Translator: Cinder Translations
---
The more than eighty surviving cultivators gathered in a valley ten miles away from the exit.
Among them were experts at the ninth level of Qi Refining and cautious mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators.
In previous secret realm explorations, this would have been the most intense and dangerous time, with the fiercest battles between cultivators. However, in this exploration, facing a fake second-tier bronze corpse, everyone was forced to cooperate.
"Everyone, there are less than three hours left before the exit closes. If you don't want to be trapped in the secret realm for the next thirty years, we must fight together now!"
"Use all your trump cards. Summon all your puppets and vengeful spirits. Engage the bronze corpse in close combat. Those at the late stage of Qi Refining should use magical tools, and those at the mid-stage should use talismans for support. In short, everyone must give their all."
A disciple of the Blood Fiend Sect stood in the center of the valley and shouted loudly.
A sinister voice replied, "Xue Yao, you make it sound so easy. We eighty-odd cultivators could indeed deal with a fake second-tier bronze corpse, but who can guarantee that no one will use underhanded tactics? I fear that just as we defeat the bronze corpse, someone might sneak attack us from behind, and all our hard work would be for nothing, with our lives at risk."
This remark received agreement from many present, especially from the lower-level mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators.
Their strength was weak, and surviving seven days in the secret realm was a result of their extreme caution. For them, staying away from powerful and unknown cultivators was the highest priority for survival.
Now, they had to fight alongside these powerful cultivators, which gave them little sense of security.
No one could guarantee that no one would act maliciously behind their backs.
Amidst this suspicion, the already difficult gathering of cultivators began to show signs of breaking apart.
Xue Yao shouted, "Do you all want to be trapped in this small secret realm for thirty years? And during these thirty years, will you be able to avoid the bronze corpse and the many beasts hunting you?"
"If we cannot exit the secret realm today, everyone is doomed."
"I, Xue Yao, promise that anyone who fights with me against the enemy, regardless of their strength, will be my ally. As long as we are in this secret realm, I will not attack my allies and will not allow others to attack them without cause."
His words drew many skeptical glances.
Xue Yao was a direct disciple of the Blood Fiend Sect and had attained the perfect Qi Refining realm. His firm promise made many cultivators tempted.
Immediately, more than a dozen Blood Fiend Sect disciples gathered behind Xue Yao, including four experts at the ninth level of Qi Refining.
Seeing this, lower-level disciples from the other two factions also began to move, joining Xue Yao's group.
In the end, half of the cultivators did not join Xue Yao's group. The more than forty who did not join were mostly at the late stage of Qi Refining.
In other words, most of the cultivators who joined Xue Yao's group were weaker and needed to combine their strength to have a chance to break through the bronze corpse's blockade.
Xue Yao looked at the forty cultivators who had joined his group and smiled. He turned to the cultivators who did not want to join the team and said, "I don't care what your plans are, but if anyone dares to act maliciously while we are fighting the bronze corpse, even if I have to remain trapped in this Blood Secret Realm, I will ensure they are eliminated."
With that, Xue Yao led his forty-strong group towards the exit.
Watching the backs of the forty cultivators leaving, the remaining forty or so quickly dispersed, like loose sand, and vanished into the dense forest.
"Senior Brother Xue Yao, are we really going to risk everything against the bronze corpse, allowing those who are hiding to pick up the spoils?"
A disciple of the Blood Fiend Sect walking beside Xue Yao transmitted a message.
Xue Yao remained expressionless and responded via sound transmission.
"It's not that simple. Who said we have to fight the bronze corpse head-on?"
"But if we don't repel the bronze corpse, how can we escape this secret realm?"
"Isn't there this group of cannon fodder? Their only value is to delay the bronze corpse and buy us time to escape."
Xue Yao's gaze swept over the forty people around him with a cold look and continued transmitting, "Send messages to a few familiar senior brothers and sisters, telling them to stay close to me. Once the bronze corpse is distracted, we will charge into the secret realm's exit immediately."
The forty-person team made a grand approach towards the exit of the secret realm, quickly drawing the bronze corpse's attention.
Seeing the large group of cultivators suddenly appear, the bronze corpse at the mountaintop seemed like a hungry wolf spotting a flock of sheep. It charged down the mountain like a fierce tiger.
Xue Yao's expression was calm, and he shouted loudly, "Everyone, prepare. Release the puppets and vengeful spirits to delay the bronze corpse."
In an instant, dozens of puppets and vengeful spirits appeared out of thin air.
The puppets were surrounded by murderous aura, and the vengeful spirits were swirling with ghostly energy, creating a scene of chaos.
Although there were many of these puppets and vengeful spirits, most of them were not very strong.
Firstly, the cultivators who joined Xue Yao's group were not particularly powerful. Secondly, these cultivators had their own agendas, and the puppets and vengeful spirits they released were not their strongest.
Seeing this, Xue Yao said nothing more, instead, a sneer of contempt appeared on his face.
He cursed inwardly, "A motley crew."
These people were not very strong and were full of schemes; they deserved to be cannon fodder!
The bronze corpse charged into the midst of the puppets and vengeful spirits.
In the face of the powerful bronze corpse, these puppets and vengeful spirits were like mantises trying to stop a chariot.
Almost every time the bronze corpse charged, a puppet would be torn apart, and every swipe of its claws would dissipate a vengeful spirit.
A blood-red long sword appeared in front of Xue Yao, with blood-red light flowing along its blade, looking extremely eerie.
"Slash!"
As Xue Yao cast his spell, the blood-red light on the sword flared brightly, and the blade slashed through the puppets.
Along with Xue Yao's sword, four other Qi Refining ninth-level cultivators' magical tools attacked as well.
Faced with the combined assault of five Qi Refining ninth-level cultivators, the bronze corpse did not engage directly. Instead, it grabbed two puppets and threw them aside.
It then leaped high to the left, evading the magical tool attacks.
The two puppets blocked two magical tools.
The bronze corpse dodged left again, avoiding another two magical tools.
Only Xue Yao's long sword managed to slash the bronze corpse's left shoulder.
The bronze corpse staggered but withstood the attack. The long sword cut through its rotting flesh, revealing a glimpse of copper-yellow bone beneath.
Before the bronze corpse could catch its breath, various spells from the cultivators swarmed in.
Fire-based flames, wind-based gales, water-based ice arrows, earth-based boulders, metal-based blades...
The bronze corpse knew these spells were formidable. Its body became a blur of shadows, jumping left and right to dodge the attacks while rapidly closing in on the cultivators.
Some clever individuals in the crowd had already realized something was wrong and quietly moved towards the edges of the group.
"Roar!"
After withstanding numerous spell attacks and having its flesh torn apart in many places, the bronze corpse, enraged and losing its rationality like a frenzied beast, endured the attacks and charged into the crowd of cultivators.
A single swipe of its hand caused the body of a disciple from the Corpse Demon Sect to explode, with blood and flesh flying everywhere.
Xue Yao suddenly let out a loud shout, "Retreat!"
The nearby cultivators from the Blood Fiend Sect quickly scattered, avoiding the rampaging bronze corpse and heading towards the exit.
More cultivators, seeing the situation deteriorate and realizing it was futile, scattered like birds and beasts.
(End of the Chapter)
---
FUN FACT! You can now support me and read advanced chapters of RDC!
Currently up to 183 as of 24Sep24.
Just visit my p atreon: Pa treon.com/CinderTL
If you are content with the free chapters, you can show your appreciation by joining me for as low as $1. You can read this and other series (more coming in the future) on my Pa treon.
AND PLEASE LEAVE SOME REVIEWS, NEED MORE REVIEWS