Chapter 98: The Lone Grave in the Basin

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News of the severely injured mutant Ghoul King seemed to have spread far and wide. More and more teams were entering the Ashen Lands of the Burning Plains, with numerous high-tier professionals frantically searching the area.

The Mamba Squad of the Azure Dragon Guild had just taken down a regular Ghoul King. Without even pausing to rest, they hurried south.

"The Bright Guild probably injured the Ghoul King in the southern cemetery. That creature shouldn't have gone far!" Captain Liu Xu confidently declared.

However, when the Mamba Squad arrived at the cemetery, they found it teeming with other teams searching every nook and cranny.

"What the heck? So many people are after the Ghoul King?" Team member Zhang Li sighed in frustration. "This feels like we're fighting a king-tier boss or something!"

Liu Xu frowned, his gaze sweeping across the other squads in the area. "The news of the Bright Guild's defeat broke out two hours ago. Naturally, more people are learning about it now."

"And this isn't just any commander-tier boss—it's a mutant. They say it'll drop incredible loot. Anyone with strength would want a piece of this action."

Another team member suddenly pointed to a group in the distance. "Whoa! That's the Blazing Emperor Squad from the Carefree Guild. Captain, you were right—this kind of reward would even tempt transcendents!"

Liu Xu growled in frustration. "Damn it, this place is overrun with people, but no one knows where the Ghoul King is hiding."

Even the transcendents seemed to be aimlessly searching, moving from one burial mound to the next without success.

The Blazing Emperor Squad had just exited a tomb. Judging by their grim expressions, they hadn't found what they were looking for.

"Captain Yan, should we check somewhere else?"

The man addressed as "Captain Yan" wiped his longsword with a silk cloth, his eyes gleaming faintly with golden light. After a recent battle against several Blood Zombies, Ghouls, and Ghoul Kings, his weapon had been stained with blood and filth.

"The Ashen Lands are vast; it'll be hard to find anything," he said with a sigh. "This cemetery is swarming with people. The Ghoul King probably isn't here. Let's head to the Mass Grave."

"Ah, a mutant commander-tier boss. How rare. We've got all this strength but no way to find it. Who knows who'll get lucky and claim this huge prize?"

———

Meanwhile, Hu Yan's calculations had pinpointed three potential locations: Windcry Rock, Shanyin Lake, and an unnamed basin.

In Feng Shui theory, desolate and low-lying areas also accumulate yin energy, though not as strongly as cemeteries or graveyards. But that made them perfect hiding spots for their target.

"Captain Kai, where should we head first?" Hu Yan asked.

Jiang Kai examined the map carefully. "Windcry Rock is closest to the large cemetery. That was the Ghoul King's original lair, so there'll be lots of teams searching there already."

"Shanyin Lake lies to the west. It's possible someone's already scouting that area. But the basin requires us to cross several hills, and it's so obscure that no one might've gone there yet."

After a moment of thought, Jiang Kai made his decision. "With so many teams around, they've probably covered the obvious areas. Let's take a gamble and head for the basin first!"

.

.

Half an hour later, the five members of the Fire God Squad crossed mountains and arrived at the center of the basin.

The area was devoid of any other search parties.

Situated on the western edge of the Burning Plains, the basin was lower in elevation. Shielded by nearby hills, its temperature was noticeably cooler than most of the plains.

"To the west, past those mountains, is the map boundary leading back to the King's Valley," Hu Yan explained. "This basin serves as a transition zone. Occasionally, creatures from the King's Valley wander here."

Su Nuan Nuan nodded. "King's Valley beasts are highly territorial, so they probably only stray here by accident. And the environment isn't suitable for the heat-loving creatures of the Burning Plains to settle. This place is truly remote."

Yuan Zhu frowned. "If the environment isn't suitable for Burning Plains creatures, would the Ghoul King really come here?"

Hu Yan shook his head. "I'm not sure. But in terms of yin energy, this place isn't weak."

As the team surveyed their surroundings, Ruan Yu suddenly furrowed his brow, staring at a certain spot in the dense woods.

"Hey, look over there. There's a lone grave!"

The others followed his gaze and saw a small mound of dirt. In front of it stood a broken wooden marker, with only half of it remaining. The missing piece left the inscription incomplete, revealing just "…'s Grave."

"Ghoul Kings live in tombs, but this grave is way too small for a commander-tier creature," Yuan Zhu said doubtfully.

Before he could finish his sentence, the mound began to shift slightly.

The ground trembled beneath their feet.

The vibrations spread across the entire basin, suggesting that something massive was awakening underground.

Jiang Kai's eyes widened. Judging by the tremors, whatever was beneath them was enormous.

"It's here! Ruan Yu, Hu Yan, Nuan Nuan, fall back! Yuan Zhu, prepare for battle!"

The Fire God Squad sprang into action. The three others retreated, while Jiang Kai and Yuan Zhu stayed behind.

"I'll attack from hiding. Hold the line," Jiang Kai instructed before disappearing into the nearby woods.

Left alone, Yuan Zhu felt the ground quaking beneath him. His nerves were taut, his breathing shallow.

Suddenly, a massive arm burst from the lone grave, scattering dirt everywhere.

The arm's skin was an unsettling black-purple, riddled with rotting flesh. Thick black pus oozed from it, dripping onto the ground.

The arm alone was larger than Yuan Zhu's entire body.

Gripping his sword tightly with both hands, Yuan Zhu's eyes widened in terror.

Next, a gigantic head emerged from the soil. The creature's face was gaunt, its left side devoid of skin, exposing rotting black muscle crawling with wriggling maggots.

Its blood-red eyes locked onto Yuan Zhu, and its throat emitted a guttural growl.

"RAAAAH!"

The creature opened its mouth wide—grotesquely wide—revealing a long, thick, slimy tongue over a meter long.

"Wh-what the heck!" Yuan Zhu's body trembled uncontrollably.

"It's here! It's really here! Oh god, I can't take this…"

Though he'd improved significantly since joining the Fire God Squad, facing the Ghoul King alone was too much for Yuan Zhu.

As the monster continued to rise from the ground, Yuan Zhu's hands trembled as he pulled out a wine card.

Materializing the card's contents, he downed it in one gulp, not daring to leave a drop behind.

The liquor was incredibly potent. Moments after it hit his throat, Yuan Zhu's eyes burned with intensity.

The alcohol's effects were swift and dramatic. Yuan Zhu's fear vanished, replaced by overwhelming confidence.

Gripping his sword in one hand, he tilted his neck, cracking it audibly.

With a cocky smirk, he scoffed, "Ghost? Monster? Whatever! I, Yuan Zhu, am the world's greatest war god!"

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