Chapter 405: The Resurrection of Tian Sheng Gong

Fighting against heaven?

What an audacious madman!

The Left Chancellor gave an awkward smile and said nothing, already feeling a faint regret, thinking these Ghost Sect people were insane.

Huang Huang Liushi still seemed exhilarated, his eyes glowing with dark crimson light; he took two deep breaths and said, "When you one day have the fortune to meet the Sect Master and understand what this heaven truly is, you'll know."

Boom!

At that moment, a low thunder rumbled across the sky.

The surrounding winds grew fiercer, howling like ghosts wailing and wolves howling.

Huang Huang Liushi's body was a "Untransformed Bone," capable of free movement, yet still a type of zombie.

Seeing the lightning, it instinctively trembled all over.

He flickered a hint of resentment in his eyes and said grimly, "Both sides are now clashing in magical arts—True Martial Palace is now defenseless. This is the perfect moment."

Saying this, he turned and entered the cave.

The others followed in sequence, arriving before the pool.

The once blood-red pool had now turned clear; all the spiritual materials and demonic bones inside were pale white, utterly devoid of spiritual aura.

In the center, the Tai Sui coffin had ceased its writhing, emitting a faint glow, revealing a curled figure within.

Huang Huang Liushi sneered and said to the Left Chancellor, "Do you know who this Tian Sheng Gong truly is?"

The Left Chancellor replied grimly, "It is common knowledge—his name is Xu Xiao Tianxiong. His ancestors were red-haired barbarians from Minzhou. He suffered scorn in childhood but possessed astonishing talent in martial and magical arts, ranking among the Ten Great Masters of that era."

He shook his head and added, "When I was young, my father was one of his trusted men, secretly doing his dirty work and bearing the blame, while he gained the reputation of a forest bandit chief, righteous and noble."

"I misjudged—I never thought the Right Chancellor and others would actually gather all the items..."

"Hahaha!"

Huang Huang Liushi sneered coldly, "You're fools. His origins may fool the world, but not the Sect Master."

"Have you ever wondered why the Tian Sheng Sect went to such lengths to protect the defeated Longxiang Army?"

"Why does the imperial family of Da Xing bear the surname Xiao, yet the Longxiang Army claims descent from the imperial line and uses the surname Guo?"

The Left Chancellor paused, then bowed and said, "Please, Master Huang, enlighten us."

Huang Huang Liushi looked at the Tai Sui flesh coffin and shook his head. "The Longxiang Army's leader bore the surname Guo because they were imperial in-laws, tasked with guarding Luoyang, marrying into several princesses of Da Xing, and thus claimed imperial bloodline."

"In truth, this Tian Sheng Gong is the true heir. In the late Da Xing era, the emperor was debauched; the governor of Minzhou gifted him a red-haired barbarian woman of peerless beauty. The emperor favored her deeply, and she bore him a son."

"Inside the palace, where men are devoured without leaving bones, the foreign woman was soon murdered. Her personal maid stole the child and hid him in the common world to raise."

"His real name is Xiao Xiao Tianxiong!"

"So that's it..."

The Left Chancellor suddenly understood, and many of his doubts cleared.

Huang Huang Liushi nodded. "Good. This Xiao Xiao Tianxiong still wants to return to life and stir up chaos again—how could such fortune be his? This chessboard is one he has no right to play on!"

"The Sect Master helped him return to life not to restore him, but to free a demonic qi from the Underworld. Once awake, he will gradually be influenced. You understand—don't casually reveal it, or you'll ruin everything."

The Left Chancellor's heart chilled; he recalled the Ghost Sect's "Demon Body Immortality Art," and suddenly understood. He swallowed hard. "Is he one of the Seventy-Two Demon Lords—Yuan Yuan Zimei?"

Huang Huang Liushi gave a slight nod. "Good. If you speak carelessly and anger someone, even I can't save you."

"Begin. Revive him—then slaughter those True Martial Palace monks!"

"Yes, Master Huang!"

All bowed in unison and stepped before the pool.

On the open ground ahead, a ritual altar had been erected. On the offering table, besides the usual incense, candles, and tributes, a special Bo Shan incense burner had been placed.

The Bo Shan burner was popular during the Han and Jin dynasties—its body shaped like a bean, with a tall, pointed lid carved into mountainous forms, engraved with cloud patterns, figures, and beasts.

When incense burned, the smoke curled like an immortal mountain.

Its popularity stemmed from the era's obsession with seeking immortality; within Da Xuan sects, Bo Shan burners were often carved with their own sacred caves and blessed lands.

Lighting it during meditation aided cultivation.

But this one was different.

Around it, waves surged like the sea; the mountain rose high, with six palaces carved above and six caverns below—ancient, covered in verdigris.

If Li Yan were here, he would recognize it as Luo Feng Mountain!

Huang Huang Liushi's expression turned solemn. He withdrew a brocade box from his robe, opened it, and inside lay several bones, transformed into jade-like substance—unknown remains.

He gripped them tightly, then surged his arms with force, grinding them into powder with his palms, and placed the dust into the burner.

He then lit the candles, activated the altar, waved a bone banner, stepped the Nine Stars, and chanted incantations.

The others, holding ritual flags, simultaneously focused their spirits to empower the ritual.

Hssss~

Soon, dark yin energy surged within the cave, howling winds raging.

The candles on the offering table suddenly flared three zhang high, turning green, turning the cavern into a ghostly realm.

The scene bore striking resemblance to the "Luo Feng Summoning Ritual."

As if sensing something, Huang Huang Liushi suddenly opened his eyes, formed a sword seal, and pointed at the green yin flame.

The yin flame roared forth, plunging directly into the Bo Shan burner. Soon, it ignited the jade-like bone powder.

Smoke rose—thick, black, viscous as paste.

This strange black smoke churned violently, like a living thing struggling to escape the Bo Shan burner carved into the shape of Luo Feng Mountain.

Seeing this, Huang Huang Liushi continued the ritual, his face now crisscrossed with black veins, yellow corpse fluid oozing from his forehead.

Finally, the viscous black smoke emerged from the burner, swirling in the air before settling onto the Tai Sui flesh coffin and seeping inside.

Splash!

The Tai Sui flesh coffin began shaking violently.

Suddenly, two thick arms burst through the coffin, tearing it apart in a few pulls, and a powerful figure rolled out, covered in slime, coughing violently in the pool.

Huang Huang Liushi gave a glance; the Left Chancellor instantly understood and rushed forward, kneeling and crying out, "Welcome, Tian Sheng Gong, Jianglin ！"

The figure gasped for breath, slowly rising.

Tall and imposing, with prominent brow ridges and deep-set features, clearly bearing foreign traits, strikingly similar to the deity statues venerated by the Tian Sheng Sect.

The only difference: his eyebrows had turned purple.

His eyes were filled with confusion and terror, scanning the surroundings wildly. Hearing the Left Chancellor's voice, he seemed to recall something, staring at his own hands. "I... I am Xiao Xiao Tianxiong..."

The Left Chancellor pretended not to hear.

Indeed, this Tian Sheng Gong had concealed his identity.

"I died... why can't I remember anything..."

Tian Sheng Gong's face twisted in agony, clutching his head tightly.

Huang Huang Liushi stepped forward immediately, bowing respectfully. "Tian Sheng Gong, no need to dwell on the Underworld's past. Better not to remember—lest you draw attention."

"Who are you?!"

Xiao Xiao Tianxiong spun around, eyes brimming with murderous intent.

Huang Huang Liushi merely gazed calmly at him, saying nothing.

Soon, a flicker of purple light passed through Xiao Xiao Tianxiong's eyes—he seemed to recall something, nodded, and said, "So you're the ones who freed me. Your great kindness needs no words of thanks!"

The Left Chancellor watched in horror.

He knew the demon god had already altered Xiao Xiao Tianxiong's memories; soon, he would become a puppet.

Clearly, the Ghost Sect had ties with these demon gods!

His fear deepened, yet he dared not show any sign, bowing respectfully: "Sect Master, our sect now faces calamity. We beg you to return and lead us..." He then recounted the current situation.

"Again, Mount Wudang?!"

Xiao Xiao Tianxiong's face darkened. "Where is that monk Zhang Master Sanfeng?"

Huang Huang Liushi replied, "Legends say he has already ascended to godhood."

"Ascended to godhood?!"

Xiao Xiao Tianxiong froze, then roared, "How dare he! What right does he have?!"

Huang Huang Liushi said coolly, "What use are such words, Sect Master? The past is gone. Ascension isn't necessarily good—this world is yours now."

The Left Chancellor quickly bowed. "We beg the Sect Master to act, to avenge our fallen brothers!"

Hearing this, Xiao Xiao Tianxiong looked at his palms, then his aura shifted violently—he became like a wild beast, his chest and abdomen muscles quivering as he slammed his palm forward.

Crack!

A wave exploded across the pool.

This was a Void-Palm strike—only qi Gang could achieve this.

!.

The Left Chancellor immediately lowered his head, eyes uneasy.

The resurrection method required a suitable body. The Fangxian Sect had once devised a secret technique: extracting a fetus from the womb to cultivate a terrestrial immortal body.

As long as resurrection occurred, combat power could be restored swiftly.

Xiao Xiao Tianxiong was terrifying because his martial arts reached divine levels, and he mastered a technique to transform into the demonic beast Qiongqi, earning him a place among the Ten Great Masters of Shenzhou.

Now, just resurrected, he already possessed qi Gang —soon, he would likely regain his status as a Master.

If he discovers I tampered with him... will he kill me?

As the Left Chancellor trembled, Xiao Xiao Tianxiong nodded in satisfaction. "Terrestrial immortal body... excellent!"

"Let's go. Kill a few of Zhang Master Sanfeng's disciples—see if that old man will rage enough to descend from heaven..."

…………

Unaware, the sky began to pale.

In the thick, drowsy fog, torches flickered.

"Little Brother Li, we found it!"

From afar, Sha Sha Li Fei began complaining, "This old monkey really knows how to hide—searched all night, only to find he dug a hole and hid inside a coffin…"

Before he finished speaking, a large dark shape emerged from the fog: Wu Ba was dragging the corpse of "Bai Gong," struggling up the slope with help from Sha Sha Li Fei and Lu San.

"No matter, as long as you're back."

Li Yan exhaled in relief and hurried forward to inspect.

Thud!

Wu Ba dropped the corpse, wiped the cold sweat from his brow, and rushed to the bonfire, greedily devouring the meat Li Yan had roasted.

The corpse of "Bai Gong" was massive; even Wu Ba was exhausted.

Li Yan bent down to examine it, secretly astonished.

He had seen other Divine Champion corpses, but compared to this "Bai Gong," they were utterly incomparable.

Its entire body was covered in white fur, five meters long, with only one arm and one leg, its face twisted in ferocity, painted all over with pigments.

Even though its soul had scattered, its body still radiated yin-sha energy.

"Here, take this too…"

Sha Sha Li Fei tossed down a tattered black cloth flag—unknown what material it was made of—covered in blood-red symbols of yin-yang bagua and strange talismans.

Wang Wang Daoxuan also stepped closer, drew a sharp breath, and stroked his beard: "This is the Soul-Calling Banner of Yin Mountain Sect. How did 'Bai Gong' get this?"

"Yin Mountain Sect!"

Li Yan was also startled upon hearing it.

South of the Yangtze River, the Dao lineages multiply endlessly—especially in Xiangxi, where they're as numerous as hairs on a cow.

Yin Mountain Sect has few members, but its reputation is immense.

This sect is technically part of the Daoist tradition, yet specializes in ghost arts; its founder, Yin Mountain Patriarch Xie Wuyang, was a contemporary of Master Master Sanfeng.

Xie Wuyang is both righteous and unscrupulous, and his name is well known in the Mystic Gate.

This sect practices ghost arts, yet is not a ghost cult—it fuses the Dao lineages of Mao Mountain and Lu Mountain with witchcraft and poison spells.

Its members mostly move in secrecy and rarely reveal their identities.

Who would have thought we'd encounter an Yin Mountain Sect ritual flag here? Too bad it was used last night to block the Underworld troops, and its spiritual essence has now completely dissipated.

Li Yan pondered for a moment: "Before this 'Bai Gong' clashed with the Heavenly Saint Cult, he likely seized it from them."

"The Heavenly Saint Cult has absorbed many wanted cultivators; having a Yin Mountain disciple among them isn't surprising."

Beside them, Lu San frowned and muttered: "This corpse carries too much yin-sha energy—it's extremely inauspicious. On the way, it drew countless spirits and demons trying to possess it."

"I say, burn it outright—it's safer."

"No way!"

Sha Sha Li Fei panicked: "We nearly ran out of new gunpowder last night, Little Brother Li wasted a Divine Command, and we went through hell dragging this thing back—burning it would be a total loss!"

He quickly turned to Li Yan, rubbing his bald head: "Little Brother Li, this is the body of a Mountain God—surely worth a fortune?"

"It's indeed valuable."

Li Yan said gravely: "Its fur and bones can be forged into talismans, but that would be a waste."

"Its soul is scattered, yet its body remains intact. Cultivators who specialize in corpse manipulation would sell everything they own to obtain this."

"But selling it to them might invite disaster. Minister Yuan Feng of the Ministry of Works' Bureau of Weights and Measures told me the Qiankun Academy is gathering rare artifacts from across the land—this would be perfect for them."

"Good, good."

Sha Sha Li Fei beamed: "Yuan Feng is an elder of Mo Men, in charge of new gunpowder weapons. Sell it to them—build a good relationship."

Li Yan shook his head: "I'll sell it, but I had you retrieve this for another reason."

He walked to the corpse of "Bai Gong," clapped his palms repeatedly, using subtle force to make it expel something from its belly.

Clang!

A bronze box fell to the ground.

"There's treasure inside its belly!"

Sha Sha Li Fei's eyes lit up; he snatched it up. The object was shaped like a bagua, with a series of protruding segments beneath, as if eight keys had fused together.

Wang Wang Daoxuan frowned: "This looks like a peculiar lock."

"Correct."

Li Yan said gravely: "When I interrogated 'Bai Gong' last night, I discovered something: the Divine Champion tribes in Inside Shennongjia were tampered with by Fangxian Dao sorcerers—that's how the human-faced owl came to be."

"They were created by humans to guard something."

He turned his gaze toward the northwest: "That direction is Shennong Peak. According to 'Bai Gong's' memories, the Divine Champion tribe migrated from there."

Sha Sha Li Fei's breathing grew heavy: "You mean… there's treasure on Shennong Peak?"

Li Yan recalled the unease he'd felt yesterday and shook his head: "It's probably not that simple…"

(End of Chapter)