Chapter 355 - 286: Coincidence

Within Yuan Province City.

Inspector Jiang Ming was conversing with an ugly Daoist whose face was deathly pale and who exuded the stench of a corpse.

"Daoist, I truly cannot accept your request."

Jiang Ming said, shaking his head.

This ugly Daoist was none other than the Corpse Concealing Daoist. He opened his mouth, revealing a set of yellow teeth, and said, "Governor Jiang, this is your only chance."

"As long as you agree to my master’s conditions, within three days, I will certainly help you take down the Wind and Thunder Army!"

"With the current situation in the Great Ling Dynasty, as long as the Wind and Thunder Army is annihilated, we can even help you carve out your own territory."

Naturally, Governor Jiang was quite enticed by the idea.

But he was also keenly aware of the dangers of cooperating with these Evil Cultivators.

These fiends had bizarre, fickle temperaments and were exceptionally cruel. He didn’t know when they might just decide to eat him.

But faced with the current offensive from the Wind and Thunder Army, he had no choice but to cooperate for now.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t even be able to hold Yuan Province City.

"A blood sacrifice of 300,000 souls... That’s too great a sin against Heaven."

"If your master is willing to act, the 100,000 soldiers of the Wind and Thunder Army can all be offered up as sacrifices."

Jiang Ming said in a low voice.

The Corpse Concealing Daoist sneered inwardly upon hearing this. ’He’s clearly trying to get something for nothing.’

He certainly wasn’t going to agree so easily. "Those 100,000 soldiers of the Wind and Thunder Army are already included in the 300,000."

"Governor Jiang only needs to round up another 200,000 souls...."

"I imagine that with Yuan Province City’s population of several million, this should be a trivial matter for Governor Jiang," the Corpse Concealing Daoist said with a faint smile.

"This is 200,000 lives. The sin would be too great."

Jiang Ming steadfastly refused to agree.

"So there’s no other way?" the Corpse Concealing Daoist asked coolly.

"Daoist, besides the 100,000 from the Wind and Thunder Army, I will add another 50,000 people."

"That is my absolute limit."

Jiang Ming didn’t want to lose his help either.

"One hundred thousand... That is our bottom line."

"If Governor Jiang does not agree this time, I will return to my Sect," the Corpse Concealing Daoist said coolly.

It was obvious he was now threatening Jiang Ming.

He had already approached Jiang Ming about this issue many times.

But the man kept putting him off, making the Corpse Concealing Daoist increasingly dissatisfied.

Jiang Ming didn’t dare to simply force the Corpse Concealing Daoist away. He hurriedly said, "Daoist, let’s meet in the middle then—seventy thousand!"

The Corpse Concealing Daoist gave him a cool glance but said nothing.

Seeing this, Jiang Ming knew that if he didn’t agree this time, the Daoist would not budge.

Just then, the sound of a horn suddenly blared from the distance!

Jiang Ming’s expression changed slightly.

The blowing of that horn signified a night raid by the Wind and Thunder Army.

Sure enough, a general quickly rushed in, cupped his fists, and said, "Sir, the Wind and Thunder Army has launched attacks on the east and south gates!"

"What about the west and north gates?" Jiang Ming asked quickly.

"According to our observations, they are massing troops there as well!" the general said grimly.

"Understood. Go and arrange the defenses," Jiang Ming said with a wave of his hand.

The general nodded and turned to leave.

Jiang Ming could no longer afford to haggle with the Corpse Concealing Daoist. "Daoist, we’ll do as you say! A blood sacrifice of 100,000 souls!"

This sudden night raid from the Wind and Thunder Army was fishy. ’If he doesn’t act, this is going to be a disaster.’

But the Corpse Concealing Daoist felt that this surprise attack by the Wind and Thunder Army was a godsent opportunity.

He said nothing, just looking at Jiang Ming.

And an old fox like Jiang Ming, upon seeing the Corpse Concealing Daoist’s expression, instantly understood what he meant.

This time, Jiang Ming fell silent for a moment.

But the sounds of battle from afar made his Heart Spirit grow increasingly unsettled.

Finally, for the sake of his own life, Jiang Ming gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! As the Daoist says—200,000 souls!"

Only then did the Corpse Concealing Daoist break into a smile. "Hahaha, rest assured, Governor Jiang. I will first help you repel the Wind and Thunder Army, and then I will go and ask my master to come out of seclusion!"

With that, he left the Prefecture Government Office.

After the Corpse Concealing Daoist left, Jiang Ming’s expression became extremely ugly.

But he was the one asking for help now, so no matter how greedy the other party was, he could only agree for the time being.

’I really hope Zhang Cang strikes you dead with his lightning!’ Jiang Ming cursed inwardly, a rare outburst for him.

Of course, these were just words said in anger.

If the Corpse Concealing Daoist were really struck dead by lightning, it would also be an unacceptable outcome for him.

...

After leaving the Province Yamen, the Corpse Concealing Daoist quickly vanished into the dark streets.

His whereabouts were known only to Jiang Ming.

Before long, the Corpse Concealing Daoist arrived at a dilapidated temple within the city.

He walked up to a stone pillar and began to turn it gently.

GRIND!!

A section of the floor slowly slid open, revealing a dark, hidden passage.

After entering the passage, the Corpse Concealing Daoist pushed the stone slab back into place.

The passage was dark and damp, hung with numerous corpses, each frozen in a terrifying state of death.

Some of the bodies had even begun to emit a thick stench of decay.

These corpses were, in fact, the craftsmen who had built this secret underground chamber.

The Corpse Concealing Daoist took a deep breath, an expression of pure enjoyment on his face, as he slowly walked through the passage.

He had built this place in secret; no one else knew of its existence.

It was built precisely to prevent Zhang Cang from casting a spell to summon Celestial Thunder to strike him.

For an Evil Cultivator like him, lightning was a natural nemesis.

To be struck by it meant certain death, with not even a body left to bury.

That was why he had specifically arranged to perform his rites underground.

This way, he couldn’t be struck no matter what, so naturally, he had no worries.

At the end of the passage was a secret chamber. A Magic Altar stood in the center, piled high with a great number of rotting human heads with ferocious expressions.

In the middle of it all rested a Three-legged Skull Furnace, filled to the brim with foul-smelling, bloody water.