Chapter 998: The Origin of Mr. Corpse

Chapter 998: Chapter 998: The Origin of Mr. Corpse

Zhong Shan stood atop the mighty Eight-Extreme Heavenly Tail, its immense eight tails displaying their ferocious power, unleashing endless sword qi. Zhong Shan, facing several Heart-Piercing Envoys alone, remained undefeated!

The battle grew increasingly intense. Though it appeared that Zhong Shan and Luo Xingchen were struggling, the fact that Zhong Shan was only using the Eight-Extreme Heavenly Tail and the Fangtian Imperial Seal indicated that he had yet to exert his full strength.

Part of his restraint was due to caution, but more importantly, Zhong Shan had not gone for the kill.

The Heart-Piercing Envoys—these Ancient Immortals—could have been consumed one by one by the Eight-Extreme Heavenly Tail, steadily reducing their numbers. But Zhong Shan didn't do so—not out of mercy, but because these individuals were already part of his larger plan.

Sixteen Heart-Piercing Envoys? Yama Hall?

These would eventually become part of his own domain. There was no need to annihilate them completely!

To outside observers, however, Zhong Shan's group was already formidable enough. Facing off against sixteen Ancient Immortals without defeat was a feat that would soon be known across the world, earning them the respect of all.

At this moment, nearly everyone had etched the name Zhong Shan into their memories.

Zhong Shan's actions at Sacred Corpse Mountain were merely a prelude, but his display of power at Yama Hall was a true show of his might. Battling against sixteen Ancient Immortals?

After over half an hour of fierce combat, many of the Heart-Piercing Envoys had suffered injuries to varying degrees, but their pride as members of Yama Hall drove them to continue fighting.

King Yama watched the battle in the sky, his heart filled with mixed emotions. What was he supposed to do now? The sixteen Heart-Piercing Envoys would surely blame him for this.

"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, don't you think you should step in and eliminate that demon Zhong Shan?" King Yama whispered anxiously.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva smiled faintly.

With a wave of his hand, a blood-red light descended from the heavens.

It was a path of the Heavenly Dao, a crimson path.

As the Heavenly Dao appeared, it immediately enveloped the combatants.

In an instant, both Zhong Shan and the Heart-Piercing Envoys felt their movements slow, and they all turned to look toward Yama Hall.

"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva!" The sixteen Heart-Piercing Envoys offered a slight bow.

They were well aware that dealing with Zhong Shan was impossible without Ksitigarbha's intervention.

Zhong Shan also looked toward the handsome man in monk's robes.

Like Mr. Corpse, this man had a small mustache, making him stand out.

"The underworld is not a place for you to cause chaos. The underworld has its own rules. Release Nian Youyou, and I will let you go," Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva said calmly.

"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva? You can't let Zhong Shan go!" King Yama protested urgently.

In King Yama's mind, Zhong Shan had to be captured and torn to pieces. But why was Ksitigarbha letting him go?

Burning Lamp cast a cold glance at King Yama. Let Zhong Shan go? Even a cornered rabbit can bite—how much more so someone like Zhong Shan? Back in the Nuwa Realm, Zhong Shan had even managed to injure an Ancestor Immortal. Ksitigarbha's approach was already a great favor to King Yama.

"Release Nian Youyou? Are you joking?" Zhong Shan retorted coldly.

"...!"

Everyone around was stunned for a moment. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was an existence who had reached the level of Ancestor Immortal long ago, yet Zhong Shan spoke to him with such a tone?

Not just the onlookers, but even the sixteen Heart-Piercing Envoys were now looking at Zhong Shan as though he were a dead man.

"Di Zang—Wang!"

Suddenly, from within the protection of the Eight-Extreme Heavenly Tail, Mr. Corpse spoke, calling out, "Di Zang—Wang!"

Everyone turned to look at Mr. Corpse in confusion. What was this man doing, calling out to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva?

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva furrowed his brow as he looked at Mr. Corpse.

In the past, Ksitigarbha had wondered why, aside from Nuwa's desperate counterattack before her fall, the other sages had passed away so quietly. Now, he understood—they were all waiting for the day of their return.

"When do you plan to visit the Great Thunderclap Temple?" Maitreya Buddha asked.

Ksitigarbha looked at Maitreya Buddha and shook his head. "I will not go to the Great Thunderclap Temple. Jieyin's actions go against the natural order. Heaven's will must punish him. As for you, be careful with your choices."

Maitreya Buddha and Burning Lamp furrowed their brows but did not press further.

After exchanging a few more words, Ksitigarbha turned his attention back to Zhong Shan and his companions, especially focusing on Mr. Corpse.

"Please, come inside," Ksitigarbha said courteously.

"Hmm," Mr. Corpse nodded.

The Eight-Extreme Heavenly Tail shrank and settled on Zhong Shan's shoulder as the group followed Ksitigarbha into the grand hall.

King Yama watched with displeasure as Nian Youyou leaned against Zhong Shan, but with Ksitigarbha treating them so politely, what could he do?

Nian Ben and Nian Can observed coldly from the sidelines. Nian Ben seemed on the verge of saying something but was held back by Nian Can, who remained silent.

"Boom!"

The grand hall doors slammed shut.

Ksitigarbha looked at Mr. Corpse, then at Zhong Shan and the others.

"This is the Saint King of Daeng. I currently serve in Daeng, and these are all officials of Daeng," Mr. Corpse explained.

Ksitigarbha examined the group before nodding.

"You said earlier that you are...?" Ksitigarbha sought confirmation once more.

"From the Zang family—Shishou!" Mr. Corpse repeated.

Ksitigarbha suddenly extended his right index finger, which ignited with a small, icy blue flame.

Mr. Corpse likewise extended his right index finger, which flared with a white flame.

When their fingertips touched, the flames clashed with a crackling sound before the blue flame on Ksitigarbha's finger was completely absorbed by Mr. Corpse's white flame.

Retracting their fingers, Ksitigarbha's expression fluctuated as he stared at Mr. Corpse, as though struggling with something in his mind.

"There's no need for you to be troubled. The Zang family—now, it's just me. Tianzang, Xuanzang, Huangzang—they've long disappeared, perhaps all perished. I don't expect you to acknowledge me as the head of the Zang family. I merely want to ask for your help," Mr. Corpse said with a bitter smile, shaking his head.

Ksitigarbha looked at Mr. Corpse, his expression continuously shifting. After a moment, he took a deep breath, as if finally coming to a decision.

With a formal half-bow, Ksitigarbha said, "Di Zang—Wang, pays respects to the head of the Zang family!"

Zhong Shan and the others remained silent, their eyes filled with astonishment. Mr. Corpse's identity? The Zang family?

Mr. Corpse gazed deeply at Ksitigarbha. Although Ksitigarbha had acknowledged his status as the head of the Zang family, it was clear from his earlier hesitation that there was still some resistance in his heart.

"After the decline of the Zang family, the Di Zang lineage must have passed through many generations," Mr. Corpse remarked.

"After the fall of the Zang family, I am the ninth generation of Di Zang," Ksitigarbha nodded.

"Nine generations... You don't need to treat me with such deference. I came here today simply to borrow your Pit of Ghosts. I need it to cleanse the mark of the sage," Mr. Corpse said solemnly.

Hearing Mr. Corpse's openness and lack of arrogance as the head of the family, Ksitigarbha quietly sighed in relief. After all, no one liked to suddenly gain a master, especially when they had already reached the level of Ancestor Immortal, while this "master" was only a Heavenly Immortal!

"Very well, you may enter the Pit of Ghosts with me whenever you're ready," Ksitigarbha quickly agreed.

"Hmm," Mr. Corpse acknowledged.

To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8