Chapter 8: The Infernal Fire Scorches the Body

Chen Zhe nodded and said: "That big fellow teaches us 'common living corpses': 'Children, the true energy within you transforms into this flame, known as 'Nether Fire'. This fire was stolen from the heavenly court by ancient gods and bestowed upon the mortal realm; it has the power to bring the dead back to life. I hope you all diligently cultivate, with the hope that one day, you will become true living beings."

Chen Zhe gently shook his head

I have a peculiar memory that I believed to be true, yet I have no way to verify it. That memory is extremely vivid, as if it were the cause of my nightmare of being killed. The reason I went to sea was solely to uncover the truth.

Xinghai asked again: "Do you know what is going on with our strange illness? It is said that before the age of fifteen, it is extremely difficult to practice the Dragon Fire Technique to the third level, yet Cang Zhengxian claims that you have reached the fourth level. How can this be? Why do you insist on going to the deep sea?"

Chen Zhe was silent for a long time, as if he had made up his mind, and said: "That seems to be something from many years ago. I remember when I opened my eyes, my body was submerged in water that was half white and half green. Water filled my lungs, yet I continued to breathe as usual. The water was in a round crystal fish tank, and through the tank, I could see the scene outside. All around were the remains of people: heads, necks, trunks, hips, legs, hands, and human roots, layer upon layer, row upon row, piled around me. When I looked at my own body, it was also full of stitches, as if it were pieced together from remains, and at that time, I was only about the size of a five or six-year-old child."

Chen Zhe Dao: "No! I have seen people use necromancy, and it is not like this. That woman speaks clumsily, yet she is able to talk; she knows joy, anger, sorrow, and fear. She is merely slow in speech, a bit mad and erratic, just like a baby who has just learned to speak"

With a blank expression, Chen Zhe said: "After waking from the dream, that painting has vanished. However, amidst the flowers, trees, iron, and stone, as well as between human bodies, I can still see the scattered fragments of that painting. Once I gaze upon those patterns, I feel much better. Such fragments are present on you at this very moment."

Xinghai Dao: "You look at the strange painting, I listen to the strange song, it seems that heaven has finally opened its eyes, and has not let us both be scared to death. Does your painting have a name?"

The figure was greatly alarmed and said: "Nonsense! I do not believe it!"

I cannot recall clearly, but in short, during that year, I was immersed in a fish tank, my body numb, unaware of fear, neither happy nor sad, and even if I did not eat, I would not die. By the second year, that tall man took me out of the fish tank, dressed me in new clothes, and said, 'Child, I will send you home, hoping that your luck will be better than mine, so that you can cultivate and become an adult early.' He touched my forehead, and I instantly lost consciousness. When I awoke, I was at the藏家, seeing my father and mother, having become a young master. By the second year, that tall man took me out of the fish tank, dressed me in new clothes, and said, 'Child, I will send you home, hoping that your luck will be better than mine, so that you can cultivate and become an adult early.' He touched my forehead, and I instantly lost consciousness. When I awoke, I was at the藏家, seeing my father and mother, having become a young master. Since then, I have not seen that tall man again

Chen Zhe furrowed his brows and said: "That is not a dream; I can distinguish between what is a dream and what is real. The giant monster in the sky is indeed a dream, but the resurrection of the dead feels like something from my memories"

He sighed and said, "Indeed, that place is very similar to the cabin. Outside the fish tank, many candles are lit, the flickering light alternates with the darkness, and the shadows dance over the wreckage, making it seem as if there are ghosts present.

The Form of the Path: "So, it can be said that the doctor Meng truly brought you back to life and returned you to your parents?"

Formless Path: "Do you have any sutures on you? Do you have any wounds?"

He had been busy for most of the day, then he opened the woman's skull, revealing her brain. He took a pointed needle, a long and sturdy rabbit intestine tube, inserting one end into his own brain and the other end into the brain of the corpse. Subsequently, a white-green flame flowed through the tube from his body into that of the woman

The figure exclaimed: "When the white swordsman died, this kind of white-green fire also flowed out, resembling blood in a way."

Xinghai recalled what Cang Zhengxian had said, stating: "He once asked, 'Is that child's corpse yours?' Is Cang Zhengxian related to this matter?"

Xinghai exclaimed, "That's right! That giant resurrected corpse is as wretched and grotesque as a white knife wielder. How could someone as handsome and delicate as you possibly be a corpse?"

The body felt half frozen, and I couldn't help but glance towards the cabin of the ship

With a nervous laugh, he said: "You must be having a nightmare. You have quite a variety of nightmares, with the dead coming back to life and giant monsters from the sky. You are far more unfortunate than I am"

Strange and peculiar: "I also have? Ah, no wonder after you saved me last time, you said I was eccentric. I thought you were mocking me."

The figure of the Dao: "Isn't that white swordsman covered in scars and stitches? Who exactly are they?" As the words left my mouth, a vague speculation arose, sending a chill down my spine

As the night deepens, the face is shrouded in darkness, the body shrinks, and cautiously takes half a step back.

Xinghai laughed and said: "The song of wandering and the painting of broken halberds sinking in the sand? They are all quite similar to our names."

It seems to be referred to as the 'Map of the Sunken Halberd in the Sand'

The sea breeze caressed him as he stood against the wind, his long hair dancing lightly, his garments fluttering. The moonlight illuminated his face, and he said: "At this moment, I am flesh and blood, vastly different from the White Blade Master. I clearly remember being covered in scars and stitches; why is it that upon waking, there is not a trace of them? What is the purpose of that deceased person reviving so many living corpses to enhance their power? Although this person has shown me kindness, he is also guilty of heinous crimes. Since I have achieved success in my training, I cannot simply ignore him. And now, this sailboat has a spirit, calling me to the sea; how can I possibly evade it?" Although this person has shown me kindness, he is also guilty of heinous crimes. Since I have achieved success in my training, I cannot simply ignore him. And now, this sailboat has a spirit, calling me to the sea; how can I possibly evade it?

The White Blade Master likely employed a form of misdirection; without that misdirection, his appearance is quite unsettling, resembling a bandit who has been wounded by a flurry of blades

The figure trembled and asked, "Really?"

Xinghai thought: "If what he said is true, then are both the White Blade Master and he truly living dead?"

The flames flowed for a long time, and the large man pulled away the rabbit's intestines. The woman trembled and suddenly sat up

Xinghai Dao: "No wonder you are so remarkable. Have you figured out what exactly is going on?"

The physical form, when contemplated, evokes the emotions of that time, leading to a flurry of thoughts

In that case, does it mean that the White Blade Guest is indeed not considered a true living person? Yet, he is hardly different from a living person, is he?

In that nightmare, when I looked up at the sky, I saw countless petals woven into a giant painting. This painting shifted between stillness and motion, taking on myriad forms and appearances. It seemed chaotic and disordered, yet there was a trace to follow. The beauty of this painting was beyond words, yet it was difficult to describe how it was beautiful. As I gazed at the painting, I gradually lost my fear

Chen Zhedao: "You might also guess that they, like me, are perhaps living dead made up of fragmented corpses stitched together"

Not long after I woke up, a very tall man approached me. He was wearing a long white linen robe, and his face was very broad, extremely terrifying, covered in scars and stitched up with needle and thread. His shoulders were like mountains, his arms long and thick, and his fingers resembled radishes. He glanced at me, smiled, and then ignored me. I felt that he was my father, yet I hated him intensely.

Xinghai deeply understands that fear, and empathizing with it, said: "Whenever I am frightened, I run to a place with fewer people and recite the verses of the Wandering and Unrestrained Song. What about you? How do you protect yourself?"

Chen Zhe let out a sigh and said, "I have inquired about an old servant who once worked in the household, and through his testimony, I have indeed uncovered some peculiarities. It turns out that I fell gravely ill at the age of four and passed away without receiving treatment."

The figure could not help but drift a little further away from him, yet upon observing his appearance and listening to his breath, it did not seem entirely real

The figure's throat let out a gurgling sound, and he said: "Has she become a zombie? Is this the necromantic sorcery?" He, well-read in various texts, knew that there existed a form of necromantic sorcery in the world that could transform corpses into zombies. Zombies are devoid of awareness and sensation, only capable of killing and devouring humans, their intelligence far inferior to that of beasts

After a moment of deep contemplation, I said: "My parents told me that I fell ill with a strange disease and was sent far away for treatment. Now that I have awakened, I have developed a condition of lost soul, and I remember nothing. I secretly harbor doubts but have not questioned them to avoid raising their suspicions. Thanks to the 'Chart of Sunken Spears and Silt,' I possess a high aptitude for martial arts, and by the age of eight, I had mastered all the skills taught by my parents. When I arrived at the school, I soon became aware, and everyone regarded me as a treasure. However, I felt out of place among them, as if they were human and I was an outlier. Thanks to the 'Chart of Sunken Spears and Silt,' I possess a high aptitude for martial arts, and by the age of eight, I had mastered all the skills taught by my parents. When I arrived at the school, I soon became aware, and everyone regarded me as a treasure. However, I felt out of place among them, as if they were human and I was an outlier.

Indeed, the person who transported me home back then was Zang Zhengxian. I have also verified that for many years, Zang Zhengxian has been capturing impoverished commoners and selling them as slaves to the White Blade Master, who is none other than the henchman of the deceased Meng Langzhong. Those slaves must have been slaughtered by the White Blade Master and the deceased Meng to refine their dark fire sorcery.

Suddenly, the woman's form underwent a dramatic transformation! Her skin sprouted scales, feathers emerged from her hair, her mouth split open to reveal a beak, and her nails became sharp, rendering her unrecognizable as a human, resembling a bird demon instead. The giant immediately drew an axe and severed the bird demon's head, white flames spilling everywhere. The giant sighed deeply and said, 'Another wretched living corpse, so be it, so be it.' He smiled at me, then left in a dejected manner.

Chen Zhe slowly shook his head

Chen Zhe continued, "I saw that large, strange man turn around, grab the pile of corpses on the table, and piece them together one by one. He deftly held a needle and thread, skillfully sewing the head, body, hands, and legs together. It was a female corpse. Once the body was complete, he took out various bottles of medicine, pried open the corpse's mouth, and poured the contents into its throat.

At this moment, the nightmare of the demons in the sky began to entangle me. I sensed something unusual, and in order to protect myself, I secretly started practicing the third and fourth levels of the Dragon Fire technique. This matter was discovered by Grandpa Dongshan, who did not stop me; instead, he passed on his unique skills to me. I learned faster than others and worked harder because I knew my background was extraordinary, and I feared that demons might truly be watching me. In order to uncover the past, I also needed powerful skills for protection, and I needed to read extensively to understand various techniques.

Chen Zhe asked: "Why do you think that big guy wants to kill that female corpse?"

Chen Zhedao: "Indeed. Within the following year, that giant repeatedly practiced this wicked art. Approximately every half month, most of the corpses transformed into those 'deformed living corpses', with only four or five resembling the white-bladed warriors, akin to ordinary living beings. I initially thought that by consuming that white fire in such a manner, it would be akin to losing blood, and he would eventually meet his demise. However, to my surprise, it seemed he was using this to cultivate a certain skill; the more he cast his spells, the more the flames actually intensified."

The figure pondered and replied: "Because he originally intended to turn that woman into a living person, but she instead became a monster"

The old servant, entrusted by my parents, undertook a long journey to transport my corpse to the West Sea, specifically to a "Puxiu Ancient Tomb," to hand it over to a certain "Meng Langzhong." This Meng Langzhong was indeed that tall man, who only severed my head and returned the rest of the body to the brave old servant, stating: "My method of reviving the dead cannot utilize a complete corpse; I only require this head. If this endeavor succeeds, I will send a message to Lord Zang. If it fails, do not come uninvited, or else do not blame me for being impolite." If this endeavor succeeds, I will send a message to Lord Zang. If it fails, do not come uninvited, or else do not blame me for being impolite.

Steering the boat, gazing at the sea, he said: "I always feel like I am a dead man"