Demonic Cultivator In Zombie World(111-120) (Patreon)

Chapter 111: Superhumans from Science City

All the turmoil of the Mystic Azure Realm had now become fleeting smoke in the wind.

Chu Xuan reclined leisurely on a soft velvet chaise lounge. The "Venom Scripture" floated before him, turning its pages without any wind.

Chu Xuan's right hand moved ceaselessly, various poison powders swirling out inadvertently.

The poisons within the "Venom Scripture" could harm cultivators in various ways. Some could damage the soul, others could cause bleeding from the throat, some could hinder Spiritual Qi, and others could drive one into a bloodthirsty frenzy.

However, at the Foundation Establishment level, with the protection of Spiritual Qi shields, it was difficult for poison powders to infiltrate through the mouth or nose. So Chu Xuan was currently studying the art of poisoning silently and stealthily.

As long as the opponent didn't notice his poisoning, there would be no need to trigger their Spiritual Qi defenses. Even if these poisons couldn't kill the opponent, as long as they had some effect, it could give him a stable advantage in battle.

"For now, I can't return to Mystic Azure Realm. I might as well cultivate the necessary materials for refining poisons in the Zombie Farm myself."

Chu Xuan snapped his fingers, and the Purifying Corpse respectfully growled lowly, taking the spirit plant seeds from the storage bag and diligently cultivating them.

Although this Purifying Corpse wasn't talented in spells, for some reason, it was quite intelligent. It quickly learned many things, including cultivation. Just by watching Chu Xuan operate a few times, it perfectly replicates it.

Chu Xuan entrusted this task entirely to it. The feeling of not needing to personally handle everything was truly wonderful.

Next, Chu Xuan frequently shuttled between the Soul-Capturing Evil-Nurturing Array and the Haotai Hotel.

Absorbing Yin Evil Qi, refining the Large Blood Pearls, and perusing ancient texts. Doing everything simultaneously and making steady progress.

Chu Xuan found that his merit might actually enhance his comprehension. Otherwise, it couldn't explain why he was mastering the art of poisons at an increasingly rapid pace.

...

Half a month later, the intelligence from Black Blade was once again laid out before him. The main contents were mostly the same, detailing situations from various regions. Just the expansion of supernatural beings' territories. And conflicts erupting between different forces.

However, what surprised Chu Xuan somewhat was that the Science City, rising in the north of Han Country, had already begun to encircle and annihilate the Zombie Empress, seemingly gaining a significant advantage.

But it was only a slight surprise. No matter how powerful the Science City was, it was still formidable only in the eyes of the humans of this planet. In his view, it was akin to a small sect formed by Qi Refining cultivators. Even the small sects in the Kingdom of Yu with Foundation Establishment cultivators were far inferior.

Chu Xuan continued to read and soon came to the last item.

"Two superhumans sent by the Science City found us and hoped to invite the Immortal to join the Science City. I, on behalf of the Immortal, declined their invitation. - Wang Gangjian."

Chu Xuan chuckled lightly. If they truly understood his strength clearly, they would be actively seeking to affiliate rather than inviting him to join.

Wang Gangjian did the right thing. Indeed, there was no need to waste time with such people.

...

Five days later, Two Longs City.

A diminutive and emaciated figure calmly navigated through the steel and concrete jungle. His body was covered in scars—some from flames, others from frostbite.

"There used to be a swarm of killer bees in Two Longs City. Many survivors were forced to flee their homes, but now these killer bees are nowhere to be found. That Immortal likely set up something in Two Longs City, restraining those killer bees for his own use."

The agile mind of the slender figure raced swiftly, emitting even wisps of white steam from his head.

He was He Shengliang. Initially, he and Ji Shengyu had agreed to find a powerful brain enhancer to help them retrieve their lost memories.

However, such enhancers were rare, and they struggled to find one. In the end, they settled on Chu Xuan. But judging from Chu Xuan's actions, He Shengliang deduced that he was no saint and wouldn't easily agree to their request. Therefore, they needed a sincere and substantial gift.

Initially, their choice was the Zombie Matriarch. However, Chu Xuan had already taken it before them.

Later, they decided to head north to find other Zombie Matriarchs. Yet, this decision plunged them into endless nightmares. As soon as the two were spotted by members of the Science City, they faced relentless pursuit.

Several months ago, they were even captured and frozen for research by the Science City simultaneously. Fortunately, He Shengliang seized an opportunity and escaped. He fled southward, barely managing to reach here.

Initially pursued by four pursuers, he devised a plan that killed two of them. Now, only two Level 4 Superhumans remained, and he was running on fumes.

"Sure enough..." He Shengliang stared ahead at the churning black mist, a flicker of fear in his eyes. "Such terrifying black mist... If I go in, there's a 50% chance I'll die. But if I don't go in, it's 100% certain death!"

He Shengliang clenched his teeth.

"He's in there!"

"What's that?!"

At this moment, shouts came from behind.

He Shengliang turned to see a heavily modified heavy-duty Jeep plowing through debris along its path straight towards him.

There were two people in the Jeep. They had spotted He Shengliang and the thick black mist roiling ahead of him!

He Shengliang glanced deeply at the two, then without hesitation, charged into the black mist!

Screech.

The speeding Jeep abruptly halted, leaving an unsightly trail. Two Superhumans jumped out of the vehicle. One man and one woman. The man on the left was burly, with knotted muscles.

Both wore blue and white uniforms. On their chests was an emblem depicting a city illuminated by stars. It signified that both were Superhumans of the Science City. Without the stars, they would just be ordinary members of the Science City.

At this moment, both stared uncertainly at the area enveloped in black mist.

The burly man spoke gravely, "This place is eerie. That kid rushed in and might very well die. Xiaomei, what do you think? Should we report to headquarters that the kid is dead?"

The woman licked her lips, "No, the headquarters' orders were clear—'alive we need to see the person, dead we need to see the body.' How can we report without a body? I actually find this place rather pleasant; it feels quite comfortable to me."

The burly man was startled, then exclaimed with delight, "You mean... there's negative energy in the black mist?"

The woman nodded vigorously, "Such pure negative energy, I've never seen it before. I'll try it first. If I can absorb it, that means we can go in and capture that kid."

With that, she approached the edge of the black mist and extended her hands. In her palms, two swirling vortexes moved slowly.

Crackle.

The black mist was slowly absorbed into her body. In an instant, the woman felt a sensation of floating on air. She felt her power expanding rapidly.

Level 5? Level 6? Level 7?

She didn't know. All she knew was that, at this moment, she felt transcendent, as if she had surpassed the universe!

"You... you!" came the frightened shout of the burly man.

"What's wrong?"

The woman tried to speak but realized the sound that came out was no longer human. She looked down and was shocked to see her body had inflated into a sphere. And then, like a balloon filled to its limit with air...

Exploded!

Chapter 112: The Deal

What it looks like for a human body to explode from the inside out is something few have ever seen. Even amidst the zombie outbreak, the revival of psionic powers, and various strange events on Blue Star, the spectacle of a human body detonating in such a spectacular fashion was a first for this burly man.

Red blood, black viscera, white brain matter, and assorted limbs and fragments rained down from above.

Plop.

A piece of skin, still attached to some hair, fell in front of the burly man. He bent down, trembling, and picked it up. His heart was full of fear.

Even though psionic powers were rapidly evolving and people were advancing to higher levels every day, a Level 4 Superhuman, whose physical condition was far superior to that of an ordinary person, had just been blown apart like that?

The burly man had worked with the woman many times. From battlefields to forests, and then to bedrooms, bathrooms, and toilets, he knew the strength of her body like the back of his hand.

He even knew what her talent was. That was precisely why he was even more terrified now. The negative energy contained within this black mist was so fearsome that even she could not control it.

The burly man took a deep breath, ignoring the stench of blood in his nostrils, and immediately pulled out a satellite phone.

"Hello, headquarters? This is Old Wang. Yes, Xiaomei is dead. She died right in front of me, exploded into... many pieces. She died from absorbing too much negative energy. There's a huge black..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a figure burst out of the black mist. The figure was nearly three meters tall, burly and strong, like a steel tower. Especially notable were his incredibly muscular and powerfully aesthetic thighs—legs the burly man had always dreamed of having.

The burly man's pupils suddenly shrank. Because he saw the other man throw a punch. The fist moved fast. He didn't even have time to react.

Boom!

The sack-sized fist instantly shattered the air, bringing a foul-smelling gale, and struck the burly man's face.

Crack.

The human skull, typically the hardest part of the body, was smashed by that single punch.

The satellite phone in his hand was also shattered into countless electronic components.

"Hmph..."

Hu lifted the headless body of the man with one hand and walked back into the array. After a moment, it arrived at the center of the array and stood respectfully beside Chu Xuan.

"Feel free to eat if you want, no need to ask me," Chu Xuan said casually.

"Ho ho!" Hu excitedly roared and pounced on the burly man's body, greedily devouring it.

At this moment, a skinny young boy lay prostrate in front of Chu Xuan. Hu's chewing did not faze him in the slightest.

Chu Xuan looked down at the boy from his elevated position.

He had been practicing within the Array just moments before. Suddenly, the young boy had barged in. He had observed the actions of the man and woman who followed. What surprised him was that the young boy had managed to resist the erosion of the Yin Evil and come to him. Using the array, this person had killed his pursuers, bringing unnecessary trouble upon himself.

To Chu Xuan, this was akin to stirring up trouble and exploiting him. Originally, he had planned to casually kill this person, but the words spoken by the other party had piqued his interest. Whether to kill or not was merely a thought in his mind. So, he decided to hear out the young boy before making a decision.

Chu Xuan said calmly, "Repeat what you just said."

He Shengliang said earnestly, "I know where Psionic originated."

"Continue," Chu Xuan prompted.

He Shengliang continued seriously, "Ten years ago, in a deep mine shaft, the Science City discovered shattered ancient artifacts emitting powerful Psionic energy. Those who first encountered these ancient artifacts, some turned into zombies, while others became Superhumans. The Psionic that swept across Han Country originated from an underground base storing these ancient artifacts, spreading in all directions.

Science City believes that these ancient artifacts are the origin of Psionic. The reason Science City has a large number of Superhumans is also thanks to these ancient artifacts. With time, given enough time, they might even create powerful Superhumans comparable to immortals."

After saying this, He Shengliang looked straight at Chu Xuan, his gaze intense.

"Immortal, I know where those ancient artifacts are hidden, and I can lead you to find them. I am a Brain Enhancer, and I suspect you may have soul-searching spells, so I have already locked my brain. If you attempt to soul-search directly, I will die immediately."

He Shengliang continued, "I know you dislike being manipulated. I only wish to rescue my companion from there. If successful, I will take my own life. I just ask for one chance, Immortal."

Chu Xuan looked at the young boy, a smile playing on his lips.

Interesting.

Before barging into the formation, this young boy had planned everything meticulously. He even anticipated that Chu Xuan would start killing after finding the ancient artifacts. Dealing with smart people saved a lot of effort.

"I agree," Chu Xuan said calmly. He was only interested in the ancient artifact emitting strong Psionic energy. As for this young boy, even if he succeeded and then betrayed and tried to escape, Chu Xuan could easily kill him. The only difference would be in the timing of his death.

"Thank you, Immortal!" He Shengliang bowed deeply to Chu Xuan. "The location of the underground base is in the capital of Youyan Province, Yanjing City. Currently, Science City has a 45% probability of taking this seriously. The personnel stationed at headquarters are at most ten Superhumans. The remaining Superhumans are divided into two teams.

One team is in the final stages of encircling the Zombie Empress. They have a 63% probability of bringing the Zombie Empress south to intercept. The other team is heading west to resist the man-eating vines. They have an 88% probability of abandoning their resistance against the vines and heading east to intercept.

Both teams have more than twenty Superhumans, with the strongest being Level 6 Superhumans. In addition, there are over a hundred combat servants. Although selected from ordinary people, their combat skills are solid, all among the elite of ordinary people."

Chu Xuan nodded slightly. "I understand. Let's go."

"Yes," He Shengliang nodded.

Chu Xuan controlled the Green Shadow Shuttle and immediately ascended into the sky.

He Shengliang, being just a mortal, couldn't withstand the high-speed airflow generated during flight. Therefore, Chu Xuan enveloped him with a layer of Spiritual Qi to prevent him from being blown off.

Standing on the Green Shadow Shuttle, He Shengliang looked down at the ground, deeply shocked. Such methods truly befitted an immortal. Coming to find an immortal was indeed the right choice. It was a pity that Ji Shengyu couldn't witness this awe-inspiring scene.

Chapter 113: A True Man Can Bend and Stretch!

In Youyan Province.

Within a ruined city, a team of Science City Superhumans was cleaning up the battlefield.

Surrounding them were accompanying soldiers. They were well-equipped and coordinated seamlessly. Like living tanks, wherever they went, all zombies were crushed into pieces.

Standing at the highest point was a bald, muscular man lighting a cigarette. The loose-fitting combat uniform of Science City on him looked like a tight shirt. His robust muscles were outlined prominently. His name was Zhong Shuo, a Level 6 Superhuman, and the captain of Science City's first team. He was also one of the four Level 6 Superhumans in Science City.

However, he was well aware that they were merely servants of Science City. The real power lay with the "City Lord" who resided in the deepest levels of Science City's headquarters.

Their strength as Level 6 Superhumans was a gift from him. It was like a collar around a dog's neck. What could be given could also be taken away at any moment.

"Boss! All the minor zombies have been cleared, and there are no survivors in this city," A blond man came over, chuckling.

The tall woman beside him said indifferently, "The two survivors you just killed weren't survivors?"

The blond man laughed oddly, "I heard them speaking ill of Science City, so killing them was justified."

Zhong Shuo calmly said, "Don't kill survivors indiscriminately next time. Survivors brought back to Science City are at least a labor force, and even if their physical condition is poor, they can be used for human experiments."

The blond man shrugged, "Got it. I'll make sure next time."

Zhong Shuo said calmly, "The mission is complete. Let's take the Zombie Empress and head home."

"Yes!"

All the Superhumans responded in unison. In the center of the clearing, there was a huge metal box. The front of the box was transparent. Through the tempered glass, one could see a huge, bloated zombie inside.

It was the Zombie Empress, which had been rampaging through the northern part of Han Country, expanding its territory without restraint. Now, it was restrained in this small box, both angry and fearful. Unaware of what fate was about to befall it.

At that moment, Zhong Shuo's satellite phone rang. He answered the call, hearing the orders from Science City headquarters.

Zhong Shuo's thick eyebrows gradually furrowed.

The tall woman noticed Zhong Shuo's change in expression and asked, "Boss, what's up? Is there a new mission?"

Zhong Shuo nodded, "Old Wang and Xiaomei are dead. Headquarters believes He Shengliang might have gotten help from a cultivator. We need to change our plans and head south immediately to join the second team and intercept the cultivator."

The blond man perked up, "A cultivator? I've been wanting to meet one! He's just a powerful Superhuman who calls himself an immortal. What a poser."

The tall woman, smoking a slim cigarette, chuckled lightly, "I'd love to see what a cultivator looks like on the dissection table. It must be interesting. But are we really joining forces with the second team to hunt him down... Did headquarters really get that order right? Isn't this a bit of an overreaction? Isn't the second team supposed to be heading west to stop those invasive man-eating vines?"

Zhong Shuo replied calmly, "We don't question headquarters' orders; we just execute them. All units, move out! We're heading south!"

"Yes!"

...

On the long highway.

The landscape was barren, with scant vegetation. The nutrients in the soil seemed to have been completely depleted.

A convoy was heading west. This convoy consisted of twenty-five jeeps and five vans, all of which had been modified.

The panels and glass were reinforced, and the fronts of the vehicles were fitted with spikes made from scrap materials, capable of plowing through any zombies foolish enough to charge at them.

In the lead vehicle.

In the driver's seat was a skinny man. In the passenger seat, sat a corpulent woman who nearly filled two seats, squeezing the skinny man almost against the car window.

The corpulent woman was Zhao Xia, and the skinny man was Li Wang.

The two were the captain and vice-captain of the second team and were known within Science City as a model couple—not because they never argued or fought, but because their teamwork was flawlessly coordinated.

"There's green up ahead," Li Wang said impatiently.

Zhao Xia, however, was just bent over painting her nails.

Li Wang cursed under his breath, "You moth..."

Zhao Xia slapped Li Wang hard across the face, leaving a bright red handprint. "Say it again?"

Li Wang covered his face, "…Honey, you misunderstood. I actually meant your mother makes great pork cutlet rice. Let's go eat together next time?"

Zhao Xia burst into laughter, "Sure! I love pork cutlet rice the most."

Only then did she glance ahead.

Immediately, she noticed a stubbornly growing tendril of tender green amidst the gravel and stones by the roadside. This touch of green in the barren land was surprisingly refreshing.

However, the Superhumans of the second team knew exactly what it was—a man-eating vine. Of course, this was just a stray vine that had spread here by chance.

Zhao Xia casually pointed, and the air condensed into invisible bullets that burst forth.

Pew pew pew.

In an instant, the man-eating vine was riddled with countless invisible air bullets, collapsing to the ground. Green juice flowed everywhere, even staining the barren land green.

Just then, the phone in the car rang suddenly. The ringing was shrill, like a banshee's scream, sharp enough to compel an answer.

Frantically and anxiously, Zhao Xia searched for it. Finally, she found the satellite phone tucked under her own buttocks. She hurriedly answered, listening to headquarters' instructions.

After a moment, her expression darkened. "Turn around immediately and rendezvous with the first team."

Li Wang was taken aback, annoyed. "Turn around? Why? Are the idiots at headquarters out of their minds? We've come this far!"

Slap!

Another fiery red handprint appeared on his right cheek.

"…A real man can be flexible when needed!"

With Li Wang's command, the entire convoy of the second team turned around to join forces with the first team.

...

Xiangshan City, Youyan Province

Following the orders from Science City headquarters, the first team was stationed here.

Captain Zhong Shuo surveyed his team members and spoke in a deep voice, "Everyone, listen to my command! Elemental Superhumans, immediately fortify defensive positions based on the terrain. Enhancement Superhumans, prepare long-range consumable ammunition, at least three thousand rounds per person. Combat servants, immediately inspect all types of light and heavy weapons for readiness. There must be no oversight!"

Both the tall woman and the blond man were quite surprised. Was all this pomp really necessary to deal with a so-called cultivator? Those who knew thought they were dealing with one person. Those who didn't might have thought they were facing an entire army.

Chapter 114: What Kind of Monster Is This...

The first team had high combat proficiency. At Zhong Shuo's command, the Superhumans and combat servants swiftly completed their combat preparations. Now, they awaited the arrival of the "enemy."

Zhong Shuo stood on an elevated position, looking toward the south while smoking a cigarette. The blond man and the tall woman flanked him on either side, both a bit perplexed.

The tall woman whispered, "Boss, is headquarters being too paranoid? Isn't that cultivator just another Superhuman? Do we really need to have our brothers this battle-ready? To be honest, our setup here could probably roll over the entire Han Country. There aren't many forces that can withstand an assault by so many Superhumans and combat servants."

The blond man also grumbled, "We've been out catching the Zombie Empress for nearly a month now. I want to go back and rest. I miss the beauties back in Science City."

Zhong Shuo responded calmly, "I don't understand it either, but this order came directly from the City Lord, not from the strategic team at headquarters."

Both the blond man and the tall woman stiffened and then bowed their heads.

The City Lord...

That was just a code name. The real name of the "City Lord" was unknown to anyone. He preferred to be called the City Lord rather than chairman, president, or doctor.

Since it was an order from the City Lord, they were willing to comply, because the City Lord had never been wrong.

Zhong Shuo continued calmly, "I know you all want to rest. I want to rest too. The City Lord said that after this mission, we could take a month off."

Both the tall woman and the blond man brightened up at this.

Finally, a vacation! Cheers!

After a moment's disappearance, a Superhuman who had been vigilantly scanning the surroundings suddenly pointed to the sky and shouted.

"There's a green light in the sky!"

Zhong Shuo's eyes sharpened. "That's the cultivator. Fire!"

The satellite phone call from headquarters had made it clear; the high-speed green light in the sky was the cultivator.

Bang bang bang!

Gun barrels spewed flames, and bullets exceeding 700 meters per second sliced through the air, aimed directly at the green light in the sky.

However, all these bullets were stopped by an invisible shield, completely unable to reach the swiftly flying green light.

"Step aside, let me handle this!"

A battle servant sneered, promptly retrieving a shoulder-fired rocket launcher. A thunderous explosion resounded. The missile shot forth!

The battle servant, brimming with confidence, believed his missile would undoubtedly strike the enemy.

Yet, as the missile neared the azure light, merely two to three hundred meters away, it abruptly detonated mid-air without any warning.

Shards of metal scattered in all directions, cascading down with a rustling sound.

Zhong Shuo felt his scalp tighten.

What method was that just now? He hadn't even caught a clear glimpse.

On the Green Shadow Shuttle, Chu Xuan gazed coldly at this contingent of Superhumans. He held no fear of bullets fired from rifles.

The Green Shadow Shuttle, being a top-grade Foundation Establishment magic tool, could easily withstand such low-level thermal weapons. But the rocket launcher's missile, its power evidently surpassed that of rifle bullets.

To be cautious, Chu Xuan released a wisp of Spiritual Qi, causing the missile to explode mid-air. In that instant, he realized the might of such thermal weapons. They indeed had the potential to damage a magic tool. If subjected to a barrage of missiles, even if he wouldn't perish, several defensive magic tools would shatter.

Chu Xuan summoned the Corpse Nurturing Tower, releasing three streaks of black light. He casually commanded, "Kill them all."

"Roar! Roar! Roar!"

The roars of Long, Hu, and Bao reverberated thunderously. Like pitch-black projectiles, they descended from the heavens, crashing directly into the fortifications of the first squad of Superhumans!

Several elemental Superhumans and battle servants didn't even have time to react before being crushed into a pulp by the three Corpses. Their supposedly formidable and sturdy fortifications were obliterated in an instant, reduced to fragments flying everywhere.

Dust and smoke completely enveloped the area. Agonized screams echoed intermittently through the haze. It was as if three assassins, masters of slaughter, were performing a deadly dance.

"Fire into the smoke!"

Zhong Shuo made the decision on the spot and yelled out the command. The blond man and the tall woman, their hearts tightening, immediately joined in shouting the order to fire. Even if there were their own people in the smoke, they had to shoot.

Pow! Pow! Pow!

Rifles and machine guns continuously spat out flames. Two shoulder-fired rocket launchers also launched their missiles abruptly!

Boom boom boom!

Under such intense firepower, a normal human body would have been torn to shreds. Moments later, the barrels of the combat servants' guns glowed red-hot, forcing them to pause firing.

The situation fell into an eerie silence. Then, from within the dust, a chilling chewing sound emerged.

Crunch, crunch.

It sounded like flesh being ripped from the bone. Or like bones being crunched and their marrow sucked out.

Not dead!

Zhong Shuo, the blond man, and the tall woman all tensed, their eyes snapping to that area.

Zhong Shuo was particularly shocked. He had already learned from headquarters about the cultivator's abilities. One was controlling zombies. The other was manipulating fire.

But zombies could not possibly jump down from nearly a hundred meters high and remain unharmed. Nor could they withstand such a concentrated barrage of firepower!

"What kind of monster is this..."

Zhong Shuo muttered to himself.

Boom!

Three towering, dark figures burst out of the smoke like three unstoppable bulls charging wildly.

The combat servants widened their eyes in horror. They didn't even have a chance to react before they were smashed into pulp!

Compared to them, the Superhumans had slightly stronger bodies. They weren't smashed into pulp, but rather into seven or eight pieces of limbs and fragments.

In the blink of an eye, another five or six Superhumans were killed. The combat servants were completely wiped out.

Zhong Shuo fixed his gaze. The leading, exceptionally robust zombie bore only a few scorch marks. Some rifle bullets, twisted and deformed, were lodged within its muscles and bones. This terrifying creature's flesh was harder than steel!

Zhong Shuo watched as the hulking zombie lunged at the blond man.

From the zombie's grim and ferocious mouth emerged a harsh and guttural syllable, "Die!"

The blond man, an enhanced Superhuman, had reinforced his legs. Seeing the dire situation, he immediately activated his psionic power, further strengthening his legs.

In an instant, they swelled several times larger. He kicked the ground forcefully, preparing to dart away.

At this critical moment, a piercing screech suddenly swept across the entire area. Everyone who heard it felt as if their brains had been struck by a massive hammer, leaving them momentarily blank. Even Zhong Shuo, a Level Six Superhuman, felt dizzy and almost lost his balance.

The screech also affected the blond man. Just as he was about to dash away, his movement abruptly halted. In those few fleeting seconds, the hulking zombie's fist, as large as a sandbag, smashed his skull.

Blood and brain matter, mixed with shattered bone fragments, spurted out, flying far away. A large portion of his shattered brain was also flung out, only to be swiftly devoured by an agile zombie before it even hit the ground.

A woman's scream rang out from the right.

Zhong Shuo looked intently. His most capable subordinate, the tall woman, had her head crushed by the screeching zombie!

"Dead... all dead..." Zhong Shuo murmured.

Chapter 115: Let me see what you've go...

Zhong Shuo was somewhat distracted. As a Level 6 Superhuman, he had never been in such a dire and life-threatening situation before.

But Level 6 Superhumans were supposed to be at the pinnacle among Superhumans. They were the ones standing atop the pyramid. Why, then, were there such terrifying zombies?

Jumping down from over a hundred meters high! Remaining unscathed under a dense barrage of firepower! Blasting the head of a Level 5 Superhuman with a single punch! Such terrifying zombies, a total of three of them!

Even more frightening was...

That mysterious cultivator remained suspended in mid-air without joining the battle. If the cultivator could control such terrifying zombie war machines, how powerful must they be themselves?

Thinking of this, Zhong Shuo's heart was overshadowed by a vast shadow. His usual aggressive and dominant aura, which usually knew no bounds, had disappeared without a trace.

Now he understood.

What Level 6 Superhuman? In the eyes of that cultivator, he was nothing more than an ant, a speck of dust.

"Roar!"

The burly zombie charged forward. Just a plain, unadorned, and unpretentious fist.

Zhong Shuo was somewhat dazed. But his experienced body instinctively reacted.

Hum!

His arms suddenly blocked in front of him. Hardened bones rapidly grew out, forming thick bone armor.

His ability was to control his own bones. He could grow bone claws like Wolverine, or form bone shields and armor to protect himself.

That's why he consumed large amounts of food every day, converting it into nutrients to grow his bones.

Normal people had only 12 pairs of ribs. But he had a whopping 20 pairs. In addition, extra bones had grown in the additional space of his chest and abdomen.

Normally, they were hardly used. But in combat, these bones became lethal weapons.

Zhong Shuo had tested it before. By fully utilizing his stored bones, he could withstand the continuous bombardment of three single soldier rocket launcher rounds!

This was his trump card. Even though his will was shaken due to the enormous disparity in strength, he still wanted to test his trump card against the opponent.

"Come on, let me see what you've go..."

Zhong Shuo took a deep breath and roared. However, before he could finish his sentence, the thick bone armor was shattered by the fist the size of a sandbag. Along with it, his head was pulverized.

Bone fragments and shards flew everywhere, comparable to shrapnel from a grenade, deeply embedding into the ground and surrounding buildings.

Hu lifted Zhong Shuo's headless body with one hand, emitting a deafening zombie roar. This sound was filled with the dominance of a superior over inferiors. Every surviving Superhuman, regardless of what they were doing, clutched their heads and fell to the ground in terror.

Those who had lost their will to fight were quickly dispatched—either by Long crushing their skulls or Bao piercing their hearts. In the blink of an eye, the battlefield was devoid of life, leaving only rubble and scattered limbs and fragments, as if narrating the tale of a one-sided slaughter that had occurred here.

Chu Xuan casually summoned back the Long, Hu, and Bao corpses to the Corpse Tower. He did not pause for even a moment and continued northward. The bodies of these Superhumans and combat servants contained energy far inferior to that of cultivators.

Furthermore, the Psionic cores within the Superhumans had already been consumed by the Long, Hu, and Bao, so there was no need to collect them.

The most shocked at this moment was He Shengliang, standing on the Green Shadow Shuttle. From a high vantage point and as a bystander, he had a clear view of the entire battle.

Ordinary superhumans and combat servants crumbled like fragile paper at the slightest touch. Two Level 5 Superhumans were as weak as tofu. Even the captain of the first team, a Level 6 Superhuman known for his formidable defense, was as vulnerable as a watermelon, bursting apart with a single punch.

Such a well-equipped team was easily torn to shreds by the three zombies under the Immortal's command. It was terrifying.

After a brief shock, joy rose on He Shengliang's face. That's right. He had made the right choice. He should indeed enlist this Immortal! Only he had the power to annihilate Science City...

Over an hour had passed.

Chu Xuan piloted the Green Shadow Shuttle, already hovering above the headquarters of the Science City located in Yanjing City of the Youyan Province. The Green Shadow Shuttle, a top-tier flying magic tool, could traverse one thousand li in a single hour, consuming merely a small spiritual stone for the distance.

The direct distance between East Lake City and Yanjing City on the map was roughly one thousand kilometers. Flying high above, there were no concerns of traffic jams or speed limits, allowing for a straight and uninterrupted course. Only occasionally, some reckless carnivorous birds attempted to taste Chu Xuan's mettle.

As the saying goes, to not return a favor is discourteous.

Chu Xuan, ever so graciously, let Bao taste them instead.

Indeed, the journey was swift. The Science City headquarters managed only the most basic response; even the dispatched teams had not had time to retreat before Chu Xuan descended like the grim reaper.

He surveyed the area below.

A towering edifice stood there, marked by a massive logo—the words "Science City" boldly proclaimed its identity.

"This is the place… this is it," He Shengliang murmured, his eyes moistening at the sight of the familiar building.

Originally, Science City had acquired an ancient vessel and planned to conduct human experiments using live subjects. Being an orphan with a severe mental disorder, he naturally became the prime target for Science City.

Later, thanks to the help of Ji Shengyu, he managed to escape from the underground research facility of this very building.

Facing Chu Xuan, He Shengliang bowed respectfully, "Immortal, the ancient vessel is located in the underground base beneath this building."

"Very well, you have one hour," Chu Xuan stated calmly, "In one hour, no one here will be left alive."

With a casual wave of his hand, a surge of Spiritual Qi lifted He Shengliang to the ground.

"Exterminate them."

Chu Xuan then unleashed the Tower. At his command, Long, Hu, and Bao corpses, like beasts freed from their cages, charged into the building.

"You may join in the fun as well," Chu Xuan said as he brought out the Blood Beehive.

The queen bee had been diligently hatching warrior bees, and the swarm had grown considerably in size. Countless warrior and worker bees streamed into the building through doors and windows.

Blood, death, slaughter, and chaos spread like a plague throughout the entire Science City building.

"Thank you," He Shengliang deeply bowed to Chu Xuan, seizing the chaotic moment to rush in as well.

Chu Xuan casually took out a set of killing array discs and flags. This formation, known as the "Earth Evill Demon Sealing Array," was a high-grade killing formation from the Foundation Establishment stage. Comprising thirty-six flags and a single array disk, Chu Xuan had acquired them after slaying Duan Feipeng and taking them from his storage bag.

Despite its name suggesting it sealed demons, in reality, it could kill anything contained within its bounds. Similar formations numbered over a dozen in his collection.

With a flick of his wrist, his spiritual sense guided the thirty-six flags into position around the Science City building. They are embedded into the concrete like nails.

Thus, the prototype of the Earth Evil Demon Sealing Array was established. Once he inserted the spiritual stones into the array disk, every living being within the range of the formation would die in agony.

Chapter 116: The Origin of Psionics?

Deep within the underground base of the Science City Building, the city's leader, the City Lord, sat intently watching a screen that displayed the Science City Building as a veritable hell on earth. His right hand caressed a massive red button, his expression growing feverishly manic.

"Come forth, come forth! All high-level zombies and supernatural creatures, come to me!" he roared, slamming the button down.

An ultrasonic wave, inaudible to normal humans, immediately radiated out from the Science City Building, rippling towards distant realms.

All zombies and supernatural beings that heard this call instinctively converged towards its source. To them, the sound seemed to announce: "Dinner is served!"

The City Lord cackled maniacally.

"Kill, kill," he hissed. "Blood and bones will construct its body. Wails and screams will nourish it. It will be the grandest creation of Science City."

"Oh God, do you see?" he shouted upwards. "I am about to create a level eight..."

His laughter echoed until it was abruptly cut off.

Bang!

The steel door, twenty centimeters thick, was punched through. Another hole followed immediately after.

Crack!

In the next moment, the steel door was forcibly torn open by a pair of powerful arms.

The City Lord's laughter stopped abruptly as he incredulously turned towards the entrance. A tall figure, flanked by three robust forms, sauntered in as if strolling in a serene garden.

"You... weren't you on the surface?" he stammered. "How did you appear here so suddenly?"

The City Lord's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Chu Xuan, sneaking a few glances at Hu.

The twenty-centimeter-thick iron door had been penetrated with a single punch, as though it were no more substantial than a paper window.

Chu Xuan surveyed the man. He had assumed the City Lord, who even a level six Superhuman would not dare to challenge, was at least a level seven or eight Superhuman. It turned out he was merely a level six.

"Are you the City Lord?" Chu Xuan asked nonchalantly.

The City Lord took a deep breath and responded solemnly, "Yes, I am the City Lord."

"Cultivator, may I address you as such?" he ventured.

Chu Xuan replied indifferently, "A dead man may call me whatever he wishes."

The City Lord burst into a wild, somewhat demented laugh. "I will die, and so will you!" he exclaimed. "We shall all become nourishment for the level eight supernatural being!"

"I had planned to kill all the members of the Science City Building and transform them into nourishment for the level eight zombies once my plan succeeded," he continued. "You have actually aided me!"

Chu Xuan tilted his head, observing him with a hint of pity. He calmly suggested, "Take another look at the screen. See how much flesh remains on the ground."

Startled, the City Lord turned his gaze back to the screen. To his shock, he saw swarms of blood-red bees invading the Science City Building. Wherever they passed, all the corpses' flesh vanished, leaving behind only stark white skeletons. Even the flesh that had splattered on the floors, walls, and ceilings during the slaughter was meticulously cleaned, as if licked clean like a yogurt lid.

"This... this..." The City Lord's body swayed, nearly toppling over from the incredulity of it all. The blood bees, functioning like automated cleaning robots, had scrubbed every trace of flesh so thoroughly it defied logic.

Taking a deep breath, the City Lord pleaded earnestly, "Spare my life, I know where the ancient vessel is..."

Snap.

His head was crushed effortlessly by the ghastly claw of a ghost. The headless body thumped heavily onto the ground.

Chu Xuan looked at the corpse and Provinced flatly, "I know where it is, no need for you to tell me."

There was a profoundly strong Psionic point within the underground base. It was obvious, even without much thought, that the ancient vessel was located there.

Chu Xuan strolled leisurely towards it, heading deeper into the underground base. Access was guarded by a password and a secret door, known only to the City Lord.

Around the door, two machine guns were set up, ready to unleash a barrage of bullets should anyone enter the incorrect password.

However, they posed no threat to Chu Xuan.

"Hu, it's all yours," Chu Xuan said casually.

With a roar, Hu charged forward, braving the streams of bullets from the Gatling guns, twisting their barrels into twisted metal. The sturdy password-protected door was also torn apart by his single hand.

Only then did Chu Xuan stride in. Soon, he reached the deepest layer of the underground base. There, he beheld the thing—a massive life form assembled from countless limbs. It was hard to describe in human language exactly what it was. If one had to label it... a Nightmare Amalgam?

Chu Xuan instantly discerned, at the core of the corpulent entity, a damaged device. This device continuously emitted intense psionic energy. It was the presence of these richly vibrant psionics that stitched the myriad severed limbs together, preventing them from falling apart.

At that moment, perhaps sensing the presence of living beings, the sixteen eyes on the corpulent entity simultaneously snapped open.

"Die!"

The same word erupted from its twenty-two mouths. Six massive hands slammed down violently as if Chu Xuan were but a fly that could be swatted dead.

Whoosh!

A streak of blood suddenly flashed.

In an instant, it severed the six enormous hands. Blood gushed forth in an instant.

Chu Xuan felt a pang of heartache. Such a waste of blood.

In the next moment, he saw the damaged device suddenly emit psionic fluctuations. The wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. In the blink of an eye, the six hands had regrown!

Chu Xuan's eyes lit up. An endless supply of flesh and blood?

"Hmm? Die!"

The corpulent entity, momentarily stunned, failed to comprehend how its forceful palms had not crushed the tiny fly. It growled lowly, swinging its arms down once more.

This time, Chu Xuan took action himself. The Evil Soul Chain shot out, blasting through the arms to reach the damaged device. Then, wrapping around it, he yanked fiercely.

A pitiful wail immediately emanated from the corpulent entity. It was as if its root were being ruthlessly pulled outward by Chu Xuan.

"Quite tight. Huikong, use some strength."

Chu Xuan instructed.

Roar!

Huikong suddenly appeared and the force of the Evil Soul Chain burst forth. With a snap, the damaged device was directly pulled out.

In that instant, the corpulent entity seemed as if its backbone had been extracted, utterly collapsing.

The so-called eighth-tier supernatural creature, as described by the City Lord, was no match for even a mid-stage demonic beast in Chu Xuan's presence. In a flick of his fingers, it was effortlessly slain.

"Is this the origin of the psionics?"

Chu Xuan examined the damaged device, deep in thought.

Chapter 117: Ancient Artifact, Primordial Psionic

This damaged artifact, jet-black and icy cold, had sharp and distinct edges. If it were intact, it would have been a perfect cubic shape. The surface of the artifact was densely covered with mysterious patterns. Looking at it for too long would make one feel dizzy and overwhelmed.

Chu Xuan could easily sense that this object was still continuously releasing powerful primordial psionic energy. After these primordial psionics merged with the air, they gradually diluted into ordinary psionics.

Primordial psionics subtly transformed everything they touched. When Chu Xuan controlled it with his spiritual sense and floated it in front of him, the primordial psionics even seemed to want to transform him.

However, once primordial psionics and Spiritual Qi encountered each other, they immediately regarded each other as mortal enemies.

In the blink of an eye, primordial psionics and Spiritual Qi formed into two great dragons, fiercely clashing and killing each other. They even treated Chu Xuan's body as the battlefield.

Chu Xuan couldn't help but frown, but he still patiently watched. Soon, these two vastly different energies determined the winner.

Spiritual Qi still surpassed primordial psionics by a large margin. The latter had no choice but to withdraw from Chu Xuan's body.

"It seems that even primordial psionics are weaker than Spiritual Qi. However, judging from the energy it contains, it's not far behind."

Chu Xuan recalled the corpulent entity he had just faced.

Compared to Spiritual Qi, primordial psionics might not match in terms of strength, power, or endurance. But in terms of vitality alone, it was exceptionally robust. It might even surpass Spiritual Qi in certain aspects.

"The energy imbued with powerful vitality... it's so incredibly useful!"

Chu Xuan stroked his chin, revealing a satisfied smile. Corpse puppets, gu insects, spirit plants... Under his command, they all eagerly awaited their daily sustenance.

"Moreover, there are rumors about a group of demonic cultivators who worship ancient body-refining techniques. They don't cultivate Qi, build foundations, or form pills; they specialize in tempering their physical bodies. They require massive amounts of meat daily. This meat must contain immense vitality to support their daily consumption for body refinement. Perhaps these primordial psionics could assist me in body refinement as well."

Chu Xuan smiled faintly.

Cultivators have always been divided into two types: those who refine qi and those who refine their bodies. The latter are also known as body cultivators.

However, body cultivators require vast amounts of demonic beast flesh and rare natural treasures. It is no longer the ancient golden age where spiritual herbs were ubiquitous. There are not enough resources to sustain a body cultivator.

The resources to sustain one body cultivator could perhaps sustain seven or eight qi cultivators. As for slaying demonic beasts to harvest their flesh, that is even more out of the question.

Combat brings the risk of injury. Injuries require the consumption of medicinal pills for healing. If one does not use medicinal pills, natural healing requires even more time. Once the cost of combat exceeds the gains, it becomes a loss not worth the effort!

Moreover, the pain involved in body refining far exceeds that of qi refining. Over time, body cultivators gradually faded from the annals of history. The mainstream became those who refine qi.

Chu Xuan only learned of the existence of body cultivators from casual conversations among cultivators. Initially, he was just listening for the sake of it. Now, it seems he really has the capability to make it a reality.

"However, I lack a body cultivation technique, so I'll set this aside for now and revisit it if the opportunity arises."

Chu Xuan noted this in his mind.

...

Elsewhere, the back door of the Science City building.

A young boy helped his elder sister to walk out quickly.

At this time, He Shengliang had even more injuries. Being a brain enhancer, he was not very adept at combat.

Yet, he had stormed the underground base, found Ji Shengyu among hundreds of cryogenic chambers, and managed to escape with him from the Science City building an hour ago.

Ji Shengyu had just recovered from her cryogenic Province. Her face was still a bit stiff and her speech was somewhat halting.

She managed a weak smile, "Little Liang... thank you... you."

He Shengliang smiled.

The two hobbled along, passing by a flagpole.

"Eh, this is..." Ji Shengyu looked puzzled.

He Shengliang smiled and said, "Let's sit here and rest a while."

Ji Shengyu nodded, "Okay."

He Shengliang pulled out a bottle of baijiu and handed it over.

Ji Shengyu took a big swig of the liquor, and her body gradually warmed up.

She laughed, "You really get me."

He Shengliang pointed at the Science City building and said calmly, "Sister Yu, you are a senior researcher at Science City, why didn't you stay there and instead chose to rescue me?"

Ji Shengyu took another large gulp, then sighed deeply, "Because I, too, came into contact with primordial psionic and awakened my talents. The City Lord used me as one of his subjects for human experimentation. To survive, I had to protect myself. At that time, you were another individual who had awakened talents; only by taking you with me could I have hoped to escape alive. Our previous memories..."

He Shengliang spoke calmly, "I've already figured out that the memories from the psychiatric hospital were fabricated."

Ji Shengyu nodded and continued drinking.

"Sister Yu, if I were to die, you'd have to keep living well on your own," He Shengliang paused, then suddenly said.

Ji Shengyu was startled, "What? Are you joking? With your calculating skills, you should be able to predict your own death, right? We've both escaped, so I don't think it's going to be today. Besides, I still need you to help me find booze."

He Shengliang chuckled and recounted the events that had happened. Finally, he said, "I made a deal with the immortal; I led him to Science City, and he gave me an hour to rescue you from the underground base. Now, you've made it out alive, and I've repaid the favor you did me by saving me back then; it's time for me to end my life."

Ji Shengyu's hand, holding the liquor bottle, began to tremble.

"You..."

He Shengliang smiled. Though he was physically just a young boy, his smile carried an immense weight of world-weariness.

"If I don't end my life, the immortal will kill both of us, and I know he truly has the means to do it. Sister Yu, I'm just a passerby in your life. Please live well."

Tears streamed down Ji Shengyu's eyes.

He Shengliang whispered, "Sister Yu, may I lie on your lap?"

"Of course," Ji Shengyu sniffled and nodded.

The young boy lay on the soft lap of his elder sister, his breathing gradually becoming lighter, and he fell asleep. A cold tear fell onto his cheek. He never woke up again.

Above on the Green Shadow Shuttle, Chu Xuan saw everything unfold. He could tell at a glance that He Shengliang had ingested poison and no longer had any signs of life.

He Shengliang had used him to block the pursuers and also leveraged his power to eliminate the nemesis, Science City. He had effectively used him twice.

A deal is a deal.

This man had to die; there was no question about it. It was just a pity to lose such a clever individual. No matter how intelligent, it is ultimately hard to contend with supreme power.

"Hmm? A tide of zombies?"

Chu Xuan looked toward the horizon, suddenly noticing a black line appearing. And it wasn't coming from one direction. It was converging from all around! Those flying in the sky and those running on the ground, all were coming. If those swimming in the water could come ashore, they probably would have joined in the excitement!

Chapter 118: Too Many Souls, Overflowing

Chu Xuan suddenly remembered. When he had entered the lowest level of the underground base, an odd sonic wave had swept past. To ordinary people, it was an inaudible ultrasonic wave.

But for Chu Xuan, a cultivator in the late Foundation Establishment stage, it was within the range of perceivable sounds. It was just a sound, so he hadn't paid much attention to it.

But now he understood. That sound was the City Lord's final killer move. It could attract all the zombies and supernatural creatures in the vicinity!

There's a saying: ants can kill an elephant.

In the City Lord's estimation, even if Chu Xuan was an incredibly powerful Superhuman, if there were enough zombies and supernatural creatures, they could overwhelm him to death!

Chu Xuan displayed a bizarre smile. How many large blood pearls could this sprawling tide of corpses produce? The Myriad Souls Banner would probably be filled to the brim, right?

Furthermore, the City Lord had unintentionally given him a great gift. That was the ultrasonic wave attracting the zombies!

From now on, he no longer needed to go searching for zombies. Just spread the sound, and a large number of zombies would come knocking at his door. This was simply… fantastic!

"Very good, very good, coming to Science City was indeed the right decision!"

Chu Xuan laughed so hard he could hardly contain himself.

Roar roar roar!

The three corpses of Long, Hu, and Bao had completed their mission and returned to Chu Xuan's side.

A large number of soldier bees and worker bees had also returned to the Hive, waiting for Chu Xuan's next command.

Chu Xuan stood on high ground, overlooking the corpse tide rushing from afar. He immediately pressed a spirit stone into the array plate. The Earth Evil Demon Sealing Array rippled and was now activated.

Chu Xuan smiled, "Now, all we need to do is wait. Wait for them to enter the array."

Leading the charge was an advanced zombie standing over three meters tall. It had four arms, with muscles bulging all over its body. Especially those legs, they were bizarrely jointed backward!

With a leap, its reverse-jointed legs acted like springs, propelling it high into the air. In an instant, it had jumped more than ten meters high! From its appearance and capabilities, this was at least a level-five zombie.

At that moment, the array suddenly concentrated countless potent, mighty flying swords and shot them out. In an instant, this level-five zombie was sliced into countless pieces of flesh, falling to the ground.

The zombies behind it had no idea what had happened upfront. They still rushed forward in a frenzy.

Time for dinner! Time for dinner! Those who lagged behind would miss out on their meal!

These reverse-jointed zombies entering the Earth Evil Demon Sealing Array liked to leap high into the air. Suspended with nowhere to leverage in mid-air, they naturally became live targets for the flying swords.

Just like their leader, they all ended up as piles of minced meat on the ground. Then, more and more zombies and supernatural creatures rushed in.

The flying swords hummed non-stop. Where they passed, only limbs and shattered bodies fell in droves.

Chu Xuan took out the Myriad Souls Banner. With a gesture of his hand, a vast number of souls began to stream continuously towards the Myriad Souls Banner.

Chu Xuan mused, "The rate at which these souls are replenishing is absurdly fast."

He estimated that once this horde of zombies was entirely vanquished, the souls within the Myriad Souls Banner might overflow.

This banner was merely a high-quality magic tool, not one of those legendary magical treasures possessing a spirit; otherwise, it would certainly have screamed in panic.

Too many! Stop coming in! It's going to overflow!

The carnage lasted for over three hours. Aside from a few intelligent high-level zombies and supernatural creatures that sensed danger and fled, the rest fell into the array.

Now, the grounds around the Science City building were finely layered with several strata of flesh and blood.

"All this flesh and blood should be enough to produce plenty of blood honey," he mused. "The queen bee's level might catch up immediately, and perhaps even unlock more types of blood bees."

Chu Xuan's thoughts stirred. He commanded the queen bee to deploy a large number of worker bees. Blood honey was far superior to blood pearls.

His own blood transmutation Technique was somewhat crude; in the future, he planned to let the blood bees handle such delicate tasks.

Was it laziness?

No.

It was more about allowing the blood bees to gain experience. That way, they could become key pillars under his command in the future.

The worker bees were highly efficient. In no time at all, they had cleaned up all the minced flesh that had fallen to the ground.

Of course, the corpulent entity from the deepest part of the underground base was not overlooked. In time, all this flesh would be transformed into blood honey.

Seizing the opportunity, Chu Xuan swept up all the research materials from Science City, leaving nothing behind. He then set the last fire, burning down the towering building.

At that moment, Chu Xuan suddenly saw a burst of rainbow-colored radiance rising in the sky.

Following this were divine beasts like dragons, phoenixes, and qilins, each appearing one by one. Then, various phenomena such as the sun and moon soaring through the sky unfolded.

Chu Xuan's eyes lit up.

Here it comes! It's coming with signs and wonders! Merit! Here is merit again! Hum!

Suddenly, behind Chu Xuan's head, a three-tiered Merit Golden Wheel emerged. The Merit Golden Wheel, rotating silently like a lotus platform, was like a Buddha, a sage. The magnificent golden light was so intense it was blinding. Like a miniature sun!

The Merit Golden Wheel could enhance the power of merit-based spells. Accumulating layers on the Merit Golden Wheel is extremely challenging, and it becomes increasingly difficult with each additional layer.

For context, even Yuanhong, the current abbot of the Golden Dragon Temple, only possessed two layers of the Merit Golden Wheel.

Previously, Chu Xuan had only one layer. But today, after eradicating a horde of tens of thousands of zombies, he impressively gained three layers!

Chu Xuan muttered, "These hollow phenomena are alright, but can we discuss adding more Cleansing Soul Golden Rain?"

He looked up at the sky and clicked his tongue.

Whoosh!

Torrential rain poured down. Golden rain covered Chu Xuan from head to toe. Those who knew thought it was raining. Those who didn't might have thought it was hail!

"Truly magnificent!"

Chu Xuan gave a thumbs-up, immediately absorbing this precious Cleansing Soul Golden Rain. His spiritual soul once again strengthened significantly.

The total amount of Cleansing Soul Golden Rain this time far exceeded the last. Until the raindrops completely disappeared, Chu Xuan suddenly realized that his spiritual soul had actually doubled in strength!

Forget about being a Foundation Establishment seventh layer cultivator, even a the ninth layer cultivator couldn't compare to him.

Of course, such spiritual soul strength still couldn't compare to a Golden Core cultivator. The transition from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core was a complete leap in life level. All aspects would skyrocket.

In addition, he felt that his innate comprehension had also increased. His thoughts were clearer. His speed in pondering any problem had become faster.

"My spiritual soul has doubled, which means I can control more magic tools simultaneously and raise their number again."

Chu Xuan was overjoyed. The three corpse puppets, Long, Hu, and Bao, had now become Corpse Generals, their levels almost matching his.

Hu's level was particularly high, even surpassing Chu Xuan by one level, reaching the Eighth Level Corpse General. The higher the level, the more spiritual soul he needed to control them. Not to mention, Chu Xuan still needed to focus on controlling magic tools. With his spiritual soul now doubled, his pressure had been significantly reduced.

However, he had no intention of increasing the number of Corpse Generals further. Three Corpse Generals were sufficient.

At most, he would refine more corpse puppets like the Purifying Corpse to manage the farm or guard various arrays.

"Even the land here has been influenced by the Cleansing Soul Golden Rain."

Chu Xuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He glanced at the soil faintly shimmering with golden light. After a moment of consideration, he casually took out a flying sword magic tool and began digging right then and there!

Chapter 119: Conquer the Zombie Empress

The soil teemed with bacteria, microorganisms, and small creatures like earthworms and insects. It was possible that some of these life forms, influenced by the cleansing soul rain, might gain intelligence.

Should any of these creatures become sentient and wreak havoc, such evil deeds would likely bring retribution upon Chu Xuan. He had no desire for the hard-earned merits he had accumulated to be squandered in an instant.

Thus, he decided to dig out the matter directly, ensuring everything remained within his control. This way, there would be no further complications.

After completing this task, Chu Xuan retrieved the three corpses and blood bees, stepped onto the Green Shadow Shuttle, and departed.

...

Ji Shengyu gazed at the distant azure light in the sky, her eyes filled with awe. She had witnessed everything firsthand. The terrifying tide of zombies had surged from all directions, yet it was as if they had charged into a perpetually grinding meat grinder.

The powerful high-level zombies and supernatural creatures seemed no different from chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep in the eyes of that immortal.

She had also witnessed various miraculous phenomena: the seven-colored auspicious clouds, mythical beasts appearing, the golden wheel of merit, and the golden rain. All these seemed to honor that immortal as if even the world itself acknowledged his achievements.

Ji Shengyu looked down at He Shengliang, gradually growing cold in her arms, and spoke calmly, "Little Liang, rest assured, I won't do anything foolish. I will live well. The Science City has fallen, but I know there are people above the City Lord. I will find them."

She gazed at the blazing building, the flames reflecting in her eyes. "I will burn the filth of this world to ashes."

....

The Science City, dominant in the northern region of the Han Country, abruptly vanished within a day. This news struck many survivors like a tempest.

The Science City was notorious for capturing survivors for human experiments. Many survivors were terrified of it.

But now, with the Science City gone, and no cunning and terrifying Zombie Empress, a vast power vacuum emerged in the northern Han Country.

Various small factions led by supernaturals began vying for territory and population once again. The conflict was ever-present, never-ending.

As for the second team of the Science City which led by Zhao Xia and Li Wang, many said they had left, but no one knew their whereabouts.

All the external chaos was irrelevant to Chu Xuan. On his previous journey north, Chu Xuan had effortlessly eliminated the first team of the Science City and brought back the Zombie Empress.

Hence, he had already begun establishing a second farm. Long, Hu, and Bao smashed everything violently, removing the massive ruins. Soon, a new, flat, and spacious farm was born.

Chu Xuan selected a prime spot at the farm's center, dug a large pit, and threw the Zombie Empress into it. The Zombie Empress roared and immediately tried to attack.

Hu stood faithfully by Chu Xuan's side.

Seeing the situation, he went up and slapped the Zombie Empress's head. With a loud smack, the Zombie Empress's head almost spun around. The Zombie Empress was instantly stunned.

'I am a powerful zombie about to evolve into Level Six! And I can also tame lower-level zombies for my own use. What kind of zombie is this in front of me? How can it hit me?'

After some thought, the Zombie Empress decided to snarl again and release its Psionic power in an attempt to control Hu.

Smack! Another slap.

"Hmph..."

Hu was somewhat annoyed. Besides the master, there was another creature trying to possess him.

'You're dreaming!'

The Zombie Empress's cheekbones swelled up high. This time it understood. It really couldn't command this stupid, big, and strong zombie.

"Do you see that Zombie Matriarch over there?"

Chu Xuan pointed to the nearby farm where the Zombie Matriarch diligently produced small flesh sacs.

The Zombie Empress was puzzled.

Isn't that my offspring? How did it end up here?

"As long as you produce flesh sacs every day like her, you'll stay alive. If you don't obey, you'll die."

Upon hearing this, the Zombie Empress snarled again.

'I'm the lord of the zombies in the northern part of the country! How can I be a production machine?'

Chu Xuan took out a blood bead and flicked it into the Zombie Empress's mouth.

The Zombie Empress's eyes rolled back instantly.

'Just a slave, huh? Fine, I'll do it!'

...

Soon, this new farm also settled into a routine. A large number of flesh sacs were produced, and under the diligent work of the Purifying Corpse, various spirit plants were planted.

In addition to flesh-eating spirit plants, there were also some that absorbed Spiritual Qi. The Purifying Corpse managed these spirit plants well.

Interestingly, a competitive relationship seemed to emerge between the Zombie Matriarch and the Zombie Empress.

Chu Xuan noticed that since the establishment of the second farm, the Zombie Matriarch had ramped up its production of flesh sacs.

Stimulated by some unknown factor, the Zombie Empress also rapidly increased its production. However, due to their equal levels, their production speeds remained neck and neck.

Chu Xuan was pleased with the development. When workers compete with each other, the capitalist is most delighted.

On the rooftop of the hotel, Chu Xuan set up a large fish tank. Inside the tank were the soils soaked with Cleansing Soul Golden Rain.

Currently, there seemed to be no movement in the soil.

Chu Xuan reclined in his chair, casually tossing around the cube that constantly emitted primordial psionic energy. "Since this thing releases primordial psionic, it looks like a cube, let's call it Psionic Cube. Now, where should I place it?"

Curious about its potential, Chu Xuan grabbed a piece of zombie flesh and pushed the Psionic Cube into it. In the blink of an eye, the zombie flesh began to expand. In less than ten minutes, the piece of flesh had swollen into a large cube more than a person's height and continued to show signs of further expansion.

"Awesome!"

Chu Xuan's spirits lifted. His insects, which purely favored meat, and with rising levels, their appetite only increased.

Moreover, with the Hive requiring a massive daily supply of flesh, the Psionic Cube could be a solution for meat production.

As Chu Xuan contemplated, Gangsi appeared in his palm, immediately attracted by the scent of the meat. Without waiting for Chu Xuan's command, it plunged into the meat block like a javelin, transmitting a feeling of immense joy back to him. It was like a rat that had found its way into a rice store!

Clearly, Gangsi enjoyed this meat block. Deciding to test further, Chu Xuan placed his other Gu, Bai and Lan, on it, and also let the three corpse generals, Long, Hu, and Bao, try it.

After a moment, Chu Xuan concluded that both the corpse puppets and the gu insects could eat this meat block, but the gu insects particularly loved it. The three corpse generals only ate a few pieces before stopping, probably preferring the taste of living humans. Nonetheless, this was a great outcome.

Chu Xuan no longer had to worry about food sources for his gu insects. To them, this high-quality, nutritious meat block was clearly much more appetizing than the dry, withered zombie flesh.

Chapter 120: Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer, Return to Mystic Azure Realm

A month later, Chu Xuan emerged from his meditation upon receiving a message from the Queen Bee. Since transforming the Hive into his lifebound magic tool, the Queen Bee had naturally become his lifebound gu insect.

However, it seldom initiated contact with him. This time, it was the mature blood honey that prompted her message.

"How did it mature faster than I expected?" Chu Xuan wondered as he fetched the Hive.

The Queen Bee's transmitted thoughts clarified everything—it was all due to the high-nutrient meat blocks!

The constant supply of these blocks not only sustained the hive and the Queen Bee but also enabled the unlocking of a new type of blood bee, the Poison Bee.

Moreover, there was a significant surplus, enough to provide Chu Xuan with a steady supply.

Buzzing sounds filled the air as a group of worker bees approached Chu Xuan, carrying cups made of beeswax. The cups were filled with a viscous, blood-red liquid—blood honey.

A sniff of its intoxicatingly sweet fragrance invigorated Chu Xuan, prompting him to lift a beeswax cup and drink it all at once. He immediately refined the blood honey with his Spiritual Qi.

Moments later, he opened his eyes in astonishment. The energy density of the blood honey was incredibly high—a small cup of it was equivalent to five large blood pearls. From now on, his cultivation could entirely rely on blood honey instead of blood pearls.

"Good job," Chu Xuan praised generously.

The Queen Bee, slightly embarrassed by the compliment, quickly returned to the Hive.

Chu Xuan continued to meditate within the Soul-Capturing Evil-Nurturing Array, refining both the Yin Evil Qi and blood honey.

His cultivation level was advancing at a slow but steady pace.

...

Two years blinked by. The Black Blade had grown into a vast force spanning the eastern and northern regions. It now controlled a communication satellite and its corresponding ground station, effectively ensuring that every level three Superhuman had a satellite phone. Consequently, their intelligence network was incredibly developed.

However, Wang Gangjian and others always adhered to the rules set by the immortals. Their task was to gather intelligence, not to vie for dominance.

Thus, Wang Gangjian strictly vetted new members. Those seeking to join Black Blade for personal gain, regardless of their Psionic level, were invariably turned away.

Under such a stringent organizational structure, the situation in the eastern and northern parts of Han was extremely stable.

In Two Dragons City, within the Soul-Capturing Evil-Nurturing Array, Chu Xuan continued to meditate. His aura had reached the peak of his current stage, like a reservoir brimming with water, just waiting for the moment to break free from its confines.

Chu Xuan, having now advanced to the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment, considered the situation back at Mystic Azure Realm. It had been almost five months since his departure, and he speculated that things might have settled down a bit.

"Let's go back and see if it's safe; if not, I can always return," Chu Xuan thought.

He had several critical needs that only Mystic Azure Realm could satisfy, especially concerning the core condensation technique and body refining methods.

The Thunder Falcon Core Condensation Method given to him by Wan Wuying was only a mid-grade Foundation Establishment technique; if he had a chance to obtain a superior method, he would certainly seize it.

...

In the northern part of Wu Province, within a secluded mountain range, Chu Xuan materialized from his simple cave abode. His first action was to inspect the cave for any signs of disturbance. Finding none, he was relieved.

Next, Chu Xuan activated his Turtle Breath Technique to conceal his cultivation level, reverting it to the initial stages of Qi Refining. He then changed his appearance using a transformation technique to resemble an ordinary male cultivator. Blending into a crowd, he would be as inconspicuous as a drop in the ocean.

Having prepared himself, he quietly left the area and headed south, searching for a nearby cultivator's market.

Along the way, Chu Xuan noted several former outposts of the Heavenly Seal Sect, now all reduced to ruins. These ruins were deserted except for some Qi Refining stage demonic beasts that had claimed the territory.

After some time, Chu Xuan finally spotted a market town nestled by a mountain and a lake in the distance. He stowed away his Green Shadow Shuttle and pulled out an old, crooked low-grade flying sword he hadn't used in a long while, leisurely approaching the market.

Above the market entrance hung a sign with gilded characters: Golden Lake Market, named after the nearby Golden Lake known for its eight types of spiritual fish. Previously, there had been a Heavenly Seal Sect outpost here called Golden Lake Hall, but it was clearly gone now.

At the entrance of the market stood a cultivator in a deep blue Daoist robe, seemingly at the mid Qi Refining stage. He stopped Chu Xuan and casually mentioned, "Entering Golden Lake Market requires a fee of two small spiritual stones. This fee allows you to stay for one day."

Chu Xuan frowned slightly as he observed the practices of Golden Lake Market. It was unusual for markets to charge an entrance fee, and even more so to restrict the duration of stay.

However, not wanting to draw attention to himself, he handed over the two small spiritual stones and entered Golden Lake Market without protest.

Inside, Chu Xuan immediately noticed that the cultivators rarely walked in the middle of the road; instead, they cautiously moved along the sides.

The center was patrolled by a group of cultivators in deep blue Daoist robes, who scrutinized everyone passing by. Their gaze was ever watchful, especially on female cultivators who were inspected under the pretext of being Heavenly Seal spies, sometimes accompanied by flirtation.

Moreover, these cultivators were keen to pounce on anyone who seemed like a lucrative target, employing various means to exploit them.

Chu Xuan was here solely to gather information and to avoid drawing attention. He mimicked the behavior of other wandering cultivators, walking unobtrusively along the sides of the road.

His current appearance, deliberately made plain and unremarkable, allowed him to blend in seamlessly, escaping the notice of the patrolling cultivators.

Chu Xuan adopted the same strategy as before: he didn't buy anything, touch anything, just strolled around. The cultivation levels of the cultivators within the market weren't particularly high; he hadn't even spotted a single Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Being at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment himself, his spiritual perception was strong enough to effortlessly eavesdrop on conversations among the other cultivators.

In just one day, he gleaned a clear understanding of the events of the past five months.

The Heaven Burning Sect had indeed been plotting for a long time; they had moved northward, sweeping through most regions of Wu Province and Jin Province. The remnants of the Heavenly Seal Sect had managed to escape to remote mountain valleys, barely clinging to survival.

Currently, the Heaven Burning Sect was consolidating its power, preparing for further northward expansion to attack the Imperial Spirit Mountain and Mystical Sound Palace.

Meanwhile, the underground ruins in the Misty Mountains still emitted a sinister aura, with no one having escaped from them.

The five major sects of Wu Province were now in dire straits, critically weakened and vulnerable. The Heaven Burning Sect had clearly seized this opportunity.

The territories of Wu Province and Jin Province were now under the control of various cultivation families aligned with the Heaven Burning Sect, including the Situ Family that controlled Golden Lake Market. The cultivators in deep blue Daoist robes, arrogant and high-handed, were disciples of the Situ Family.