that thing with his sword, but it was too late. He could only watch as Chen Guan and Ji Nanhong fell into the crevice.

With a thought, Chen Guan fused with Yan Zhi, leaping up and transforming into countless blood-red particles that merged into his body.

Chen Guan felt himself plummeting continuously, unable to tell how far he had fallen, enveloped in total darkness.

Desperately trying to discern anything, he could see nothing, reaching out blindly, grasping at nothing.

The thing that pulled him down was no longer on him, and he had no idea what it was.

Gradually adapting to the darkness, Chen Guan noticed a faint light below, as weak as moonlight on a cloudy day, at the end of the blackness.

"Water... there’s water below..." The despairing Chen Guan’s heart was suddenly filled with hope; the faint light indicated a water source.

Falling from such a height was almost certain death, but if there was water below, there might be a slim chance of survival.

But even if there was water, hitting it from such a height would be as bad as hitting concrete.

A normal human falling from a ten-meter platform could die if entering the water incorrectly, let alone from this height.

Even though a cultivator’s body is far tougher than a normal human’s, it wouldn’t withstand such impact, especially since Chen Guan’s cultivation level wasn’t very high.

With a thought, Chen Guan swallowed a Spiritual Energy Capsule and summoned Yan Zhi, sending it ahead to the water source.

Yan Zhi’s body was stronger than humans of the same level, not easily killed. If it first broke the water’s surface, maybe Chen Guan might survive.

The Spiritual Energy Capsule dissolved within Chen Guan, its magma-like Primordial Energy surging through him, infusing his body with heated strength.

Boom!

Yan Zhi’s body crashed into the water, followed closely by Chen Guan, headfirst into the depths.

Almost simultaneously, a splash erupted nearby, likely Ji Nanhong falling into the water too.

Chen Guan initially worried it might be too shallow, which was partly why Yan Zhi went first. If it was shallow, Yan Zhi’s body could cushion the impact, perhaps providing a slim chance of survival.

Fortunately, the water was deep enough; Chen Guan went several meters underwater before hitting Yan Zhi, and still not reaching the bottom - the water absorbed most of the impact.

Maybe because Yan Zhi broke the surface first and the capsule’s support, Chen Guan felt okay aside from faint ankle pain, whereas Yan Zhi seemed injured and floundered, unable to swim.

Chen Guan quickly recalled Yan Zhi, surfaced, looked around, and saw rocks some thirty meters away, swimming towards them.

Just a few meters in, he spotted Ji Nanhong floating, clearly unconscious - whether knocked out or drowned, he couldn’t tell.

Chen Guan pulled Ji Nanhong towards the rocks. Surrounded by darkness, the water’s base glowed faintly from multicolored corals covering the floor.

The water was clear but too deep, with only a little light penetrating, creating a dreamy, magical underwater world reminiscent of a fairy tale.

Chen Guan reached the rocks, pausing to check the area for Secret Spirits, finding none on or near the rock. Farther out was too dark to see.

Resolutely, Chen Guan released Warring States to guard the rock, ensuring it was safe before climbing up and dragging the unconscious Ji Nanhong up.

The rock protruded above the water by several square meters, surrounded by the water source; had they landed there, all hope might have been lost.

Chen Guan checked Ji Nanhong, finding her upper body fine but both ankles swollen like large buns, unsure if they were dislocated or broken.

It seemed Ji Nanhong had entered the water like him, but without Yan Zhi breaking the surface, she ended like this.

Without delay, Chen Guan noticed signs of her aspirating and promptly performed first aid to awaken her.

Soon, water gushed from Ji Nanhong’s mouth, her heart reacting, and she awakened, coughing violently.