Chapter 481: Corpse Study

Mo Hua secretly slipped out of the Ten Thousand Corpses Altar.

Before leaving, he again carefully checked everything, confirming that he hadn't left any traces that could be discovered by Lu Chengyun or Zhang Quan.

The little zombie lay properly in the coffin.

The big tiger was also properly hidden in the main hall.

The Ten Thousand Corpses Array, the Gold Sacrificial Altar, the Bronze Coffin, nothing seemed out of place.

Mo Hua felt relieved, then concealed himself and quietly left.

The next day, Mo Hua acted as if nothing had happened. He followed Lu Chengyun into the Ten Thousand Corpses Altar again to complete the array eye for the Ten Thousand Corpses Re-array.

After entering the altar, Mo Hua observed Lu Chengyun's expressions and found that he seemed as usual, not having discovered anything. Mo Hua secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Lu Chengyun was the family head, busy with mundane affairs and entangled in various matters.

He also had to secretly build the Ten Thousand Corpses Array, control the array's progress, dispatch corpse cultivators, and personally draw the Spirit Coffin Evil Array.

He was indeed very busy.

Moreover, in recent days, he had been busy with his own matters and no longer paid much attention to Mo Hua.

In his eyes, Mo Hua seemed to have become invisible.

Sometimes when Mo Hua spoke to him, he was absent-minded and ignored him.

Mo Hua pretended to be unhappy on the surface, feeling slighted, but in his heart, he was secretly overjoyed.

He hoped Lu Chengyun would not pay attention to him...

Besides Lu Chengyun, there was only Zhang Quan.

Zhang Quan hated him.

But he was an array blind, did not understand array laws, and his divine sense was not strong.

He was very easy to fool.

Mo Hua could hide right next to him and he wouldn't discover it.

As for array laws, there was even less to say. Mo Hua could draw the array incorrectly in front of him, making it messy, drawing it so it was completely chaotic and full of errors...

He could even draw a completely different array, and with Zhang Quan's level of "attainment" in array laws, he might not even see the clues.

Mo Hua slightly shook his head.

He really needed to read more books and learn more cultivation knowledge.

Otherwise, he could be easily fooled and remain completely unaware...

Not being discovered, Mo Hua felt relieved.

After that, for several days, Mo Hua focused his attention on the corpse cultivators in the corpse mine.

He wanted to know exactly what kind of corpse was sealed inside the Bronze Coffin.

But he was an outsider, and his knowledge of corpse refining was insufficient, making it difficult to judge.

He could only start with the "insiders."

These corpse cultivators were obviously the "insiders."

Mo Hua subtly used some small tricks to steal some secret books on corpse refining from several corpse cultivators.

For example: *Basic Refine Corpse Method*, *Corpse Blood Skill*, *Refine Corpse Detailed Explanation*, *Refine Corpse Overview*, *Heavenly Work Open Corpse*, *Corpse Gate Source Flow*, *Corpse Types Theory*...

The categories varied, including skills, overviews, miscellaneous discussions, historical records, and anecdotes...

Mo Hua's eyes were opened.

Just in corpse refining alone, these corpse cultivators had actually researched so many methods.

The cultivation world was indeed vast and complex.

Mo Hua immediately began to read these corpse path books.

But he hadn't read for many days before he felt unwell both physically and mentally.

The books were full of bloody and strange details, and the illustrations were cruel and ugly, making people want to vomit.

Mo Hua felt somewhat helpless.

"This matter of refining corpses is indeed not something normal people learn..."

"Which normal cultivator would be interested in refining corpses?"

Mo Hua couldn't help but shake his head.

But he still endured the disgust and continued to read.

However, even though he read a lot, he still only understood half of it. Many parts were completely unclear, and there were many places he didn't understand.

"It seems I have no talent in this corpse refining path..."

Mo Hua felt somewhat calm, and also somewhat fortunate.

He read through these books generally and then stopped forcing himself. He didn't continue to research further, but instead recorded some of his questions, preparing to "consult" a corpse cultivator.

This corpse cultivator had to be honest, obedient, and also a bit stupid.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to get answers from him.

Mo Hua spent several days "selecting" among the corpse cultivators in the corpse mine and suddenly discovered a familiar person.

It was Lu Ming, a young Lu family disciple with a somewhat mean face.

Mo Hua's expression slightly changed.

Lu Ming...

It was that Lu family cultivator—Lu Ming—who had led Mo Hua into the Lu family mine when investigating the missing five mine cultivators at the beginning. He had encountered a horribly dead corpse, vomited until the sky was dark, and was then "threatened" by Mo Hua to reveal some Lu family secrets.

Lu Ming no longer had his former arrogant appearance.

His face, like other corpse cultivators, was as pale as paper, his expression defeated and gray, without a hint of vitality. He didn't speak much; whatever others told him to do, he followed obediently, like a living walking corpse.

Mo Hua observed Lu Ming for several days.

He discovered that Lu Ming seemed to have only recently arrived and was considered a newcomer here, one of the lowest-level corpse cultivators.

Every day he learned corpse refining, did odd jobs, and listened to people's commands.

In the evening, he would "lie like a corpse" on the bed, his expression blank, not knowing what he was thinking.

Lu Ming was still very easy to get answers from.

Mo Hua had just asked him several questions before.

Late at night, Mo Hua concealed himself and left the door, entering Lu Ming's stone room. He quietly looked at him.

The stone room was quiet, and there was no one around.

Lu Ming lay on the bed, his expression numb, but suddenly became twisted and pained. He grabbed his head with both hands, curled up on the bed, and murmured:

"...How can I be so unlucky?"

"It's actually corpse refining... I'm finished..."

"I'll never marry a wife in this life..."

He regretted painfully for a while, then fiercely pounded the wall, complaining:

"It's all that little ghost's fault!"

"It's all his fault!"

"Whose fault is it?" Mo Hua asked.

In the quiet stone room, a voice suddenly rang out, strange and childish.

Lu Ming was so scared his soul almost left his body.

He hurriedly struggled for a few moments, then sat up in panic, only to see a small figure gradually appear on a chair by the wall.

"Ah—"

Lu Ming's scream was cut short as he quickly covered his mouth with both hands.

He abruptly stopped his scream to avoid being discovered by other corpse cultivators.

Mo Hua picked up the teapot on the table, poured himself a cup of tea, sniffed the smell, and found that although it was inferior tea, there was no smell of blood or fish. It was proper tea water, so he took a sip, savored it, and then asked Lu Ming:

"Whose fault is it?"

The voice was clear and familiar.

Lu Ming's frightened soul just settled down. He looked carefully and recognized Mo Hua. He slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

It was a person, and even considered a "familiar person," not a ghost, and not a corpse.

Lu Ming leaned back against the wall and panted heavily.

Seeing Mo Hua, Lu Ming was somewhat surprised, but also not surprised.

He had seen Mo Hua in the corpse mine before.

Array masters who came and went, as long as they had real talent and learning, would be courted by the Lu family.

Mo Hua was no exception.

But he still hadn't thought that Mo Hua's status could be so high, that he could enter the corpse mine without needing to refine corpses, and was still treated extremely well, even able to talk and laugh freely with the Lu family head.

Even many of the Lu family's elders didn't have this treatment.

He just didn't know why Mo Hua would enter his room without anyone knowing.

Lu Ming wanted to ask but didn't dare.

Cultivators favored and treated by the family head, no matter how young, were not people he, a former small Lu family disciple and now a small corpse cultivator in the corpse mine, could question.

Mo Hua asked him a question, and he similarly didn't dare not answer.

Lu Ming hesitated for a moment, then stammered:

"If it weren't for you... I also wouldn't... have been sent in..."

Mo Hua took a sip of tea, nodded, and understood.

In the mine at the beginning, Lu Ming had told him some of the Lu family's affairs.

Although he later reported this matter to the Lu family head, his behavior was still considered loose-lipped.

So he was punished and sent to the corpse mine to become a corpse cultivator.

Lu Ming, as a person, wasn't great, but he wasn't completely bad either.

He probably couldn't accept the matter of refining corpses, but his body was not his own, so he had to accept it.

Thus, he was numb all day, like a walking corpse, and only dared to vent some emotions alone in the evening.

Mo Hua thought for a bit and suddenly asked:

"How is your corpse refining learning coming along?"

Lu Ming was stunned, not knowing why Mo Hua was asking this, but still reluctantly replied:

"Average..."

"Have you refined a corpse?"

"Not yet... I've only followed other corpse cultivators and learned some knowledge of corpse refining..."

Mo Hua's eyes slightly brightened, "How have you learned?"

"It's okay..."

Lu Ming mumbled.

Mo Hua took out a small strip of paper, coughed, and said very seriously:

"Then I'll test you a bit."

Lu Ming was stunned, "Why?"

Mo Hua frowned, "I'm testing you to see if you have the desire to improve. If you learn well, I'll speak a few good words for you in front of the family head, and you'll be promoted in the future."

Mo Hua made something up on the spot.

Lu Ming was a bit confused, but still asked:

"Why?"

Mo Hua tsked, "You and I at least know each other. You entered the mine and became a corpse cultivator because of me..."

"If I didn't know about this, it would be fine. Now that I know, I naturally want to find a way to give you some benefits and make up for it a bit."

"Oh..."

Lu Ming felt it made sense, but it also seemed... to make no sense.

A casual acquaintance, for no reason, would speak a few good words for himself?

Lu Ming was still somewhat puzzled.

He still wanted to ask "why," but didn't say it out and was interrupted by Mo Hua.

Mo Hua put on a small, stern face and said forcefully:

"I ask, you answer. Where does all this nonsense come from!"

Lu Ming was intimidated by Mo Hua's demeanor, felt a little guilty, and slowly nodded.

Mo Hua then read from the small strip of paper.

The small strip of paper recorded some "knowledge" about corpse refining that he didn't understand, for example:

"How are zombies graded?"

"What is the relationship between grades and ranks?"

"What types of zombies are there? What are the abilities of each?"

And so on...

Lu Ming, unaware of the underlying purpose, honestly answered:

"Zombies are graded by both grades and ranks."

"'Grades' are simply first, second, third, and fourth grade, equivalent to cultivators' Qi Refining, Foundation Building, Golden Core..."

"'Ranks' are the ranks of zombies, divided into 'Gold,' 'Silver,' 'Copper,' 'Iron,' and the lowest-level walking corpses..."

"There is a distinction and an association between the grades and ranks of zombies, but they are also mutually independent."

"Like demon beasts and other categories, the strength of zombies is based on 'grades'."

"First-grade walking corpses, second-grade walking corpses, third-grade walking corpses... all have strength corresponding to the initial stage of their respective great realms."

"Above walking corpses are iron corpses. With each increase in rank, the abilities of zombies undergo a qualitative change."

"Their flesh becomes harder, their corpse poison becomes thicker, and they gain some special corpse path abilities..."

Mo Hua was still a bit confused and didn't quite understand. He then said seriously:

"Give an example and simply explain the relationship between zombie grades and ranks."

Lu Ming felt as if he was being tested by a tutor. His heart tightened. He thought for a long time, then said:

"Zombie grades are based on 'grades' and levels are set by 'ranks'..."

"First-grade zombies generally only have two ranks: walking corpses and iron corpses..."

"A first-grade walking corpse is just an ordinary Qi Refining zombie."

"A first-grade iron corpse, according to cultivation level, should be at the peak of Qi Refining ninth level, but because of their copper heads and iron arms, they are enough to rival some early-stage Foundation Building cultivators."

"Second-grade zombies, the lowest are still walking corpses, generally refine into iron corpses, but the highest can refine into copper corpses..."

"A second-grade walking corpse has comparable strength to a first-grade iron corpse. But because their skin and flesh are rotten, they will suffer some losses in a real fight."

"A second-grade iron corpse is very strong, equivalent to a mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator, and can sweep away early-stage Foundation Building first-grade iron corpses."

"And a second-grade copper corpse, with thick corpse qi and a body like copper and iron, is equivalent to a late-stage Foundation Building cultivator and is very powerful."

Mo Hua suddenly realized.

He had previously thought that iron corpses were all the same, all having the strength of a Foundation Building cultivator.

But iron corpses were also divided by grades.

A first-grade iron corpse was only comparable to a Foundation Building cultivator.

A second-grade iron corpse was then a mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator, even stronger than early-stage Foundation Building cultivators.

Looking at it this way, the iron corpses in the corpse mine could not be generalized.

The two tall iron corpses guarding the door should be two second-grade iron corpses.

Other iron corpses were a mix of first and second grade.

The overall strength of the zombies under Lu Chengyun was much stronger than Mo Hua had thought...

Mo Hua furrowed his brow slightly.

He looked at Lu Ming again and said, "Keep talking."

Lu Ming nodded, "Besides, there are third-grade zombies, but none of us can refine them, so some records are not very detailed..."

"Third-grade zombies, the lowest are walking corpses, the highest can be refined into gold corpses."

"Above fourth grade, the lowest are walking corpses. According to what they say, there is even a possibility of refining true flying zombies..."

Lu Ming carefully explained everything to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua generally understood.

All zombies were based on "grades."

The zombies refined started at the lower limit as walking corpses, but the upper limit was different.

The higher the "grade," the higher the upper limit of "ranks."

The upper limit for first grade was iron corpses, for second grade was copper corpses, while for third grade was gold corpses...

The corpse refining methods in the corpse mine were obtained from the Zhang family and inherited for several hundred years. Even if there were some differences, they shouldn't be too significant.

What kind of corpse was in that Bronze Coffin?

A copper corpse comparable to a late-stage Foundation Building cultivator?

Mid-stage Foundation Building was acceptable, but a late-stage Foundation Building cultivator, a zombie of this strength, even if refined, Lu Chengyun couldn't suppress it.

This didn't quite align with Mo Hua's previous speculations.

"Are there any special corpses?" Mo Hua asked again.

Mo Hua remembered that in *Corpse Gate Source Flow* and *Corpse Types Theory*, there were mentions of some special function zombies. Although they were also divided by "grades," they were not within the usual "ranks" system.

"Yes."

Lu Ming nodded and said seriously:

"There are some special zombies with special functions, not divided by strength, so they are not classified by 'gold, silver, copper, iron'."

"For example, puppet corpses are just flesh puppets, not people, not counted as corpses, just puppets similar to wood and stone."

"And doll corpses..."

"People are refined into human dolls, retaining their appearance, skin, and body shape. They are soaked in spirit water with flowers and grass, with no rotten smell, the skin is ice cold, but soft and tender as if alive."

"Many cultivators will spend a lot of money to buy them."

"As well as figurine corpses..."

"People are killed and refined into zombies resembling pottery figurines."

"This type of zombie is generally used for burial companions."

"Not only in the demonic path, but in the past, the righteous path also used them."

"Ten thousand years ago, some righteous path large families, leaders of large sects or supreme elders, would 'grant' some close cultivators death after their own death and refine them into figurine corpses for burial companions."

"However, although this kind of thing is not very humane, it has been gradually abolished by the Dao Court in the last ten thousand years..."

Mo Hua listened, his brows furrowing.

Doll corpses resembling human dolls?

Figurine corpses used for burial companions?

Cultivators can be truly perverse when they become perverse...

(End of this chapter)