Second Master Feng watched Xu Qing with a smile, as if joking.
Xu Qing was speechless.
In this world, it was unheard of for zombies to age. Even if there was one breaking the norm, it was unlikely that Second Master Feng would live to see it happen.
Moreover, what zombie would give birth to children?
A Corpse Immortal might have the possibility, but in this Five Filthy Evil Worlds where heaven and earth are disconnected, even the fortunate spiritual cultivators can't attain enlightenment. How long would it take for a humble zombie, detested by even the heavens, to break the shackles of heaven and earth and ascend to immortality?
Let alone a thousand or ten thousand years, even after a hundred years, Second Master Feng would have turned into a handful of dust and returned to the Netherworld.
"Second Master, I think you're still vigorous for your age. How about putting in some effort and having a few more children? I'll acknowledge one as a godchild and take care of him in your old age."
Second Master Feng didn't catch the hidden meaning in Xu Qing's words.
"Don't joke with me. How old am I? I'm afraid to go out to relieve myself on a windy day. How could I have the capability to father several children? I can't even manage one!"
Xu Qing pondered for a moment, then took out a small bottle from his sleeve and said, "This is a rejuvenating powder I got from a practitioner of the Flaming Gate during my travels. Second Master, give it a try. You might end up with a chubby baby next year."
Second Master Feng was not unfamiliar with the Flaming Gate. Among the eight sects within the martial world – surprise, fatigue, drift, strategy, wind, fire, nobility, and key – the Flaming Gate primarily focuses on the art of health.
Things like alchemy and bedroom techniques all belong to the Flaming Gate faction. Those selling Strength Pills, aphrodisiacs, and laughing powders on the street are disciples of the Flaming Gate.
Second Master Feng didn't take it too seriously. After all, in these times, there are many selling fake medicines. Finding a genuine one depends on your luck.
Xu Qing casually tossed the medicine bottle to Second Master Feng, telling him to take it for fun.
As for whether it works... aside from dealing with corpses, everything else is outside Xu's concern.
"Second Master, this painting is quite good. Aside from being a forgery, there's nothing wrong with it. Don't just use it as firewood."
"Oh, it may be good, but those two words 'forgery' make it worthless. If you like it, Younger Brother Xu, take it. I'll collect some more another day. Your skills are great; help me appraise them when you have time. That way, I won't make a fool of myself if I hold an appreciation event."
So, when leaving Flower and Bird Street, Xu Qing had quite a few scrolls of paintings tucked under his arms and held in his hands.
Returning to the Funeral Shop, according to the positioning of feng shui, he arranged the paintings in a way that seemed ominous and sinister. After hanging the paintings, the shop became much cooler, making anyone who walked in shiver involuntarily.
...
May, the midsummer season.
Xu Qing sat in the shop, meditating for a long time before opening his eyes.
In his left hand, the swirling black corpse energy dissipated.
In its place was a faint pomegranate flower fragrance.
The scent brought by the Celestial Fragrance Pill could change with the seasons and time, whether it was sunny, rainy, frosty, or snowy, at dawn or dusk, intense or subtle.
But when Xu Qing released the aura of the Hidden Corpse, the floral fragrance naturally receded without a trace.
It seems, like people, scents also have their hierarchy.
When the ruler appears, the minister hides; when the ruler hides, the minister appears.
All things in the world have traces to follow.
Once the black aura in his hand dispersed, Xu Qing shook his head slightly.
After people die, certain parts of their bodies, due to concentrated spirit, become less likely to decompose than other parts.
For instance, a person who often carries burdens has shoulder bones that decay last after death, while a sedan chair bearer's leg bones decay last.
These bones are the key to a zombie's cultivation of Undying Bone.
Undying Bone, being the essence-infused area, must be nurtured over the years with spirit and corpse energy. Only after a long time can it be refined to immortality.
It is a gradual process. Only when spirit and bone are completely integrated will the refined bone possess the mystical ability to contain spiritual essence.
"The day the Undying Bone is refined, its color will be black as jet with a lustrous shine. Right now, my bone is still not black enough."
Xu Qing shook his head but wasn't anxious inside.
The refining speed of Undying Bone isn't only related to one's cultivation and progress but, more importantly, the long-term nurturing of spirit. According to Xu Qing's understanding, it's essentially where the brain is stored.
Once the Undying Bone gains spirituality, it will be considered refined.
Hiding his left hand in his sleeve, Xu Qing nurtured it whether he was busy or not. Besides that, he planned to collect some Yin Sha Items, like those used for creating protective talismans, to soak his hand along with the Unstable Black Water.
Later, it started drizzling outside the Funeral Shop.
Xuan Yu, who had been traveling outside, dashed back into the shop like a mad creature.
Upon entering the shop, she shook off the water droplets and then stuck out her little pink tongue to start licking her wet fur.
Xu Qing asked in surprise, "Xuan Yu, why don't you use the Water-Repelling Pearl I gave you?"
The black cat paused her licking and said, "The Water-Repelling Pearl is in the shop. I don't have a Storage Dharma Artifact, so I can't just carry the pearl in my mouth when I go out. Besides...the pearl is too big!"
"Holding it in my mouth makes me drool."
Xu Qing pondered for a moment and said, "I'll have Stitch Maiden make you a small pouch to carry things. As for the Storage Dharma Artifact, next time I meet Senior Sister Yizhen, I'll ask her. Maybe she knows a way to refine one or where to buy one."
Outside, the rain pattered down. Inside the shop, a zombie and a cat chatted leisurely, assuming no visitors would come in today, until unexpectedly, a little girl slipped in through the rain.
The girl looked malnourished and her hair was tangled, around ten years old, resembling a little beggar.
She stood at the entrance of the shop, not daring to step over the threshold, and sneezed several times under the eaves.