Bringing some shocking pranks to the Cultivation World
Chapter 64 - 64 57 Arriving at the Tallest Building in Beiliang the Imperial Academy Mansion

64: Chapter 57: Arriving at the Tallest Building in Beiliang, the Imperial Academy Mansion 64: Chapter 57: Arriving at the Tallest Building in Beiliang, the Imperial Academy Mansion “Zombie?”

Upon hearing the two words uttered by Hou Jue, the faces of several people in the hall displayed an array of different expressions.

Li Kuan was somewhat panic-stricken, yet his disposition was dominated by solemnity.

Although Zongmu Town was under the jurisdiction of Shangjing City, it maintained close relations with Beiliang, as the majority of the wood from the town was sold there.

Now that Zongmu Town had been slaughtered, if the zombie were to act on instinct, Beiliang would likely be its next target.

When Guo Lingyun heard that the zombie was dressed in monk’s robes, his heart skipped a beat.

He knew that the only one who could slaughter the entire town of Zongmu in less than thirty minutes after they left, was the Ghost Monk.

But how could this be?

He had clearly seen the Ghost Monk’s head chopped off and his body burnt; how could it still turn into a zombie?

Qianhu’s expression was somewhat bewildered; he felt as though he remembered this robed monster, yet his heart was filled with only a sense of coldness and duty, as if he was destined to kill this creature.

“Brother Hou Jue, did this zombie, attack you?”

At this moment, Zhou Li’s words brought the contemplative Guo Lingyun and Qianhu back to reality as they both turned to look at Hou Jue.

“No.”

As Hou Jue spoke about the incident, his face flashed a look of confusion, “For some reason, at that time I felt an icy chill throughout my body, my limbs stiff, as if I had been frozen in place.

But the creature merely looked at me, spewed a mist of blood from its mouth, let out a cold laugh, and then left.”

“Hmm?”

Guo Lingyun, who was beside him, was momentarily startled, then frowned and said, “That’s strange.

This zombie should have just transformed not long ago, with no consciousness awakened, and should act entirely on instinct, devouring any flesh and blood it can see.

How could it retain human sensibility to spare you?”

“Indeed, there is something peculiar.”

Qianhu nodded at the side and spoke up, “Zombies crave brains and hearts, and siphon the yang energy of living people, so in that case…”

Suddenly, Zhou Li and Tang Wan’s gazes involuntarily swept over Hou Jue’s lower body, while Guo Lingyun beside them burst into excitement, patting Hou Jue’s back and exclaiming with great joy,

“So it’s because you, kiddo, have no brains, that’s why you doggedly escaped death, eh!”

“I think…

I’d better not say.”

Seeing Hou Jue’s face turn instantaneously ashen, Zhou Li was about to lighten the mood, when he quickly realized his own thoughts were even more morbid and could only awkwardly chuckle, attempting to change the subject, “Brother Hou Jue, did you notice the skin of this zombie when you saw it?”

“Skin?”

Hou Jue was bewildered for a moment, then it dawned on him that Zhou Li was trying to ascertain the degree of the zombie’s transformation.

He thought hard and said with some uncertainty:

“It seemed like the skin was greenish-black, with some black mixed in.

It was too dark at the time, I couldn’t see clearly, so I can’t be sure.”

“Greenish-black…”

After a brief silence, Guo Lingyun, rubbing his temple, said with a hint of headache, “If that’s the case, then it’s going to be difficult to determine the degree of mutation of this zombie.”

“Right, we still need to find a professional.”

A professional?!

Qianhu’s remark instantly enlightened Li Kuan, who was deep in thought beside them.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes sparkling with a brilliance that was uniquely his.

He turned to Zhou Li, speaking with excitement:

“Why don’t we ask for help from the Imperial Academy Mansion?”

What?

Qianhu, Hundred Households, and Hou Jue were equally stunned, not immediately grasping the significance of Li Kuan’s words, unclear why they should consult the Imperial Academy about zombies.

In that moment, Li Kuan, realizing their confusion, smiled and clarified:

“The two officials may not know, but our Beiliang University is unlike other Imperial Academies.”

There were differences.

To what extent could there be differences?

It wasn’t out of disdain that Guo Lingyun simply felt that the Imperial Academy of Beiliang, no matter how different, was still an academy where students and masters studied the Four Books and Five Classics or the art of governance.

Even if it was different, it might offer a few extra subjects, such as folklore and studies of the supernatural, hence why there could be information on zombies.

However, what Guo Lingyun failed to see was that upon mention of the academy, the white-haired girl, who had been indifferent throughout the journey, suddenly found her face enveloped by a cloud of fear and horror.

“Don’t kneel.”

Without even looking as if he had foreseen the future, Zhou Li casually reached out to support Tang Wan’s arm, preventing her from kneeling.

He turned his head, looked at the pale-faced Tang Wan who was sweating coldly, and kindly smiled:

“It’s alright, don’t be afraid.”

“You can’t run away.”

“And you won’t live much longer.”

As he finished speaking, Zhou Li pressed down on Tang Wan’s head, lifted her up by the back of her neck amidst her tears of humiliation, and dragged her along, preparing to head towards the Imperial Academy.

Watching the interaction between the two, Hou Jue was momentarily unsure of the relationship between them.

The young man was handsome and the girl was delicate; to anyone, they seemed a perfect match, but their conversation and actions…

Were these two the culmination of generations of enmity?

Under the guidance of Li Kuan, Zhou Li carried Tang Wan, Qianhu wrapped his arms around the deathly pale-faced Hou Jue, and Guo Lingyun lingered at the back of the group.

They passed through several alleys and soon arrived at the Imperial Academy Mansion of Beiliang.

Along the way, Zhou Li curiously asked about the whereabouts of Liu Butou and found out that Liu Butou was physically depleted and had been sent to the medical house for rest and recovery, at which point he understood.

Wait a second…

On the way, Zhou Li suddenly paused, sensing that something was amiss.

Did I forget someone?

Never mind.

After some thought, since all the people were accounted for, he didn’t dwell on it further.

Holding the gift he had brought for the old scholars, Zhou Li casually proceeded towards the Imperial Academy.

It was dusk by this time, and the setting sun set the clouds ablaze.

The residents of Beiliang had finished their day’s work; women gathered and laughed together, while occasionally, men’s boisterous voices could be heard from the tavern, followed by collective calls to drink.

On the walls protecting Beiliang City, soldiers were installing “flying spikes” to prevent individuals with abilities like Guo Lingyun from scaling the walls.

In an old, dilapidated temple south of Beiliang City, a man with white hair wearing a Three-flower Crown, Baiyun Shoes and a Jiuku Taoist Robe hummed a tune and shook his head, his hands holding a bloody corpse.

“You stupid creature, there are actually people who care for you.”

Lifting the figure before his eyes and squinting, a cruel smile surfaced on the man’s handsome face, “Stop struggling, I’ve stripped away the thoughts others had for you, now no one will remember you.”

“Why have you captured me…

what do you really want?”

The shadow, weak and powerless, lifted its head.

It looked at the man in front of it, who seemed to carry an aura of an immortal, with nothing but fear and resentment in its eyes.

“Consider yourself lucky.”

The man carelessly tossed the Pangolin aside, shaking his head and speaking unpredictably, “If it weren’t for the fear of the Demon Monk in your heart, which drew out its grudge, I would’ve thrown you into a boiling pot and made a hearty soup out of you by now.

Why else would I keep you?”

Stepping out of the shadows with a twisted and blackened body, the venomous Demon Monk made a speech and paid homage, its red eyes filled with nothing but pure killing intent and resentment.

A dim and lightless grey thread wound around the Demon Monk’s heart, the other end tethering to the inside of the Pangolin Spirit.

“It’s not enough, still not enough,” said the Immortal, ignoring the Pangolin behind him.

He raised his head, his gaze falling on the distant Beiliang City.

Greed flickered through his dark eyes.

“I need more fear, much more…”