<strong>Capítulo 1233: Chapter 1224: Utter Bewilderment</strong>


    Zhang Po forced himself to suppress the look of disgust on his face and said to Chang Wutian, “We two came here this time just to borrow the Chang Family’smand phrase.” He then told Chang Wutian that Ci Xin had reached that realm and was about to enter the Bronze Gate, but deliberately omitted the Zhang Family’s predicament.


    Chang Wutian had long anticipated their purpose this time, but still pretended to be bewildered and said, “Wasn’t themand phrase taken by the Family Head of the Xiao Family?” He then nced at Xiao Yifei, full of confusion.


    Xiao Yifei took a deep breath and replied, “My father only took a copy; the originalmand phrase is still within the Chang Family. If it’s inconvenient for you, we can make another copy ourselves.”


    Upon hearing this, Chang Wutian immediately feigned realization, “Ah! Right, right, you see, my memory! I’ve been so focused on looking after my son’s cultivation that Ipletely forgot the originalmand phrase is still here. Come with me, my young friends, I’ll fetch it for you now.” Saying this, he turned and headed toward the depths of the cave.


    Xiao Yifei and hispanion exchanged nces, nodded, and followed Chang Wutian inside. But behind them, Chang Wei’s face was filled with difort. The observant Xiao Yifei noticed this detail, and worry began to stir in his heart: Could the Chang father and son be scheming something?


    Ever since defeating the “Golden Armor Corpse” formation, Xiao Yifei had felt there was something odd about this cave, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. He instinctively sensed that things were not as simple as they seemed.


    As they trekked through winding paths for a long time, Xiao Yifei, with nothing else to do, started observing the cave where the Chang Family tribe resided. The cave walls were adorned with many decorative skeletons, underneath which were inscribed characters Xiao Yifei found indecipherable. Additionally, there were several recessed small caves used for storage and habitation. The cave itself was spacious andbyrinthine, seemingly straightforward yet internallyplex.


    Perhaps tired of walking, Zhang Po suddenly halted. Xiao Yifei also stopped, knowing that anything Zhang Po did had its reasons. He just needed to trust him unconditionally.


    Chang Wutian stopped as well, turned around, and asked perplexedly, “Why did you stop, young Zhang? The secret chamber holding themand phrase is just ahead, another two minutes or so away.”<fn780e> Readplete version only at f?ndnovel</fn780e>


    Zhang Po frowned and asked Chang Wutian, “Why is it that, aside from you and your son, there are no other nsmen in this Chang Family? We’ve only made it through half of this cave, and I haven’t seen a single servant or guard. Are you ying some trick on us, elder?”


    After hearing Zhang Po’s words, Xiao Yifei felt enlightened. Indeed, he had sensed something was amiss but hadn’t pinpointed it. Zhang Po’s remarks now made him realize the truth.


    The mystery within the Chang Family cave is right here!


    The Chang Family, though fallen from grace, was once one of the Seven Ancient ns. Despite hundreds of years of decline, the nsmen of the Seven Ancient ns wouldn’t be so scarce.


    Having toured half of the cave, it’s bewildering that the vast Chang Family only has the father and son left, no wonder Xiao Yifei felt something was off from the beginning.


    Emting Zhang Po’s tone, Xiao Yifei raised his head and looked at Chang Wutian, with a kind of bravado from borrowed authority, and asked, “Indeed, what’s going on? Elder Chang, would you care to exin? Or is the entire staff of the Chang Family hiding around some corner, waiting to ambush us?”


    Upon hearing their words, Chang Wutian lowered his head, a touch of sadness shed in his eyes, and he sighed, “s! They’re all gone, all gone.”


    Surprised, Xiao Yifei exchanged nces with Zhang Po and asked, “Gone? What do you mean? Elder, could you share some details? Maybe we can lend a hand.”


    Chang Wei somehow produced a chair and ced it behind Chang Wutian, who nodded at him, sat down, and quietly narrated the tragic events that had befallen the Chang Family to Xiao Yifei and Zhang Po.


    It turned out, months ago, the Chang Family was still a bustling, prosperous n, one of the foremost among the Seven Ancient ns. The Family Head was not Chang Wutian, but Chang Wutian’s father, Chang Zhen, who was near seventy years old yet possessed impressive cultivation skills, mastering the Chang Family’s cultivation techniques to unparalleled levels.


    Though Chang Zhen practiced the Chang Family’s infamous sinister techniques, he was upright and managed the n efficiently. Adults would go out during the day to collect corpses of deceased from other indigenous tribes for cultivation use, while children stayed in the cave, apanied by walking corpses. Though eerie, the Chang Family found this life harmonious.


    But fortune did notst. One day, Chang Zhen felt he had reached the final realm of the Chang Family’s technique, allowing him to create a “Drilling Armor Corpse,” a level stronger than the “Golden Armor Corpse.”


    The “Golden Armor Corpse” was impervious to weapons in its golden armor, while the “Drilling Armor Corpse” merged armor with body, wless and invincible, with immense destructive power.


    Even though the Chang Family primarily focused on corpse puppetry, they often ventured out to find bodies from other tribes for their walking corpses. However, creating a “Drilling Armor Corpse” required a cultivator’s body, yet the Ten Thousand Mountains had no cultivators beyond primitive tribes. Rashly attacking other ns would evoke fierce retaliation.


    So, Chang Zhen obsessed over it day and night, gradually losing his sanity and deviating from principles, killing several elders with decent cultivation to create a “Drilling Armor Corpse” by catching Chang Wutian and his son off guard.


    By the time Chang Wutian discovered this, it was toote. After forty-nine days of refinement, the “Drilling Armor Corpse” waspleted, the cave filled with ominous energy. Chang Wutian, along with a few capable n members, confronted Chang Wei, but couldn’t find him.


    It was a sharp-eyed nsman who finally discovered Chang Wei’s corpse in the corner. Chang Wei had used Forbidden Techniques to forcibly break through his realm. Uponpletion, he found himself unable to control the “Drilling Armor Corpse,” falling victim to its ruthless bacsh.


    The “Drilling Armor Corpse” that killed Chang Wei stood coldly observing everyone in the cave, like it was eyeing its prey.


    Chang Wutian hurriedly led the nsmen outside the cave, but the uncontrolled “Drilling Armor Corpse” wouldn’t let them go easily, closely pursuing them and wreaking havoc, unting its superior walking corpse destructiveness, mercilessly ughtering the Chang Family.


    Though the Chang Family had a few cultivators, the majority were helpless ordinary people. Facing such a fierce walking corpse, they stood no chance. In an instant, corpses piled and blood flowed, only Chang Wutian and his son, with a few decent cultivators, could resist with difficulty.