Urban Martial Saint

Ye Qing was initially watching from behind as Yin Xianzi observed the Devouring Demon Flower, all the while being cautiously alert of their surroundings. This cave, after all, had been entered by that South Sea person. Since they arrived, they dared not be careless. So, Ye Qing maintained a high level of mental focus from start to finish.

Yin Xianzi’s urgent shout made Ye Qing’s heart skip a beat, and he immediately looked closely, saying, ”How could that be?”

Yin Xianzi took another careful look, then quickly stepped back a few paces, speaking solemnly, ”There really is someone!”

”There really is someone?” Ye Qing tightened his brows. How could that be?

Actually, having someone inside a Devouring Demon Flower wasn’t a rarity. After all, the Devouring Demon Flower is originally intended to devour other living beings to supply itself with nutrients. However, the idea of there being someone inside this Devouring Demon Flower now seemed unbelievable.

One must know, whoever gets swallowed by the Devouring Demon Flower ends up imprisoned within it. Although the Devouring Demon Flower doesn’t directly kill someone, people need food and water, and none is available inside it. Normally, people starve to death inside, eventually becoming corpses and decomposing into nutrients for the Devouring Demon Flower.

This means that once a person is trapped inside the Devouring Demon Flower, they cannot survive long. Even if you pre-stock supplies, how long could you last? A week? A month? Ultimately, you’d still die inside, and once dead, the corpse wouldn’t take long to rot completely, eventually turning into a pile of bones.

If there’s a skeleton inside the Devouring Demon Flower, that would be normal. However, Ye Qing had clearly heard Yin Xianzi say there was someone, not just bones, inside the Devouring Demon Flower. Moreover, based on Yin Xianzi’s expression, it seemed clear that it was not just a skeleton, otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so shocked.

But what exactly is going on here? Could it be that someone entered this cave recently and was only swallowed by the Devouring Demon Flower not long ago? So, they are trapped inside, and the corpse hasn’t yet decomposed. Or perhaps this person inside hasn’t even died yet!

Numerous thoughts rushed through his mind, but Ye Qing ultimately chose to walk straight ahead. He had to see the situation inside the Devouring Demon Flower for himself.

Yin Xianzi was clearly baffled by the situation inside the Devouring Demon Flower, standing aside and not stopping Ye Qing.

As Ye Qing approached the Devouring Demon Flower, he peered through its gap. Indeed, just as Yin Xianzi had said, there was actually a person inside the Devouring Demon Flower. It’s just that this person was lying inside, and through the gap, Ye Qing couldn’t clearly make out their appearance, nor could he discern whether they were dead or alive.

”Has someone possibly come in these past few days?” Ye Qing wondered.

Yin Xianzi glanced at Ye Qing, then at the Devouring Demon Flower, resolutely shaking her head, speaking in a deep voice, ”The Heavenly Master said those last five barriers aren’t something a normal person can pass through. You’ve seen outside; there are five forked paths, yet only four markers remain. Perhaps, from ancient times to now, only these four individuals have entered this place. Moreover, the Devouring Demon Flowers here do not actively attack people. What’s the deal with this Devouring Demon Flower? Don’t you find it peculiar?”

Ye Qing slightly frowned. This matter was overly complex, and he simply couldn’t figure out what was happening immediately. The South Sea person entered this cave, and there weren’t any traps, but someone was swallowed by this Devouring Demon Flower. What’s really going on? According to Yin Xianzi, it can be practically ruled out that it was someone who entered recently. But that makes it even more illogical. If it wasn’t someone who entered recently, how long has this person been in the Devouring Demon Flower? How could the corpse not have decomposed if it’s been so long?

Reflecting carefully on the words left at the cave entrance by the South Sea person, a thought suddenly emerged in Ye Qing’s mind. He quickly turned to Yin Xianzi and asked, ”Yin Xianzi, do you remember what you told me last time about the Corpse Ghost Dragon?”

”Why?” Yin Xianzi looked at Ye Qing in surprise, unsure of why he asked such a question out of the blue.

”You said the Corpse Ghost Dragon was the most powerful sorcerer in Nanyang, possibly having lived for over three hundred years. Thirty years ago, as his lifespan was nearing its end, he sealed himself away, counterfeiting death to prolong his time,” Ye Qing said. ”And this time, for the opportunity of the Heaven, Earth, and Man Three Gates, he wants to unseal himself to find the chance to extend his life, right?”

”Yes!” Yin Xianzi nodded, still confused about what Ye Qing was trying to say.

Ye Qing asked, ”In the counterfeit death state, what would happen if outsiders attacked the Corpse Ghost Dragon?”

”Well…” Yin Xianzi was also stumped by Ye Qing’s question. After thinking for a moment, she said, ”According to the Bloody Monk, the Corpse Ghost Dragon cultivated himself into a human-shaped Gu, similar to White-haired Ding San. I don’t know exactly what a human-shaped Gu is, but I imagine it’s not easily wounded or killed!”

”I think otherwise!” Ye Qing shook his head and said, ”If the human-shaped Gu were truly invulnerable, why would the Bloody Monk have always followed White-haired Ding San?”

This statement left Yin Xianzi momentarily stunned. She remained silent for a while, slowly gazing at Ye Qing and speaking solemnly, ”Do you mean…”

”The Bloody Monk always followed White-haired Ding San, undoubtedly out of fear that White-haired Ding San would be attacked and killed during the process of growing stronger. So, it’s certain that the human-shaped Gu is not invincible. It all depends on the method you use!” Ye Qing paused and continued, ”Even the Great Demon King could be killed, let alone a mere human-shaped Gu. I think perhaps even a single Famed Instrument could shatter the human-shaped Gu. By scattering or burning the fragments of the corpse, that human-shaped Gu would undoubtedly die!”

Yin Xianzi nodded and said, ”You’re right. The human-shaped Gu is certainly not indestructible. But what does this have to do with the current situation?”

Ye Qing took a deep breath and said, ”If the human-shaped Gu is not immortal, would the Corpse Ghost Dragon, in his counterfeit death state, worry that he might actually be killed? After all, in the counterfeit death state, he has no power to fight back!”

”There might indeed be such a possibility…” Yin Xianzi glanced at the Devouring Demon Flower behind her, starting to faintly guess what Ye Qing was going to say.

”The Corpse Ghost Dragon, being willing to counterfeit death and wait for so many years to seek an opportunity to extend his lifespan, shows he cherishes his life,” Ye Qing said. ”The Corpse Ghost Dragon, having lived for so many years, surely has many enemies. If his enemies knew he was in a counterfeit death state, they would undoubtedly go to any lengths to kill him. Even if his enemies didn’t kill him, others would find ways to do so. After all, as long as he’s alive, many will remain uneasy!”

”Therefore, before the Corpse Ghost Dragon counterfeited death, he would definitely find a safe place to ensure he wouldn’t be killed in that state!” Ye Qing said, looking at the Devouring Demon Flower on the Stone Platform, whispering, ”Under the heavens, what place could be safer than this Devouring Demon Flower? You said, besides the Xuanyuan Sword and Minghong Blade, no Famed Instrument could break open this Devouring Demon Flower. With the Corpse Ghost Dragon hiding inside, surely no one could harm him. Or, putting aside whether one could open the Devouring Demon Flower, just entering Beimang Mountain is no easy feat. Even if someone made it here, no one could open the Devouring Demon Flower. Hiding here is absolutely safe!”

Yin Xianzi gasped, though she had already faintly guessed what Ye Qing was going to say. However, after hearing his words, she was still utterly shocked.

Looking at that Devouring Demon Flower on the Stone Platform, Yin Xianzi spoke solemnly, ”This… could it really be the Corpse Ghost Dragon inside?”

”You also saw the traces of writing outside, which obviously were left in recent decades. Still, whoever carved them was clearly trying to hide something,” Ye Qing paused before continuing, ”and in the past few decades, the strongest sorcerer in Nanyang, and the one most likely to make it here, is the Corpse Ghost Dragon. So, I suspect that the person inside this Devouring Demon Flower is the counterfeit dead Corpse Ghost Dragon!”

”But…” Yin Xianzi remained silent for a moment before speaking, ”if this really is the Corpse Ghost Dragon inside, how will he get out even if he wants to unseal in the future?”

”Who knows!” Ye Qing replied with a shrug. ”If the Corpse Ghost Dragon wasn’t afraid of risking himself coming here in the first place, then he must have a way of eventually getting out. Remember, those sorcerers are currently nurturing Living Corpses everywhere. I suspect that these Living Corpses are key to his getting out of here. Plus, you mentioned earlier that no one could easily get through the final five barriers. If his disciples couldn’t reach the last cave, how could they hope to rescue the Corpse Ghost Dragon?”

Yin Xianzi slowly nodded in agreement, realizing Ye Qing’s analysis made the whole situation suddenly appear very plausible to her.

”But even if those sorcerers are raising so many Living Corpses, it’s useless,” Yin Xianzi said. ”You saw earlier—the last five barriers are the most dangerous, making people enter North Zou Mountain, only to have just these four conquer the last five caves, with many having perished along the way. Corpse Ghost Dragon’s disciples wouldn’t be able to reach this final cave. So, how could they rescue the Corpse Ghost Dragon?”