PCJ – Chapter 430 Corpse Remains

“Does that mean the tomb is no longer dangerous?” He Shouye asked.

“It’s hard to say,” replied Wang Zhenren, shaking his head. “This tomb is a corpse-nurturing site, saturated with heavy Yin energy. Even an ordinary corpse left here for hundreds or thousands of years would turn into a Yin Corpse. If a practitioner of sinister arts trained here, they could become a formidable Corpse King—immortal in body while retaining their consciousness.”

“So, you’re saying it’s possible to achieve immortality this way?” He Shouye’s interest was piqued. After all, who wouldn’t want to live forever?

Bai Daxian shook his head. “Immortality isn’t that easy. Cultivators who take this shortcut pay a steep price. Ninety-nine percent lose their sanity and devolve into mindless Yin Corpses. And while these Yin Corpses are incredibly powerful, the one we encountered earlier was already exceptional. If not for Wang Zhenren’s artifact, none of us would have survived. But if we were to face a true Yin Corpse, even that artifact might not guarantee victory.”

“So, you’re suggesting there might be an even more dangerous entity in the tomb?” He Shouye’s face turned pale. A single ghost-like creature had nearly wiped out his entire group. If there were something even deadlier, survival seemed impossible.

“Perhaps there is, or perhaps there isn’t,” Wang Zhenren said ambiguously.

He Shouye hesitated. Should he continue exploring the tomb or abandon it altogether? Gold has a price, but life is priceless.

“The tomb passages are blocked, aren’t they?” Long Wuyi suddenly interjected. “Even if someone wanted to enter, they’d have to bypass that ghost creature, wouldn’t they?”

The group lit up with realization.

“Exactly! Both entrances to the tomb are sealed by rubble. No one could have entered the tomb since the collapse. According to records, everyone who knew about the tomb perished inside it. Only two generations of our sect’s ancestors knew of its existence, and no one else has made it out alive. How could there be any new Yin Corpses?” Wang Zhenren said excitedly. His previous worries were now entirely dispelled.

He Shouye promptly summoned Sun Lei. “Over the next couple of days, focus on clearing the tomb passages and reinforcing them. Make it look like we rebuilt the passage from scratch. We don’t want anyone to think it’s the original structure. Got it? Later, we can even use it as a film set. I hear that Shang Jiuyuan is lurking around. Who knows when that scoundrel will try to cause trouble?”

Sun Lei nodded. “Boss, if Shang Jiuyuan is such a nuisance, why not take this chance to get rid of him?”

“If it were that simple, do you think I’d have let him live this long? Don’t underestimate him. The man has powerful connections,” He Shouye said, shaking his head.

Over the next few days, workers continuously transported soil from the tomb and dumped it into the bottom of Luoatang Pond, covering it with tarps to keep their activities hidden from prying eyes.

Meanwhile, Fat Cat kept Zhang Jiaohua updated on everything happening inside the tomb, ensuring he remained informed.

At the horticultural farm, Shang Jiuyuan spread out dozens of photos, working with undercover Xintian police officers in the film crew to confirm the identities of six missing individuals.

“These six haven’t been seen in days,” Shang Jiuyuan said grimly. “They must be the ones Jiaohua mentioned. However, their bodies have likely been completely destroyed. In the meantime, keep a close eye on everything happening inside, but prioritize your safety. These tomb raiders aren’t your typical criminals—they’re ruthless and dangerous. I don’t want any unnecessary sacrifices.”

“Don’t worry, Comrade Shang. We’ll stay safe,” assured one officer.

“The Xintian police aren’t afraid of death,” another chimed in.

“That’s not the point,” Shang Jiuyuan said. “We have everything under control right now, and I don’t want to see any avoidable casualties. Also, make sure to protect Jiaohua. He’s the key to solving this case. We need him to provide critical information, and we can’t let anything happen to him.”

“Rest assured, Comrade Shang. We’d give our lives to ensure his safety,” said another officer.

Shang Jiuyuan had meticulously prepared for this operation, using advanced technology to track He Shouye’s team. Every member of the gang was under close surveillance, and their every move was monitored.

Ironically, while He Shouye’s crew used the film crew as a cover, the police did the same.

After more than ten days of excavation, the collapse proved more severe than anticipated. Clearing the debris was a slow and painstaking process, but this reassured He Shouye.

“At least we don’t have to worry about an even deadlier creature lurking in the tomb,” he said, visibly relieved. He was willing to wait as long as it took to access the tomb safely.

It was then that Sun Lei rushed in with news.

“Fourth Master, we’ve found a large number of skeletons inside,” Sun Lei reported. “Just as Wang Zhenren predicted, they seem to be the remains of those who died in the cave long ago. We also found small amounts of gold and silver on them—likely treasures they had hidden on their persons.”

“Keep an eye on everyone,” He Shouye ordered, elated by the discovery. “No one is to keep anything for themselves. If they had gold and silver on them, that means the tomb must hold even greater treasures. But I’m more interested in the rare artifacts hidden inside. That’s where the real value lies.”

“Don’t worry, Fourth Master. If anyone dares to pocket anything, I’ll make sure they regret it,” Sun Lei said firmly.

“I trust you, Sun Lei,” He Shouye replied with a nod.

“But these people died horribly. None of the skeletons are intact—they all suffered severe damage. Judging from their belongings, they weren’t ordinary people. Their deaths show just how fearsome the ghost creature must have been. It feels like the one we encountered wasn’t nearly as powerful,” Sun Lei added, voicing his doubts.

“Didn’t Wang Zhenren say that the ghost creature weakened significantly after leaving the corpse-nurturing pit? It was badly injured, and over the years, its strength has declined even further. Otherwise, how could the rubble have kept it contained?” He Shouye laughed.

Eventually, He Shouye’s team unearthed dozens of mangled skeletons, each bearing signs of violent, traumatic deaths. The grim discovery served as a haunting reminder of the tomb’s deadly past.