Chapter 74 The First General

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A roar echoed within the secret chamber as the yin energy boiled, and the battle corpse, once known as Ironman Butcher, struggled madly. As Jiang Chen pressed the Corpse Control Seal upon it, the battle corpse seemed to sense something; the frenzy and bloodlust ingrained in its very bones erupted in full, instinctively lashing back.

Through the connection of the Corpse Control Seal, Jiang Chen could clearly feel the corpse’s bloodthirst and madness, prompting a muffled grunt from his lips.

“Truly a born fiend, but if there’s one thing I fear least, it’s ferocity.”

Unleashing his formidable soul power, laced with a chilling murderous intent, Jiang Chen pressed down upon the spirit of the battle corpse through the Corpse Control Seal, intent on subduing it by force.

A surge of murderous will exploded; mighty soul force descended oppressively. The battle corpse’s spirit was immediately wracked with unbearable agony, the cold killing intent slicing through it like a blade, threatening to execute it by a thousand cuts.

Yet the fiendish nature did not wane; tormented, the battle corpse continued to roar and resist.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen wasted no words. He exerted his soul power again and again. After several rounds, the struggle of the battle corpse grew weaker, until at last it fell completely still. Seizing the moment, the Corpse Control Seal took root in the very soul of the battle corpse.

Witnessing this, Jiang Chen finally breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

The soft fear the hard, the hard fear the reckless, and the reckless fear those who care nothing for life. Against fiends such as this, only fiercer ruthlessness prevails. Relying on clever tricks may suffice in the short term, but in the long run, hidden dangers may arise.

“All your life you sought the immortal path and failed. Follow me, and I shall show you the sights along the way.”

His gaze lingered on the battle corpse’s face, and thinking of Ironman Butcher, Jiang Chen shook his head.

Having searched the soul of the Corpse Daoist, he now understood Ironman Butcher’s past with some clarity. The man’s desire to seek immortality had been unwavering, but fate had played its cruel hand—his martial bones prevented him from stepping onto the path of cultivation in life, only allowing him to do so upon transformation into yin bones.

What he could not attain in life, he achieved in death. Such is the caprice of destiny.

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“The essence of the spiritual aperture is as a bridge between heaven and earth, allowing one’s inner world to commune with the greater cosmos. Yin bones can serve a similar purpose, functioning as a heaven-earth bridge. In terms of efficiency, they are roughly equivalent to a mid-grade spiritual aperture, but can only draw in yin energy. This is both a limitation and, in a sense, an advantage.”

“Beings with such a constitution find it easier to cultivate yin-based arts, much like those with special spiritual bodies. Of course, in terms of profundity, yin bones cannot compare to those unique bodies.”

Various thoughts flashed through Jiang Chen’s mind. After a brief sigh, he began experimenting with the control of the battle corpse, further practicing the Corpse Control Art.

Of the inheritance left by the Corpse Daoist, what Jiang Chen valued most were the Yin Spirit Eye and the Corpse Control Art. The former was a rare spiritual eye technique—once mastered, it allowed one to perceive energies, sense concentrations of yin, and even pierce through others’ cultivation to some extent. It was particularly useful for seeking out yin-rich lands and spiritual treasures.

The latter was a method specifically for controlling zombies, a rare art that touched upon the power of the soul. Though it was merely an application technique and not a method for cultivating the soul itself, it still provided Jiang Chen with valuable insight.

He had suffered greatly developing his own soul abilities, pouring much effort into creating four techniques: Soul Reflection, Bewitching Soul, Eye of Killing, and Spirit Infusion. If, back then, he’d had a reference like the Corpse Control Art, the process would have been much simpler. The first step is always the hardest.

A roar—now docile as a lamb, the battle corpse stepped out of the chamber under Jiang Chen’s command. By then, the oppressive gloom outside had completely dissipated; golden sunlight bathed the summit of Muyu.

Bathed in sunlight, the battle corpse was visibly uncomfortable, but still did not defy Jiang Chen’s orders.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen nodded quietly. Then, on the practice field, he personally sparred with the battle corpse to assess its strength.

“Mid-grade yin energy, Yin Spirit Armor, Corpse Fire, and the especially unique Four-Armed Vajra Technique—though freshly made, this battle corpse is certainly formidable.”

“In a direct confrontation, the Corpse Daoist would not be its match. As for Lu Chenzhou, it would not be easy for the battle corpse to bring him down. From my previous encounters with him, his cultivation may not be high, but his combat techniques are quite impressive—already forming a cohesive system.”

“The battle corpse, though physically powerful, still has overly simplistic tactics, making it easy to counter.”

After the fight, as he looked at the battered but fundamentally unharmed battle corpse, Jiang Chen now had an accurate measure of its abilities.

All in all, at this stage, it was an excellent asset—one well worth employing. Meanwhile, off to the side, Mouse Supreme, who had watched the entire fight, felt a sudden, urgent sense of danger as he gazed at the towering, bear-like battle corpse. It seemed his place as his master’s chief warrior was now in jeopardy.

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Chittering and grinding his teeth, Mouse Supreme made a silent vow to train even harder—the one who stood at his master’s side would be him, and him alone.

Jiang Chen observed these changes in silence, a glimmer of dark light flickering in his eyes. Born of hardship, destroyed by comfort—only with competition comes motivation. This was not a bad thing. To speak frankly, he still held certain expectations for Mouse Supreme.

However, at Jiang Chen’s pace of cultivation, if Mouse Supreme did not apply himself diligently, he would soon become obsolete.

“Mouse Supreme already possesses a beast bloodline, though its exact origin remains unknown. Judging by its performance, it is even stronger than the Savage-Horn Wolf’s bloodline. Perhaps it’s time to advance the bloodline purification plan.”

“In the White Crane Daoist’s Secret Record of Crane Rearing, there are similar secret arts that might be applied to the mouse clan as well.”

Ripples stirred in his heart as the thought flashed through Jiang Chen’s mind. Skin-Shedding Art held significant status in the lineage of the Minor Formless Sutra. The Sect of Impermanence had naturally delved into the study of beasts, with bloodline purification being one aspect, and several corresponding secret arts.

The only pity was that, in the end, White Crane Daoist was but a wandering disciple—scarcely a true member of the Sect of Impermanence—so the inheritance he possessed was extremely limited.

Just as this thought crossed Jiang Chen’s mind, Mouse Supreme, brimming with ambition, suddenly shivered.

Chittering nervously, Mouse Supreme shot a wary glance at the battle corpse. Could that brute be plotting to eliminate its greatest rival? It had recently read a story with just such a villain.

But staring at the expressionless, slow-witted battle corpse, Mouse Supreme grew doubtful. This fool didn’t seem clever enough for such schemes. But if not him, then who? Surely not his beloved master—it simply made no sense.

Chittering and second-guessing himself, Mouse Supreme finally decided he was just being paranoid. The more he trained, the more he noticed these odd, inexplicable sensations.