"This... this is..."
A Jade Pool Immortal Palace Disciple whispered in shock, her voice trembling with disbelief.
Everyone was stunned.
In the heart of this Secret Realm, such a "fresh" corpse was actually preserved?!
No, perhaps it shouldn't be called a corpse.
That body felt more like a lifelike sculpture!
Gu Luoli stared intently at the figure on the high platform.
Within the vision of her Double Pupils, there was no aura of life or Soul fluctuations inside the person's body.
Instead, there was only dense Death Qi and a mass of energy that she completely failed to understand.
"Could it be... that this is the corpse and Dao Principle Imprint left behind by Venerable Tian Qiong?"
"Or rather, is it a lingering strand of will left after he failed his tribulation back then?"
Waves of shock surged through Gu Luoli's heart.
She had seen sporadic records in the ancient texts of the Jade Pool Immortal Palace.
Even if an Ascension Realm Great Expert falls, their body can remain immortal for tens of thousands of years.
Previously, she had thought it was an exaggeration, but she never expected to witness it with her own eyes today.
"Everyone, get back! Do not approach the high platform!"
Gu Luoli immediately commanded, her voice incredibly solemn.
She didn't know what that lingering presence inside the "corpse" was.
But approaching rashly would likely result in a life-threatening danger.
The Jade Pool Immortal Palace Disciples trusted her completely and immediately retreated in unison, watching the high platform warily.
Just then—
*Rustle, rustle...*
"This way! That looks like the Main Hall over there!"
"Hurry! Don't let anyone beat us to it!"
Noisy footsteps and shouts echoed from several tunnel entrances where they had come from.
Immediately after, one disheveled and frantic figure after another rushed into this hall, scrambling to be first!
These were precisely the Disciples from various forces who had followed them inside!
Compared to the calm and orderly group from the Jade Pool Immortal Palace, these people were undoubtedly much more wretched.
Many were heavily injured, their clothes in tatters, with lingering fear etched on their faces.
Clearly, they had paid a significant price while traversing those dangerous passages.
The Core Disciples leading the major forces were mostly present, but the number of followers behind them was significantly reduced.
Some second-rate Sects and small forces had suffered even heavier losses, with some reduced to only a few people.
"This is the Main Hall!"
"What is that?!"
"There's someone on the high platform?!"
Everyone who rushed into the hall immediately saw the team from the Jade Pool Immortal Palace.
As well as that elegant figure sitting upright on the distant high platform.
After a brief moment of shock, everyone's gaze was firmly fixed on the figure on the high platform!
Although that figure emitted no aura, the uniqueness of its perfect preservation...
...all pointed to its extraordinary nature!
"Could it be... that is the corpse of Venerable Tian Qiong?!"
"Heavens! Sixty thousand years without decaying! Truly worthy of an Ascension Realm Great Expert!"
"If we take this back to the Ten Thousand Poisons Ridge and give it to the Sect to refine into a Corpse Puppet, that would be incredible!"
"The Legacy! The Legacy must be on the corpse!"
Exclamations and greedy gasps instantly flooded the hall!
Just as the hearts of these many Cultivators were wavering—
Gu Luoli's voice rang out, breaking the brief silence:
"Everyone, do not act rashly! This corpse is very dangerous!"
As her words fell, the Cultivators from other forces merely gave her an indifferent glance.
A few showed hesitation, but many more scoffed.
"Those from the Jade Pool Immortal Palace are probably trying to scare us off so they can monopolize the Opportunity!"
"It's just a few stone statues and a corpse, what's there to be afraid of?"
"Exactly! Exactly!"
Especially a few Cultivators who were already harboring anger; they treated Gu Luoli's words as mere wind past their ears.
They glanced at each other, a sharp glint flashing in their eyes!
"The Legacy is right before us! First come, first served! Go!"
Someone roared, as if lighting the fuse of a powder keg!
The brief balance was instantly shattered!
Dozens of Cultivators closest to the high platform, unable to restrain themselves any longer, scrambled to pounce toward the figure on the platform!
In their eyes, only that "corpse" which might contain the Legacy remained; any danger had long since been cast to the back of their minds!
"Get lost! That's mine!"
"Bullshit! It belongs to whoever grabs it!"
"Die, anyone who stands in my way!"
Curses, shouts, and the booms of spiritual energy collisions instantly echoed throughout the entire hall!
Glints of blades and shadows of swords, along with the brilliance of techniques, submerged the area in front of the high platform in an instant!
Blood instantly splattered everywhere!
A Golden Core Stage Loose Cultivator had just reached the edge of the high platform...
...when he was backstabbed by a Cultivator behind him, his heart pierced through!
He fell with a scream, blood spraying onto the cold floor.
On the other side, two Disciples from second-rate Sects turned their weapons on each other to fight for a better position!
A sword tip pierced a chest, a blade glint slashed a neck; both died almost simultaneously, their hot blood gurgling out and quickly merging into the pool of blood on the floor.
Greed, anger, fear, madness... various emotions swelled and fermented in the slaughter!
Inside the hall, spiritual energy rioted, and killing intent soared to the heavens!
On the ground, the warm blood that flowed freely and soaked the masonry...
...seemed to be drawn by some invisible force, winding toward the bases of the nearest stone statues and being rapidly absorbed!
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