The World's Greatest Dark Art

Above the hundreds of Spirit Corpses, the overwhelming pressure of two Living Spirit Realm experts, one in black and one in white, left the three struggling to breathe. These were experts at the pinnacle of mortal cultivation, only one step away from becoming an Immortal.

"Bright Moon in the Sky."

Dongfang Mingyue flew into the air and slashed vertically with her sword. Spiritual energy gathered around her at a speed visible to the naked eye, forming a bright moon that flew toward the Corpse Lord and Soul Master.

"So you're a descendant of the Eastern King. But since you've discovered this place, don't expect to leave alive today," the Corpse Lord said coldly.

The Corpse Lord and Soul Master formed hand seals. Two flashes of spiritual light transformed into iron chains in midair. The chains twisted together, shattered the moon, and flew toward them.

Facing the chains head-on, Dongfang Mingyue fell from the sky. Yang Xiao leaped up and caught her.

"Looks like we're really going to die this time." Yang Xiao gave a bitter laugh as he looked at the beauty in his arms.

Just as the chains were about to fall, a loud cry suddenly came from below.

"Dad!"

A resonant voice rang out behind the two of them. That cry of "Dad" brimmed with affection, as though he truly were calling his father.

Shen Laodao held a Short Staff between his hands and knelt before the Corpse Lord and Soul Master. He was the one who had called out.

The Soul Master cackled. "Junior brother, I've never seen anyone call someone Dad on the battlefield before."

"Good son, for that cry of Dad, I'll make sure to keep your soul by my side after you die, so you can kneel before me every day."

The Corpse Lord opened his mouth, but before he could speak, his expression changed drastically. He spat out blood, and his aura plummeted, dropping him into the Soul Seed Realm.

He looked toward the Soul Master beside him, whose condition was no better.

The chains in the air faltered as their magical power stalled. Seizing the opportunity, Yang Xiao carried Dongfang Mingyue behind Shen Laodao.

Shen Laodao's cry of Dad was downright sinister. It had actually knocked the Corpse Lord and Soul Master, both a realm above him, down an entire realm.

Clutching his chest, the Soul Master stared at Shen Laodao in horror. "What kind of dark art is that?"

"The world's greatest dark art, the Call-Dad-and-Die Technique." Wang Huhu had woken at some point and spoke from behind the two of them, covering her little mouth.

"Impossible," the Soul Master said. "Wasn't that technique cursed by the gods because it once cursed a god to death?"

"Back then, the gods joined forces to wipe out the Shen Family, the world's foremost dark arts lineage, who practiced that technique. How could anyone in this world still know it?"

The Corpse Lord's face was so dark it looked ready to drip water. "Senior brother, I told you not to provoke outsiders and to let me revive my daughter in peace."

"Look at the people you've provoked! A descendant of the Eastern King and an heir to the foremost dark arts lineage, which vanished from history long ago!"

"My dad is the Tiger King," Wang Huhu said quietly. "The most famous Tiger King in Great Zhou."

The Corpse Lord's mouth twitched, and he glared at the Soul Master. The latter closed his eyes and said, "Junior brother, at this point, we can only join forces and kill them. Otherwise, forget reviving your daughter—even our own lives will be forfeit."

When the Soul Master opened his eyes again, killing intent shot from them. Both men summoned their chains at once.

"Shen Laodao, hurry up and curse them to death!" Wang Huhu shouted.

Shen Laodao rolled his eyes, sitting back on his heels with his legs trembling. "Do you think this poor monk isn't human? Using the Call-Dad-and-Die Technique exhausted all my magical power. It's up to you now. If you can't beat them, we can only wait to die."

Dongfang Mingyue stepped forward with her sword. "I can handle one."

Wang Huhu clenched her little fists, planted both hands on the ground, and transformed into an adorable little white tiger with tiny fangs.

Yang Xiao stared at Wang Huhu in her little white tiger form. "You're a demonic beast?"

Wang Huhu bared her two fangs. "You're a demonic beast! Your whole family are demonic beasts! This is my Heaven-Slaying Divine Tiger bloodline. Haven't you heard of it?

"It's just that my bloodline power is so strong, almost matching a Pureblood Heaven-Slaying Divine Tiger's, that I can take the form of a divine beast."

Yang Xiao's mouth fell open. His horizons had certainly broadened today. First he had witnessed the world's greatest dark art, and now he had seen Wang Huhu transform into a demonic... divine beast.

He reached out and pushed Wang Huhu back. "Leave the other one to me."

Wang Huhu gave him a teasing look. "Can you handle it?"

Yang Xiao stepped forward. Black mist poured from his body, and his scarlet eyes fixed on the Corpse Lord. "A man can't say he can't."

Dongfang Mingyue glanced at him. "What a strange bloodline. I feel like I've heard of it somewhere."

The Soul Master pointed, and his chain split into thousands in the air, hurtling toward them. "The likes of you? Even after falling to the Soul Seed Realm, I can still kill you!"

Dongfang Mingyue flew forward. A streak of azure light stretched across the sky, clearing away every chain within thirty feet of her.

Yang Xiao targeted the Corpse Lord. Spiritual light flashed in his right hand, and the Dragon Horn flew out. Both of them soared into the sky.

"I forgot to tell you—the Call-Dad-and-Die Technique only lasts half a quarter-hour," Shen Laodao called out again.

"That's enough," Yang Xiao said coldly. The Dragon Horn in his hand erupted with brilliant light, transforming into a hundred-foot white dragon in midair.

"What magical treasure is that? Why does it look like the legendary Dragon Horn?" the Corpse Lord exclaimed in horror.

The white dragon flew toward the Corpse Lord. Thousands of chains coiled toward it, but as they drew near, they dissolved into spiritual energy and scattered into the air.

"Damn it! If my cultivation hadn't plummeted, how could I possibly lose to you?" the Corpse Lord shouted. The white dragon swallowed him whole. Moments later, the Corpse Lord flew out of its body, covered in wounds.

Yang Xiao's face darkened. He only had enough magical power to activate the Dragon Horn once. He had never expected the Corpse Lord to survive.

But the Corpse Lord's next move surprised him. Abandoning Yang Xiao, he flew toward the bright red coffin in the center and slapped it with one hand. All the flesh and blood in his body flew toward the Nine Netherworld Divine Grass at its center.

His face covered in blood, the Corpse Lord looked at the Soul Master, who was locked in a fierce battle with Dongfang Mingyue overhead, and smiled bleakly.

"Senior brother, I've wronged you. If it weren't for my desire to revive my daughter, I wouldn't have dragged you into this and made you flee the Netherworld Divine Palace with me.

"I have only one last wish. Please take my daughter away."

The Corpse Lord and hundreds of Spirit Corpses dissolved into corpse energy and flowed into the Nine Netherworld Divine Grass. Yang Xiao glanced at the Soul Master. Perhaps he was imagining it, but he thought he saw a flicker of delight on the man's face.

After absorbing the corpse energy, the Nine Netherworld Divine Grass blossomed into a red flower. Its petals bore the image of ten thousand roaring corpses.

The flower withered, turning into a streak of red light that flew into the bright red coffin.

"Get lost!" The Soul Master swept his hand, blasting Dongfang Mingyue away with his powerful magic. He rushed toward the bright red coffin and reached for it.

Roar!

An adorable little tiger with tiny fangs leaped up and knocked the Soul Master flying.

The Soul Master steadied himself and glared furiously at Wang Huhu. Just as he was about to attack, a tiger's roar came from outside. His expression changed drastically at the sound. Abandoning even the bright red coffin, he fled straight down the passage.

Weakness surged through Yang Xiao's body, and he fell. An icy fairy flew over and caught him in midair.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly took out Earth Vein Crystals to restore their cultivation.

Yang Xiao examined his nearly depleted Qi Sea. The Dragon Horn hadn't gone too far this time; it had left him a little magical power. Otherwise, he wouldn't have lasted this long.

As they meditated, sounds of fighting continued outside. Someone seemed to be attacking Corpse Soul Mountain.

Yang Xiao thought of the tiger's roar earlier. Among them, only Wang Huhu had any connection to tigers. Chen Wuyou must have notified her family, who had come to rescue her.

Half a quarter-hour later, the four had recovered most of their magical power. Suddenly, knocking came from inside the coffin, making them all shudder.

Shen Laodao approached the coffin with a large saber, killing intent blazing in his eyes. He split the coffin with a single slash, and a sleeping beauty in a black dress tumbled out.

Shen Laodao stared blankly at the sleeping beauty in black, not even noticing when his saber fell to the ground.

He rubbed his hands together, chuckled, and slowly approached her.

"What are you trying to do?" Wang Huhu spread her arms and blocked his path.

"What does a child know? This woman is the Corpse Lord's daughter, a great evil. This poor monk must take her back and thoroughly guide her toward salvation." Shen Laodao pushed Wang Huhu aside. Just as he stepped forward, an Immortal sword settled against his neck and slapped his old face twice. He gave an awkward smile and silently retreated three steps.

A moment later, all four stood around the sleeping beauty in black, examining her. They couldn't tell whether the Corpse Lord's resurrection had failed, but she still hadn't awakened.

"She moved! She moved!" Wang Huhu said, pointing at the sleeping beauty's eyes.

Dongfang Mingyue placed her immortal sword against the sleeping beauty's neck. If anything went wrong, this beauty wouldn't mind ruthlessly crushing another lovely flower.

The other three looked over. The sleeping beauty's eyelids twitched, and she opened a pair of large, lively eyes.

"Who are you? And who am I?" the sleeping beauty in black asked as she looked at them.

"She lost her memory." The four exchanged glances and spoke in unison.

Yang Xiao lowered his head in thought. Perhaps Dongfang Mingyue's sword strike while saving Wang Huhu had damaged the spirit corpses, preventing the Nine Netherworld Divine Grass from taking full effect.

It was also possible that the Corpse Lord hadn't finished his preparations and had revived her prematurely.

The more he thought, the more his head hurt. If she had opened her eyes and immediately demanded revenge for her father, they could have simply killed her with a sword. But this half-completed resurrection and loss of memory left them in a difficult position.

"Young lady, your name is Xiaohua, and you're this poor monk's bride-to-be. You fell ill recently and lost your memory, which is why you've forgotten me. Come, this poor monk will take you home." Wearing a wicked grin, Shen Laodao reached for her delicate hand.

"Hey, Dongfang Mingyue, you've gone too far!" Shen Laodao quickly withdrew his paw, which now bore a sword wound.

Dongfang Mingyue raised a furrowed brow and swept her icy gaze over the unscrupulous old Daoist. He shivered and retreated three steps, muttering, "So fierce. She'll never find a husband."

The woman in black looked over all four of them before her gaze settled on Yang Xiao. "I think I've seen you before. You feel very familiar."

Yang Xiao froze. He had lived in Ancient Sand Town for eighteen years. If he had met such a beautiful woman, he would surely remember, yet he had no recollection of her.

A wail rose beside him. Shen Laodao pointed at Yang Xiao. "You brat! What dark art did you use to make such a beauty throw herself into your arms?"

After wailing a couple of times, his legs gave way and he knelt on the ground. "Yang Xiao, after all these years of brotherhood, you must teach this poor monk that technique."

"Once I learn it, I'll trick the holy maidens of all the great sacred lands and sects into falling for me and obediently bearing my children."

Yang Xiao instinctively darted aside. He remembered what had happened to the last two men Shen Laodao had knelt before: one dead, one fled. Fortunately, Shen Laodao hadn't called him Dad, or the experience would have left a shadow over his heart.

"Young lady, you've mistaken me for someone else," he said. "We've never met."

The girl in black studied him for a while. "We must have met. I just can't remember."

Footsteps came from the passage, drawing all four people's attention.

"Tiger girl, are you here?" A rough voice echoed in their ears as a burly man in tiger-patterned robes entered with a squad of soldiers.

His face lit up when he saw Wang Huhu. He sprang over to her and lifted her into his arms. "Tiger girl, are you hurt?"

Wang Huhu shook her head. "No."

Uncle Tiger set Wang Huhu down. After checking her over, he sighed in relief. "Tiger girl, I've already sent word to your dad. He replied that I should bring you home. We're giving up the search for the Carefree Scripture."

Uncle Tiger looked at Dongfang Mingyue. "The Eastern King is worried about your safety too. He asked me to bring you back as well."

Dongfang Mingyue frowned slightly. After considering it for a moment, she nodded.

"Uncle Tiger, go outside first. I have something to tell my friends. Come back in a bit," Wang Huhu said, looking up. Uncle Tiger was burly, and at only four feet tall, she probably found talking to him tiring.

"Tiger girl has little secrets now! All right, I'll give you some space." Uncle Tiger pinched Wang Huhu's cheek, waved his large hand, and led the soldiers out.

Wang Huhu looked at everyone and took a black stone from inside her clothes. "My dad has spoken, so I have to leave."

"This is the carefree earth master chapter. I've memorized everything on it, so there's no point keeping it anymore. You can have it."

Shen Laodao stared at the black stone with shining eyes and swallowed. "The carefree earth master chapter."

Hugging the black stone to his chest, Shen Laodao looked up. "Where did you get it?"

Wang Huhu flashed her two fangs and smiled. "Dug it out of the ground."

After some thought, Yang Xiao said to Dongfang Mingyue, "Actually, we already obtained the carefree heavenly master chapter. I'll pass it on to you now."

Dongfang Mingyue and Wang Huhu were so close they might as well have been one person. Now that Wang Huhu had given them the carefree earth master chapter, keeping the carefree heavenly master chapter to themselves would be far too disloyal.

Dongfang Mingyue glanced at him and was about to refuse, but Wang Huhu came over, took her hand, and nodded to her.

After exchanging the Carefree Scripture, the four emerged from underground with an extra person trailing them. Soldiers surrounded the entire hall.

Uncle Tiger laughed loudly when he saw them. "Tiger girl, now that you've said your goodbyes, let's go home."

A Five-Colored Peacock flew down from the sky. It was the same one that had brought Wang Huhu's trio here. After they had gone up Worry-Free Mountain, it had returned home.

Holding Wang Huhu's little hand, Dongfang Mingyue flew onto the Five-Colored Peacock's back.

The Five-Colored Peacock let out a cry and took to the sky.

"Yang Xiao, I'll wait for you in the Imperial Capital!" Wang Huhu called, waving her little hand.

"Withdraw!"

At Uncle Tiger's shout, hundreds of streaks of light followed the Five-Colored Peacock.

Meanwhile, on a distant peak, Luo Tang stroked Luo Chao's head and said softly, "Little brother, it's time for us to leave too. One day, I'll bring you back to life as well."