CHAPTER 586: CHAPTER 275: BORROWING A CORPSE TO RESURRECT_3

"Dragon Seeking Mountain People and spirit monsters have always been friendly. If the Mountain People were to capture spirit monsters, that would truly ruin their virtue."

Yun Ziliang smoothed his sleeves as he entered the room, deeply disappointed by the intentions of the Dragon Seeking Mountain People.

...

Flower Market Street, No. 123.

Inside the Liu Mansion, blackened glutinous rice was scattered everywhere.

Douzi stood on the first floor, too afraid to go upstairs.

On the iron bed on the second floor, Li Shuangyi, once the third senior brother of the Zhou Family’s Troupe, lay there, rattling the iron chains binding his hands and feet.

His tusks had grown excessively long.

"Blood, blood, blood..."

Li Shuangyi’s indistinct cries were filled with an insatiable craving for blood.

Liu Jiaotian anxiously asked Granny Mi, "Auntie, Shuangyi is about to lose control. What should we do?"

Granny Mi was at a loss. The glutinous rice she used for divination had all turned pitch-black once it was scattered.

This was a clear sign that Li Shuangyi’s corpse transformation was progressing too rapidly, far beyond her ability to control.

"Burn him. The corpse energy is growing too quickly. In a few more days, your aunt’s meager skills won’t be enough to contain him."

"No, no burning. Find another method."

Liu Jiaotian slashed her delicate arm with a knife, letting her blood drip into Li Shuangyi’s mouth.

"You won’t burn the corpse, nor will you find someone powerful to help. Senior Sister Liu, how much longer do you think you can hold out?"

A tinkling, bell-like voice echoed from the staircase and swept into the room.

As Liu Jiaotian heard the voice, her panic intensified. She was all too familiar with it—it was the voice of Zhou Lingyi, the class leader of Zhou Family’s Troupe.

Zhou Lingyi was a figure feared by every brother, master, and apprentice in the Zhou Family’s Troupe.

"C-class... Class Leader."

"Senior Sister Liu, you should know that it’s forbidden to raise corpses in Ping Shui Prefecture."

Zhou Lingyi stepped into the room and saw Li Shuangyi, whose body was covered in short, black hair, exuding an intensely oppressive corpse energy, her emotions incredibly complex.

"And who are you?" Granny Mi asked as she looked at Zhou Lingyi.

Witches are inherently indifferent, beyond the pursuit of incense offerings. They do not vie for fame or fortune.

Thus, witches lead lives devoid of wealth and grandeur, and their reputations often remain unremarkable.

Zhou Lingyi had lain low in Ping Shui Prefecture for many years. Aside from those within the Zhou Family’s Troupe, who faintly guessed that she was a formidable figure, only the God Traveling Department knew her name.

The old woman running the Wenmi Shop on the street had no idea that the twenty-something woman before her was none other than Lord Hua, the Night Patrol Deity of Ping Shui Prefecture.

"Auntie, this is none of your concern anymore."

A crimson Red Spider Lily blossomed in Zhou Lingyi’s hand. Its tide-like stamens reached out, absorbing much of the corpse energy shrouding Li Shuangyi.

Relieved of the collision of corpse energy, Li Shuangyi quieted considerably.

"Which Wu Family are you affiliated with?" Granny Mi recognized Zhou Lingyi’s adept skills and immediately understood that the Zhou Family’s Troupe class leader was a seasoned practitioner in profound magic.

"I said, Auntie, this is none of your concern anymore," Zhou Lingyi repeated word by word.

Her almond-shaped phoenix eyes carried an overwhelming sense of authority, forcing Granny Mi to refrain from saying anything further. Bowing swiftly, the old woman hurried away.

After she left, Zhou Lingyi finally spoke, "Raising corpses is forbidden in Ping Shui Prefecture. In this region, once a corpse is raised, the transformation becomes uncontrollable."

She refrained from delving deeper, as the matter touched upon the Nuo God—the absence of a divine presence in Ping Shui Prefecture and the lack of Heavenly God’s aura to divide. Consequently, the prefecture brimmed with unyielding war intent.

The disciples emerging from Ping Shui Prefecture’s halls were all fierce, battle-hardened warriors.

The pervasive war intent saturating every corner of Ping Shui Prefecture equally nourished the Lao Jiang.

The Lao Jiang, as a clan, also thrived in battle.

"The third senior brother grew up in the Zhou Family’s Troupe and was blessed by the Ancestor Tree. Although he has wronged the troupe, the Ancestor Tree doesn’t blame him and has not withdrawn its blessing."

Zhou Lingyi explained.

The Ancestor Tree had never considered the "original Zhou Xuan" as the direct protégé of the Nuo God. Moreover, because of "original Zhou Xuan" bringing harm to the Zhou Family’s Troupe, the Ancestor Tree nearly withered and receded underground,

Li Shuangyi had inadvertently brought about today’s Zhou Xuan by slaying "original Zhou Xuan’s" soul.

Today’s Zhou Xuan was chosen by the Nuo God and the Ancestor Tree. Thus, how could the Ancestor Tree hold Li Shuangyi accountable?

"The Ancestor Tree’s blessing was meant to send the third senior brother peacefully onto his path to reincarnation in Soul Shepherd City. But unexpectedly, it was employed during his corpse transformation."

Zhou Lingyi slowly explained the reasons behind Li Shuangyi’s rapid corpse transformation, while Liu Jiaotian cared about one thing—whether Li Shuangyi could only be burned.

"I have a way to help both you and the third senior brother."

Zhou Lingyi said.

"What way?" Liu Jiaotian was overjoyed, but restrained her excitement due to Zhou Lingyi’s oppressive aura, softly asking.

"Go to Yellow Field Prefecture. It’s an ideal place for raising corpses. The local corpse chasers and corpse nourishes have exceptional methods and can help the third senior brother."

"But Yellow Field Prefecture is a lawless region, rife with crime, slaughter, and deception—it’s not uncommon. A young lady taking the third senior brother there is hardly better than what you face now."

On the first day Liu Jiaotian raised Li Shuangyi as a zombie, Zhou Lingyi had already detected the corpse energy.

For these past days, she had been pondering how to send Liu Jiaotian and Li Shuangyi safely to Yellow Field Prefecture.

But she was a witch.

Witches do not vie, thus they lack connections.

In Ping Shui Prefecture, she had some influence; the God Traveling Department was its highest authority.

In Mingjiang Prefecture, she could also lend a hand, as the witches’ Main Hall—the Witch God Temple—was located there.

Even a non-agent witch would receive some respect from various halls within Mingjiang Prefecture.

But Yellow Field Prefecture?

She was as blind as anyone there. If she recklessly sent Liu Jiaotian and Li Shuangyi over, it might be like throwing a beauty into a den of wolves. It wouldn’t be surprising if some rogue disciples seized them and subjected them to torment until death—a common occurrence there.

Liu Jiaotian was no ordinary beauty; she was Ping Shui Prefecture’s finest. Many elite officials dreamed of taking her as a concubine.

If she went to Yellow Field Prefecture, she might find herself screaming to the heavens with no reply, crying to the earth without solace.

It should be noted that behind Yellow Field Prefecture’s halls were three Alien Ghosts at the Heavenly Vault God Level.

In the entire Yellow Field Prefecture, decent individuals might only number among the Bitter Ghost Hall’s boatmen disciples.

But the situation was now different.

"My brother Zhou Xuan excels at building connections. The prominent figure of Yellow Field Prefecture, Lady Hong Guan, has a deep bond with my brother. If Lady Guan speaks out and the Bitter Ghost boatmen disciples protect you, neither misfortune nor disaster will harm you—at most, minor troubles."

Zhou Lingyi spoke earnestly.

Among the three major halls in Yellow Field Prefecture, Bitter Ghost held the most sway.

Their vast influence ensured protection for Liu Jiaotian and Li Shuangyi.

"But if I go to Yellow Field Prefecture, will the class leader let me leave?"

Liu Jiaotian asked worriedly.

She was the star performer of the Zhou Family’s Troupe, which, apart from Netherworld Play Troupe business, also operated as a drama company. She was its golden asset and had signed long-term contracts.

"Why wouldn’t I let you go?"

Zhou Lingyi chuckled and said, "The Zhou Family’s Troupe is no longer what it used to be. As I’ve said before, I’m not skilled in building relationships, but my brother excels at it."

With Zhou Xuan’s ties to the Bone Elder Association, City God, witches, and the Divine Stealer Hall, even if the Zhou Family’s Troupe completely abandoned its Netherworld Play Troupe business, Zhou Xuan could ensure everyone in the troupe lived prosperous, peaceful lives.

"The God of Wealth in Mingjiang Prefecture, Si Ming, and Duan Qinglan of the Divine Stealer Hall, are close allies of my brother. If my brother asks, they will undoubtedly share some of their business with the Zhou Family’s Troupe."

Relying on her brother Zhou Xuan, Zhou Lingyi spoke confidently.

Everything Zhou Lingyi lacked, Zhou Xuan compensated for.

"Then when... when should I go to Yellow Field Prefecture?"

"After today, I’ll make arrangements."

Zhou Lingyi said, "But today, I need to borrow the third senior brother’s corpse energy to help my brother and me avenge our great enemies in Yunluo Mountain."

The Three-headed Stone Buddha of the Tattoo Forbidden Land betrayed the Tree Clan, imprisoning four generations of Zhou Family’s Great Nuo over three hundred years.

Although Zhou Lingyi despised the former Great Nuo of the Zhou Family, they were still Zhou Family members and deserved vindication.

"If the third senior brother helps my brother and me, we’ll send Li Shuangyi and you to Yellow Field Prefecture, freeing you from today’s constant fear. That’s only fair."

Zhou Lingyi said.

"I... I am willing... though I don’t know if Shuangyi will agree." Liu Jiaotian was fully aware that Li Shuangyi had slain the "former Zhou Xuan," for which Zhou Lingyi had forced him to his death,

but she did not know that Zhou Xuan, in his "fake death," received flowers from Li Shuangyi in the spirit hall.

As soon as Liu Jiaotian finished speaking, Li Shuangyi’s head lightly nodded, signaling his agreement to fight for Zhou Xuan...