Chapter 42

Although that was said, after all, being remnants of an ancient god, their power was absolutely formidable.

Shenhe's adeptal arts specialized in talismans and polearm techniques.

Jiang Ning, on the other hand, focused on elemental power and polearm techniques.

The remnant they faced was an extremely bizarre existence, and for the moment, they had no way to deal with it.

"This is really frustrating," Jiang Ning said as another spear thrust missed its mark. Though the elemental power at the spear's tip could temporarily disperse the enemy, it would quickly reform.

"This is beyond the level of mere god remnants... it's more like a god's resentment..." Shenhe said coldly.

"What's the difference?"

"Resentment is like a collection of remnants. Some divine resentments even retain consciousness from their previous life."

"Talk about refusing to rest in peace..." Jiang Ning muttered.

Seeming to sense its inability to defeat Shenhe and Jiang Ning, the divine resentment let out another howl.

"Morax!"

The stalactites began to shake, crack, and break. The corpses within them, like zombies from a movie, roared and charged toward the two.

The black divine resentment intermingled among them, charging forward together.

"Damn, this is like Resident Evil," Jiang Ning cursed, sweeping his polearm horizontally.

But these animated corpses knew neither pain nor fear. After clearing away one wave, the ones behind continued charging forward without slowing down.

"Why are there so many?" Jiang Ning said.

Shenhe's gaze sharpened. "Junior, step back!"

She leaped up and slammed her spear tip into the ground.

"Hah!"

With a tremendous sound, the ground cracked, and ice elements burst forth, forming countless ice shards that restrained the animated corpses in place.

Getting a chance to catch his breath, Jiang Ning came to Shenhe's side. Seeing her slightly out of breath, he worriedly asked, "Are you alright, Senior Sister?"

Shenhe shook her head lightly: "I'm fine..."

Jiang Ning looked at the corpses scattered and impaled by ice shards. Some were just heads still trying to bite, even though separated from their bodies.

"This is really disgusting."

These corpse clusters had no blood; broken parts only released decayed powder.

"Senior Sister, do you know which god this is?" Jiang Ning asked.

"I'm not sure..." Shenhe shook her head. She only knew the general history, not the specific details.

Jiang Ning rubbed his chin: "When we get back, I need to read more books, so I can identify them next time..."

"The ice won't last much longer. The situation is too strange. I think we should retreat," Jiang Ning suggested.

But Shenhe slightly shook her head: "We can't. The divine resentment has awakened. If left unchecked, evil will plague the mortal realm."

Jiang Ning said: "We were too rash this time... I've already used an adeptal secret art to call for Senior Sister Ganyu's help. I don't know when she'll arrive with reinforcements."

Shenhe said: "Let's hold on. It should be soon."

As they spoke, the ice formation began to crack, finally shattering completely. Behind the ice remained the army of corpses and the god remnant.

Jiang Ning immediately employed his Geo element.

Yellow geo energy, carrying a sense of age and weight, formed a shield around both of them.

The weight of stone brought a sense of security.

"Mo! Rax! Mo! Rax!"

The divine resentment's howls grew even louder.

The hatred and malice contained within made Jiang Ning's spine tingle.

The resentment and black energy suddenly erupted, filling the entire cave, charging toward the two with complete disregard for any cost.

"Come on, what grudge is this? If Lord Rex Lapis killed you, go find him! Don't target me just because I use Geo!"

Jiang Ning felt the pressure suddenly increase and couldn't help but complain.

Shenhe's expression remained calm but filled with determination.

No matter what, she had to protect her junior brother...

After taking a direct hit, Jiang Ning found these creatures had become much stronger!

Against these suicide-charging tactics from physically powerful opponents, Jiang Ning truly had no counter.

"Ugh!"

Jiang Ning was knocked back again, and Shenhe's side gradually became more anxious.

Even the Geo shield on their bodies started showing cracks.

Finally, after another heavy hit, Jiang Ning was thrown heavily to the ground, covered in dirt and sporting several injuries.

The Geo shield couldn't hold any longer and shattered.

"Junior Brother!"

Shenhe suddenly exerted herself, breaking away from her original position to reach Jiang Ning's side. With adeptal arts enhanced and elemental power bursting forth, she cleared another space around them.

But the large beads of sweat and heavy breathing indicated that Shenhe was also reaching her limit.

They had persisted for over half an hour, but the animated corpses here were like waves, endless in number.

After destroying them, more stalactites would continuously emerge from the ground.

Even the cave entrance they came through was gradually being sealed by stalactites.

"We truly have no retreat now..." Jiang Ning gritted his teeth.

He then took out several mechanisms given to him by his master, Cloud Retainer, for self-defense.

He had thought he wouldn't need to use them, but now it seemed necessary.

However, just as he finished setting up the devices, the enemy's assault became even more fierce and frenzied.

"Morax! You will die by my hand!!!"

Jiang Ning: "...Did Rex Lapis dig up this god's ancestral tomb or something? Why such deep resentment? Anything related to Rex Lapis makes it more insane."

Shenhe vigilantly watched their surroundings: "Talk less, Junior Brother... conserve your strength."

On one side were two people gradually approaching their limit, on the other was an endless sea of corpses.

Even the small Guizhong Ballistas left by Cloud Retainer could only delay them briefly.

Within about ten minutes, the ballistas started breaking one by one, and the pressure kept mounting.

Jiang Ning felt his arms growing heavier, and the elemental power within his body was gradually bottoming out.

Shenhe had started trading injury for injury, trying to prevent Jiang Ning from taking more damage, but was accumulating wounds herself.

At this point, she even somewhat regretted having let her junior brother absorb her cursed energy. If it were still there, she could have completely released it to at least send her junior brother to safety.

"System, think of something!"

Jiang Ning could only appeal to the system.

The system's usually indifferent voice came with the sound of flipping pages, speaking quite nervously:

[Wait, wait a minute, I'm checking the manual! It's not in the book, and I don't have permission to add points!]

Jiang Ning was speechless. Indeed, the system couldn't be relied upon...

In that moment of distraction while communicating with the system, a corpse shrouded in black resentful energy charged directly at Jiang Ning's back.

"Junior Brother!" Shenhe cried out in alarm.

Jiang Ning also gritted his teeth...

There was no dodging this one.

In that instant.

"All shall be mine."