Wayfarer

Chapter 711: The Black Coffin Hidden Realm

Into a hall in Hongyue's capital rushed Tu Siniang, clutching a sheaf of reports with her. She glanced up at the empress, Tu Jiuniang. "Jiuniang, something's gone wrong. Shenfeng has taken down its six neighboring empires, and its twelve Golden Immortals turned out to be Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates!"

Tu Jiuniang grimaced as she nodded. "I received the news as well. I originally thought that Xiao Nanfeng had allied with the Divine Emperor so as to disgust us. To think he would go this far!"

"Not only that, those twelve Golden Immortals are all disciples from the Taiqing Immortal Sect, too. Taiqing's developing far too rapidly, and it's surely going to seek revenge on the Immortal Emperor. We have to strike now, Jiuniang. Tell His Majesty!" Tu Siniang exclaimed.

Tu Jiuniang shook her head. "He's very busy at the moment and can't spare Shenfeng any mind. However, it's true that we can't leave Dazheng and Shenfeng around any longer."

"Do you intend to strike personally?" Tu Siniang exclaimed in surprise.

"Indeed. Since we're going to attack them, we might as well finish them off right away. If my husband isn't free, then I'll do it myself. That said, perhaps we should wait a little."

"For what?"

"For an auspicious occasion. Isn't Shenfeng about to hold an imperial examination? We'll take down Shenfeng in full view of the world then." Tu Jiuniang laughed coldly.

"I'll inform the spirit kings immediately, then," Tu Siniang said.

"Very well!" Tu Jiuniang nodded.

By the black coffin lying where the Southeastern Aquatic Palace had once stood, new buildings were being erected over the ruins. They were guarded by three forces: Ao Canghai's subordinate Martial Aspects, the Mountain Lords of the Yuqing holy land, and Li Qianjun of Hongyue.

The three forces had fought with each other to little conclusion. In the end, it was decided that they would share ownership of the black coffin. They allowed others to enter the black coffin, though only at a price.

At the moment, there were plenty of cultivators lining up to enter the black coffin.

"One Heaven Immortal relic or pill grants you entry into the coffin," a guard declared.

The cultivators rushed forward, ceded their treasures, and stepped into the black coffin.

Amidst the crowd was Xiao Nanfeng, wearing a conical bamboo hat and shrouded in a cloud of white fog. He listened as the cultivators around him whispered to one another.

"They're truly despicable. Think about how much they've managed to steal from us cultivators!"

"Even if they divide the fortune of Heaven Immortal relics and pills three ways, they're making a tremendous profit."

"Isn't that so? If not for their strength, we'd long since have taken them down!"

Those cultivators lining up were eyeing the three factions jealously.

Xiao Nanfeng stayed hidden within the crowd, waiting patiently for his turn.

Not wanting to expose himself, Xiao Nanfeng had no choice but to hand over a Heaven Immortal relic with no combat utility.

"A starlight pearl? The only thing this relic can do is project illusions. It's useless! Hand over a different relic," a guard demanded.

"This is my only Heaven Immortal relic," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

The guard frowned. Telling Xiao Nanfeng to scram would be a waste—and it didn't matter to him, at any rate. It was hardly as if he would be given any of the relics that he claimed from the gathered cultivators.

"Fine. Enter!" the guard gritted out.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded and stepped toward the black coffin. He hesitated as he looked into its obscured depths.

If not for his master, Xiao Nanfeng wouldn't have wanted to enter the coffin at all. He was certain of the veracity of the report: Tang had informed Xiao Nanfeng himself. Tang had an avatar in Dazheng, and his main body was within the coffin with Ku Jiang.

Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath and stepped into the coffin.

He entered the black coffin's hidden realm with a whoosh. He found himself in what seemed like the sky.

The hidden realm was particularly dim and dark. Even with his spiritual power, he found it impossible to probe at what lay around him. Sinister clouds of black smoke pervaded the air and made him shudder involuntarily.

The black smoke propelled Xiao Nanfeng forward as if he were caught in a riptide. It struck him with such ferocity that even he was sent flying.

Before long, he fell to the ground.

"It is a hidden realm, but a rather sinister one. And the exit has vanished, too..."

There were clouds of black miasma around him, turning the dismal darkness even darker. A sliver of moon seemed to hang high overhead, though it was largely occluded by the black smoke and miasma.

"Master said he was in what's called Wolfsbane Cave, but how am I supposed to find it?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured to himself.

Just then, within Dazheng, Tang's avatar was seated next to a spectral guard.

"Marquis Tang, His Majesty is within the black coffin hidden realm now, but he doesn't know how to find your whereabouts. Where's this Wolfsbane Cave?" the spectral guard relayed.

"I don't know myself. I followed Senior Uncle Ku into the hidden realm. He's been behaving rather unusually lately, and refuses to meet with me." Tang grimaced.

"Are there any special markers in your surroundings?" the spectral guard asked.

"I don't know," Tang replied.

"Hm?"

"The interior of the hidden realm is filled with black miasma, and it's dark and gloomy day and night. However, I can see a lot of mountains around with caves of various sizes scattered about. All the caves are named, and I expect ours is named 'Wolfsbane Cave'. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble His Majesty to search through them one by one."

"Why don't you leave the cave to see if there are any distinguishing features around? If not, describe the mountains in the vicinity at least."

"I'd like to, but Senior Uncle Ku refuses to let me out. He claims that it's exceedingly dangerous outside, that we might well die if we leave. He asks that His Majesty come as quickly as possible—he can't last much longer," Tang said.

"But without any information, what can His Majesty do? Why don't you have Master Ku communicate with His Majesty through me instead?"

Tang smiled wryly. "I'm afraid that's impossible. I was knocked unconscious. When I awoke, I found myself in Wolfsbane Cave. Senior Uncle Ku has been all but ignoring me. He won't let me out, but he won't enter the cave, either. There's a lot of ruckus outside. I expect he's fighting someone in the vicinity, and I don't know when he'll return."

"Just what happened to Master Ku?"

"I don't know." Tang shook his head with a frown.

The spectral guard ultimately nodded. "His Majesty has been made aware of this conversation. He asks that you listen to Master Ku's orders, and he'll find you as quickly as possible.

"Very well." Tang nodded.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

Though Tang hadn't revealed much information, it seemed as if his master weren't simply trapped. He would have to find him as quickly as possible.

He searched the valley he was in, but to no avail. Then, he rushed into the black fog to find these supposed mountains and mountain caves.

Before long, he heard shouts coming from afar.

"Save me, Senior Brother!"

"Hurry up and destroy these cursed effigies!"

"What are these? My blade just bounces right off!"

There was a commotion in the distance.

Xiao Nanfeng reined in his aura and crept over to find a group of cultivators trying to take on some cursed effigies that were gushing black smoke from all over their bodies.

"Cursed effigies related to the black coffin..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

The black smoke obscured the cursed effigies' appearance, but they were clearly humanoid in origin. If not for the cursed spiritual power surging around them, Xiao Nanfeng would have thought them ordinary cultivators as well.

The cultivators' swords and blades clinked against their skin, as if the cursed effigies had metallic exteriors. Their physical bodies were particularly sturdy and seemingly resistant to bladed weapons. The cultivators had the upper hand in terms of numbers, but whenever the effigies had a chance, they would lunge toward the cultivators as if they were going to bite them. Unfortunately, they were never able to succeed.

Just then, a loud roar caused their surroundings to shake. The air currents turned turbulent.

Everyone turned toward the source of the sound, a huge cave by the foot of a nearby mountain over which 'Tigerbane Cave' had been written.

A cursed effigy wreathed in black smoke stood at the opening of the cave. A fearsome aura emanated from it, causing the cultivators to shudder in fear even some distance away. It roared loudly and headed straight for the battlefield.

"This is a True Immortal cursed effigy. Be careful!" a cultivator exclaimed.

His shouts attracted the cursed effigy's attention. It sped up, charged toward him, and sent him flying.

Blood sprayed out as he smashed into a mountain and fell to the ground. He was just about to clamber back up when the cursed effigy leapt forward and descended on him.

"No! Save me!" the cultivator shouted.

It was too late. The cursed effigy had suddenly widened its maw to reveal two blood-red fangs—which impaled themselves in his flesh.

The cultivator shrieked again as the cursed effigy sucked in the cultivator's blood and the black smoke in the vicinity, revealing its features.

The cursed effigy was humanoid with a pitted, decaying face that made him look like a demon. His two blood-red fangs were gleaming with blood-colored light after having drained the cultivator's blood. Then, he infused a mysterious energy into the cultivator's neck, who stopped struggling.

The cultivator's gaze had turned vacant. He stood still and unmoving, even when the cursed effigy before him released him and shot toward the other cultivators.

Before long, that cultivator began to release black smoke as well.

"Senior Brother, what's going on?" A red-robed cultivator rushed toward him.

The cultivator who had been bitten by the cursed effigy remained still and unmoving until the red-robed cultivator jostled him. He suddenly seemed to reanimate. With a fierce expression on his face, he opened his mouth wide. Two blood-red fangs had appeared among his teeth. He hugged the red-robed cultivator and bit down on his neck.

"Senior Brother, you're a monster now, too? You've bitten me—no!" the red-robed cultivator shrieked.

Hidden afar in the darkness, Xiao Nanfeng's eyes twitched. "These cursed effigies are all zombies, aren't they? They can even infect others!"