Chapter 32: The Corpse-Controlling Elder! Killed with a Single Punch!

It was a white-haired old man with dull, lifeless eyes. His hair was disheveled and his face was grimy; he wore a long black robe and his back was hunched.

He held a skull-headed staff in his hand, looking quite terrifying. He reeked of death, and anyone unaware would have mistaken him for a corpse.

Ye Changsheng looked at the old man and thought to himself, "Is this my big brother's friend? System..."

[Name: Corpse-Controlling Elder]
[Age: 1000]
[Cultivation: First Level of the Heaven Spirit Realm]
[Funeral Grade: Golden]

"This old man has actually lived for over a thousand years? And he’s a Heaven Spirit Realm powerhouse?"

One had to know that the strongest ancestors of the Azure Cloud Sect were only at the Ninth Level of the Earth Spirit Realm. Those capable of stepping into the Heaven Spirit Realm were all titans, capable of moving mountains and filling seas with a mere gesture.

Ye Changsheng looked at Wan Jianyi with even more reverence. The fact that Wan Jianyi dared to seek out this Corpse-Controlling Elder only meant that his own strength was even greater.

"As expected, the older, the better. And he's a Golden-grade; burying him will surely yield plenty of rewards." Ye Changsheng looked at Wan Jianyi and cheered him on, "Go for it, big brother! Kill him!"

Wan Jianyi looked back and smiled, "Don't worry, little brother. I’ll make sure he’s taken care of for you!"

Having been rudely awakened while sleeping soundly underground, the Corpse-Controlling Elder was furious. "Who dares to come to my territory to stir up trouble?"

"Your grandfather, that's who!"

Hearing that familiar voice, the Corpse-Controlling Elder suddenly looked up. "Wan Jianyi, you’re still alive?"

The Corpse-Controlling Elder's expression turned grave, the arrogance on his face instantly vanishing.

Wan Jianyi chuckled, "You’re not dead yet, so how could I dare to die? After all, you ambushed me in the Outer Realm Battlefield years ago, and I haven't settled that score with you yet!"

Listening to their conversation, Ye Changsheng frowned slightly, thinking, "The Outer Realm Battlefield? What kind of place is that?" It was easy to see that they were anything but friends; they were clearly enemies.

The Corpse-Controlling Elder looked at Wan Jianyi and offered an awkward smile, "So many years have passed; I have long forgotten about what happened back then."

"I'm sorry, but I hold a grudge. You may have forgotten, but it has remained in my heart the whole time!" Wan Jianyi sneered.

"We are both so old now, with not many days left to live. Why not just let this matter pass?" The Corpse-Controlling Elder was a man terrified of death. If he weren't, why would he be hiding in a coffin, pretending to be dead?

Wan Jianyi gave a wicked grin, "Perfect. Since you don't have many days left, I’ll help you along by a few days and handle your funeral arrangements while I'm at it."

"Whatever you want, I can compensate you with it." The Corpse-Controlling Elder was clearly panicking.

"Having lived this long, do you think I'm lacking in anything? I’ve come here today only for your life!"

***

With those words, the Corpse-Controlling Elder dropped the act, pointing at Wan Jianyi and shouting, "You surnamed Wan, don't be so arrogant! Don't think for a moment that I fear you. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered!"

Wan Jianyi showed no fear, mocking him instead, "Is that so? I'm standing right here. Why don't you come over and take a bite?"

Seeing the other party acting so provocatively, the Corpse-Controlling Elder could no longer hold back. "This bitterness is something I cannot endure any longer. You brought this upon yourself!"

The Corpse-Controlling Elder took a step forward and threw a punch violently toward Wan Jianyi.

Wan Jianyi stood his ground, looking calm and making no move to dodge. He raised one hand and forcibly caught the punch.

The Corpse-Controlling Elder was, after all, a Heaven Spirit Realm expert; such a punch could level a ten-thousand-foot-tall mountain. Yet, landing in Wan Jianyi’s palm, it felt like a fist striking cotton. No matter how fierce or violent the force, it was easily neutralized.

Seeing this, the Corpse-Controlling Elder was shocked. "How can this be?"

"What? Was that your 'furious' strike? You fellow, your mouth is tougher than your fist!" Wan Jianyi sneered. "Old ghost, have you been lying underground so long that you've become a walking corpse? You've lost all your strength?"

The Corpse-Controlling Elder's mouth twitched, unable to find words. There was only one possibility: it wasn't that he was too weak, but that his opponent was far too strong.

"Since you’re not up to the task, why not have a taste of mine?"

Wan Jianyi swung his fist, slamming it heavily into the Corpse-Controlling Elder’s chest. A terrifying force erupted, tearing the surrounding air apart. As the fist landed, the Elder's chest collapsed and shattered instantly.

"Clatter!"

A fierce wind blew, and the overwhelming shockwave sent the Corpse-Controlling Elder trembling backward like a cannonball. His feet dug into the ground like two spears, carving out two long furrows.

"Pfft!" The Corpse-Controlling Elder clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood. "You old man, you're decrepit as can be, yet you still have such great strength?"

"Old?" Wan Jianyi turned to look at Ye Changsheng and smiled, "Little brother, am I old?"

"Not at all! Even if you are, you are like an old warhorse in the stable, still aspiring for greatness a thousand miles away."

Hearing this, Wan Jianyi burst into laughter, "Did you hear that? My little brother is spot on!"

"If a tiger doesn't show its claws, do you really think I'm a sick cat?" The Corpse-Controlling Elder gritted his teeth and roared. He formed a seal with one hand and opened his mouth, unleashing a fierce torrent of energy that surged toward Wan Jianyi.

Wan Jianyi chuckled, "It seems I didn't hurt you enough just now!" He flicked his finger, and a slender, silver-white beam of sword light shot forth.

***

"Is this the legendary 'winning without a sword'?"

The two forces clashed—one large and one small—looking completely mismatched, yet the result was shocking. Although the sword light was small, its power was astounding; with a single strike, it cleaved the black torrent in two.

"Boom!"

The torrent exploded, black mist filled the air, and a powerful shockwave slammed into the Corpse-Controlling Elder. He gritted his teeth, struggling to hold on. At this moment, when he looked at Wan Jianyi, his eyes were filled with awe. His own full-strength attack was nothing more than a tickle to Wan Jianyi.

Wan Jianyi beckoned at the Corpse-Controlling Elder, taunting, "Don't you have a necrophilic habit? Hurry up and bring out your corpse to show me!"

The Corpse-Controlling Elder gnashed his teeth and shouted, "I am not a necrophile, I am a corpse controller! What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Doesn't matter; to me, it's all the same."

The Corpse-Controlling Elder darkened his face and snorted, "Old man, you brought this on yourself!"

He opened his mouth and bit down hard on his tongue. "Appear!"

Another coffin flew out and shattered on the spot, from which a hideous corpse lunged out. It was blood-red, with a green face and sharp fangs, looking truly terrifying.

[Blood Corpse, First Level of the Heaven Spirit Realm]

"A corpse at the Heaven Spirit Realm?" Ye Changsheng was incredibly shocked. Countless cultivators in the world sought the Heaven Spirit Realm but could never take that step. Yet here, even a mere corpse had reached this level. If others knew of this, many would surely vomit blood in frustration.

The Corpse-Controlling Elder looked at the Blood Corpse and smiled triumphantly, "Wan Jianyi, I spent a lot of effort on this Blood Corpse! Once my lifespan is exhausted, I will transfer my soul into it, and from then on, I will no longer be bound by heavenly punishment."

"You dream bigger than you look, but unfortunately, that's all it will ever be—a dream."

"What do you mean?"

Before the Corpse-Controlling Elder could finish his sentence, Wan Jianyi flickered and appeared directly in front of the Blood Corpse.

"No!"

With a single punch, a massive hole was gouged into the Blood Corpse's chest.

"Thump!"

The next second, the Blood Corpse collapsed to the ground, motionless.

"And then what? This piece of junk of yours was finished in one hit."