Chapter 714: Farewell, Calamity

"Master, can you really not maintain your current state as is? Even if you're in the form of a zombie, it doesn't matter," Xiao Nanfeng fretted.

Ku Jiang shook his head. "These zombies are very strange. I do have a technique that allows me to merge my truesoul with this zombie's body, but my truesoul is the basis of my existence. If I do so, I'll have to give up on my main body."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng's face fell.

"What's more, I can sense an abnormal twist of natural law in these zombified bodies. Once this article is triggered, my body will become a puppet to be controlled. I don't want to refine this zombified body only to end up as a puppet," Ku Jiang replied.

Xiao Nanfeng could only sigh.

"I'm afraid I have nothing to bestow upon you but this storage bangle, which contains my paltry treasures."

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I'll await your return, Master. Allow me to safeguard this bangle for you for the time being."

"Very well. After all, you have more and better treasures than I do. I'm afraid what I have is rather limited and shabby in comparison. That said, there are a few jade slips within that contain my insight into cultivation and several secret techniques. They may be of use to you."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"This Wolfsbane Cave was filled with a large quantity of treasure and Immortal relics, though I doubt they're of much value to you. I've stored them all in the bangle. If you need them, feel free to use them. The best relic here is this guqin, a Golden Immortal relic. Neither you nor Yuanjiao have introduced music into your cultivation. Give this to Yu'er so that she may maintain her training with the musical arts." Ku Jiang passed a guqin to Xiao Nanfeng.

"I understand, Master!"

"There were a large number of spiritual herbs here as well. I've absorbed them all and used my own body as a cauldron to concoct a divine pill. I discovered that the spiritual herbs here all contained cursed spiritual power, which I was able to extract with my body. With the latent spirituality of the herbs, and of my own cultivation, I was able to condense this pill that may be able to help Yuanjiao advance into a Golden Immortal. Hand it to him when you return," Ku Jiang said.

Ku Jiang's body trembled. Except for his head, which remained largely unchanged, the rest of his body suddenly withdrew into itself until he was all but a skeleton.

Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly stepped forward to support him as Ku Jiang opened his mouth and spat out a resplendent golden pill.

"This is akin to a Golden Immortal pill. I hope it'll be of use to Yuanjiao. I've transferred all my body's vitality into it," Ku Jiang said weakly.

Xiao Nanfeng claimed the pill as Ku Jiang's withered body dissipated into clouds of black smoke. Black hands seemed to manifest weakly within the smoke, which gushed out of the cave and vanished from sight.

"Master!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.

"Remember: let Tang bring my head back to Hongyue. We will reunite one day," Ku Jiang promised, smiling.

Then, even his consciousness faded away, leaving only his zombified head behind.

Xiao Nanfeng took a long, shuddering breath. He kowtowed at the zombified head. Tang mimicked his actions.

Then, Xiao Nanfeng handed the head to Tang. "Take it with you on Master's behalf."

"I understand." Tang kept the head, then asked, "Your Majesty, what's the situation like outside?"

"It's very dangerous. We aren't safe here, either. Zombies may come looking for us, so we can't remain here for long. We'll have to set off immediately."

"Understood!" Tang shuddered.

The two cultivators examined their surroundings as they flew out of the cave and headed toward the mountainous forests in the distance. When they reached the forests, they found that a group of zombies had already flown toward Wolfsbane Cave and were investigating it.

"We were almost trapped by those zombies!" Tang exclaimed in relief.

"They're strong, too," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning. "There's a Golden Immortal zombie among that horde."

If he hadn't left at once, the zombies would have trapped him and Tang within. He could take on even a Golden Immortal zombie, but who knew what further dangers lay in wait?

Given Tang's nature as an omen of calamity, what if he lured a zombie king toward them? What would Xiao Nanfeng do then?

As they flew to safety, Xiao Nanfeng immediately said, "Tang, you should leave the black coffin hidden realm for now."

Although Xiao Nanfeng believed in his ability to survive even under disastrous circumstances, he hardly wanted to trigger Tang's latent curse.

"Aren't you going to leave as well, Your Majesty?" Tang asked.

"Not at the moment. Go reunite with the officials of Hongyue. It'll be suspicious for you to remain with me for too long."

Under his breath, he muttered, "Better that you go curse Hongyue instead."

"I understand, Your Majesty. Farewell." Tang bowed.

"Remember to think of a good excuse for managing to escape. Don't let your fellow officials catch you off-guard."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Tang smiled. "I'm skilled at this."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. Tang was meticulous, and it was unlikely that he would have any trouble.

Tang retrieved a black talisman and activated it. A bubble of black light surrounded him, lifting him into the heavens. Xiao Nanfeng flew up alongside him as a precaution.

Suddenly, numerous figures flew toward him.

"Zombies? How did they find their way here?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"It isn't my fault, Your Majesty!" Tang cried out.

Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. Was this because Tang was an omen of calamity? Despite their relative safety, they had still been cursed with bad luck. The zombies had found them even in this secluded region of the hidden realm!

"Forget it. Don't worry about the situation. I'll guard you, so keep ascending!"

"Understood!" Tang replied.

By then, the zombies had closed in on them. Xiao Nanfeng shot forward and punched the zombie in the forefront.

The other zombies leapt forward, but none were a match for Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng held back all the zombies with his Hegemon's Fist.

Unfortunately, for some reason, more and more zombies were gathering around the area.

Xiao Nanfeng gritted his teeth. In order to allow Tang to leave safely, he had no choice but to take on all the zombies. The fighting grew more and more intense.

"Tang's powers as an omen of calamity must have grown even stronger. How can there be so many zombies in the vicinity? He's like a horseman of the apocalypse now!" Xiao Nanfeng muttered.

Only when Tang vanished entirely from sight did Xiao Nanfeng sigh in relief. He then sensed a frightening aura home in on him, as if a Golden Immortal zombie had spotted him.

He blanched and flew off immediately, vanishing beyond the other end of the forest.

Before long, back in Dazheng, Tang's avatar reported to a spectral guard. "Inform His Majesty that my main body safely made it out of the black coffin and has reunited with Hongyue's officials. I was commended for bringing out Senior Uncle Ku's zombified head with me."

"Your report has been received, Marquis Tang. His Majesty informs you to be careful."

Tang nodded.

Back in the black coffin hidden realm, Xiao Nanfeng continued roaming through the forests. Somehow, he had been chased by a zombie horde day after day. Though there were some close calls, he had all but verified a certain truth.

"Tang's bad luck really has grown even stronger than before. I flew through a huge expanse of the realm without attracting any zombies' attention while searching for Master, but after just a short interaction with Tang, zombies have been chasing me for a few days. Could he really have cursed Master to death? No wonder Master trapped Tang in a stone chamber and refused to interact with him while having transformed into a zombie." Xiao Nanfeng sighed, then consoled himself. "Forget it. Tang's with the Hongyue officials now, at any rate. I'm sure his curse on me is close to expiring."

He continued to skulk around the realm, trying to uncover what the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue was up to. Without figuring out his plans, Shenfeng would have a far harder time in the upcoming war against Hongyue.

Over the last few days, he saw some cultivators succeed in stealing Immortal relics and pills from the zombies, but the majority found themselves zombified instead.

After yet another few days, he found his way to a gathering spot teeming with cultivators, who were exchanging information and relics.

He joined them while wearing a bamboo hat and obscuring his appearance with fog and spiritual power, preventing others from recognizing him.

Just then, he suddenly saw a familiar face. "Ao Canghai's subordinate!"

A Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court was hovering in the air. He shouted at the cultivators within the valley, "Eastern Aspect Ao is intending to take on a zombie king. Does any cultivator here wish to join him?"

All the cultivators lifted their heads in surprise.

"Eastern Aspect Ao will be responsible for taking on the zombie king, and we will handle the zombie king's subordinates. You will receive whatever share of treasure you claim for yourself. Is anyone willing to join in? Of course, if you aren't going to participate in the fight, you won't be allowed to claim any of the spoils. If you're caught doing so, you'll be put to death," the Martial Aspect continued.

"A zombie king? I did see that zombie king's cave filled with treasure the other day. If Eastern Aspect Ao is going to take on the most challenging foe..."

"With Ao Canghai taking on the zombie king, what do we have to fear?"

"I'll go!"

"I'll go as well!"

Countless cultivators volunteered in excitement.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned at the news. Did even Ao Canghai need reinforcements?

He couldn't help but feel that there was something amiss about Ao Canghai's recruitment. It wasn't a logical thing for him to do—recruiting a group of strangers that weren't particularly trustworthy or reliable was dangerous, unless Ao Canghai only intended to treat them as cannon fodder.

He was interested, but didn't register.

The majority of the cultivators present in the valley, however, signed up to take on a zombie king alongside Ao Canghai.