The Three-Corpse Dog

Translator: CinderTL

"Yin Shuo, you claim that you didn't wait for Tai He and had to teleport away alone. But in my opinion, you deliberately didn't notify Tai He and secretly left on your own. Anyone with eyes can see that you and Tai He don't get along. Given the chance to get rid of him, how could you miss it?"

Xue Cangqiong sneered as he stared at Song Wen, his tone laced with disdain.

As if his thoughts had been exposed, Song Wen looked slightly embarrassed and forced an awkward smile.

Xue Cangqiong pointed at Xue Mei and demanded sharply, "And her? Who is she? Why are the two of you together?"

Song Wen replied, "This... this fellow cultivator, I happened to meet her here. It's my first time seeing her."

Song Wen didn't casually reveal Xue Mei's name.

Because Xue Mei's current body was that of Yan Yiwen.

Yan Yiwen was nominally Tai He's personal disciple, and many people knew her.

Additionally, Xue Mei had once entered the Nether Soul Hall's secret realm.

At that time, the four major demonic sects had all sent people in, and each sect had Nascent Soul cultivators present. It was possible that Gui Ni was among them.

Therefore, although Xue Cangqiong acted as if he didn't recognize Xue Mei, it didn't mean Gui Ni wouldn't recognize her.

Unlike Song Wen's caution, Xue Mei introduced herself quite openly.

"This humble one is Xue Mei. By a stroke of luck, I managed to enter the Divine Blood Hall. Then, by chance, I ended up here. It's my first time meeting you two fellow cultivators. I hope for your guidance."

She referred to herself as "Xue Mei," clearly unafraid that Xue Cangqiong or Gui Ni might recognize her as "Yan Yiwen."

"Xue Mei?"

Xue Cangqiong pondered for a moment and realized that among the Nascent Soul cultivators he knew, there was no one who went by the name "Xue Mei."

He didn't fully believe the explanations given by Song Wen and Xue Mei.

"Neither of you is telling the truth. If you don't come clean, don't blame me for being harsh."

Faced with Xue Cangqiong's threat, both Song Wen and Xue Mei took several steps back, clearly wary of him.

At this moment, Gui Ni, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up to mediate.

"Fellow Xue, don't be angry. This place lacks spiritual energy and isn't suitable for staying long. Both of us are injured, so it's best to leave as soon as possible. Whatever the relationship between Yin Shuo and Fellow Xue Mei, it has nothing to do with us."

Then, he turned to Song Wen and Xue Mei and asked, "Fellow cultivators, how has your exploration of this small secret realm been? Have you found anything?"

Song Wen replied, "This place seems to be a dungeon, with many cells. Beyond that, we haven't discovered anything else."

Gui Ni said, "In that case, why don't the four of us travel together? If we encounter any danger, we can support each other."

Song Wen responded, "I'll gladly comply. It's an honor to travel with the two of you."

Under Gui Ni's persuasion, Xue Cangqiong also stopped fixating on why Xue Mei was here and agreed to travel with Song Wen and Xue Mei.

The four of them set off, with Song Wen leading the way. He chose a corridor they hadn't explored before.

Gradually, Xue Cangqiong and Gui Ni discovered that, just as Song Wen had said, this place was indeed a dungeon.

Apart from the cells, there were no treasures, nor did they encounter any danger.

After exploring a corridor that stretched over ten miles, they arrived at another cavern.

In the center of this cavern was a vertical hole that led deep underground.

The hole was about two zhang in diameter, and thick spiritual energy wafted out from within.

This was the first time the four of them encountered a place abundant with spiritual energy within the Endless Prison.

Anomalies always signal danger! The four of them couldn't help but become more cautious.

One by one, they extended their Divine Senses into the vertical cave. However, the cave was too deep, and none of them could discern anything significant.

Xue Cangqiong's gaze shifted and landed on Song Wen.

"Ji Yin, you go scout the path," Xue Cangqiong commanded in a tone that brooked no argument.

Song Wen's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

Although he had always been polite, even somewhat subservient to Xue Cangqiong, it was merely a facade to conceal his true capabilities.

In a one-on-one fight, it was hard to predict who would emerge victorious.

Moreover, Song Wen was confident that he could escape from Xue Cangqiong's grasp.

But whether Xue Cangqiong could escape from Song Wen's grasp was another matter entirely.

"Fellow Daoist Xue, last time in the Soul Hall, you suspected me of hoarding treasures. Why are you asking me to scout alone again this time? What if there really are treasures in this vertical cave? Wouldn't you miss out on them?" Song Wen said.

Xue Cangqiong was momentarily taken aback by this.

What Song Wen said wasn't entirely impossible.

At that moment, Gui Ni suddenly spoke up.

"Let me send two minor ghosts to scout the path instead."

With that, Gui Ni summoned a black Ghost Banner and called forth two first-tier Fierce Ghosts.

Under Gui Ni's command, the two Fierce Ghosts darted into the vertical cave.

Moments later, Gui Ni's expression stiffened.

"Those two minor ghosts have been annihilated," Gui Ni said.

"What caused it?" Xue Cangqiong asked.

Gui Ni shook his head, "I'm not sure. The distance is too great, and I don't know what happened to them. If they had returned alive, we might have gleaned some clues."

"What should we do now?" Xue Cangqiong asked.

Gui Ni pondered for a moment, then lightly waved the Ghost Banner, summoning two Ghost Generals at the Foundation Establishment Stage. They too entered the vertical cave.

After another dozen breaths, Gui Ni's expression changed slightly.

"Those two Ghost Generals are also dead."

"Perhaps we should let Yin Shuo scout the path?"

As Xue Cangqiong spoke, he glanced back at Song Wen.

Unnoticed, Song Wen had quietly retreated several meters. Even Xue Mei had followed Song Wen's lead and stepped back.

"No need."

Gui Ni shook his head and waved the Ghost Banner once more, summoning a mid-third-tier Ghost King.

The Ghost King also entered the vertical cave.

After a few breaths, Gui Ni's expression grew more solemn.

"The Ghost King is also dead, and like the previous four ghosts, it was instantly annihilated. It seems whatever lies at the bottom of the vertical cave is no ordinary thing."

Just then, a fierce gust of wind surged from the depths of the vertical cave.

It seemed as though something was rushing out from within, stirring the air inside the cave.

Gui Ni and Xue Cangqiong, who were near the edge of the cave, immediately retreated.

As soon as they had retreated ten meters, a black figure shot out from the vertical cave.

The creature resembled a dog but had three heads, its body hairless and faintly emitting a cold, metallic sheen.

"Run! That thing is the guardian puppet of the Endless Prison—the Three-Corpse Dog. Its strength is comparable to a peak Nascent Soul cultivator."

Xue Mei sent a mental message to Song Wen, who was beside him.

By now, they had retreated to the edge of the cave chamber, at the entrance of a corridor.

Without hesitation, they turned and fled into the corridor.

Seeing Song Wen and Xue Mei flee, Xue Cangqiong gritted his teeth in frustration.

Earlier, he should have been more forceful and made 'Yin Shuo' scout the path. Then he wouldn't have ended up being used as a shield by Yin Shuo and Xue Mei.

(End of the Chapter)

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