This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

Chapter 158 Heavenly Lightning Strikes the Coffin, Evolving the Bronze-Armored Corpse

Zhong Bai couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the Dragon-Slaying Taoist Master looking completely helpless.

"When did I ever say I would punish you?"

Zhong Bai rolled his eyes, then lightly tapped his fingertip, and a golden light lifted up the Dragon-Slaying Taoist who was kneeling on one knee to beg for forgiveness.

Seeing this, Master Tulong was a little confused and looked at Zhong Bai with a questioning look. Zhong Bai exhaled a breath of turbid air and said, "Master Tulong, although your behavior is a little unseemly for Maoshan, it did not kill anyone and there is no fault to speak of. If we are talking about sins, who in Maoshan has killed more people than me?"
Some things, as long as you have a clear conscience, are enough.

"I have a clear conscience..."

Master Tulong muttered to himself. Zhong Bai wasn't just fooling him with those words. In the entire Maoshan sect, everyone knew that Zhong Bai had killed the most people. But why did Maoshan and even the entire Taoist community only think that Zhong Bai was somewhat bloodthirsty, instead of that he had killed the wrong people? It's easy to say that you have a clear conscience, but if you really want to have a clear conscience, Master Tulong needs to experience it for himself.

"Disciple understands, disciple thanks Elder for his mercy!"

"No need, get up..."

At this moment, the four eyes had already circled the bronze-cornered golden coffin once.

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"Tsk tsk tsk, Junior Brother Qianhe, the old folks in the capital are really rich. They can use copper horns and gold coffins to make coffins. Not to mention Senior Brother Tulong, even I am very tempted."

Si Mu Jing spoke the truth, while Zhong Bai glanced at the bronze-cornered golden coffin and shook his head, saying, "The old guard in the capital aren't stupid. In fact, they are very likely using this method to concentrate wealth from all over the country in the capital and to forge the bronze-cornered golden coffin. Isn't that just a smokescreen?"

Zhong Bai knew far more about the situation in the capital than Si Mu and the others. Those people weren't that foolish. But since they had come across this opportunity, Zhong Bai naturally wouldn't miss it.

He himself does not use gold and silver, but gold and silver still have a role for a sect.

"Yes, yes, we certainly don't know the situation that Junior Brother Qianhe is aware of, but..."

"Hehe, Junior Brother Qianhe, shall we drag this royal zombie out and kill it right now, then melt down the bronze-horned golden coffin!"

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became; drool was practically dripping from the corners of his mouth.

As he spoke, Si Mu prepared to tear off the ink line on the bronze horn coffin.

At this moment, Zhong Bai spoke up.

"Senior Brother Four Eyes, no rush. Junior Brother still has some use for this bronze horn and golden coffin."

? ? ? ? ?

Upon hearing this, Si Mu was immediately dumbfounded. Keeping it for a use? What use? He knew Zhong Bai's situation perfectly well—just a hopping zombie, something even Si Mu wouldn't consider worthwhile. If it were a golden-armored zombie king inside, perhaps Si Mu would believe it, but…

"Ahem, Junior Brother Qianhe, what's the use of keeping this jumping zombie?"

Zhong Bai's eyes deepened.

Looking at the bronze-horned golden coffin in front of him, he said, "Senior Brother Four Eyes, I have a feeling that tonight there was a great storm and lightning struck the bronze-horned golden coffin. The royal zombie inside evolved into a bronze-armored zombie as a result. Do you think it is possible, Senior Brother?"

Upon hearing this, Si Mu shook his head frantically.

He had always trusted Zhong Bai, but this matter was truly unbelievable. Although it was nearing dusk, there were no clouds in the sky, and based on his experience in transporting corpses, it was impossible for rain to come at night.

Moreover, not only did it rain, but lightning also struck the coffin...

Not only did it hit the coffin, but it also caused the royal zombie to evolve into a bronze-armored zombie. Cough cough, it's not that he didn't believe it, it's that he simply couldn't believe it.

Tu Long, who was standing to the side, also felt that it was somewhat unlikely, after all, this kind of thing sounded absurd no matter how you looked at it.

Seeing that neither of them believed him, Zhong Bai did not explain, but said calmly, "Seeing is believing. Senior Brother Simu, it's only one night, it doesn't matter. If you guess wrong, Junior Brother can still melt this bronze horn coffin with Samadhi Fire tomorrow."

It's just one night, so Si Mu naturally can't refuse. Let alone one night, even if Zhong Bai asked him to wait for a year, Si Mu would agree.

"Hehe, then let's keep it. Junior Brother Qianhe, tonight we'll have to see if your prediction is really as miraculous as it seems!"

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Night gradually fell.

In the temple, Simu, Zhong Bai, and Daoist Tulong sat together at the table. Watching Jiale bustling around, Zhong Bai couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Senior Brother Simu, what are you going to do with Jiale from now on?"

When Jia Le was mentioned, Si Mu was clearly reluctant, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "Jia Le is a very well-behaved boy, but his talent is not very good. He probably won't have the chance to be ordained and formally join Maoshan in this lifetime. Now, what I'm thinking is to have him live in Maoshan Town in the future."

It's perfectly normal to have such thoughts. Zhong Bai nodded and continued, "Maoshan Town is also an option. In fact, the town is mostly inhabited by disciples and their families from all over Maoshan. If Jiale goes to Maoshan Town, he can receive protection."

"Haha, that makes sense. But while there's still time, I need to find Jiale a wife. Everyone says Master, Jiale is practically my child, so I have to keep an eye on him." Tu Long added from the side, "Junior Brother Simu, speaking of which, Master Yixiu's disciple next door is quite good. I've seen that girl, and Junior Nephew Jiale and she are a perfect match. Plus, Master Yixiu will be returning to Baima Temple in the future, hehe, the chances are great!"

This opened the floodgates, and Simu and Tulong started planning for Jiale's future, one after the other. Zhong Bai occasionally offered specific suggestions. Before long, Jiale, who was working nearby, turned bright red. Heaven knows what he had overheard. In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he heard his master even think about how many children he and Qingqing would have in the future...

"Ahem, Master, I'm going out for some fresh air."

Unable to bear it any longer, Jiale pushed open the door after speaking, but as soon as the door opened, a gust of wind rushed into the room.

Wow! What a strong wind!

What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener. Simu and Tulong Daoist, who were originally discussing Jiale's life-long happiness, suddenly changed their expressions and stood up.

He hurried to the doorway and looked up at the sky. At that moment, dark clouds were gathering and accompanied by strong winds, so it was clear that a heavy rain was about to arrive.

"Elder, you're truly amazing!"

Tu Long looked at Zhong Bai with a hint of disbelief in his eyes, clearly shocked by Zhong Bai's prediction during the day.

Zhong Bai remained calm. Rain was certain, but as for whether lightning could strike the coffin and cause the royal zombie to evolve into a bronze-armored corpse, Zhong Bai was merely speculating.

The wind grew stronger, and with a whoosh, a torrential downpour began, soaking the bronze horn and golden coffin outside the temple grounds, causing the ink lines on it to fade rapidly.

Just then, a loud bang!
A bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking directly above the bronze-horned golden coffin. The crackling lightning spread across the coffin, a sight that seemed almost divine to Four Eyes and Dragon Slayer. Their gazes toward Zhong Bai shifted from reverence to fanatical worship, as if they were looking at a god.

Strangely enough, after the thunder struck, the raindrops around the area quickly subsided, and a moment later, the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped.

"Let's go take a look. This royal zombie should be about to emerge from its coffin."

As Zhong Bai finished speaking, Simu and Tulong took the lead and quickly arrived outside the dojo. Looking at the bronze horn coffin with lightning still spreading in front of them, both of them frowned. In the void, the concentration of corpse energy was rapidly rising.

"This corpse energy has exceeded the scope of a jumping zombie; it might actually transform into a bronze-armored zombie!"

Four Eyes' expression was somewhat solemn. If Zhong Bai wasn't here, and a bronze-armored corpse appeared, especially one carrying the aura of a royal dragon, Four Eyes would really have a tough time dealing with it.

Tu Long, standing to the side, was also secretly relieved that Zhong Bai had left his troops behind during the day to kill those Manchu Tartars. Otherwise, if he had continued on his journey, who knew if he would have had to face this bronze-armored corpse at night? He was only at the eighth level of Qi Refining, and even escaping might not have been an option.

"This royal zombie is evolving very quickly. Tsk, it's already a bronze-armored zombie."

Zhong Bai scanned the area with his divine sense, and the situation of the royal zombie could not escape his detection. As Zhong Bai finished speaking, the bronze horn and golden coffin began to tremble.

"The coffin has been taken out!"

As Tu Long finished speaking, the lid of the bronze-horned golden coffin in front of him, despite its immense weight, was slowly lifted. The ink lines around it emitted a red light, but unfortunately, after being washed by the rain, their effect was too weak to prevent the bronze-armored corpse from emerging.

With a loud bang, the coffin lid flew off, and the royal bronze-armored corpse slowly rose from the coffin.

In an instant, their eyes met—truly, their eyes locked with the bronze-armored corpse. Yes, it was a person and a corpse that desired each other.

With a roar, the royal bronze-armored corpse charged straight at Four Eyes at great speed. Four Eyes was equally unafraid, as he was carrying a bronze sword.

The moment Four Eyes' bronze sword struck the bronze-armored corpse of the royal family, the sword shattered, and Four Eyes' face darkened, speechless.

"Junior Brother Four Eyes, I'm here to help you!"

Behind him, the Dragon-Slaying Taoist shouted, twirled his peach wood sword, and then thrust it into the back of the royal bronze-armored corpse. The peach wood sword had barely penetrated when it was corroded by the powerful corpse energy within the royal bronze-armored corpse. When he tried to thrust again, the royal bronze-armored corpse had already pounced on him.

Zhong Bai watched calmly. This royal bronze-armored corpse was a piece of cake for him, but there were some things he couldn't deal with too easily. For example, this royal bronze-armored corpse was something that Si Mu and Tu Long rarely had the chance to face. It was necessary for them to learn from each other's experience.

Si Mu and Tu Long understood this principle. With Zhong Bai behind them, they didn't need to worry about their own safety at all. At this moment, they couldn't wait to put all their knowledge to good use and test themselves.

For a time, Four Eyes and Dragon Slayer were truly locked in a stalemate with this royal bronze-armored corpse.

The commotion outside the dojo was eventually heard by the monk Yixiu next door. When he went out and saw Simu Tulong and Zhong Bai fighting with the royal bronze-armored corpse, he immediately stood still and did not go forward.

Just kidding, why would we need him meddling?
"Brother Dragon Slayer, hold them off! Let me unleash my divine power!"

After Si Mu finished speaking, Tu Long cooperated by casting a talisman and pulling out a Five Emperors' Bronze Coin Sword, which allowed him to barely hold his own against the royal bronze-armored corpse.

He quickly took out an incense stick and focused his mind on the altar, silently chanting. The invocation of the spirit does not have to be performed in front of the ancestral tablet. As Si Mu silently chanted, a beam of spiritual light instantly flew out from the altar and landed on Si Mu. In an instant, Si Mu's aura suddenly soared. The ancestral master possessed him, and Si Mu was in full power.

Unfortunately, just as Simu was about to go on a killing spree, the ancestral spiritual light on his body paused upon discovering Zhong Bai. The spiritual light in the void transformed into a finger that struck Simu's head before quickly dissipating.

(End of this chapter)