Fantasy: I Become God by playing a game [Dungeons + LitRPG +Xinxia]

**Chapter 9: Dungeon: Ancient Cultivator's Tomb (6)**

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[You killed a Qi Gathering Stage magic corpse and gained 80 experience points, Soul Crystal Fragment (White) × 1.]

[Current Experience Points: 9150.]

[Innate Magical Power (32/100): Not Awakened.]

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Su Chen picked up the scattered light spots left by the defeated magic corpses and turned his gaze to the massive bronze door beside him.

"Aside from what lies beyond this bronze door, the entire underground tomb has been thoroughly explored. There shouldn't be any magic corpses or Qingxuan puppets left outside."

It had been an arduous journey. Su Chen had paid the price of resurrection hundreds of times to fully map out the tomb's complex labyrinth. In doing so, he had killed nearly a hundred magic corpses and a substantial number of Qingxuan puppets.

During this process, he discovered that Soul Crystal Fragments did not always drop upon defeating magic corpses. On average, he obtained one fragment for every three kills. This meant that fully awakening his innate magical power would require at least two more runs through the dungeon.

Still, the 10,000 experience points he'd gained so far made the endeavor more than worthwhile. Not to mention, his combat skills and technique proficiencies had grown exponentially.

Through countless battles with magic corpses, Su Chen pushed his abilities to new heights. Both Floating Cloud Steps and Water Dragon Roar had reached perfection, while Sharp Technique had ascended to an even higher state—Extreme State.

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[Sharp Technique (Extreme State)]

[Effect]: Use Qi to transform into a blade; even metal and stone cannot stop it.

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At this level, Sharp Technique had evolved into something close to divine power. Su Chen could now use his spiritual energy to conjure a golden Qianjin Sword, achieving the rare feat of turning Qi into a weapon.

Before the Foundation Establishment Stage, few cultivators could master such techniques. The level of spiritual power control and reserves required was beyond the reach of most Qi Gathering cultivators.

Although Su Chen's current spiritual power was limited, his control over golden-element spiritual energy was exceptional. However, he considered transforming Qi into a sword less practical than reinforcing his weapon with Qianjin Power and executing Water Dragon Roar.

With Water Dragon Roar perfected, Su Chen's sword could generate fifty vibrations per second, each wave amplifying the power of the original attack. After fifty stacked vibrations, the technique boosted his swordsmanship's destructive force by five times.

Combining this with the Purple Cloud Divine Light's natural suppression of magic corpses made Su Chen an unstoppable force within the tomb.

Now, only the strange bronze door stood between Su Chen and the tomb's final secrets.

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[Water Dragon Roar: Perfection Level (1/3000)]

[Floating Cloud Steps: Perfection Level (1/4000)]

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With both techniques at their current peaks, Su Chen felt ready. He took a deep breath and pushed the heavy bronze door open.

Boom...

The door creaked slowly, releasing a foul stench that made Su Chen instinctively wrinkle his nose. As the door swung wide, he stepped inside and froze.

Before him was an enormous underground cave surrounded by ruined tomb chambers. From the shattered coffins scattered throughout, it was evident that these tombs had once held the remains of Qingyun Sect disciples.

At the heart of the cavern lay a vast square drenched in blood and littered with corpses. In the center of the square sat a solitary figure amidst the carnage—a magic corpse unlike any Su Chen had encountered before.

This magic corpse was different. It had long white hair, a severed left arm, and multiple broken swords embedded in its body—signs of a brutal battle. Despite its seated posture, its oppressive aura was palpable, sending a chill down Su Chen's spine.

Su Chen recalled feeling a similar pressure only when standing before his school's Foundation Establishment teachers.

Could this be a Foundation Establishment Stage magic corpse?

His suspicions were confirmed when he examined the corpse's panel:

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[Foundation Establishment Stage Magic Corpse: Ye Chenglin (Severely Injured)]

[Description]: True disciple of Qingyun Sect, proficient in talismans. Currently retains less than one-tenth of his original strength.

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Even at a fraction of its full power, a Foundation Establishment Stage magic corpse was far beyond Su Chen's capabilities.

As if sensing Su Chen's presence, Ye Chenglin slowly raised his head. His scarlet eyes were not filled with the mindless rage typical of magic corpses. Instead, they were hollow, tinged with fatigue and sadness.

"Who are you?" Ye Chenglin asked, his voice calm yet haunting.

A talking magic corpse?

Su Chen's surprise was evident. From his studies at Jiangnan City No. 1 High School, he knew that magic corpses only developed human-like intelligence at the Corpse Pill Stage. A select few, however, achieved "enlightenment" earlier, either through sheer willpower or unyielding obsession.

These enlightened magic corpses were far more dangerous than their mindless counterparts, possessing the cunning and reasoning of sentient beings.

After a moment of hesitation, Su Chen responded cautiously, "Qingyun Sect's servant disciple, Su Chen."

Hearing this, Ye Chenglin murmured, "Qingyun Sect... Qingyun Sect..."

The name seemed to stir long-forgotten memories. His eyes grew brighter as fragments of his past surfaced.

"Yes... Qingyun Sect... I am Ye Chenglin, 70th-generation disciple of Wanfu Peak."

"But why... am I here?"

Rising to his feet, Ye Chenglin surveyed the carnage around him. His expression shifted from confusion to sorrow as he gazed at the shattered remains of fellow disciples.

"Brother Luo... Sister Gao... Sister Zhao... How did you become like this?"

Ye Chenglin's voice cracked with grief before turning cold. "Oh, that's right. I killed you with my own hands."

Ye Chenglin began muttering to himself:

"My master said I was born with the Nine Yin Constitution. Upon death, I would transform into a magic corpse. He tasked me with a mission—to protect this burial ground."

"If the sect ever faced calamity and the tomb was desecrated, I was to ensure that no one escaped... and no one entered."

His voice grew heavier, and the deathly aura surrounding him thickened.

Su Chen pieced together the tragic truth. Ye Chenglin had been charged with guarding the disciples' tombs, eliminating any who disturbed the sacred grounds. The wounds covering his body were a testament to the countless battles he had fought to fulfill his duty.

Now, however, Su Chen was the intruder.

"You shouldn't be here," Ye Chenglin said, his voice devoid of malice but firm with resolve.

Raising his remaining arm, Ye Chenglin traced patterns in the air, drawing talismans with practiced ease. Su Chen's instincts screamed danger.

"Talisman: Small Five Thunder Technique!"

A black lightning bolt surged toward Su Chen. Reacting instantly, he used Floating Cloud Steps to evade, leaving behind only a flickering afterimage.

Boom!

The bolt struck the ground, creating a five-meter-wide crater. Su Chen pressed forward, trying to close the distance between himself and Ye Chenglin. But just as he advanced, his footing gave way.

He narrowly avoided falling by vaulting with his sword, flipping midair to land safely.

'A Swamp Talisman?! When did he set that up?'

Ye Chenglin's talisman skills were unparalleled, seamlessly combining multiple spells in seconds. Su Chen realized that had Ye Chenglin been fully prepared with pre-drawn talismans, escape would have been impossible.

As another wave of black lightning streaked toward him, Su Chen activated the Purple Cloud Divine Light.

Boom!

The thunderous impact sent Su Chen crashing into a stone pillar, his body broken and bleeding. He slumped against the pillar, coughing up blood, his arms mangled beyond recognition.

Through labored breaths, he muttered, "A Foundation Establishment Stage magic corpse... truly powerful."

Before he could muster another thought, Ye Chenglin's talismans unleashed a final, devastating strike.

The cave fell silent, save for the crackle of dissipating lightning.

Ye Chenglin, standing amidst the carnage, whispered to himself, "No one will disturb this resting place... not while I am here."

(End of Chapter)