122: The Arrogance of Necrotic Projection, The Boundless Power of the Dharma Wheel

Seeing the Scorpion Emperor knocked to the ground by Baldy, Muto seized the opportunity and struck again with his sword. Had this blow landed true, the Scorpion Emperor’s life would surely have ended. However, just as Muto’s blade descended and the creature had no time to defend, a ray of white light suddenly shot forth from the void, aiming straight for Muto’s forehead. At that critical moment, the basic martial arts skill cards Muto had previously mastered proved miraculously effective; he tilted his body and dodged the ambush, shifting the angle of the Ancient Zhuxian Sword to continue his assault on the Scorpion Emperor.

Despite this slight delay, the Scorpion Emperor managed to lift its steel-like pincers to block the blow. While the pincers were shattered, its head was at least saved. Only then did Muto turn to look; the white light had been a bone spear.

"Hmph! Fine reflexes. Which trade association do you belong to? Oh? No association insignia. I suppose you are merely ordinary plane-travelers. How dare you destroy a trial site of the Anubis Trade Association! Are you not afraid of incurring Lord Anubis’s wrath?" As he spoke, a dark figure manifested in the space. He stood suspended in mid-air, directly above the summit of the pyramid, looking down at the group with eyes full of arrogance.

This individual had arrived without a sound or trace. Given the cultivation levels of Muto and his companions, none could fathom how he had appeared. He was deathly pale, draped in a black robe, with a peculiar, unsettling face and drooping eyebrows—truly a miserable, sinister visage. Yet, the group did not dare underestimate him. From his pale hands, which protruded from his robes, he held a black orb the size of a football. It radiated mysterious dark energy and waves of death; at a glance, it seemed as if countless wronged souls were imprisoned within, emitting tragic, mournful wails.

"And who are you? This is Earth. Since when did it become a trial site for your Anubis Trade Association?" Muto retorted bluntly.

The man raged, "Audacious! How dare you show such contempt for the Anubis Trade Association!" As he spoke, he raised the black orb and began chanting an incantation. Countless bone spears manifested out of thin air, raining down like meteors, madly firing toward Muto.

"Dimension, open!" Gu Feng pointed his staff, and a massive fissure suddenly tore open in the space before Muto, pulling the incoming bone spears into an alternate dimension.

The man exclaimed in surprise, "Oh! So there is a master of spatial magic among you. No wonder you dare to be so arrogant!"

"Soul Orb! You are a necromancer!" Gu Feng stepped to Muto’s side, pointing at him. "This object requires the souls of ten thousand unjustly murdered spirits to refine. You are utterly devoid of conscience."

The man sneered, "You have some insight, but I did not refine this myself. It was automatically collected by this trial site!"

Muto was incensed. "No wonder this place is called the Death Latitude. So you are the ones playing these dirty tricks!"

The man scoffed again. "What dirty tricks? According to the Laws of the Planes and the rules of the Trade Association Alliance, the first to discover a plane has priority access to its resources. Where did you crawl out from? How can you not know this rule?"

By now, the man still assumed Muto and his companions were members of another trade association, unaware that Muto was actually from Earth. Hearing the man treat the deceased as mere resources, Muto felt his heart swell with indignation. Indeed, in such a dangerous place, who but a member of a plane-trading association could enter and possess the strength to damage the maternal host used to cultivate the Scorpion King?

Just then, Zigui spoke through the system: "This person has no energy fluctuations. His power comes entirely from the Soul Orb!"

Muto and Gu Feng were taken aback, not quite grasping the meaning. Then, Lu Daoxuan transmitted via the system: "This person has no vital life signs. He is likely projecting himself here through some device. His power source is contained entirely within the Soul Orb that collects the spirits!"

Muto and the others realized the truth. He had been using the power of the orb to launch his attacks. Muto pointed at him and said, "So, this is merely a projection!"

The man paused, seemingly surprised that they had seen through his ruse so quickly. He sneered, "Very well, you have some sharp eyes. I am the person in charge of this Anubis Trade Association trial site..."

Before he could finish, a furious voice bellowed, "Fine! So, Xiao Fu, you are the one in charge of this site! You are completely irresponsible! The Scorpion Emperor you were suppressing broke free and nearly cost me my life!"

A small green figure emerged from nowhere, tucking something away as he jumped down to stand below the dark shadow. He hopped up and down, pointing at him and cursing, "I am going to file a complaint with the Trade Association Alliance! Your negligence caused the Scorpion Emperor to break free, topple the Spirit-Suppressing Tower, and destroy the aircraft modified by our Judgment Trade Association!"

*Spirit-Suppressing Tower?* Muto and the others were briefly stunned before realizing he meant the pyramid. It turned out the pyramid was the key facility for imprisoning the Scorpion Emperor. Muto wondered if the existing pyramids in Egypt also contained such ferocious beasts. As he pondered, he saw Xiao Fu, previously so arrogant, look stunned at the sight of the green figure, then break into a cold sweat. He stammered, "Ah... Lord Shete, please, calm down... The location of the Scorpion Emperor’s prison was set by Lord Anubis himself. I never expected there to be an issue..." He wiped sweat from his forehead. "It must be that these plane-travelers damaged the structure of the tower, causing the Scorpion Emperor to escape!"

He was clearly trying to shirk responsibility, hoping to frame Muto and his companions since they appeared to lack the protection of an association.

Unexpectedly, Shete jumped up and cursed, "Bullshit! You want to pass the buck? I arrived the earliest and know exactly what happened. I came to hunt some Scorpion King tails to complete my promotion mission, only to find the Scorpion Emperor about to break out from the lowest level of the tower. If I hadn’t run fast, I’d be dead by now!"

He then turned to Muto’s group. "If these brothers hadn't intervened and stopped the Scorpion Emperor from escaping, your Anubis Trade Association would have violated the Laws of the Planes and the regulations of the Alliance. You would have been in serious trouble."

Xiao Fu laughed softly. "Lord Shete, as long as you don't report this, I guarantee I can resolve this matter perfectly." He cast a sinister, mocking gaze at Muto and the others.

Shete paused, asking curiously, "How do you intend to resolve this perfectly?"

Xiao Fu looked at Muto, his voice chillingly cold: "Dead men tell no tales!" He raised the Soul Orb, preparing to launch an attack.

Zigui chuckled, "This kid thinks that because he’s a projection, we can’t hurt him, and he wants to end us here!"

Hearing Zigui expose his plan, Xiao Fu laughed coldly. "I’m sorry, but you are merely ordinary plane-travelers without the protection of an association!"

"Wait," Zigui asked, "What are plane-travelers, and what are these trade associations?"

Xiao Fu paused, astonished. "You don't even know this? I understand now; you haven't entered the Great Planes yet! Hmph, I feel even more relieved now!"

*Plane-travelers? The Great Planes?* These terms confused Muto and his group. However, seeing his smug look, Zigui couldn't help but say, "Do you really think we cannot attack you?"

Xiao Fu sneered, beginning to chant an incantation, clearly ready to strike.

"Stop..." Shete stood in the middle, looking righteous. "Xiao Fu, this is wrong..."

But his words were cut off by Xiao Fu: "Lord Shete, the rule of the Great Planes is that strength is everything. I have not violated the Laws of the Planes. Even if the Trade Association Alliance finds out, I trust they will have no objections to my methods!"

"Heh... this kid says strength is everything! Muto, we have to teach him a lesson!" Zigui smirked.

Muto spread his hands. "With his current strength, it would be extremely difficult for him to hurt us, but our attacks on him are equally ineffective. What can we do?"

Zigui said nothing, only pointing at Lu Daoxuan. Muto realized immediately. Among the five of them, his own, Gu Feng’s, Baldy’s, and Zigui’s methods—while varied—always acted upon the surface of objects or beings. Lu Daoxuan, however, had taken a unique path, capable of directly striking a soul. Perhaps he could truly inflict damage on this necromancer.

Seeing the expectant looks of his companions, Lu Daoxuan stepped forward and said calmly, "I shall try... Dharma Wheel Turning—Boundless Divine Power!"

As he circled his hands, a massive Dharma Wheel manifested in the space. The necromancer paused, his expression growing grave. "A soul-targeting attack... However, there are three major planes, three thousand minor planes, and countless infinitesimal worlds in the infinite universe. If you can find the location of my true body, I will yield and stop without you needing to attack!"

Zigui sneered, "You are quite the schemer. If we can't find your true body, we remain at your mercy. If we do find it, you claim you’ll yield. Heh, you lose nothing either way!"

A faint flush appeared on Xiao Fu's pale face. "Then let us add a condition: I will answer any questions you have, provided they do not involve the secrets of the trade association!"

As they spoke, the Dharma Wheel turned, appearing to traverse countless dimensions. Various wondrous scenes flashed before their eyes—seas of purgatorial fire, fields of black ice and quicksand—all likely the countless infinitesimal worlds. After a moment, the wheel stopped. In the void, a secret chamber appeared, where a figure in black sat with his hands resting upon a strange white stone. Perhaps sensing something, the figure opened his eyes and looked at the Dharma Wheel in shock... This man, identical in appearance to the projection holding the Soul Orb, was undoubtedly his true body.

"Hmph!" Lu Daoxuan snorted, withdrawing his power. He said nothing, merely watching him silently.

Zigui chuckled, "Well? You lost, didn't you?"

Xiao Fu’s face went pale, and cold sweat broke out across his back. *Fortunately, I didn't attack,* he thought to himself. *Who are these people? To be able to cross countless dimensions and lock onto my true body—even Lord Anubis might not be able to do this. They are too strong, far too strong!*