Chapter 130: Clouds, Rain, and Storms

According to the miscellaneous records in the book, high-ranking members of the Black Soul Sect once hypothesized, based on legends, that to refine a top-tier living corpse, besides overwhelming fortune, the subject had to willingly and voluntarily erase their own consciousness. Throughout this process, there could be no resistance or malicious intent whatsoever. The slightest oversight would cause the top-tier living corpse to degenerate into an ordinary living corpse.

Of course, there was also a major prerequisite: the subject had to be someone who actively practiced the Profound Yin True Qi.

Compared to ordinary living corpses, this type of living corpse retained its pre-mortem combat consciousness, was capable of utilizing martial arts from its lifetime, and possessed a high potential for growth. What other special traits it might possess were likely known only to that founding ancestor.

Seeing this, Hu San could not help scratching his head. No matter how hard he racked his brain, he could not figure out how Yu Ning had managed to become a top-tier living corpse. Nevertheless, this development saved him a considerable amount of trouble.

At least until the refinement of the living corpse was completely finished, this fellow could take care of herself, sparing him from having to wait on her hand and foot like a maid. Of course, the greatest advantage right now was that with an entity of Yu Ning's caliber cooperating by his side, moving through the dark night would not only deceive the domestic servants, but Hu San even had a sixty percent confidence level of remaining undetected right in front of old master Yu himself.

This situation immediately prompted Hu San to alter his subsequent plans.

From Yu Ning's earlier self-talk, Hu San had already figured out that this old master Yu was, like himself, a cultivator in the world of immortals. For some unknown reason, however, he had left the Black Soul Sect, come to this place, and taken up the business of trading Nether Spirit Grass.

Yu Ning's Profound Yin Corpse-Refinement Technique must have been learned from this old man, and her Tier Two Dharma-Gathering realm cultivation base was likewise acquired from him. Working backward from Yu Ning's cultivation to deduce old master Yu's level, Hu San was forced to arrive at a scalp-tingling conclusion: the old man's cultivation realm very likely reached the advanced Dharma-Gathering stage, which meant he had surpassed the sixth layer of the Dharma-Gathering realm.

Yet, judging from the old man's actions in recent years, he did not seem like a powerhouse of the advanced Dharma-Gathering stage. If he had reached the advanced Dharma-Gathering stage, why would he still care about this mortal enterprise?

Hu San had sufficient reason to believe that once someone broke through to the advanced Dharma-Gathering stage, they certainly would not contentedly stay at home; even if they did stay at home, they would not act as conspicuously as old man Yu.

Synthesizing all these circumstances, one conclusion seemed extremely plausible: old master Yu must have left the Black Soul Sect long ago, and he had practically no close acquaintances in the world of cultivation. If this conclusion held true, old master Yu's cultivation should be around the intermediate Dharma-Gathering stage. The moment he reached the advanced Dharma-Gathering stage, he probably would not linger here at all and would instead return directly to the Black Soul Sect.

However, this was merely Hu San's deduction, and he could not be certain that old master Yu was just as he imagined. Therefore, after pondering the matter, Hu San decided to play along with the situation to test the waters and first check the old man's cultivation. If the cultivation level proved too high, all talk of action was off the table, and making a hasty escape would be paramount. Although his Black Wind Formation could still be used one more time, what good was it without spiritual stones?

At this moment, Hu San possessed only a low-grade magical weapon, the Ice-Shuttle Sword, and his vitality had been severely injured. Aside from that, he had a black sword of unknown utility and absolutely nothing else.

The Nine-Ox Bow was formidable, but once it faced a cultivator equipped with defensive talismans, it would likely be completely useless without any meteorite arrows.

Therefore, given his current comprehensive strength, he could probably only deal with a fully equipped powerhouse at the fourth or fifth layer of the Dharma-Gathering stage. Once the opponent's cultivation reached the sixth layer of the Dharma-Gathering stage, coupled with suitable magical weapons and talismans, Hu San would likely have no choice but to turn tail and run, and whether he could successfully escape remained doubtful.

If old master Yu's cultivation was not as high as imagined, the situation would change. Hu San happened to lack knowledge regarding everything about the world of cultivation, and he could use this opportunity to supplement it to avoid capsizing in the gutter in the future. At the very least, he needed to acquire ten spiritual stones.

In truth, after overhearing Yu Ning's muttering, Hu San had originally intended only to silence her by killing her and then fleeing immediately. Yet, after refining Yu Ning using the Profound Yin Corpse-Refinement Technique, a thought gradually took root in Hu San's mind.

Since the Black Soul Sect possessed a spell like the Profound Yin Corpse-Refinement Technique for controlling zombies, did they also possess spells for controlling skeletons? Hu San did not even need to think about the answer; it was practically certain.

At this stage, attempting to obtain this spell from the Black Soul Sect was as difficult as ascending to heaven. The moment he entered the sphere of influence of the Black Soul Sect, he would likely be eliminated by justice, or perhaps even refined into a living corpse. Hence, he had no choice but to find a way through old master Yu.

If he could obtain the skeleton-control spell from old master Yu, and once he gained the ability to control bone war slaves, then whether he went in search of Bear Fist or entered the cultivation world directly, it would undoubtedly become much safer for Hu San.

Even if old master Yu did not possess it, he could at least confirm the intelligence regarding the skeleton-control spell from the old man's mouth. As long as it was confirmed that the Black Soul Sect had it, there would always be a way to acquire it later.

Coupled with the sudden transformation in Yu Ning, Hu San made up his mind to investigate this Yu Family Manor rather than choosing to run away immediately.

Having made his decision, Hu San immediately began execution. First, he issued an order for Yu Ning to put herself back into her clothes, and then he dressed himself. Afterward, taking Yu Ning's current state as a reference and matching the living corpse characteristics recorded in the bone book against a bronze mirror, Hu San began practicing how to play the role of a living corpse himself.

While Hu San was making his preparations, he had no idea that the developments inside the newlywed room had already been relayed to three other factions.

One of these factions consisted of Yu Ning's personal maids—the pair of twin sisters who had been eavesdropping outside the door. At this moment, the two of them were standing before Madam Yu. Unlike her usual matronly demeanor, Madam Yu's phoenix eyes were filled with a fierce aura.

With her hand resting on a jade sword, Madam Yu had long since married into the family as a wife, yet her brows and eyes still retained the fierce edge of her youth. Pacing back and forth a few times, Madam Yu frowned and said, "Are you telling me that Yu Ning actually went to bed with that Hu San? And even emitted the shameless sounds of joyful union? How can this be? Could it be that you two were misled by that little girl?"

Madam Yu's relationship with the Yu family was indeed not as simple as it appeared on the surface. Based on her understanding of Yu Ning, this was an absolute impossibility. If she did not know for a fact that the two women before her could never betray her, Madam Yu might even have suspected that they had been bought off by the other party.

"Reporting to the Princess, this matter is 100% true. Your subordinates listened outside for a full half-hour. At first, they were not intimate, but shortly afterward, it commenced. Your subordinates listened carefully for a while and can confirm that those sounds were definitely made by Yu Ning and Hu San. There is no faking it, nor could anyone else be faking it. The two of us can stake our lives on this."

The two of them hurriedly dropped to one knee, a look of panic emerging on their pretty faces.

"Get up!"

Madam Yu nodded and said, "Naturally, I believe you, but this matter is truly too bizarre. Could it be that you think the girl Yu Ning randomly found someone on the street and actually married him? I understand Yu Ning—she is exceptionally proud and arrogant, holding even the Royal Brother in disdain. This time was merely an excuse to brush off the Royal Brother's marriage proposal. Could it be that playing the part turned into reality?"

"Perhaps Yu Ning really took a fancy to that person; maybe that person is someone who conceals his true capabilities. Just because we do not recognize him does not mean the old Manor Lord does not recognize him. Perhaps they had already agreed upon this beforehand. At the moment of throwing the embroidered ball, it was the old Manor Lord who deflected it at the very last second. The Princess must have seen that clearly, right?"

The twin standing on the left spoke up, her tone certain as she said, "Your subordinates dare stake their lives that the sounds of male and female intimacy in the room were indeed genuine. Regardless of what hidden secrets lie within this affair, Yu Ning has definitely lost her virginity. We ask the Princess to report this to the Crown Prince as soon as possible to avoid ending up publicly ridiculed."

"I am aware of this."

Madam Yu glanced at the two of them and gently shifted the topic, saying, "In that case, the matter of the Royal Brother's marriage proposal is settled. I will naturally report this to Father King. Of course, I will not forget the two of you for your contributions. When the Royal Brother ascends the throne, I cannot speak for the position of Queen, but at least the rank of a imperial consort will surely be yours."

"Then the two of us thank the Princess for her heavenly grace!"

The twin sisters exchanged a joyful look. If not for Crown Prince Geng Di, there would have been no reason for them to come to such a dangerous place and disguise themselves as servants.

"Mm, now tell me, how is the investigation into that other matter proceeding? Yu Ning's status in Yu Family Manor is hardly low; in my view, it is likely much higher than that of old master Yu's two idiot sons. Given her identity, she should certainly know a thing or two about that matter, right?"

Madam Yu asked again, a solemn expression surfacing on her face. It seemed the importance of this matter far surpassed the previous one.

"Returning to the Princess, Yu Ning has indeed been involved in this matter. However, whenever she was summoned by the Manor Lord, she was never permitted to bring anyone along. Despite putting forth my utmost effort, your subordinate could not find out where they went; I only knew that the following morning she had returned to her room, and the top-tier Nether Spirit Grass had already been harvested."

"Yet, judging by various traces and clues, the actual location where the top-tier Nether Spirit Grass appears is probably not the mountain forest they proclaim to the outside world, but rather this specific location within the manor. Security here is extremely tight; usually, even the two young masters are not qualified to enter."

"Your subordinate suspects that those other twelve manors are merely puppets propped up by Yu Family Manor. The top-tier Nether Spirit Grass in their possession is not grown by themselves at all, but rather provided by Yu Family Manor. Please investigate this, Princess."

As she spoke, the woman standing on the right withdrew a map from her bosom and unfolded it before Madam Yu. It was covered in red and green lines, with the lower-left corner clearly marked out by a black line.

"I already have a plan regarding this matter. You two should hurry back so as not to arouse suspicion."

Taking a deep breath, Madam Yu looked over the map several times, rolled it up in her hand, and issued the order to dismiss them.

"Your subordinates take their leave."

The twin sisters naturally did not dare to disobey; they bowed with cupped hands and quietly retreated.

"Just what is the secret of the top-tier Nether Spirit Grass? Why does Father King not dare to directly take action against Yu Family Manor, instead adopting such underhanded methods? Could there be some other secret within that I do not know?"

Gazing at the empty garden outside the window, Madam Yu could not help letting out a soft sigh. Ever since she married old master Yu, they appeared to be a loving couple treating each other with mutual respect on the surface, but in reality, old master Yu had never touched her so much as a finger, treating her merely like an ordinary friend. To put it nicely, she was a confidante; to put it bluntly, she was a vase.

More than a year had passed since their wedding, yet Madam Yu had never been intimate with old master Yu, nor could she even figure out where his bedchamber was or where he slept at night.