Wayfarer

Chapter 725: Rainbow Soul-Suppressing Jade

Within the small stone cave, Xiao Nanfeng could hear significant commotion in the distance. Before long, the zombie kings' roars echoed through the region.

They seemed to have returned to the altar. Their howls were so loud that even the void was trembling, along with the mountain range in which Xiao Nanfeng was situated.

Only after a series of shouts and cries rang out did the tremors slowly stop.

Before long, figures descended from the sky.

The golden-crowned zombie king and its six zombie king subordinates had returned. Beside them was a middle-aged man dressed in a red robe. His long hair was combed behind his back, his brows and beard thick, his eyes shining with pride. He gave off the clear impression of being a domineering tyrant from his looks alone.

"Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, have you lost something?" the golden-crowned zombie king asked.

The middle-aged red-robed man looked around him and shook his head. "The formation I erected here has yet to be disturbed. No one has entered this space."

The golden-crowned zombie king looked outside the barrier. "My subordinates have found fewer and fewer cultivators in the realm, to the point that I thought they were all dead. To think that there would still be so many of them, and that they've even found their way here..."

"Have you recovered all the Boundless Immortal relics used as bait?" the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue asked, frowning.

"We recovered two, but the ancestral fire dragon's pearl of the Dragon Cave has gone missing."

The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue narrowed his eyes. "We agreed that I would help you lure cultivators into this hidden realm to be zombified, but that those three treasures used as bait would be mine."

The golden-crowned zombie king shook his head. "The ancestral fire dragon's pearl is missing. I can't do anything about it, either. If you don't believe me, you can go search for it yourself."

With six zombie kings as subordinates, he felt no need to treat the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue with much respect or reverence.

The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue thought about it for a moment before giving the golden-crowned zombie king a faint smile. "So be it, then. Two relics. Hand them over!"

The golden-crowned zombie king, cautious about something or another, chose not to cause more trouble. Two shining relics appeared in his hands, one a golden bamboo scroll, the other a red bird's nest. Both relics gave off impressive auras; it was clear they were no ordinary treasures.

The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue examined the two relics and confirmed that they were genuine before saying, "I'm going to be conducting an exchange using this altar. Do you wish to leave?"

"An exchange of relics? You'll need to compensate with a Boundless Immortal relic of your own, then. A three-for-one exchange—don't you consider it a waste?" the golden-crowned zombie king asked.

"I don't need a surfeit of relics, but rather ones suitable to me."

"I'd like to see just what relic you're willing to trade three other Boundless Immortal relics for, then." The golden-crowned zombie king smiled, with no intention of leaving whatsoever.

"So be it, but send these six zombie kings of yours out. They're lacking in intelligence and will disturb me."

The golden-crowned zombie king acceded. He waved a hand and commanded, "Go stand guard outside."

The six zombie kings flew out of the valley and vanished from sight.

The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue waved an arm as well. The barrier around the valley shimmered into visibility in a solid red color that isolated what lay within from what lay without.

"You don't trust them still? They might not have much intelligence and will act according to natural law, but I'm in control of them. They're hardly going to infuse those black hands into your relics."

The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue shook his head and didn't explain things further. He stepped toward the altar, murmuring an incantation under his breath.

The golden-crowned zombie king didn't seem to mind. He sat on his bejeweled throne by the side of the altar and leisurely watched on as the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue conducted his exchange.

The countless runes on the altar seemed to come to life. They began to twist and distort as black smoke gushed out, forming a huge black whirlpool atop the altar.

"With these three treasures, I ask that the black coffin provide me with the relic of my desire via the primordial altar. Let the black coffin claim all that is present in excess," the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue stated.

Two clouds of black smoke appeared atop the altar, just as had happened when Xiao Nanfeng made his exchange with the black coffin outside the hidden realm.

The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue placed the golden bamboo scroll and red bird's nest in one cloud of smoke, then retrieved a resplendent golden pearl and placed it there as well. He spoke softly, as if specifying the relic he wanted in exchange.

The altar hummed and vibrated. The three relics were sucked into the depths of the altar as rainbow light emanated from the other cloud of black smoke. A treasure seemed to be condensing in sight.

It took quite some time before that treasure appeared in full. However, the rainbow light around it didn't dissipate, making it difficult to identify just what it was. The exchange having come to an end, the clouds of black smoke dissipated, revealing the altar once more.

"Oh? Is it done? Let me see what you got." The golden-crowned zombie king flew over immediately and snatched up the relic before the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue could make a move.

"Oh? The Rainbow Soul-Suppressing Jade—a relic specifically to counter us zombies! Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, what are you planning?!" the golden-crowned zombie king exclaimed.

Suddenly, a finger shining with red light stabbed into the back of its head. Red light flooded into its body as a red moon shone overhead, immobilizing the zombie king.

"Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, how dare you attack me! What are you planning?!"

"Don't you understand?" The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue smirked.

"Are you crazy? You want to kill me just because I gave you one fewer treasure?" the zombie king screeched. "All zombies, attend to me!"

The red moon vibrated and quivered as it attempted to break free of the red moon's control, but to no avail.

"Don't bother. You won't be able to issue any commands from within my red moon cage."

"You're trying to kill me? The old saint won't forgive you!"

The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue ignored the zombie king's threat. "I've awaited this day for a long time."

His mindscape thrummed. Another Immortal Emperor of Hongyue flew out of his forehead: his avatar.

His avatar claimed the Rainbow Soul-Suppression Jade from the golden-crowned zombie king's hands. The jade was disc-shaped and radiated resplendent rainbow light.

"Don't! We can negotiate. What do you want from me?" the golden-crowned zombie king cried out.

"Everything." The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue smirked again as his avatar placed the Rainbow Soul-Suppression Jade over the zombie king's head. Rainbow light flared, causing white smoke to rise up from the zombie king's body.

"You intend to possess this ancestral zombie's body? Aren't you afraid the saint will punish you? Betraying the saint—do you want to die?!"

"The saint? It doesn't matter even if he learns of it. After all, with you gone, I'm the only one he can rely on."

"No! The saint would never forgive you!" the golden-crowned zombie king cried out.

"We'll see, won't we? Your body's mine—and with your body, I'll be able to control all the zombies here, haha!" The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue roared in laughter.

"No! The saint gave all of this to me. You can't steal it from me. You can't!"

"The ancestral zombie's body wasn't yours to begin with. You don't deserve it—and now it's mine," the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue declared.

The red light emanating from his fingertip increased in intensity, as did the suppression of the rainbow jade.

The golden-crowned zombie king shrieked in pain.

"Annihilate!" the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue intoned.

Intense light exploded from the rainbow jade, illuminating the whole valley. A wave of light speared through the golden-crowned zombie king's head as his body convulsed.

A small crack marred the surface of the rainbow jade, which had emitted too much of its special power.

Meanwhile, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue's avatar darted into the gold-crowned zombie king's mindscape.

The zombie king's body began to convulse even more rapidly, as if it and the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue's avatar were fighting for control over its body.

Raging energy billowed from the zombie king's body. If not for the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue's red barrier, the entire valley might well have been destroyed.

Xiao Nanfeng watched on grimly from up high.

"What a scheme. No wonder the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue didn't bother with Shenfeng," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, his face dour.

Although he had possessed Yang Chuan's body, he was unable to manifest any control over natural law. All he had was brute strength, just like the Demon Child. He was worried he wouldn't be able to take on the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, but even so, he had to act. This was a critical period for the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, and he could hardly just sit back and do nothing.

Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, triggering his candleflame powers.

A portal of red light appeared before him, as well as by the altar down below.

Although the area by the altar was a spectacle of blinding light, the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue noticed something amiss. He thundered, "Who's there?"

Xiao Nanfeng controlled Yang Chuan's arm as he reached out for the rainbow jade.

"Die!" the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue roared.

Instantly tracing the source of the interference, he turned back and sent a palm technique straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.

The mountain on which Xiao Nanfeng was located burst apart as the huge palm headed straight for Yang Chuan. Yang Chuan crashed into the red barrier.

Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. He could keep fighting, but he didn't know just what trump cards the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue had up his sleeve. The situation could easily go badly for Xiao Nanfeng. In the end, he activated his candleflame powers once more and escaped through the barrier.

"Catch him!" the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue roared.

Outside the barrier, the zombies were ignorant of the fact that the golden-crowned zombie king had been suppressed. They heard the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue's orders and were accustomed to obeying him. As a result, they shot toward Yang Chuan all at once.

Yang Chuan knocked aside the zombies and quickly flew off.