Chapter 711: The Black Coffin Hidden Realm

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.

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!"