Chapter 77: Survival in Desperation

The moment the female general looked my way, I felt as if I had plunged into an icy abyss. I thought grimly that I might meet my end here. I, Li Yunfei, have yet to take a wife—wouldn’t dying like this be a bitter regret? With that thought, I tightened my grip on the revolver; if I must die, I’ll take someone down with me. Though this was only my doppelganger, its abilities matched my own, but summoning it would lower my main body's capabilities. In other words, my true self was at mid-level Martial Lord, but once the doppelganger appeared, I dropped to peak Martial Master. My strength was greatly diminished. Even so, together, my real self and doppelganger could face a low-level Martial God. That was the advantage the doppelganger gave me.

I thought discovery by the female general meant certain death, but she merely glanced at me before turning to follow the High Priest away. How could that be? Why did she let me go? I couldn’t fathom it, but it didn’t matter—her decision not to kill me was her own. I must quickly warn Feather Realm to retreat; if they stayed until thousands of troops arrived, not even gods could save them. Soon, I reached the hiding place of Feather Realm and his companions. I slipped inside, but the room was empty. Where had they gone? Truly worrisome. As I prepared to leave, a cold sword pressed against my neck. When its wielder saw my face, the blade was withdrawn.

“Old Li, why have you come back alone? Did something happen?” Feather Realm asked, sheathing his sword. The Tiger and Dragon sisters emerged from the corner. With their hair swept back, they were rather beautiful, but I had no leisure to appreciate it.

“It’s a long story. Take them and meet up with Murong Xue and the others. If we’re not back before dawn, don’t wait. Listen carefully: this time, we’ve encountered a formidable enemy.” I gripped Feather Realm’s shoulder, emphasizing every word.

“Gentlemen, is there anything we can do to help?” the Tiger and Dragon sisters inquired.

“Leaving with Feather Realm is help enough. Hurry—I must return at once.”

On the altar, my true self was still bound by iron chains. The High Priest ascended the platform, with the female general at his side. The moment she looked at me, her brows arched, and she turned to gaze toward my doppelganger.

“Hurry!” I was about to depart when Little Tiger called after me.

“Master, I know a secret passage here that leads outside. Come with us.”

“You go first. I must rescue someone.” With that, the doppelganger accelerated to its limit, racing toward the altar, for I saw the High Priest ordering a heavy greenstone coffin brought forth. I suspected nothing good lay inside.

Sure enough, the High Priest commanded the coffin opened. Inside lay a zombie, half its face severely decayed, its body below the chest reduced to pale bones, with only a patch of skin connecting the back to the lower half. The High Priest poured the previously collected blood into the coffin where Xu Qinghuan lay, then ordered the lid sealed. He approached me with a cold laugh, “The show is about to begin. I’ll let you watch your beloved turn into a zombie right before your eyes. Hahaha—ha!”

I struggled desperately. “Damn you! You’ll die horribly!” My doppelganger was rushing toward us. The High Priest kept laughing, and the strong man dragged Qin Tian to the center of the altar. Qin Tian, already battered, staggered unsteadily.

“Before that, you’ll witness a spectacular performance,” the High Priest intoned without emotion. What was he planning? Sure enough, he slit his finger and let a drop of blood fall into the coffin. Instantly, the zombie sat up. The High Priest and his men hauled me to the edge of the altar.

“Brother Qin, hang on!” I cheered him on, all the while calculating how to break free. I had no idea how Xu Qinghuan was faring, and my doppelganger—hurry! Everything depended on you.

Suddenly, I remembered the smoke grenades I’d taken from Qin Tian’s spatial ring. There were only two. Qin Tian said his men bought them from the black market, and I’d never had a chance to use them. Even after three years as a cop, I’d never handled one. On impulse, I took them, never expecting they'd prove useful.

With a whoosh, the zombie flew out of the coffin, impossibly fast. I trusted my observational skills absolutely; even the Corpse King’s movements, though swift, I could just follow. But this zombie was so fast I couldn’t even see its form. In an instant, it struck Qin Tian as if he’d been hit by a speeding locomotive, sending him flying. Before he landed, the zombie attacked again, launching him skyward, blood spraying across the air.

What power! Qin Tian had no chance to retaliate. This time, the zombie didn’t attack directly, but stood in the center of the altar, ten sharp claws gleaming coldly, advancing step by step. Qin Tian struggled to his feet, blood dripping from his lips—clearly badly hurt.

“Stone Shattering Shock!” With his furious shout, the space around us rippled violently, the altar’s stone slabs shattered, debris flying everywhere, and the zombie was flung aside, landing hard.

After the dust settled, the High Priest and his followers watched Qin Tian with interest. “Impressive! But soon, you’ll exhaust your strength. If you kneel and beg me, maybe I’ll spare your life.”

“Spare me your nonsense, you scum! Kill me if you must!” Qin Tian braced himself against the altar, glaring at the High Priest.

Meanwhile, my doppelganger finally arrived. Nine hundred ninety-nine steps—the doppelganger soared up, windborne, too swift for the guards below to stop. Landing, he immediately tossed a smoke grenade, opened the coffin, hefted Xu Qinghuan, and flew away. Seeing his chance, Qin Tian leaped from the altar as well. My doppelganger tossed another smoke grenade midair, and I followed closely. On the way, we encountered Feather Realm and the Tiger and Dragon sisters, who had not fled, but returned to rescue us. Behind us, a mass of troops was closing in. Though bound by chains, my speed was unimpaired. The doppelganger led the charge, and we fled swiftly into the distance.