Unrivaled Martial Emperor-Chapter 876 - Compel

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

Suddenly, countless withered vines darted toward them from all directions. The air exploded as they swept toward the group to drag them away.

Looking closer, the group realized the attack originated from the withered forest several kilometers away. The barren trees, adorned with large white cocoons, extended their deadly vines across the vast distance.

“Corpse Bearing Trees! Damn it!” Gu Tian cursed, gnashing his teeth as he chopped off the vines sweeping toward them.

The others also looked apprehensive.

The environment here had mutated everything, so there wasn’t a single normal organism in this mountain range; even the plants here had transformed into something strange and terrifying.

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The most horrifying aspect of the Corpse Bearing Trees was their ability to capture prey, drain it of blood essence and primeval qi, and encase it in corpse cocoons. After centuries of exposure to the Yin wind, these cocoons would hatch into jiangshi, spreading havoc.

Scanning their surroundings, Chen Fan and the others noticed these sinister trees everywhere.

Grayish-white corpse cocoons hung from the tree branches like butterfly pupae. However, butterflies would emerge from pupae, but terrifying jiangshi would emerge from these cocoons.

No wonder the Corpse Bearing Trees were infamously known as jiangshi factories.

Fortunately, the group did not get too close, with several kilometers between them, avoiding the worst of the danger.

Chen Fan and the others quickly repelled the lashing vines and hurriedly left this area.

“This mountain range is extremely strange. It contains who knows how many powerful but weird creatures. Even peak Heavenly Star realm experts would have perished here. We must be extremely careful.” Shang Ziyan’s expression turned grave.

His secret plotting against Chen Fan momentarily took a back seat as he focused on the more immediate danger—the deadly environment they now faced. Survival was the priority; only then could he continue his schemes.

Chen Fan said, “Shang Ziyan, since you started this operation, you should have some understanding of this mountain range. You have a detailed map, right? Show it to us. At least let us know what’s going on.”

Su Tong had told him at the very beginning that Shang Ziyan, Lei Yuanjie, Su Tong, and Xiao Yuanyuan were the founding members of this squad. As the mastermind behind the expedition, Shang Ziyan’s lack of preparation seemed implausible.

The group’s attention shifted to Shang Ziyan.

They all knew that Shang Ziyan had started this expedition, and they had now seen the many horrors of this mountain range—like the Corpse Bearing Trees capable of dragging even Manifestation realm cultivators to their doom.

If this were an impromptu mission, the lack of foresight might have been forgivable. However, given Shang Ziyan’s role as the planner, withholding crucial information like a map was inexcusable.

In such a treacherous place, every advantage mattered. No one wished to die. Who would not be willing if there was a way to increase their chances of survival?

Shang Ziyan shot a glance at Chen Fan, killing intent rising in his eyes.

These people each harbored their agendas. He had formed this group with the sole intent of using them as cannon fodder when the time came, discarding them after they served their purpose. Naturally, he didn’t consider this a problem. Could a dead person still hold him accountable?

When they entered the secret realm, their life or death had already left their hands.

However, Chen Fan’s sudden question put him in a bind.

If he refused to share the information, the already fractured squad would grow even more divided. The group might disband entirely. Where would he find replacement pawns now?

“Audacious, who do you think you are!” The black-robed man immediately shouted, “Brother Shang is the captain of this squad, so what’s unsafe about him having control of the map? We just have to follow him.”

His words were met with a chorus of rolled eyes.

If this had been a united squad, such a statement might have held weight. But the reality was starkly different—they were merely a group of opportunists. They were simply sharing the bed with different dreams, with everyone on guard against one another.

Suspicion hung thick in the air, and trust was nonexistent.

As for the so-called “captain” the black-robed man referred to? That was even more of a joke. When faced with life-and-death situations, who cared if you were a captain or a general? In critical moments, they might even turn on one another.

None of them were fools—fools didn’t survive long in a place like this. These were all sharp individuals who saw through the situation clearly.

Shang Ziyan could not help but feel a headache, wondering if he had miscalculated. He shouldn’t have found such astute people as cannon fodders.

“And who do you think you are? What gives you the right to speak? Wanna join your big brother?” Chen Fan stared at him with an icy gaze, not concealing his killing intent at all. Everyone could sense the icy killing intent bursting from him.

If they were going to make a move, Chen Fan did not mind crushing this black-robed man. He didn’t want that eyesore to continue ruining his mood.

Gu Tian had long since fallen out with Shang Ziyan. Thus, he did not take him seriously at all and said, “Shang Ziyan, Chen Fan has a point. If you have a detailed map in your possession, show it to us to give us some confidence.”

They all knew the dangers lurking in this tomb. If Shang Ziyan led them to some treacherous area, wouldn’t they all die an unjust death?

It was clear that the others shared the same apprehensions.

Compared to trusting Shang Ziyan, they trusted their own knowledge and observations far more.

The others had been hesitating to speak out as they feared Shang Ziyan’s strength, but since Chen Fan had already taken the lead to make things difficult for him, they no longer had any qualms.

Everyone had realized by now that Chen Fan and Shang Ziyan were the strongest in the group.

Even though Chen Fan was only in the ninth-level Heavenly Star realm, his combat strength was there for all to see. He was not inferior to Shang Ziyan.

Shang Ziyan glanced at Chen Fan coldly. His killing intent was boiling over, deciding to eliminate Chen Fan the first chance he got. Shang Ziyan didn’t want him to ruin his plans later. This was a matter of critical importance, tied to obtaining the treasure and restoring his Martial Soul.

Facing the gazes, Shang Ziyan took a deep breath and said, “I had no intention of hiding the map from you. Since we’re in the same squad, we have to be united. To that end, I’ll show everyone my map.”

Shang Ziyan waved his hand, manifesting a map in the air.

It was the map of the entire mountain range. Some dangerous locations that had been explored by others were also marked out in dark red color.