Within less than a foot of distance, free from the looming threat of the giant axe, Cao Yi finally got a clear look at Yelü Zhigu, the thousand-year-old corpse.

Having been deprived of sunlight for a millennium, her skin was exceptionally pale, soft and translucent like curdled milk, shimmering under the light. Her long eyebrows resembled sharp swords, lending her a more heroic than gentle appearance. A hint of purple in her eyes evoked memories of Ma Xiaoling from "My Date with a Zombie," who had also turned into a zombie.

She possessed the high cheekbones and prominent nose characteristic of the Khitan people, towering at least 1.85 meters tall, which made her legs appear extraordinarily long. An extreme chill emanated from her body, making anyone near her feel quite uncomfortable.

Suddenly, the corpse-restraining talisman on her forehead ignited, and a strange smile appeared on her lifeless face.

"How can this be?" Cao Yi instinctively stepped back.

Yelü Zhigu became even faster, her jade-like hand reaching out.

Cao Yi responded with a punch, but the force from Yelü Zhigu pushed him back five or six steps, while she remained completely unmoved, a mocking smile on her face.

Something was wrong. The talisman shouldn't have burned out so suddenly; Yelü Zhigu's strength couldn't have surged so dramatically, and her expression was too human-like to be real!

It must be the influence of the Ghost Flower!

Cao Yi glanced over to see the Sanqing Bell lying quietly behind Yelü Zhigu.

As Yelü Zhigu attacked again, it felt like a desperate struggle. Cao Yi chose not to engage; instead, he darted around to her back and picked up the Sanqing Bell.

Shaking it vigorously, the clear bell sound rang out continuously.

The sky remained filled with red light. The once fearsome Yelü Zhigu now stood silently, her forehead talisman unchanged.

Indeed, it was the Ghost Flower at work!

As Cao Yi continued to shake the Sanqing Bell and approached the platform, it was time to deal with the Ghost Flower.

On the platform, Hu Bayi, Wang Kaixuan, and Shirley Yang were locked in combat, each showing signs of injury.

Clearly, they had been affected by the Ghost Flower, mistaking each other for enemies.

As Cao Yi drew near, the bell's sound quickened, and the three of them ceased fighting, their expressions showing relief, as if they had just awakened from a nightmare.

"What a powerful zombie!"

"That was me!"

"Daoist Priest saved us!"

"Daoist Priest has subdued the thousand-year-old corpse!"

...

The three approached with looks of survival after a catastrophe.

"It's not over yet."

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Cao Yi walked up to Wang Kaixuan, untied the ropes binding him, and secured him to a nearby pillar. While shaking the Sanqing Bell, he descended into the crack.

Just moments ago, the red light had emanated from here.

Once inside the crack, Cao Yi immediately spotted a circular stone disc identical to the one Ding Situ had held, affixed to a stone pillar about ten meters away. Whether it was because Yelü Zhigu had been subdued or due to the time running out, its glow was steadily diminishing.

Worried about further complications, Cao Yi quickened his descent.

Just three meters away, an unexpected change occurred! The Ghost Flower erupted with dazzling red light!

Cao Yi, like before, felt himself sinking into a quagmire, unable to extricate himself.

Sounds of combat and cries echoed from above.

"Kai Xuan, what are you doing? Don't untie the ropes!"

"Wang Kaixuan!"

Untie the ropes!

Cao Yi's face changed. He was currently suspended in midair; if the ropes were undone, he would fall. Even with his robust physique, he would sustain injuries.

"Daoist Priest, Shirley has also fallen into the illusion; I can barely hold on!"

Hu Bayi's anxious voice came from above.

Cao Yi could no longer hear him; his consciousness had slipped into a bizarre world.

A yellow river flowed like a torrent, with phantoms struggling within it. Every splash reflected the life story of an individual.

Some were born into poverty but, through hard work, became shining stars, adored by countless admirers.

Some were born into affluent families, dedicated themselves, and ascended to heights unimaginable, leaving peers far behind.

Some came from ordinary families, floundering like headless flies, ultimately leading lives of unfulfilled promise.

Some emerged from middle-class homes, working hard and fortunate enough to achieve modest success.

...

One life after another faded away in the endless flow of the River of Forgetfulness.

Desolation reigned, devoid of vitality, while the protagonist of heaven and earth remained unchanged.

Suddenly, one day, a sprout emerged from the nether realm on the opposite bank, rapidly growing into a flower as brilliantly red as blood.

Its beauty stood in stark contrast to the lifeless River of Forgetfulness.

As time passed, the petals fell incessantly, drifting away in the wind and forming a crimson, blood-like path.

After a long time, the first soul departed from Forgetfulness, following the path laid out by the Ghost Flower toward a distant light.

The second.

The third...

The Ghost Flower became a flower of guidance.

During this time, many lost souls hovered near the Ghost Flower, often looking back, as if waiting for someone.

"When the flower blooms on the other side, the soul descends into Forgetfulness; we shall not meet in this life."

A hazy voice echoed throughout the heavens and earth.

The dazed souls had no choice but to depart.

Everything returned to normal; the River of Forgetfulness flowed on. A thousand years passed, the Ghost Flower withered, shriveled, becoming a seed.

Boom! The entire world shattered into countless fragments.

Cao Yi returned to reality, noticing the circular stone disc had settled into silence. He slid down and reached for it.

"Ding! Complete the main quest of the Dragon Seeking Technique: Retrieve the Ghost Flower seed hidden in the meteorite."

"Ding! Complete the secondary quest of the Dragon Seeking Technique: Subdue the thousand-year-old corpse."

"Gained 100 Taoist luck points."

"Reward: One innate gourd, function: Storage."

"Reward: Corpse refining method, function: Transform Yelü Zhigu into a protective deity."

A black vortex appeared a foot away, within which a gourd the size of a thumb floated restlessly.

At that moment, a message entered his mind.

Cao Yi, stunned, bit his finger and let a drop of blood fly out.

Upon receiving the drop of blood, the gourd trembled and zoomed out as if it were a rewarded child, visibly growing larger until it reached a normal gourd size.

"Your color is purple-golden with a hint of red; I shall call you Purple-Gold Red Gourd from now on."

The gourd trembled as if responding.

"Store this circular stone disc."

Cao Yi opened the gourd's cap and directed it at the circular stone disc.

The stone disc, which contained the Ghost Flower seed, was irresistibly drawn inside.

"Store!"

"Store!"

The Sanqing Bell and the peach wood sword were also drawn in.

"Where should I put this gourd?"

Cao Yi hesitated.

The Purple-Gold Red Gourd rapidly shrank, finally becoming the size of a grain of rice.

"Just the right size, like the Golden-Hooped Rod." A smile broke on Cao Yi's face as he thought of something and said, "Into my ear."

The Purple-Gold Red Gourd vanished in a flash.

Cao Yi immediately felt something new inside his left ear.

"Smaller!"

The sensation became less pronounced.

"Even smaller!"

He felt nothing at all.