A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Chapter 50: Chapter 49: Terrifying Bone Demon

Suddenly, Lü Zhong noticed something was wrong.

He focused his gaze on the center of the sea of bones and was startled to see a ”spring” gushing with Yin Qi.

”A Yin Qi Spring!”

If Coffin Mushrooms truly grew in this mass grave, the most likely place to find them would be beneath this Yin Qi Spring.

Li Dong followed his line of sight and also saw the ”spring” gushing with gray energy.

He froze for a moment, then his face was filled with immense, pleasant surprise.

”This is great, Fellow Daoist Lü... what do you think?”

Li Dong had unconsciously begun to rely on Lü Zhong, who was the stronger of the two. He had even started asking for his opinion.

”Let’s observe first,” Lü Zhong said in a low voice.

The scene from just moments ago, when they were blocked at the gate by a horde of Skeleton Demons, replayed in his mind.

If it weren’t for the barrier of that great bluestone door, they likely would have had no choice but to flee in disarray from the overwhelming swarm of Skeleton Demons.

He first tried to use his Qi Observation Skill, but the interference from the Yin Qi Spring prevented him from seeing anything.

The best method, of course, would be to probe the area with the firepower of the Fire Rain Technique.

However, considering the presence of the Yin Qi Spring and the fragility of the sea of bones before them, a Fireball Bullet might destroy the ”spring.” If there really were Coffin Mushrooms here, they would likely become impossible to collect.

Probing with the Green Frost Sword had the same problem. Its power was excessive.

Besides, controlling a Magical Artifact also consumed Spiritual Power. He had already cast the Qingyang Fire Rain Technique twice, and with the Spiritual Power spent on the Qi Observation Skill and other Magic Skills since entering the tomb, his reserves had dropped to sixty percent.

After some thought, Lü Zhong flipped his hand and took out a stack of Cleaning Talismans.

Although a Cleaning Talisman wasn’t an offensive Talisman, its activation could still cause a concussive blast of Spiritual Qi, which would be repulsive to Skeleton Demons that relied on Yin Qi to exist.

Since the blast was weak, activating a Cleaning Talisman wouldn’t collapse the sea of bones. It seemed like a good choice.

Most importantly, activating a Talisman consumed very little Spiritual Power, which was perfect for the current situation.

’That’s the plan!’

Since he hadn’t yet learned the Talisman Summoning Technique, he couldn’t make the Talisman shoot out like an arrow. Lü Zhong had to settle for testing a nearby section of the bone sea. He randomly picked a spot and activated a Cleaning Talisman, sending it flying.

The Talisman Paper didn’t fly far before it carved an arc through the air and fell into the pile of skeletons.

After an extremely faint POP, a ball of Spiritual Light exploded.

’Nothing here. I’ll try over there.’

One spot... then another...

As he used up more and more Cleaning Talismans, there was still no sign of any Skeleton Demons in the sea of bones.

’Are there really none, or...’ Lü Zhong frowned, thinking to himself that a Yin Qi Spring was an absolute treasure for ghostly creatures. It was impossible for there not to be any lingering nearby.

Recalling the scene of the Skeleton Demons blocking the gate again, he suddenly thought of a possibility.

’Perhaps the Skeleton Demons weren’t smart enough to block the gate. Maybe they were driven there.’

’Right now, a powerful ghostly creature might be lurking beneath the piles of skeletons.’

He shared his speculation with Li Dong, only to be met with a look of confusion.

”I think you’re overthinking it, Fellow Daoist Lü...” Li Dong disagreed with Lü Zhong’s guess. As a Loose Cultivator of his age, he had long since developed his own standards of judgment. Pinching a Golden Light Talisman, he leaped down into the sea of bones.

CRUNCH...

A series of crisp cracks echoed from the sea of bones, but the skeletons under Li Dong’s feet did not completely shatter. The layer beneath remained intact.

’The long-term saturation of Yin Qi must have caused the bones underneath to change. These skeletons could be considered Yin Bones now,’ Lü Zhong thought as he watched the other man walk toward the Yin Qi Spring.

At the same time, he formed a Hand Seal, preparing to cast a spell.

’No matter what, I took his money, so I have to do the job.’

Before long, Li Dong successfully approached the Yin Qi Spring and actually plucked a pitch-black object that looked somewhat like a Lingzhi mushroom from its center.

Lü Zhong took a look with his Qi Observation Skill and discovered that although it grew in a place rich with Yin Qi, the Spiritual Qi it contained was perfectly pure and righteous, without the slightest trace of cold, sinister evil.

If he wasn’t mistaken, this was the Coffin Mushroom.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed skeletons stirring in a patch of shadow.

Unlike the decaying bones of the Skeleton Demons, these moving skeletons were pitch-black. The Yin Qi they emitted was several times more concentrated than that of the Yin Qi Spring.

In an instant, a green flame ignited within a jet-black skull.

An unknown ripple washed over him, and a bone-chilling cold originating from his Divine Soul instantly enveloped his entire body.

’So strong! This is definitely not a Skeleton Demon!’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lü Zhong immediately formed a Sword Mantra with both hands. The Green Frost Sword shot toward the black Bone Demon, beginning to provide cover for Li Dong to move closer to him.

CLANG! A crisp sound, like metal striking metal.

The sword’s shadow flashed past the Bone Demon. As its edge collided with the pitch-black skeleton, it actually struck a shower of sparks.

’This thing is absurdly hard!’ Lü Zhong immediately changed his plan. He no longer thought of defeating the creature with his Green Frost Sword, instead preparing to delay it for as long as he could.

At the same time, he didn’t forget to glance at the bluestone gate behind him, mentally preparing to escape at any moment.

’There’s no shame in running away. In fact, it’s very useful.’

’As long as I survive, there will always be another chance to regain my dignity.’

Meanwhile, Li Dong was still floundering in the sea of bones, unable to get out.

Whether it was because of the black Bone Demon’s appearance or because he had pulled out the Coffin Mushroom, the Yin Qi Spring suddenly underwent a shocking transformation. It had now become a massive whirlpool, the ”spring” frantically sucking in everything nearby.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! A series of metallic clashes was accompanied by showering sparks.

Lü Zhong was still trying to impede the black Bone Demon’s advance. Although its aura had not yet reached Tier Two, its bones were extraordinarily hard. Even when he attacked with all his might, he could only leave shallow sword marks on its bones, barely scratching the surface.

Attacks of this intensity had no effect in slowing the Bone Demon down.

Fortunately, the creature only took the hits and didn’t fight back. If it had shown the slightest sign of retaliating, he would have fled without a moment’s hesitation instead of diligently trying to delay it until now.

”It’s no good, I can’t hold it back much longer!” Seeing that Li Dong was still struggling in the sea of bones, Lü Zhong craned his neck and shouted anxiously, ”Fellow Daoist Li, if you have any trump cards left, I suggest you use them now!”

Hearing this, a flicker of hesitation crossed Li Dong’s eyes.

He touched the jade box in his robes, then finally gritted his teeth and pulled out a pale yellow Talisman.

He channeled a stream of Spiritual Power from his fingertip, then slapped the Talisman onto his body.

Lü Zhong was astonished to see him leap lightly, easily breaking free of the whirlpool in the sea of bones. He carved an arc through the air and landed steadily on the platform where Lü Zhong stood.

”A Flying Talisman?”

”It’s just a Light Body Secret Talisman...” Li Dong shook his head. He glanced at the Bone Demon again, a look of fear appearing on his face. ”Let’s talk outside! We need to get out of this godforsaken place, now!”

Lü Zhong nodded, changed the Sword Mantra his hands were forming, and recalled the Green Frost Sword.

One pursued while the two fled, and they soon reached the bluestone gate.

Even though he knew it couldn’t stop the Bone Demon, he still removed one of the Spirit Stones as he passed.

The click of a mechanism sounded, and the great door began to close.