Chapter 22: The True Blood Corpse

Seeing the system prompt that popped up, Lu Qingshan knew he had initiated his first factional camp.

According to his memory, before the game entered the "Netherworld Shadow" version, there were already quite a few players who had opened the faction camp of the Tower of Guarding.

The Tower of Guarding was not only a camp with great potential for development, deserving of his efforts to invest a certain amount of energy, to curry favor, and to improve his status within it.

Moreover, in most situations, the Tower of Guarding was also a very trustworthy faction.

——In the battles against the Netherworld, many cultivators from the Tower of Guarding had, for the sake of defending the Human Race, courageously sacrificed their very lives without any second thoughts.

Lu Qingshan bowed to Jiang Rong and Dantai Qingrun and said with a cold voice, "Then, esteemed ones, I will take my leave first and go... pay a visit to that Blood Corpse True Person!"

He had done all he could do; the matters that were to follow were not something a Qi Refining Cultivator like himself could be involved in.

However, he believed that the Tower of Guarding, having been able to carry the banner for the Human Race and stand against the Netherworld throughout an entire version in the Netherworld Shadow, would certainly not disappoint him with its capabilities.

The Tower of Guarding was no place for mediocrity.

With such detailed intelligence provided by him, the Netherworld would likely suffer a significant setback this time.

Lu Qingshan took his leave, turned around, and left the room. When he reached the first floor, a cultivator dressed in a black robe was already standing at the staircase.

"The deputy tower master has asked me to take you to the Prison Warden Office to see the Blood Corpse True Person," the cultivator in the black robe said flatly, without any hint of emotion.

"Thank you for showing the way," Lu Qingshan nodded.

...

Jiang Rong and Dantai Qingrun exchanged glances and, after a few seconds of silence, Jiang Rong spoke, "Do we need to contact Warden Qi immediately now?"

Dantai Qingrun shook his head, "There's no rush; we still have time. Uncle Rong, you are a Nether Cultivator with exquisite escape skills. You go first to the location of the Blood Pool mentioned by Lu Qingshan to scout and verify whether what Lu Qingshan has said is true or false."

Jiang Rong agreed, "Alright."

After hesitating for a few seconds, Jiang Rong asked, "What do you think is Lu Qingshan's purpose in asking us for this Blood Corpse True Person?"

Dantai Qingrun's eyes remained clear and calm as he slowly said, "Maybe Lu Qingshan and Uncle Rong are the same kind of person. I can feel it; Lu Qingshan had a heavy intent to kill when he mentioned the Blood Corpse True Person."

Sword Cultivators are best at slaughtering, and as a Golden Core Sword Cultivator, Dantai Qingrun's perception of killing intent was particularly sharp.

Since Dantai Qingrun said so, the claim that Lu Qingshan desired the Blood Corpse True Person's life was likely undeniably true.

"Between his words, I can also feel his hatred for the Netherworld, but... He is not like me," Jiang Rong fell silent for a while, rejecting Dantai Qingrun's statement, "He and I are not the same kind of person. My hatred for the Netherworld runs deep, mainly due to the demon beast turmoil they instigated, which led to the annihilation of my clan—a feud that cannot share the same sky. However, with Lu Qingshan, I didn't feel this kind of personal emotion mixed with killing intent.

His hatred for the Netherworld seems to be a straightforward abhorrence."

A century ago, the Netherworld had caused a demon beast disturbance in Qing State.

Demon Beasts, controlled by Demon Cultivators, rampaged through human cities without restraint.

During that turmoil, two prefecture cities were wiped from the map of the Human Race.

One of those prefecture cities was Northwater City, where Jiang Rong was from.

At that time, since Jiang Rong was not in Northwater City, he fortuitously avoided this massacre, but all his family members perished in this catastrophe, with no survivors.

It was for this reason that Jiang Rong chose to join the Tower of Guarding, dedicating his life to taking revenge against the Netherworld.

Jiang Rong furrowed his brows, "His desire to kill the Netherworld must have another reason, but according to the data we have gathered, Lu Qingshan is merely fifteen this year, and all his life experiences are clear and traceable.

In his past fifteen years, there has been no sign that he ever had any contact with the Netherworld. I cannot fathom where his grudge towards the Netherworld comes from, nor where he obtained such confidential information."

Dantai Qingrun replied unhurriedly, "Uncle Rong, as far as I know, not all of Lu Qingshan's experiences are traceable."

Jiang Rong seemed to recall something, "Are you referring to the three months when Lu Qingshan went missing due to an attack?"

What exactly happened during those three months of Lu Qingshan's disappearance was also unknown to the Tower of Guarding.

"Since in the traceable fifteen years, Lu Qingshan has always been just an ordinary mortal, then all his strangeness should be attributed to those three months after his disappearance. It's just unknown what exactly happened during those three months that could change a person so drastically," Dantai Qingrun calmly stated, "I even wonder whether he is still the same Lu Qingshan."

"Spirit Possession?" Jiang Rong immediately understood Dantai Qingrun's implication.

Only Spirit Possession could bring such a complete change to a person.

"His way of speaking doesn't at all resemble that of a fifteen-year-old youth. Moreover, he knows too many secrets," Jiang Rong added.

"Spirit Possession, that's a technique only Nascent Soul Cultivators can use, which means this Lu Qingshan might be a Nascent Soul great cultivator?"

Dantai Qingrun nodded, "It's highly likely, but our current priority is the conspiracy that Lu Qingshan mentioned, the one about the Netherworld's operations against Qi Prefecture's defenses. As for Lu Qingshan's identity, we'll investigate thoroughly once this matter is settled."

Jiang Rong of course understood this, "Okay, then I'll take action immediately and check out the area where the Blood Pool is located."

Once the plan was set, Jiang Rong didn't delay any further, casting the Smoke Luo Technique and transforming into a wisp of light smoke that quickly flew away.

...

The Prison Warden Office was the place where Demon Cultivators were detained.

Such a crucial location wouldn't be displayed in the open.

In fact, the Prison Warden Office was hidden deep underground, beneath Yuanshan Tower.

The black-robed cultivator led Lu Qingshan a few more steps inward, finally stopping in front of a wall.

The black-robed cultivator formed several hand seals with his fingers, then a dark and square spirit seal made of spiritual power emerged from his hands and flew forward, merging into the wall.

A hazy light and shadow appeared on the wall, which then gradually became clear, revealing a long descending corridor.

The black-robed cultivator stepped into it.

Lu Qingshan, having no reason to doubt, closely followed the black-robed cultivator's footsteps.

The walls lining the corridor were made of bluestone and emitted a dim, faint glow.

After walking downwards for a short while, the originally dim environment suddenly brightened.

This was a massive underground facility constructed by the strength of cultivators.

The Yuanshan Tower above ground was like the small portion of an iceberg visible above the water's surface.

The truly colossal entity was always hidden underground.

This was also consistent with the unobtrusive operations principle of the Prison Warden Office.

Lu Qingshan was already aware of this situation, so he wasn't particularly surprised.

He also knew that the Prison Warden Office should be situated at the deepest part of this underground facility.

"Follow me, and don't look around," the black-robed cultivator said coldly.

Under the guidance of the black-robed cultivator, Lu Qingshan proceeded towards the depths of the underground facility. They passed by several dark chambers at regular intervals and along the way, they encountered many other cultivators also clad in black robes.

Although the information obtained through the Heavenly Eye Technique was just question marks, Lu Qingshan clearly understood that each of these black-robed cultivators was at least a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the air became slightly murky, and finally, two iron doors made of cold iron appeared in Lu Qingshan's sight.

"What business do you have here?"

A Prison Warden Office cultivator with somewhat cloudy eyes stopped the two of them.

The black-robed cultivator showed a deep respect for the Prison Warden Office cultivator in front of him, handing over a piece of jade, "The deputy tower master ordered me to bring this man to see the Demon Cultivator 'Blood Corpse True Man' that we captured today. He also instructed that the Blood Corpse True Man be handed over to this man for him to deal with as he pleases."

The Prison Warden Office cultivator accepted the jade, probing it with his divine sense, verifying the information contained within.

Before long, the Prison Warden Office cultivator handed back the jade to the black-robed cultivator and stepped aside slightly to make way, "Go ahead."

The two iron doors silently opened, entirely lacking the sinister grinding sound common to worldly prison doors.

Under the lead of the black-robed cultivator, Lu Qingshan quickly found the cell where the Blood Corpse True Man was imprisoned.

Through the bars of the cell, Lu Qingshan gazed at the pale-faced Blood Corpse True Man inside.

A cold smile emerged in Lu Qingshan's heart.

Just one day ago, he was merely material for the Blood Corpse True Man to refine corpse puppets.

One day later, the Blood Corpse True Man's life was in his control.

Such is the ever-changing nature of the world's vicissitudes.