Chapter 39: Public Enemy of the Corpse Monsters!

Breaking through the resistance of a few scattered corpse monsters in the fringe area, Tang Zhen sprinted without pause, only stopping to catch his breath when he reached a distance of three kilometers from the wild building.

Coughing up a few flecks of blood, Tang Zhen wiped the corner of his mouth, his mind swirling with questions. When he had previously peered into the memories of the Spirit-Brain Corpse King, he discovered that any visitor from another world who entered this realm would eventually develop a brain bead within their skull, inevitably losing their sanity and degenerating into one of the monsters wandering this world.

So, had a brain bead already formed in his own skull? Was he destined to become a monster as well?

This thought sent a chill through Tang Zhen’s heart, accompanied by a vague sense of dread. If even a being as formidable as the Spirit-Brain Corpse King could not avoid this outcome, could he, a perfectly ordinary person before his transmigration, truly be spared by the laws of heaven? Although he hadn't noticed any anomalies in his body yet, who could say how the process unfolded? It seemed he would need to find time for a physical examination; he hoped he would be safe.

Setting those worries aside, Tang Zhen turned his thoughts to the Corpse King's plans. The Spirit-Brain Corpse King possessed immense power and, undoubtedly, access to countless resources. If it were determined to descend into this world, it was unlikely that anyone could stop it. Having stolen the Corpse Monster Lord’s chest and destroyed the blood pool meant for nurturing the Corpse King’s avatar, his enmity with the Spirit-Brain Corpse King was now set in stone—a fight to the death. Recalling the threats the Corpse King had spat out before he escaped the building, Tang Zhen knew this matter would not end easily; they would inevitably meet again. If that day came, how would he cope?

Tang Zhen walked and pondered, his mind filled with complex thoughts. He did not know that by a twist of fate, he had killed the Corpse King’s avatar, and that the Spirit-Brain Corpse King had issued a "Corpse King’s Death Order" against him. But even if he knew, it wouldn't matter; things were already this bad, so how much worse could they get? Even if the Corpse King didn't come for him, he was already harboring a fierce determination to wipe out the creature and all its minions.

As Tang Zhen made his way along a small path in the wilderness, contemplating how to deal with the invasion, a series of intense shouts reached his ears from ahead. Creeping forward cautiously to investigate, he saw a group of thirty or forty people besieging three Centurion-class corpse monsters.

Although the numbers were significant, it was clear from their attire that they were two distinct groups. One group, clad in tattered armor, consisted of wild cultivators—the most common type of wandering exploration team in the wilderness. They were divided into three squads, attacking the Centurions from the perimeter.

Engaging the Centurions head-on was a group of young people wearing uniform equipment. Their combat techniques were polished, their coordination was seamless, and they held the upper hand in the fight. From their gear, Tang Zhen recognized them as cultivators from Black Rock City.

Tang Zhen’s eyes narrowed. Had Black Rock City finally taken action? It made sense. These were not ordinary wandering monsters, but invaders from another plane; if they were allowed to gain a foothold, the status of Black Rock City would be in peril. A single misstep could see the city relegated to history. Eliminating these invaders before they could establish themselves was the best course of action for the city.

The Centurion corpse monsters wore heavy black armor and wielded massive weapons two or three meters long. Combined with their formidable physical strength, they were terrifying opponents. A number of human corpses already lay scattered around the battlefield, yet the Centurions continued to fight with fierce momentum. Even though their bodies were covered in wounds and bristling with arrows like hedgehogs, they showed no signs of fatigue. Fighting such monstrous entities was an ordeal in itself.

After watching for a while, Tang Zhen found it uninteresting and activated his Quantum Stealth Screen, preparing to slip silently around the edge of the battlefield. But just as he was halfway around, the nearest Centurion suddenly stopped fighting and turned its head toward his position.

Tang Zhen, cloaked in the stealth screen, saw this and froze. *Don't tell me this thing is targeting me?*

No sooner had the thought occurred to him than the Centurion abandoned the fight, let out a furious roar, and charged straight toward his position.

"Screw your grandmother!" Tang Zhen cursed in frustration. *There are so many enemies right in front of you, and you ignore them to come after me? Did I dig up your ancestors' graves or something? I’m cloaked, and you can still find me? This is insane!*

Worse was to follow. As the first Centurion broke off the fight to pursue him, the remaining two seemed to detect him as well, and all three rushed toward him in unison. Tang Zhen turned and fled without hesitation, howling internally. *Has my "taunt" ability reached the heavens? Why are they all coming for me?*

Ever since he’d burst out of the wild building, he’d noticed that these monsters, which previously couldn't see him, all seemed to have gained anti-stealth capabilities. They not only locked onto his position accurately but were relentless in their pursuit. Even a fool could guess that the Spirit-Brain Corpse King had played him. *You couldn't kill me yourself, so you sent a bunch of lackeys to annoy me? And I can't even beat these lackeys, so I have to run as far as I can.*

"You just wait, this isn't over!" Tang Zhen vowed bitterly as he ran toward Black Rock City.

The wanderers and Black Rock City cultivators who had been besieging the three monsters were left bewildered by the scene. *What is going on with these monsters? They were fighting, and then they just turned and ran? This has never happened before!* These creatures were usually single-minded; once a fight started, it was a battle to the death. If anything, the humans should be the ones fleeing. *You’re a monster—how can you desert the battlefield? How will you show your face to your elders?*

Yet, looking at their furious demeanor, it didn't look like they were fleeing; it looked like they were hunting an irreconcilable enemy. And the direction they were heading... *Holy crap, that’s Black Rock City!*

The Black Rock City cultivators panicked. They broke into a sprint, chasing after the three Centurions with everything they had. Their eyes were bloodshot; they could not allow these monsters to get anywhere near Black Rock City—that was their home! Whether they were wanderers or residents of a Tower City, the concept of "home" was sacred and worth fighting to the death to protect.

Seeing the Black Rock City cultivators giving chase, the wanderers didn't want to be outdone and scrambled after them. They had to seize this rare opportunity to get on the good side of the city's cultivators; if one of them took a liking to them and granted a precious recommendation for residency in the Tower City, they would be set for life! Many wanderers held this thought, and so they ran as hard as they could, matching the speed of the higher-level cultivators.

Thus, many people along the way witnessed a strange sight: three Centurion corpse monsters sprinting madly, their heavy feet thumping against the ground like drums, waving their weapons as if a mortal enemy lay ahead. Behind them was a group of Black Rock City cultivators, followed by a pack of panting, exhausted wanderers.

But no one could see that, far ahead of the monsters and the wanderers, an interdimensional visitor was running so hard he was on the verge of coughing up blood.