Soaring through the sky on crane-back, the Crooked-Mouth Old Man furiously drew talisman after talisman while cursing: "Fine, fine, here we go again."

"This time I've finally caught you red-handed!!!"

"First you stole three of mine, now you're digging up my reserves!!"

"You're really milking this old Daoist dry!"

"Before I couldn't divine your location, but now I've got you right in front of me!"

"Let me tell you, you're in for a world of trouble once I catch you!!"

The Crooked-Mouth Old Man desperately scribbled talismans. No words would be needed later—he'd simply scatter them downward. With a wave of his hand, thousands of talismans would rain down regardless of who stood below. One thing was certain—whoever dared steal his corpses would become corpses themselves!

Beyond the old Daoist, powerful figures from across the land were converging on the location, all recipients of Shui Xuan's past favors. Though not all who heard the earlier summons had come—after all, not everyone possessed grateful natures—a considerable number were en route.

Simultaneously, Yunhai's 749 Bureau agents were also speeding toward the scene. In no time, the Blackwater River section of the Yellow River became the focal point of widespread attention.

Unaware of these developments, Lu Ding was currently engaged in a brutal tag-team assault against the Water Corpse Flying Zombie alongside Wutian, who had activated his Indestructible Vajra Body. The tomb chamber lay in ruins, their battle's aftershocks shaking heaven and earth.

The flying zombie retreated midair, opening its maw filled with jagged fangs to unleash a thunderous roar: "ROAR!!!!"

A torrent of corpse miasma erupted forth, conjuring overlapping illusions of a world flooded with blood, teeming with hordes of vicious water corpses that charged alongside the noxious fumes.

Wutian dodged frantically. "Lu Ding, avoid its miasma!!!"

The mercury lake's surface exploded, geysers reaching the tomb ceiling as an arrogant, supremely confident voice rang out: "As if it deserves that consideration!!!"

Lu Ding stepped forward, forming hand seals as spiritual energy surged. A stone tablet materialized before him—ancient, monumental, radiating an unshakable aura. Its surface bore intricately carved depictions of the mythical Aoyu fish, jaws agape with lifelike ferocity, alongside bold calligraphy proclaiming:

[Unshakable as Mountain - Stone Dang]

BOOM!!!

The path was barred.

This marked the debut of the spell [Unshakable as Mountain] in this world.

As the corpse miasma crashed against the immovable tablet, Lu Ding stood firm behind it, channeling energy into his palms now wreathed in black smoke flickering with crimson light. He pressed both hands against the tablet and began advancing relentlessly through the miasma torrent—pure force against force.

Witnessing this, Wutian's worldview received seismic reinforcement. Should anyone henceforth claim Buddhist Vajra defenses were peerless, he'd vehemently disagree. Compared to this unprecedented technique of Lu Ding's, they weren't even in the same league.

Pushing the tablet closer to the faltering zombie, Lu Ding suddenly felt the opposing force weaken. He wrenched the tablet free, spinning it behind his back in a maneuver that made Wutian exclaim: "You can use the Monk's Demon-Subduing Technique like that!!?"

Mid-cry, Lu Ding released the tablet. Its innate crushing weight combined with terrifying velocity sent the flying zombie tumbling head over heels. Wutian leaped into action, delivering a flying kick over Lu Ding's head straight to the zombie's chest.

Before it could recover, Lu Ding struck again—a blade-hand chop to the neck spraying green blood as the zombie reeled sideways into Wutian's devastating roundhouse kick to the abdomen. Forced into a hunched position, it ate an uppercut wreathed in black energy that shattered its jaw.

As the zombie's head snapped back, a golden-armored elbow drop hammered its spine, driving it knees-first into the ground with such force that fissures spiderwebbed outward, destabilizing the mountain chamber.

Though zombie physiques were legendary, Lu Ding and Wutian's bodies proved mightier still. Their relentless combo attacks left the flying zombie barely able to defend, let alone counter.

Like a merciful Buddha descending, Wutian's movements carried restrained lethality—an ascetic's compassion in every strike. In stark contrast, Lu the Year God manifested as a deity of carnage—every punch and kick engineered for maximum fatality.

Golden lion crouched as the sin dragon coiled. The kneeling zombie faced divine assault—simultaneous palm strike to the brow and fist to the occiput.

BOOM!!!!!

The flying zombie's head vaporized instantly.

From resurrection to final destruction, its brief existence had been an unbroken sequence of violent beatings. The headless corpse twitched several times—proof of its tenacious undead nature—before Lu Ding punted it airborne.

With a sweeping gesture, the Way of the Jinche's Slash Attack activated, mincing the remains midair into falling meat confetti. If this didn't constitute permanent death, then color him impressed.

[Contained Creature: Flying Zombie]

[Containment Reward: Heaven-Earth Sundering Hands]

[Heaven-Earth Sundering Hands: Physical combat art manipulating miasma energy to sunder earth and sky]

Lu Ding's mind illuminated with understanding. This Blackwater Market expedition had overdelivered—not only successfully integrating the [Unshakable as Mountain] spell but gaining a genuine physical technique [Heaven-Earth Sundering Hands]. Moreover, its miasma manipulation aligned perfectly with his own flesh-miasma energy. The destructive potential of channeling his internal reserves through this technique was incalculable.

Post-epiphany, Lu Ding examined the golden coffin—the flying zombie's former resting place. Such creatures were household names, documented in classical texts like "What the Master Would Not Discuss" and "Yuewei Cottage Notes"—blood-drinking, murderous, winged horrors requiring divine intervention to subdue at their peak.

Historical musings would have to wait—the collapsing mountain demanded urgency. Lu Ding replaced the coffin lid. Though uncertain of its purpose, its value was indisputable. Having come this far, why leave empty-handed? The 749 Bureau could determine its uses later.

Hoisting the golden coffin, Lu Ding called out: "Feifan?"

Silence. He nodded approvingly—the kid had escaped. Excellent. This was exactly right. Only fools would linger in such situations to spectate. When given the chance to flee, one should bolt immediately without backward glances.

Turning to Wutian, Lu Ding pointed upward: "I'll tunnel us out—follow my lead."