Volume 3, Chapter 212 – Disaster Strikes, the Cursed Land Erupts (Part 1)

“May I ask, Sect Leader, what exactly do you mean by ‘taking a risk’?”

Elder Zhou inquired respectfully.

Instead of answering directly, Guo Chao swept his gaze across the assembly and posed a question of his own:

“Everyone here must be aware of the cursed land in Meng County, Huangtian Prefecture, correct? The reason Cheng Hongling refuses to leave the Honghua Sect is precisely because she fears the common people there will suffer.”

“Isn’t the Sect Leader referring to Pingshan Mass Burial Ground? Who in Yongning Province hasn’t heard of it?”

“Indeed. Though this cursed land has existed for less than a thousand years, its expansion in recent years has been terrifyingly rapid. It has already consumed a third of Meng County’s territory.”

“I heard the Immortal Alliance once sent forces to purge it, but each time, they were completely annihilated—without even catching a glimpse of the evil source.”

“The Immortal Alliance’s losses are negligible. The real victims are the Honghua Sect. Since the cursed land lies within their jurisdiction, they can’t abandon it without facing public outcry. So, they’ve been forced to battle it relentlessly, weakening themselves to their current pitiful state.”

“Exactly. The Honghua Sect’s decline isn’t just due to lack of talent—it’s also because their land is tainted, constantly drained by that accursed place.”

The elders chattered away, their faces brimming with schadenfreude.

“Yes, this cursed land is indeed dangerous. The Immortal Alliance suspects the source of its evil is either a slumbering fiendish specter—or perhaps a Golden Zombie, or even a Golden Skeleton.”

Sect Leader Guo proceeded to explain.

The term “skeleton” referred to undead remains, categorized similarly to zombies: from weakest to strongest, they were ranked as Common Bones, Iron Bones, Bronze Bones, Silver Bones, Golden Bones, and finally, Soaring Bones. Their strength could usually be discerned by their outward coloration.

“What?! If that’s true, wouldn’t that be disastrous? If it awakens, not just Huangtian Prefecture—the entire Yongning Province could be doomed!”

One elder voiced his terror.

“What’s there to fear? Isn’t the Immortal Alliance still around? With our connections to Executor Cai, do you really think we can’t summon their high-ranking experts to suppress it?”

Rеαⅾ οո ΚatReаⅾіոɡСаfe

Elder Zhou retorted coldly.

“True. But the Immortal Alliance doesn’t act without benefit. Just because we can summon them doesn’t mean others can. From what I know, the Honghua Sect has begged for their help countless times over the years, yet they’ve turned a blind eye. Clearly, they’re playing the ‘wolf-rearing tactic’ ¹ 养狼战术 (yǎng láng zhànshù), a short-sighted strategy where someone strengthens a potential enemy or threat, thinking they can control or benefit from it later .”

Sect Leader Guo’s face twisted with disdain.

“Wolf-rearing tactic? Heh. Expected. Without those evil beings, where would the Immortal Alliance’s power come from?”

Elder Zhou sneered.

“Once that cursed land erupts, the Honghua Sect will be the first to fall. Cheng Hongling alone won’t be able to withstand it—she’ll have no choice but to beg us for help. Doesn’t she care deeply for the people of Huangtian Prefecture? Well, she’ll have to join the Huxiao Sect first!”

Guo Chao laid out his scheme.

“Not bad. This seems like a solid plan. But the question is—when will the cursed land erupt? We can’t afford to wait. If this matter catches the attention of cultivation sects from other nations, everything will spiral out of control!”

A tall, thin guardian voiced his doubts.

“Right. Whether the cursed land erupts isn’t up to us!”

At these words, all the elders fell silent.

“Who says it isn’t up to us? If it won’t erupt, then we’ll make it erupt!”

A sinister smile crept across Sect Leader Guo’s face.

“Sect Leader, you mean…?”

Elder Zhou’s expression shifted slightly, as if he’d guessed something.

Rеαⅾ οո KаtReαԁіոɡCafе

“It seems Elder Zhou has figured it out? Correct. All we need to do is send a few experts to toss some high-powered talismans into the areas of strongest yin energy in that cursed land. How could it not erupt then?”

Guo Chao spelled out his plan bluntly.

“What?! Provoke it deliberately? What if the evil source is too powerful and spirals out of control?!”

Someone objected.

“What’s there to fear? No matter how strong it is, can it surpass the Immortal Alliance?”

Guo Chao glared back icily.

“But… shouldn’t we inform Executor Cai first?”

Another elder timidly suggested.

“Inform him? Can this kind of thing be discussed openly? Do you think he’d even want us to ‘inform’ him?”

Guo Chao’s rhetorical question left the man speechless.

“Indeed. I think it’s best not to inform him. Let it seem like the cursed land erupted naturally. That’s better for everyone. After all, this is nothing extraordinary for the Immortal Alliance.”

Elder Zhou nodded in agreement.

After much debate, the elders ultimately approved the plan—after all, they trusted the Immortal Alliance unconditionally.

“Good. Since that’s settled, Elder Zhou, this mission is yours to carry out!”

Guo Chao delegated the task, then issued a stern warning: “Listen well—this operation is top secret. Anyone here who leaks it will face my wrath!”

Rеаⅾ оո КаtRеaⅾіոɡСаfе

Meng County was the southernmost subordinate county of Huangtian Prefecture. Thanks to its coastal location, it had historically been a hub of prosperity—until the birth of the Pingshan Mass Burial Ground, a land of unimaginable horror.

The cursed land’s growth was terrifying. In just a few centuries, it had devoured a third of Meng County’s territory. Most residents had fled, leaving the area sparsely populated.

Of course, while commoners could leave, the Honghua Sect could not. As the prefecture’s governing sect, even if this place were the gates of hell, they had no choice but to stand guard. Fleeing would mean exile from the cultivation world forever.

Throughout history, the Honghua Sect had exhausted every means to eradicate this cursed land—only to suffer devastating losses each time, weakening until they no longer had the strength to resist.

Now, the Honghua Sect couldn’t even dream of invading the cursed land. They couldn’t even stop the wandering ghosts that emerged from it. All they could do was station disciples there as symbolic sentinels.

Two Honghua Sect disciples chatted idly at the edge of the cursed land, completely unaware of the five figures streaking across the sky high above them.

These five were none other than the Huxiao Sect elders sent to carry out their secret mission—led by none other than Grand Elder Zhou Ming.

“So this is Pingshan Mass Burial Ground? The yin energy is so thick you can’t even see the end of it. The sky’s blotted out—it’s like stepping into hell itself.”

One of Zhou Ming’s subordinates shuddered.

“This is just the outskirts. Wait until we reach the actual burial ground—then you’ll see what hell truly looks like!”

Elder Zhou chuckled darkly before leading the four Incarnation Realm experts deeper inside.

Sure enough, the further they ventured, the denser the yin energy became. Soon, it was so thick they could barely see each other face-to-face. Worse, it carried a corrosive effect—ordinary flesh couldn’t withstand it.

Rеаd οn ΚаtReaԁіnɡСаfе

At Elder Zhou’s reminder, the group activated their protective qi barriers, allowing them to press onward.

“No wonder the Honghua Sect suffered such heavy losses every time they came here. Forget the evil beings—just this yin energy alone is enough to annihilate ordinary cultivators!”

A short, stout elder sighed.

“Indeed. With yin energy leakage this extreme, the evil source of this cursed land must not be underestimated.”

A goateed elder nodded in agreement.

After flying a while longer, they finally reached the heart of the burial ground.

The scene before them resembled a volcanic crater—yin energy gushed out like geysers, so thick it was almost liquid. Visibility was zero. All they could hear were the ceaseless wails of tormented souls, as if they’d descended into the eighteen layers of hell itself.

“Heavens… I’ve never seen yin energy in liquid form before.”

One elder gasped.

“Are we really going to awaken this evil source?”

Another elder’s voice trembled.

“Enough nonsense. We’re here to carry out the Sect Leader’s orders. No matter how strong it is, can it surpass the Immortal Alliance?”

Zhou Ming snapped impatiently.

Without hesitation, he pulled out several high-powered talismans—and hurled them straight into the abyss below.